General Liability Insurance in 2026
Costs by industry, standard limits, real claim data, and instant broker quotes for your business.
General liability insurance costs $42-$85 per month ($500-$1,020 per year) for most small businesses in 2026 on a standard $1M per-occurrence / $2M aggregate policy. Low-risk office and service firms pay as little as $30/month, while contractors, roofing, and high-traffic retail can pay $1,500-$9,000+ per year. Premiums are priced on your industry, annual receipts or payroll, claim history, and chosen limits.
Estimate your general liability premium
General liability cost by industry (2026)
Typical annual range for a $1M/$2M policy. Physical, job-site, and high-traffic operations pay the most.
How limits change your premium
Raising limits and adding an umbrella increases cost far less than most owners expect, and contracts often require it.
Claim frequency vs. severity
Each bubble is a claim type: horizontal = how often it happens, vertical = average payout, size = defense cost.
What a general liability claim actually costs
| Claim type | Legal defense | Typical payout |
|---|---|---|
| Slip & fall (customer) | $8,000 | $27,000 |
| Damage to client property | $10,000 | $45,000 |
| Advertising / reputational injury | $14,000 | $50,000 |
| Completed operations defect | $18,000 | $65,000 |
| Serious bodily injury | $40,000 | $120,000+ |
General liability insurance FAQ
Most small businesses pay $42-$85 per month ($500-$1,020 per year) for a standard $1M per-occurrence / $2M aggregate general liability policy in 2026. Low-risk service and office businesses can pay as little as $30/month, while contractors, construction trades, and high-traffic retail operations often pay $1,500-$5,000+ per year for the same limits.
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