Small Claims Court Fees Calculator
What Will Your Claim Actually Cost?
Court fees, hearing charges, and time investment — all in one place
Reality check:
In 2023, 424,000 money claims were filed in UK county courts. But here’s what nobody tells you: roughly 40% of people who win never collect a penny. The court doesn’t chase your money for you. You pay upfront, wait an average of 55 weeks, and might still end up empty-handed even if you win. Before you file, you need to know if the numbers actually make sense.
Behind the Numbers
This calculator uses the official UK Civil Court Fees structure, last updated in November 2025 by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. The issue fee depends on your claim amount, starting at £35 for claims up to £300 and going up to £455 for claims between £5,000 and £10,000.
If your case doesn’t settle and goes to a hearing, you pay a second fee. For a £1,000 claim, that’s £70 to file plus £85 for the hearing — £155 total, or 15.5% of what you’re claiming. The bigger your claim, the higher the percentage until you hit £3,000, then fees become a smaller proportion.
Data comes from Gov.uk official fee schedules, the Civil Justice Council’s 2022 report on small claims resolution, and Ministry of Justice quarterly statistics. This gives you the court costs only. It doesn’t include time off work, travel, printing documents, or solicitor fees if you choose to hire one (though most people don’t for small claims).
This is based on average data and standard small claims procedures. Your situation may differ, especially if enforcement action is needed or if the other party contests liability.
Why This Matters
Small claims were supposed to be the people’s court — cheap, simple, accessible. But the reality has shifted. Between 2018 and 2023, 51% of all claims filed were for £500 or less. That means people are fighting over relatively small amounts, and the fees can eat up a significant chunk.
Here’s what the statistics show: about 70% of claimants win their cases. Sounds great, right? But between 30-40% of cases settle before ever reaching court, often because the defendant realises they’ll lose. Of those that go to trial, 76% are small claims hearings. The Small Claims Mediation Service settles 70% of cases referred to them, but only 36% of referred cases actually make it to mediation because so many people opt out.
The real problem? Collection. Winning a judgement doesn’t mean you get paid. If the defendant ignores the court order, you have to pay more fees for enforcement — bailiffs, charging orders, attachment of earnings. Each step costs extra. Citizens Advice reports that many people give up at this stage because they’ve already spent too much time and money.
The average wait time from filing to trial is 55 weeks at some court centres, though the target is 30 weeks. Birmingham was clocking 54.2 weeks in recent data. That’s over a year of your life tied up in a claim that might be for less than £1,000.
Real Claims, Real Numbers
Claim amount: £850 (withheld deposit)
Issue fee: £70
Hearing fee: £85 (landlord contested)
Total cost: £155
Outcome: Won after 9 months. Landlord paid judgement within 2 weeks to avoid CCJ appearing on credit file. Got back £850 plus £155 in fees. Net gain: £850 after 9 months of stress.
Verdict: Worth it, but only because the landlord actually paid. If enforcement was needed, would’ve cost another £100+ for bailiffs.
Claim amount: £2,400 (unpaid design work)
Issue fee: £115
Hearing fee: £181
Total cost: £296
Outcome: Client admitted claim within 19 days and agreed to pay in instalments. No hearing needed. Paid £115 fee, recovered it along with the debt over 6 months.
Verdict: Just issuing the claim scared them into paying. Sometimes the threat of a CCJ is enough.
Claim amount: £4,200 (repair costs for misrepresented vehicle)
Issue fee: £205
Hearing fee: £346
Total cost: £551
Outcome: Won at hearing after 13 months. Seller had no assets. Got a judgement but zero money. Spent £551 plus 3 days off work. Never saw a penny.
Verdict: Pyrrhic victory. Should’ve checked if seller could actually pay before filing. Court doesn’t do that for you.
Quick Fee Reference
| Claim Amount | Issue Fee | Hearing Fee | Total (if hearing needed) | % of Claim |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £300 | £35 | £27 | £62 | 20.7% |
| £500 | £50 | £59 | £109 | 21.8% |
| £1,000 | £70 | £85 | £155 | 15.5% |
| £3,000 | £115 | £181 | £296 | 9.9% |
| £5,000 | £205 | £346 | £551 | 11.0% |
| £10,000 | £455 | £346 | £801 | 8.0% |
These are court fees only. If you win, you can usually recover these from the losing party — but only if they actually pay the judgement. The percentage shows how much of your claim gets eaten by fees if you have to fund both the issue and hearing.
FAQs
Can I claim back the court fees if I win?
Yes. If you win, the judgement usually includes your court fees on top of the claim amount. The defendant has to pay both. But this only works if they actually pay. If they ignore the judgement, you still need to pursue enforcement, which costs more money. You can claim those enforcement fees too, but it’s throwing good money after bad if they have no assets.
What if I can’t afford the court fees?
You can apply for Help with Fees if you’re on a low income or receiving certain benefits. Fill in form EX160. You’ll need to prove your financial situation. If approved, you might pay a reduced fee or nothing at all. Apply before you file your claim — you’ll get a reference number to use when submitting. About 15-20% of claimants get fee help.
How long does the whole process take?
If the defendant doesn’t respond within 19 days, you can request a default judgement — that’s quick, maybe 4-6 weeks total. If they defend the claim, you’re looking at allocation to small claims track, possibly mediation, then a hearing date. The official target is 30 weeks from receipt to trial, but reality is 40-55 weeks depending on your local court. Birmingham and some London courts run longer. Factor in a year to be safe.
Do I need a solicitor for small claims?
No, and most people don’t use one. The small claims track is designed for self-representation. The process is simpler, rules of evidence are relaxed, and you can’t recover solicitor fees even if you win (except in very rare circumstances involving unreasonable behaviour). If you hire a solicitor for a £1,500 claim and they charge £400+VAT, that’s money you’ll never get back.
What happens if I win but they still don’t pay?
You have to enforce the judgement yourself. Options include: sending bailiffs (£85+ fee), applying for an attachment of earnings order (£110 fee if they’re employed), or a charging order on their property (£110 fee). Each has limitations. Bailiffs can’t take goods that aren’t theirs or break into homes. Attachment of earnings only works if they have a regular job. This is where many people give up — they’ve won but can’t collect.
Can I use Money Claim Online for this?
Yes, if your claim is for a fixed amount of money and under £100,000. The online service (moneyclaim.gov.uk) is faster and slightly cheaper in some cases. You fill in forms digitally, pay by card, and track progress online. The defendant gets served electronically. About 80% of money claims now go through this system. It’s genuinely easier than the paper route unless you’re claiming for something complicated or uncertain in value.
Is there a minimum claim amount that makes sense?
Financially, anything under £200 is questionable unless it’s the principle that matters to you. At £100, you’d pay £35 to file, possibly £27 for a hearing, and spend hours preparing. That’s £62 plus your time for a £100 claim. Between £200-£500, it starts making sense if you have strong evidence and they can pay. Above £500, the maths works better because fees become a smaller percentage. But always check if they’re worth suing first — a judgement against someone bankrupt is worthless paper.
What’s my actual chance of winning?
Around 70% of claimants win if it goes to trial, based on Ministry of Justice data. But that’s only people who make it to trial. Many defendants don’t respond (you get default judgement), and 30-40% settle before hearing. Your chances depend entirely on your evidence. If you have a signed contract, invoice, and proof of non-payment, your odds are excellent. If it’s “he said, she said” with no documentation, it’s a coin flip.
References
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service. “Fees in the civil and family courts – main fees (EX50).” November 2025. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/fees-in-the-civil-and-family-courts-main-fees-ex50
- Ministry of Justice. “Civil Justice Statistics Quarterly: January to March 2025.” Published June 2025. Covers county court claims, allocations, and trial statistics.
- Civil Justice Council. “The Resolution of Small Claims.” January 2022. Comprehensive report examining small claims processes, timescales, mediation, and settlement rates. Available at: https://www.judiciary.uk/
- Gov.uk. “Make a court claim for money: Court fees.” Official guidance on current fee structure and payment methods. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/make-court-claim-for-money/court-fees
- Citizens Advice. “Deciding whether to make a small claim” and “Making a small claim.” Accessed December 2025. Practical guidance on small claims process and considerations.
- MoneySavingExpert. “Small claims court: Making a claim & fees involved.” Updated December 2025. Consumer guidance on fees and process.