Legal Fee Calculator
Disclaimer: This calculator provides a general fee estimate for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice.
Two Ways Attorneys Bill, One Way to Estimate Either
Legal fees generally fall into two structures: hourly billing, where the total scales directly with time spent on the matter, and flat fees, where a single price covers a defined scope of work regardless of hours. Court costs — filing fees, service of process, copying — sit on top of either structure as a separate line item. This calculator handles both billing models and adds court costs to give a single total estimate.
Note: This tool produces a mechanical arithmetic estimate only. It is not legal advice, and actual attorney fees depend on the engagement agreement with your specific attorney.
The Formula
Hourly billing:
Attorney Fee = Hourly Rate × Hours
Total Fee = Attorney Fee + Court Costs
Flat fee billing:
Total Fee = Flat Fee + Court Costs
Attorney Fee = Hourly Rate × Hours
Total Fee = Attorney Fee + Court Costs
Flat fee billing:
Total Fee = Flat Fee + Court Costs
Where This Matters
- Budgeting before engaging counsel — running a few hour estimates at a quoted hourly rate gives a sense of the total cost range before committing to representation.
- Comparing hourly vs. flat-fee quotes — for matters where both billing structures are offered (an uncontested matter, a standard filing), this calculator makes the two quotes directly comparable.
- Tracking costs as a matter progresses — updating the hours-billed figure periodically gives a running total as a case or transaction moves forward.
| Hourly rate | 5 hours | 10 hours | 20 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| $150/hr | $750 | $1,500 | $3,000 |
| $250/hr | $1,250 | $2,500 | $5,000 |
| $400/hr | $2,000 | $4,000 | $8,000 |
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose the fee type: Hourly Rate or Flat Fee.
- For hourly billing, enter the hourly rate and hours billed. For flat fee, enter the flat fee amount.
- Enter any court costs, if applicable (optional).
- Select Calculate for the total estimated fee.
Related Calculations
Pursuing a personal injury claim on contingency instead? See the Contingency Fee Calculator, or check Court Filing Fee Calculator for the cost side of a filing.