Quick answer: Idaho sets no maximum on a security deposit. The statute instead defines what a deposit is, bars charges for normal wear and tear, sets the refund deadline at 21 days after surrender (never over 30) and requires a signed, itemized statement for any partial refund.
This Idaho security deposit limit calculator applies Idaho Code 6-321. Enter the rent and the total taken as security: it confirms there is no statutory cap, shows the deposit as months of rent and lists what the statute does control. It does not check a lease, a local ordinance or a federal housing program.
Idaho security deposit rules at a glance
| Rule | What Idaho says |
|---|---|
| Maximum amount | None: the statute sets no cap on a security deposit (Idaho Code 6-321) |
| What counts | Any amount deposited for a purpose other than the payment of rent (6-321(1)) |
| Wear and tear | May not be charged against the deposit (6-321(1)) |
| Refund | 21 days if no time is agreed; never over 30 days (6-321(2)) |
| Statement | Signed and itemized, with the purpose of each amount and a detailed list of expenditures (6-321(2)) |
| New owner | Liable for the refund (6-321(3)) |
| Third-party managers | Keep residential deposits in a separate insured account (6-321(4)) |
| Interest | The section does not mention it |
How does the Idaho deposit law work?
- No cap, but rules on what and when. See the maximum security deposit in Idaho.
- Pet deposits and fees. See Idaho pet deposits and fees.
- First and last month and other up-front charges. See last month’s rent and other up-front charges in Idaho.
What does this deposit calculator check?
Because there is no cap, the calculator shows the total as months of rent for context rather than as a violation, and says whether the third-party manager account rule applies. Because a deposit is any amount held for a purpose other than rent, add every payment the landlord holds before you compare it with the rent, and ask for the total in writing. The calculator also tells you whether the separate-account rule for third-party managers applies, because that rule protects the money even where the amount is unlimited. If your landlord uses a management company, ask in writing where the deposit is held and keep the answer with the lease. It does not tell you whether a payment is a deposit or rent when the lease uses another word; the statute treats any amount deposited for a purpose other than rent as a security deposit. When the deposit must come back is a separate question: see the Idaho security deposit return deadline calculator.
Examples of the Idaho deposit rules
| Monthly rent | Total security | As months | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500 | $1,500 | One month | No statutory cap |
| $1,500 | $4,500 | Three months | No statutory cap |
| $1,500 | $1,500 plus $300 pet deposit | 1.2 months | Both are deposits |
| $1,500 | Any amount | Third-party manager | Separate insured account |
These examples show the arithmetic. They are not statements about a particular lease or landlord.
Related Idaho landlord-tenant calculators
These four calculators cover the same tenancy from different angles. From here you can go to the Idaho security deposit return deadline calculator for the date the landlord must refund or itemize the deposit, the Idaho eviction notice calculator for the notice period before a lease can end and the Idaho eviction timeline calculator for the earliest legal dates once an eviction case starts. Each one cites its own Idaho statutes and shows only what the law says.
Frequently asked questions
What is the maximum security deposit in Idaho?
There is none. The statute sets no cap.
What counts as a security deposit in Idaho?
Any amount deposited by a tenant with a landlord for a purpose other than the payment of rent.
Can a landlord keep a deposit for normal wear and tear?
No. The statute bars it.
When must the deposit be refunded?
Within 21 days after surrender if the agreement fixes no time, and never later than 30 days.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a deposit in Idaho?
The deposit section does not mention interest.
Where must a manager keep my deposit?
A third-party manager keeps a residential deposit in a separate account at a federally insured institution.