How much does an eviction cost?

Court filing fees

Set by each county or court and they change. Look up the current figure for your specific court rather than trusting any number you read online, including here.

Service of process

Priced per case. Cases where the tenant is evading cost more, because the unit of work is attempts, not cases.

Attorney fees, if you use one

Varies enormously by market and by whether the case is contested. An uncontested non-payment case often doesn't need one; a contested case with a counterclaim usually does.

The setout

Usually the largest hard cost. Driven by unit size, how much is left inside, whether an officer is required, and disposal volume. A furnished single-family setout and a studio apartment setout are different jobs with different numbers.

Locksmith, cleanout and disposal

Individually small, and materially cheaper when scheduled off the setout instead of as separate jobs weeks later.

Lost rent — the number people leave out

Every day between the tenant stopping payment and the unit being rent-ready is revenue you don't get back. For most owners this is the dominant cost, which is why cycle time matters more than unit price.

The short version

• Filing fees are the smallest line item — verify yours with the court, don't trust a published figure
• Setout scope is the biggest hard-cost variable
• Cleanout scheduled with the setout costs less than a separate job
• Lost rent usually exceeds every hard cost combined