Does Home Insurance Cover Crayon on Walls?

Standard UK home insurance does not cover crayon on walls. There is one exception: accidental damage cover, an optional add-on, may cover marks made in a single incident, but not damage that built up gradually over time.

Does accidental damage cover crayon on walls?

Sometimes, but with important conditions. Accidental damage cover is an optional add-on that covers sudden, unintended damage, and crayon marks can fall within that definition if the damage happened in a single incident.

With accidental damage cover in place, UK policies typically cover things like:

• Spilling paint on a carpet
• Putting your foot through the ceiling while in the loft
• Knocking a hole in the wall
• Crayon or pen marks on walls and wallpaper, where the damage happened in one session

If your child drew on the wall once, that’s a stronger basis for a claim than marks that appeared gradually over several weeks. Gradual damage is one of the most common reasons accidental damage claims are declined.

What exclusions could stop a crayon damage claim?

Even with accidental damage cover, several exclusions could prevent a payout:

• Gradual damage or wear and tear: if crayon marks built up over weeks or months, most insurers will decline the claim. At Lemonade, damage arising gradually (including stains and marks that develop over time) is explicitly excluded.
• Deliberate acts: most policies exclude intentional damage, meaning damage the policyholder deliberately caused. A child drawing on a wall is generally treated as accidental from the policyholder’s perspective. However, Lemonade explicitly excludes intentional damage by children too, so check your policy wording carefully.
• Children and pets caveats: a handful of policies specifically exclude damage caused by children or pets. Check yours.
• Cosmetic damage: some insurers only pay out if there’s structural damage, not just a surface mark.

Reading your policy documents before you need to make a claim is the smartest move you can make.

Is it ever worth claiming for crayon on walls? A quick cost check

Even if your policy does cover it, making a claim isn’t always the right call. Here’s a simple way to think it through:

Question 1: What would the repair actually cost?

A tin of emulsion paint runs about £15–£30. A decorator to repaint one wall might charge £100–£200. If the damage is contained to one room, you’re likely looking at a few hundred pounds at most, possibly much less if you’re handy with a roller.

Question 2: What’s your accidental damage excess?

The accidental damage excess UK insurers apply is often between £100 and £250, sometimes higher. If your excess is £150 and the repair costs £180, you’d only claim £30 back. That’s probably not worth the paperwork.

Question 3: Will it affect your premium?

Making a claim, even a small one, can push up your renewal premium the following year. If your premium increases by £50 a year and you’ve only claimed £30, you’re already out of pocket. Claims also stay on your record, which can affect future quotes.

The honest verdict? For minor crayon marks, a DIY fix is almost always the smarter move financially. Save the accidental damage claim worth it calculation for bigger incidents, like a child putting something through a plasterboard wall or damaging an expensive piece of furniture.

💡 Did you know?

Most crayon marks on standard emulsion walls come off with a magic eraser and warm water. Before calling a decorator or filing a claim, try a quick clean first. Save accidental damage claims for damage that genuinely can’t be fixed cheaply: a hole in the wall, a broken window, damaged flooring.

What should families with young children look for in a home insurance policy?

If you have young children, standard home insurance exclusions are going to come up regularly. Accidental damage cover is genuinely worth having on your radar. Families with young children tend to have more day-to-day mishaps, and the right policy gives you a proper safety net when something bigger goes wrong.

Home insurance policies vary quite a bit in what they include as standard versus what you need to add on. Some are more family-friendly than others, with broader accidental damage definitions and fewer exclusions around child damage. Shopping around and reading the details matters here.

What’s the best way to remove crayon from walls?

Before insurance becomes relevant, try a DIY fix first. Most crayon marks on standard emulsion walls come off with a magic eraser and warm water. On wallpaper, try a dry cloth first, then careful spot treatment with diluted washing-up liquid. Only repaint if the mark won’t lift. That’s when the cost calculation below becomes relevant, and when accidental damage cover might be worth looking at.

Before we go

For most crayon incidents, a DIY fix costs less than your excess. But if something bigger happens or if you have other high-risk items like trampolines or a swimming pool in your garden, accidental damage cover becomes essential.

With Lemonade, accidental damage cover is available as an optional add-on to your home insurance policy. It covers sudden, accidental damage up to £2,000 per event and can be added when you set up your policy or at renewal. Get a quote and see what works for you.

Crayon on walls FAQs