Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in Hawaii (2026)
A typical Hawaii range, the local factors behind it, and the tools to price your own project.
Reviewed for 2026, updated September 8, 2026.
What drives the cost in Hawaii
Hawaii rents are among the highest in the country and nearly everything that goes into a repair, from drywall to appliances, is shipped in, so deposits sit at the top of the national range and replacement costs run well above mainland norms. State law caps deposits at about one month's rent (plus a separate pet deposit), sets a short return window commonly cited as 14 days, and treats wrongful retention harshly, so confirm the current statute and move quickly. Salt air, humidity, termites, and volcanic haze on the Big Island corrode fixtures and wear finishes in ways no tenant causes.
Tips for Hawaii buyers
- Line up quotes before move-out where you can, because shipping lead times will not stretch a 14-day deadline.
- Treat rust on hinges, fixtures, and appliances as ordinary island wear unless you have move-in photos showing them clean.
- Keep the pet deposit on its own line and never blend it into the general deposit math.
Ranges are hedged planning estimates derived from a national typical range and a local index, not quotes. A typical single deposit on a market-rate residential rental is commonly around one month's rent, which puts most deposits somewhere in this range; actual amounts vary widely with local rents, unit size, pets, and state caps, and this is a working reference rather than a survey figure.
Price your project
- Deposit Deduction Depreciation Calculator: Estimates how much of a carpet, paint, blind, or appliance replacement a landlord can fairly deduct from a security deposit once the item's age and normal wear are taken into account.
- Security Deposit Refund Statement Calculator: Adds up the deposit held, any interest owed, and each itemized deduction to show the exact refund due to the tenant or the balance the tenant still owes.
- Late Deposit Return Penalty Exposure Calculator: Shows landlords how many days remain before a state return deadline and what missing it could cost when a statute allows forfeited deductions or multiplied damages.