Last reviewed: September 23, 2026
A named storm or wind-hail deductible is a separate, usually percentage-based deductible that applies specifically to storm and hail damage, instead of your policy's flat standard deductible. On a commercial property, that percentage is based on the building's insured value, and it can add up to a much bigger number than people expect.
Typically a percentage, often 1% to 5%, of the building's insured value, not a flat dollar amount. On a $2 million commercial building with a 2% wind-hail deductible, that's $40,000 out of pocket before the policy responds, a very different number than a standard $2,500 or $5,000 flat deductible.
Usually a named storm, an officially named hurricane or tropical storm, or wind/hail damage from any qualifying weather event, depending on how the endorsement is written. Read the actual trigger language, it varies by carrier.
Know the number in dollars, not just the percentage, before a storm hits. A lot of business owners have never actually calculated what their percentage deductible means in real dollars against their building's insured value.
Can I buy this deductible down to a lower percentage? Sometimes, depending on the carrier, usually at a higher premium. Worth comparing the tradeoff against your actual storm risk.
Does this apply to the contents inside the building too, or just the structure? Depends on the policy. Some apply the percentage deductible to the building and contents separately, others combine them.
Send me your current insured value and deductible percentage, and I'll tell you the real number you'd be on the hook for.
— Aaron