Your household contents insurance (Hausratversicherung) sum sets the maximum amount the insurer pays out in a claim. As a student on a tight budget, you do not want it too high, but you do not want it too low either. This guide shows you how to work out the sum for your room or flat.
Short answer: The sum should cover the replacement value (Neuwert) of your movable belongings. As a rough guide, one guide cites 650 to 700 euros per square metre of living space (as of January 2026, not an official figure). Assumption: a shared-flat room of 18 square metres would then come to 11,700 to 12,600 euros. Check the result against a list of your most important items.
The key points in brief
- The sum should cover the replacement value of all your household contents, not just the price you originally paid.
- As a guideline, 650 to 700 euros per square metre of living space applies. There is no official rule of thumb, and the figure does not replace an inventory list.
- If the sum is too low, the insurer can reduce its payment proportionally in a claim. Section 74 of the German Insurance Contract Act (VVG) governs this underinsurance.
- As a student, it is worth making a simple list of your most important items and their replacement value before you choose a tariff.
- Whether you are still covered under your parents’ policy depends on the tariff and your living arrangement. Check this before you move out.
What does the insured sum (Versicherungssumme) mean in household contents insurance?
The insured sum is the amount up to which the insurer pays in a claim. It should match the insurance value of your household contents. Many tariffs are based on replacement value, which is what you would have to pay today for equivalent new items. Some tariffs pay only the market value (Zeitwert), which takes age-related depreciation into account. Which rule applies to your contract is stated in the policy conditions.
The problem starts when the sum is too low. The law then speaks of underinsurance (Unterversicherung). Under Section 74 VVG, the insurer is then only obliged to pay in proportion to the ratio of the insured sum to the actual value. If you calculate too tightly, you receive less in a claim, even if the damage seems small. If you need to keep every euro in view, our guide Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps shows how to build insurance costs into your monthly plan.
How do you work out the right sum step by step?
The simplest approach has two steps. First, you calculate the guideline value from your living space. Then you check with an inventory list whether your belongings come in above or below it.
| Step | What you do | Example (assumption: shared-flat room of 18 m²) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Living space | Work out the square metres of your room or flat | 18 m² |
| 2. Guideline value | Multiply living space by 650 to 700 euros | 11,700 to 12,600 euros |
| 3. Inventory list | Note valuable items with their replacement value and add them up | Assumption: laptop 1,200 euros, smartphone 900 euros |
| 4. Comparison | If your list is clearly above the guideline value, the list is the better yardstick | List at 14,000 euros, so use 14,000 euros as the sum |
Assumption for a worked example: your room is 18 square metres and your list adds up to 9,000 euros. The guideline of 11,700 to 12,600 euros is then above your list, and a sum within that range gives you more protection. If your list came to 14,000 euros, you should use the list as the benchmark. The list does not replace the guideline. It checks it.
Do you need your own household contents insurance as a student?
That depends on where you live. In your parents’ home, children are often covered by their parents’ tariff, as long as they belong to the same household. If you move into your own flat or a shared flat, check whether your parents’ tariff still covers you. In many cases, your own contract then makes sense.
The same applies to a student hall or a furnished room. Find out which items are yours and which belong to the furnishing. Your own things need insuring. The landlord’s furnishing does not. A list also helps in a claim, because it lets you show quickly what you own.
Which tariff details can cost you money in a claim?
The sum is only one part of the contract. These points also determine what actually reaches you when something goes wrong.
| Tariff detail | What to look for | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Underinsurance | Is there a waiver of the reduction? | A sum that is too low reduces the payout |
| Replacement or market value | Which rule applies under the conditions? | Market value pays less for older items |
| Valuables | Are there limits for laptops, jewellery or bicycles? | Individual items can be capped |
| Deductible (Selbstbeteiligung) | Which amount applies per claim? | You pay small claims yourself |
| Natural hazard damage (Elementarschäden) | Are floods or heavy rain included? | Often only available as an add-on |
Exclusions matter especially. Many tariffs, for example, do not pay if damage results from a door or window not being locked, or they limit benefits for water damage after a long absence. Such clauses seem unremarkable in daily life, but they decide what is paid out in a claim. Set aside half an hour and read the exclusions before you sign. A contact at the insurer or a consumer advice centre can explain any unclear wording.
How much premium should you budget for?
We deliberately do not name specific premiums here, because they vary widely depending on provider, location, insured sum and deductible. Compare the benefits, not just the price. A cheap tariff with too low a sum can cost more in a claim than a slightly more expensive one with the right sum.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to take out household contents insurance?
No, household contents insurance is not compulsory. Without it, however, you pay for damage to your own belongings yourself. With a laptop, a bicycle and furnishings, that can quickly mean several thousand euros.
Is a small sum enough for a shared-flat room?
A room with few belongings can manage with a smaller sum. What matters, though, is the list, not the feeling. If you own a lot of technology or a musical instrument, take the list seriously, because its value can quickly exceed the guideline.
What exactly happens with underinsurance?
The insurer then pays only part of the damage. Assumption: your belongings are worth 10,000 euros, but only 5,000 euros are insured. For a claim of 2,000 euros, the insurer pays about half, roughly 1,000 euros, minus any deductible. The rule is set out in Section 74 VVG.
Are bicycles and laptops automatically covered?
Often yes, but subject to conditions. Many tariffs require bicycles to be secured or limit compensation. Laptops and smartphones are sometimes subject to value limits. Check this in the tariff before you sign.
How often should I review the sum?
Check the sum whenever you move and after major purchases. Otherwise, one review a year is enough. That keeps the insured sum close to your actual belongings.
What to do now
- Make a rough list of your most important belongings with their replacement values, room by room.
- Calculate the guideline value from your living space at 650 to 700 euros per square metre.
- Compare both figures and take the higher sum as your starting point.
- Check the conditions on replacement or market value, underinsurance, valuables and deductibles.
- Put a date in your calendar to review the sum again.
Related reading
- Student Family Insurance: Until When Are You Covered?
- Affordable student housing: strategy, portals and costs
- Budget Planning for Students: A Monthly Plan in 3 Steps
- Organise Student Finances: Account, Reserve and Deadlines
Sources: Section 74 VVG, underinsurance (Gesetze im Internet, retrieved October 2026); MLP guide “Wenn es auf den Wert ankommt” for the guideline of 650 to 700 euros per square metre (as stated on the page: January 2026, not an official figure) (in German).
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
