HO-6 vs. HO-3 Insurance: Key Differences Explained

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Updated: June 11, 2026

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Key Takeaways
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An HO-6 policy covers the interior of a condo unit and your personal belongings, while an HO-3 policy covers the entire structure of a standalone home, your belongings and your land.

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Condo owners need an HO-6 policy; standalone homeowners need an HO-3. The coverage boundary for HO-6 depends on your HOA master policy. Whether the association carries bare walls-in or all-in coverage determines where your responsibility begins, and that line isn't fixed.

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HO-6 doesn't cover the building's roof, exterior walls or foundation. Those shared structures fall under the HOA master policy, not your individual unit policy. In our review of condo claims, the homeowners most caught off guard had assumed their HO-6 extended further into the building than it did.

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HO-6 vs. HO-3 Insurance: What's the Difference?

HO-6 and HO-3 are both standard homeowners policy forms built for different ownership structures. The distinction that trips people up isn't personal property coverage or liability protection; both forms include those. It's structural coverage scope. HO-3 covers the entire home: roof, exterior walls, foundation and attached structures. 

HO-6 covers only the interior of the unit, because the building around it is the HOA's responsibility. Choosing the wrong form doesn't leave gaps so much as it means the policy was never designed for the property you own.

Property coverage
Interior of condo unit (walls-in)
Entire home structure and land
Structural coverage
Interior walls, floors, fixtures, built-in appliances
Roof, exterior walls, foundation, attached structures
Liability protection
Yes, included
Yes, included
Personal property
Yes, covers belongings inside the unit
Yes, covers belongings inside the home
Who needs it
Condo owners
Owners of standalone single-family homes

What Is an HO-6 Policy (Condo Insurance)?

An HO-6 policy is a condo insurance policy that covers the interior of your unit, your personal belongings and your personal liability. HO-6 is designed for condo owners who share structural responsibility with an HOA or condo association. 

Anyone who owns a condo, co-op or townhome where the HOA carries a master policy on the building's exterior and common areas needs an HO-6. Homeowners insurance for condos is specifically designed to fill the coverage gap between what your HOA's master policy covers and what you're personally responsible for inside your unit.

What Is an HO-3 Policy (Homeowners Insurance)?

An HO-3 policy is the standard homeowners insurance form that covers the structure of a standalone home on an open-perils basis and personal property on a named-perils basis. HO-3 is designed for owners of single-family homes, townhomes without an HOA master policy, and any property where you're responsible for the entire structure. An HO-3 policy is the most common homeowners insurance form.

Condo vs. Home Insurance: Which Policy Do You Need?

Choosing the right policy comes down to what you own and what part of the property you're responsible for. Compare quotes from multiple insurers to find cheap homeowners insurance that matches your property type. Use the table below to match your situation to the correct coverage type.

You own a condo, co-op or townhome with an HOA
You own a single-family home or are responsible for the full structure
The HOA’s master policy covers the building exterior and shared areas
You are responsible for the entire structure, from roof to foundation
Your policy covers interior structure, belongings and liability
Your policy covers the full structure, belongings and liability
Required by HOA or lender in most cases
Required by your mortgage lender

HO-6 vs. HO-3 Insurance: Bottom Line

Condo owners need an HO-6 policy, and standalone homeowners need an HO-3. The type of HOA master policy your condo association carries determines exactly how much HO-6 coverage you need. Request a copy of your HOA's master policy (if you're a condo owner) or review your HO-3 declarations page to confirm your dwelling limit matches your home's rebuild cost.

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About Mark Fitzpatrick

Mark Fitzpatrick, Licensed P&C Insurance Expert, MoneyGeek

Mark Fitzpatrick, a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer in Connecticut, is MoneyGeek's resident insurance expert. He has spent nearly a decade analyzing the market, first at LendingTree and now at MoneyGeek, where he produces original research on hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.

He covers economics and insurance at MoneyGeek, and his work has been featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR, among other outlets.

Like all MoneyGeek analysts, he draws on independent cost and consumer experience data. No insurance company partnership influences his recommendations.

Mark holds a B.A. from Boston College and an M.A. in Economics and International Relations from Johns Hopkins University. He started his career in financial risk management at State Street and is also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.

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