Does homeowners insurance cover TV damage?

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Homeowners insurance may cover TV damage if it’s due to a covered peril — such as when lightning fries your TV or someone steals it. Most standard homeowners insurance policies provide coverage for personal property, including televisions, against certain risks like fire, theft, or vandalism. However, if the damage is due to accidents, such as dropping the TV or a power surge, coverage may be limited or require additional endorsements. Understanding the details of your policy is crucial to knowing whether your TV damage would be covered.

It’s also important to consider your deductible and the cost of the damage when filing a claim. If the repair or replacement cost of your TV is less than your deductible, filing a claim might not be worthwhile. Additionally, frequent claims can increase your premium, so evaluating the situation carefully can help you make an informed decision. Knowing when and how home insurance covers TV damage ensures you’re prepared in case the unexpected happens.

Key Takeaways

TVs and other electronics are typically covered under home insurance if the damage is due to a covered peril.
Home insurance typically doesn’t cover TV damage caused by accidental drops, floods, earthquakes or normal wear and tear.
Depending on your policy, your insurer will either reimburse you for the actual cash value of your TV, including depreciation, or the full replacement cost.

What types of TV damage does homeowners insurance cover?

Homeowners insurance covers TVs and other electronics through your personal property coverage. If any of your personal belongings get damaged or stolen due to a covered peril, then you’ll get reimbursed for it. It doesn’t matter if the event occurred inside or outside your home.

Even with personal property coverage, you’ll need to meet your deductible before your insurer pays to repair or replace your TV. Keep in mind that there is usually a maximum amount your insurer will cover, known as a limit of liability, so it’s important to review your policy to ensure you have sufficient coverage. For example, if your policy has a $2,500 limit for all electronics and your TV costs $3,000, you could find yourself underinsured.

When does home insurance cover TV damage, and when does it not?

Basic homeowners insurance covers TV damage that results from any of these 16 named perils:

Fire or lightning strikes
Windstorms or hailstorms
Explosions
Riots
Aircrafts
Vehicles
Smoke
Vandalism
Theft
Falling objects
The weight of ice, snow or sleet
Accidental discharge or overflow of water or steam
Sudden and accidental tearing, cracking, burning or bulging
Freezing temperatures
Sudden and accidental damage due to short-circuiting
Volcanic eruption

Basic homeowners insurance typically does not cover TV damage due to:

Accidental drops or damage
Normal wear and tear
Floods or earthquakes
Power surges not caused by lightning
Pets
Water damage from outside the home (such as a sewage overflow)
Birds, vermin, rodents or insects
Mold or fungus
Intentional damage

You can add coverage for some of these risks via an endorsement or separate policy.

Does homeowners insurance cover TV replacement?

If you have a standard HO-3 policy, which is what most people have, your insurance will typically provide actual cash value coverage (up to your coverage limits) for your TV under your personal property coverage. For example, if you purchased your TV three years ago for $2,000, and a similar model today costs $2,500, the insurer would pay the current value minus depreciation. If they determine the TV has depreciated by $1,000, you would receive $1,500 after subtracting your deductible.

If you have a replacement cost policy add-on, you’ll get reimbursed for the full amount it would cost to replace your TV today. So, if you bought your TV for $2,000 and it would cost $2,500 to buy a similar model, you’d get the full $2,500, minus your deductible.

You can choose to add replacement cost coverage for personal property to an HO-3 policy.

Is it worth claiming for TV damage on home insurance?

It depends. Filing a home insurance claim for TV damage could increase your premium, so it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons before you make a decision.

If your deductible is $500 but your TV is only worth $750, it may make more sense to pay out of pocket to not risk increasing your premium. But if your TV is really expensive, it may be worth considering.

Frequently asked questions

Does homeowners insurance cover lightning damage to all electronics?

Most insurance covers lightning damage to electronics, including your TVs, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. However, you may have a special limit on electronics on your policy; check your coverage to be sure.

Does renters insurance cover the TV falling off the wall?

If your TV fell off the wall because of a defective wall mount or self negligence, your renters insurance policy won’t cover the damage. However, if it fell off the wall because of a windstorm, a falling tree, a break-in or any other covered event, then you’re covered. The same applies to broken TV screens.

How do I file a claim for a broken TV?

Follow these steps if you need to claim TV damage on your home insurance policy:

Notify your insurance company as soon as possible.
Make a list of all damaged electronics.
Take photos of all the items.
Gather receipts or estimates for damaged items.
Follow any other instructions given to you by the claims department.

If your standard home insurance policy doesn’t offer the type of TV coverage you’re looking for, consider shopping around for a policy that better meets your needs.

Cassidy Horton

Contributing Researcher

Cassidy Horton is a finance writer with an MBA and a bachelor's in public relations. Her work has been published in Forbes Advisor, The Balance, Finder.com, Money Under 30, Clever Girl Finance and more.