District of Columbia Bail Bond Calculator
Enter the bail amount to compare what posting it costs in District of Columbia: cash with the court, a bond through a licensed bail agent, or a percentage deposit with the court where District of Columbia law offers one. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.
Enter the bail amount to compare the ways to post it.
Bail bond agents in District of Columbia
It is lawful to charge a fee for executing a bond in a criminal case in the District of Columbia. (D.C. Code § 23-1105)
It shall be lawful to charge for executing a bond in a criminal case in the District of Columbia
The Code refers to the bondsman's regular fee for bonding without setting an amount. (D.C. Code § 23-1105)
other than the regular fee for bonding
Percentage deposit with the court in District of Columbia
A judicial officer may require the person to post with the court a percentage of the money the officer specifies, under an agreement to forfeit it for failing to appear. (D.C. Code § 23-1321(c)(1)(B)(xii))
Execute an agreement to forfeit upon failing to appear as required, the designated property, including money, as is reasonably necessary to assure the appearance of the person as required, and post with the court the indicia of ownership of the property, or a percentage of the money as the judicial officer may specify;
Cash bail in District of Columbia
Financial conditions may be imposed only to assure appearance, never to protect safety, and may not result in preventive detention. (D.C. Code § 23-1321(c)(3))
A judicial officer may not impose a financial condition under paragraph (1)(B)(xii) or (xiii) of this subsection to assure the safety of any other person or the community, but may impose such a financial condition to reasonably assure the defendant’s presence at all court proceedings that does not result in the preventive detention of the person
How bail is set in District of Columbia
The judicial officer must order pretrial release on personal recognizance or an unsecured appearance bond unless the statute's conditions apply. (D.C. Code § 23-1321(b))
The judicial officer shall order the pretrial release of the person on personal recognizance, or upon execution of an unsecured appearance bond in an amount specified by the court
If a court date is missed in District of Columbia
A released person who fails to appear forfeits any security given or pledged for release. (D.C. Code § 23-1327)
shall, subject to the provisions of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure, incur a forfeiture of any security which was given or pledged for his release
For the rest of what can follow a missed date, see missed court in District of Columbia.
What this page does not do
- It does not set or predict bail; the judge or the bail schedule does.
- It does not quote any bail agent; collateral and extra fees depend on the agreement you sign.
- It collects nothing; your entries stay in your browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a bail bond cost in District of Columbia?
The Code refers to the bondsman's regular fee for bonding without setting an amount. (D.C. Code § 23-1105).
Can you pay a percentage of bail to the court in District of Columbia?
A judicial officer may require the person to post with the court a percentage of the money the officer specifies, under an agreement to forfeit it for failing to appear. (D.C. Code § 23-1321(c)(1)(B)(xii)).
Sources
Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.
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