As　the　upcoming　3D　video　coding　standard,　high　efficiency　video　coding　(HEVC)　based　3D　video　coding　(3D-HEVC)　has　been　drafted.　In　3D-HEVC,　the　computational　complexity　of　mode　decision　process　is　significantly　high　due　to　exhaustive　modes＇　checks　for　coding　units　(CU)　derived　from　recursive　quad-tree　partitioning.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　an　early　merge　mode　decision　method　for　complexity　reduction　of　dependent　texture　views.　First,　inter-view　correlation　and　hierarchical　depth　correlation　of　coding　modes　are　separately　analyzed　for　B　frame　and　P　frame.　Then,　conditions　to　early　determine　merge　mode　coded　CUs　are　derived　based　on　the　correlations.　All　of　the　early　determined　CUs　only　check　merge　modes　in　the　mode　decision　process,　which　brings　considerable　complexity　reduction.　Experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　method　can　achieve　average　20.4%　of　encoding　time　saving　for　dependent　texture　views　with　negligible　rate　distortion　performance　loss.　(C)　2015　Elsevier　Inc.　All　rights　reserved.