Complete 2026 guide to small claims court costs with state-by-state filing fees, hidden costs, and how to save money. The total cost to file in small claims court typically ranges from $48 to $275 when you do it yourself. This includes the filing fee ($25–$100 depending on your state and claim amount), service of process ($8–$125), certified mail for your demand letter ($8–$15), document copies ($5–$20), and transportation costs ($5–$30). Filing fees by state: California $30–$75, Texas $31–$92, New York $15–$20, Florida $55–$300, Illinois $15–$62, Ohio $25–$50, Georgia $45–$75, North Carolina $96, New Jersey $15–$50, Virginia $46–$96, Arizona $20–$65, Colorado $31–$55. Hidden costs most people miss include lost work time ($100–$300 per court appearance), multiple courthouse trips, appeal costs ($75–$150), and judgment enforcement costs ($15–$100+). Fee waivers are available for recipients of food stamps, SSI, TANF, or Medicaid, and for anyone with income below 125–200% of the federal poverty level. With PettyLawsuit, you can prepare your demand letter and court forms for just $29, saving hours of research and paperwork.