Roof deductibles explained (including separate wind/hail deductibles)
By the Storm Repair Pro editorial team · Reviewed by Dana Whitfield · Last updated July 2026
Short answer
Your deductible is what you pay before insurance funds the rest of a covered roof claim. It's either a flat dollar amount (commonly $500–$2,500) or, in storm-prone states, a separate wind/hail or hurricane deductible that's a PERCENTAGE of your dwelling coverage limit (1%–5%), which on a large home can be many thousands of dollars. On top of that, whether your policy pays replacement cost (RCV) or actual cash value (ACV) changes your recovery even more than the deductible does. Read your declarations page for three things: your deductible type, any separate wind/hail deductible, and RCV vs. ACV. Knowing these before you file prevents the worst surprises.
General information, not advice. This guide explains how storm claims generally work. It is not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Coverage, deductibles, and deadlines depend on your specific policy and state, verify with your carrier and your state insurance department.
Flat vs. percentage deductibles
A flat deductible is a fixed dollar amount, you pay $500–$2,500 (typical range) and insurance funds the rest of the covered scope. Simple. A percentage deductible is calculated as a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit (Coverage A), not the claim amount, and this is where homeowners get surprised.
Do the percentage math before you file
A 2% wind/hail deductible on a $400,000 dwelling limit is $8,000, not 2% of your repair. On a $250,000 limit it's $5,000. If your likely damage is close to that number, the deductible math decides whether filing even makes sense. Percentage deductibles run 1%–5% of the dwelling limit depending on your state and policy.
Separate wind/hail and hurricane deductibles
In hail-belt and coastal states, carriers often apply a separate deductible specifically for wind and hail losses, distinct from (and usually higher than) your standard all-other-perils deductible. It shows on your declarations page as a percentage. Coastal states add a hurricane or named-storm deductible that applies to hurricane losses, sometimes per named storm each season. So a homeowner can have three different deductibles: standard, wind/hail, and hurricane. Know which one a given storm triggers.
This matters most for tornado and hurricane damage, where the percentage deductible on a large loss can itself be a five-figure number.
ACV vs. RCV, the other half of your recovery
The deductible sets your floor; the valuation basis sets your ceiling. With replacement cost value (RCV), insurance pays to replace your roof with a new one, holding back depreciation initially, then reimbursing it once you complete the work and submit proof. With actual cash value (ACV), the payout is depreciated for the roof's age and never restored, so an older roof can leave you paying a large gap out of pocket on top of the deductible.
- RCV, new roof, $2,500 deductible: you generally get the full replacement minus your deductible (depreciation reimbursed after completion).
- ACV, 15-year-old roof: the payout is reduced for depreciation, so your effective out-of-pocket is the deductible PLUS the withheld depreciation.
- Roof-payment schedules: some policies now cap older-roof payouts on a sliding scale by age, check for a roof surcharge or schedule endorsement.
How to read your declarations page
Your declarations ('dec') page is the one-page summary at the front of your policy. Find and note:
- Coverage A (Dwelling) limit, the basis for any percentage deductible.
- All-other-perils deductible, your standard flat deductible.
- Wind/Hail deductible, a separate line, often a percentage; this is what a storm claim usually triggers.
- Hurricane / named-storm deductible, coastal policies only; check if it's per-season or per-storm.
- Loss settlement: RCV or ACV, sometimes a separate roof settlement endorsement; this drives your recovery.
A pro reads it with you before you file
The contractors we match you with review your deductible and valuation basis as part of the free inspection, so you file knowing your real out-of-pocket, no surprises. This is general information, not policy-specific advice; always confirm terms with your carrier.
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Written by the Storm Repair Pro editorial team · Reviewed for accuracy by
Dana Whitfield, Editorial reviewer, property-claims content
Dana leads editorial review for Storm Repair Pro's insurance-claim guides, with a background in property-claims coordination and restoration operations. Every guide is checked against current state insurance-department guidance and standard homeowners-policy mechanics before it publishes, and re-checked when reforms change the rules.
Last reviewed July 2026. This guide is general information to help you plan, not legal, insurance, or financial advice. Coverage, deductibles, and deadlines depend on your specific policy and state; verify with your carrier and your state insurance department.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wind/hail deductible?
A wind/hail deductible is a separate deductible that applies specifically to wind and hail losses, common in storm-prone states. It's usually expressed as a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit (commonly 1%–5%) rather than a flat dollar amount, and it's typically higher than your standard deductible. It's what most storm roof claims trigger, so check your declarations page for the exact figure.
How is a percentage deductible calculated?
It's a percentage of your dwelling coverage limit (Coverage A), not of your repair cost. For example, a 2% deductible on a $300,000 dwelling limit is $6,000. That's the amount you pay before insurance funds the rest of a covered claim, so on a large home the percentage deductible can itself be several thousand dollars.
What's the difference between ACV and RCV?
Replacement cost value (RCV) pays to replace your roof new, reimbursing depreciation after the work is completed. Actual cash value (ACV) pays the depreciated value based on the roof's age and never restores the depreciation, so an older roof leaves a larger out-of-pocket gap. RCV vs. ACV often affects your recovery more than the deductible does, check which your policy uses.
Can I have more than one deductible on my policy?
Yes. Many storm-state policies have a standard all-other-perils deductible, a separate wind/hail deductible, and, on the coast, a hurricane/named-storm deductible. A given loss triggers whichever applies to that peril, so it's worth knowing all three before a storm hits.
Is it worth filing if the damage is close to my deductible?
Often not, if the likely repair is at or below your deductible, filing means a claim on your record with little or no payout. That's exactly why you should get a free inspection and know your deductible math first. If the damage clearly exceeds the deductible, filing is usually worthwhile; if it's borderline, a pro can help you decide.
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