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Tenant Lease Break Cost Calculator
The Lease Break Fee Calculator stops at the landlord bill — this one adds moving costs, new-place deposits, and the rent savings at the new address, then shows whether breaking actually saves money versus riding out the lease.
Enter same if no savings
Landlord mitigation window
Total cost to break now
$11,550
Contractual break fee
$4,900
Rent lost during re-let
$2,450
New place move-in costs
$2,400
Rent savings at new place
$2,100
Net break vs stay-to-end
-$7,700
Negative = breaking saves money
Months to recover at new place
3 yr 3 mo
How the math works
A tenant breaking a lease pays the contractual break fee plus any rent lost during the landlord's re-let window, plus moving cost and new-place move-in deposits. If the new place rent is meaningfully lower, the rent savings offset the break costs over time — and breaking can come out ahead.
Mitigation matters: most states require the landlord to try to re-let promptly. Tenants should document the notice and the landlord's re-let activity. Military servicemembers under SCRA can terminate penalty-free after orders. Job-relocation clauses occasionally waive the break fee — read the lease before paying.
How to Use
- Enter current monthly rent and months remaining.
- Enter actual moving cost and the new place rent.
- Set the break fee from the lease (typically 2 months).
- Estimate days until the landlord can re-let.
- Add any deposit at risk of being withheld.
- Enter move-in costs at the new place (deposit, first month, fees).
Frequently Asked Questions
When is breaking a lease cheaper than staying?
When the new rent is meaningfully lower and you have enough months remaining. If you're saving $300/month and have 8 months left, breaking can pay for itself — though the upfront cost is still real.
Does the landlord have to mitigate damages?
In most states, yes. California, Texas, New York, Oregon, Illinois and many others require the landlord to try to re-rent at the market rate. That caps your rent exposure at the re-let vacancy, not the full remaining term.
Can I sublet instead?
If the lease allows subletting, this is often cheaper — you stay responsible for rent but offset it with sublease income. Many standard leases restrict or prohibit sublets; read the 'assignment and subletting' clause.
Will this damage my rental history?
Only if you leave money owed and the landlord sends it to collections. Paying the documented break fee and leaving on good terms generally preserves your rental history and references.
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