Painters Insurance: Top Providers, Coverage and Cost
General liability is a must for painters. Add on tools and equipment coverage to protect your gear from damage or theft.
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Updated · 6 min read
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Contributing Writer Whether painting is your full-time business or your side hustle, you need business insurance to protect your financial interests.
At a minimum, painters need general liability insurance. This helps shield your business against claims that you caused injury or damage. You may need other coverage, depending on your business setup:
- Commercial auto insurance. You’ll need this if you use vehicles for your painting business. It covers the vehicles themselves and any damage or injuries you or your employees cause in them.
- Tools and equipment coverage. If you own and transport valuable equipment or tools this coverage pays if they’re damaged or stolen.
- Workers’ compensation. This pays for injuries or illness you or employees get on the job.
Here are more details about business insurance for painters, including cost, coverage options and top providers.
The best painters insurance companies
NerdWallet’s editorial team chooses the best business insurance companies for painters based on:
- Relative number of complaints to state insurance regulators.
- How financially strong insurers are, which indicates their ability to pay claims.
- How easy it is to get a quote and buy a policy online.
- Whether they have policies specific to contractors like painters, or features they might find valuable.
Here are some of the top companies we found that serve contractors. It’s smart to get multiple quotes to find the best coverage at the best price.
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The Hartford
Sold through independent agents, The Hartford can offer complete coverage for most painting businesses, including workers’ comp and commercial auto. The company gets few complaints for its business liability and property lines. You can get a quote online, but will need to speak with an agent to buy a policy. Read The Hartford business insurance review.
Travelers
With a deep specialization in the construction industry, Travelers may be a good fit for larger painting businesses. It also has options like business owner’s policies for smaller contractors, and many additional policies you may need. You can’t buy a policy online, though. Read the Travelers business insurance review.
Ergo Next
Ergo Next offers insurance for contractors, including general liability, commercial auto, workers’ compensation and tools and equipment coverage. You can get a quote, purchase your policy and handle any claims entirely online, or talk with an agent over the phone. While it’s a good option for those looking to get coverage quickly, complaints are high for some policy types. You may also end up with a different insurer, depending on your state. Read the Ergo Next business insurance review.
Thimble
Thimble is an online insurance agent, which means they sell policies from other companies. Since Thimble does not underwrite its own policies, we don’t rate it.
If you’re just starting as a painter or your work is inconsistent, Thimble is worth a look. The agency can show you quotes for general liability insurance by the hour, day, month or year, and you can purchase one in minutes. It doesn’t sell commercial auto or workers’ comp, so it’s not a one-stop shop. After you buy, you can file claims with Thimble. But different companies will handle the actual claim services. Read the Thimble review.
What is painters insurance?
Painters insurance protects your business financially from claims of damage or injuries and other covered risks. It also pays to support your defense if a lawsuit accuses your business of negligence, faulty work or damage. Your state, licensing board or certain contracts may require you to have general liability insurance in order to do business.
Common risks painters insurance can cover include:
- Injuries to non-employees, such as a client hurt on a jobsite.
- Damage to others’ property caused during the course of work.
- Injuries and damage from car accidents in work vehicles.
- Illness or injuries employees suffer on the job.
- Stolen or destroyed tools and equipment.
What types of business insurance do painters need?
Painters may need the following types of business insurance. Exact coverage needs will depend on your business’s size and operations.
General liability insurance
General liability insurance pays out if a non-employee claims your work caused them bodily injury or property damage. It also covers advertising injury, which is when another business claims your statements cost them income. If you’re sued for any of these, general liability also covers legal costs and any judgments, up to the limits in your policy.
For example, general liability would pay if you spilled paint and destroyed a client’s carpet. Or say your unattended ladder falls, injuring a homeowner. General liability would pay for their medical bills and, if they sued, your legal defense.
Your city, state or prospective clients may require proof of liability insurance.
Commercial auto insurance
If you use a vehicle for your painting business, you’ll need commercial auto coverage. It pays expenses related to accidents you’re at fault for when driving a covered vehicle for business purposes. Those expenses can include:
- Injuries or death you or another employee cause in an accident.
- Property damage you cause in the vehicle.
- Damage to work vehicles from most causes, including animal collisions, hit-and-runs and vandalism.
Commercial auto doesn’t cover the contents of the vehicle, including work materials or tools.
Workers’ compensation
If you or any employees suffer a work-related illness or injury, workers’ compensation pays for medical bills and lost income. Most states require it if you have at least one employee. Even if you’re a sole proprietor, workers’ comp is a good idea in a risky profession like painting.
For example, if you work at heights, you could face serious injury after a fall. But you also likely encounter multiple chemicals throughout the workday that could sicken or injure you if mishandled.
Tools and equipment coverage
Tools and equipment coverage pays the cost to repair or replace lost, damaged or stolen tools, including ladders, workbenches and stand lights. Commercial auto excludes vehicle contents, so storing them in a work truck doesn’t provide coverage. This coverage protects equipment whether it's in your vehicle, in a trailer or on a job site.
For instance, say you’re busy at work when a thief makes off with your work van. Your commercial auto pays for the van itself, but not the ladder, tools and fume masks inside. Tools and equipment coverage would pay to replace those.
Additional coverage options
You may want these policies depending on the nature of your business.
| Type of insurance | What it pays for |
| Legal costs related to claims of mistakes or negligence, including breach of contract or missed deadlines. Professional liability may be available as an add-on to a contractor’s general liability policy. Say you color-match the wrong paint for a homeowner’s trim. Their neighborhood association fined them and required a fix. Professional liability would cover the costs. | |
| The cost to replace structures and physical assets within them, such as tools, that are damaged due to covered events. These typically include fire, vandalism, windstorms, lightning and burglary. For example, if your home office caught fire and destroyed the furniture, computers and equipment, commercial property would pay. | |
| Payrolls and lost income due to your business property being destroyed or damaged. It is typically part of commercial property insurance and covers the same perils. Take the example of the office fire above. Business interruption coverage would help pay the wages and other bills while your property is repaired. | |
| A combination policy that includes general liability and commercial property insurance. It typically includes business interruption and may have other add-ons available. If your painting business needs commercial property insurance, it can make sense to opt for a BOP. This coverage will likely be cheaper than purchasing separate policies. | |
| Pollution insurance | Covers claims tied to pollutants released during your work. For painters, that can include things like paint, solvents, fumes, overspray or cleanup-related contamination. Some contractors’ professional liability policies include this, while others don’t. |
Save up to 30% on business insurance
NerdWallet Small Business helps you get real-time quotes from 30+ insurers, and instant access to your Certificate of Insurance (COI) through our partner, Coverdash.
How much does business insurance cost for painters?
Most painters need multiple types of coverage, so business insurance costs will vary.
For example, the median cost for general liability for a small home renovation contractor is $1,400 per year, according to data provided to NerdWallet by online brokerage Coverdash. The median cost for workers’ comp is $3,200 for these small contractors (defined as those making less than $10 million per year in revenue).
Though not exactly the same as a painting business, costs may be similar. Actual rates will depend on the size of your business, where it's located and your prior claim history, among other factors. The cost can also vary greatly from one provider to the next, so get multiple quotes before purchasing a policy.
How to shop for painters insurance
Take these steps to get covered, no matter the size and scope of your painting business.
1. Gather your information
You’ll need company and employee info, plus documentation for your vehicles and any property. This includes your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) or if you’re a sole proprietor, your Social Security Number. If you have a lead-safe certification from the Environmental Protection Agency’s
2. Identify your policies
Write down the policies you need based on your business risks and contract or licensing requirements. Knowing what you need will help you decide how and where to shop. The more you’ve identified, and the larger your business, the more likely you are to need personalized support.
3. Decide your shopping method
Comparing multiple quotes for similar policies is the best way to get peace of mind — and a good deal. You have three main options:
- Online marketplace. This is a website that partners with multiple providers, so you can compare quotes from different companies side by side. It’s typically quick, easy and best for those with simple insurance needs or short timeframes. You’re limited to the marketplace’s network of companies, and after purchase you’ll deal with one of their partners.
- Direct quotes. You can call or get quotes online from specific providers. If you have a preference, such as only using a highly rated company or your personal insurance provider, this is a good option. You’re in total control of the companies you get quotes from, but it’ll take more time.
- Insurance broker or agent. Choose this option if you have complex insurance needs or prefer a human contact. A licensed professional is best positioned to walk you through policy details and give you sound advice. Agents and brokers are limited to the network of companies they work with, and may be motivated by a commission to upsell.
4. Compare policies and companies
Take the time to evaluate the limits, or payout maximums, for each policy you compare. Look at the companies themselves too, including independent reviews and complaints to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.
Painters should also watch out for:
- Height exclusions. Some insurers may exclude work done above certain heights, typically three stories.
- Additional insureds process. If you subcontract, you may need to add contractors as additional insureds. Some providers make this an easy, free task online while others charge a fee or require a phone call.
- Pollution exclusions. If you work on pre-1978 homes, you likely know you need to be certified in lead paint safety by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). You should also check that your professional liability insurance covers pollution events. If it doesn’t, ask about an endorsement.
5. Buy coverage and review periodically
Once you’ve made your choice, it’s time to get your business insurance. Decide whether you’ll pay monthly or annually and make your purchase. Annually might be cheaper, but you also might not get that upfront money back if you cancel early.
Review your policies each time renewal comes up to make sure you’re fully covered. If anything substantial changes about your business, such as adding vehicles, services or buildings, review all your policies again.
Methodology
Business insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet rewards business insurance companies for reliability and good service. We calculate star ratings based on scores in about a dozen categories. These include:
- Each company's financial strength.
- How many complaints customers made relative to its market share.
- How easy it is to get coverage.
- How accessible customer service is.
Learn more about how we rate small-business insurance companies.
Our editorial team routinely fact-checks and updates these data points. We also adjust our scoring on an ongoing basis. This helps our star ratings reflect changing industry norms. For instance, in 2026, we began evaluating how easy insurers make it to add an additional insured.
Our ratings are a guide. But insurance policy details and prices can vary widely. We encourage you to shop around and compare several insurance quotes.NerdWallet does not receive compensation for any reviews. Read our editorial guidelines.
Insurer complaints methodology
One key factor in our star ratings is how many complaints insurance companies get. Here's how we arrive at that score.
Disappointed customers can file a complaint with their state's insurance department. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) collects, analyzes and groups complaints by business line and insurance company every year. A business line is a specific type of coverage, like workers’ comp.
Then, the NAIC calculates a complaint ratio for each company. It divides the company's share of complaints by its share of total premiums for each line of business. It then adds these ratio values to their official complaint index.
- A complaint ratio of 1 means a company received about the expected number of complaints relative to its size.
- A ratio of 2 means it received twice as many complaints as expected.
- A ratio of 0 means it received half as many complaints as expected.
NerdWallet obtains the raw NAIC data every year. We aggregate results at the company level and fact-check these results. Then we calculate a three-year average of each insurer's complaint ratio and convert it to a score for our star ratings.
Business insurance star ratings consider complaints about two lines of business: commercial liability and commercial property. We analyze complaint data on commercial auto and workers' comp policies too. But we don't currently incorporate these into our ratings since they're less universal.
