Roofing Insurance: Best Companies, Costs and Coverage Needs
Roofing insurance is usually a package of policies. It helps protect your business from lawsuits, accidents and property damage.
Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money.
Published · 6 min read
Written by
Contributing Writer 
Edited by
Managing Editor 
Whether you're installing residential shingles or managing commercial projects, the right roofing insurance protects your business. Risks like accidents, injuries and lawsuits are common in the industry and could otherwise be financially devastating.
In general, most roofers need several types of insurance coverage, including:
- General liability insurance. This pays out if someone sues you for causing injury or property damage at a job site. Your state or contracts may require it. Just watch out for exclusions .
- Workers' compensation insurance. This is mandatory in most states to cover medical expenses and lost wages if an employee gets hurt on the job.
- Commercial auto insurance. Get this if you use a vehicle to transport materials and equipment to job sites.
- Inland marine coverage. This policy covers expensive equipment like pressure guns and ladders if they’re damaged or stolen.
You may also benefit from additional policies such as builder’s risk or professional liability insurance.
Looking for tools to help grow your business?
Tell us where you're at in your business journey, and we'll direct you to the experience that fits.
Best insurance companies for roofing businesses
NerdWallet's editorial team chooses the best business insurance for roofing companies based on:
- How many complaints policyholders make to state insurance regulators.
- How financially strong insurance companies are, according to credit rating agencies.
- How easy it is to get a quote and buy a policy online.
- Whether the insurer offers policies tailored for contractors like roofing businesses.
Here are some of our top companies that serve roofing contractors and companies. We recommend getting multiple quotes to find the best coverage at the best price.
Why trust NerdWallet
250+ small-business products reviewed and rated by our team of experts.
80+ years of combined experience covering small-business and personal finance.
Objective, comprehensive small-business insurance ratings based on the financial strength, complaint records, digital features and customer service availability of insurance market leaders. Read our methodology.
NerdWallet's small-business insurance content — including our ratings, reviews and recommendations — is produced by a team of writers and editors who specialize in small-business finances. Their journalism has appeared in The Associated Press, Washington Post, MarketWatch, Nasdaq, Entrepreneur, ABC News, MSN and other national and local media outlets. Each writer and editor follows NerdWallet's strict editorial guidelines to ensure fairness and accuracy in our coverage.
Chubb
With few complaints to regulators and solid financial ratings, Chubb gets our highest star rating. You can shop for and buy a policy online if your roofing business earns less than $2 million in annual revenue, making it convenient for smaller businesses. Its business owner’s policy is also more robust than most, with extra expense coverage. Read our review of Chubb.
The Hartford
With a specialty in contractor’s insurance, The Hartford stands out for its professional guidance. It gets few claims for its size and makes adding additional insureds an easy online process. Its business owner’s policy also allows you to tack on professional liability and property coverage. Read our review of The Hartford.
Ergo Next
If you need a policy and proof of coverage quickly, take a look at Ergo Next. You can purchase a policy and download your certificate of insurance online in minutes. So, you can get what you need without getting on the phone. It has tailored policies for roofers and other contractors too. Read our review of Ergo Next.
Travlers
With several policy options for any size roofing business and easy online access to your coverage proof and details, Travelers is worth a look. Travelers has in-house construction industry experts on staff to help with risk management and safety improvements to reduce claims. Read our review of Travelers.
What is roofing insurance?
Roofing insurance refers to several kinds of coverage that protect against the unique risks these businesses face. There’s no one official policy called “roofing insurance.”
As a roofing business owner, you have several risks to consider, including:
- Potential for falls and severe injuries on the job.
- Using specialized equipment that’s expensive to replace if stolen or destroyed.
- Damage to business property, such as office space or work vehicles.
- Lawsuits over mistakes in work quality, estimates or paperwork.
Business insurance protects you financially should any of these occur. Like other forms of construction, roofing is dangerous and many clients will require proof of insurance with minimum coverage limits.
Types of insurance coverage for roofing businesses
The policies and coverage limits you’ll need depend on:
- The size of your business.
- Where you operate.
- What types of roofing you install.
At minimum, you’ll likely need general liability coverage, workers’ compensation and policies for your vehicles and equipment.
General liability insurance
The first policy every roofer needs is general liability coverage. Many states require this for contractors. Client contracts likely will as well.
General liability covers:
- Injuries and illnesses non-employees suffer due to your work or negligence.
- Property damage you accidentally cause on the job.
- Claims of libel, slander or copyright infringement in your marketing materials.
For example, say some shingles fall from the roof onto your client’s truck. General liability would pay for the damage. If they fell onto your client’s foot, the policy would pay for medical treatment and any potential lawsuit that arose from the accident.
Workers’ compensation insurance
Most states require workers’ comp if you have employees. But even if you’re a solo contractor, we advise getting workers’ compensation coverage for any physically risky profession. It’s not a stretch to imagine a roofer falling from a ladder on the job, for instance.
Workers’ comp covers employees’ injuries or illnesses sustained on the job, including:
- Medical treatment for the injury or illness.
- Rehabilitation costs, such as physical or occupational therapy.
- An employee’s lost wages during recovery.
- Survivor benefits for the employee’s family if they die.
- Legal costs if your business is sued to the injury or illness.
Commercial auto insurance
The vehicles you use to haul materials and equipment to and from roofing sites need commercial auto insurance. It covers:
- Property damage and injuries stemming from car accidents involving work vehicles. This includes costs you, employees or any third parties incur.
- Damage to your business vehicles from non-collision causes.
- Legal costs if you’re sued for an accident.
Say your employee's car slides off the road. They sideswipe a concrete barrier, damaging it, the truck and a toolbox inside. Your commercial auto coverage pays for the truck’s damage, the toolbox and even the city’s concrete barrier — plus costs if you’re sued. Workers' comp would cover the employee's medical bills.
Inland marine or tools and equipment coverage
As a roofing business owner, you likely own more than one piece of expensive equipment. If your essential tools, equipment or materials are damaged or stolen, inland marine coverage comes out to pay.
Tools and equipment coverage is a type of inland marine policy with narrower coverage. It’s often geared toward smaller contractors that mainly need to protect their tools. Inland marine is better for roofers with large volumes of building materials or heavy machinery.
Say someone steals your work van containing thousands of dollars worth of tools, including your brand-new nail gun. Tools and equipment coverage would pay to replace your equipment up to the limits in your policy. Your commercial auto policy would cover the van itself, but not the contents
A broader inland marine policy can cover installation materials, heavy machinery like cranes and other expensive equipment. If it includes installation coverage, inland marine also covers stolen job materials — coverage that may not be in a tools‑only policy.
Other types of insurance roofers may need
| Insurance policy | Coverage details |
|---|---|
| Covers legal fees and judgments if you’re sued for mistakes, negligence or faulty workmanship. For example, this would pay if you’re sued due a serious delay or a leak in a recently installed roof. | |
| Pays out if your business is temporarily shut due to physical damage to your equipment or property. For example, say there’s an off-hours electrical fire in your commercial office space and you shut down during the renovation. Business interruption can cover revenue, rent and payroll among other costs. | |
| Provides liability coverage beyond your professional, general and commercial auto policies’ coverage. More likely a need for a large roofing business with property, vehicles and many employees. Say you’re sued for a car accident resulting in death and costs exceed your commercial auto policy. This policy would cover the remaining costs, up to its limits. | |
| Combines general liability, business interruption and property coverage into one policy. This is generally a fit for smaller contractors, but check for roofing exclusions. | |
| Bonds aren’t insurance, but they do provide a safety net for clients. Surety bonds may be required by your state or client and pay a set amount if you fail to complete a job. | |
| Pays for damage to buildings under construction from events like fire, vandalism or weather. Usually the general contractor or developer buys this, not subcontractors. |
How much does roofing insurance cost?
Commercial and large residential roofers with more than $10 million in annual revenue pay an average of $18,000 for general liability insurance per year, according to data provided to NerdWallet by online brokerage Coverdash.
Roofing companies of this size pay $12,000 to $20,000 per year, on average, for workers’ compensation insurance. They pay an average of $4,000 for builder’s risk insurance.
But your commercial insurance costs will depend on how complex your policies are, the size and location of your business, and more. Generally speaking, roofers face higher costs than other subcontractors in the construction industry due to the inherent risk of working high above the ground.
How to shop for roofing business insurance
In a high-risk industry such as roofing, finding robust coverage for a good price is worth some groundwork. We advise comparing multiple business insurance quotes for similar policies using these steps.
- Determine coverage needs. Review contracts and your state’s contractor licensing website to identify required policies. If you have employees, add workers’ comp and if you own commercial vehicles you’ll need an auto policy. Calculate the value of your tools, equipment and property to ensure policy limits make sense.
- Gather your information. Have essential business details handy, such as annual revenue, employee roster with roles and Federal Employer Identification Number. Having an inventory of your tools and vehicles’ values may also be helpful.
- Get multiple quotes. Comparing coverage options from multiple companies helps you get the coverage you need at a price you trust. Be sure and check if any policies have roofing exclusions. Also check on fees for additional insureds and how easy it is to add them if you subcontract.
- Purchase policies and download proof. Once you’ve compared policies and prices, you’re ready to buy. Don’t forget to download your certificate of insurance (COI) or request multiple copies from your insurer. You can add additional insureds after purchasing the policy.
What to watch out for in roofers insurance policies
Due to the higher risk of injury in roofing, do an extra check for policy restrictions and exclusions. Depending on the work you do, watch for exclusions on:
- Heights. Some general liability policies have exclusions for work on tall buildings. If you typically work on buildings with multiple stories, check if this can be amended or choose a different policy.
- New construction. If you subcontract for home builders installing roofing, make sure you don’t buy a policy that won’t pay those claims.
- Open roofs. Some insurance policies won’t cover property damage to a building’s interior while a roof is open. If you repair damage or leave sites overnight, you’ll want to avoid this exclusion.
Where to get roofing insurance quotes
When you’re ready to shop, you can work with a broker, request quotes from providers individually or use an online marketplace.
Considering the cost, as well as the risks roofers face, we recommend talking with a professional. That could be in-person with an independent agent or online with a customer service rep. Asking questions is the best way to ensure policies offer the right coverage for the roofing jobs your business takes on.
Contact an insurance broker
Acting as your single point of contact, a licensed insurance agent or broker is the option with the most personalized attention.
Upsides: An insurance broker can get multiple quotes, help you compare policies, break down coverage details and help with claims. Choosing one who specializes in construction insurance can provide even better guidance.
Possible downsides: Brokers may charge a fee. They also work on commissions and aren’t required to find you the best deal, so they might upsell you.
Request quotes yourself
If you have relatively simple insurance needs or know the coverage you want, getting quotes directly is efficient.
Upsides: You can stick with insurers that specialize in contractor’s insurance, like Ergo Next and The Hartford. You may also be able to get insured and download proof relatively quickly.
Possible downsides: It can be time consuming to enter your business information multiple times to get quotes. Some companies use third-party insurers for certain policies, so you may end up with more than one insurance company.
Use an online brokerage
This combination option from services like Coverdash and Simply Business provides multiple quotes in one place. You then do the comparisons yourself.
Upsides: It’s quick and convenient to compare quotes and policies on your own schedule. You typically have access to a professional if you need help.
Possible downsides: Your policies may end up with multiple insurance companies, which you’ll deal with individually after the purchase. You’re also limited to seeing quotes within the marketplace’s network.
Article sources
NerdWallet writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,
trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed
studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with
industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness
and relevance. You can learn more about NerdWallet's high
standards for journalism by reading our
editorial guidelines.
Methodology
Business insurance ratings methodology
NerdWallet’s business insurance ratings reward companies that offer small-business owners reliability and ease of use. Ratings are based on weighted averages of scores in several categories, including financial strength, customer complaint data, shopping experience and customer service. Learn more about how we rate small-business insurance companies.
Our editorial team regularly reviews and updates our data to ensure consistency and accuracy. We also update our scoring on an ongoing basis to reflect changing industry norms and business owner needs. For instance, in 2026, we began evaluating how easy insurers make it to add an additional insured.
These ratings are a guide, but insurance policy details and prices can vary widely from business to business and provider to provider. 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
NerdWallet examined complaints received by state insurance regulators and reported to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. We use the most recent three years of data, which is currently 2022-2024.
To assess how insurers compare to one another, the NAIC calculates a complaint index each year for each subsidiary, measuring its share of total complaints relative to its size, or share of total premiums in the industry. To evaluate a company’s complaint history, NerdWallet calculated a similar index for each insurer, weighted by market shares of each subsidiary, over the three-year period.
Our star ratings consider ratios for both general liability insurance and commercial property insurance. When an insurer sells policies that are underwritten by several different insurance companies, we consider the NAIC complaint ratios of all the underwriters.
On this page
