How to use the percentage deductible calculator
Find your dwelling limit (Coverage A) and your percentage deductible on your declarations page. Many coastal policies list a separate hurricane, named-storm or wind/hail deductible next to the regular “all other perils” deductible. Enter the dwelling limit, the percentage, a sample repair cost and your flat deductible.
A second worked example
What the result means
The difference shows how much more you would pay yourself because of the percentage deductible in that scenario. A large difference means you need more cash on hand for a storm or quake.
| Deductible type | How it is set | Example on a $300,000 home | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat (dollar) | A fixed amount | $1,000 | Most claims (all other perils) |
| 1% | Share of insured value | $3,000 | Hurricane or wind in some areas |
| 2% | Share of insured value | $6,000 | Hurricane or wind |
| 5% | Share of insured value | $15,000 | Hurricane or wind in high-risk areas |
| 15% | Share of insured value | $45,000 | Earthquake |
State rules that change the answer
- Triggers. A hurricane deductible applies only when its trigger is met, such as the National Weather Service naming a storm or issuing a watch or warning. Triggers vary by state and insurer, according to the Insurance Information Institute (accessed October 2026).
- Per season or per storm. Florida and Louisiana apply hurricane deductibles once per season, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Florida’s rules for hurricane deductibles are in Florida Statutes 627.701.
- Earthquake. California Earthquake Authority policies offer dwelling deductibles from 5% to 25%, as of October 2026.
- Mandatory or optional. In some places you can buy a dollar deductible for a higher premium; in high-risk areas the percentage may be required.
Common mistakes
- Reading 2% as 2% of the damage. It is 2% of the insured value.
- Expecting a payout for moderate damage. Damage below the deductible is paid by you.
- Shrinking your dwelling limit to cut the deductible. That risks underinsurance after a total loss. Our dwelling coverage estimator helps check your limit.
- Forgetting flood. Hurricane damage from storm surge is flood, which homeowners policies usually exclude; see our flood and earthquake insurance guide.
Planning for a percentage deductible
Treat the deductible amount as a savings goal before storm season. If the number is more than you could pay, ask your insurer about lower percentage options and their price, and compare with our deductible calculator. Our homeowners insurance coverage guide explains how deductibles fit with the rest of your policy.
How the calculation works in plain words
The tool first turns your percentage into dollars by applying it to your dwelling limit: 2% of $300,000 is $6,000. It then subtracts that amount from the repair cost you entered to find what the policy would pay. If the repair cost is smaller than the deductible, the payout is $0, because you pay all of it.
For comparison, it does the same subtraction using your flat deductible. The difference between the two payouts is how much more you would pay yourself because the deductible is a percentage instead of a flat amount. The tool assumes all the damage is to the house and is covered; real claims can include other structures, belongings and loss of use, each with its own rules.
Questions to ask your insurer
- Which perils have a percentage deductible? Hurricane, named storm, wind and hail, and earthquake deductibles can each work differently.
- What triggers the hurricane deductible? Ask whether it applies when a storm is named, when a watch or warning is issued, or by wind speed, and for how long.
- Is the percentage based on my dwelling limit or another value? Some policies use the total insured value.
- What lower percentages are available, and at what price? A lower percentage usually costs more each year.
- Does it apply per storm or per season? This matters in years with more than one storm.
Write down the answers and rerun the calculator with your real numbers, so you know how much cash to set aside before storm season.
Where to find your numbers
Your dwelling limit and deductibles are on your declarations page. Look for lines such as “hurricane deductible”, “named storm deductible”, “wind/hail deductible” or “earthquake deductible”, shown as a percentage or as a dollar figure already calculated. If you see only a percentage, enter your Coverage A limit and that percentage. Your regular “all other perils” deductible is usually listed nearby; use it as the flat deductible. For the repair cost, try a few round numbers, such as $10,000, $25,000 and $50,000, to see where the policy starts to pay.
