Does homeowners or renters insurance cover lost items?
By Allstate
Last updated: February 2026
Key points
- Lost items are generally not covered by your property insurance unless it was related to a covered peril, such as theft or fire.
- Theft is usually covered by home or renters insurance (up to your policy’s limits). Your claim will be subject to your deductibles and possible exclusions.
- Scheduled personal property can cover accidental loss and could provide higher coverage limits.
- You may need to file a police report for your lost items, if theft is suspected. Be sure to review your insurance policy and file a claim if the loss is covered.
Say you are headed on vacation to the Caribbean and realize two hours into your flight that you left your phone under a chair in the airport. When you land, you call the airport and the airline, but your phone is nowhere to be found. That may leave you wondering whether your homeowners insurance or renters insurance will cover the loss.
Typically, the standard coverage included in a homeowners, condo or renters insurance policy does not cover the cost of lost items. Instead, those policies help cover specific risks, known as perils. So, while a phone or other items you own may be covered if they are stolen or damaged in a fire, that coverage typically won't extend to belongings that you lose or misplace.
Does homeowners or renters insurance cover theft?
Homeowners and renters insurance usually covers theft that occurs both at home and when you’re away, up to your policy limits. This means if your belongings are stolen from your luggage at the airport, or during a break-in while traveling, you can likely file a claim.
Just keep in mind that coverage for items stolen outside your home may have different limits, and a police report and proof of ownership, like receipts or photos, is typically required. Be sure to review your policy details as coverage can vary. For example, watches and rings might need extra protection (or a separate policy), and some situations could be excluded. Your deductible will also affect whether filing a claim is worthwhile.
Coverage limits and deductibles
Suppose your phone is stolen from your hotel room. Because theft is typically a covered peril, your homeowners or renters insurance may help pay to replace the stolen phone. Keep in mind that your policy's limits may be lower if the loss occurs while you're away from home with your belongings (this is sometimes called "off-premises personal property coverage"). Also remember that you'll likely need to pay your personal property coverage deductible toward a covered claim.
Finally, it's important to note that some valuable items, such as jewelry, may have lower limits for theft losses than other covered perils. Check your policy or contact your insurer with any questions about your coverage limits.
How can scheduled personal property help?
You may be able to add scheduled personal property coverage to your homeowners or renters insurance policy to help protect against lost items. Scheduled personal property is an optional coverage that you pay an extra premium for, on top of your standard personal property coverage. It allows you to "schedule," and increase coverage for, certain valuable belongings.
Scheduled items (e.g., expensive jewelry, musical instruments, firearms, cameras, art, and other collectibles) may be protected against additional risks, such as accidental loss. And higher limits are available for scheduled jewelry and firearms than the limits typically found in a standard homeowners or renters insurance policy.
You will likely need to get a professional appraisal to purchase scheduled personal property coverage. And, when you purchase coverage, you'll likely have to select a deductible (the amount you pay of a covered claim).
What to do if your item is lost or stolen?
If you lose an item or it is stolen, take these steps right away to improve your chances of finding it or getting reimbursed by your insurer.
- Search for your lost item: Retrace your steps, check areas where it normally belongs, ask people for help, and check lost-and-found services.
- Report the theft: If you determine your item was stolen, file a police report, providing a description, value, time, and location of the theft.
- Review your insurance policy: Check if your stolen item is covered under your homeowners or renters policy. Lost items are typically not covered.
- File a claim: If your item is covered, gather the necessary documentation and submit your claim to your insurer.
No one wants to experience a personal property loss, whether it's the result of accidentally leaving a belonging behind or a situation that's out of your control. Speak with your insurance provider to learn what kind of coverage you have in place and whether you may benefit from additional protections. Then, you can proceed with the peace of mind that comes with knowing you have safeguards in place should the unexpected happen.