Short answer. Small claims limits run from $2,500 to $25,000 across the 51 jurisdictions below. Each row comes from that state's official court page, checked in the month shown. Pick a state below to compare your amount with its limit.
Is my amount under the limit?
Pick a state and enter an amount.
Small claims limits and fees by state
Sort by any column with its heading button. The fee range covers the fee to start a case; service and other fees are extra. On a phone, swipe the table sideways.
| Alabama | $6,000 | $56 to $248 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $10,000 | $50 to $100 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Arizona | $3,500 | $30 | Not allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Arkansas | $5,000 | $30 to $65 | Not confirmed | Official page | November 2026 |
| California | $12,500 | $30 to $100 | Not allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Colorado | $7,500 | Not confirmed | Allowed with limits | Official page | November 2026 |
| Connecticut | $5,000 | $95 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Delaware | $25,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| District of Columbia | $10,000 | $5 to $45 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | November 2026 |
| Florida | $8,000 | $55 to $300 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Georgia | $15,000 | $45 to $55 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Hawaii | $5,000 | $35 | Allowed with limits | Official page | November 2026 |
| Idaho | $15,000 | $69 | Not allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Illinois | $10,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Indiana | $10,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Iowa | $6,500 | $115 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Kansas | $10,000 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Kentucky | $2,500 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Louisiana | $5,000 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Maine | $10,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Maryland | $5,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Massachusetts | $7,000 | $40 to $150 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Michigan | $7,000 | $30 to $70 | Not allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Minnesota | $20,000 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Mississippi | $3,500 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Missouri | $5,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Montana | $7,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed with limits | Official page | November 2026 |
| Nebraska | $7,500 | $6.25 | Not allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Nevada | $10,000 | $55 to $145 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| New Hampshire | $10,000 | $5 to $60 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| New Jersey | $5,000 | $35 | Not confirmed | Official page | November 2026 |
| New Mexico | $10,000 | $72 to $77 | Allowed with limits | Official page | November 2026 |
| New York | $10,000 | $10 to $25 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| North Carolina | $10,000 | $4 to $80 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| North Dakota | $15,000 | $20 to $160 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Ohio | $6,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Oklahoma | $10,000 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | November 2026 |
| Oregon | $10,000 | $57 to $102 | Allowed with limits | Official page | November 2026 |
| Pennsylvania | $12,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 | $75.75 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| South Carolina | $7,500 | $25 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | November 2026 |
| South Dakota | $12,000 | $24.84 to $42.84 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Tennessee | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | November 2026 |
| Texas | $20,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Utah | $20,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Not confirmed | November 2026 |
| Vermont | $10,000 | $65 to $90 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Virginia | $5,000 | Not confirmed | Not allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Washington | $10,000 | $35 | Allowed with limits | Official page | November 2026 |
| West Virginia | $20,000 | $30 to $50 | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | November 2026 |
| Wisconsin | $10,000 | Not confirmed | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
| Wyoming | $6,000 | $10 | Allowed | Official page | November 2026 |
New Jersey links to our existing New Jersey small claims page. States without a row don't have a checked data file yet.
How to read the table
The limit is the most you can ask the court to award in small claims. Several states also have a second figure for certain claims (businesses in California, home improvement contracts in Connecticut, counterclaims in Hawaii); each state's page lists them. The filing fee is what the clerk charges to start a case, often in tiers by the amount claimed and sometimes different from county to county. "Lawyers" is whether a lawyer may speak for you at the hearing.
What a state page shows is only what its official page says. Anything we couldn't confirm is marked, with the link to check it.
General information checked against each state's official court pages, as dated in the table, not legal advice. MCC Solutions isn't a law firm and isn't affiliated with any court. Rules and fees change: the official page and the clerk have the final word. The checker runs in your browser, and nothing you enter is sent or saved.
Common questions
Which state has the highest small claims limit?
Among the 51 jurisdictions in this table, Delaware has the highest limit, $25,000. Limits change, so check the state's official page.
Which state has the lowest small claims limit?
Kentucky, at $2,500, among the jurisdictions in this table.
Can I bring a lawyer to small claims court?
It depends on the state. The official pages for Arizona, California, Idaho, Michigan, Nebraska, Virginia say lawyers can't represent you in the small claims hearing (some with exceptions). Most others allow one; the table shows each state's rule.
Why does a state show 'Not confirmed'?
We only list what the state's court or legislature publishes. When an official page didn't state a fee or rule, we left it out rather than guess. The official link in that row is the place to check.
Does the limit include interest and court costs?
In many states it doesn't: the official pages for several states say the limit is counted without interest and costs. Each state page quotes its own wording.
Related: New Jersey small claims filing · Unpaid invoice collection kit