The hail stopped twenty minutes ago. Half the street has a roofer’s sign in the yard by lunch, and you’re pulling up your policy to see what it would pay. You remember a $1,000 or $2,000 deductible. Then you find a line that says “Wind/Hail: 2%,” and you’re not sure what that means for your roof.
Here’s how wind and hail deductibles work on a Texas home policy: what the percentage is based on, what it comes to in dollars, what Texas law requires your insurer to show you, and how to pick one you could actually pay. Our team works in Arlington, so the examples lean North Texas.
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What is a separate wind and hail deductible?
The short answer: It’s a second deductible on many Texas home policies that applies only to wind and hail damage, separate from the deductible you pay on fire, theft and most other claims.
Most people remember one deductible. Many Texas homeowners policies carry two. TDI’s guide to reading your declarations page notes that a home policy may list separate deductibles for damage from wind and hail and for “other perils” like fire and theft.
Wind and hail
Applies when wind or hail causes the damage, like a hail-beaten roof or siding torn off by wind.
All other perils
Applies to most other covered losses, such as a kitchen fire or a break-in.
A percentage
A share of your home’s insured value, such as 1% or 2%. The dollar amount grows as your coverage grows.
A flat dollar amount
A fixed figure, such as $1,000, that stays the same whatever your coverage.
The Insurance Information Institute (III) says wind and hail deductibles “are most commonly paid in percentages, typically from 1 percent to 5 percent.” Whether a flat-dollar option is available depends on the policy, so ask us what’s available on yours. For the rest of the policy, see our Texas homeowners coverage guide or our home insurance page.
Is the percentage based on your claim or your dwelling limit?
The short answer: It’s a percentage of your home’s insured value, usually the dwelling limit, not of the repair bill, so it can be larger than the whole claim.
III says percentage deductibles “are calculated based on a percentage of the home’s insured value.” On most policies that’s the dwelling limit, often labeled Coverage A. The size of the claim doesn’t change it. TDI’s deductible tips put it in dollars: a 5% deductible on a $150,000 policy is $7,500. A hail claim below that pays nothing.
- What you expected: you pay $2,000 and the policy pays about $7,000.
- What actually happens: you pay the first $7,500 and the policy pays about $1,500.
What does a 1%, 2% or 5% deductible cost in dollars?
The short answer: Multiply your dwelling limit by the percentage: on a $300,000 dwelling limit, 1% is $3,000, 2% is $6,000 and 5% is $15,000.
| Dwelling limit | 1% deductible | 2% deductible | 5% deductible |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $2,000 | $4,000 | High$10,000 |
| $300,000 | $3,000 | $6,000 | Very high$15,000 |
| $400,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 | Very high$20,000 |
| $500,000 | $5,000 | $10,000 | Very high$25,000 |
Because the deductible is a percentage, raising your dwelling limit raises your deductible in dollars. If a renewal review moves your dwelling limit from $300,000 to $340,000, a 2% wind and hail deductible goes from $6,000 to $6,800 (illustrative math).
Why does this deductible matter so much in North Texas?
The short answer: Hail is the big one: Texas recorded 902 major hail events in 2025, more than any other state, so the wind and hail deductible is the one Texas homeowners are most likely to pay.
Those are statewide counts, not a Dallas–Fort Worth figure, but they show that in Texas hail is routine, not rare. That’s why, when we review a policy for a family in Arlington, Mansfield or Grand Prairie, the wind and hail deductible is one of the first lines we turn into dollars. If you live in Arlington, our Arlington homeowners guide covers local hazards.
What does Texas law require your declarations page to show?
The short answer: Texas Insurance Code § 2301.056 requires a residential property declarations page to list each type of deductible and state the exact dollar amount of each one.
You don’t have to do this math yourself. Under Texas Insurance Code § 2301.056, a residential property policy must include a declarations page that:
- Lists and identifies each type of deductible, such as wind and hail and all other perils.
- States the exact dollar amount of each deductible. A 2% deductible on a $300,000 dwelling should read $6,000, not just “2%.”
- Points to any provision that could change a deductible’s dollar amount. If the policy or an endorsement has one, the declarations page must identify it, and that provision or endorsement must explain how the change is figured.
The law came from Senate Bill 112 (2013) and applies to policies delivered, issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2014. The list and the provision notice may sit on a page separate from the declarations page, so check the whole front section. The dollar figure you need should already be printed on your policy.
By clicking Get My Free Quote, I give Robinson Legacy Partners LLC, an Allstate agency, and its licensed agents my prior express written consent, by electronic signature, to contact me with calls and text messages — including marketing calls and texts made using automated technology or an artificial or prerecorded voice — and by email, at the number and email I provided, about my insurance quote and related insurance products and services, even if my number is on a Do Not Call list. My information is never sold or shared with other agencies for their own marketing. Consent is not a condition of purchase; I can call (817) 262-5300 instead. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the arbitration clause and E-SIGN consent.
Which deductible applies, and do you pay it every storm?
The short answer: Wind and hail losses use the wind and hail deductible, most others use the all-other-perils one, and you generally pay a deductible on each claim.
III says that with a homeowners policy, “the deductible applies each time you file a claim.” Its exceptions are season-long hurricane deductibles in Florida and Louisiana, not Texas. So if a March hailstorm and a May windstorm each lead to a claim, expect two deductibles. Your policy defines what counts as one loss.
| What happened | Deductible that usually applies |
|---|---|
| Hail damages the roof and gutters | Wind and hailOften the larger, percentage-based amount. |
| Straight-line wind tears off siding or shingles | Wind and hailWind damage counts even with no hail. |
| Kitchen fire or break-in | All other perilsLike theft, one of TDI’s “other perils” examples. |
| Two separate storms, two claims | Two deductiblesA deductible generally applies to each claim. |
Hurricane deductibles and TWIA coverage apply on the Gulf Coast, not in Dallas–Fort Worth.
How do roof settlement terms change what you collect after the deductible?
The short answer: The deductible comes out of whatever the policy owes, so if your roof is settled at actual cash value, depreciation shrinks the payment first and the deductible can wipe out the rest.
TDI’s replacement cost vs. actual cash value example shows how they stack: a $10,000 roof on a house insured for $200,000 with a 2% ($4,000) deductible pays $6,000 at replacement cost at any roof age. At actual cash value it pays $4,500 on a 5-year-old roof, $3,000 at 10 years and $0 at 20 years, because depreciation plus the deductible uses up the whole loss. TDI’s roof guidance also notes that “as roofs age, some companies will switch to actual cash value.” If your roof is aging, our guide to getting and keeping Texas home insurance with an older roof covers what to expect at renewal.
How do you choose the right wind and hail deductible?
The short answer: Pick the highest deductible you could pay from savings the week after a storm, and no higher.
A lower deductible generally costs more in premium, so it’s a trade-off, not a free upgrade.
III notes that “the larger the deductible, the less you pay in premiums.” The real question is whether you could write that check. Here’s the emergency fund test we walk through with clients:
- Find both deductibles in dollars
Write down both amounts from your declarations page.
- Run the emergency fund test
Could you pay the wind and hail amount from savings within a week, without a credit card or loan? If not, it’s too high for your household right now.
- Price the step down
Ask what moving from, say, 2% to 1% would change in premium, and whether a flat-dollar option is available. Compare that yearly cost with the dollars saved on one hail claim.
- Check your roof terms at the same time
A low deductible helps less if an older roof is settled at actual cash value.
- Recheck at every renewal
A percentage deductible rises with your dwelling limit. Confirm the dollar figure each year before storm season.
For the premium side, our guide to what homeowners insurance costs in Texas explains the statewide figures. For a whole-household checklist, see our free policy review guide.
The bottom line
A wind and hail deductible is the number most likely to decide what you pay after a North Texas storm. It’s often a percentage of your dwelling limit, not your claim, so it grows with your coverage. Texas law puts the dollar figure on your declarations page. Find it, run the emergency fund test, and check your roof terms at the same time.
Robinson Legacy Partners is an Allstate agency in Arlington, and we’re glad to do this with you. Send your ZIP below or call (817) 262-5300. We’ll read your deductibles in dollars, check your roof and dwelling terms, and price the deductible options available on your policy. Our team helps in English, Spanish, Arabic, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu and Coptic, Monday through Friday from 8:30 to 5.
By clicking Get My Free Quote, I give Robinson Legacy Partners LLC, an Allstate agency, and its licensed agents my prior express written consent, by electronic signature, to contact me with calls and text messages — including marketing calls and texts made using automated technology or an artificial or prerecorded voice — and by email, at the number and email I provided, about my insurance quote and related insurance products and services, even if my number is on a Do Not Call list. My information is never sold or shared with other agencies for their own marketing. Consent is not a condition of purchase; I can call (817) 262-5300 instead. Message frequency varies. Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out, HELP for help. I agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, including the arbitration clause and E-SIGN consent.
Wind and hail deductible FAQ
If two hailstorms damage my house in the same year, do I pay the wind and hail deductible twice?
Generally, yes, if you file two separate claims. The Insurance Information Institute says a homeowners deductible applies each time you file a claim. The season-long exceptions it describes are for hurricane deductibles in Florida and Louisiana, not Texas wind and hail deductibles. Your policy defines what counts as one storm or one loss, so it’s worth asking how yours treats storms that hit days or weeks apart. If one storm hits before repairs from another are done, call us before filing.
Does my wind and hail deductible go up if I raise my dwelling coverage?
Yes, if it’s a percentage deductible. A percentage deductible is figured on your home’s insured value, usually the dwelling limit. If a renewal review raises your dwelling limit from $300,000 to $340,000, a 2% wind and hail deductible rises from $6,000 to $6,800. A flat-dollar deductible stays the same when coverage changes. Don’t lower your dwelling limit to shrink the deductible; TDI says most companies require insuring your house for at least 80% of its replacement cost. Change the deductible instead.
Does Texas law require my declarations page to show my wind and hail deductible in dollars?
Yes. Texas Insurance Code § 2301.056 requires the declarations page of a residential property policy to list each type of deductible and state the exact dollar amount of each one. If the policy or an endorsement has a provision that could change a deductible’s dollar amount, the declarations page must identify it, and that provision must explain how the change is figured. The rule applies to policies delivered, issued or renewed on or after January 1, 2014. If you only see a percentage, call us and we’ll help find the dollar figure.
What happens if my hail damage costs less than my wind and hail deductible?
The policy generally pays nothing for that damage, because the deductible is the amount you cover before the policy pays. With a 2% deductible on a $300,000 dwelling limit, the first $6,000 of a covered wind or hail loss is yours. A $5,000 roof repair would come entirely out of pocket. Still document the damage with dates and photos, since hidden damage can make the total larger than it first looks, and call us if you’re unsure.
Is a 1% wind and hail deductible worth paying more premium than a 2% one?
It depends on your savings and how much the lower deductible costs. On a $350,000 dwelling limit, moving from 2% to 1% lowers what you’d pay on a hail claim from $7,000 to $3,500. A lower deductible generally means a higher premium, so compare the yearly difference with that $3,500. If $7,000 would be a hardship the week after a storm, the lower deductible may be worth it. We can price both for your house.
Last reviewed by the Robinson Legacy Partners team on .
