Use the contents calculator to learn what your belongings are worth
Get a quick estimate so you can feel confident in your contents cover.
The Sum Insurance contents calculator estimates the value of your household contents using values supplied by Sum Insured Pty Ltd, New Zealand and Australia’s leading provider of building contents cost information. It’s a helpful starting point when setting up or reviewing your house insurance or landlord insurance cover.
If you have existing contents insurance you would like to amend, log in to your dashboard and make a change.
Go to contents calculator Learn about our replacement contents cover
Key takeaways
- A contents calculator is a useful starting point when setting up or reviewing house insurance or landlord insurance cover, but customers should review the estimate to make sure it reflects their own belongings.
- Homeowners’ contents generally includes personal belongings such as furniture, clothing, electronics and everyday household items.
- Landlord contents cover is more limited and generally relates to items provided with the property, such as carpets, curtains, blinds and appliances, rather than tenant belongings.
- Some high-value items may need to be specified if they exceed standard policy limits.
- Many everyday belongings are automatically covered, subject to policy limits and conditions.
- Most contents claims are settled on a new-for-old basis, although some items are settled at market value.
- Existing customers can update their contents cover at any time through their online dashboard, but contents cover must be added to a home policy and is not available as a standalone policy.
How your contents are covered
House vs landlord contents
Contents can mean different things depending on how the property is used.
- For homeowners, contents usually refers to your personal belongings like furniture, clothing, electronics, and everyday items.
- For landlords, contents cover is typically more limited. It usually includes items you provide with the property, such as carpets, curtains, blinds, and appliances, but not your tenant’s belongings.
Make sure you’re using the right approach when using a contents calculator, so your cover reflects what you actually need.
Learn more about the differences between contents cover options.
Which items need to be specified
Some belongings have a sub-limit, which means there’s a cap on how much we’ll pay for them. If an item is worth more than the limit shown in our support guide, you can list it as a specified item.
Learn which items need to specified
Which contents items are automatically covered in initio’s policy
Many everyday belongings might be automatically included in your cover without needing to be listed individually.
We’ve created a simple guide answering common “am I covered?” questions to help you see what’s typically included with an initio contents policy. It’s only a helpful guide, so always check your policy wording for full details. If you’re still unsure, reach out to us or use an AI search tool to review your policy, and always double-check the results.
What contents are covered for market value
Most contents are covered on a new-for-old basis, meaning we replace items with new equivalents. Some items, however, are settled at their current market value instead.
Other criteria and limits apply, so check your policy wording for full details.
Check which items are covered for market value
How to add or update contents cover
You can add contents to your insurance or adjust your cover at any time through your online dashboard.
If you already have a policy, simply log in and adjust your details in a few clicks. Any changes you make will show straight away. Currently, contents cover isn’t available as a stand-alone policy and must be added to a home policy.
Learn more about how to make a change.
Calculate your house sum insured
Now that you’ve worked out your contents, you might be ready to calculate your house sum insured.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change my contents insurance amount?
Yes. Existing customers can log into their initio dashboard and update their contents cover. Changes will show straight away.
What is the difference between homeowner contents and landlord contents?
Homeowner contents generally covers your personal belongings, such as furniture, clothing and electronics.
Landlord contents is usually more limited and covers items provided with the rental property, such as carpets, curtains, blinds and appliances. It does not cover your tenant’s belongings.
Is a contents calculator accurate?
A contents calculator provides an estimate to help you start working out your contents value. You should review the result and adjust your cover if your belongings are worth more or less than the estimate.
Related articles
- Do I have contents cover?
- Contents insurance basics
- How do I add contents insurance to my policy?
- How to read an insurance policy
Written by Megan Fisher. Initio’s Head of Marketing
Megan has been with initio since 2022 and creates customer-focused content that helps New Zealand homeowners and landlords understand insurance in plain English. She works closely with initio’s claims, customer support, and development teams to make sure content is accurate, useful, and easy to follow. She has more than 20 years of experience in marketing and product strategy.