Closing costs in Illinois
What a buyer or seller pays at the closing table in Illinois — the real transfer-tax rate, recording fees, title-insurance method and attorney rules, plus a calculator that uses Illinois's actual rates.
- Transfer tax
- 0.1%
- customarily seller-paid
- Recording fee (deed)
- ~$90
- a flat fee per document
- Title insurance
- filed
- ~$4.50 / $1,000
- Attorney at closing
- Required
Illinois in the national transfer-tax dataset
0.1%, #29 of 51 nationally; at $400,000, that is $240 below the median $640 tax at $400,000. The comparison uses the 51 source-verified state and DC records in the TallyClose dataset; null transfer-tax states count as 0% rather than being filled with an estimate.
- National rank
- #29 of 51
- highest state transfer-tax rate first
- Median-state tax at $400,000
- $640
- Illinois: $400
- County coverage
- 5
- 3 with a city-tax field
Illinois transfer-tax data: official source linked on this page, reviewed 2026-Q2.
How closing costs work in Illinois
The biggest closing-cost variable in Illinois is the real-estate transfer tax, which here is 0.1% and is customarily seller-paid. Illinois charges a state transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 (0.10%) plus a county tax of $0.25 per $500 (0.05%), so $0.75 per $500 (0.15%) is the typical state+county total, paid by the seller. Home-rule municipalities add their own — Chicago's combined transfer tax is far higher (the city imposes its own tax, much of it buyer-paid).
On a $400,000 home, the state-level transfer tax works out to roughly $400 , before any county or city add-ons. County recording fees are a flat fee per document and run around $90 for the deed.
For title insurance, Illinois title-insurance rates are filed with the state and broadly similar between companies, though you can sometimes shop. Illinois is also an "attorney state": a licensed attorney must be involved in the closing, which adds an attorney fee that title-only states don't have. Lenders here typically charge $1,500–$3,200 in origination and processing fees, and 2 months of property-tax escrow is commonly collected at closing.
Statute: 35 ILCS 200/31-10 (Real Estate Transfer Tax Law). Official source ↗
Illinois closing cost calculator
Pre-set to Illinois. Adjust your price, down payment and loan type.
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Counties in Illinois
County and city taxes can change the total significantly. Open a county for its precise rate.
Frequently asked questions
How much are closing costs in Illinois?
In Illinois, buyer closing costs typically run about 2%–5% of the purchase price. The state-specific pieces are the transfer tax (0.1%, customarily seller-paid), county recording fees (a flat fee per document, around $90), and title insurance. Illinois also requires an attorney at closing, which adds a fee. Use the calculator above for your price.
What is the transfer tax in Illinois?
Illinois's real-estate transfer tax is 0.1% and is customarily seller-paid. Illinois charges a state transfer tax of $0.50 per $500 (0.10%) plus a county tax of $0.25 per $500 (0.05%), so $0.75 per $500 (0.15%) is the typical state+county total, paid by the seller. Home-rule municipalities add their own — Chicago's combined transfer tax is far higher (the city imposes its own tax, much of it buyer-paid).
Who pays closing costs in Illinois?
Both buyer and seller pay different items. The transfer tax in Illinois is customarily seller-paid. Buyers generally cover lender fees, the appraisal, lender's title insurance and prepaids; sellers generally cover the agent commission and, in most states, the bulk of the transfer tax. Everything is negotiable in the contract.
Do I need an attorney to close in Illinois?
Yes. Illinois is an "attorney state" — a licensed attorney must conduct or oversee the real-estate closing, which adds an attorney fee to your costs.
Closest transfer-tax comparisons
Algorithmic neighbors by verified transfer-tax rate, not a static related-links block.
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