The short version
- Advertised prices start near £5 a month or £55 a year.
- Those prices apply to a small slice of customers.
- Your trade is one of the biggest factors in what you pay.
Search for public liability insurance and you will see very low prices. They are not made up. They just need reading closely.
What insurers publish
| Provider | Advertised price | What sits behind it |
|---|---|---|
| Simply Business | From £5.05 a month | 10% of customers paid £64.78 or less a year, 1 Jan to 30 Jun 2026, for up to £2m cover |
| Hiscox | From £5.20 a month | Based on policies sold to at least 10% of customers, Aug 2025 to Aug 2026 |
| Tradesman Saver | From £55 a year | 30% of new customers paid £55, 1 Feb to 31 Jul 2026, for £1m cover, before an admin charge |
All three figures come from the providers' own websites.123 Look at the Simply Business footnote again. If 10% paid that price or less, then 90% paid more.
Real examples
Simply Business also publishes sample quotes. A sole-trader domestic cleaner in Ipswich was quoted £69.29 a year for £1m of cover. A barber with a limited company and one employee was quoted £304.97 a year for £2m.1 A sole-trader builder in Norfolk was quoted £87.89 a year for £1m with tools cover.4
These are snapshots from one provider. They are useful for scale. They will not predict your own price.
What pushes the price up
- Your trade, especially work at height or with heat.
- Your location.
- Your claims history.
- How many people you employ.
- The limit you choose.
- Add-ons such as tools or employers' liability.
How to get a fair number
Get at least three quotes using the same details. Use the same limit and the same trade description each time. Then put them side by side in our quote comparison tool.
Common questions
How much is public liability insurance per year?
Published examples run from about £55 to over £300 a year. The figure depends on trade, staff, limit and claims history.
Why is my quote higher than the advert?
Advertised prices reflect the cheapest group of customers. Higher-risk trades and larger limits cost more.
Sources
- Public liability insurance, Simply Business. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- Public liability insurance, Hiscox UK. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- Tradesman insurance, Tradesman Saver. Accessed 11 November 2026.
- Tool insurance, Simply Business. Accessed 11 November 2026.
General information only. This is not legal, insurance or financial advice. Your own policy wording decides what is covered.