Compare legal limits, fees and the true cost of small loans in your state before you talk to any lender. Compare legal limits, fees and the true cost of small loans in your state.
State Payday Loan Limit & Fee Checker
Each state sets its own rules for payday loans: some cap the amount and the fee, some leave them open, and some ban payday lending altogether. Choose your state and enter the amount you need to see whether it fits within the law and what the lender is allowed to charge.
Choose a state to see whether the amount is allowed and what the law caps fees at.
Based on state payday loan law in our rules database. Confirm the final terms with a licensed lender or the state regulator.
Payday loan limits by state
| State | Max amount | Fee cap | Term | Rollovers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $500 | 17.5% of advanced amount (max $87.50) | 10 days to 31 days | 1 rollover allowed |
| Alaska | $500 | 15% of advance + $5 fee (max $80) | at least 14 days | Prohibited |
| Arizona | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR | — | — |
| Arkansas | Not allowed | Capped at 17% APR (State Constitution) | — | — |
| California | $300 | 15% of check face value (max $45) | 7 days to 31 days | Prohibited |
| Colorado | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR | — | — |
| Connecticut | Not allowed | Capped at 12% APR (Usury limit) | — | — |
| Delaware | $1,000 | No state limit | — | Up to 4 |
| Florida | $500 | 10% of check + $5 fee (max $55) | 7 days to 31 days | Prohibited |
| Georgia | Not allowed | Capped at 16% APR (Payday Lending Ban) | — | — |
| Hawaii | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR (2021 Law) | — | — |
| Idaho | $1,000 or 25% of gross income | No strict state limit | — | Up to 3 |
| Illinois | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR (PLPA 2021) | — | — |
| Indiana | $605 | 15% up to $250; 13% $251-$400; 10% $401+ | at least 14 days | Prohibited |
| Iowa | $500 | $15 on first $100; $10 per subsequent $100 (max $55) | — | Prohibited |
| Kansas | $500 | 15% of cash advanced (max $75) | 7 days to 30 days | Prohibited |
| Kentucky | $500 | $15 per $100 advanced (max $75) | 14 days to 60 days | Prohibited |
| Louisiana | $350 | 16.75% of face value + $10 doc fee (max $68.62) | — | Prohibited |
| Maine | Not allowed | Capped at 30% APR | — | — |
| Maryland | Not allowed | Capped at 33% APR | — | — |
| Massachusetts | Not allowed | Capped at 23% APR | — | — |
| Michigan | $600 | 15% up to $100; scaled down for larger amounts | — | Prohibited |
| Minnesota | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR (2023 Law) | — | — |
| Mississippi | $500 | $20 per $100 advanced (max $100) | — | Prohibited |
| Missouri | $500 | 75% of initial loan amount | 14 days to 31 days | Up to 6 |
| Montana | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR | — | — |
| Nebraska | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR (2020 Ballot) | — | — |
| Nevada | 25% of gross income | No strict state limit | — | Permitted (up to 60 days total) |
| New Hampshire | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR | — | — |
| New Jersey | Not allowed | Capped at 30% APR (Criminal Usury) | — | — |
| New Mexico | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR (2022 Law) | — | — |
| New York | Not allowed | Capped at 25% APR (Criminal Usury) | — | — |
| North Carolina | Not allowed | Capped at 15% APR | — | — |
| North Dakota | $500 | 20% of amount advanced (max $100) | — | 1 allowed |
| Ohio | $1,000 | 28% APR + max $20 monthly fee | 91 days to 1 year | Prohibited |
| Oklahoma | $500 | $15 per $100 advanced (max $75) | 12 days to 45 days | Prohibited |
| Oregon | $500 | Capped at 36% APR + $10 per $100 max fee (max $50) | 31 days to 60 days | Prohibited |
| Pennsylvania | Not allowed | Capped at 24% APR | — | — |
| Rhode Island | $500 | 10% of check amount (max $50) | at least 13 days | 1 allowed |
| South Carolina | $500 | 15% of face value (max $75) | — | Prohibited |
| South Dakota | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR (2016 Ballot) | — | — |
| Tennessee | $500 | 15% of check amount (max $75) | — | Prohibited |
| Texas | No limit (CSO Model) | No state cap (fees set by city ordinances) | 7 days to 180 days | Permitted (varies) |
| Utah | No state limit | No state limit | — | Up to 10 weeks |
| Vermont | Not allowed | Capped at 18% APR | — | — |
| Virginia | Not allowed | Capped at 36% APR (Fairness in Lending Act) | — | — |
| Washington | $700 or 30% of income | 15% up to $500; 10% above (max $95) | — | Prohibited |
| West Virginia | Not allowed | Capped at 31% APR | — | — |
| Wisconsin | No state limit | No strict state limit | — | 1 allowed |
| Wyoming | $500 | 20% of advanced amount (max $100) | — | Prohibited |
What the checker looks at
The checker compares your amount with the maximum loan size written into state law and shows the state's fee cap, the allowed term and whether rollovers are permitted. The rules come from the same state database we use on every payday loan state page, where you will also find the governing law and the regulator to contact.
Some states express the limit as a share of income, such as 25% of gross monthly income, or as a dollar amount or a share of income, whichever is lower. In those states the dollar figure is the ceiling and the income test can lower it further. A few states, including Texas and Utah, set no fixed dollar limit in state law.
If payday loans are not allowed in your state, the checker hides payday options and points you to legal alternatives instead: installment loans under the state's interest cap, cash advance apps and credit union loans. Lenders that offer payday loans to residents of those states are generally operating outside state law.
Amount over the state maximum → not allowed for a single payday loanMaximum fee = Amount × state fee cap (where the cap is a percentage)
State Limit & Fee Checker: FAQ
What happens if I need more than my state allows?
A licensed payday lender cannot lend you more than the state maximum in one loan, and most states also limit how many loans you can have at once. For larger amounts look at installment loans or a credit union personal loan, which spread the cost over several months.
Why does the checker say there is no fixed limit in my state?
Some states do not set a dollar cap in statute. Texas lenders usually work as credit access businesses, and a few states cap loans as a share of income instead. The lender's own limits and your income will decide the amount.
Are online payday lenders bound by my state's limits?
Lenders must generally follow the law of the state where the borrower lives and hold a license there. If an online lender ignores your state's limits, you can report it to the state regulator listed on the result.
How current is the data?
The limits come from our state rules database, which is reviewed regularly. Laws change, so confirm the final terms with a licensed lender or the state regulator before you borrow.