Landscaping insurance is essential to protect your business against your unique risks, yet many find getting landscaping business insurance quotes and tailored coverage all too difficult. No More.
At ContractorNerd, we make landscaping liability insurance and business insurance tailored, easy, and data-driven. We’ve analyze over 1,000 landscaper insurance quotes from leading carriers across all 50 states to provide transparency on what you need, what it should cost, and how to get quotes. Let’s start with the basics.
Landscaping Insurance – What Do You Need?
For landscaping businesses embarking on their journey, it’s typically advisable to start with lower insurance limits. As your company matures, accumulating more employees and vehicles, a more robust insurance coverage becomes necessary. Here’s a guideline for minimum insurance limits, segmented by annual revenue brackets:
- Sole Proprietor Landscapers:
- Landscaper Liability (aka General Liability) is fundamental covering property damage and non-employee bodily injury. Many customers will ask if you’re licensed and insured; this is the insurance they are asking about.
- Tools and Equipment (aka Inland Marine) coverage is also recommended. This covers your tools which enable you to do good work.
- Contractor’s E&O (aka Faulty Workmanship) covers professional design mistakes, like faulty retaining wall specifications. While essential for contractors doing significant design work, those with minimal design services can often add basic coverage to their general liability policy at low cost.
- Commercial Auto coverage is needed if you have a truck you use exclusively for work.
- Trailers must be explicitly listed on your policy for liability coverage, unlike personal auto insurance. While small trailers may be covered, it’s best to add any trailer to your policy before use.
- Small Landscaping Business (2-3 Employees):
- Workers compensation is required when you hire employees (not subcontractors)
- Commercial property is important to protect storage areas and offices.
- Umbrella Insurance (or higher limits on your Landscaper Liability) should be considered as your business grows in revenue and client count. High-risk landscaping operations like hardscaping, heavy equipment use near buildings, sprinkler installation, retaining wall construction, and digging can lead to claims exceeding $1,000,000. An umbrella policy is recommended for these activities to provide additional liability coverage.
- Established Landscaping Business (5+ Employees):
- Installation Floater covers materials, equipment and property in transit to or stored at job sites awaiting installation – critical for landscapers who transport items like outdoor tile, water features, etc. before final installation.
- Employment practices liability insurance (EPLI) to protect owners against potential lawsuits from employees.
Landscaper Liability Insurance – aka Landscaping General Liability Insurance
This is the foundational insurance coverage landscaping contractors must have in place. Landscapers need this insurance because your work involves risks on a daily basis – lawn tools, digging, trimming, etc. Types of claims covered include:
- Property Damage: Accidental damage to a client’s building, floors, walls, etc.
- Bodily Injury: A client, visitor or bystander getting hurt due to your work activities.
- Defective Products: Lawsuits over an installed product that turns out defective.(Add-On)
- Completed Work: Lawsuits over issues from past completed jobs. (Add-On)
Most landscaping pros should carry at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in total or general aggregate limits. For larger companies, limits of $2 million per occurrence and $4 million aggregate are preferable. Premiums often range from 0.5% to 1.75% of revenue for $1 million per occurrence and $2 million aggregate limits.
Typical Landscaper Liability Limits: Most landscaping pros should carry at least $1 million per occurrence and $2 million in total or general aggregate limits. Increasing limits from $500k to $1M marginally impacts premiums but substantially raises your protection.
Typical Landscaper Liability Premiums: Generally, 0.5% to 1.75% of annual revenue. Below are average insurance premiums from top carriers for landscaping businesses, broken down by state.
Key factors impacting your Landscaper Liability premiums:
- Revenue: Higher revenue means more work and exposure, increasing premiums
- Policy Limits: Additional coverage requirements raise costs, but can be built into service rates
- Claims History: Clean records keep premiums lower
- Location: State regulations affect premium costs
- Services: Different landscaping activities carry varying risk levels, impacting rates
- Class Codes: Different landscaping businesses use different class codes based on their work; most commonly 97047.
Landscaping Insurance Cost – ContractorNerd’s Study
We analyzed over 1,000 General Liability insurance quotes from leading carriers for landscapers across different states and business sizes. While precise rates are highly individualized, average annual premiums for landscapers typically range from:
- Small Landscaper ($150K Revenue, 1 employee) – $1,100 to $1,700
- Medium Landscaper ($500K Revenue, 3 employees) – $3,200 to $4,400
- Large Landscaper ($1M Revenue, 5 employees) – $5,500 to $8,500
New landscaping businesses starting without history may pay 25%+ more initially, as insurers need time to evaluate the risk. After successfully operating for several years without incidents, premiums often decrease, reflecting a more favorable risk assessment.
Below is a table summarizing typical general liability insurance premiums for landscapers based on a sample of states. Each scenario assumes the following for each revenue size:
- $150K Revenue: Assumes 1 owner with ~10% subcontracting costs and 5+ years of operating without claims
- $500K Revenue: Assumes 1 owner and 3 employees with ~10% subcontracting costs and 5+ years of operating without claims
- $1M Revenue: Assumes 1 owner and 5 employees with ~10% subcontracting costs and 5+ years of operating without claims
| State | $150K Revenue | $500K Revenue | $1M Revenue | |||
| Avg. Premiums | % of Revenue | Avg. Premiums | % of Revenue | Avg. Premiums | % of Revenue | |
| California | $2,960 | 2.0% | $8,810 | 1.8% | $12,580 | 1.3% |
| Texas | $1,520 | 1.0% | $3,720 | 0.7% | $8,080 | 0.8% |
| Florida | $2,160 | 1.4% | $6,500 | 1.3% | $12,940 | 1.3% |
| Massachusetts | $1,880 | 1.3% | $5,030 | 1.0% | $9,030 | 0.9% |
| Pennsylvania | $2,540 | 1.7% | $7,190 | 1.4% | $15,940 | 1.6% |
| Illinois | $2,760 | 1.8% | $7,390 | 1.5% | $13,670 | 1.4% |
| Ohio | $1,130 | 0.8% | $2,830 | 0.6% | $5,560 | 0.6% |
| Georgia | $1,340 | 0.9% | $3,740 | 0.7% | $7,370 | 0.7% |
| North Carolina | $1,110 | 0.7% | $2,740 | 0.5% | $5,690 | 0.6% |
| Michigan | $1,230 | 0.8% | $3,530 | 0.7% | $6,500 | 0.7% |
If you’re interested in learning about landscaper insurance in your state, we’ve created guides for all 50 states. Feel free to explore these guides to make well-informed decisions to safeguard your landscaping business.
Be sure to examine the various types of landscapers who need insurance protection.
Potential Savings on Liability Insurance for Landscapers
Working with an insurance agent who specializes in Landscaper Liability insurance can help secure better rates and coverage terms. Below are actual savings examples for landscaping businesses at different revenue levels – same company, different carrier. If your current premium matches the averages above, we recommend you get quotes to compare coverage and potentially find more competitive rates.
| State | $150K Revenue | $500K Revenue | $1M Revenue | |||
| Favorable Rate | Potential Savings | Favorable Rate | Potential Savings | Favorable Rate | Potential Savings | |
| California | $2,010 | 32% | $6,790 | 23% | $6,390 | 49% |
| Texas | $1,000 | 35% | $3,000 | 19% | $6,600 | 18% |
| Florida | $1,220 | 43% | $4,290 | 34% | $11,410 | 12% |
| Massachusetts | $1,230 | 34% | $3,510 | 30% | $5,600 | 38% |
| Pennsylvania | $1,340 | 47% | $4,070 | 43% | $6,590 | 59% |
| Illinois | $2,050 | 25% | $3,390 | 54% | $5,480 | 60% |
| Ohio | $710 | 37% | $2,040 | 28% | $4,080 | 27% |
| Georgia | $940 | 30% | $2,280 | 39% | $4,890 | 34% |
| North Carolina | $560 | 49% | $1,070 | 61% | $2,140 | 62% |
| Michigan | $800 | 35% | $1,540 | 56% | $2,340 | 64% |
Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Landscapers
If your landscaping business employs any W2 workers, workers compensation insurance is mandatory in nearly every state. Workers’ comp insurance covers employee injuries or illnesses suffered on the job. Premiums hinge on the risk of your staff’s responsibilities, grouped into class codes by the National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI). With over 600 codes, this helps insurers accurately categorize and price policies. Landscapers mainly use codes 0042, with rates ranging from $2.00 to $4.33 per $100 of payroll per year for each worker.
WC Limits for Landscapers: State-dependent. Workers’ comp policies typically have unlimited benefits. However, limits can vary based on state rules.
WC Rates for Landscapers: $2.00 to $4.33 per $100 of payroll
Key factors impacting landscaper workers’ comp premium:
- Class Codes: Employees are grouped by job type and risk level. More hazardous roles equal higher premiums. Landscapers mainly use code 0042.
- State: Each state governs workers’ comp regulations including benefits, claims processes, and baseline insurance rates. The cost of living and medical care also cause geographic variances in premiums.
- Experience Modifier: This figure represents your safety record. It begins at 1.0, then adjusts up or down based on your claims history. More incidents drive the modifier and premiums up.
- Payroll Amount: A key factor is gross payroll, calculated as payroll / $100 * rate * experience modifier. Higher payroll increases premiums.
Most and least expensive states for Landscaper’s Workers Compensation Insurance:
| State | Premium per $100K Payroll |
| New Jersey | $8,700 |
| Alaska | $5,200 |
| California | $5,000 |
| Florida | $4,700 |
| New York | $4,500 |
| State | Premium per $100K Payroll |
| North Dakota | $1,500 |
| West Virginia | $1,500 |
| Texas | $1,600 |
| Arkansas | $1,900 |
| Kentucky | $2,000 |
If you’d like to see other state rates and try our calculator, check our guide on Workers’ Compensation Insurance for Landscaping Businesses.
Additional Insurance Landscapers Should Consider
Beyond the essential policies detailed above, here are additional insurance types landscapers may need as their business grows:
Here’s the rewritten version for landscapers:
Tools & Equipment Insurance (Inland Marine)
Covers tools and equipment during transport and at job sites against theft, damage, or loss. Annual premiums: $200-$2,000, with coverage from $5,000-$15,000+. Typical per-item limit is $5,000.
Errors & Omissions Insurance
Protects against professional mistakes in landscape design and installation. Covers client claims of faulty work, improper installations, or inadequate service, including legal defense costs. Annual premiums: $50-$500, with coverage from $10,000-$1M+.
Commercial Auto Insurance
Required for business vehicles, covering liability and accidents during operations. Personal policies don’t cover business use. Annual premiums: $1,500-$3,050 per vehicle. Standard coverage: $100K per person, $300K per accident, $100K property damage. Higher limits ($500K-$1M) recommended.
Surety Bonds
Guarantees work quality and meets licensing requirements. Bonds range $5,000-$25,000, costing 1-3% based on credit:
| Bond Amount | Excellent Credit | Good Credit | Bad Credit |
| $5,000 | $100 – $150 | $150 – $200 | $200 – $400 |
| $10,000 | $100 – $300 | $300 – $500 | $500 – $1,000 |
| $15,000 | $150 – $400 | $400 – $750 | $750 – $1,500 |
| $20,000 | $180 – $500 | $500 – $1,000 | $1,000 – $2,000 |
| $25,000 | $200 – $500 | $500 – $1,200 | $1,200 – $2,500 |
Commercial Property Insurance
Protects buildings and contents against fire, theft, vandalism, and weather damage. Essential for businesses with equipment storage, workshops, or retail spaces. Annual premiums: $1,000-$5,000.
Business Owner’s Policy (BOP)
Combines general liability and property insurance. Ideal for businesses with physical locations. Covers injuries, property damage, business assets, and interruption. Often more cost-effective than separate policies.
Commercial Umbrella Insurance
Provides additional coverage beyond standard policy limits. Covers excess liability claims for general liability, auto, and employer’s liability. Typically adds $1M coverage (up to $2M+ available). Annual premiums: $500-$1,000.
Employment Practices Liability Insurance
Covers employee claims of discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination. Annual premiums: $1,000-$5,000. Coverage: $100,000-$1M.
Cyber Liability Insurance
Protects against data breaches and cyber attacks. Covers investigation, notification, monitoring, and legal costs. Coverage: $100K-$1M. Annual premiums: $300-$1,000.
Pollution Liability Insurance
Protects against damage, injury, and cleanup costs from hazardous landscaping materials (pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers). Coverage includes property damage, bodily injury, and environmental cleanup costs.
Coverage: Up to $25M per occurrence/aggregate Annual Premiums: $1,500 to $5,000 Minimum Self-Insured Retention: $5,000
Why Insure Your Landscaping Business With ContractorNerd?
We’ve analyzed quotes from 1,000+ landscaping businesses across all states to find the best rates. Our analysis shows potential savings of 20-50% on liability premiums through our network. Get competitive quotes tailored to your landscaping operations and risk profile.
| Business Size | Potential Savings |
| Small ($150K Revenue) | 25-45% |
| Mid ($500K Revenue) | 35-50% |
| Large ($1M+ Revenue) | 35-50% |
Get quotes today for rates customized to your landscaping business.