HO-6 walls-in coverage depends on what your HOA master policy already covers. This calculator sizes your dwelling, personal property, loss-assessment, and liability limits using each master-policy type's industry-standard allocation, then estimates the annual premium.
Bare Walls (studs-out): HOA covers the building shell only; everything from the studs in is yours. Your declarations page or HOA bylaws specify which type applies. If unsure, ask your HOA manager.
Coverage Levels
Furniture, electronics, clothing, valuables
$
$25K-$100K recommended post-Surfside
$
Location
Estimated Annual Premium
$1,245/yrAbove national avg
$104/month · Florida · Bare Walls (studs-out)
Recommended Coverage
Coverage A — Walls-in (22% of unit value)$77,000
Coverage C — Personal Property$40,000
Coverage D — Loss of Use (40% of Coverage A)$30,800
Coverage E — Liability$300,000
Loss Assessment$25,000
Total Coverage Stack$472,800
Premium Breakdown
Florida HO-6 base rate$1,100/yr
Coverage A loading+$16
Personal property loading+$9
Loss-assessment loading+$120
Estimated annual premium$1,245/yr
The Three Master Policy Types in Plain English
The HOA master policy determines how much walls-in coverage you need. Figuring out which type your association uses is the single most important step in sizing an HO-6 policy correctly. If you don't know, request a copy of the master policy declarations page from your HOA manager — they're required to provide it.
Bare Walls (studs-out)
The HOA covers the shell of the building only — bare exterior walls, foundation, roof. Everything from the studs in is yours: drywall, flooring, cabinets, light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, built-in appliances. You need the most walls-in coverage with this master type — typically 20-25% of unit market value.
Single Entity (original specifications)
The HOA covers the unit as originally built — standard cabinetry, original flooring, builder-grade appliances. You cover upgrades you made and your personal property. If you renovated the kitchen with custom cabinets, that's your responsibility. Walls-in coverage of 8-15% of unit value is typically appropriate.
All-In (all-inclusive)
The HOA covers most fixtures, including upgrades inside the unit. Your HO-6 mainly covers personal property and small improvements. This is the most owner-friendly master type but is increasingly rare due to insurance market hardening. Walls-in coverage of 3-8% of unit value usually suffices.
Loss assessment is the most under-bought coverage in condo insurance
Most HO-6 policies include just $1,000 of loss-assessment coverage by default — woefully inadequate. When a major loss exceeds the HOA's master policy (hurricane, fire, lawsuit, structural failure), the HOA levies a special assessment on every owner to cover the gap. Post-Surfside (Champlain Towers collapse, 2021), the Florida legislature passed SB 4-D requiring mandatory structural reserves and inspections; assessments have nonetheless become common and substantial.
Recommended limits: Coastal Florida $50,000-$100,000. Other coastal $25,000-$50,000. Non-coastal high-rise $25,000. Non-coastal low-rise $10,000-$25,000. The extra premium for raising loss-assessment from $1,000 to $50,000 is usually $40-$120/yr — trivial compared to the worst-case exposure.
How This Calculator Works
Coverage A (walls-in) is calculated as a percentage of unit market value based on the master policy type. The percentages — 22% for bare walls, 12% for single entity, 5% for all-in — come from the Insurance Information Institute's condo brochure and the Community Associations Institute's handbook. These are midpoints of recommended ranges; carriers may suggest slightly different splits.
Coverage D (loss of use) is set to 40% of Coverage A — the industry-standard ratio for HO-6 policies. This pays for temporary housing if your unit is uninhabitable due to a covered loss.
Premium estimates use representative state base rates derived from carrier rate filings, plus loadings for coverage levels above baseline and a 40% coastal-Florida loading for units within ~10 miles of the coast. National average HO-6 premium is approximately $500-$800/yr per the Insurance Information Institute's most recent figures; coastal Florida can reach $1,500-$2,500/yr.
What this doesn't capture. Building age, claims history at the building, specific carrier underwriting, your personal credit, bundling discounts (typically 5-15% with auto), and any state-mandated coverages your master policy may require you to carry separately. Treat the output as a sizing guide and shop multiple carriers for actual quotes.