Typical residential security deposit amount a landlord holds and later accounts for on a return statement in Washington (2026)
A typical Washington 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 Washington
Washington deposits run well above the national typical range in Seattle and the Puget Sound counties and near it in Spokane and eastern Washington. State law sets no statewide cap but Seattle limits deposits and fees to about one month's rent with installment rights, and the state requires a written checklist at move-in for any deposit, a trust account, a 30-day return window with an itemized statement, and recent law tightened documentation and barred charges for normal wear, with doubled damages possible, so confirm the current rules. Wet winters west of the Cascades bring moss, mildew, and moisture wear, while the dry east brings dust and heat.
Tips for Washington buyers
- Complete and sign the move-in checklist; without it you generally cannot keep any of the deposit.
- Check Seattle's ordinance if the property is in the city; it changes deposit limits and payment terms.
- Attach photos and receipts to every deduction as recent state law expects.
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.