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Carpenters Insurance: Liability, Cost & Quotes From $11/mo

You do a lot of things as a carpenter. Homeowners look for your services if they wish to install a cabinet. Sometimes, you patch roofs if the roofing technicians are too busy. You might even be hired by general contractors for specialized projects. Consider investing in a carpenter insurance plan that covers the cost of lawsuits in case you commit an error or cause injuries. You can even use this to cover the cost of buying new equipment from the hardware store. Read this guide to know which carpenters insurance policies to get, the cost of premiums, review the best companies, and compare quotes online.

Types Of Insurance For Carpenters

What insurance does a carpenter need? See to it that your insurance package offers all of these types of insurance for carpenters:

  • General liability insurance

  • Professional liability insurance

  • Public liability insurance

  • Tools/equipment insurance

  • Workers compensation insurance

  • Commercial property insurance

  • Commercial auto insurance

  • Builder's risk insurance


Carpenter Insurance Cost: How Much is Insurance For A Carpenter?

The first factor that affects the carpenter insurance cost is the type and number of policies you purchase. The table below outlines the cost of the most useful types of insurance for carpenters:


Cost per MonthCost per YearDeductible
General liability insurance$40$480$0-$1,000
Professional liability insurance$65$780$500-$1,500
Workers compensation insurance$78$936$2,000-$5,00
Commercial property insurance$60$720$1,000-$2,500
Business owner’s policy$55$660$500-$1,500
Commercial auto insurance$70$840$500-$2,000
Builders risk insurance$51$612$2,000


General liability insurance for carpenters is $40 per month or $480 per year. This carpenter liability insurance cost estimate assumes that you have 5 employees and make $500,000-$750,000 per year. 

But say, what if the annual revenues are less than $100,000 and there are no employees? How much is insurance for a carpenter in this case?  Premiums will be cheaper. Expect to pay $45 per month or $540 per year for a $1 million general liability insurance. 

Your choice of insurance company is a prime determinant of premiums. That said, here’s a table detailing the recommended companies’ carpentry insurance cost:


Cost per MonthCost per YearBest for
NEXT$26$504Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for carpenters
Thimble$27$204Short-term carpenter insurance
CoverWallet$30$540Carpenter insurance quotes comparison online
Tivly$34$564Comparing the quotes of insurance policies for carpenters over the phone
Hiscox$36$627.12Large carpentry businesses
GEICO$40$648Commercial auto insurance discounts for carpenters
The Hartford$45$696Carpenters looking for pay-as-you-go workers compensation insurance


Compare quotes online to find the best deals. Click the “Get Quotes” button on this page to start. Also, enjoy cheap carpenters insurance by:

  • Removing floaters in general liability insurance if you don’t need them

  • Avail commercial property insurance discounts by renovating your carpentry shop with non-combustible or fire resistive materials

  • Having high deductibles on all of your policies

  • Bundling two or more insurance policies to get a discount

  • Utilizing safe driving discounts, CDL discounts, and other types of premium saving initiatives when buying commercial auto insurance 


Compare Carpenters Insurance Quotes Online

Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!

Carpenter Liability Insurance

Carpenter liability insurance is a type of business insurance that grants protection against particular kinds of claims that clients, independent contractors, members of the public, and other third parties file against you.

General liability, professional liability, and public liability insurance are the most common types of carpenters liability insurance. 


General Liability Insurance For Carpenters 


CoverWallet NEXT (Best)Thimble Hiscox
Per occurrence limit $1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$300,000/$2,000,000
Aggregate limit $2,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$300,000/$2,000,000
Products and completed operations aggregate limit 
$2,000,000
$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000
Advertising injury coverage aggregate limit $1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000$1,000,000
Tenant’s legal liability coverage limit 
$1,000,000
$100,000$5,000$100,000
Waiver of subrogation included?YesNoIncludedExcluded
Hired/non-owned auto liability coverage included?YesNoExcludedExcluded
Equipment breakdown floater included?No YesYesExcluded
Can you get a certificate of insurance online?YesYesYesYes
Name additional insureds?YesYes
YesYes
Deductible$0$0$0$0


General liability insurance covers costs if you’re liable for the bodily injuries or property damage of third parties. Use  the table above to compare the general liability quotes of the recommended companies for carpentry insurance. 

97.5% of carpenters purchase general liability insurance.  Here are some examples of carpenters insurance claims where this is useful:

  • A sub-contractor that your client hired demands reimbursement for medical expenses after tripping on your toolbox or cord of your drill

  • The client accuse you of causing damage while working and demands compensation for financial losses

  • You accidentally injured another person on the site while using equipment. He demands reimbursement for pain and suffering


You get $1 million-$2 million from carpentry general liability insurance. Use this to pay for the following each time a claim for bodily injury or property damage is filed:

  • Medical treatment

  • Settlement

  • Defense costs

  • Court judgments


Aside from bodily injuries or property damage, general liability insurance for carpenter also covers these exposures:

  • Liability over delivered products and completed services

  • Damage to a landlord’s property

  • Accidents caused by a hired/non-owned commercial vehicle

  • Copyright infringement, slander, and libel claims


Insurance companies that customize your carpenter liability insurance allow a general liability policy to have the following:

  • Customer property endorsement

  • Business property endorsement

  • Cyber liability endorsement

  • Certified acts of terrorism endorsement


Professional Indemnity Insurance For Carpenters


CoverWallet (Best)NEXTThimbleHiscox
Per occurrence limit $1,000,000$10,000/$25,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$250,000/$2,000,000
Aggregate limit $2,000,000$20,000/$50,000$1,000,000/$2,000,000$250,000/$2,000,000
Name additional insureds?YesYesYesYes
Waiver of subrogation included?YesNoNoNo
Deductible $500$500$500$500


It's important to get another type of liability insurance for self employed carpenter-professional indemnity insurance. 

Use the table above to compare the professional indemnity insurance quotes of the companies that underwrite comprehensive carpentry liability insurance. 

This insurance for self employed carpenter and carpenters working at companies takes care of costs if a client files a claim and accuses you of committing:

  • Negligence

  • Misrepresentation

  • Violation of good faith

  • Violation of fair dealing

  • Fraudulent refunds

  • Breach of confidentiality

  • Breach of contract

  • Inaccurate advice

  • Substandard work


Professional indemnity insurance is also called professional liability insurance. Professional liability insurance for carpenters is available as a claims-made or occurrence policy.

Moreover, you usually get professional indemnity insurance as a stand-alone policy. However, companies that customize your carpenter insurance can offer this as an optional coverage to general liability insurance. 


Public Liability Insurance For Carpenters

Public liability insurance for carpenters grants protection against claims for bodily injuries or property damage that third parties file against your business. 

You can say that general liability and public liability insurance have the same basic function. 

However, as compared to the former, the latter has very limited protection. Carpenters public liability insurance doesn’t cover slander, copyright infringement, libel, and other claims covered in the language of general liability insurance. 

Public liability insurance is offered as part of general liability insurance in the USA. That said,  those looking for stand-alone public liability insurance for self employed carpenter might find difficulties finding the coverage they need here.



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Tools And Equipment Insurance For Carpenters


NEXT (Best)Thimble
Aggregate limit$5,000/$10,000$1,000/$5,000
Offered as an endorsement to general liability insurance?YesYes
Covers hired and borrowed equipment?YesYes
Miscellaneous equipment also covered?YesNo
Deductible$500$500


Tools and equipment insurance is a common inclusion in self-employed carpenter insurance programs. Use the table above to compare the quotes of the companies we recommend. 

Carpenter tools insurance covers the replacement cost of saws, drills, ladders, tape measures, hammers,  and other implements you own that got damaged or destroyed because of:

  • Theft

  • Fire

  • Vandalism

  • Mysterious disappearance

  • Operator error

  • Impact

  • Water


So does tools and equipment insurance for carpenters cover rented equipment? By default, this insurance only covers the implements you own. 

Whether or not borrowed or rented equipment is included depends on your choice of carrier. For one, we’re particularly sure that Thimble and NEXT’s tools and equipment insurance provides coverage for borrowed or rented carpentry tools and equipment. 

Note that carpenter equipment insurance and tools insurance doesn’t cover damage or loss that results from normal wear and tear. 

You can get carpenter tool insurance and equipment insurance as a stand-alone policy or as an endorsement to general liability insurance or commercial property insurance.  


Commercial Property Insurance For Carpenter


CoverWalletNEXT (Best)Hiscox
Building coverage limit (minimum)$50,000$110,000$15,000
Contents coverage limit (minimum)$50,000$15,000$15,000
Outdoor signsExcluded$2,500Excluded
Accounts receivable ExcludedExcludedIncluded
Money and securitiesExcluded$2,500Included
Lock and keys Excluded$2,500Excluded
Business interruption floaterExcludedIncludedIncluded
Equipment breakdown floaterExcludedIncludedExcluded
Inland marine insurance floaterExcludedExcludedExcluded
Employee dishonesty floaterExcluded$5,000Included


Do you own a carpentry shop where tables, chairs, windows, frames, and other products are manufactured? 

Consider getting commercial property insurance if this is the case. Use the table above to compare the commercial property insurance quotes of carriers that sell comprehensive carpentry contractor insurance. 

This insurance for carpenter reimburses losses and  helps cover reconstruction or repair expenses if the shop gets damaged or lost because of:

  • Fire

  • Theft

  • Vandalism

  • Civil commotion

  • Riot

  • Malicious mischief

  • Impact

  • Aircraft

  • Vehicle

  • Volcanic action

  • Sinkhole collapse

  • Lightning

  • Hail

  • Snow

  • Winds


Commercial property insurance for carpentry business also covers tools and equipment that gets damaged or lost while in your shop’s premises due to the perils above. 

In a similar way, this carpentry business insurance can also help if something happens to the materials and finished products in your workshop. 

The commercial property insurance of your carpentry insurance policy can be added with inland marine, business interruption, and equipment breakdown endorsements. 


Commercial Auto Insurance For Carpentry Business


NEXTGEICO Nationwide
Auto liability bodily injury coverage aggregate limit (minimum)$25,000 per injury
$50,000 per accident
$100,000/$300,000 CSL$300,000
Auto liability property damage aggregate limit (minimum) $15,000$50,000$300,000
Uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage limit $25,000 per injury 
$50,000 per accident
$100,000/$300,000
$300,000
Rental reimbursement coverage aggregate limit$1,500$900Excluded
Trailers can be added to commercial auto insurance?YesYesNo
Roadside assistance coverage included YesNoNo
Safe driving discounts included?YesYesYes


It’s hard to work as a carpenter without having your own vehicle for transporting products to be installed, implements for work, and other necessities you need to deliver excellent service. Use the table above to compare the quotes of commercial auto insurance for carpentry business. 

When you’re using a vehicle for work, it’s smart to add a commercial auto policy to your carpenter and joiners insurance plan. 31% of carpenters purchase this insurance for their business. 

Commercial auto insurance is multifaceted. Here’s a quick summary of how does this insurance work for carpenters. 

  • Cover the medical treatment or property damage of third parties who got involved in an auto accident you caused while on the way to perform a carpentry service

  • Provide the money for parts repair or replacement expenses because the vehicle you use for work got damaged due to fire, theft, vandalism, and other covered perils 

  • Reimburse vehicle rental or public transportation expenses

  • Cover your medical treatment and that of the passengers if you got involved in an auto accident caused by an uninsured/underinsured driver


Note that this business insurance for carpenters doesn’t cover auto accidents that are caused by your involvement in criminal activities while driving the vehicle. 



Workers Compensation Insurance For Carpenters

We recommend you get workers compensation insurance if you work with one or more part-time and full-time employees. 100% of carpenters get this for their carpentry business. 

Workers comp for carpenters covers the resulting expenses if an employee sustains an occupational disease or injury. Use this insurance when:

  • An employee falls from a height while working on the scaffolding of the construction site

  • An employee gets his hands cut or crushed by equipment

  • An employee suffers from asthma or eye irritation because of the dust in the workplace


So what can you do with workers' compensation insurance for carpenters? Claiming this helps you pay for these costs on behalf of an employee without incurring losses:

  • Medical treatment

  • Hospitalization

  • Medication

  • Rehabilitation and retraining

  • Lost wages

  • Funeral expenses and allowance to dependents in case of death


Workers' compensation is one of the most expensive insurance for joiners and carpenters. Consider getting this as a pay-as-you-go policy to save money on insurance premiums. 

So what will happen if you don’t get this type of carpenter’s insurance and violate authorities? Not getting workers' compensation insurance will result in hefty fines and penalties. 



Business Owner’s Policy For Carpenters 

Most carpentry and joinery insurance programs offer a business owner’s policy. 79% of carpenters get this for their business

A business owner’s policy is a combination of general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. Its cost is cheaper than when you bought the two policies individually. 

Aside from cheaper costs, another advantage of a business owner’s policy is that it’s easier to manage. 

Business owner’s policy works best if you’re just a carpenter with 2-3 employees and have an annual revenue of less than $100,000. 



Builders Risk Insurance For Carpentry Contractors 

Carpentry contractor insurance plans offer builders risk insurance. 

Builders risk insurance is useful when the entire project, its scaffolding and other structures, or materials get damaged or lost due to fire, theft, vandalism, explosions, winds, rain, and other covered perils. 

If the work contract states that you have responsibility if something happens to the project, then getting builders risk insurance is smart. No need to get this if the opposite is true. 



Short-Term Insurance For Carpenters

Short-term insurance pertains to specific types of specialized insurance plans that carpenters like you can use as temporary coverage. The most common ones are offered as hourly, daily, or monthly policies. 


Carpenter Insurance For One Day

Carpenter insurance for one day is a general liability insurance that grants coverage for a day or a number of days. 

So how much does this cost? Carpenter insurance by the day costs $15. 

Consider getting one day carpenter insurance if you’re just working part-time. Another reason to get this is because you're working in an area that falls out of the jurisdiction of your present insurance company. 

You can get carpenter insurance for a day from Hiscox, The Hartford, and Thimble. 


Carpenter Insurance By The Month

A monthly carpenter insurance is a general liability policy that you can set to provide coverage for one month. You can also extend the coverage for up to three months max.

The cost of carpenter liability insurance by the month is $17. 

The best option for carpenter insurance monthly basis is Thimble. It gives you the option of pausing your insurance coverage. 

Another option for monthly carpenter liability insurance is Hiscox. 


Carpenter Insurance By The Hour 

Carpenter insurance by the hour is a general liability policy that grants coverage for one hour up to 24 hours. 

Thimble sells carpenter liability insurance by the hour for as low as $13 per one hour of coverage. Hiscox also offers this in partnership with Thimble. 

Unlike carpenter liability insurance by the month, hourly general liability insurance for carpenters can’t be paused. Nonetheless, you can still do other useful things with it, such as naming of additional insureds and getting a certificate of insurance. 

Compare Carpenters Insurance Quotes Online

Get all the best quotes from leading providers in a click of a button!

Best Carpenters Insurance Companies

These are the best carpenters insurance companies. Read to know their pros, cons, and rate for a $1 million general liability insurance. 


NEXT Carpenter Insurance

Pros

  • Best overall

  • Get an online proof of insurance and send as a text message, email, or social media post

  • Fastest general liability insurance for carpenters

  • Great customer service and reputation

  • Issues an online proof of insurance instantly

  • Outstanding value for money

  • Bundle two or more insurance policies and get a 10% discount

Cons

  • Couldn’t find any

NEXT offers carpenters insurance that initially offers a general liability coverage with optional tools and equipment coverage. If you’re smart, consider adding workers compensation and commercial property insurance. By doing so, you’ll get a 10% discount. Decide to work with NEXT because it has a network of certified insurance agents that are always ready to help if you don’t know what coverage to get or what to do with your policy.

Best for: Best overall; Fastest general liability insurance for carpenters

Average cost: $26 per month

Our rating: 8/10


CoverWallet Carpenter Insurance

Pros

  • Get covered online

  • Online proof of insurance

  • Live chat support

  • Compare carpenter insurance quotes online

Cons

  • Carpentry insurance comes from another company

CoverWallet covers carpentry contractors. Note that the insurance you’ll get from CoverWallet are underwritten by its partners. The company simply sells you the insurance quotes and helps you manage them using the MyCoverWallet app.

What types of protection does CoverWallet offer? The company’s carpenter insurance offers general liability, commercial property,  workers compensation, commercial auto, and more. 

CoverWallet’s carpenters insurance services include the free naming of additional insureds, getting an unlimited number of certificates of insurance online, as well as online policy management and payment of premiums. 

While this insurance broker doesn’t offer one day carpenter liability insurance online, you can try calling a representative that can hook you up with a partner who can provide the coverage. 

Best for: Carpenter insurance quotes comparison online

Average cost: $30 per month

Our rating: 10/10


Tivly Carpenter Insurance

Pros

  • Responsive customer service

  • Compare the quotes of insurance policies for carpenters over the phone

  • A partner of many reputable insurance companies

Cons

  • You need to call to get a quote

Tivly (formerly CommercialInsurance.NET) doesn’t have a carpenter insurance program. However, this company can cover you through its contractor insurance plan. Call and talk with a representative now to know if you’re eligible and compare quotes over the phone. 

Best for: Comparing the quotes of insurance policies for carpenters over the phone

Average cost: $34 per month

Our rating: 10/10


Thimble Carpenter Insurance

Pros

  • Short-term carpentry insurance

  • Cancel a policy anytime

  • Has unique endorsements in its general liability insurance for carpenters 

Cons

  • You can’t reach customer service by calling 

Thimble’s carpenter insurance plan is underwritten for finish carpenters and framing carpenters. Policies you can get are general liability insurance and workers compensation insurance. 

This company’s general liability insurance has numerous endorsements that other companies in this list doesn’t offer, such as customer property and cyber insurance floaters. 

Thimble offers carpenter liability insurance by the day, month, or hour. However, you need to get this as a stand-alone policy. 

The limit of this company’s carpenter liability insurance for one day, month, or hour is $1 million-$2 million. Though comprehensive, it doesn’t offer the floaters present in Thimble’s annual general liability insurance plan. 

Best for: Short-term carpenter insurance

Average cost: $27 per month

Our rating: 9/10


Hiscox Carpenter Insurance

Pros

  • Choose policy limits and deductibles

  • 14-day money-back guarantee 

  • Worldwide coverage

Cons

  • General liability insurance is the only policy offered online to carpenters

General liability policy is the only insurance included in Hiscox’s online carpenter’s insurance program. You need to speak with a representative to avail commercial property, business owner’s policy, and professional liability insurance. 

Hiscox also offers carpenter liability insurance for a day, month, or hour. However, this is underwritten by Thimble. And so, when you get carpenter liability insurance daily basis, monthly basis, or hourly basis from this company, you’ll be redirected to Thimble’s online quoting platform. 

Best for: Large carpentry businesses

Average cost: $36 per month

Our rating: 9/10


GEICO Carpenter Insurance

Pros

  • Intuitive online quoting platform

  • Issues numerous discounts on commercial auto insurance

  • Gives a discount on business insurance if you’re already a GEICO personal auto insurance or commercial auto insurance policyholder

Cons

  • Doesn’t cover carpenters with poor business profile

GEICO’s carpenter insurance allows you to avail general liability, commercial property, business owner’s policy, workers' compensation, and commercial auto insurance. 

Go for GEICO if you’re a carpenter looking for cheap commercial auto insurance. This company has different kinds of discount options, such as safe driving discounts and CDL discounts. 

Best for: Commercial auto insurance discounts for carpenters

Average cost: $40 per month

Our rating: 7/10


The Hartford Carpenter Insurance

Pros

  • Quick to issue quotes

  • Sells pay-as-you-go workers' compensation insurance for carpenters 

  • Sells short-term general liability insurance for carpenters

Cons

  • 1.4 average rating from 54 reviews in Trustpilot

The Hartford's carpenter’s insurance program offers general liability, workers' compensation, professional liability, and commercial auto insurance policies. 

While this company does offer a quote online, The Hartford is quite a hassle when it comes to getting quick coverage because you will be asked to talk with a representative. This happens if your business profile or business information is lackluster. 

Hartford sells a short-term general liability policy in partnership with Putty Insurance. Note that eligibility for coverage depends on the carpentry services you provide. 

Best for: Carpenters looking for pay-as-you-go workers' compensation insurance

Average cost: $45 per month

Our rating: 7/10


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