Aggregate limit
An aggregate limit is the maximum total amount an insurer will pay across all claims during a policy period — usually one year. Once the aggregate limit is exhausted, no further claims will be paid until the policy renews. It differs from a per-occurrence limit, which caps the payout for any single claim. Aggregate limits are common in commercial liability, professional indemnity, and health insurance policies.
Per-occurrence vs aggregate limits
Most commercial liability policies contain both a per-occurrence limit and an aggregate limit. The per-occurrence limit caps the payout for any single event. The aggregate limit caps the total across all events in the year. For example, a policy with £1 million per occurrence and £3 million aggregate could pay three separate £1 million claims — but a fourth claim of any size would not be covered once the aggregate is exhausted.
Per-occurrence limit: £1,000,000
Annual aggregate limit: £3,000,000
Claims paid in year: £800k + £900k + £700k = £2,400,000
Remaining aggregate: £600,000 — next claim capped at £600k regardless of size
For professional indemnity and liability cover, always check both limits. A high per-occurrence limit with a low aggregate may leave you exposed after multiple incidents in a year. See limit and sub-limit for related concepts, and our guide to business interruption insurance for how aggregate limits apply in commercial contexts.