Home Warranty Cost Overview
While it shouldn’t be the most important factor in your decision to purchase a home warranty, costs are essential to vetting whether a home warranty plan is right for your home and your budget.
Here are the main costs associated with a home warranty policy:
- Monthly Premium: If you choose not to pay for your home warranty annually, you can pay monthly. The annual fee will be divided into equal monthly payments in this case. Home warranty plans can cost between $360 to $900 a year. Our research of 39 providers indicated that the lower end of the industry average monthly home warranty cost is $50, while the higher end is roughly $63.
- Service Call Fees: Some companies, such as American Home Shield and America’s 1st Choice Home Warranty, offer flexible service call fee models. Customers can select a higher service call fee for lower monthly costs in this model. The average service call fee in the home warranty industry is $75, but it can vary from provider to provider up to $150.
- Optional Add-ons: Customers who elect additional coverage for second refrigerators, additional appliances and other items not included in the base packages available will incur additional monthly charges. Add-on coverage fees can range from as low as $4 per month per item to as much as $100 a month, depending on the item you select.
- Other Fees: While home warranties will alleviate much of the financial burden of big-ticket home repairs, you may be financially responsible for additional fees, such as a one-time enrollment fee or any expenses exceeding your service agreement’s coverage caps.
Home Warranty Cost Ranges by Provider
The following chart offers a cost range for each of our top-recommended home warranty companies. The cost of your home warranty policy will depend on your home size, location, the plan selected, optional add-ons and more.
Home Warranty Annual Cost Calculator
The MarketWatch Guides Team developed a calculator that analyzes the anticipated yearly expenses associated with owning a home warranty. To determine your projected annual home warranty cost, simply input your monthly premium, service call fee and estimated number of claims. We recommend getting quotes from our top providers directly, as prices vary by plan, location and home size.
Source: Home Depot
The calculators used on this website are being provided for educational purposes only. Data will not be collected or stored. The results are estimates based on the information you provide and may not reflect the actual pricing of your quote.
To request a quote from any home warranty provider, you’ll need to input your property’s address, the type of home, the size of the home and a few contact details. You can request a quote via phone or online. After providing these details,
Below, we have provided estimates from some of the best home warranty companies in the industry. These estimates are based on the same single-family home in Raleigh, N.C., but your quote may vary depending on where you live, your home’s square footage and the coverage items you view as most valuable.
Compare Home Warranty Costs
How Much Money Can a Home Warranty Save?
When you weigh the cost of a home warranty plan against common household expenses, you can get a clearer picture of how it fits into your life. Below you’ll find estimates for repairing and replacing common household appliances and systems according to The Home Depot, SoFi Learn and Cinch Home Services.
Some uncommon items, such as septic pumps, sump pumps and leaky roofs, can be even more expensive to repair.
How to Get a Home Warranty Quote
To get a home warranty quote, assess your specific coverage needs. Evaluate the condition of your home’s systems and appliances to determine how much coverage you will need, considering the weather patterns of your area and the impact it has on the functionality of those items.
Contact at least three providers to compare coverage options and costs. Typically, companies offer personalized quotes either through an online tool or by contacting a representative directly.
Your home warranty price will depend heavily on your location and coverage needs. Based on our extensive experience gathering numerous quotes from different providers, it is common for home warranty companies to request basic personal information such as your name and phone number. Additionally, they usually require your ZIP code and home address for accurate pricing.
The table below showcases the top home warranty providers we thoroughly evaluated according to our rigorous review standards. Contact them directly to obtain an exact quote for a home warranty policy.
Our Conclusion About Home Warranty Cost
The right home warranty contract can be an affordable way to give you peace of mind that you will be financially protected from the high cost of home repairs. Before you buy a home warranty, though, it’s important to do your due diligence to ensure you select a company with a good reputation and good coverage benefits, as well as a manageable monthly cost and service call fee.
As a part of this process, it’s a good idea to review each provider’s sample agreements and reach out to customer service representatives for any necessary clarifications about the terms of the contract. This will help eliminate future misunderstandings and denied claims.
We recommend American Home Shield for homeowners who want a policy with generous coverage caps. AFC Home Warranty is one of the only providers in the industry to offer a plan-length workmanship guarantee, which is significantly more than the average 30-day guarantee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, home warranties can be purchased at any time. Whether you want to purchase a home warranty to include with the sale of your home or you’ve recently renovated your home and you want to protect your investment, home warranties can fit into your budget whenever you decide to purchase.
Many home warranty agreements will begin with a 30-day waiting period before you can file your first claim. Some companies promise to respond to your claim in as little as 48 hours while other companies offer live claims tracking so that you can stay abreast of your claim status. The speed at which a home warranty company will send a technician can depend on the extent of your issue, the nature of the repair or replacement and the available technicians in your area.
Home warranties cover regular wear and tear associated with using your appliances (including refrigerators, stoves and laundry machines) and built-in systems such as your HVAC, electrical and plumbing systems. They do not cover the manufacturer’s defects.
A home warranty differs from homeowners insurance, which covers your home in the event of major perils, such as theft and weather events, that could jeopardize your home’s structural integrity, cause personal injury and damage your personal property.
Home warranty coverage will vary depending on the plan you select and the company you choose. Most companies will offer a basic plan to cover appliances, a plan to cover systems and a comprehensive whole-house plan that combines the two. You should evaluate what items are most important to you.
Other Home Service Resources From MarketWatch Guides
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Methodology: Our System for Ranking the Best Home Warranty Companies
If you have questions about this page, please reach out to our editors at editors@marketwatchguides.com.