HOW MUCH CAN YOU SUE FOR?
Small claims court limits for all 50 states and Washington, DC. Pick your state to see the maximum dollar amount you can claim.
All 50 states + DC
| State | Maximum | Notes | Local guides |
|---|---|---|---|
| AL | $6,000 | Small claims division of District Court. Same limit for individuals and businesses. | 78 guides |
| AK | $10,000 | Excludes interest and court costs. | 1 guide |
| AZ | $5,000 | Small claims division of Justice Court. Excludes interest and costs. | 24 guides |
| AR | $5,000 | Small claims division of District Court. Excludes interest and costs. No personal injury or eviction cases. | 5 guides |
| CA | $12,500 | Businesses and other entities: $6,250. Individuals may file only two claims over $2,500 per year. | 161 guides |
| CO | $7,500 | Small claims division of County Court. Excludes interest and costs. | 12 guides |
| CT | $5,000 | Plus interest and costs. Up to $15,000 for claims against home-improvement contractors. | 7 guides |
| DE | $25,000 | Justice of the Peace Court. Delaware has no separate small claims court. | — |
| DC | $10,000 | Money claims only. Excludes interest, attorney fees and costs. | — |
| FL | $8,000 | County Court. Excludes costs, interest and attorney fees. | 35 guides |
| GA | $15,000 | Magistrate Court. Excludes interest and costs. | 4 guides |
| HI | $5,000 | Excludes interest and costs. No cap on residential security-deposit claims. | — |
| ID | $15,000 | Small claims department of Magistrate Division. Excludes interest and costs. No attorneys at trial. | 3 guides |
| IL | $10,000 | Excludes interest and costs. | 12 guides |
| IN | $10,000 | Same limit in Marion County township small claims courts. | 5 guides |
| IA | $6,500 | Excludes interest and court costs. | 4 guides |
| KS | $10,000 | Excludes interest and costs. Each person may file at most 20 small claims per year. | 1 guide |
| KY | $2,500 | Small claims division of District Court. Excludes interest and costs. | 2 guides |
| LA | $5,000 | City court small claims divisions and justice of the peace courts. Excludes interest, costs and attorney fees. | 4 guides |
| ME | $10,000 | Excludes interest and costs. No cases involving title to real estate. | — |
| MD | $5,000 | Money claims only. Excludes interest, costs and attorney fees. | 1 guide |
| MA | $7,000 | No cap on motor-vehicle property damage claims. | 10 guides |
| MI | $7,000 | Excludes interest and costs. Same limit for businesses. | 14 guides |
| MN | $20,000 | Conciliation Court. Only $4,000 for claims involving a consumer credit transaction. | 6 guides |
| MS | $3,500 | Justice Court. Corporations must be represented by a lawyer. | 1 guide |
| MO | $5,000 | Excludes interest and costs. Amounts above the limit may be waived but are then forfeited. | 4 guides |
| MT | $7,000 | Small claims division of Justice Court. Excludes costs. Defendant must be servable in the county. | 1 guide |
| NE | $7,500 | Excludes interest and costs. | 1 guide |
| NV | $10,000 | Money claims only. Same limit for businesses. Claims cannot be split to fit under the limit. | — |
| NH | $10,000 | Excludes interest and costs. Claims over $5,000 go to mandatory mediation first. | 3 guides |
| NJ | $5,000 | Claims from $5,001 to $20,000 go to the Special Civil Part instead of small claims. | 10 guides |
| NM | $10,000 | Magistrate Court (Metropolitan Court in Bernalillo County). No separate small claims court. Excludes interest and costs. | 5 guides |
| NY | $10,000 | NYC Civil Court $10,000; city and district courts outside NYC $5,000; town and village courts $3,000. | 11 guides |
| NC | $10,000 | Counties may set a lower local magistrate limit. Check with the clerk of court. | 8 guides |
| ND | $15,000 | Money claims only. No appeal from a small claims judgment. | 1 guide |
| OH | $6,000 | Money claims only. Excludes interest and costs. | 6 guides |
| OK | $10,000 | Excludes attorney fees and court costs. Collection agencies may not file. | 4 guides |
| OR | $10,000 | Claims of $750 or less must be filed in small claims. | 5 guides |
| PA | $12,000 | Magisterial District Judge courts (Municipal Court in Philadelphia). Excludes interest and costs. | 8 guides |
| RI | $5,000 | Excludes interest and costs. Contract, retail sale and service claims only. | 4 guides |
| SC | $7,500 | Magistrate Court. No separate small claims court. | 7 guides |
| SD | $12,000 | No appeal from a small claims judgment. | 2 guides |
| TN | $25,000 | General Sessions Court. Excludes attorney fees and costs. | 4 guides |
| TX | $20,000 | Justice Court. Excludes statutory interest and court costs. | 49 guides |
| UT | $20,000 | Includes attorney fees; excludes costs and interest. Rises to $25,000 on January 1, 2030. | 8 guides |
| VT | $10,000 | Consumer credit and medical debt claims capped at $5,000. | — |
| VA | $5,000 | Small claims division of General District Court. Excludes interest. | 8 guides |
| WA | $10,000 | Businesses and other non-individual plaintiffs: $5,000. | 10 guides |
| WV | $20,000 | Magistrate Court. No separate small claims court. Excludes interest and costs. | — |
| WI | $10,000 | Tort and personal injury claims capped at $5,000. Rises to $15,000 on January 1, 2027. | 6 guides |
| WY | $6,000 | Small claims procedure within Circuit Court. Excludes costs. Same limit for businesses. | 23 guides |
No state matches that search.
Checked against official court and statute sources in October 2026. Limits are for an individual filing one claim and generally exclude interest, court costs and fees. Laws change, so confirm the current limit with your local court before filing. Small Claims Hero is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a small claims court limit?
The limit (also called the jurisdictional limit) is the most money you can ask for in a single small claims case. Every state sets its own, from $2,500 in Kentucky to $25,000 in Delaware and Tennessee.
What if I'm owed more than my state's limit?
You can still use small claims court if you give up (waive) the amount above the limit, or you can file in your state's regular civil court instead. Many people choose small claims for its speed and low cost even if it means claiming a little less.
Does the limit include interest, court costs and attorney fees?
In most states the limit applies to the amount of your claim only. Filing fees, court costs and interest the judge adds usually do not count toward it. Check the notes for your state and confirm with the court clerk.
Can a business sue for the same amount as an individual?
Not always. Some states, such as California and Washington, set a lower limit for businesses and other entities than for individuals. Where a state has a separate business limit it is listed in the notes column.
How often do these limits change?
State legislatures raise limits every few years. This table was last checked against official court and statute sources in October 2026. Always confirm the current limit with your local court before filing.