Texas DWI Bond Calculator

What the calculator considers

The calculator factors in five primary variables to produce its bond-range estimate:

• Offense classification — Class B DWI first offense (BAC under 0.15); Class A DWI first offense (BAC 0.15+); Class A DWI second offense; third-degree felony DWI (third offense or with child passenger); third-degree felony intoxication assault under § 49.07; second-degree felony intoxication manslaughter under § 49.08.
• BAC tier — under 0.08 (refusal scenarios), 0.08-0.149, 0.15-0.199, 0.20+. Higher BAC tiers generally trigger higher bond amounts.
• Prior DWI history — first offense, prior DWI within the lookback period, multiple prior DWIs (third-strike felony).
• County — Collin, Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, Rockwall, Kaufman, Ellis, Hunt. Bond schedules vary by county.
• Aggravating factors — accident with bodily injury, accident with property damage only, child passenger, refusal of breath/blood test, prior conviction within 10 years.

How the bond is actually set

Bond is set by the magistrate at the initial appearance (typically within 24-48 hours of booking) under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15. The statute requires the magistrate to set bond at an amount that:

1. Is sufficient to ensure the defendant’s appearance at trial;
2. Is not an instrument of oppression;
3. Reflects the nature and circumstances of the offense;
4. Accounts for the defendant’s financial ability;
5. Protects the safety of the alleged victim and community.

The magistrate uses the county’s bond schedule as a starting point and adjusts based on the five factors. Most county courts have a published or de facto bond schedule that sets typical amounts for routine cases; the schedule is what this calculator approximates.

What the calculator cannot predict

Three important limitations. First, the calculator returns the typical bond range based on the offense classification and standard factors — not a guarantee. The magistrate may go above or below the typical range based on case-specific facts. Second, the calculator does not predict bond conditions (no-contact orders, GPS monitoring, ignition interlock, alcohol-testing requirements) which can materially affect the practical cost of pretrial release. Third, the calculator does not account for active warrants, probation status, parole status, or pending charges in other cases, all of which can affect bond.

What to do with the estimate

The bond estimate is most useful for three purposes: (1) determining whether the family can afford the cash bond outright versus needing a bondsman, (2) sizing the bondsman fee in advance (bondsman premium is typically 10-15% of the bond amount), (3) preparing for an emergency bond-reduction motion if the actual bond comes in materially higher than the estimate. We file bond-reduction motions on the same day we are retained.

If the actual bond is unaffordable

If the bond as set is materially higher than the defendant’s realistic financial means, the defense can file an emergency motion to reduce bond under Tex. Code Crim. Proc. art. 17.15. The motion is heard in the trial court typically within 1-2 weeks of filing. The federal due-process baseline under O’Donnell v. Harris County, 892 F.3d 147 (5th Cir. 2018), bars pretrial detention solely based on inability to pay. We file these motions with affidavits of indigency, employment verification, and family-support documentation.

Related tools and resources

• Texas DWI Defense overview — the full defense playbook
• Bail Bond Reduction — how the motion works
• General Texas Bond Estimator — for non-DWI charges
• DWI Penalty Calculator — sentencing range computation