Homeowners insurance in Illinois costs an average of $2,149 a year for $300,000 worth of dwelling coverage, fairly close to the national average of $2,329.
But not all policies are equal: Below, CNBC Select names the best options for homeowners insurance in the Prairie State in a variety of categories, including affordability, coverage options and optional add-ons. (Check out our methodology for more on how we made our choices.)
Best homeowners insurance in Illinois
Best for affordability: Allstate
Allstate Homeowners Insurance
Cost
The best way to estimate your costs is to request a quote
App available
Yes
Policy highlights
Allstate's homeowners insurance combines strong track records for customer satisfaction with affordability. While not available in all states, it is widely available across the U.S. It's also willing to work with homeowners who have unique needs like those with homes over 100 years old. Special features including unique homesharing coverage can help make your homeowners insurance policy even more useful.
Pros
- Offers several discounts, including bundling discounts for bundling home and auto insurance
- Coverage is available in all 50 states and Washington, D.C.
Cons
- New policies not available in California
Who's this for? Allstate has some of the lowest premiums of the companies we reviewed for homeowners insurance in Illinois. It also offers a variety of discounts, including up to 25% for bundling home and auto insurance.
Standout benefits: Allstate's HostAdvantage plan covers your property if you're renting it out on a homesharing platform like Airbnb or Vrbo.
Best for replacement cost coverage: Erie
Erie Homeowners Insurance
Policy highlights
Erie Insurance offers homeowners insurance with unique features, including coverage for gift cards if the business has closed, lost/damaged cash and precious metals and up to $500 for animals injured in a covered loss. Coverage for flooding, earthquakes, identity theft and high-value items available as add-ons. Guaranteed replacement cost coverage is available for both your dwelling and property
Maximum coverage
Not disclosed
Availability
Erie homeowners policies are available in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C.
Pros
- Policies offer 100% guaranteed replacement costs
- Scores highly for customer service with J.D. Power
- Customers who bundle auto and home insurance can save up to 25%
Cons
- Must work with agent to get quote and purchase policy
- Only available in 12 states and Washington, D.C.
- Restricts certain dog breeds
Who's this for? Erie's policies include replacement cost coverage, which means it will pay what it takes to rebuild your home, even if there's been depreciation or labor and material costs have risen.
Standout benefits: Erie is one of the top-ranked providers for customer satisfaction on J.D. Power's surveys of homeowners insurance and the claims process. It also receives far fewer complaints that companies of equivalent size, according to the National Association of Insurance Commisioners complaint index.
Best for optional add-ons: Amica
- Platinum Choice plan offers up to 130% of your dwelling coverage for rebuilding
- Some policies pay dividends
- Discounts of up to 30% off if you bundle home, auto, umbrella and life insurance
- Not offered in Hawaii or Alaska
- Dividend policies not available in every state
Who's this for? Amica has add-ons that can make your policy more robust, like flood insurance and coverage for electronics and water backup claims
Standout benefits: Amica homeowners policies are eligible for dividends, which can be given as a check or applied toward future premiums. Dividends average between 5% and 20% of yearly rates.
Best for high-value homes: Chubb
- Extended replacement cost available
- Complimentary home inspections and property services
- Cash settlement available if you decide not to rebuild
- Online quotes are not available
Who's this for? Chubb policies start at $1 million of dwelling coverage for homes with special features and can include liability coverage up to $100 million.
Standout benefits: Chubb offers customers free risk-consultation sessions, which can help you understand threats to your home and choose prevention options.
Read more: Chubb homeowners insurance review
Best for veterans and military: USAA
- Replacement cost and identity theft coverage are included with all policies
- USAA Perks™ has discounts on moving and storage, home security and cleaning services
- Claims-free discount available
- Covers uniforms and equipment for active-duty members
- Coverage and discounts are not available in all states
- Must become a USAA member in order to get a quote
Who's this for? Though only available to current and previous members of the armed forces and their families, USAA policies are among the lowest in the state. And while it's not officially ranked, it scored higher than any other company on J.D. Power's 2024 homeowners insurance survey.
Standout benefits: Replacement cost coverage is standard with USAA, so you won't have to worry about depreciation eating into your payout in the event of a covered loss.
How much is homeowners insurance in Illinois?
The average homeowners insurance policy in Illinois is about $2,149 per year for $300,000 of dwelling coverage, according to Bankrate, or about $180 a month. That's slightly below the national average of $2,329 per year.
Individual premiums will vary, however, based on your home's age, location and value, as well as your history of claims and other factors.
How to save on homeowners insurance in Illinois
There are several ways to lower your homeowners insurance premiums:
1. Bundle your coverage
Getting homeowners insurance from the same company that protects your car can save you up to 25% or more in annual premiums.
2. Raise your deductible
Choosing a higher deductible for homeowners insurance typically means paying less in premiums. Be sure you can afford to meet the new deductible, however, if you need to file a claim.
3. Improve your credit score
In most states, insurance companies can use your credit score to determine approval and rates. Raising you score a boost by paying bills on time and using less of your available credit can help lower your premiums.
4. Compare rates
Insurance companies will offer different premiums for the same coverage. Get price quotes from at least three companies that issue policies in Illinois to see which offers the most bang for your buck.
Homeowners insurance in Illinois FAQs
What is the best homeowners insurance in Illinois?
Why did homeowners insurance go up in Illinois?
Homeowners insurance premiums are rising across the U.S. for a variety of reasons, including higher building and construction costs and an increase in the number and seriousness of natural disasters.
Who has the cheapest homeowners insurance in Illinois?
According to our analysis, Allstate has the most affordable homeowners insurance rates in Illinois. However, prices can vary widely based on the size, age and value of your home, as well as your claims history and credit score. Get quotes from several companies to be sure that you've found the most affordable option for you.
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Why trust CNBC Select?
At CNBC Select, our mission is to provide our readers with high-quality service journalism and comprehensive consumer advice so they can make informed decisions with their money. Every insurance review is based on rigorous reporting by our team of expert writers and editors with extensive knowledge of insurance products. To research the best insurance companies, we compiled over 50 data points on more than a dozen insurance companies. While CNBC Select earns a commission from affiliate partners on many offers and links, we create all our content without input from our commercial team or any outside third parties, and we pride ourselves on our journalistic standards and ethics.
Our methodology
CNBC Select analyzed more than a dozen companies that issue homeowners policies in Illinois, considering cost, coverage limits, endorsements, discounts and online experience.
We incorporated customer satisfaction ratings from J.D. Power and the National Association of Insurance Commissioners complaint index, as well as financial strength ratings from A.M. Best.
Average annual premiums came from Bankrate analysis of data from Quadrant Information Services for $300,000 of dwelling coverage for a couple with good credit and a clean claims history insuring a house built in 2017.
We also considered CNBC Select audience data when available, such as general demographics and engagement with our content and tools.
Based on these criteria, our picks for the best homeowners insurance in Illinois are:
- Best for replacement cost coverage: Erie
- Best for optional coverage: Amica
- Best for affordability: Allstate
- Best for high-value homes: Chubb
- Best for military members and veterans: USAA
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