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Free Tool · All 50 States + DC

Security Deposit Calculator

Deposit limits are set state by state, and they range from no cap at all to one month's rent. Pick your state in the free security deposit calculator below to see the maximum legal deposit, the deadline to return it after move-out, allowed deductions, and the statute citation — instantly, free, no signup.

Maximum deposit
Return deadline
Allowed deductions

Interest on the deposit

Landlord kept your deposit?

If the deadline above has passed, or you never got an itemized list of deductions, many states add a penalty on top of the deposit — often double or triple what was withheld. Work out what you’re owed and get a free demand letter →

Laws change — verify the current statute. This shows the statewide rule; local ordinances (e.g. Chicago, NYC, Seattle) can be stricter. Not legal advice.

Handle the deposit correctly — in the lease itself

LeaseHelper generates a complete, state-specific residential lease with the correct deposit clauses, return deadlines, and required disclosures baked in.

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How this calculator works

Security deposit law is set state by state. Roughly 30 states + DC cap the maximum deposit at 1–3 months' rent, while about 20 states impose no statutory cap. Return deadlines after move-out range from 10 days (Montana, no deductions) to 60 days (Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia), and a dozen-plus states require interest on held deposits. This tool reflects the statewide statute for each state — the same statutes cited in our 50-state security deposit comparison table. Landlords use it to check what they can charge and when they must return the deposit; tenants use it to check whether a deposit is legal and when it's due back.

Worked example: what the deposit rules actually cost

Three separate numbers decide whether a deposit is handled lawfully: the cap, the return deadline, and (in some states) interest. Take a $1,500-a-month unit in Connecticut, rented to a tenant under 62.

  1. Apply the cap. Connecticut allows up to two months’ rent (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21), so the maximum lawful deposit is 2 × $1,500 = $3,000. Had the tenant been 62 or older, the cap would drop to one month — $1,500.
  2. Start the return clock at move-out. Connecticut requires the deposit back within 21 days, or 15 days after the landlord receives the tenant’s forwarding address, whichever is later.
  3. Add interest where the state requires it. Connecticut is one of the states that requires annual interest on a held deposit, paid at the state’s published deposit index rate.
  4. Deduct only what the statute allows. Unpaid rent and damage beyond ordinary wear and tear are deductible; routine repainting and normal wear are not. Deductions must be itemized in writing.

Miss any one of the three and the exposure is not just the deposit. Many states add statutory damages — commonly two to three times the amount wrongly withheld, plus attorney’s fees — on top of returning the money. Select your state above for its own cap, deadline, interest rule and citation.

All 51 jurisdictions side by side

This tool answers for one state at a time. The reference tables put every jurisdiction next to every other, with the statute and the record status on each row:

Security deposit rules by state

The maximum deposit, the return deadline, and whether interest is owed are all set by state law, and several states changed theirs for 2026. For the full legal picture in one state — deposit limits, allowed deductions, late fees and required disclosures — open its guide:

FAQ

How much security deposit can a landlord legally charge?
It depends on the state. About 30 states + DC cap residential deposits at 1–3 months' rent (California: 1 month for most landlords; Arizona: 1.5 months; Nevada: 3 months). Roughly 20 states — including Texas, Florida, and Tennessee — impose no statutory cap, though local ordinances may. Select your state above for the exact cap and statute citation.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit?
Deadlines range from 10 days (Montana, when no deductions are made) to 60 days (Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia). The most common deadline is 30 days. Many states shorten the window when no deductions are taken and require an itemized statement when they are.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit?
Every state permits deductions for (a) unpaid rent, (b) physical damage beyond normal wear and tear, and (c) cleaning to restore the unit to move-in condition. Most states require an itemized written statement, and many impose double or treble damages when a landlord wrongfully withholds a deposit or misses the deadline.
What happens if my landlord kept more than the legal limit?
Statutory caps are mandatory and cannot be waived by a lease clause. A landlord who collects more than the legal maximum may be required to refund the excess, and many states impose 2x–3x damages plus attorney's fees on top of the refund.
Is this calculator legal advice?
No. It provides general information about state landlord-tenant statutes and is not legal advice. Laws change and local ordinances can impose stricter rules. Always verify the current statute or consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
Which states require a landlord to pay interest on a security deposit?

A dozen-plus states and DC require interest on a held deposit — Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and others among them — and the rate, the payment interval and the exemptions differ in every one. Connecticut, for example, requires annual interest at the state's published deposit index rate under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21. Select your state above to see whether interest is required and the statute that sets it.

How do I calculate security deposit interest in Connecticut?

Connecticut requires annual interest on the deposit at the deposit index rate published by the state for that year, under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 47a-21. Because the rate is reset annually rather than fixed in the statute, a deposit held across several years accrues at a different rate each year — so the calculation runs year by year, not as one flat percentage across the whole tenancy. Confirm the current published rate before paying or demanding interest.

Which states can this calculator actually put a dollar figure on?

Four. Minnesota (1%), Maryland (1.5%), Massachusetts (5%) and Ohio (5%) each fix a rate in the statute itself, so entering the deposit and the months held returns a number. Ohio is the one that surprises people: it pays interest only on the part of the deposit above the greater of $50 or one month’s rent, not on the whole thing. Maryland credits interest in completed six-month intervals, so eleven months earns exactly what six months earns. The other jurisdictions that require interest — Connecticut, DC, New Jersey, Illinois, Iowa, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota and Pennsylvania — peg it to a rate published annually or to what the bank actually paid. That number is not in the statute, so this tool states the rule and stops rather than inventing a rate you might put in a demand letter.

Disclaimer: This tool provides general information about state landlord-tenant law and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify the current statute before acting. Local ordinances may impose stricter rules than the statewide figures shown here. For complex situations, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction. Last reviewed: July 2026.