Landlord Insurance in Idaho: Costs, Requirements & Best Providers
Idaho is a below-average state for property insurance. The homeowners benchmark is $2,195 a year, and landlord policies usually run 15-25% higher. Wildfire is the risk that moves prices most, from the Boise foothills to the Panhandle, with winter freeze and earthquake behind it. Get a landlord insurance quote early if the rental sits near open land, since some carriers now decline those addresses.
By LandlordTested editorial teamPrices checked
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What landlords pay in Idaho
- Homeowners benchmark
- $2,195 a yearAbout $183 a month; 12% below the $2,490 national average.
- Estimated landlord policy
- $2,500-$2,750 a yearLandlord (DP-3) cover typically runs 15-25% above homeowners cover on the same building. Your quote will differ.
- Main hazards
- Wildfire, Winter storm/freeze, Hail, Wind, Earthquake
- Not included
- Flood and earthquakeBoth need separate policies (NFIP or private flood; earthquake endorsement or policy).
Source: NerdWallet, 2026 homeowners (HO-3) median, $400,000 dwelling cover
Landlord insurance providers in Idaho
Both write landlord policies in all 50 states and quote online. Neither publishes prices, so the only way to know your premium is to get a quote for your address.
- 1
Steadily
Our pickSingle-family and 2-4 unit rentals, including vacant and short-term.
8.5/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- Covers all 50 states.
- Fast online quotes.
- Writes vacant and renovation properties too.
Watch out
- Mixed claim experiences, including wear-and-tear denials.
- Underwritten through a carrier some lenders have queried.
- Flood needs a separate policy.
Skip it if
Anyone who wants a local agent sitting across the desk.
- 2
Obie
Investors with several properties; portfolio policies available.
8.1/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- All 50 states plus DC.
- Portfolio (blanket) policies for several rentals.
- Covers short-term rentals and renovations.
Watch out
- Claims run through third-party administrators.
- Some reports of non-renewal after claims.
- Support is mostly email.
Skip it if
Landlords who want claims handled by the company they bought from.
Prices checked Oct 18, 2026. Scores are provisional until our account tests are done.
Want to see how Idaho compares? We keep a table of landlord insurance rates by state, with the method behind every figure.
On this page
Wildfire is the main pricing factor
Idaho’s benchmark of $2,195 sits about 12% under the national average. A landlord (DP-3) policy on the same $400,000 house would start around $2,520 to $2,740. In the Treasure Valley, many rentals price near or below that. Move toward open land and things change.
Insurers now score each address for wildfire risk. The Boise foothills, the Wood River Valley, McCall, and the forests around Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint all score high. A high score can mean a bigger premium, a larger deductible or a decline. If you’re buying, get a quote before you’re under contract.
Things underwriters look for:
- Roof material. A Class A roof prices better than wood shake.
- Defensible space. Cleared vegetation within 30 feet of the house helps.
- Access. Long gravel drives and single-road subdivisions count against you.
- Fire protection class, which depends on distance to a staffed fire station and a hydrant. Rural properties on wells often sit in the worst classes.
Winter in the mountains and the high desert
Freeze is the most common winter claim. A tenant who leaves for the holidays with the thermostat low can come back to a burst supply line. Sudden water damage is usually covered, but policies expect heat to be maintained, and units vacant for more than 60 days in a row may lose some coverage.
In McCall, Ketchum and other mountain towns, snow load and ice dams matter. Roof collapse from snow weight is generally covered; slow leaks from ice dams often aren’t.
Earthquake is separate
Idaho is more seismically active than most people expect. The 1983 Borah Peak earthquake was the strongest in the state’s recorded history, and the 2020 quake near Stanley shook buildings in Boise. Standard policies exclude earth movement. Ask each insurer to price an endorsement so you can weigh the cost against what a quake would do to your equity.
Flood and hail
Flood is excluded from landlord policies. Spring snowmelt raises rivers across the state, and the Boise River, Portneuf and Snake can flood nearby neighborhoods. Lenders require flood coverage in FEMA special flood hazard areas. Hail hits the Treasure Valley and eastern Idaho most summers.
How to bring the premium down
- Swap a wood shake roof for a Class A roof and send the invoice to your insurer.
- Clear brush and keep a defensible space around any rental near open land.
- Install low-temperature and leak sensors, and put a winter-absence rule in the lease.
- Raise your deductible if the property has a clean claim history.
- Ask Steadily and Obie for quotes on the same day so you compare like with like.
Idaho deposit rules and your exposure
Idaho has no statutory cap on deposits. You must return the deposit within 21 days after the tenant surrenders the unit, or up to 30 days if you agreed in writing, with an itemized statement (Idaho Code § 6-321). Idaho law doesn’t set an entry-notice period, so put one in the lease for inspections after winter storms. Because the deposit is uncapped, you can set it to match a higher-risk property, within what the local market will bear and fair housing rules allow.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How much is landlord insurance in Idaho?
The 2026 NerdWallet benchmark for an Idaho homeowners policy on a $400,000 house is $2,195 a year, about 12% under the $2,490 national average. Landlord policies typically cost 15-25% more. Rentals in wildfire-exposed areas or far from a fire station often price higher. Only a quote for the address gives the real cost.
Does landlord insurance cover earthquakes in Idaho?
No. Earthquake is excluded from standard landlord policies. Idaho has real seismic risk, shown by the 1983 Borah Peak quake and the 2020 quake near Stanley. You can add an earthquake endorsement or buy a separate policy, usually with a percentage deductible. Lenders rarely require it.
Can I charge a bigger deposit in Idaho to cover my risk?
Idaho sets no statutory limit on security deposits, so the amount is up to you and the market. Skip pet deposits for service animals, and get advice before charging one for an emotional support animal, since HUD changed its federal guidance in 2025. You must return the deposit with an itemized statement within 21 days after the tenant leaves, or up to 30 days if agreed in writing.