# Term life vs whole-of-life insurance — which type of UK life cover do you need?

> Compare · Last reviewed 26 May 2026

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## Quick answer

Term life insurance pays out only if you die within a set period (e.g. 25 years). Whole-of-life insurance lasts as long as you keep paying premiums and is guaranteed to pay out eventually — premiums are correspondingly higher.

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Term cover is the standard choice for protecting a mortgage or young family. Whole-of-life is often used for estate planning — particularly to leave money to cover inheritance tax — because a payout is virtually certain.

## Term life insurance vs Whole-of-life insurance

| Criterion | Term life insurance | Whole-of-life insurance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Length of cover | Fixed term (e.g. 10, 20, 30 years, or to a target age) | Until you die (as long as premiums are paid) |
| Payout certainty | Only if death within the term | Eventual payout virtually guaranteed |
| Cost | Cheapest form of cover | Significantly more expensive |
| Sum assured options | Level, decreasing or increasing | Level (some indexed) |
| Cash value | None | Investment-linked whole-of-life can build a cash value; protection-only does not |
| Common use | Mortgage cover, family income protection | Inheritance tax planning, funeral provision (writ in trust) |
| Inheritance tax (IHT) | Pays out tax-free; can be written in trust to keep outside the estate | Same — usually written in trust so payout doesn't increase the estate |

## When Term life insurance suits

- You're covering a mortgage or dependants while children grow up
- You want maximum cover for the lowest premium
- Your protection need has a natural end date
- You want simple, predictable cover

## When Whole-of-life insurance suits

- You're planning for inheritance tax with a known liability
- You want to leave a guaranteed lump sum regardless of when you die
- You can afford and want to commit to long-term premiums
- You want a guaranteed funeral / final-expenses payout

## Frequently asked questions

### What is decreasing term insurance?

Cover where the sum assured falls over time, usually designed to match a repayment mortgage balance. Cheaper than level term for the same starting cover.

### Why write a life policy 'in trust'?

Writing the policy in trust means the payout isn't part of your estate, so it bypasses probate (paid faster) and isn't usually counted for inheritance tax purposes. Most insurers offer a free trust template.

### Do I need life insurance if I have no dependants?

Often not — the main purpose of life insurance is to replace income or pay off debts that would otherwise fall to dependants. Information only, not advice.

## Sources

- [MoneyHelper — Life insurance](https://www.gov.uk/consumer-protection-rights)
- [ABI — Protection insurance](https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/topics-and-issues/protection/)
- [HMRC — Inheritance Tax](https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax)

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Independent UK money guidance from [Money Guide](https://moneyguide.org.uk). Information only — not regulated financial advice.