Free tool
Contents insurance calculator
Work out what your household belongings are really worth.
Most Kiwis undervalue their contents by 20 to 40 percent. Go room by room through your home to build an accurate picture of what it would cost to replace everything at today's prices. Default values are based on NZ averages from industry valuation guides.
Running total
$102,350
Step 1 of 10
Kitchen
Kitchen
Adjust quantities and values to match your home.
Fridge/freezer
$1,800
Dishwasher
$1,600
Oven and cooktop
$1,500
Microwave
$400
Small appliances (kettle, toaster, coffee maker, food processor)
$1,200
Pots, pans, baking and utensils
$1,100
Crockery, cutlery and glassware
$1,800
Food in fridge, freezer and pantry
$900
Kitchen table and chairs or stools
$1,200
Why your contents are worth more than you think
Most people guess low. Way low. A typical three-bedroom NZ home has contents worth between $80,000 and $150,000 at replacement cost. Higher-quality households? Over $250,000.
Clothing and footwear alone can be $6,000 or more per adult. Carpet and curtains across a whole home run $10,000 to $15,000. Then there is the kitchen: crockery, cutlery, pots, small appliances. It adds up fast. And garages and sheds are full of things people forget to count.
What to include in your sum insured
Your contents sum insured should cover the total replacement cost of everything you own inside your home, including items in garages, sheds and outbuildings. This includes furniture, whiteware, electronics, clothing, bedding, kitchenware, tools, sporting equipment, jewellery, and personal effects.
Carpet that is floating, glued, or tacked is typically covered under contents insurance. Carpet that is permanently fixed (nailed down) may fall under your home insurance instead. Check with your broker if you're unsure.
Items that need specifying on your policy
Most NZ contents policies have sub-limits on individual items. Under a typical policy, unspecified jewellery and watches are limited to $3,000 per item, cameras to $3,000 per item, and bicycles (including e-bikes) to $3,000 per bike. If any of your belongings exceed these limits, they need to be listed as specified items on your policy to receive full cover.
A broker goes through your contents total and flags anything that needs specifying. Quick conversation, but it can save you thousands at claim time.
Replacement value versus indemnity value
Under comprehensive cover, most contents are paid at replacement value, meaning you receive enough to buy a brand new equivalent. However, some categories are paid at indemnity (depreciated) value regardless. These typically include clothing and footwear, sporting equipment over two years old, bikes over three years old, and electronic devices over three years old.
If you have older electronics or bikes, the payout at claim time could be a lot less than what a new replacement costs. Worth raising with your broker when you set your cover.
Need a second opinion on your contents value?
Use this calculator as a starting point, then talk to a broker. We review your total, check sub-limits, and make sure nothing important is missing from your cover.
Talk to a broker about your contents coverCommon questions about contents value
How much are my household contents worth?
A typical three-bedroom NZ home has contents worth between $80,000 and $150,000 at replacement cost. Higher-quality households can exceed $250,000. The only way to know your actual number is to go room by room and add everything up.
What are specified items?
Specified items are individual belongings listed separately on your policy with their own agreed value. Items like jewellery, watches, cameras, e-bikes, and drones worth over $3,000 each typically need to be specified to receive full cover.
Does contents insurance pay full replacement cost?
Under comprehensive cover, most contents are paid at replacement value (new-for-old). However, clothing, sporting equipment over two years old, bikes over three years old, and electronic devices over three years old are paid at indemnity (depreciated) value.
How often should I review my contents sum insured?
Review your sum insured at least once a year, ideally before your renewal. Any time you make a significant purchase (new furniture, electronics, jewellery, e-bike), update your sum insured and check whether the item needs specifying on your policy.
What happens if I'm underinsured?
If your sum insured is less than the total value of your contents, you may not receive enough to replace everything after a total loss. Some policies also apply an averaging clause, which reduces payouts proportionally even for partial claims. Getting your sum insured right is one of the most important things a broker helps with.