What renters in Tennessee actually pay for insurance, from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ 2023 Homeowners Insurance Report (published July 2026) — plus why Dixie Alley keeps the state in the top ten, and the two perils a standard policy skips.
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Tennessee at a glance
The figures below are the NAIC’s state average HO-4 (renters) premium for Tennessee — total premiums divided by total policies, 2023 policy year, published July 2026.
Average renters premium · Tennessee$189/yr~$16 a month · #9 of 51 states (1 = priciest) · 109% of the US average
$189/yrAverage annual premium (NAIC 2023)
~$16/moMonthly equivalent
109%Of the national average
#9 of 51Price rank (1 = priciest)
Tennessee$189/yrTennessee average · ~$16/mo
+$16/yrvs national average
National average$173/yrAll 50 states + DC
Tennessee vs the country
Mississippi · priciest state$263/yr
Alabama · neighbor$219/yr
Georgia · neighbor$206/yr
Tennessee · your state · #9$189/yr
United States average$173/yr
Kentucky · neighbor$160/yr
South Dakota · cheapest state$125/yr
How it works: figures are the NAIC’s state average HO-4 (renters) premiums — total premiums divided by total policies, 2023 policy year, published July 2026. Monthly = annual ÷ 12. Rank is out of all 50 states + DC, priciest first. These are premiums paid, averaged across coverage amounts — a quote for a specific $30k/$100k policy will differ. Nothing you type leaves your device.
How this number is measured
The $189 figure isn’t a quote — it’s what Tennessee renters actually paid on average. The NAIC collects HO-4 (renters) premiums from every insurer, divides by policies in force, and publishes the state average. That makes it the cleanest benchmark available: same method, same policy form, every state, no marketing spin.
Output · formula · meaning
Output
Formula
What it means
Average annual premium
Σ premiums ÷ policies
What the typical Tennessee renter pays per year: $189.
Monthly equivalent
annual ÷ 12
The monthly budget figure: about $16.
Index vs US average
state avg ÷ $173 × 100
Tennessee sits at 109% of the national average — 9 points above the typical state.
Price rank
sorted, priciest first
Tennessee is #9 of 51 — the ninth-priciest state for renters insurance.
3 things Tennessee renters should know
No Tennessee law requires renters insurance. The requirement comes from the lease — and many Tennessee landlords require it, often with a liability minimum. Your lease, not the state, is the document that decides.
The wind is why the state sits at #9. Tennessee is squarely in Dixie Alley: the March 2020 outbreak killed 25 Tennesseans, with a violent EF4 striking Cookeville and 19 deaths in Putnam County, and the December 2021 quad-state tornado crossed northwestern Tennessee. Tornado and straight-line-wind damage to your belongings is covered as a wind peril under a standard HO-4 policy — which is exactly why carriers price Tennessee wind risk into every quote.
Two perils need separate coverage. Flood is excluded from every HO-4 policy — after the May 2010 Nashville flood, that gap needs no explanation; renters can buy contents-only flood coverage through the NFIP. Earthquake is excluded too, and it matters here: the New Madrid seismic zone sits just across the river from Memphis, so an earthquake endorsement is worth pricing. One more Tennessee-specific rule: the state allows credit-based insurance scoring, but insurers must re-rate you at least every 36 months and cannot deny or cancel a policy on credit alone.
Who uses this page
Movers: budgeting a move to Tennessee — is $16/month about right for your renters policy?
Lease shoppers: checking whether the number your agent quoted is anywhere near the state average.
Landlords: setting the insurance clause in a lease — know what “typical” costs your tenants.
Researchers & students: the NAIC figures are public statistics — cite them with the block below.
Accuracy & limitations
These are 2023-policy-year averages published in July 2026 — the freshest official data available, but your 2026 quote will differ by ZIP code, building construction, coverage limits, deductible, claims history, and credit-based insurance score. Treat $189/yr as a benchmark, not a quote. Nashville and Memphis quotes run above the state average; smaller cities and rural areas run below it.
Cite this pageBright Side Kit. “Average Renters Insurance Cost in Tennessee.” brightoolbox.com, 2026.Bright Side Kit. "Average Renters Insurance Cost in Tennessee." https://brightoolbox.com/renters-insurance-cost-tennessee/ Accessed October 22, 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
Is renters insurance required in Tennessee?
No state law requires it — no US state mandates renters insurance. Landlords can, and many Tennessee landlords do, require it as a lease condition, often with a liability minimum. If your lease requires it, you need the policy to keep the lease.
How much is renters insurance in Tennessee per month?
The state average premium is about $16 a month ($189 a year) according to NAIC 2023 data — 109% of the national average, ranking 9th of 51 states. Nashville and Memphis run above the average; smaller cities and rural areas run below it.
Why is Tennessee one of the priciest states for renters insurance?
Renters premiums track the claims mix on renters policies — theft, fire, water damage, liability, and wind. Tennessee sits in Dixie Alley with one of the country’s most active tornado corridors: the March 2020 outbreak alone killed 25 Tennesseans. More wind claims per policy means a higher average premium.
Does Tennessee renters insurance cover tornado damage?
Yes — tornadoes, straight-line wind, and hail are covered as wind perils under a standard HO-4 policy, so damage to your belongings from a tornado is covered. What’s not covered: flooding from the storm and earthquakes, which need separate policies or endorsements.
Does renters insurance in Tennessee cover floods or earthquakes?
No to both on a standard policy. Flood needs a separate contents-only policy through the National Flood Insurance Program — worth considering anywhere near the Cumberland, Tennessee, or Mississippi rivers. Earthquake needs an endorsement, and it matters in West Tennessee because of the New Madrid seismic zone across the river from Memphis.
Does my credit score affect renters insurance in Tennessee?
Yes — Tennessee allows insurers to use credit-based insurance scores when pricing personal lines including renters insurance. State law requires insurers to re-check your score at least every 36 months, and they cannot deny, cancel, or non-renew a policy solely because of credit information.
What’s the cheapest way to lower my Tennessee renters insurance?
Raise the deductible (after confirming you could cover it from savings), bundle with auto insurance, pay annually instead of monthly, and keep your credit healthy — Tennessee permits credit-based insurance scoring. The full playbook is in the how to lower your renters insurance guide.