MALVERN, PA — U.S. homeowners insurance losses tied to lightning strikes climbed 59% in 2025 to an estimated $1.65 billion, driven largely by rising repair and reconstruction costs rather than a sharp increase in claim volume, according to new data released by the Insurance Information Institute.
The number of lightning-related homeowners insurance claims rose 11.6% to 61,986 in 2025 from 55,537 a year earlier. However, the average cost per claim surged 42.8% to $26,616, reflecting higher labor and material costs, inflation and the growing value of electronics and connected devices inside homes.
The findings were released ahead of National Lightning Safety Awareness Week, observed June 21-27.
The Insurance Information Institute said the average lightning-related claim cost has increased nearly 147% since 2017, when the average payout was $10,781. The $1.65 billion paid in 2025 marked the highest annual total since 2020.
“The sharp increase in average claim costs reflects broader trends affecting homeowners across the country, including rising reconstruction costs, inflation, the growing value of property and technology inside the home, as well as litigation abuse,” Triple-I Chief Executive Officer Sean Kevelighan said.
More than half of all lightning-related claims originated from the 10 states with the highest claim volumes.
Florida recorded the most lightning-related homeowners claims in 2025 with 5,167. California and Texas followed among the leading states for claim frequency.
Texas generated the highest total insured losses among leading states, with nearly $253 million in claims, and also recorded the highest average claim cost at $60,382.
Industry officials noted that lightning-related losses often extend beyond direct strikes. Damage can include fires, electrical system failures, power surges, appliance damage and losses involving smart-home technology.
“Power surges generated by lightning can damage electrical systems, appliances, computers and smart-home technologies,” said Dave Phillips of State Farm. “Homeowners should take proactive steps to protect their property through surge protection, regular maintenance and preparedness planning.”
The report noted that some lightning-related losses may not be captured in lightning-specific insurance data because claims involving fires triggered by lightning are frequently categorized as fire losses.
Lightning also remains a significant source of wildfire ignition. The Insurance Information Institute cited California’s 2020 lightning siege, which sparked hundreds of wildfires that burned millions of acres and destroyed thousands of structures.
According to the Lightning Protection Institute, lightning strikes occur at a rate of roughly 100 times per second worldwide.
“The sharp rise in lightning-related losses serves as a reminder that lightning protection is an investment in resilience,” said Tim Harger, executive director of the Lightning Protection Institute. “The best time to protect against lightning damage is before a storm arrives.”
Damage caused by lightning, including fire, is generally covered under standard homeowners, condominium, renters and business insurance policies, though coverage details can vary by insurer and policy.
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