Updated: October 28, 2026
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State Farm is the only renters insurance provider in Wisconsin to score above the J.D. Power 2026 customer satisfaction average for the category, earning 702 out of 1,000. No other carrier in our Wisconsin analysis matched that score.
West Bend Mutual is the cheapest option in Wisconsin at $9 per month. The company is based in West Bend, WI, and earns a 5 out of 5 Affordability Score in MoneyGeek's analysis.
Wisconsin doesn't require renters insurance by law. Many landlords in Milwaukee and Madison do require it as a lease condition, though. Check your lease terms before assuming coverage is optional.
Wisconsin’s top renters insurance pick is State Farm at $12 per month, the only provider in MoneyGeek’s analysis to score above the J.D. Power 2026 segment average. AAA and West Bend Mutual both come in at $9 per month, with State Farm’s higher score justifying the $3 difference.
The three companies in the table below earned the top MoneyGeek scores for renters insurance in Wisconsin, with average monthly premiums ranging from $9 to $12 for $50,000 in personal property coverage:
4.7 | $12 | $149 | |
4.5 | $9 | $111 | |
West Bend Mutual | 4.4 | $9 | $106 |
J.D. Power Renters Insurance Score
Monthly Average Premium
Annual Average Premium
State Farm: Best Overall
State Farm costs $12 per month for Wisconsin renters and is the only provider in this analysis to score above the J.D. Power 2026 U.S. Home Insurance Study segment average, earning 702 out of 1,000 on a 1,000-point scale. J.D. Power measures how customers rate their experience after a claim, not just their intent to buy. Most renters insurance carriers fall below the 682 segment average. State Farm clears it by 20 points.
Its Coverage Score of 4.4 out of 5 is the highest of the three Wisconsin providers. In practice, that translates to more endorsement options and fewer dollar sub-limits on specific item categories like electronics and jewelry. If you own high-value gear or anything that would hit a standard sub-limit. State Farm's policy structure gives you more room to get the right coverage.
State Farm writes and adjusts its own claims rather than routing through a third-party underwriter. For renters in older Milwaukee apartment buildings or Madison properties with aging plumbing, that matters. Insurers that handle their own claims remove the third-party contractor from the process, which reduces the number of handoffs between a renter and a final decision
The $12 rate reflects a $1,000 deductible. State Farm agents across Wisconsin can walk through how a different deductible changes the monthly cost for your specific profile.
J.D. Power 2026 Score
Monthly Average Premium
Annual Average Premium
AAA: Best Value
AAA costs $9 per month for Wisconsin renters on the same $50,000 in personal property coverage. That's $3 less per month than State Farm. Its MoneyGeek Score is 4.5 out of 5, the second-highest in Wisconsin, and its Affordability Score is 4.9 out of 5.
The trade-off is coverage breadth.
AAA's Coverage Score is 2.5 out of 5, the lowest of the three. That score reflects fewer endorsement options and narrower sub-limits on high-value items. If your belongings include electronics, jewelry or gear that often exceeds standard per-item limits, State Farm gives you more flexibility. Renters with standard furniture, clothing and electronics and nothing that would hit a per-item sub-limit will find AAA’s coverage adequate.
Wisconsin renters who bundle auto and renters policies through the same AAA affiliate pay less on both. Ask for the exact discount amount when you get your quote.
Monthly Average Rate
Annual Average Rate
West Bend Mutual: Cheapest in Wisconsin
West Bend Mutual is the cheapest renters insurer in Wisconsin at $9 per month, or $106 per year. It earns a 5 out of 5 Affordability Score in MoneyGeek's analysis, the highest of any Wisconsin provider.
West Bend Mutual is a regional carrier based in West Bend, WI. It doesn't appear in J.D. Power's 2026 U.S. Home Insurance Study, which covers national carriers only. MoneyGeek's Customer Experience Score for West Bend Mutual is 3.8 out of 5. That's the lowest of the three providers and below what State Farm (4.8) and AAA (4.5) post.
West Bend Mutual’s regional footprint means less publicly available claims resolution data than national carriers, something worth weighing if filing a claim is a realistic concern. For renters who are unlikely to file a claim and want the lowest possible monthly cost, West Bend Mutual is hard to pass up at $9. For renters in high-risk buildings or who want to know exactly what to expect if something goes wrong, the CX gap is worth factoring in.
West Bend Mutual offers the cheapest renters insurance in Wisconsin at $9 per month for $50,000 in personal property coverage. The three-provider average across MoneyGeek's Wisconsin analysis is $12 per month for the same coverage level.
Where you live in Wisconsin affects what you pay. Milwaukee renters pay more than those in Madison or Green Bay for the same coverage, largely because of the city’s older housing stock and higher claim frequency.
Milwaukee | $10 |
Madison | $8 |
Green Bay | $8 |
Milwaukee renters pay $2 more per month than Madison and Green Bay renters for the same coverage. Bundling renters insurance with an auto policy can close that gap. State Farm and AAA both offer multi-policy discounts in Milwaukee that bring the monthly cost down without reducing coverage limits.
Replacing everything in a one-bedroom apartment costs more than most renters expect.
$20,000 personal property | AAA | $3 |
$50,000 personal property | West Bend Mutual | $9 |
$100,000 personal property | AAA | $10 |
$250,000 personal property | State Farm | $33 |
The jump from $50,000 to $100,000 in personal property coverage costs about $4 more per month with the cheapest provider. Before settling on a coverage limit, do a quick count of what you own, a laptop, a TV, a couch and a wardrobe of clothes can easily add up to $15,000 to $20,000 before you factor in anything else. Renters who own multiple devices, instruments or furniture across several rooms often find $100,000 is closer to their actual replacement cost than $50,000.
A lower rate doesn’t always mean less coverage. These four steps can cut your Wisconsin renters insurance cost without reducing what your policy actually pays out.
Wisconsin renters pay anywhere from $9 to $18 per month for the same $50,000 in personal property coverage depending on which company they choose, based on MoneyGeek’s analysis. That $9 monthly gap adds up to $108 per year for identical protection. Getting quotes from at least three providers before buying is the fastest way to find out where on that range your profile lands.
Carrying both renters and auto insurance with the same company qualifies for a multi-policy discount on both premiums. State Farm and AAA both offer this in Wisconsin. Ask each insurer for the exact discount amount when you get your quote. The percentage varies by carrier and your specific policies.
Your deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket before your policy covers a loss. Moving from a $500 deductible to a $1,000 deductible lowers your annual premium. Your coverage limits stay the same.
Wisconsin doesn’t legally require renters to carry insurance. Many landlords do require it as a lease condition, and those requirements vary. Some ask for $100,000 in liability coverage, others require more. Check your lease before buying a policy to confirm the minimum your landlord expects. For questions about your rights as a Wisconsin renter, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance publishes guidance at oci.wi.gov.
Your liability limit is what most Wisconsin landlords check. Your personal property limit is what protects you if something is stolen or damaged. Add up what your belongings would cost to replace at today’s prices. Furniture and electronics in a one-bedroom apartment often cost $15,000 or more to replace. Clothing, appliances and other items can push that figure to $30,000 or higher.
When figuring out how much renters insurance you need, experts recommend the standard $100,000 in liability insurance and enough personal property protection to cover your possessions. Use MoneyGeek's calculator to estimate the value of your possessions so you know how much personal property coverage to buy.
Clothes, shoes, bags, belts, hats, gloves, etc.
Your deductible is the amount you cover before your insurer covers the rest. Most Wisconsin renters accept the $500 deductible their insurer pre-selects without realizing a higher deductible directly lowers their premium. Raising it to $1,000 lowers your annual premium. On West Bend Mutual’s $106 annual rate, that means paying less each year for the same coverage. On State Farm’s $149 rate, the savings are larger in dollar terms since the base premium is higher
The higher deductible only saves money if you wouldn’t file a claim for a loss under $1,000. Most renters wouldn’t, filing a small claim can raise your rate at renewal. If you have at least $1,000 in savings and rarely file claims, the higher deductible pays for itself within a year at either rate.
State Farm is the best option for most Wisconsin renters at $12 a month. It leads on customer experience (4.8) and overall score (4.7). If price is your priority, AAA and West Bend Mutual both cost $9 a month. AAA has the stronger customer experience score (4.5 vs. 3.8), but a lower coverage score (2.5).
State Farm ranks first in MoneyGeek’s Wisconsin analysis with a score of 4.7 out of 5. It costs $12 per month for $50,000 in personal property coverage and is the only Wisconsin provider to score above the J.D. Power 2026 segment average at 702 out of 1,000.
The three-provider average across MoneyGeek’s Wisconsin analysis is $10 per month for $50,000 in personal property coverage and $100,000 in liability. The cheapest option, West Bend Mutual, costs $9 per month for the same coverage.
Milwaukee renters pay $10 per month on average for $50,000 in personal property coverage, based on MoneyGeek’s analysis. That’s $2 more per month than Madison and Green Bay, where rates run $8 per month for the same coverage level.
Wisconsin law doesn’t require renters to carry renters insurance. Many landlords do require it as a lease condition. Requirements vary by landlord and property, so check your lease terms before assuming coverage is optional. For guidance on Wisconsin renter rights, the Wisconsin Office of the Commissioner of Insurance publishes consumer resources at oci.wi.gov.
Yes, if the pipe bursts suddenly and accidentally. A common scenario during Wisconsin cold snaps. Your personal property coverage pays for belongings damaged by the water. Standard renters insurance doesn’t cover flooding from external sources, including snowmelt or water entering from outside the building. Wisconsin renters in flood-prone areas near the Milwaukee River, Fox River or Rock River should check FEMA flood maps and consider a separate flood policy through the National Flood Insurance Program.
MoneyGeek analyzed 10 renters insurance companies available in Wisconsin using a weighted scoring model that considers rates, coverage options, customer satisfaction and financial stability. Quoted rates are based on a sample profile: $50,000 in personal property coverage, $100,000 in liability, a $1,000 deductible, an adult renter aged 26 to 64 with good credit and no claims in the past five years. Customer satisfaction data comes from J.D. Power’s 2026 U.S. Home Insurance Study.
Mark Fitzpatrick is a licensed Property and Casualty (P&C) Insurance Producer and MoneyGeek's resident expert in insurance and economics. In nearly a decade covering the insurance market at LendingTree and MoneyGeek, he's analyzed hundreds of carriers and millions of rates across auto, home, renters, health and life insurance.
His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The New York Times and NPR. He draws on independent cost and consumer experience data, and no insurance company partnerships affect his recommendations.
Mark studied at Boston College and later earned a master's in economics and international relations from Johns Hopkins University. He worked in financial risk management at State Street before joining MoneyGeek. He's also a five-time “Jeopardy!” champion.
