Do I need art insurance?

If you have artwork worth more than a few hundred pounds, insurance is strongly recommended. Home contents insurance often excludes or limits art cover. Specialist art insurance covers theft, fire, accidental damage and water damage.

What types of art insurance are there?

Studio cover protects work in your studio, exhibition cover protects during shows, storage cover is for offsite storage, and all-risk cover includes all locations plus transit. Transit cover can be added separately.

How is art insurance priced?

Premiums are typically 0.3-1.2% of the total insured value per year, depending on coverage type and risk. Studio-only cover is cheapest, all-risk is most expensive. Most policies have a minimum annual premium of £50-100.

How do I value my artwork for insurance?

Use the retail replacement value — what you would sell the piece for, or what it would cost to commission a replacement. Keep a photographic inventory with valuations updated annually.

Does insurance cover artwork in transit?

Standard studio policies usually exclude transit. Add transit cover separately if you regularly ship or transport work to exhibitions. Transit cover typically adds 0.3% of total value.

ArtCalcs

Insurance Calculator — Art Insurance Premiums

Estimate art insurance premiums based on artwork value and coverage type.

Average Value per Piece

Number of Pieces

Coverage Type

Transit Cover

How We Calculate This

How Art Insurance Premiums Work

Annual premium = Total insured value x Rate

Rates vary by coverage type: studio (0.5%), exhibition (0.8%), storage (0.3%), all-risk (1.2%). Transit cover adds 0.3% separately. Most policies have a minimum annual premium of around £50.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

Artwork Pricing Calculator

Calculate a fair price for your artwork based on size, materials, time and experience level. Covers material costs and labour.

Commission Calculator

Work out art commission pricing including complexity adjustments, revision fees, rush surcharges, licensing and deposit breakdowns.

Gallery Commission Calculator

Calculate your take-home amount after gallery commission, VAT and costs. Works for UK galleries with standard commission rates.

Material Cost Calculator

Track and total all material costs for an artwork or project. Includes canvas, paint, brushes, mediums and a waste allowance.

Hourly Rate Calculator

Calculate your effective hourly rate from artwork sales. See what you actually earn per hour after deducting materials and overheads.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Always verify quantities before purchasing materials.