Late Fee Calculator

Use this free Late Fee calculator to make better property management decisions. Enter your values below to get instant results.

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How to Use This Calculator

1 Enter the monthly rent amount
2 Select fee type: flat fee or percentage of rent
3 Enter the fee amount or percentage
4 Enter grace period days (typically 3-5 days)
5 Enter days late to calculate total fee due

Example Calculation

$1,600 rent with 5% late fee after 5-day grace period

Inputs:

Rent: $1,600
Fee: 5%
Grace: 5 days
Days Late: 8

Result:

Late fee = $1,600 × 5% = $80 (applied after day 5)

Important Considerations

• Some states prohibit late fees on Section 8 portions of rent
• Late fees must be specified in the lease to be enforceable
• Check if your state considers late fees as penalties (may limit amount)

Frequently Asked Questions

Flat fees of $25-75 or 5-10% of rent are common. Some states cap late fees: California limits to reasonable amount, North Carolina caps at $15 or 5% (whichever is greater). Check your state's limits.

3-5 days is standard. Some states mandate minimum grace periods (New Jersey requires 5 days). A reasonable grace period accounts for mail delays and paycheck timing while encouraging prompt payment.

Some leases include per-day fees ($5-10/day). However, daily fees can quickly become unreasonable and may be unenforceable. Many landlords prefer a one-time flat fee or percentage that's easier to administer.

Chronic late payment, even with fees, may violate lease terms. Document the pattern, issue notices as required, and consider non-renewal at lease end. Some landlords add lease language addressing habitual late payment.