Payday loan laws by state
Payday loans are legal in 29 states, limited by a rate cap in 10 and not allowed in 12 jurisdictions, counting the District of Columbia. The table shows each state's limits on amount, term and price.
Key points
- 29 states license payday lenders and set their own limits on amount, term and fee.
- 10 states cap small-loan rates at 36% to 50% APR.
- 12 jurisdictions, including D.C., do not allow payday lending.
- State law, not federal law, sets the price of a payday loan for civilians.
On this page
How to read the table
Each state name links to a page with the statute, the limits and the regulator for that state. Status shows whether single-payment payday loans are offered under state law. Largest loan and Term are the limits on one loan. Highest fee or rate is the most a licensed lender may charge, in the words of the statute.
A dash means the figure does not apply, because the state does not allow payday loans or regulates them through a rate cap alone.
Payday loan laws in all 50 states and D.C.
| State | Status | Largest loan | Term | Highest fee or rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Legal | $500 | 10 to 31 days | 17.5% of the amount advanced |
| Alaska | Legal | $500 | Minimum of 14 days | Origination Fee of $5 + the lesser of $15 per $100 or 15% |
| Arizona | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| Arkansas | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| California | Legal | $255 | No more than 31 days | 15% of the check amount |
| Colorado | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| Connecticut | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| Delaware | Legal | $1,000 | No more than 60 days | No limit |
| Florida | Legal | $500 | 7 to 31 days | 10% of the amount advanced plus a verification fee of up to $5 |
| Georgia | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| Hawaii | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| Idaho | Legal | $1,000 | Not set by law | No limit |
| Illinois | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| Indiana | Legal | $550 | Minimum of 14 days | 15% on the first $250; 13% on $250 to $400; 10% above $400 |
| Iowa | Legal | $500 | No more than 31 days | $15 per $100 on face value of check |
| Kansas | Legal | $500 | 7-30 days | 15% of loan amount |
| Kentucky | Legal | $500 | 14-60 days | $15 per $100 on face value of check + $1 database fee |
| Louisiana | Legal | $350 | 60 days or less | 16.75% of the check amount, up to $45 |
| Maine | Legal | No dollar limit | Not set by law | $5 on loans up to $75, $15 on loans from $75.01 to $249.99, $25 on loans of $250 or more |
| Maryland | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| Massachusetts | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| Michigan | Legal | $600 | No more than 31 days | 15% on the first $100; 14% on $100 to $200; 13% on $200 to $300; 12% on $300 to $400; 11% above $400 |
| Minnesota | Capped at 50% APR | — | — | 50% APR |
| Mississippi | Legal | $500 | 30 days (minimum 28 days if loan is between $250 and $500) | Under $250: $20 per $100 advanced |
| Missouri | Legal | $500 | 14-31 days | 75% of initial loan amount |
| Montana | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| Nebraska | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| Nevada | Legal | No dollar limit | No more than 35 days | No limit |
| New Hampshire | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| New Jersey | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| New Mexico | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| New York | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| North Carolina | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| North Dakota | Legal | $500 | No more than 60 days | 20% of the amount advanced |
| Ohio | Legal with price limits | $1,000 | 91 days to 1 year | 28% annual interest plus a monthly fee: the lesser of 10% of the loan or $30 |
| Oklahoma | Legal with price limits | $1,500 | 2-12 months | $15 for every $100 advanced up to $300 |
| Oregon | Legal with price limits | No dollar limit | At least 31 days | 36% APR interest, one-time $10 per $100 of loan origination fee, up to $30 |
| Pennsylvania | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| Rhode Island | Legal | $500 | At least 13 days | 10% of amount advanced |
| South Carolina | Legal | $550 | Up to 31 days | 15% of the principal |
| South Dakota | Capped at 36% APR | — | — | 36% APR |
| Tennessee | Legal | $500 | No more than 31 days | 15% of the amount of the advance |
| Texas | Legal | No dollar limit | 7 to 180 days | No limit on credit access business fees |
| Utah | Legal | No dollar limit | No more than 10 weeks | No limit |
| Vermont | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| Virginia | Legal with price limits | $2,500 | 4 to 24 months | 36% annual interest plus a monthly maintenance fee of up to 8% of the loan or $25, whichever is less |
| Washington | Legal | $700 | 7-45 days | 15% on the first $500; 10% above $500 |
| Washington, DC | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| West Virginia | Not allowed | — | — | — |
| Wisconsin | Legal | $1,500 | 90 days or less | No limit |
| Wyoming | Legal | No dollar limit | No more than 1 month | The greater of $30 or 20% per month |
What the three groups mean
Legal (29 states). Licensed lenders may make payday loans within the limits shown. Where the fee is capped it runs from about $10 to $30 per $100, and where it is not the lender sets it. Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon and Virginia require longer terms, so loans there are repaid in installments.
Rate cap (10 states). Small loans are legal, but the annual rate is capped at 36% to 50%. Two weeks of interest on $100 at 36% is about $1.38, so storefront payday lenders have left these states. Banks, credit unions and some installment lenders still lend under the cap.
Not allowed (12 jurisdictions). Payday lending is banned outright or made impossible by the state’s small-loan and usury laws. Loans offered online to residents of these states are generally unlicensed; see tribal loans and payday loan scams.
Recent and scheduled changes
- Alaska, June 26, 2025. Senate Bill 39, which would have capped payday loans at 36% APR, passed the legislature but was vetoed by the governor, so the existing rules still apply.
- Rhode Island, January 1, 2027. A 36% APR cap on payday lenders is scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2027, which will end loans at the current 10% fee.
How this compares with the Northlight standard
A payday loan is due in one payment within weeks, which is why none of the loans in this table meets our standard. Northlight works only with loans that carry an APR of 35.99% or less, fees included, and run for at least 3 months. The calculator shows what such a loan costs, and rates and terms sets the standard out in full.
How we built the table
The limits come from each state’s payday lending statute as listed by the National Conference of State Legislatures, checked against the state regulator’s published guidance where it was available. A lender may charge less than the maximum, and charges such as returned-payment fees are not shown.
Laws change. If you spot a figure that is out of date, tell us and we will check it against the statute. For the background, read are payday loans legal and what APR means.
Common questions
Which states set no limit on payday loan fees?
Texas, Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Delaware and Wisconsin leave the price to the lender, so costs there are usually the highest.
Which states cap payday loans at 36%?
Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Illinois, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico and South Dakota cap small loans at 36% APR. Minnesota’s cap is 50%.
Do these limits apply to online lenders?
Yes. A lender must follow the law of the state where the borrower lives and needs that state’s license, whether it lends in a store or online.
How current is the table?
The date at the top of the page shows when the figures were last checked against the statutes. Corrections sent through the contact page are checked the same way.
See the payment before you apply
Pick an amount and a term. The calculator shows the monthly payment, the total and the cost of credit at the highest APR we allow.