Home Contents Guide

Home contents all-risk cover explained

Written by Chloe Adams Managing Editor Reviewed by Nomsa Dlamini RE5 qualified · 12 years in short-term insurance Updated 16 September 2026 Our editorial standards →

What is all-risk cover on home contents insurance?

All-risk cover, also called portable possessions cover, protects the items you carry out of the house, such as phones, laptops, jewellery, handbags and sunglasses, against loss, theft and accidental damage anywhere, not just at home. Standard contents cover usually stops at your front door, so all-risk is the add-on that follows those everyday items wherever they go.

Key takeaways

All-risk covers portable belongings away from home, which standard contents cover usually excludes.
It typically includes accidental loss, not only theft and damage.
Items can be specified individually for full value, or covered as an unspecified group up to a limit.
Phones, laptops and jewellery are the most commonly added items.
It overlaps with portable possessions and single item cover, so compare the options.

Why standard contents cover is not enough

A normal contents policy protects your belongings inside the home. The moment a laptop, phone or piece of jewellery leaves the house, that cover generally falls away. Since those are exactly the items most likely to be stolen or dropped while you are out, the gap matters. All-risk cover closes it by following the item wherever you take it.

Specified versus unspecified items

All-risk cover comes in two forms:

Specified items are listed individually with their own values, which suits high-value things like a laptop, camera or engagement ring.
Unspecified items are covered as a group up to a set limit per item, without naming each one, which suits everyday goods like sunglasses and clothing.

Many households use a mix: specify the expensive items and rely on the unspecified limit for the rest.

What all-risk typically covers

All-risk usually covers accidental loss, theft and accidental damage away from home, which is broader than the theft-focused cover on a standard contents policy. That means a phone left in a taxi, a laptop stolen from a bag, or a ring that slips off can all be claimable events. Excesses and single-item limits still apply, so check the wording and what proof of ownership the insurer expects.

All-risk, portable possessions or single item cover

These terms overlap. All-risk on a home policy, a standalone portable possessions policy, and single item cover all protect belongings away from home in similar ways. Which is cheapest depends on how many items you need to cover and their value. If you only need to protect one expensive item, single item cover can be simpler; for several, all-risk on your contents policy is often tidier. Compare the options for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

Is my phone covered away from home on contents insurance?

Usually only if you add all-risk cover. Standard contents insurance generally protects belongings inside the home, so a phone stolen at the shops or lost while out may not be covered without all-risk. Adding it, or specifying the phone, is what protects the device wherever you take it.

What is the difference between all-risk and portable possessions cover?

They describe the same idea: cover for items you carry with you, against loss, theft and accidental damage away from home. All-risk is often an add-on to a home contents policy, while portable possessions can also be bought as standalone cover. Compare both for value based on what you need to insure.

Do I have to list every item on all-risk cover?

Not always. High-value items are usually specified individually for full-value cover, while everyday items can be covered as an unspecified group up to a per-item limit. Specifying valuables is worth it so there is no dispute about their value if you need to claim.

Is all-risk cover worth it?

If you regularly carry a phone, laptop or jewellery, it often is, because those are the items most exposed to theft and accidents away from home and the costliest to replace. If little of value ever leaves your house, standard contents cover may be enough. Compare quotes to weigh the small extra premium against the risk.

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