Renters insurance in Tennessee: what it costs, whether you need it, and what it covers

How much is renters insurance in Tennessee?

The average renters insurance policy in Tennessee costs about $24 a month, or $288 a year, according to ValuePenguin, Best Cheap Renters Insurance in Tennessee (updated Sep 2026). The cheapest large insurers in Tennessee average $14–$16 a month, and Progressive reports its own Tennessee policies averaged $19.09 a month in 2025. Memphis renters pay far more than the rest of the state; Nashville sits right at the average.

For a like-for-like comparison with other states, ValuePenguin's 50-state rate study (updated September 2026) puts Tennessee at $24 a month against a national average of $23, which makes it close to the national average. Different studies assume different coverage amounts, so treat any single average as a guide, not a quote.

Your own price depends on five things: how much personal property you insure (most renters choose $15,000–$30,000), your liability limit (usually $100,000), your deductible ($500 is common), your ZIP code, and your claims history. Raising the deductible from $500 to $1,000 is the quickest way to lower the premium.

See the national cost guide for how each factor changes the price, and the coverage calculator to size your policy.

Is renters insurance required in Tennessee?

No. No Tennessee law requires renters insurance. No Tennessee law requires tenants to carry insurance. A landlord or property manager can require a policy in the lease, and many large apartment communities in Nashville, Memphis and Knoxville do. (Source: Progressive, Tennessee Renters Insurance.)

If your lease requires a policy, it usually asks for a liability limit (often $100,000) and for the landlord or property manager to be listed as an "interested party," so they are notified if the policy lapses. Read more in can a landlord require renters insurance?

What renters insurance covers in Tennessee

A standard renters policy (an HO-4) has three parts everywhere in the US: personal property (your belongings), personal liability (if you injure someone or damage their property), and loss of use (hotel and meal costs if your home becomes uninhabitable after a covered event). What changes from state to state is which disasters you are likely to face, and whether the standard policy covers them.

• ✓Tornadoes and severe thunderstorms. Middle and West Tennessee are in Dixie Alley, with frequent nighttime tornadoes; the March 2020 Nashville and Cookeville storms and the December 2023 Clarksville tornado were among the worst. Wind, hail and lightning damage to your things are covered.
• ✕Flooding and flash flooding. The May 2010 Nashville flood and the August 2021 Waverly flash flood show how fast the Cumberland, Harpeth and Tennessee river valleys fill. Flood is never covered by a renters policy.
• ✕New Madrid earthquake (West Tennessee). Memphis, Dyersburg and the Mississippi River counties sit on the New Madrid Seismic Zone. Earthquake damage is excluded unless you add an endorsement.
• ✓Theft. Theft is covered at home and, with limits, away from home. Memphis has one of the highest property-crime rates of any large US city, which is why its quotes run 43% above the state average.
• ~Sinkholes (Middle and East Tennessee karst). Limestone under Nashville, Murfreesboro, Chattanooga and Knoxville produces sinkholes. Standard policies exclude earth movement, but some Tennessee insurers sell a sinkhole endorsement.
• ✕Flood. No renters policy covers flood, including the Cumberland River in Nashville and Clarksville, the Mississippi and Wolf rivers in Memphis, the Tennessee River in Chattanooga and Knoxville, and flash flooding in the Highland Rim and Cumberland Plateau. A separate flood policy through the NFIP or a private insurer covers contents.
• ✕Earthquake. West Tennessee lies on the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which produced some of the strongest earthquakes in US history in 1811–12. Memphis is the largest city at risk. A standard renters policy excludes earthquake damage; most insurers sell an earthquake endorsement for a few dollars a month, and it is worth pricing if you rent in Memphis, Jackson, Dyersburg or Union City.

For the full list of what is and isn't covered, see what does renters insurance cover?

Renters insurance costs in Tennessee cities

Prices move with local theft rates, weather exposure and building age, so two renters in Tennessee can pay quite different premiums for the same coverage.

City	What to expect
Nashville $24/mo avg	About $288 a year, right at the state average. Tornado exposure and Cumberland River flooding are the main risks; many apartment leases downtown and in the suburbs require a policy with $100,000 liability. (ValuePenguin)
Memphis $34/mo avg	About $408 a year, 43% above the state average. High theft rates and New Madrid earthquake exposure drive the price; ask about an earthquake endorsement. (ValuePenguin)
Knoxville $23/mo avg	About $276 a year, a dollar under the state average. University of Tennessee rentals often require a policy; roommates need their own unless named. (ValuePenguin)
Chattanooga $25/mo avg	About $300 a year. Sits on the Tennessee River in karst terrain, so both flood and sinkhole are worth asking about. (ValuePenguin)
Clarksville $24/mo avg	About $288 a year. Large Fort Campbell military rental market; the December 2023 tornado destroyed hundreds of homes here, and wind damage is covered. (ValuePenguin)

How to get renters insurance in Tennessee

You can buy a policy online in a few minutes. Lemonade sells renters insurance in Tennessee and quotes directly on its site: you enter your address, choose how much property coverage you want, add any extras (such as higher limits for jewelry or electronics), and the price updates as you go. A policy can start the same day, which matters when a landlord wants proof of insurance before move-in.

Whatever company you choose, compare the same three numbers: the personal property limit, the liability limit and the deductible. A cheaper quote with a $2,000 deductible is not a better deal if you'd struggle to pay it after a loss.

Tips for Tennessee renters

1. If you rent in Memphis, get quotes from at least three insurers. The city averages $34 a month against a $24 state average, and the cheapest companies in ValuePenguin's study were $14–$16 statewide.
2. Tennessee tornadoes often strike at night. Keep a current video inventory of your apartment in cloud storage so you can file a claim even if your phone and laptop are gone.
3. Price a separate NFIP contents policy if you rent near the Cumberland in Nashville or Clarksville, the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, or any creek in the Highland Rim. The 2010 and 2021 floods hit renters with no flood coverage hardest.
4. Most Nashville and Knoxville apartment leases list the management company as an "additional interest." Add them when you buy; it is free and avoids a lease-violation notice.
5. In West Tennessee, ask for the earthquake endorsement. The New Madrid fault runs under Memphis and the river counties, and the base policy pays nothing for quake damage.