Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in Montana (2026)
A typical Montana 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 Montana
Montana deposits sit near the national typical range in Bozeman, Missoula, and the Flathead Valley, where resort and university demand is strong, and below it in the eastern plains. State law is commonly cited as requiring return within about 10 days when there are no deductions and 30 days when there are, and it has an unusual rule requiring written notice of cleaning problems and a short window for the tenant to fix them before cleaning is charged, plus a move-in condition statement tied to the right to deduct, so confirm the current statute. Cold winters, dry air, and rural contractor scarcity shape both the damage you see and how fast you can price it.
Tips for Montana buyers
- Give the written cleaning notice and the correction window before charging for cleaning; skipping it undermines the deduction.
- Provide a written statement of condition at move-in, since deduction rights lean on it here.
- Bozeman and Missoula turnovers follow the university calendar and resort seasons; book inspections early.
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.