Security Deposit Calculator 2026: Find Your Deadline in Seconds

What Is a Security Deposit Calculator?

A security deposit calculator is a free legal tool that computes the exact deadline by which your landlord must return your security deposit after you move out. The deadline varies significantly by state — from as few as 14 days in New York to as many as 60 days in some states — making a dedicated calculator essential for tenants who want to know their rights without reading through dense legal statutes.

Our Security Deposit Calculator 2026 is built on all 50 state statutes and updated regularly. It calculates:

• Return deadline: The exact calendar date your landlord must return your deposit
• Accrued interest: If your state requires landlords to pay interest on held deposits
• Bad faith penalty: The multiplier (typically 2x–3x the deposit) your landlord owes if they miss the deadline
• Lateness check: Whether your landlord is already past the legal deadline

How to Use the Security Deposit Calculator 2026

Using the tool is simple and takes under 30 seconds:

• Step 1 — Select your state: Security deposit laws are entirely state-specific. Choose the state where your rental property was located.
• Step 2 — Enter your move-out date: This is the date you returned your keys and formally ended your tenancy. If there was no formal key handover, use your lease end date.
• Step 3 — Enter your deposit amount: This allows the calculator to show your exact potential bad faith penalty in dollars.
• Step 4 — Get your results: The calculator instantly shows your landlord's legal deadline, any interest owed, and the penalty exposure.

Ready? Open the Security Deposit Calculator →

Security Deposit Return Deadlines by State in 2026

Here are some of the most common state deadlines our Security Deposit Calculator 2026 covers:

• California: 21 days from move-out. Landlords must also provide an itemized statement of deductions. California security deposit laws →
• New York: 14 days from move-out (one of the fastest in the country). Late landlords forfeit all deductions. New York security deposit laws →
• Texas: 30 days from move-out. Landlords who fail to return in bad faith owe $100 + 3x the withheld amount + attorney fees. Texas security deposit laws →
• Florida: 15–60 days, depending on whether deductions are made and disputed. Florida security deposit laws →
• Illinois: 30 days from move-out if deductions are made; 45 days to provide receipts. Illinois security deposit laws →

What Happens If Your Landlord Is Late in 2026?

If the security deposit calculator shows that your landlord's deadline has already passed, you have legal options. Most states impose one or more of these consequences for late landlords:

• Forfeit of deductions: In many states (including New York, Massachusetts, and Michigan), a landlord who misses the deadline automatically loses the right to make any deductions — you're owed the full deposit back.
• Bad faith penalty: States like Texas (3x), New Hampshire (2x–3x), and Washington (2x) impose a penalty multiplier on the amount wrongfully withheld.
• Attorney's fees: Some states allow you to recover your legal costs if you sue and win.

Your first step after the deadline passes is to send a formal demand letter. Use our Demand Letter Generator to create a state-specific letter in under 2 minutes, pre-filled with the correct statute, deadline, and penalty language.

Why "2026" Matters for Your Security Deposit Claim

State landlord-tenant laws are not static. Legislatures update them regularly — sometimes extending deadlines, other times adding new penalty provisions or interest rate requirements. Using a security deposit calculator that hasn't been updated for the current year can give you an incorrect deadline or wrong penalty figure.

Our Security Deposit Calculator 2026 is reviewed and verified against current state statutes on an ongoing basis. When you run a calculation, you can be confident the results reflect the law as it stands today — not how it stood 3 years ago.

For full statutory citations and detailed breakdowns, see our individual state pages, each of which cites the exact statute number, current deadline, and penalty rules.

States With Mandatory Interest on Security Deposits (2026)

Some states require landlords to hold deposits in interest-bearing accounts and pay that interest to tenants on return. As of 2026, these states have mandatory interest requirements:

• New Jersey: Annual interest at prevailing money market rate, paid on lease anniversary or move-out
• Maryland: 1.5% annual simple interest (or the Federal Funds Rate, whichever is greater)
• Massachusetts: 5% annual interest (or the bank's passbook savings rate)
• Connecticut: Interest at the average savings deposit rate
• Washington D.C.: Interest per the city's annual published rate

Our Security Deposit Calculator 2026 automatically includes interest calculations for these states when applicable.