Earnest money by percentage
Earnest money is usually quoted as a percent of the purchase price, and most deposits fall between 1% and 3%. This chart shows each common percentage in dollars. Pick one for the full breakdown by price, what it means for your offer, and what is left to pay at closing.
| Percent | $250,000 | $400,000 | $500,000 | $750,000 | $1,000,000 | Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5% earnest money | $1,250 | $2,000 | $2,500 | $3,750 | $5,000 | Below typical |
| 1% earnest money | $2,500 | $4,000 | $5,000 | $7,500 | $10,000 | Typical |
| 1.5% earnest money | $3,750 | $6,000 | $7,500 | $11,250 | $15,000 | Typical |
| 2% earnest money | $5,000 | $8,000 | $10,000 | $15,000 | $20,000 | Typical |
| 2.5% earnest money | $6,250 | $10,000 | $12,500 | $18,750 | $25,000 | Typical |
| 3% earnest money | $7,500 | $12,000 | $15,000 | $22,500 | $30,000 | Typical |
| 4% earnest money | $10,000 | $16,000 | $20,000 | $30,000 | $40,000 | Above typical |
| 5% earnest money | $12,500 | $20,000 | $25,000 | $37,500 | $50,000 | Above typical |
| 10% earnest money | $25,000 | $40,000 | $50,000 | $75,000 | $100,000 | Well above typical |
For a price or percent that is not in the chart, use the earnest money calculator. To start from the price instead, see earnest money by home price. Not sure which percent to offer? Read how much earnest money to put down.