Small Claims Court Limits by State, 2026
What are the small claims court limits by state in 2026? Kentucky stops at $2,500. Tennessee and Delaware let you go all the way to $25,000. Most states sit somewhere between $5,000 and $15,000. That spread is the whole story, but the headline number is not always the number that applies to you. A few states move the line based on who is filing, what the claim is about, or which courthouse you walk into, and those details decide whether your case belongs in small claims court at all.
The 2026 Spread, Lowest to Highest
Every state sets its own ceiling, and there is no federal small claims court, so geography is the entire game. Read this as a map, not a filing document. Confirm your number with the clerk where you plan to file, because legislatures move these lines.
The low end. Kentucky sits alone at the bottom at $2,500. Arizona and Mississippi cap claims at $3,500. Nebraska lands at $3,900, a figure the state adjusts for inflation. Kansas is $4,000.
The crowded middle. This is where most of the country lives: $5,000 in Connecticut, Maryland, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Virginia; $6,000 in Alabama, Maine, Ohio, and Wyoming; $6,500 in Iowa; $7,000 in Massachusetts and Michigan; $7,500 in Colorado and South Carolina; $8,000 in Florida; and $10,000 in Illinois, Nevada, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Oregon, and Wisconsin.
The high end. California allows $12,500 for individuals, Pennsylvania $12,000, South Dakota $12,000, Utah $11,000. Georgia, Minnesota, and North Dakota allow $15,000. Texas goes to $20,000. Tennessee and Delaware top the country at $25,000.
Two quirks worth knowing: Washington splits its limit by party, $10,000 for individuals and $5,000 for everyone else, and New York's $10,000 applies in New York City and most city courts while some town and village courts cap out at $5,000 or even $3,000.
The Fine Print That Catches Filers
The limit number has footnotes, and the footnotes are where cases die.
California has a separate, lower cap for businesses. Individuals can sue for up to $12,500, but businesses, partnerships, and corporations are capped at about $6,250. On top of that, California restricts businesses to filing no more than two small claims cases per year above $2,500. If you are a landlord or contractor filing as a business, check which number applies to you before you count on the individual figure.
Some states raise or erase the cap for specific claims. Hawaii's general cap is $5,000, but security deposit claims have no limit there. Tennessee has no limit on eviction cases. Massachusetts lifts its cap for certain motor vehicle property damage claims. Georgia's eviction cases ignore the cap entirely. If your dispute is a security deposit, an eviction, or property damage, look for the carve-out before you assume the headline number.
Waiving the excess is permanent. Owed $14,000 in a $12,500 state? You can sue for $12,500 and waive the rest to stay in small claims. What you waive, you lose forever. No second case for the remainder. Filers routinely choose the waiver when the excess is under about ten percent of the total, since a higher court's fees, delays, and lawyer costs eat a small remainder alive. That is a judgment call, and you can read the full breakdown in our guide to what to do when your claim exceeds the limit.
The cap usually excludes court costs and interest. Filing fees, service costs, and pre-judgment interest generally sit outside the limit in most states. So a $12,400 claim in a $12,500 state is fine even after the $75 filing fee. Check your court's local rule, because this is one of those details that varies by county.
What the Number Cannot Tell You
A limit chart answers one question: can this court hear a claim this size. It does not answer whether the court is in the right county, whether your evidence holds up, or whether the defendant can actually pay. We built the limits lookup on the homepage for the first question. The rest is in the guides. Before you file anywhere, skim what evidence wins in small claims court and how long the process actually takes. The limit gets you through the door. Everything after that is preparation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which state has the highest small claims court limit?
Tennessee and Delaware, both at $25,000. Texas is next at $20,000. Kentucky has the lowest, at $2,500.
What is the small claims limit in California?
$12,500 for individuals. Businesses, partnerships, and corporations are capped at about $6,250, and businesses are limited to two filings per year above $2,500.
Do filing fees and court costs count toward the limit?
Usually not. In most states the jurisdictional limit covers the damages claimed, while filing fees, service costs, and interest are added on top. Confirm with your local court.
Can I lower my claim to fit under the limit?
Yes. You can waive the excess and file for the limit. The waived amount is gone permanently. You cannot file a second case to recover it.
Do small claims limits change?
Yes, state legislatures raise them periodically. California moved from $10,000 to $12,500 in 2024, for example. Always verify the current figure with the court clerk before filing.
Check Your State's Exact Limit
The chart above is the map. The lookup below is the address: enter your state and get the current limit, filing fee, and court name in one place.
Look Up Limits by State