Estimate your EPLI pricing indication range
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Prior employment claims in last 5 years?
Currently have EPLI coverage?
Key rating factors
What affects your EPLI cost
Underwriters look at these six variables above almost everything else. Understanding them helps you structure a policy that matches your real risk — and budget.
01
Employee count
The primary rating variable. Each additional employee adds incremental exposure. Premium scales with headcount, not revenue.
02
Industry class
Staffing, restaurants, and healthcare consistently generate more employment claims than tech or professional offices. High turnover = higher multiplier.
03
State of domicile
California, New York, and Illinois carry the highest state multipliers due to broad employee-protection statutes and active plaintiffs' bars.
04
Claims history
Prior employment claims are the fastest route to a surcharge or a standard-market declination. Even a single settled claim affects pricing for years.
05
Limit & retention
A higher per-occurrence limit raises premium; a higher retention (deductible) lowers it. These are the two easiest levers you control at purchase.
06
HR controls
A current employee handbook, annual harassment training, and a documented complaint procedure can earn underwriting credits on otherwise identical risks.
Keep exploring
Related EPLI cost guides
EPLI COST
What does EPLI cost?
Overview of California EPLI pricing with example scenarios.
POLICY LIMITS
EPLI limits guide
$500K to $3M+ — how to choose the right coverage limit.
RETENTION
EPLI retention explained
Your share of each claim — how to pick the right amount.
DEDUCTIBLE VS RETENTION
Deductible vs retention
The key difference and why it matters for employers.
Common questions
Calculator FAQ
How accurate is this calculator?
This tool produces an illustrative indication range based on typical market factors. It is not a quote and not a commitment to insure. Actual premiums are determined by the carrier after full underwriting review. Factors not captured here — such as specific loss runs, number of locations, prior carrier, or claims in litigation — can materially move the final number.
Why does California cost more?
California's Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA) protects more categories of employees and applies at smaller employer sizes than federal law. The Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA) lets employees sue on the state's behalf. Combined with mandatory harassment-prevention training, an active plaintiffs' bar, and among the largest jury awards in the country, California EPLI typically costs 15–40% more than the national average.
How does claims history affect pricing?
Prior employment-related claims — whether settled, dismissed, or in litigation — are the single fastest way to a higher premium or a standard-market declination. This calculator applies a 1.5x load for businesses with a claim in the last five years. In practice, underwriters also consider severity, recency, and whether corrective actions were taken.
What is the difference between a limit and a retention?
The limit is the maximum the insurer will pay — per claim and in aggregate — for covered losses. The retention (often called a deductible) is the amount you pay first on each claim before the insurer contributes. Higher retention = lower premium. Most EPLI forms apply the retention to both defense costs and indemnity payments. See our retention guide and limits guide for detail.