How much is home insurance in South Carolina?

The average cost of home insurance in South Carolina is $3,082 per year for $300,000 of dwelling coverage. But homeowners — especially on the coast — often purchase flood insurance, which can increase their home insurance costs.

Which company has the cheapest homeowners insurance in South Carolina?

Cincinnati Insurance is one of the cheapest home insurance companies in the state, with average annual premiums of $1,999 per year. Other affordable insurers include Southern Fidelity and Chubb, with respective annual premiums of $2,004 and $2,065.

Does South Carolina require homeowners insurance?

No. South Carolina law doesn’t require homeowners to purchase home insurance. But if you have a mortgage, your lender will likely require it. Even without requirements, it’s important to purchase home insurance to protect your property and assets.

What is the most common home insurance coverage in South Carolina?

An HO-3, or special form, policy is the most common type of home insurance coverage. It protects the physical structure of your home, your personal belongings, your liability if somebody is injured at your home, and your living expenses if you have to move out of your home temporarily while repairs are being made.

Best Homeowners Insurance in South Carolina (2024)

Best companies
Cheapest insurers
SC insurance cost
Get cheap insurance
Coverage amount
FAQs

Best companies
Cheapest insurers
SC insurance cost
Get cheap insurance
Coverage amount
FAQs

South Carolina homeowners pay an average of $3,082 annually for a policy with a $1,000 deductible and $300,000 of dwelling coverage — higher than the national average of $2,377.

A homeowners insurance policy can protect South Carolina property owners from tropical storm damage. The state has an 80% chance of tropical storms every year, according to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.^[1] Residents on the coast may also want to consider a flood insurance add-on to help protect their homes from coastal flooding, storm surges, and water damage.

Here’s what you should know about comparing home insurance quotes and finding coverage in the Palmetto State.

Quick Facts

Cincinnati, Southern Fidelity, and USAA are some of the cheapest home insurance companies in South Carolina.
Homeowners insurance in South Carolina is relatively expensive compared to the national average.
Wind, rain, and flooding from hurricanes and tropical storms put South Carolina homes at risk.

Best home insurance companies in South Carolina

Many top insurance companies offer homeowners policies in South Carolina, with some providing cheaper coverage than others. Comparing coverage options can help you find the best home insurance company to suit your situation and needs.

Insurance Company ▲▼	IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores. ▲▼	Average Annual Premium ▲▼	Best for ▲▼
Cincinnati Insurance	NR	$1,999	Cheapest rates
Chubb	7.8	$2,065	Flood insurance
Allstate	8.2	$2,237	High coverage limits
State Farm	8.2	$2,285	Discounts

Table data sourced from real-time quotes from Insurify’s partner insurance providers and quote estimates from Quadrant Information Services. Actual quotes may vary based on the policy buyer’s unique profile.

How Insurify rates insurance companies
Our editorial team spent more than 350 hours developing the Insurify Quality (IQ) Score and scoring insurance companies. The IQ Score objectively analyzes and calculates a score for insurers using more than 15 crucial criteria. The team weighted criteria by importance to the consumer — factors such as customer reviews and affordability influence the score more than availability and third-party ratings.

We rate each company on a 1 to 10 scale based on five categories: financial ratings, customer satisfaction, affordability, customer support and transparency, and availability. Insurify updates ratings once a year or as more recent information becomes available.
- Third-party financial ratings: Insurify uses data from AM Best, S&P, Moody’s, and more to compare insurance companies’ credit and ability to pay out future claims.
- Customer satisfaction: To calculate this score, Insurify analyzed more than 28,000 customer reviews across 155 car insurance companies. We also consider third-party ratings from J.D. Power, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and Trustpilot.
- Affordability: Our data scientists analyzed more than 90 million real-time auto insurance rates from our partners across the U.S., as well as available discounts, to calculate an affordability score.
- Customer support and transparency: This measures coverage options, ease of claims filing, and the insurer's transparency surrounding discounts, coverages, and claims process.
- Availability and reach: Insurify scores availability and reach by identifying the number of states in which insurers offer coverage and company size by market share.

Cheapest rates: Cincinnati Insurance

cheapest ratesCincinnati Insurance Companies

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IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	NR
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	Not rated

Overview

Cincinnati Insurance offers the cheapest home insurance policies in South Carolina, with average annual premiums of $1,999. The company offers a variety of insurance products, including auto, umbrella, personal items, and watercraft coverage. You can also get discounts for policy bundling, installing safety equipment in your home, and having a good claim history.

Pros and cons

Pros

A+ (Superior) financial strength rating from AM Best
Independent agents can help homeowners customize their policy

Cons

Not rated in J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Home Insurance Study
Not as many advertised discounts as some competitors

Best insurer for flood insurance: Chubb

flood insuranceChubb

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IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	6.5/10
A.M. Best A.M. Best analyzes an insurer’s financials, operating performance, business profile, and other factors to generate an opinion-based rating of a company’s financial and credit strength. Ratings range from A++ (exceptional) to D (poor).	A++
$300,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.	$122/mo
$500,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.	$207/mo

Overview

Flood insurance can provide valuable peace of mind for South Carolina coastal homeowners.

Chubb offers a supplemental flood insurance policy that provides up to $15 million in coverage, including up to $7,500 in alternative living cost coverage if you need to vacate your house, $30,000 in basement property coverage, and up to $250,000 for debris removal after a covered loss. This coverage provides significantly more protection than the coverage the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) offers.

Pros and cons

Pros

AM Best financial strength rating of A++ (Superior)
Offers up to $5,000 in preventative coverage before floods

Cons

Online quotes not available
Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating

Best insurer for high coverage limits: Allstate

high coverage limitsAllstate

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IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	8.9/10
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	833
$300,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.	$155/mo
$500,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.	$226/mo

Overview

If you’re concerned that a standard homeowners policy won’t be enough to protect you, Allstate offers personal umbrella policies of up to $5 million. These policies can help cover you in the event of a large liability claim.

For instance, if you’re one of the many South Carolina homeowners who have a pool to stay cool in during the hot summers, an umbrella policy from Allstate could protect you if one or more people sustain injuries in your pool. It could help cover their medical costs, lost wages, and funeral expenses.

Pros and cons

Pros

Up to $5 million in personal liability coverage available
Multiple available discounts

Cons

Below-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating
Not the cheapest insurer available

Best insurer for discounts: State Farm

discountsState Farm

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IQ Score The Insurify Quality (IQ) Score uses more than 15 criteria to objectively rate insurance companies on a one-to-ten scale. The Insurify editorial team researches insurer data to determine the final scores.	9.3/10
JD Power J.D. Power data measures overall customer satisfaction and claims satisfaction based on a 1,000-point scale.	842
$300,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $300,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.	$170/mo
$500,000 Dwelling A standard HO-3 home insurance policy typically includes dwelling, personal property, and liability coverage. The average rate displayed here reflects a policy with the following coverage limits: $500,000 dwelling; $25,000 personal property; $300,000 personal liability; $30,000 loss of use; and a $1,000 deductible for medical payments to others.	$246/mo

Overview

If you want multiple discount options, State Farm is worth considering. This insurer offers multiple discounts South Carolina residents can take advantage of, including a bundling discount and discounts for installing home security features, roof reinforcements, and more.

State Farm estimates that its policyholders save more than $1,000 on their annual premiums when they bundle their homeowners, auto insurance, and other coverages.

Pros and cons

Pros

Several discounts available for South Carolina residents
Above-average J.D. Power customer satisfaction rating

Cons

Average annual premiums are higher than some competitors
AM Best changed outlook to negative in late 2023

Cheapest home insurance in South Carolina

Cincinnati offers the cheapest home insurance in South Carolina, with policyholders paying average annual premiums of $1,999 for $300,000 worth of dwelling coverage.

Here are some of the cheapest homeowners insurance companies in South Carolina.

Insurance Company ▲▼	Average Annual Premium ▲▼
Cincinnati Insurance	$1,999
Southern Fidelity	$2,004
Chubb	$2,065
Lighthouse Property Insurance	$2,128
Heritage Insurance Holdings	$2,149
ASI Progressive	$2,234
Allstate	$2,237
State Farm	$2,285
Bankers Insurance Group	$2,384
USAA	$2,508

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Cost of homeowners insurance in South Carolina

The average cost of home insurance in South Carolina is $3,082 for a policy with a $1,000 deductible and $300,000 in dwelling coverage, but several factors can affect your premiums.

If you purchase a flood insurance add-on, for example, your premiums may increase — but not necessarily. Certain home insurance companies offer cheaper policies than others, so it’s essential to shop around to find affordable coverage that meets your needs.

Other factors that influence your homeowners insurance costs include your chosen deductible, location, age and condition of your home, types of coverage you need, and more.^[2]

Why Is My Homeowners Insurance So Expensive?

Cost of homeowners insurance by dwelling coverage amount

Increasing the amount of dwelling coverage on your policy will also result in higher annual premiums. You’ll pay about $3,400 more per year if you choose $500,000 in dwelling coverage versus $100,000, for example.

The table below shows how average annual homeowners insurance premiums change based on coverage limits in South Carolina.

Coverage Limits ▲▼	Average Annual Premium ▲▼
$100,000	$1,410
$200,000	$2,254
$300,000	$3,082
$400,000	$4,025
$500,000	$4,895

Cost of homeowners insurance by deductible

Your home insurance rates will also vary based on your deductible. Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your homeowners coverage kicks in.

It’s common to see deductibles of $500 or $1,000, so if you file a claim after an incident, you’d need to pay that out of pocket before your insurance company covers any costs. Choosing a higher deductible typically results in lower annual premiums.

Deductible Amount ▲▼	Average Annual Premium ▲▼
$500	$3,144
$1,000	$3,082

How to get cheap homeowners insurance in South Carolina

If you’re searching for affordable insurance in South Carolina, you can take several steps to help lower your premiums. Comparison shopping for an affordable policy is important, but here are some other common savings strategies:

Increase your deductible. Increasing your deductible is one simple way to help lower your homeowners insurance premiums, sometimes by a fairly significant amount. Before you do this, consider your risk tolerance and whether you can afford to pay a higher deductible out of pocket in case an incident occurs.
Bundle your policies. If you need a homeowners policy and another insurance product — like life or auto insurance — consider buying them from the same company to save on both policies with a bundling discount.
Ask about discounts. Besides a bundling discount, ask your insurer about other applicable discounts. Common homeowners insurance discounts include paid-in-full, claims-free, and customer loyalty discounts.
Make strategic home improvements. Certain home improvements may also help you get cheaper coverage. For instance, reinforcing your home against property damage with storm shutters or a metal roof could make your policy more affordable. Other home improvements — like upgraded plumbing, HVAC, and more — may also reduce your insurance costs.

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How much homeowners insurance do you need in South Carolina?

Generally, you’ll want enough homeowners insurance coverage to repair or replace your home and personal property after a claim. And if you have a mortgage, your lender will require you to purchase a home insurance policy. But the amount of coverage you need depends on your individual preferences, risk level, and more. If you live on the beach, for example, you might buy additional coverage in case of issues like coastal floods and storm surges.

Before you purchase a home insurance policy, it’s essential to read the fine print to determine what the policy covers and what it doesn’t. This will help ensure your coverage aligns with your needs and preferences.

What are some of the biggest risks when owning a home in South Carolina?

While risks to your home vary depending on where you live in the country, your home and personal belongings are at risk no matter where you live, and South Carolina is no exception.

Here are three of the most common perils homeowners face in the Palmetto State.

Wind damage
The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources estimates an 80% annual likelihood of a tropical storm hitting the state. Hurricanes are also fairly common, and these storms can produce sustained winds of more than 100 mph.^[1] High winds can damage your roof, siding, shingles, gutters, and landscaping. The risk of downed trees is also a consideration during storms like these.
Storm surge
Storm surge is another risk to South Carolina homes. The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources estimates the highest storm tide on record was 20 feet above ground level, and it traveled nearly 10 miles inland up nearby rivers.^[1] While this risk is especially high for coastal residents, it can also affect homes further inland and in close proximity to rivers. People who want to protect their homes from storm surges should consider a flood add-on, as standard home insurance policies don’t typically cover flood damage.
Inland flooding
Sustained rains can also result in inland flooding, presenting another significant risk to South Carolina homes. People who live in areas prone to flooding might consider a flood insurance rider to protect their properties.

South Carolina homeowners insurance FAQs

Learn how to change your home insurance, and check out this additional information about South Carolina homeowners insurance below.

How much is home insurance in South Carolina?
The average cost of home insurance in South Carolina is $3,082 per year for $300,000 of dwelling coverage. But homeowners — especially on the coast — often purchase flood insurance, which can increase their home insurance costs.
Which company has the cheapest homeowners insurance in South Carolina?
Cincinnati Insurance is one of the cheapest home insurance companies in the state, with average annual premiums of $1,999 per year. Other affordable insurers include Southern Fidelity and Chubb, with respective annual premiums of $2,004 and $2,065.
Does South Carolina require homeowners insurance?
No. South Carolina law doesn’t require homeowners to purchase home insurance. But if you have a mortgage, your lender will likely require it. Even without requirements, it’s important to purchase home insurance to protect your property and assets.
What is the most common home insurance coverage in South Carolina?
An HO-3, or special form, policy is the most common type of home insurance coverage. It protects the physical structure of your home, your personal belongings, your liability if somebody is injured at your home, and your living expenses if you have to move out of your home temporarily while repairs are being made.

Methodology

Insurify’s team of data scientists analyze millions of home insurance quotes and weigh publicly available reviews, claims payout rates, complaint indexes, financial strength scores, company reputations, and proprietary quoting data. Our editorial team applies this insight to inform our unbiased reviews and recommendations.

More states

Sources

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. "SC Hurricanes Comprehensive Summary."
National Association of Insurance Commissioners. "A Consumer's Guide to Home Insurance."

Emily Guy Birken

Emily Guy Birken is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. Her background in education allows her to make complex financial topics relatable and easily understood by the layperson.

Her work has appeared on The Huffington Post, Business Insider, Kiplinger's, MSN Money, and The Washington Post online.

She is the author of several books, including The 5 Years Before You Retire, End Financial Stress Now, and the brand new book Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management, written with Joe Saul-Sehy.

Emily lives in Milwaukee with her family.

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Edited byAshley CoxSenior Managing Editor

Ashley CoxSenior Managing Editor

7+ years in content creation and management
5+ years in insurance and personal finance content

Ashley is a seasoned personal finance editor who’s produced a variety of digital content, including insurance, credit cards, mortgages, and consumer lending products.

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Data reviewed byAndrew HuangVP, Marketing & Analytics

Andrew HuangVP, Marketing & Analytics