Legacy Investing CalculatorsShow

Security deposit split

How should a shared deposit be divided and returned?

Your numbers

$
$

Refund each

$1,040.00

Deposit each paid$1,200.00
Total refund$3,120

Tip. Photograph the move-in condition of every room. Deposit disputes are almost always about damages.

Assumptions

  • The deposit and the refund left after damages are both split equally across everyone.
  • Assumes no single roommate is held responsible for a specific deduction. If someone is, deduct their share first and split the rest.
  • The refund is floored at zero, so damages larger than the deposit do not show as a negative refund. Any excess is usually still owed to the landlord.

Explore the numbers

Examples and charts

Start with a scenario, then read the response curve to see which input actually moves the answer.

Example 1

Clean exit

No deductions, so everyone gets their share back in full.

Refund each

$1,200.00

Example 2

Normal wear deductions

Some cleaning and minor repair charges against the deposit.

Refund each

$1,040.00

Example 3

Significant damage

Deductions large enough that the split becomes contentious.

Refund each

$600.00

Sweeps deductions / damages from half to one and a half times your value, holding everything else fixed.

Response curve

How deductions / damages moves the result

Refund each

$1,040.00

$960$980$1.0k$1.1k$300$400$500$600$700
Chart axis: Deductions / damagesNow $480 → $1.0k

What this calculates

Splits a shared deposit and the refund after damages evenly across roommates, which is the fairest default when nobody agreed otherwise up front.

How to use it

  1. Start with total deposit and work down the form, or load an example to begin from a realistic case.
  2. Read the headline result alongside the supporting rows, which show the intermediate figures behind it.
  3. Check the assumptions. They decide what the number includes and, more importantly, what it leaves out.
  4. Sweep deductions / damages on the response curve to see how much it actually moves the answer.
  5. Run a cautious case as well as an optimistic one before using the estimate in a decision.

Common mistakes

  • Having no written agreement on how damages are allocated.
  • Letting one roommate hold everyone's deposit money personally.
  • Moving out without a joint walkthrough or dated photos.

Formula

Refund each = (deposit − damages) ÷ number of roommates

Inputs

  • Total deposit
  • Number of roommates
  • Deductions / damages

FAQ

What if the rooms were unequal?

Agree on weights before you sign. If rent was split by room size, splitting the deposit the same way is the consistent choice. The roommate rent split calculator gives you those shares.

What if one person caused the damage?

An even split is only fair when nobody is clearly responsible. If one person is, the usual approach is to deduct their damage first and split the rest evenly, which is what a written agreement should say in advance.

Can a landlord deduct for normal wear and tear?

Generally no in most US jurisdictions, though the line between wear and damage is exactly what gets argued about. Dated move-in and move-out photos are the only reliable evidence.

Are these numbers financial advice?

No. They are educational estimates based on the inputs and assumptions on this page. Confirm important decisions with a qualified professional and your own documents.

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