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The price of a felony

How much do you have to steal for a felony?

Every state sets a dollar line where theft stops being a misdemeanor and becomes a felony. It ranges from $200 in New Jersey to $2,500 in Texas and Wisconsin. The most common line is $1,000, used in 22 places, and in 12 the line is below $1,000.

From each state's own law, last checked October 29, 2026. General information, not legal advice.

Lowest line
$200
New Jersey
Highest line
$2,500
Texas and Wisconsin
Most common
$1,000
22 places
Middle state
$1,000
The median line

The line, state by state

  • Under $1,00012
  • $1,000 to $1,49924
  • $1,500 to $1,9999
  • $2,000 or more6

From the lowest line to the highest

Where a line says “more than,” property worth exactly that amount is still a misdemeanor.

  1. New Jersey$200N.J. Stat. Ann. § 2C:20-2(b)
  2. Alabamaover $500Ala. Code §§ 13A-8-3, 13A-8-4, 13A-8-4.1, 13A-8-5
  3. Illinoisover $500720 ILCS 5/16-1(b)
  4. New Mexicoover $500N.M. Stat. Ann. § 30-16-1
  5. Alaska$750AS 11.46.130(a)(1), (a)(6), (c); AS 11.46.120
  6. Florida$750Fla. Stat. § 812.014(2)(c)1., (2)(d)
  7. Hawaiiover $750Haw. Rev. Stat. §§ 708-830.5, 708-831, 708-832
  8. Indiana$750Ind. Code § 35-43-4-2(a)
  9. Missouri$750Mo. Rev. Stat. § 570.030(4)(1), (5)(1), (7), (8)
  10. Washingtonover $750RCW 9A.56.030, 9A.56.040, 9A.56.050
  11. Vermontover $90013 V.S.A. §§ 2501, 2502
  12. Californiaover $950Cal. Penal Code §§ 487(a), 489(c), 490.2, 666.1
  13. Arizona$1,000A.R.S. § 13-1802(G)
  14. Arkansasover $1,000Ark. Code § 5-36-103(b), as amended by Act 833 of 2025
  15. D.C.$1,000D.C. Code § 22-3212(a)(1), (b), (c)
  16. Idahoover $1,000Idaho Code §§ 18-2407(1)(b), 18-2408(2)(a)
  17. Kentucky$1,000KRS 514.030(2)
  18. Louisiana$1,000La. R.S. 14:67(B)
  19. Maineover $1,00017-A M.R.S. § 353(1)
  20. Michigan$1,000MCL 750.356(2)-(5)
  21. Minnesotaover $1,000Minn. Stat. § 609.52, subd. 3
  22. Mississippi$1,000Miss. Code Ann. §§ 97-17-41, 97-17-43
  23. New Hampshireover $1,000N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 637:11
  24. New Yorkover $1,000N.Y. Penal Law § 155.30(1)
  25. North Carolinaover $1,000N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-72(a), (b)
  26. North Dakotaover $1,000N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-23-05(1)-(5)
  27. Ohio$1,000Ohio Rev. Code § 2913.02(B)(2) to (B)(6)
  28. Oklahoma$1,00021 O.S. § 1705
  29. Oregon$1,000ORS 164.043, 164.045, 164.055, 164.057; Or. Laws 2026, ch. 14 (HB 4041), §§ 13-15, 18
  30. South Dakotaover $1,000S.D. Codified Laws §§ 22-30A-17, 22-30A-17.1 to 22-30A-17.3
  31. Tennesseeover $1,000Tenn. Code Ann. § 39-14-105(a)
  32. Virginia$1,000Va. Code §§ 18.2-95, 18.2-96
  33. West Virginia$1,000W. Va. Code § 61-3-13(a)
  34. Wyoming$1,000Wyo. Stat. § 6-3-402(c), (j)
  35. Massachusettsover $1,200Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 266, § 30(1)
  36. Nevada$1,200Nev. Rev. Stat. § 205.0835(2)
  37. Delawareover $1,50011 Del. C. § 841(c), (e); 85 Del. Laws c. 502
  38. Georgiaover $1,500O.C.G.A. § 16-8-12(a)(1), (a)(6)
  39. Iowaover $1,500Iowa Code § 714.2
  40. Kansas$1,500K.S.A. 21-5801(b); 2026 Kan. HB 2347; 2026 Kan. SB 430
  41. Maryland$1,500Md. Code, Crim. Law § 7-104(g)
  42. Montanaover $1,500Mont. Code Ann. § 45-6-301(7)
  43. Nebraska$1,500Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-518(1)-(7)
  44. Rhode Islandover $1,500R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-41-5(a)
  45. Utah$1,500Utah Code § 76-6-404(3)
  46. Colorado$2,000Colo. Rev. Stat. § 18-4-401(2), (5); HB25-1062 (2025)
  47. Connecticutover $2,000Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 53a-122, 53a-123, 53a-124, 53a-125
  48. Pennsylvaniaover $2,00018 Pa.C.S. § 3903
  49. South Carolinaover $2,000S.C. Code § 16-13-30
  50. Texas$2,500Tex. Penal Code § 31.03(e)
  51. Wisconsinover $2,500Wis. Stat. § 943.20(3), (3g)

51 states and D.C. have a single dollar line.

What the line means, and what it doesn't

  • The line is the value of what was taken. Below it, theft is usually a misdemeanor; at or above it, the state can charge a felony and the possible sentence grows with the amount.
  • Some states grade certain property, such as firearms or livestock, by type rather than value, and some make repeat theft a felony at any amount. Each state's page has the details.
  • Maine and New Jersey don't use the word “felony.” Their lines here are where theft becomes a crime that can bring more than a year behind bars.
  • A felony conviction can follow someone for years. Check whether a conviction can be cleared or see how each state ranks for second chances, where the theft line is one of the scored measures.

Questions

How much do you have to steal for it to be a felony?

It depends on the state. It ranges from $200 in New Jersey to $2,500 in Texas and Wisconsin. The most common line is $1,000, used in 22 places, and in 12 the line is below $1,000. Below the line, theft is usually a misdemeanor.

Which state has the lowest felony theft amount?

New Jersey, at $200. New Jersey doesn't use the word felony; at that amount theft becomes a fourth-degree crime.

Which state has the highest felony theft amount?

Texas and Wisconsin, at $2,500.

Can stealing less than the line still be a felony?

Yes, in some cases. Some states grade certain property, such as firearms, by type rather than value, and some make repeat theft a felony at any amount. Each state's row links to its law and the details.

Cite this page

Second Chance Index, "How much do you have to steal for a felony? Every state" https://secondchanceindex.com/felony-theft-by-state, checked October 29, 2026.

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