FREE CALCULATOR
Rent late fee calculator
Check your lease's late fee against your state's rule before you charge it. Getting it wrong can cost more than the rent you were chasing.
How much can a landlord charge for a late fee?
There's no national rule. Each state decides — some cap the amount, some set a grace period, some do both, and some leave it to the lease and the courts. Here's where the three states this tool covers land:
| State | Grace period | Limit on the fee |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | Rent unpaid 2 full days after the due date | 12% of rent (4 or fewer units) or 10% (larger buildings), presumed reasonable |
| Washington | No fee if paid within 5 days after the due date | No state cap for ordinary rentals; Seattle caps it at $10 a month |
| Florida | None set by statute | None set by statute; must be in the lease and fair |
Flat fee, percentage, or daily?
A flat fee is the easiest to explain and to enforce. A percentage scales with rent, which matters if you have units at very different prices. A daily fee nudges a tenant who's already late to pay sooner rather than at the end of the month — but in Texas the initial fee and every daily fee add up to one fee, and the total has to stay under the limit. That's the most common way a reasonable-looking lease ends up over the line.
Before you charge one
- Check the lease. If the fee isn't written in, you generally can't charge it.
- Count the days. Charging even one day early can turn a fair fee into an illegal one.
- Check your city. Local rules can be stricter than the state's. Seattle's is one example.
- Put it in writing. A dated notice of the charge is your record if it's ever disputed.
The cheapest late fee is the one you never need. Most late rent is forgetfulness, not refusal — a reminder a few days before the due date and an easy way to pay prevents most of it.
QUESTIONS
Common questions
How much can a landlord charge for a late fee in Texas?
Texas presumes a late fee is reasonable if the total for one month is no more than 12% of the rent in a building with 4 or fewer units, or 10% in a larger building. The fee must be in the written lease, and rent must stay unpaid 2 full days after the due date first.
Is there a grace period for rent in Washington?
Yes. Washington landlords can't charge a late fee if rent is paid within 5 days after the due date. If it's later than that, the fee can run from the first day after the due date. Seattle also caps late fees at $10 per month.
Does Florida limit late fees on rent?
Florida's landlord-tenant law sets no specific cap and no required grace period. The fee has to be in your lease, and a court can decline to enforce a fee that looks like a penalty rather than a fair charge.
Can I charge a daily late fee?
Usually, if your lease says so. In Texas an initial fee plus daily fees are treated as one fee, so the total for the month must stay within the reasonable-fee limit. The calculator adds them up for you.