Eviction Cost Calculator

Estimate total eviction cost including court fees, attorney, lost rent, and turnover.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: CFPB — Owning a Home

$
Legal Approach
$

Total Estimated Cost

$14,050.00

Timeline

30-60 days

Cost Breakdown

Court filing fees$300.00
Attorney fees$3,000.00
Lost rent (past due)$3,000.00
Lost rent (during process)$2,250.00
Property damage$2,000.00
Unit turnover costs$3,500.00
Total$14,050.00

Use the Eviction Cost Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Removing a tenant carries a price tag that reaches well beyond the courtroom, and this tool puts a realistic number on it before you file. It pulls together the direct legal expenses, the rent you lose while the unit sits empty, and the turnover work that landlords routinely forget to count. With court fees and attorney rates both trending upward heading into 2026, having a clear figure on hand makes the difference between a budgeted decision and a financial surprise.

The estimate is built by adding several moving parts together: court filing fees, the cost of a process server, an average attorney's hourly rate multiplied by the hours a case typically demands, and the projected months of rent you forgo during the process. On top of that, it layers in property turnover, the cleaning, minor repairs, and marketing needed to ready the unit for the next renter. Summed, these pieces produce a total estimated eviction cost.

Treat the output as a planning figure rather than a guarantee. Real-world totals swing widely depending on how contested the case becomes, whether the tenant cooperates, and what your local rules require. Drawn-out timelines are the usual culprit behind a blown budget, since every extra week of vacancy compounds the lost rent. For numbers tied to your specific situation, a qualified attorney remains the right source.

Example: Evicting a tenant in California for non-payment of $2,000/month rent.

  1. 1 Input the monthly rent ($2,000), estimated court filing fees ($450), process server fees ($100), attorney hourly rate ($350), estimated attorney hours (15), estimated months of lost rent (3), and property turnover costs ($1,000).
  2. 2 The calculator will perform the following calculations: (Attorney Hourly Rate * Estimated Attorney Hours) + Court Filing Fees + Process Server Fees + (Monthly Rent * Estimated Months of Lost Rent) + Property Turnover Costs. This means: ($350 * 15) + $450 + $100 + ($2,000 * 3) + $1,000.
  3. 3 The estimated total eviction cost for this scenario is $11,300.
  4. 4 This $11,300 represents a significant financial impact, highlighting the importance of preventative measures and thorough tenant screening. This amount includes $5,250 in legal fees, $6,000 in lost rent, and $1,000 for preparing the unit for re-rental, demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of eviction expenses.

Source: CFPB — Owning a Home · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to evict a tenant?
A typical eviction costs $3,500-$10,000 total when you include attorney fees ($500-$3,000), court costs ($50-$500), lost rent (1-3 months), and unit turnover costs.
How long does the eviction process take?
The eviction timeline varies by state from 2 weeks to 6 months. Most states require a 3-30 day notice period, then 2-8 weeks for court proceedings. Some jurisdictions have significant backlogs.
Can a landlord evict a tenant without going to court?
No. In all 50 states, landlords must go through the court system for a legal eviction. Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities) are illegal and can result in the landlord paying damages to the tenant.