Best General Liability Insurance for Contractors in 2026

Affiliate disclosure: Dareable earns a commission when you purchase coverage through links on this page. This does not affect our recommendations. We evaluate providers on coverage quality, not commission rates.

General liability insurance for contractors is not a commodity purchase. A $1 million per occurrence policy from one carrier can look identical to another on paper and perform very differently when a $180,000 property damage claim comes in. The difference lives in the exclusions, the claims-handling process, and whether the policy form is designed for contractors or retrofitted from a retail template.

These five providers have been evaluated specifically for contractors: general contractors, subcontractors, remodelers, and trade contractors (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, landscaping). The evaluation criteria are explained in the methodology section.

Quick Summary

Provider	Best For	Avg Monthly Cost
Next Insurance	Sole proprietors and small crews, fast online quote	$29/mo
Hiscox	Established contractors needing higher limits	$40/mo
The Hartford	Contractors who want bundled GL + commercial auto	$55/mo
Simply Business	Comparing multiple quotes in one place	Varies by carrier
Thimble	Project-based or seasonal contractors	$17/mo per project

Cost estimates are illustrative averages for a sole proprietor general contractor with $200,000 annual revenue and $1M/$2M limits. Your quote will vary based on trade, state, revenue, and loss history.

Why We Picked These Providers

These five cover the range of contractor needs: fast digital coverage for smaller operations, established carriers with deep limits for larger firms, a multi-quote comparison tool, and short-term coverage for project-based work. We excluded carriers that do not actively write contractor GL (many general commercial insurers do not), have weak claims reputations in the contractor space, or require broker-only access that prevents online comparison.

Provider Reviews

Next Insurance

Next Insurance writes contractor GL digitally with a quote process that takes under five minutes. Coverage includes $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate as the standard, with higher limits available. Certificates of insurance (COIs) are available instantly through the app, useful for contractors who need to pull COIs on job sites frequently.

Best for: Sole proprietors, owner-operators, small LLCs (1-5 employees) across most trades: general contracting, landscaping, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, painting.

What it costs: $29 to $80 per month for most sole props and small operations, rising with revenue and trade risk class. Roofers and structural contractors price higher due to elevated loss exposure.

One thing to watch: Next Insurance uses its own policy form (not the standard ISO CGL form). For contractors who need to satisfy lender or GC requirements that specify "ISO CGL form" or "occurrence form," verify the form type before purchasing. Most COI requirements do not specify the form, but some do.

Affiliate link: Get a quote from Next Insurance

Hiscox

Hiscox has written contractor and trade GL for over 20 years in the US. Their policy form is designed for the trades, with language that addresses contractor-specific exposures like work-in-progress coverage, subcontractor liability, and completed operations. Limits go up to $5M per occurrence for contractors with higher exposure.

Best for: Remodelers and general contractors with $500,000 to $5M in annual revenue. Contractors who need completed operations coverage at higher limits. Any contractor with a GC or lender requiring specific coverage provisions.

What it costs: $40 to $120 per month depending on trade, revenue, and limits selected. Hiscox tends to price 20 to 40 percent higher than Next Insurance for equivalent limits on simple trades, but the spread narrows on higher-risk work.

One thing to watch: Hiscox's online application may refer you to a broker for certain trade types and higher revenues. This adds time. If you are a roofing contractor, structural contractor, or have had prior claims, expect additional underwriting questions.

The Hartford

The Hartford is one of the oldest commercial insurers in the US with strong contractor GL offerings, particularly through their small business platform. Their strength is bundled coverage: The Hartford writes GL, workers comp, commercial auto, and BOP, so contractors can consolidate everything with one carrier and potentially reduce total premium.

Best for: Contractors with employees (5+) who need GL plus workers comp in the same program. Businesses already using The Hartford for one line who want to add GL. Contractors in states where The Hartford has strong pricing (notably PA, OH, NY).

What it costs: $55 to $150 per month for a small contractor, rising significantly with payroll (workers comp is priced on payroll). The GL component alone is competitive with Hiscox; the value is in bundling.

One thing to watch: The Hartford's digital quote experience is less polished than Next Insurance or Hiscox. For complex trade classes, you may need to work through an agent to get the best pricing.

Simply Business

Simply Business is a UK-based insurance marketplace that operates in the US, connecting contractors with quotes from multiple carriers simultaneously. You fill out one application and receive quotes from Hiscox, Markel, Employers Holdings, and others in their network.

Best for: Contractors who want to compare several options at once rather than applying to each carrier individually. Useful when you are shopping on price and want to verify that Next Insurance or Hiscox is actually the cheapest option for your specific situation.

What it costs: Varies by carrier. Simply Business does not charge a separate fee: carriers pay them a commission. You may see different prices for the same coverage from different carriers in their system, which is the point.

One thing to watch: Simply Business quotes do not cover every carrier. You are comparing the carriers in their network, not the full market. For a truly exhaustive comparison, you would need to also quote directly with carriers not in their network.

Thimble

Thimble offers short-term GL coverage by the job, by the month, or by the year. Their product is unique in the market: you can buy coverage for a single weekend job and get a certificate in under 60 seconds.

Best for: Independent contractors and gig workers who take on project work sporadically. Contractors who are adding a one-time job outside their usual trade. Anyone who needs a certificate quickly to start a job the same day.

What it costs: Job-based coverage starts at $17 for a short engagement. Monthly policies for active contractors run $40 to $80. Annual policies are priced competitively with Next Insurance for lower-revenue contractors.

One thing to watch: Thimble's short-term model means coverage gaps between jobs. For a full-time contractor with continuous work, an annual policy from Next Insurance, Hiscox, or The Hartford is more appropriate than stringing together monthly Thimble policies.

How We Evaluated These Providers

Coverage quality. We reviewed policy forms for contractor-specific language: work-in-progress coverage, subcontractor liability provisions, completed operations coverage, and what happens when a GC is named as additional insured.

Claims reputation. We reviewed AM Best ratings, Better Business Bureau data, and contractor industry forums for claims experience. AM Best ratings: Next Insurance (A-), Hiscox (A), The Hartford (A+), Simply Business varies by carrier, Thimble (A-).

Cost benchmarks. Quotes were pulled for a hypothetical sole proprietor general contractor in Texas with $200,000 annual revenue and $1M/$2M limits. Costs vary significantly by state and trade.

Online experience. Contractors frequently need COIs fast and coverage changes on short notice. We weighted the quality of the digital experience and COI issuance speed.

Trade coverage breadth. Some carriers limit which trades they will write, exclude certain work types (roofing, excavation, foundation work), or require additional exclusions that reduce the utility of the policy.

How to Get a Quote

The fastest path for most contractors: start with Next Insurance. Five minutes, instant certificate, no broker required. If your trade is higher-risk (roofing, structural, excavation) or your revenue is above $500,000, add Hiscox to your comparison. If you have employees and need workers comp as well, quote The Hartford at the same time to see whether bundling saves money.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much GL insurance do contractors need?

Most GCs and lenders require a minimum of $1M per occurrence and $2M aggregate. For commercial projects, $2M per occurrence with a $4M aggregate is increasingly standard. Trade contractors working as subs on large commercial jobs may be required to carry $5M limits to be named as additional insured on the GC's policy.

Does GL cover my tools and equipment?

No. General liability covers property damage you cause to others: a broken window, a flooded floor, a damaged client vehicle. Your own tools and equipment are covered under a separate inland marine or contractor's tools and equipment policy. Many BOP (business owner's policy) products bundle both.

What is completed operations coverage?

Completed operations covers claims that arise after the job is done. If you remodel a bathroom, the client moves back in, and three months later a pipe connection you made fails and floods the floor, that claim arises after the operation is complete. Most GL policies include completed operations as standard, but limits and time periods vary. Confirm the completed operations aggregate matches your per-occurrence limit.

Do I need GL if I am a sole proprietor with no employees?

Yes. A sole proprietor working on client property can cause significant damage or injury regardless of employee count. GL is not about employee payroll: it is about what you do to other people's property while you are working. Most GCs and property owners require GL certificates before allowing any contractor on site.

Can I get a certificate of insurance the same day?

Yes, with Next Insurance and Thimble. Both issue COIs instantly through their apps after purchase. Hiscox and Simply Business typically deliver COIs within one business day.

Sources

• Next Insurance pricing and coverage: next.insurance
• Hiscox small business GL: hiscox.com/small-business-insurance
• The Hartford business insurance: thehartford.com/small-business-insurance
• Simply Business US: simplybusiness.com
• Thimble: thimble.com
• AM Best ratings: ambest.com
• ISO Commercial General Liability form CG 00 01