Household contents & liability Switzerland 2026

What do you really need?

Q: How much does household contents insurance cost in Switzerland?

Combined household contents and liability insurance costs between CHF 150 and CHF 700 a year, depending on cover and where you live. For a 3.5-room flat with CHF 80'000 of cover, the average is around CHF 250-400 a year.

Q: What is the difference between household contents and liability insurance?

Household contents insurance covers your belongings (furniture, electronics, clothing) against damage from fire, water, burglary and so on. Liability insurance pays when you cause damage to other people or their property, for example if you damage the stair railing while moving house.

Insurers sell fear. We show you what you actually need, based on real claims data, not marketing.

Your personal needs

4 answers, 10 seconds, done.

Number of rooms

Living situation

Household

E-bike / expensive bike?

Our recommendation

Recommended sum insured

Estimated premium/month

Recommended excess

What you need

Compare insurers ↓

From CHF 13/month

household contents + liability combined

63%

price difference between insurers

10 sec.

to your recommendation

Our honest view

What you really need, and what you don't

Insurers earn more when you add every extra. Here is our honest view, based on the claims data.

✓

Essential

Personal liability insurance

One accident can cost millions. 51% of all liability claims are damage to rented property, and as a tenant you are almost certainly affected. Largest single claim: over CHF 2m.

✓

Essential

Basic household contents cover

Fire, water, burglary, natural hazards: the basics. CHF 80'000 of cover often costs just CHF 15-25/month. Everything in your home is worth more than you think.

✓

Important

Simple theft away from home

Especially if you have an e-bike or an expensive bike. 54'000 bikes are stolen every year, recovery rate 3%. Also covers a laptop on the train, luggage when travelling, etc.

Depends

Glass breakage

20% of claims, but mostly small amounts. Worth it if you have a lot of glass (conservatory, ceramic hob, expensive shower enclosure). Otherwise, probably not.

Depends

Valuables add-on

Only if you own jewellery, watches or art worth over CHF 5'000 per item. Standard cover often has limits for single items (CHF 2'000-5'000).

✗

Usually unnecessary

Travel insurance via household contents

Sounds good, but it is almost always more expensive than separate travel insurance. And your credit card often already covers the essentials.

Insurer comparison

Household contents & liability compared

Combined cover for a 3.5-room flat, CHF 80'000 sum insured, CHF 200 excess.

Insurer	Premium/year	Features
SmileCheap Online insurer (Helvetia)	~CHF 150	100% online, quick to take out. Everything handled online, no adviser.	Quote →
Baloise Full-service insurer	~CHF 200	Flexible modules, good customer service. Glass breakage available as an option.	Quote →
Helvetia Full-service insurer	~CHF 220	Strong branch network, personal advice. Optional cyber protection module.	Quote →
AXA Full-service insurer	~CHF 250	Comprehensive cover, 24h claims hotline. Good e-bike cover included.	Quote →
Zurich Full-service insurer	~CHF 260	Strong internationally, good travel cover. Online claims handling.	Quote →
Die Mobiliar Cooperative	~CHF 300	Largest agency network in Switzerland, cooperative (profit sharing). Premium service.	Quote →
Allianz Suisse Full-service insurer	~CHF 270	Modular structure, strong natural hazards cover. Online + advice.	Quote →
Generali Full-service insurer	~CHF 240	Good value for money. Flexible excess options.	Quote →

Prices are guide figures for a 3.5-room flat (80 m²) in Zurich, household contents + liability combined, CHF 200 excess. Your price depends on your postcode, sum insured and add-on modules. As of: 2026. All links go directly to the insurer.

The evidence

Why this matters: the real numbers

Based on the police crime statistics, BFB fire statistics and insurers' claims data.

🔓

Burglary & theft

A break-in every 11 minutes

46'636 burglaries in 2024, 17'564 of them in private homes. 60% happen during the day (10am to 6pm). Only 20% are solved.

Highest risk: October to February. Peak: November-January.

💧

Water damage

25% of all claims

One claim in four is water damage. A burst pipe, a faulty washing machine or a leaking water heater. Expensive fast, often unpredictable.

Source: Baloise claims statistics

🔥

Fire

~10'000 fires/year, CHF 335m in damage

50% of all fires happen in residential buildings. Top causes: lightning (33%), electricity (25%), candles & smoking materials. Smoke alarms cut deaths by 50%.

Source: BFB (Beratungsstelle für Brandverhütung, Swiss fire prevention advisory centre)

🪟

Glass breakage

~20% of all claims

One claim in five, but mostly small sums. Ceramic hob, shower enclosure, window: annoying, but rarely a threat to your finances.

Often optional, only worth it if you have a lot of glass.

⛈️

Natural hazards: hail, flooding, storms

CHF 470m in damage in 2023 alone

Hail is the biggest cost driver: +366% more damage in 10 years. 85% of natural hazard damage is flooding. Good to know: natural hazards are automatically included in most household contents policies.

+366%

Hail damage in 10 years

85%

of which flooding

CHF 300m

Natural hazard damage 2024

Source: SIA natural perils pool 2024, FOEN natural hazards

🚲

Bike & e-bike theft: the underestimated risk

54'308 bikes and e-bikes stolen every year. Recovery rate: only 3% (bikes) and 6% (e-bikes). For e-bikes from CHF 4'000, cover for "simple theft away from home" is definitely worth it.

54'308

Bikes stolen/year

Bike recovery rate

CHF 22m

Total claims (AXA only)

Sources: FSO Police Crime Statistics 2024/2025, BFB fire statistics 2024, Baloise claims statistics 2023, SIA natural perils pool 2024, AXA bike theft report 2024

Liability in detail

What does liability insurance really pay for?

AXA data (2017-2021): this is how personal liability claims break down.

51%

Damage to rented property

More than half of all liability claims are for damage in a rented flat.

Examples: a hole drilled in the wrong place, water on the parquet, a burn mark on the worktop, a scratched floor when moving out

35%

Other people's vehicles

Damage to vehicles you drive (not your own car).

Examples: a parking dent in a hire car, a dent in the company car, a scratch while parking a friend's car

Children

Children under 18 are covered by their parents' liability insurance.

Examples: a ball through the neighbour's window, a scratch on a parked car, an accident at the playground

Animals

Damage caused by pets. Note: in many cantons, dogs need separate dog owner's liability insurance.

Examples: a dog bites a passer-by, a cat scratches the neighbour's sofa

Other

Sports and leisure accidents, damage caused while doing someone a favour, and other liability claims.

⚠️

This can get expensive

Personal injury claims cost CHF 3'500 on average, 4x more than property damage. The largest known single claim: over CHF 2m (a flat fire). Without liability insurance, you pay for everything out of your own pocket. The premium? From CHF 5/month.

It's that easy

Switch insurance in 3 steps

Unlike health insurance, you can cancel household contents & liability insurance at any time for the end of the policy term, not just at the end of the year.

Calculate your needs

Use the calculator above: how much cover do you really need?

Get a quote

Request a quote online directly from 2 or 3 insurers. Each takes 2 minutes.

Cancel your old policy

Cancel in writing 3 months before the policy ends. The new insurer will often help.

Frequently asked questions

What you need to know

Is household contents insurance compulsory in Switzerland? +

In most cantons, household contents insurance is voluntary. Only a few cantons have an obligation for buildings insurance (this affects owners, not tenants). Personal liability insurance is not compulsory anywhere, but with claims of CHF 2m and more, you definitely want to have it.

How much does household contents + liability insurance cost in Switzerland? +

A combined policy costs between CHF 150 and CHF 700 a year, depending on cover and where you live. For a 3.5-room flat with CHF 80'000 of cover, the average is around CHF 250-400/year. Online insurers such as Smile are noticeably cheaper than traditional providers.

How high should the sum insured be? +

Rule of thumb: CHF 1'000 per square metre of living space. So for an 80 m² flat, that is CHF 80'000. Note: in 1 in 3 claims, the insurer finds underinsurance, so it is better to aim a little higher. Use our calculator above for a personal recommendation.

What is the difference between household contents and liability insurance? +

Household contents = your belongings (furniture, electronics, clothing) in case of fire, water or burglary. Liability = when you cause damage to others (damage to rented property, accidents, children). Most insurers offer both combined, which is usually cheaper than buying them separately.

When can I cancel my household contents insurance? +

Most policies run for 1 year and renew automatically. You can cancel in writing 3 months before the policy ends. After a claim, you have a special right to cancel. If you move house, you can also switch early.

Do I really need glass breakage cover? +

Glass breakage accounts for ~20% of claims, but the amounts are mostly small. It is mainly worth it if you have: a lot of glass (conservatory), an expensive ceramic hob, a high-end shower enclosure. For a standard flat it is usually unnecessary, and you are better off saving that money on the premium.