Trades Cover Insurance Trades Insurance Calculator

Our Trades Insurance Calculator helps Australian tradies and contractors estimate practical insurance sums insured and limits. It is designed to total key replacement values for tools, plant and site gear, and to suggest starting points for Public Liability and Contract Works cover so you can better protect your business income, cash flow and personal financial position if something goes wrong.

Why this matters: underinsuring can leave you paying the gap after theft, fire, accidental damage or a liability claim, while overinsuring can mean paying more premium than necessary. This calculator provides an organised way to capture your exposure before you request a quote.

How to complete the calculator for the best result:

1. Business details: Choose your trade, enter your team size (including you), then select GST treatment. If you are GST-registered, values are generally best entered excluding GST because many businesses can claim input tax credits. Add a financier if applicable, as financed assets can affect how cover is arranged.

2. Tools and portable equipment: Use “Add tool/portable” to list hand tools, power tools and tech equipment used off-site. Enter realistic replacement cost today, not what you paid years ago.

3. Plant and machinery: Add compressors, generators, mixers and other unregistered plant. Use current new-for-old replacement values where appropriate.

4. Site gear and temporary structures: Add scaffold, temporary fencing, sheds and similar items used on job sites.

5. Materials on site and in transit: Enter the typical maximum value of materials stored at site and, if relevant, goods in transit.

6. Hired-in plant (optional): Enter the limit you may be responsible for and estimated hire days per year.

7. Public Liability inputs: Select any contract-required limit, then answer the risk questions (site value exposure, height work, excavation depth, hot works, subcontractor use) to help generate a suggested limit.

8. Contract Works: Enter your largest job value and a buffer percentage for variations to estimate an “any one contract” limit.

How to interpret results: Treat the outputs as estimates and a conversation starter, not a quote or personal advice. The totals show your likely replacement sums insured, while the suggested liability and contract works limits reflect the risk factors you selected. Always check insurer wordings, sub-limits, exclusions, waiting periods and excesses, and consider obtaining advice from a licensed insurance broker to ensure cover suits your objectives, financial situation and needs.