How Do Hurricane and Percentage Wind Deductibles Work?

The Texas Department of Insurance advises that if a policy’s deductible is a percentage, you should know how it translates into dollars. TDI’s guide to declarations pages also notes that a policy may have separate deductibles for wind and hail.

How the math works

Illustrations using a deductible applied to the dwelling (Coverage A) limit:

Dwelling limit	1%	2%	5%
$200,000	$2,000	$4,000	$10,000
$300,000	$3,000	$6,000	$15,000
$500,000	$5,000	$10,000	$25,000

TDI’s own example on a $150,000 home: a 5% deductible equals $7,500, so a $6,500 roof repair after a hail storm would be paid nothing, while a $500 flat deductible would leave the insurer paying $6,000.

Hurricane vs. wind/hail vs. all-other-perils

Policies can have several deductibles:

• All-other-perils: the regular deductible for fire, theft and similar losses, often a flat dollar amount.
• Wind/hail or windstorm: applies to wind and hail losses, often a percentage.
• Named storm or hurricane: some policies apply a percentage only when a storm meets a defined trigger, such as a named or declared hurricane.

Which one applies, and when, is defined in the policy. In coastal areas where wind is excluded, a separate windstorm policy will have its own deductible; TDI describes the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association as one example for the Texas coast.

Per claim, not per year

TDI notes that home deductibles apply to each claim. Two separate storms can mean two deductibles unless the policy says otherwise for a season.

Planning for a percentage deductible

• Ask for the deductible in dollars on the quote.
• Ask whether a lower percentage or flat option is available and the premium for each.
• Set aside an emergency fund matching the wind deductible if you live where storms are common.
• Recheck the dollar amount whenever the dwelling limit rises.

TDI’s roof guidance also suggests asking whether the wind and hail deductible differs from other perils, because roof claims are where it shows up most often.

By phone

What happens when you call

A conversation lets the agent ask about your specific home instead of relying on a generic online estimate. There are no online forms to fill out.

1. 1

   Describe your home

   Share the address, size, age, construction, and roof or system updates. You do not need every detail to start.

2. 2

   Talk through coverage

   Explain what you want covered and ask about limits, deductibles, and exclusions that apply to your property.

3. 3

   Compare and decide

   Ask for the written quote terms and compare them before deciding. A call or a quote does not start coverage.

Sources and how this page was checked

Page updated October 23, 2026

This page is general information written from the public sources below. It has not been reviewed by an insurance company, attorney or licensed agent for your situation. Your policy form, endorsements, insurer and state rules decide what is covered.

Sources

• Texas Department of Insurance — DeductiblesRetrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for dollar vs. percentage deductibles (worked example on a $150,000 home), per-claim application and the premium tradeoff of a higher deductible.
• Texas Department of Insurance — What is windstorm insurance?Retrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026. Texas coastal TWIA arrangements are described as a Texas example, not a national rule.
• Texas Department of Insurance — How to read your declarations pageRetrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for declarations-page contents, listed optional coverages (water backup, identity theft, home sharing) and separate deductibles.
• Texas Department of Insurance — Insurance and your roofRetrieved and reviewed October 25, 2026 for roof replacement cost vs. actual cash value, roof settlement changes at renewal, separate wind/hail deductibles, two-payment replacement-cost claims and pre-policy roof inspections.

Before you rely on this page

• Read your declarations page, policy form and every endorsement; they control over any summary.
• Ask the insurer or agent to confirm limits, deductibles and exclusions in writing before you buy or cancel coverage.
• For state rules, deadlines or complaints, check your state insurance department directly.