Joiner Insurance
Specialist business insurance for joiners, from £3.96 per month.*
- Join over 150,000 customers**
- Get a quote in under 60 seconds
- Joiner public liability insurance
- Tools and equipment cover
- Employers’ Liability and more
From £3.96* a month
What does joiner insurance cover?
Our Joiners’ Insurance offers essential liability coverage to protect you from potential claims, enabling you to work with peace of mind and safeguard your finances.
It includes Public Liability as standard, with the option to add extras like Employers’ Liability, Contractors Works cover, and Plant & Tools cover, all tailored to fit the unique needs and scale of your business.
Our policy is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing you to customise our Contractors All Risk cover to suit your specific needs. You can select the level of cover required for contractor works and any plant or tools you own or hire. By choosing one or more of these options, employee tools and personal belongings will also be covered, up to £500.
Make sure you have the correct insurance for your trades and be sure to check if any exclusions are relevant to what you have planned in policy documentation.
Public Liability
Employers' Liability
Contractors Works
Plant & Tools
Financial Loss
Public Liability Insurance for Joiners’
- Up to £5 million available.
Protection against claims from third parties (e.g., a member of the public) who suffer injuries or have items of their property damaged due to your actions. This does not include third-party property that forms part of the working contract site.
Claims for damage to the work you are undertaking is not covered under Public Liability cover, this can be considered under Contract Works cover. Third party property damage cover is included under Public Liability, as long as it doesn’t make up all or part of the work you are undertaking.
Employers’ Liability
- Up to £10 million available.
- If any employee suffered physical injury or a fatality because of the employer’s negligence. If that staff member sought compensation, the insurer would handle the cost of the claim.
- If you employ any staff members, Employers’ Liability is a legal requirement.
Contractors Works
- Up to £250,000 worth of cover
- This cover can protect you against loss or damage to any permanent or temporary works you’re responsible for, including all the materials.
Plant & tools hired
- Up to £50,000 worth of cover.
- Covers you for loss of or damage to, hired tools and equipment, temporary buildings, caravans, or similar that you have hired in connection with any contract works being undertaken by you.
- Cover also includes your legal liability for hiring charges following damage to any hired property.
Plant & tools owned
- Up to £75,000 worth of cover.
- Covers your tools and equipment, temporary buildings, caravans, or similar that are owned by you and used in connection with any contract works being undertaken by you.
Tools of Trade
- Covers your tools and equipment off-site if locked in an unattended vehicle, up to £5000.
- This is only available as an extension of plant & tools owned cover and covers your own portable tools, including power driven portable tools and business equipment, when kept in a locked vehicle and left unattended.
Employees tools & personal effects
- This covers tools and personal items owned by your employees while on any site, or those you’re responsible for under a joint working agreement.
- It’s not available as a standalone cover but comes with either Contract Works or Owned or Hired Plant & Tools cover, with protection up to £500.
Financial Loss
- Up to £50,000 per claim available.
- Protection from claims from other parties relating to financial losses not directly consequent upon bodily injury or damage.
- Cover for bona fide subcontractors, who should have their own insurance.
- Claims for financial losses relating to non or late delivery of products to third parties.
For information on exclusions in your cover please refer to policy documentation.
Why you need business insurance for joiners?
Insurance for joiners can provide the necessary protection for yourself, your assets, your employees, and your clients from various risks and liabilities associated with your carpentry work.
By investing in the right insurance, joiners can operate their businesses with confidence, knowing that they have the necessary protection in place to mitigate potential risks and uncertainties. Take a look at some situations where you need insurance:
Protection from claims if an client suffers injury.
Accidents can happen whilst onsite providing joining work, for instance unintentional injury to a client or bystander from a wood fragment.
Public liability insurance protects joiners from financial liabilities arising from such incidents by covering the costs of legal fees, compensation claims, and any associated expenses.
An employee or temporary worker has an accident during work.
Joining work brings a number of risks from the nature of the work and tools involved. If employees or temporary workers are involved in an accident in the workplace they could bring a claim against you for medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, and lost wages.
Employers’ liability is a legal obligation to protect you from these situations, with fines of £2500 per day for failing to comply.
Accidental damage caused to plant and tools you own or hire.
As a self-employed joiner you may have access to specialist tools and plant equipment, to aid you in providing the work you are undertaking. These tools could be frequently subject to damage and loss.
Without Plant and Tools insurance, you’d have to cover the cost of replacing these expensive tools, which could impact your earnings. However, with the insurance in place, the cost of repairing or replacing your tools would be covered, allowing you to continue your work without financial worry.
Protection against tool theft from a locked vehicle
Imagine your tools are stolen from your van whilst parked offsite. Not all insurance will cover this scenario, leaving you out of pocket and without vital equipment to complete your work.
With our owned plants and tool cover you can extend your policy to include theft of tools from an unattended vehicle in your cover, up to £5000.
Our experts explain why...
“Our Carpenters and Joiners insurance is designed to protect professionals working in the woodworking and construction industry across the UK. Our specialist cover goes beyond standard liability insurance, offering protection against workplace accidents, damage claims, and equipment losses.
We protect your tools, materials, and contracted work—whether owned or hired—along with coverage for your team’s equipment and potential staff claims. This includes Contractors All Risks coverage, ensuring your materials are protected during projects, as well as cover for both hired and owned plant and tools.
Our policy is specifically tailored to the needs of carpenters and joiners, who rely on precision, skill, and specialist equipment. With protection in place, you can focus on your craft with confidence, knowing your business is covered against unexpected risks.”
Chris Trotman, Protectivity Underwriting Manager
How much does joiner insurance cost?
At Protectivity, Joiners Insurance starts from just £3.96* a month.
The cost of business insurance for joiners can vary depending on several factors, for example, if you employ staff then your policy will need additional cover in employers’ liability, at a higher cost.
Investing in specialist joiners’ insurance is not just about protecting you from financial losses. It’s a small price to pay to provide additional financial support in case things go wrong.
Prices from
£3.96* a month
Explainer quote
Policy cost
£3.96* a month
Policy type
Joiner Insurance
Duration
Annual
Turnover
up to £250,000
Public Liability
£1,000,000
This example is based on a real quote from our website on 06/03/2025. If your circumstances and cover needs differ, your quote may be more or less expensive than the above example. The quote you receive will reflect the information you share about your event. The quoted price may vary from those displayed here.
Have a question?
For further information on your policy, renewals, making a claim and contacting us, you’ll find an extensive list of FAQs on our Help & Support page.
Why choose Protectivity for your joiner insurance policy?
Let the reviews of over 3,500 customers explain why you should choose us.¹
Trusted by over 150,000 customers.
Experienced insurance providers for over 30 years.
Over 3,500 highly rated reviews.
Proof of our excellent customer service.
Experienced Claims Handling
A smooth and efficient claims process.
UK Based Customer Support
Our UK sales team are here to help.
Frequently
Asked Questions
What security measures do I need for tool coverage?
To ensure tool insurance is valid, your tools must be securely stored in a locked vehicle and out of sight, locked site container, or other secure location when not in use. This applies to both owned and hired tools.
Are power tool breakdowns included?
No, power tool breakdowns are not included. The policy only covers theft, damage, or loss of tools if you have the relevant Plant & Tools Owned or Hired cover.
Does tradesman insurance cover work interruption?
No, standard tradesman insurance does not cover work interruption.
Are my van’s contents insured overnight?
Tools and equipment stored in a locked vehicle overnight are covered if you have the Plant & Tools Owned extension (Tools of Trade), which protects your tools off-site under secure conditions.
Am I covered for delayed damage claims?
No, delayed damage claims are not covered. All claims for damage must be reported to us at the point you are aware of any damages or injury occurring.
What insurance do I need for electrical work?
You will need to select the correct trade you need cover for, when you get a quote, for example electrician’s cover. Public liability insurance can protect against third-party claims. Additionally, Employers’ Liability is required if you employ staff. You may want to customise your policy with optional extras for Contractors Works and Plants and Tools cover.
Is tool hire covered if they are stolen?
Yes, Plant & Tools Hired cover includes protection for hired tools and equipment against loss, damage, or theft. You’ll also be covered for any hire charges resulting from the loss.
Are materials stored on site protected?
Materials stored on-site are protected if you include Contractors Works in your policy. This ensures coverage for loss or damage to temporary or permanent works, including materials.
What coverage do I need for commercial projects?
Depending on your project you can choose the appropriate cover that best suits your needs. For commercial projects, you could include Contractors Works for protection of materials and works, as well as Plant & Tools cover for equipment used on-site. Public liability and Employers’ Liability may also be necessary, depending on the size of your operation and workforce.
Does my tradesman liability insurance include apprentices?
Yes, if you have Employers’ Liability insurance, apprentices are covered for workplace injuries or accidents, as this is a legal requirement for any employer with staff.
What items are covered under the Own Plant and Tools cover?
The insurer defines this cover as contractors’ plant, tools and equipment demountable and temporary buildings and/or caravans and/or other items of a like nature and materials and/or stores and/or any other property of whatsoever nature used or intended for use in connection with any contract works. There are conditions and exclusions you need to ensure you adhere with, please ensure you take a view of these before proceeding further.
What does Contract Works cover?
Contract Works is designed to cover you for Damage and Loss to works whether permanent or temporary, to include materials used for which you are responsible for, being your property whilst you are undertaking works, not including tools, plant and equipment you own or that you have hired in for the works. We are unable to provide cover for materials and stock away from any contract site unless in transit and we cannot consider cover for contract works that exceed 24 months.
Are you able to cover the plant I use for my trade?
Yes, we can cover plant you own and plant you hire in. We have different sums insured that can be selected and the sums selected also have single article limits for plant you own and maximum hire charges for equipment you hire. Please also note that if you own or have hired a single piece of plant equipment that costs more than £10,000, when its not in use it is stored in a securely locked building of standard construction or is immobilised in accordance with the manufacturers recommendations.
Can I include liability cover for subcontractors, who I use to assist my business?
This depends on your agreement with your subcontractors. Bona-fide subcontractors will have to have their own insurance cover and cannot be included on your insurance policy and in the numbers requested herein, you will be obligated to retain proof of their insurance. Labour-only subcontractors can be included on your policy of insurance, for work they provide under contract with yourself and your business only and should be included in the total numbers you provide in this application of insurance.
Does your policy allow me and my staff to provide work using heat away from our premises?
No, not for the majority of trades available to be selected, with the exception of some of the builders trades, landscapers trades and electricians, where there will be an endorsement added to your policy, allowing you to undertake work away from your premises, subject to you complying with a set of conditions outlined in the added endorsement titled ‘Hot Working and Use of Heat Equipment away from your Premises Condition Precedent.
Do I need insurance if I work from home?
Yes, you need public liability insurance to protect you against claims arising from accidental injury to a client or damage to their belongings.
Can you cover my tools for damage, loss and theft?
Yes, at Protectivity we offer tools insurance for tradesmen, but this is subject to conditions and exclusions. Please make sure to read the conditions and exclusions in full.
Does this insurance policy cover me for working overseas?
This cover is meant for work in the United Kingdom, however it will allow cover abroad temporarily (max 25 days throughout your annual policy), for manual work in the EU and non-manual work anywhere in the world, in conjunction with your Business only.
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This page content has been created for general information and should not be taken as advice.
*Prices quoted refer to a quote raised from our website 06/03/2025. Prices will differ depending on requirements. Make sure you have the correct level of cover for what you need. For the most accurate pricing, please get a quote and for full details on what is covered refer to our policy documentation with your quote.
** Based on Protectivity sales data from 2007 to Sep 2024
¹Based on live Feefo data