Renters insurance in Ohio: Best and cheapest companies for 2024

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Renters insurance in Ohio costs an average of $252, and there are a lot of companies that offer coverage. Insure.com analyzed rates and third-party ratings to help you narrow down your choice.

Our top pick for renters insurance in Ohio is Auto-Owners. If rates matter most to you, the cheapest option is Grange Mutual, but it’s always important to consider the company’s reputation.

Our analysis includes many smaller regional companies to ensure you can see a broad selection of options. You can also take a look at the best renters insurance companies nationwide for more information on major insurers.

Key Takeaways

The average cost of renters insurance in Ohio is $252, but you can save by shopping around.
In Ohio, Auto-Owners offers the best renters insurance based on our analysis.
Other top companies in Ohio include Erie Insurance and American Family.

How we picked the best renters insurance companies

In our analysis, we used a sample policy with $40,000 in personal property coverage with $30,000 for liability and a $1,000 deductible to field rates for renters insurance in Ohio.

Overall, we examined 149 companies and analyzed nearly 17 million quotes from 2023 across all states. We then narrowed the list to the companies with the best rates and reputation.

Insure.com’s choice: Best renters insurance companies in Ohio

Here is a list of the best renters insurance companies in Ohio:

Rank	Company group	Annual premium	AM Best rating	NAIC rating	Score out of 5
1	Auto-Owners	$204	A++	0.33	5
2	Erie Insurance	$249	A+	0.38	4.69
3	American Family	$354	A	0.37	4.36
4	Nationwide	$233	A+	0.87	3.75
5	Allstate	$248	A+	0.9	3.64
6	State Farm	$289	A++	0.95	3.5
7	Travelers	$603	A++	0.54	3.45
8	Grange Mutual	$159	B++	0.93	2.95

What company has the cheapest renters insurance quotes in Ohio?

Grange Mutual offers the cheapest renters insurance in Ohio at $159 a year. It is followed by Auto-Owners and Nationwide.

However, the cheapest insurer in the state won’t necessarily offer the most affordable policy to you. The best way to get a great deal is to compare quotes from several different companies.

Company group	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
Grange Mutual	$159	$13
Auto-Owners	$204	$17
Nationwide	$233	$19
Allstate	$248	$21
Erie Insurance	$249	$21
State Farm	$289	$24
American Family	$354	$30
Travelers	$603	$50
USAA*	$171	$14

Note: USAA only offers coverage to military members, veterans and their families.

Average cost of renters insurance in Ohio by city

Where you live within the state also can play a major role in what you pay for renters insurance. Here is the average cost of renters insurance in Ohio by city.

City	Average annual premium	Average monthly premium
National average	$263	$22
State average	$252	$21
Akron	$246	$20
Cincinnati	$259	$22
Cleveland	$243	$20
Columbus	$251	$21
Toledo	$294	$25

Renters insurance rates vary from one city to another. But with Insure.com, finding the right renters insurance policy is easy. Learn more about renters insurance costs for different cities below.

Renters insurance rates in Ohio by city

Is renters insurance mandatory in Ohio?

No U.S. state requires tenants to purchase renters insurance. However, your landlord may require you to have a policy as a condition of renting the unit.

Even though the law does not require you to purchase renters insurance, it is a good idea to do so. In a worst-case scenario, a good renters insurance policy could save you hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses that otherwise would come out of your pocket.

Frequently asked questions

How much renters insurance do I need in Ohio?

Everybody’s insurance needs are different, and the exact amount of coverage you require will likely depend on what you need to protect. If you have a lot of expensive items, you will likely need more coverage than someone who lives as a minimalist.

“Keep in mind when purchasing renters insurance that you’re buying coverage to repair or replace your personal belongings if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen,” says Carole Walker, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Insurance Association.

Walker says it’s important to note that you may need to purchase extra coverage for big-ticket or expensive personal items.

“Talk to your insurance professional about endorsements,” she says, noting that you might need to pay more to protect jewelry, art and antiques.

Regardless of how many possessions you have, it is important to purchase enough liability coverage to protect you if you are responsible for damages to another person or their property.

Does renters insurance cover water damage?

Renters insurance pays for some types of water damage, but not others. For example, if a pipe bursts and damages your expensive TV or computer, you should be covered. If a severe storm tears off part of the roof and rainwater pours over your expensive couch, that also should be covered.

However, water damage caused by a flood would not be covered. You would need a separate flood policy for that.

Water damage associated with sewer line damage is also unlikely to fall under the scope of your renters insurance policy. However, you might be able to purchase an endorsement that would give you coverage for such events.

Can my landlord require me to buy renters insurance?

Yes, landlords and property management companies can require you to purchase renters insurance as part of your lease.

However, this requirement must be written into the lease. Failure to purchase renters insurance can be grounds for eviction.

Landlords generally require you to purchase renters insurance coverage because it protects them and other tenants should you be responsible for damages, especially if those damages impact another person or their property.

Chris Kissell

Contributing Researcher

Chris Kissell is a Denver-based writer and editor with work featured on U.S. News & World Report, MSN Money, Fox Business, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, Money Talks News and more.