How long does an eviction take in Texas?
For unpaid rent, expect about 4 weeks from the first notice to the lockout in Texas, and anywhere from 3 to 8.5 weeks if the tenant fights it or the court is busy.
Texas eviction timeline, step by step
- Notice to pay or leave 3 daysofficial source
3 days' notice to vacate (or to pay or vacate for first-time late payers) unless the lease says otherwise (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005) source - File the case and get a judgment about 10-21 days (typical 14)official source
No written answer usually required; hearing 10-21 days after filing source - Judgment to lockout 7-14 daysofficial source
Writ of possession no sooner than the 6th day after judgment; 24-hour warning before execution source - If the tenant appeals 5-day windowofficial source
5 days to appeal; tenant must pay rent into the court registry to stay source
Timeline model: notice + filing-to-judgment window + judgment-to-lockout window; the high case adds 21 days for a contested hearing. Methodology.
Can the tenant pay and stay?
First-time late payers get a pay-or-vacate notice; repeat late payers can get a plain notice to vacate. official source source
Eviction costs in Texas
| Cost | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Court filing fee | $54 | Travis County JP example: JP court filing fee, e.g. Travis County $54 (service extra); Dallas County bundles filing + service at $134 official source source |
| Serving the tenant | $80-$90 | Travis County example: Constable service of citation, e.g. $90 Travis County official source source |
| Sheriff/marshal lockout | $180 | Tarrant County JP3: Writ of possession service $180 (Tarrant County JP3, 2026) official source source |
| Lawyer, uncontested | $500-$1,500 | National rough estimate, not state-specific estimate |
| Lawyer, contested | $2,000-$5,000+ | National rough estimate estimate |
| Median gross rent | $1,475/mo | Census ACS 2024 1-year (±$8) data file |
Tenant protections
| Statewide rent control | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Statewide just-cause rules | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Right to counsel for tenants | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Seasonal or weather limits | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
| Required mediation / pre-filing program | No | None statewide found in the sources we checked |
Eviction cost calculator for Texas
| What | Typical | Low to high |
|---|
Full timeline and sources · Total = rent × (months behind + months to evict + months to re-rent) + court fees + lawyer + turnover. How we calculate.
Tenant screening
Reserved for a tenant-screening partner (credit, eviction and background checks). No partner yet; nothing here is a recommendation.
Rent-guarantee insurance
Reserved for a rent-guarantee or landlord insurance partner that covers unpaid rent and eviction costs. No partner yet.
Landlord-friendliness score: 89/100
Timeline 41.7/50 · right to cure 17/20 · statewide protections 30/30. How the score works.
Texas eviction FAQ
How long does an eviction take in Texas?
A nonpayment eviction in Texas typically takes about 4 weeks from notice to lockout, with a range of roughly 3 to 8.5 weeks. Contested cases, court backlogs and appeals can take longer. This is an EvictionMath estimate built from the state's notice period and court deadlines, last checked 2026-10-17.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Texas?
3 days' notice to vacate (or to pay or vacate for first-time late payers) unless the lease says otherwise (Tex. Prop. Code § 24.005).
Can a tenant stop an eviction in Texas by paying the rent?
First-time late payers get a pay-or-vacate notice; repeat late payers can get a plain notice to vacate.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Texas?
The filing fee we found is $54 (Travis County JP example). That is a local example, not a statewide fee, and other courts charge different amounts. Service and lockout fees are extra. Lawyer fees commonly run about $500-$1,500 for an uncontested case (a national estimate).
Is Texas landlord-friendly for evictions?
Texas scores 89 out of 100 on the EvictionMath landlord-friendliness score (timeline 41.7/50, right to cure 17/20, statewide tenant protections 30/30). The formula is on our methodology page.
Sources and last-checked dates
| Field | Source type | Link | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notice period | official source | statutes.capitol.texas.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Court deadlines | official source | guides.sll.texas.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Judgment to lockout | official source | www.sll.texas.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Appeal | official source | www.tarrantcountytx.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Filing fee | official source | www.traviscountytx.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Service fee | official source | www.traviscountytx.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Lockout fee | official source | www.tarrantcountytx.gov | 2026-10-17 |
| Median rent | official source | census.gov (ACS B25064) | 2026-10-17 |
Every field on this page has a source. Found an error? Laws change; tell us via the newsletter reply.
Compare similar states
Idaho (90, 3 wk) · Kansas (88, 3.5 wk) · Mississippi (90, 3 wk) · Montana (90, 3 wk) · New Mexico (90, 3 wk)