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California Closing Cost Calculator

Transfer tax: 0.11%.

California closing cost estimator

Transfer tax: 0.11%.

Estimated closing costs —
Transfer tax —
Title insurance —
Attorney —

Figures computed from Tax Foundation (2024-2026 rate tables) and U.S. Census Bureau (2024 5-year). Page last reviewed 2026-08-27. Estimates only — verify with the relevant agency before acting.

California at a glance

FigureCaliforniaSource
State transfer tax rate0.11%[1]
Attorney required at closingNo[1]
Typical total closing cost2.00%[1]
On the median home$15,520[2]

[1] [2] Sources

Typical closing cost — all 50 states

California highlighted. Same data as the table below, shown as a distribution so the comparison is visible at a glance.

Typical closing cost — all 50 states. California is 2.00%, ranked 50 of 50. The national median is 2.70%, the highest is 3.80% (New York), and the lowest is 2.00% (California). NY 3.80% DE 3.50% NJ 3.50% MD 3.20% PA 3.20% VT 3.20% CT 3.10% IL 3.00% ME 3.00% MA 3.00% NH 3.00% RI 3.00% AK 2.80% GA 2.80% IA 2.80% LA 2.80% MI 2.80% WV 2.80% WI 2.80% AR 2.70% KY 2.70% MN 2.70% NE 2.70% OH 2.70% SC 2.70% VA 2.70% KS 2.60% MS 2.60% SD 2.60% TN 2.60% AL 2.50% FL 2.50% HI 2.50% IN 2.50% MO 2.50% NM 2.50% NC 2.50% ND 2.50% OK 2.50% TX 2.50% WA 2.50% MT 2.40% OR 2.40% AZ 2.30% ID 2.30% NV 2.30% UT 2.30% WY 2.30% CO 2.20% CA 2.00%

Highlighted: California, ranked 50 of 50. Median 2.70%.

California closing costs by price and side

Buyer and seller totals, including California's 0.11% transfer tax.

Purchase priceBuyer totalSeller totalTransfer tax
$100,000$1,550$960$110
$150,000$2,250$1,365$165
$175,000$2,600$1,568$193
$200,000$2,950$1,770$220
$225,000$3,300$1,973$248
$250,000$3,650$2,175$275
$300,000$4,350$2,580$330
$350,000$5,050$2,985$385
$400,000$5,750$3,390$440
$450,000$6,450$3,795$495
$500,000$7,150$4,200$550
$600,000$8,550$5,010$660
$700,000$9,950$5,820$770
$800,000$11,350$6,630$880
$950,000$13,450$7,845$1,045
$1,100,000$15,550$9,060$1,210
$1,300,000$18,350$10,680$1,430
$1,600,000$22,550$13,110$1,760

Worked figures for California

California values:

PriceBuyerSellerTransfer
$150,000$2,250$1,365$165
$200,000$2,950$1,770$220
$250,000$3,650$2,175$275
$300,000$4,350$2,580$330
$400,000$5,750$3,390$440
$500,000$7,150$4,200$550
$600,000$8,550$5,010$660
$750,000$10,650$6,225$825
$900,000$12,750$7,440$990
$1,200,000$16,950$9,870$1,320

How California compares nationally

On typical closing cost, California ranks #50 of 50 at 2.00% — 26% below the median of 2.70%. The national range runs from 2.00% (California) to 3.80% (New York).

RankStateTypical closing cost
#48Wyoming2.30%
#49Colorado2.20%
#50California2.00%

Title company states, ranked

Same rule structure as California:

StateTypical closing costvs California
Michigan2.80%+40.0%
Wisconsin2.80%+40.0%
Ohio2.70%+35.0%
Tennessee2.60%+30.0%
Florida2.50%+25.0%
Nevada2.30%+15.0%
Colorado2.20%+10.0%
California2.00%—

California questions, answered with California numbers

What are buyer closing costs in California?▾
On California's median home price of $776,000, expect roughly $11,014 as a buyer.
What does the seller pay in California?▾
About $6,436 on the median home, of which $854 is California's 0.11% transfer tax.
Do I need an attorney to close in California?▾
No. California allows title companies to handle closing, so there is no mandatory attorney fee.

Other title company states

Ohio Colorado Florida Michigan Nevada Tennessee Wisconsin

Last reviewed 2026-08-27. California figures only — verify with the relevant California agency before acting. How this is calculated.