Small Claims Court Calculator
Weigh what a small claims case is likely to return against what it costs you in fees and time off work, adjusted for your chance of winning and of collecting.
Last updated: October 2026
Expected net value of filing
$2,675.00
This calculator gives an estimate for general information only. It is not legal advice. Check the figures with a qualified lawyer before making decisions, and follow the rules that apply where you live.
Formula below · 2 sources (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov, butte.courts.ca.gov) · Updated Oct 2026
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About this calculator
This is a rough cost-benefit estimate, not legal advice. Court rules, fee amounts and claim limits vary by state and county.
Expected net value = chance of winning × chance of collecting × amount recovered − your costs
Your costs are the filing fee, the cost of serving the defendant, and the pay you lose by taking time off for the hearing. The amount recovered is your claim, plus the filing and service fees if your court lets the winner add court costs to the judgment.
With the defaults: 0.6 × 1.00 × $5,000 = $3,000 expected recovery; costs are $75 + $50 + 8 hours × $25 = $325; expected net value is $2,675.
Winning is not the same as being paid. If the defendant has no money or cannot be found, you may need wage garnishment or a bank levy, which takes more time and fees, or you may never collect. Lower the collection chance to reflect that. A negative result means that, on average, filing costs more than it brings back; a demand letter or mediation may be a better first step.
Check your court's website for the filing fee, the maximum claim allowed in small claims, and how to serve papers. Most courts offer fee waivers for people with low incomes.
| Claim | 30% chance | 60% chance | 80% chance | 95% chance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $500 | −$175 | −$25 | $75 | $150 |
| $1,500 | $125 | $575 | $875 | $1,100 |
| $5,000 | $1,175 | $2,675 | $3,675 | $4,425 |
| $10,000 | $2,675 | $5,675 | $7,675 | $9,175 |
How to use
Enter the amount you are claiming, your court's filing fee, the cost of serving the papers, and your hours off work and hourly pay. Then pick an honest chance of winning and estimate how likely you are to collect. Example 1 (defaults): $5,000 claim, $75 filing, $50 service, 60% chance, 100% collectable, 8 hours at $25. Result: $2,675. Example 2: a $1,500 claim, $75 filing, $40 service, 80% chance, 4 hours at $25. Expected recovery $1,200, costs $215, net $985. If the court adds costs to the judgment, recovery rises to 0.8 × $1,615 = $1,292 and the net to $1,077. Example 3: a $300 claim with a 60% chance and an 8-hour day off at $30 an hour. Recovery $180 against costs of $75 + $50 + $240 = $365: −$185, so filing does not pay on its own.
Frequently asked questions
What does it cost to file in small claims court?
You pay a filing fee to the court and a fee to have the defendant formally served, by a sheriff, a process server or certified mail depending on the court. Fees vary by state and often by claim size, so check your court's fee schedule. In California, for example, the filing fee is $30 for claims up to $1,500, $50 up to $5,000 and $75 up to $12,500 ($100 if you filed more than 12 claims in the past year). Low-income filers can usually ask for a fee waiver.
Can I get my court costs back if I win?
Many courts let the winner ask for filing and service fees to be added to the judgment. Your lost wages and time are usually not recoverable. Choose Yes in the calculator only if your court allows it.
What if I win but the other side does not pay?
A judgment is a court order to pay, but you may have to enforce it, for example through wage garnishment or a bank levy, which can mean more forms and fees. If the defendant has no income or assets, you may not collect at all. That is why the calculator asks for a collection chance.
How do I judge my chance of winning?
Think about your evidence: written agreements, receipts, photos, messages and witnesses make a case stronger than one person's word against another's. Be conservative. If you are unsure, run the calculator at several chances to see whether filing still makes sense.
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