Free tool
Late Rent Fee Calculator
Work out how much late fee to charge — as a flat amount, a percentage of rent, or a per-day charge — once the grace period in the lease has passed.
Rent & timing
Fee structure
Late fee owed
$50.00
2 day(s) past the grace period
Many states cap late fees at a "reasonable" amount — often cited informally as around 5% of monthly rent — or require the fee to be specified in the lease. Some states set no cap at all. Check your state and local rules, and your lease, before charging a late fee above this range.
What makes a late fee enforceable
Late fees are generally enforceable when they are written into the lease, apply only after any grace period the lease grants, and are a reasonable estimate of the cost of late payment rather than a punitive penalty. A handful of states cap late fees explicitly (often a flat dollar amount or a percentage of rent); most leave "reasonableness" to be worked out between landlord and tenant, or decided case-by-case if disputed.
If your lease doesn't already specify a late fee structure, add one before you need it — courts are far more likely to enforce a fee that both parties agreed to in writing up front than one introduced after the fact.