| Your estimate | |
|---|---|
| Small claims limit in your state | |
| Amount above the limit (forfeited if you file in small claims) | |
| Amount you can sue for in small claims | |
| Estimated filing fee (varies by claim amount & county) | |
| Typical service-of-process cost (certified mail → process server) | $0 – $150 |
| Estimated time investment | 8 – 15 hours over 1 – 3 months |
| Estimated net recovery if you win | |
The numbers work. Now make the case.
Your first step is a free demand letter — most people send one before filing. If they still don't pay, get your complete package (your claim drafted for your state’s court (the completed form draft, or the content for your court’s own form), judge script, evidence checklist) for a one-time $19.
Free Demand Letter → Check if your claim qualifies →How this calculator works
- Claim limit: every state caps small claims (roughly $2,500–$25,000). If you're owed more, you can still file — but you give up (waive) the amount above the cap, or file in regular civil court instead.
- Filing fee: shown as a range because most states scale the fee by claim amount, and counties add their own charges. Verify with your local court — fees vary by county.
- Service of process: the defendant must be formally notified. Certified mail can cost a few dollars; a sheriff or process server typically runs $20–$150.
- Good news: if you win, the court usually adds your filing and service costs to the judgment — the loser pays them.
Small claims limit by state
The maximum you can sue for in small claims court, for every state and the District of Columbia. Where we have read the figure off the statute itself, the citation and the date it was checked are shown. Jump straight to your state. Five caps have been moved by statute since 2023, and each of those rows carries the bill and the effective date: Arizona ($5,000, effective 2025-09-26), Nebraska (fixed at $7,500 on 2025-07-01, when the inflation adjustment was repealed), Utah ($20,000, effective 2025-01-01), Vermont ($10,000, effective 2023-06-05) and West Virginia ($20,000, effective 2025-07-07). Rhode Island is not one of them — we have no record of a change there. Its cap is $5,000 under R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1, read off the statute on 2026-07-09; guides still quoting $2,500 are out of date, which is a stale source rather than a new law.
| State | Small claims limit | Court that hears it | Where the figure comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $6,000 | Small Claims Court (District Court div.) | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Alabama claim qualifies |
| Alaska | $10,000 | District Court (Small Claims) | AS 22.15.040(a), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Alaska claim qualifies |
| Arizona | $5,000 | Justice Court, Small Claims Division | A.R.S. § 22-503(A), verified 2026-07-09SB 1022 (2025), $3,500→$5,000, effective 2025-09-26Official source · Check if your Arizona claim qualifies |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Arkansas claim qualifies |
| California | $12,500Different cap: $6,250 for business/entity plaintiff; $2,500 for >2 small claims over $2,500 filed this calendar year. | Superior Court — Small Claims Division | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your California claim qualifies |
| Colorado | $7,500 | Small Claims Court (County Court div.) | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Colorado claim qualifies |
| Connecticut | $5,000Different cap: $15,000 for home improvement or new-home construction by a registered contractor (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d)(2)). | Superior Court, Small Claims Session | Conn. Gen. Stat. § 51-15(d), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Connecticut claim qualifies |
| Delaware | $25,000 | Justice of the Peace Court (civil) | 10 Del. C. § 9301(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Delaware claim qualifies |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | DC Superior Court, Small Claims & Conciliation Branch | D.C. Code § 11-1321, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your District of Columbia claim qualifies |
| Florida | $8,000 | County Court (Small Claims Rules) | Fla. Sm. Cl. R. 7.010(b), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Florida claim qualifies |
| Georgia | $15,000 | Magistrate Court | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Georgia claim qualifies |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Hawaii claim qualifies |
| Idaho | $15,000 | Magistrate Div., Small Claims Dept. | Idaho Code § 1-2301, verified 2026-08-04S1330 (2026 Session Laws ch. 196), $5,000→$15,000, effective 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Idaho claim qualifies |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Circuit Court (Small Claims, SCR 281–289) | Ill. S. Ct. R. 281, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Illinois claim qualifies |
| Indiana | $10,000 | Small claims docket (Circuit/Superior; Marion Co. township courts) | IC 33-29-2-4(b)(1); IC 33-28-3-4(b)(1), verified 2026-10-08Official source · Check if your Indiana claim qualifies |
| Iowa | $6,500 | District Court, Small Claims | Iowa Code § 631.1(1)(b), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Iowa claim qualifies |
| Kansas | $10,000 | District Court (small claims procedure) | K.S.A. 61-2703(a), verified 2026-10-06L. 2024, ch. 22, § 1, $4,000→$10,000, effective 2024-07-01Official source · Check if your Kansas claim qualifies |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | District Court, Small Claims Division | KRS 24A.230(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Kentucky claim qualifies |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | City Court (Small Claims) / Parish Court / JP Court | La. R.S. 13:5202(A), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Louisiana claim qualifies |
| Maine | $10,000 | District Court (Small Claims) | 14 M.R.S. § 7482, verified 2026-10-06LD 654 / HP 422 (132nd Legislature), $6,000→$10,000, effective 2026-01-01Official source · Check if your Maine claim qualifies |
| Maryland | $5,000 | District Court of Maryland (small claims) | Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Maryland claim qualifies |
| Massachusetts | $7,000Different cap: no cap for auto-accident property damage. | District Court / BMC / Housing Court, Small Claims Session | M.G.L. c. 218, § 21, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Massachusetts claim qualifies |
| Michigan | $7,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division | MCL 600.8401, verified 2026-07-30Official source · Check if your Michigan claim qualifies |
| Minnesota | $20,000Different cap: $4,000 for consumer credit claim. | Conciliation Court (District Court div.) | Minn. Stat. § 491A.01, subd. 3a, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Minnesota claim qualifies |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Justice Court | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Mississippi claim qualifies |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Small Claims Court (Circuit Court assoc. div.) | Mo. Rev. Stat. § 482.305, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Missouri claim qualifies |
| Montana | $7,000 | Justice Court, Small Claims Division (City Court in some cities) | MCA 25-35-502, verified 2026-07-09Official source · Check if your Montana claim qualifies |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | County Court, Small Claims division | Neb. Rev. Stat. § 25-2802(4), verified 2026-07-09LB139 (2024) deleted CPI mechanism, hard-coded $7,500 from 2025-07-01Official source · Check if your Nebraska claim qualifies |
| Nevada | $10,000 | Justice Court (small claims) | NRS 73.010(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Nevada claim qualifies |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | Circuit Court, District Division (Small Claims) | RSA 503:1, I, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your New Hampshire claim qualifies |
| New Jersey | $5,000 | Superior Court, Special Civil Part, Small Claims Section | N.J. Ct. R. 6:1-2(a)(2), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your New Jersey claim qualifies |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | Magistrate Court (Bernalillo: Metropolitan Court) | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your New Mexico claim qualifies |
| New York | $10,000Different cap: $5,000 for City court outside NYC, or Nassau/Suffolk District Court; $3,000 for Town or Village Justice Court. | NYC Civil Court / City Court / Town & Village Justice Court | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your New York claim qualifies |
| North Carolina | $10,000 | Small Claims Court (District Court div., magistrate) | N.C. Gen. Stat. § 7A-210(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your North Carolina claim qualifies |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | Small Claims Court (District Court branch) | N.D. Cent. Code § 27-08.1-01(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your North Dakota claim qualifies |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Small Claims Division, Municipal/County Court | R.C. 1925.02(A)(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Ohio claim qualifies |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division | 12 O.S. § 1751(A), verified 2026-10-06Official source — no official link on record · Check if your Oklahoma claim qualifies |
| Oregon | $10,000 | Circuit Court, Small Claims Dept. | ORS 46.405(3), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Oregon claim qualifies |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | Magisterial District Court (Philadelphia: Municipal Court) | 42 Pa.C.S. § 1515(a)(3), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Pennsylvania claim qualifies |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | District Court, Small Claims Division | R.I. Gen. Laws § 10-16-1, verified 2026-07-09 — sources citing $2,500 are staleOfficial source · Check if your Rhode Island claim qualifies |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | Magistrate Court (civil) | S.C. Code § 22-3-10(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your South Carolina claim qualifies |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | Magistrate Court (Small Claims), UJS | SDCL 15-39-45.1, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your South Dakota claim qualifies |
| Tennessee | $25,000Different cap: no cap for recovery of personal property. | General Sessions Court (civil) | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Tennessee claim qualifies |
| Texas | $20,000 | Justice Court (JP) | State court source, checked 2026-07-01Official source · Check if your Texas claim qualifies |
| Utah | $20,000 | Justice Court (District Court in Cache County) | Utah Code § 78A-8-102(1)(a)(i)(B), verified 2026-07-09HB 107 (2022) stepped schedule: $15,000 to 2024-12-31, $20,000 from 2025-01-01Official source · Check if your Utah claim qualifies |
| Vermont | $10,000Different cap: $5,000 for consumer credit / medical debt collection (12 V.S.A. §5531(e)). | Superior Court, Civil Division (small claims) | 12 V.S.A. § 5531(a), verified 2026-07-092023 Act 46 (S.33) Sec. 9, $5,000→$10,000, effective 2023-06-05Official source · Check if your Vermont claim qualifies |
| Virginia | $5,000 | General District Court, Small Claims Division | Va. Code § 16.1-122.2, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Virginia claim qualifies |
| Washington | $10,000Different cap: $5,000 for plaintiff is not a natural person. | District Court, Small Claims Dept. | RCW 12.40.010(1), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Washington claim qualifies |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | Magistrate Court | W. Va. Code § 50-2-1, verified 2026-07-09HB 2761 (2025), $10,000→$20,000, passed 2025-04-08, effective 2025-07-07Official source · Check if your West Virginia claim qualifies |
| Wisconsin | $10,000Different cap: $5,000 for vehicle-accident damage — a tort claim (Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(cr)). | Circuit Court (Small Claims, ch. 799) | Wis. Stat. § 799.01(1)(d), verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Wisconsin claim qualifies |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | Circuit Court (small claims) | W.S. 1-21-201, verified 2026-10-06Official source · Check if your Wyoming claim qualifies |
These figures are estimates for planning purposes only, compiled from published state limits and typical fee schedules. Limits and fees change and vary by county — always verify the current numbers with your local court before filing. This is general information, not legal advice.
Other free tools
What will it cost to sue?Filing fee and service costs for your state, with the official source for each figure.
Which court do I file in?The court that hears small claims where you are, and the official locator for the courthouse.
Free demand letterThe written demand most people send — and some states require — before filing.
How long do I have to file?Estimate your filing deadline and see where to confirm it with your court.
Forms by stateWhich form to file, and where to get the official version for your state.
All free toolsEvery SmallClaimsHelper tool in one place — all free, no account.
Ready to file? Skip the paperwork maze.
Answer 10 plain-English questions and get your claim drafted for your state’s court (the completed form draft, or the content for your court’s own form) plus a word-for-word judge script, for $19.
Check if your claim qualifies →