How is a late rent fee calculated?

A late fee is charged once rent is past the grace period in the lease. It's typically a flat dollar amount, a percentage of the monthly rent, or a per-day charge that accrues for each day rent stays unpaid after the grace period. Some leases combine a flat fee with a daily add-on and a maximum cap.

Are there limits on how much a landlord can charge for late rent?

Yes. Many states cap late fees (often a percentage of rent), require a minimum grace period, or both, and some require the fee to be stated in the lease. Always check your state's landlord-tenant law before setting or charging a late fee.

Late Rent Fee Calculator

Enter the rent, your lease's late-fee rule, the grace period, and how many days rent is late — get the fee and the total due instantly. Free, no signup.

Monthly rent ($)

Late-fee type

Fee amount ($)

Maximum cap ($, optional)

Grace period (days)

Days rent is late

Counted from the due date. Fee applies only after the grace period.

Late fee

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Enter your rule above.

⚠️ Check your state's cap first. Many states limit late fees (often to a percentage of rent), require a minimum grace period, or require the fee to be written into the lease — and a fee above the legal limit can be unenforceable. Confirm the rule in your state landlord–tenant law guide before charging.

How late rent fees work

A late fee kicks in once rent passes the grace period — the number of days after the due date before a fee can be charged. After that, leases usually calculate the fee one of four ways:

Flat amount — a fixed dollar figure (e.g., $50), charged once.
Percentage of rent — a share of the monthly rent (e.g., 5%), charged once.
Per day, flat — a fixed amount for each day late past the grace period (e.g., $10/day).
Per day, percent — a percentage of rent for each late day.

A maximum cap limits the total, which matters most for per-day fees that would otherwise keep climbing. This calculator applies the cap after computing the raw fee.

Late fees, applied the same way every time.

PropertyHub tracks due dates, applies your grace period and late rule automatically, and sends the reminder for you — free to start.

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