High　efficiency　video　coding　(HEVC)　based　3D　video　coding　(3D-HEVC)　is　the　latest　3D　video　coding　standard　under　development.　In　3D-HEVC,　most　of　coding　units　(CU)　select　merge　modes　as　their　best　modes.　However,　they　still　have　to　check　a　large　number　of　irrelevant　candidate　modes　in　mode　decision　process,　which　brings　significant　complexity.　In　this　paper,　we　propose　a　low　complexity　texture　mode　decision　method　for　dependent　texture　views.　First,　Coding　modes　of　inter-view　reference　group　and　upper-depth　CU　are　used　to　obtain　a　coarse　combination　of　merge　mode　coded　CUs　in　the　current　frame.　Then,　skip　mode　coded　CUs　are　distinguished　from　merge　mode　coded　CUs　in　the　combination.　CUs　in　the　combination　only　check　limited　modes　in　mode　decision　process　according　to　their　determined　modes.　Experimental　results　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　method　can　achieve　average　11.2%　of　encoding　time　saving　and　69.4%　of　complexity　reduction　with　negligible　rate　distortion　performance　loss.