Why does a carpenter need insurance?
As a carpenter, your work is practical, skilled and often carried out in other people’s homes or on busy construction sites. With that comes a level of risk - to your clients, your employees, your tools and your livelihood. That’s where insurance comes in.
Here are a few examples of how the right cover can protect you:
Accidents happen – even to the best
You’re replacing a banister in a customer’s home when your drill slips from your hand and falls onto the wooden flooring, damaging it. The client in this case is entitled to compensation. With public liability insurance, you’re covered. It takes care of the costs so you can stay focused on the job.
Hiring help? You’ll need protection
Business is booming, and you’ve taken on a couple of helping hands. The moment you take someone on you have employees and you’re legally required to have employers’ liability insurance. It covers you if an employee is accidentally injured or falls ill due to the work they do for you.
Your tools are your livelihood
Carpentry relies on specialist tools, and they don’t come cheap. If your equipment is stolen from a van or damaged on-site, tool insurance can help cover the cost of replacements so you’re not left out of pocket.
How much does carpenters’ insurance cost?
Carpenters’ Insurance with AXA costs from £7* a month.
However, it’s important to remember that there are factors that determine the cost of every individual quote. Some of the following may impact the price you’ll pay:
- Whether you’re a self-employed carpenter or run a larger business.
- The types of covers you choose – adding multiple covers - public liability, tools insurance, contents cover etc will all affect pricing.
- The number of employees you have, since more employees mean a higher chance of workplace accidents.
The easiest way to see how much a policy with us would cost is to get a quote.
*10% of our customers paid from £7.00 for ten months between January and March 2025 after an initial deposit. Interest applicable. For more details see our terms & conditions.
What covers do carpenters need?
With AXA, you can pick and choose which covers you need to build a business insurance package that suits your carpentry or joinery work. This way, you’re only ever paying for the protection you actually need.
Here are the main types of cover to consider:
Public Liability Insurance for carpenters
Public liability insurance is an important cover for carpenters. It protects you if your work accidentally causes injury or property damage to a customer or member of the public.
A few examples of when it can help:
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You’re restoring a garden decking, and your drill bit snaps and breaks the customer’s window – public liability could cover the cost of getting those mistakes sorted.
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A member of the public trips over your tools left on the ground on-site and is injured – this cover helps with legal and compensation costs.
Van insurance
If you rely on your van to get from site to site or to transport tools and materials, van insurance helps keep your carpentry business moving.
With AXA’s van cover, you’ll get:
- Protection against fire, theft, and accidental damage
- Roadside assistance and accident recovery
- A guaranteed courtesy van while yours is in for repair
- Up to £5,000 personal injury cover for the driver
Employers’ liability insurance
If you employ anyone, whether it’s a full-time joiner, an apprentice, or even a temporary labourer, employers’ liability insurance is a legal requirement under the Employers’ Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act 1969.
This cover protects your business if an employee gets injured or falls ill because of the work they do for you.
You’ll be covered for:
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Full-time and part-time employees
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Subcontractors or labourers working under your supervision
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Apprentices, volunteers, or those on work placements
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Up to £10 million cover available from AXA
Is public liability insurance required by law for carpenters?
No, public liability isn’t legally required by law (unlike employers’ liability insurance, which is a legal obligation if you have staff.)
However, if you’re a self-employed business person, it makes sense for you to protect your business as best you can. There’s plenty that could go wrong – with accidental injuries or damage caused because of work you do. And in the case of injury to yourself, your staff or someone you’re working for – AXA’s business insurance has got your back.
As a carpenter, what additional covers can I get?
There are several optional covers that you may want to add to your policy to ensure that you’re getting comprehensive cover for your business. If you feel like you need a little more cover for something your standard policy doesn’t cover, here are a couple of options you might want to consider.
Contract works cover
If you’re building a new house or extending a property contract works cover, will protect the work that you’ve done from accidental loss, destruction, or damage – so you can complete the project you’re working on. Please note: it doesn’t cover existing structures.
Own tools and equipment cover
We’ll cover you for accidental loss, theft or damage to your own tools, plant, and equipment including your work tools, as well as any machinery, trailers, site huts or caravans owned by you. Plus, we also include £2000 worth of stock cover.
Hired-In Plant Tools Cover
If you’re renting specialist gear, our hired-in equipment cover will protect them if they’re damaged or destroyed in your care. We’ll provide cover for a variety of hired-in equipment, such as:
- Constructional plant
- Machinery
- Tools and equipment
- Site huts or caravans you have hired to use in connection with the business
Workshops Cover
We will cover the content, including tools, machinery, stock, and computer equipment, from your premises. You can set a cover level tailored to your workshop’s value. We also know that not all the work you need to do can be carried out in one location, and there might be tools or machines that you need to have off-site – this cover also protects these items.
What insurance do I need as a self-employed carpenter?
As a self-employed carpenter, having the right business insurance is crucial to protect your work and reputation. You’ll need most of the same covers as a limited company, typically including:
- Public Liability Insurance – This covers you if you cause injury or damage while working. For example, if you accidentally damage a client’s property or if someone trips over your tools while you’re working on-site.
- Tools Insurance – If your tools are lost, stolen, or damaged, this cover ensures you don’t have to replace them out of pocket. For instance, if your power tools are stolen from your van overnight, your tools insurance would cover the cost of replacing them.
- Van Insurance – If you use your van to transport tools and materials, this insurance protects against accidents, theft, or damage.
The main difference is that, as a self-employed carpenter, you don’t need employers' liability insurance as you’ll mostly working alone, unless you hire staff or apprentices at a later point.
Get a quote today that’s tailored to your business to ensure you have the cover you need.
Get a business insurance quoteClick to start a business insurance quoteFrequently asked questions
What does carpenters’ insurance cover?
Carpenters’ insurance typically covers public liability, tools and equipment, van insurance, and employers' liability (if you have staff). It protects you from various things, such as protecting against claims for injury, damage to property, and loss or theft of your tools.
Are my employees covered from personal injury?
Employers’ liability insurance is legally required if you have any staff, that includes apprentices, sub-contractors, casual labourers, and temporary workers. With it, you’ll be protected if they’re injured or fall ill because of doing work for you. With AXA, you’ll get £10 million cover as standard.
Do I need employers' liability insurance as a self-employed carpenter?
You don’t need Employers' Liability Insurance unless you employ others, such as apprentices, part-time staff, or contractors. If you do employ anyone, it is a legal requirement to have this cover.
How much does carpenter's insurance cost?
The cost of carpenter insurance depends on factors such as your business size, the covers you choose, and the type of work you do. On average, you can expect prices to start from as little as £7* per month, but it's best to get a quote for a personalised estimate.
*10% of our customers paid from £7.00 for ten months between January and March 2025 after an initial deposit. Interest applicable. For more details see our terms & conditions.
Can I add more covers to my carpenter's insurance policy?
Yes, you can customise your policy to add additional covers like tool breakdown insurance, legal expenses, or personal accident insurance, depending on your needs.
How do I make a claim on my carpenter's insurance?
If you need to make a claim, contact your insurer as soon as possible. You’ll need to provide details of the incident, such as photographs or a police report (if applicable), and your insurer will guide you through the claims process.
Are my tools and equipment covered?
With our own plant tools and equipment cover, you’re able to replace machinery, trailers or caravans, in case of accidental loss, theft or damage. Plus, we also include £2000 worth of stock cover.
And if you’ve got hired-in equipment like specialist tools or site huts, our hired-in cover will protect them if they’re damaged or destroyed whilst in your care.
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†Only AXA Business Insurance product customers and their employees are eligible to use the 24/7 health support line. AXA Health reserve the right to withdraw access for AXA Business Insurance product customers and their employees at any time.
*10% of our customers paid from £7.00 for ten months between January and March 2025 after an initial deposit. Interest applicable. For more details see our terms & conditions.