Estimate your trades insurance needs with our Trades Insurance Calculator. Work out the right levels of cover to protect your trades business and your financial livelihood.
Calculator results are estimates only and not quotes. Actual quotes will be provided by licensed brokers after you submit an enquiry.
Trades / Contractors – Insurance Calculator
For carpenters, electricians, plumbers, painters, roofers, tilers, landscapers and more. Totals your property replacement values, suggests a Public Liability limit, and estimates a Contract Works – any one contract limit. Not a quote or advice.
Business details
Most trades claim input tax credits → ex‑GST sums.
Tools & portable equipment
Hand tools, cordless kits, lasers, test gear, laptops/tablets. Portable/away‑from‑premises cover
Plant & machinery
Compressors, generators, welders, concrete mixers, small plant, forklifts (unregistered).
Site gear & temporary structures
Scaffold, site sheds, hoardings, fencing, signage, tarps.
Materials on site (contract works)
Timber, piping, cabling, fixtures awaiting installation. Stored at site or in transit
Hired‑in plant (optional)
Public Liability – limit suggestion
Contract Works – any one contract (suggestion)
See JSON summary (for broker / quote request)
Heads‑up: Liability, Contract Works wording, Tools theft limits/excesses, and Hired‑in Plant terms vary by insurer. This tool totals user‑entered values and uses heuristics to suggest limits. It isn’t a quote or advice.
Calculator outputs are estimates only and do not constitute quotes. Actual quotes will be provided by a licensed broker after you submit an enquiry.
How to use our Trades Insurance Calculator
Our Trades Insurance Calculator helps Australian tradies and contractors estimate practical insurance sums insured and limits. It is designed to total key replacement values for tools, plant and site gear, and to suggest starting points for Public Liability and Contract Works cover so you can better protect your business income, cash flow and personal financial position if something goes wrong.
Why this matters: underinsuring can leave you paying the gap after theft, fire, accidental damage or a liability claim, while overinsuring can mean paying more premium than necessary. This calculator provides an organised way to capture your exposure before you request a quote.
How to complete the calculator for the best result:
1. Business details: Choose your trade, enter your team size (including you), then select GST treatment. If you are GST-registered, values are generally best entered excluding GST because many businesses can claim input tax credits. Add a financier if applicable, as financed assets can affect how cover is arranged.
2. Tools and portable equipment: Use “Add tool/portable” to list hand tools, power tools and tech equipment used off-site. Enter realistic replacement cost today, not what you paid years ago.
3. Plant and machinery: Add compressors, generators, mixers and other unregistered plant. Use current new-for-old replacement values where appropriate.
4. Site gear and temporary structures: Add scaffold, temporary fencing, sheds and similar items used on job sites.
5. Materials on site and in transit: Enter the typical maximum value of materials stored at site and, if relevant, goods in transit.
6. Hired-in plant (optional): Enter the limit you may be responsible for and estimated hire days per year.
7. Public Liability inputs: Select any contract-required limit, then answer the risk questions (site value exposure, height work, excavation depth, hot works, subcontractor use) to help generate a suggested limit.
8. Contract Works: Enter your largest job value and a buffer percentage for variations to estimate an “any one contract” limit.
How to interpret results: Treat the outputs as estimates and a conversation starter, not a quote or personal advice. The totals show your likely replacement sums insured, while the suggested liability and contract works limits reflect the risk factors you selected. Always check insurer wordings, sub-limits, exclusions, waiting periods and excesses, and consider obtaining advice from a licensed insurance broker to ensure cover suits your objectives, financial situation and needs.
As a tradesperson, having comprehensive insurance coverage is crucial. Whether you are a carpenter, electrician, plumber, or any other trades professional, the nature of your work exposes you to various risks. Insurance not only protects you but also your clients and your business. - read more
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Running a small trade business in Australia involves various risks, from accidental property damage to unexpected injuries on the job. These unforeseen events can lead to significant financial losses, which might be challenging for smaller enterprises to absorb. That's where comprehensive insurance comes into play. - read more
In 2024, Australia's insurance industry reported an after-tax profit of $6.1 billion, a figure that is three times higher than the five-year average of $2 billion. This substantial increase is attributed to a combination of factors, including significant premium hikes and a reduction in severe weather events. - read more
Many Australian consumers are experiencing substantial increases in their insurance premiums, often without clear explanations from their providers. Reports indicate that some policyholders have faced premium hikes of 30% to 50%, with instances of increases reaching several hundred percent. - read more
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