HowMuchIsHomeInsurance.com is an independent informational resource. We are not an insurance company, broker, or agent. Cost estimates are for general guidance only. Always obtain quotes from licensed insurers.
Consumer guide, not a quote engine. Every cost figure on this site is sourced. Last reviewed April 2026.
Home/Scheduled Personal Property Cost

How Much Does Scheduled Personal Property Cost? 1 to 2 per cent of value per year.

Scheduled personal property (often called a floater or inland marine endorsement) is the line item that lets a $10,000 engagement ring, a $40,000 watch collection, a $75,000 fine art piece, or a $15,000 firearm be fully covered for theft, mysterious disappearance, and accidental loss anywhere in the world. The standard HO-3 and HO-5 policy applies category sub-limits (typically $1,500 to $2,500 for jewelry theft, similar caps for firearms and silverware) that fall well short of typical higher-value items. Scheduling costs 1 to 2 per cent of insured value per year for jewelry and watches, 0.3 to 1 per cent for fine art, and pays out without the standard policy deductible on the scheduled item. Below: exactly which sub-limits the base policy applies, how the floater closes them, what the appraisal process looks like, and which items genuinely need to be scheduled versus which can stay under the base policy with no real loss of coverage.

Scheduled personal property: typical 2026 rates
CategoryAnnual rate per $100 of valueCost on $10,000 of value
Jewelry (engagement rings, watches)$1.00 to $2.00$100 to $200 / yr
Fine art and antiques$0.30 to $1.00$30 to $100 / yr
Firearms$1.00 to $1.50$100 to $150 / yr
Furs$0.50 to $1.00$50 to $100 / yr
Silverware and silverplate$0.40 to $0.80$40 to $80 / yr
Stamps and coin collections$0.50 to $1.50$50 to $150 / yr
Musical instruments (non-professional)$0.30 to $0.60$30 to $60 / yr
Cameras and photographic equipment$1.00 to $2.00$100 to $200 / yr
Rates from aggregated 2025-2026 carrier filings. Geographic loading applies in high-loss-density urban areas. Professional musicians, photographers, and dealers typically need commercial inland marine, not personal floater rates.

The sub-limits the base policy applies

The standard HO-3 and HO-5 policy includes Coverage C (personal property) at typically 50 to 75 per cent of Coverage A (dwelling). On a $500,000 dwelling that is $250,000 to $375,000 of personal property coverage. The sub-limits do not affect this overall coverage; they apply within Coverage C to specific categories of high-theft or high-value items. Typical 2026 sub-limits per ISO standard policy and most carrier proprietary forms:

  • Jewelry and watches. $1,500 for theft. Note: this is for theft; fire and other covered perils use the full Coverage C limit.
  • Furs. $1,500 for theft.
  • Firearms and related accessories. $2,500 for theft.
  • Silverware, goldware, and pewterware. $2,500 for theft.
  • Money, banknotes, bullion, coins. $200 for any cause of loss.
  • Securities, deeds, manuscripts. $1,500 for any cause of loss.
  • Watercraft (including trailers and motors). $1,500.
  • Trailers (non-watercraft). $1,500.
  • Business property on premises. $2,500.
  • Business property off premises. $500.

The sub-limits apply to the total category, not per item. A homeowner with $4,000 of jewelry, $3,000 of firearms, and $5,000 of silverware has $12,000 of items in three sub-limited categories with combined theft coverage of $6,500. The remaining $5,500 is uncovered for theft.

What scheduling actually does

Adding the scheduled personal property endorsement does three structural things:

  • Removes the sub-limit. The scheduled item's value becomes its limit, no longer constrained by the category sub-limit on the base Coverage C.
  • Broadens the perils. Most scheduled floaters cover "all-risk" or "open peril" cause of loss, including mysterious disappearance and accidental loss. The base policy is named-peril for personal property on the HO-3 (only covers listed perils like fire, theft, smoke, etc.) and excludes mysterious disappearance under most circumstances.
  • Removes the deductible on the scheduled item. Most scheduled property claims pay from dollar one, no policy deductible applied. The base policy deductible (typically $1,000 to $2,500) does not apply to scheduled-item claims.

Scheduling also typically provides worldwide coverage. An engagement ring scheduled on your home insurance is covered if lost in a hotel in Paris just as if lost from your nightstand. The base policy's off-premises coverage caps personal property at 10 per cent of Coverage C while away from the home, which can also under-cover.

The appraisal process

Carriers commonly require an appraisal for items above $5,000 to $10,000 in value, depending on the carrier's threshold and the item type. The appraisal must be from a qualified appraiser:

  • Diamonds and coloured gemstones. A GIA-certified gemologist or a gemologist with credentials from the American Society of Appraisers (ASA), Appraisers Association of America (AAA), or comparable body. Appraisal typically $75 to $200 per piece for a basic written appraisal.
  • Fine art. A certified appraiser member of ASA or AAA with documented expertise in the relevant period or medium. Appraisal typically $200 to $1,500 per piece depending on research required.
  • Antiques and collectibles. A specialised appraiser; large items may require an in-home visit ($150 to $500 plus mileage).
  • Firearms. An NRA-certified firearms appraiser or qualified dealer. Modern production firearms typically use blue book pricing; collectibles and historical pieces need formal appraisal.

Appraisals should be current; most carriers want appraisals within 2 to 3 years for jewelry (gold and gemstone market values shift), 5 years for fine art (depending on market activity), and 5 years for firearms. Update at least every renewal cycle if the item value is material.

Blanket scheduling for moderate collections

For collections of moderate-value items where per-item appraisal would be expensive, many carriers offer blanket scheduling. Under a blanket schedule, you provide an aggregate value (the total worth of the collection) and a per-item maximum (typically $2,500 to $5,000 per item without specific appraisal), and the carrier issues coverage on those terms without requiring item-by-item documentation.

Blanket schedules suit moderate-value jewelry collections (rings, earrings, necklaces under $5,000 each), camera collections, china and crystal collections, and similar. Higher-value individual pieces (an engagement ring above the blanket per-item cap, a single high-end watch, a significant fine art piece) should be specifically scheduled in addition to the blanket.

Which items genuinely need scheduling

Not every personal item needs to be scheduled. The base policy adequately covers most household contents. Items where scheduling is clearly worth the premium:

  • Engagement rings and wedding bands above $2,500.
  • Watches above $2,500 worn outside the home.
  • Fine art or antiques where individual pieces exceed $5,000.
  • Firearms collections exceeding $2,500 aggregate, or any individual firearm above the sub-limit.
  • Inherited silverware, china, or family heirlooms with provenance.
  • Musical instruments above $2,500 (a moderate guitar collection, a quality piano, a brass or string instrument).
  • Camera equipment above $2,500 (typical mirrorless body + lenses can exceed this quickly).
  • Coin or stamp collections of any meaningful value.

Items where the base policy is usually adequate:

  • General household furniture, electronics, appliances, clothing (covered under Coverage C with no special sub-limit).
  • Modest jewelry below the $1,500 theft sub-limit.
  • Tools and equipment for household use.
  • Sporting equipment, books, kitchenware.

Where this fits in the broader policy

Scheduling pairs naturally with other gap-closing endorsements: water backup coverage for basement loss, ordinance and law for code-upgrade costs after a covered loss, and equipment breakdown for appliance and HVAC failure. For high-value households where scheduled property dominates the personal property exposure, the $1 million home insurance cost page walks the typical high-net-worth carrier product structure. For the base policy form context see coverage types.

Sources: Insurance Information Institute, ISO HO-3 and HO-5 standard policy forms (commercial reference), Gemological Institute of America, American Society of Appraisers, Appraisers Association of America, NerdWallet 2025-2026 floater pricing data. Accessed April 2026.

Scheduled personal property: frequently asked

How much does scheduled personal property cost?
For jewelry and watches: typically 1 to 2 per cent of insured value per year. A $10,000 ring scheduled at $1.50 per $100 of value costs $150 per year. For fine art: 0.3 to 1 per cent typically. A $50,000 painting scheduled at $0.50 per $100 costs $250 per year. Firearms typically run 1 to 1.5 per cent. Furs run 0.5 to 1 per cent. Silverware, collectibles, and stamps vary by category. Pricing depends on the item type, claim history, and where the items are typically located (in-home only or worldwide).
Why is jewelry coverage limited under standard home insurance?
Standard HO-3 and HO-5 policies apply special category sub-limits to high-theft and high-value items. Typical default sub-limits in 2026: jewelry $1,500 for theft, $2,500 for watches, $2,500 for firearms (theft), $2,500 for silverware (theft), $1,500 for furs (theft). These sub-limits apply to the total category, not per item. A homeowner with a $5,000 engagement ring and a $3,000 watch has $8,000 of items but only $1,500 of theft coverage; the remaining $6,500 is uncovered for theft. Scheduling moves the items above the sub-limit and adds broader peril coverage.
What does scheduled personal property cover that the base policy does not?
Three structural differences. First, no sub-limit (the scheduled value is the limit). Second, mysterious disappearance (the engagement ring slips off in the parking lot and is never found) is typically covered on a schedule, not under the base policy. Third, broader perils, including accidental loss and damage from dropping an item, that the base policy excludes. Scheduling also typically has zero deductible on the scheduled item, while base policy theft and damage claims apply the standard policy deductible.
Do I need an appraisal to schedule jewelry?
Usually yes for items above $5,000 to $10,000. Most carriers require a current appraisal (typically within 2 to 3 years) from a qualified appraiser (GIA for diamonds, accredited gemologist, certified appraiser member of ASA or AAA for fine art). For items below that threshold, a sales receipt may suffice. Appraisal costs $50 to $150 per jewelry item, $200 to $1,000+ for fine art depending on complexity. Some carriers blanket-schedule jewelry up to a stated per-item and aggregate limit without per-item appraisal, useful for moderate-value collections.
Is scheduled personal property worldwide coverage?
Typically yes. Most scheduled property floaters cover items anywhere in the world, regardless of whether the item is in your home, on your person, in a hotel safe abroad, or temporarily stored elsewhere. This is a meaningful upgrade over base policy off-premises coverage, which typically limits unscheduled personal property to 10 per cent of Coverage C while away from the home. Worldwide scheduled coverage is the standard for engagement rings, watches typically worn outside the home, and travel-jewelry collections.
Should I schedule my engagement ring on home insurance?
For any engagement ring valued above $1,500 to $2,500, scheduling is almost always rational. The default theft sub-limit on jewelry leaves higher-value rings substantially uncovered, mysterious disappearance is not covered under the base policy, and the cost is typically $15 to $30 per $1,000 of value per year. A $7,500 ring costs $112 to $225 per year to schedule with broad coverage and no deductible on the scheduled item.
Does scheduled personal property cover mysterious disappearance?
Yes, on most scheduled floater forms. Mysterious disappearance (you know the item is gone but cannot identify when or where you lost it) is a covered cause of loss on standard scheduled personal property floaters. The base homeowners policy typically excludes mysterious disappearance, requiring a covered peril (theft, fire, vandalism) for a payable claim. This is one of the most consequential differences between scheduled and unscheduled coverage for items worn or carried daily.
Last reviewed: April 2026Next review: July 2026. Full sources »

Updated 2026-04-27