How Much Does QBCC Home Warranty Insurance Cost? (2026)
A $300,000 new home costs $3,670.28 in total QBCC-related statutory cost: a $2,102.10 home warranty insurance premium plus a $1,568.18 QLeave-administered levy. The same $300,000 as a renovation costs $5,197.83, because the premium is higher ($3,629.65) while the levy is the same. All figures include GST and come from this site's own QBCC insurance calculator.
Your cost is driven by two things only: the insurable value of the work (the contract price, including labour, materials and GST) and whether it is a new build or a renovation. If you just want to look up a rate, see the full QBCC premium table. This page shows what you actually pay once the QLeave levy is added on top.
What you pay: premium + QLeave levy
There are two separate statutory costs on a residential building contract in Queensland. Keep them as separate line items in your quote:
- QBCC home warranty insurance premium, a fixed amount read from the QBCC premium table (effective 1 July 2020, still current in 2026). It depends on your insurable value and work type.
- QLeave-administered combined levy, 0.575% of the GST-exclusive value, payable only once the work reaches $150,000 excluding GST (about $165,000 including GST). Below that, the premium is your only cost.
Work valued at $3,300 or less needs no home warranty cover, so no premium applies. Above $3,300 the smallest premiums start near $202.15 for a new build and $222.00 for a renovation.
Total cost at common project values (2026)
These totals combine the GST-inclusive premium with the QLeave levy, verified through the calculator's estimate engine. Use them as a guide, then confirm the exact figure for your contract price.
New home construction
| Insurable value (inc GST) | QBCC premium (inc GST) | QLeave levy | Total payable |
|---|---|---|---|
| $300,000 | $2,102.10 | $1,568.18 | $3,670.28 |
| $450,000 | $4,382.20 | $2,352.27 | $6,734.47 |
| $600,000 | $6,662.30 | $3,136.36 | $9,798.66 |
Renovations and alterations
| Insurable value (inc GST) | QBCC premium (inc GST) | QLeave levy | Total payable |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150,000 | $1,256.60 | $0.00 | $1,256.60 |
| $250,000 | $2,838.70 | $1,306.82 | $4,145.52 |
| $300,000 | $3,629.65 | $1,568.18 | $5,197.83 |
The $150,000 renovation row shows a $0.00 levy because its GST-exclusive value ($136,364) sits below the $150,000 levy threshold. That is why smaller jobs cost only the premium.
The premium: set by the QBCC premium table
The premium is not a percentage, it is a fixed amount stepped in $1,000 increments of insurable value, with a separate schedule for new construction and for alterations. A value between two rows uses the band it falls into, so a $312,000 build is priced at its own $1,000 step, not the $300,000 row. The complete lookup for every value sits on the QBCC premium table, and the reasoning behind the bands is set out in how QBCC premiums are calculated, part of our QBCC insurance guides.
The QLeave levy: added above $150,000
Once the work reaches $150,000 excluding GST, add the QLeave-administered combined levy of 0.575% of the GST-exclusive value. It funds portable long service leave, work health and safety, and construction skills programs, and it is the same dollar amount whether the job is a new build or a renovation, because it is based on value, not work type. On a $300,000 contract that levy is $1,568.18.
Worked examples for Queensland builders
Example 1: $450,000 new detached home
Read the new construction premium ($4,382.20), add the QLeave levy on the GST-exclusive value ($2,352.27), and the total statutory cost is $6,734.47. If your contract recovers these costs from the owner, list the premium and the levy separately so the estimate is auditable.
Example 2: $250,000 renovation
A renovation at $250,000 uses the alterations premium ($2,838.70) plus a $1,306.82 levy, for a total of $4,145.52. The difference between new-build and renovation pricing is explained in new construction vs renovation premiums.
How to avoid underquoting the cost
- Set the insurable value from accurate take-offs, and include all eligible associated works.
- Use the correct table, new construction and renovation are priced differently above about $150,000.
- Add the QLeave levy whenever the GST-exclusive value reaches $150,000; leave it out below that.
- Recheck the premium when a variation materially changes the contract price.
- Confirm whether cover is needed at all, see when QBCC insurance is required and who needs QBCC cover.
Frequently asked questions
How much does QBCC home warranty insurance cost?
It depends on the insurable value and the work type. A $300,000 new home is $2,102.10 in premium, or $3,670.28 in total once the QLeave levy is added. A $300,000 renovation is $3,629.65 in premium, or $5,197.83 in total. Small jobs over $3,300 start near $202.
What is the cheapest QBCC premium?
No premium is payable on work valued at $3,300 or less. Just above that, premiums start around $202.15 for a new build and $222.00 for a renovation.
Is the QLeave levy part of the QBCC premium?
No. They are separate costs. The premium comes from the premium table; the QLeave-administered levy is 0.575% of the GST-exclusive value and only applies once the work reaches $150,000 excluding GST (about $165,000 including GST).
Does a renovation cost more to insure than a new build?
Above about $150,000, yes. At $300,000 the renovation premium is $3,629.65 versus $2,102.10 for a new build. Owner-builders have different obligations, see owner-builder cover.
Where can I see the full rate table?
The complete GST-inclusive lookup for every project value is on the QBCC premium table. More common questions are answered in the QBCC insurance FAQs.
Figures are indicative and GST-inclusive, based on the QBCC premium tables effective 1 July 2020 (current in 2026) and this site's calculator. Confirm the exact premium and levy against QBCC before you quote.