What is a reasonable early termination fee?

Asked by: Chadrick Stamm V  |  Last update: February 17, 2026
Score: 4.2/5 (66 votes)

A reasonable early termination fee (ETF) often equals one to two months' rent, acting as compensation for landlord losses like re-renting costs, but it varies greatly by lease, location, and contract type (rental, service, etc.). Fees aim to cover lost income and re-tenanting expenses, not act as excessive penalties, and can sometimes be negotiated, especially if you help find a replacement tenant or if the landlord re-rents quickly at the same or higher rate.

How much is an early termination fee?

Early termination fee: An early termination fee typically equals 2–4 months' rent. Some companies and landlords may calculate this fee with rent obligations higher than your standard monthly rate to cover additional costs.

Can I terminate my lease early in Oklahoma?

Yes, you can break a lease in Oklahoma, but it usually involves consequences unless you have a legal justification like active military duty, a landlord's failure to provide a habitable home (constructive eviction), or an early termination clause in the lease, which often requires a penalty fee (like two months' rent) and 30 days' notice. If you break a lease without legal cause, Oklahoma law requires your landlord to try to re-rent the unit, meaning you're only responsible for lost rent until a new tenant is found, not the entire lease term. 

What is an example of an early termination fee?

Example: Lee signed a two-year cell phone agreement that, after six months, he wanted to end. Rather than continue to make payments for the rest of the two years, the cell phone company required that he pay an early termination fee of $250.

What is the average termination fee?

The typical size of termination fees is in the 2.0% – 3.5% range. Generally speaking, the most common range for termination fees is between 2.0% and 3.5% of equity value though negotiations may result in a termination fee outside of this range.

What Is A Reasonable Early Termination Fee? - CountyOffice.org

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What is an acceptable cancellation fee?

Generally, cancellation fees must be capped to the amount of the damages actually sustained as a result of the cancellation, and consequently businesses are only entitled to claim 'liquidated damages' (an agreed fixed sum).

Can you negotiate an early termination fee?

An early lease termination fee typically costs between one and two months of rent. However, this amount varies based on your original contract and the current rental market. When paying to break a lease, you can often negotiate this amount down if you find a replacement tenant.

How to calculate early termination fee?

The fee is typically calculated based on the remaining term of the agreement and the expected volume of invoices that would have been factored during that period. The specific calculation method can vary and may be a flat fee, a percentage of the remaining value of the agreement, or a combination of both.

What are early termination charges?

The purpose of an early termination fee is to compensate the party who would have continued to benefit from the contract for that early termination. For example, for the loss of revenue, for costs, or other damage caused by the early termination.

What not to say to a landlord?

When talking to a landlord, avoid lying, badmouthing previous landlords, mentioning illegal activities, promising unrealistic payments (like cash or future crypto), or making excessive demands, as it signals you might be a problematic or unreliable tenant; instead, be honest about your ability to pay and respect lease terms to build trust and a positive relationship. 

What are the pay laws for termination in Oklahoma?

When you lose your job, Oklahoma law requires your employer to pay your final wages within 3 days of when you would normally get paid. If you lose your job on the 20th and your next regularly scheduled payday is the 31st, you must wait until then to get your paycheck.

What is the best excuse to break a lease?

The best excuses to break a lease legally without penalty are usually active military duty, uninhabitable living conditions (like no heat, mold, major repairs ignored by landlord), or being a victim of domestic violence/stalking, as federal and state laws often protect these situations. Other strong, negotiable reasons include a landlord harassing you, a major health crisis, or a job transfer, but these often require landlord negotiation, finding a replacement tenant, or paying a fee, rather than being automatic legal outs. 

How to avoid early termination fees?

5 Ways to Waive Early Termination Fees and Get Out of Your...

  1. Get someone else to take over your contract. ...
  2. Negotiate a deal with the provider. ...
  3. Watch for fine print notices that could allow you to opt out if changes are made. ...
  4. Find another company to buy you out of your contract.

Who pays the termination fee?

A termination fee, also known as a breakup fee, is a fee paid by a seller to a buyer if the seller backs out of the agreement. It's common in mergers and acquisitions (M&As), where buyers invest time and money into making a deal.

Do I have to pay an early termination fee?

You might have to pay a cancellation fee to leave your contract early if: your provider doesn't provide the same service in your new area. you're renting and the service is included in the place you're moving to but you already have an existing contract for that service - for example internet.

What is a typical termination fee?

The typical range for termination fees is 1-4% of the equity value of the transaction, with larger deals often in the 2-3% range. However, not all deals conform to this standard.

What is the rule for termination pay?

Termination payment rules in the U.S. involve two main parts: final paychecks, which must comply with state laws for timing and contents (like accrued PTO), and severance pay, which is usually voluntary but can be required by contract or under federal laws like the WARN Act for mass layoffs, with rules differing by state for final wages and by federal/state laws for severance. Federal law (FLSA) generally doesn't mandate severance but requires timely final pay, though states dictate how timely, often immediately for involuntary terminations. 

How expensive is it to end a lease early?

An early lease termination fee is a penalty for ending a rental contract early, typically 1-4 months' rent or a set amount defined in the lease, designed to cover the landlord's costs for finding a new tenant, though it can vary widely by agreement and state law, sometimes involving a buyout or continuing rent payments. The exact cost and conditions (like providing written notice) are detailed in your lease, so checking it or speaking with your landlord is crucial.
 

Does early termination fee affect credit?

When you break your lease contract, you may owe back rent, damage fees, termination fees, or current rent. Left unpaid, those expenses may put your credit score at risk. Landlords don't typically report your monthly payments to a credit bureau. Therefore, your rental history doesn't always appear on your credit report.

What happens if I don't pay the early termination fee?

You can charge the Tenant a flat “Liquidated Damages/Early Termination Fee” of a maximum of 2 months' rent when they vacate early and NOTHING more other than rent, and charges they may owe at the time of vacating early. The Tenant may or not pay it, but if not paid, this 2 months' rent can be sent to collections.

Is it smart to buyout your car lease early?

You should pay off your car lease early if the car's market value is significantly higher than the buyout price in your contract, especially in a strong used car market, making it a smart financial move to own a valuable asset, but it's often not cost-effective if you're just trying to get out of the lease early due to penalties or if the car's market value is lower, so carefully compare your buyout price to market value and check your lease for extra fees. 

What is a normal cancellation fee?

An average cancellation fee can range from 5-10%, depending on the nature and local laws. To maintain your credibility in the market, you should not charge if someone purchases your products or services by mistake and immediately cancels it since it might ruin your reputation.

What is a reasonable cancellation penalty?

Regulation 5(2) of the CPA now provides that a cancellation penalty may not exceed a reasonable amount taking into account factors such as: The amount that still owed under the remainder of the period. The value of the transaction up until cancellation. The duration of the agreement that was initially agreed upon.

Do I legally have to pay a cancellation fee?

Yes, cancellation fees are generally legal if they are clearly disclosed in the contract, are reasonable (proportional to the provider's potential losses), and don't act as an unfair penalty, though some consumer laws provide cooling-off periods or limit fees, especially for subscriptions or specific services like insurance. Key factors are transparency in terms, fairness, and compliance with consumer protection laws that prevent disproportionate charges.