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Small claims limits by state — highest and lowest
The maximum you can sue for in small claims court runs from $2,500 to $25,000 depending on the state — a tenfold spread. The limit that applies to you is the one in the state (and sometimes the specific court) where you file, and it can differ for businesses, landlords, and particular claim types.
Highest limits
| State | Limit |
|---|---|
| Delaware | $25,000 |
| Tennessee | $25,000 · no limit in eviction or property-recovery suits |
| Minnesota | $20,000 · only $4,000 for consumer credit transactions |
| Texas | $20,000 including attorney fees (excluding interest & court costs) |
| Utah | $20,000 including attorney fees (rises to $25,000 on 1 Jan 2030) |
| West Virginia | $20,000 excluding interest & costs · no limit in eviction cases |
| Georgia | $15,000 · no limit in eviction cases |
| Idaho | $15,000 |
Lowest limits
| State | Limit |
|---|---|
| Kentucky | $2,500 — the lowest limit in the US |
| Mississippi | $3,500 |
| Arizona | $3,500 (small claims division) |
| Virginia | $5,000 |
| Rhode Island | $5,000 — but see the note |
| New Jersey | $5,000 (Small Claims Section) |
| Missouri | $5,000 |
| Maryland | $5,000 |
What the headline limit hides
- Businesses often get a lower cap. California: $12,500 for individuals but $6,250 for businesses and public entities. Washington: $10,000 for a natural person, $5,000 for everyone else.
- Claim type changes the cap. Minnesota allows $20,000 generally but only $4,000 for consumer credit transactions; Vermont caps consumer credit and medical debt at $5,000 against a $10,000 general limit; Connecticut allows $15,000 for home-improvement contract claims against a $5,000 general limit.
- Evictions are frequently carved out. Delaware, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Wisconsin set no dollar limit (or a separate track) for eviction and possession cases.
- Some limits sit inside the state. New York's cap is $10,000 in NYC, $5,000 in city courts, and $3,000 in town and village courts. North Carolina's limit is set county by county between $5,000 and $10,000. Indiana drops to $8,000 in Marion County.
- What counts toward the cap differs. Texas includes attorney fees in the $20,000 but excludes interest and court costs; Florida excludes costs, interest, and attorney fees from its $8,000; Georgia excludes court costs from its $15,000.
Claim too big for small claims?
You have three options, none of them free of trade-offs. Waive the excess — sue for the limit and give up the rest forever; you cannot split one claim into two small claims cases. File in the regular civil division — higher filing fees, formal rules, and usually an attorney, but no cap problem. Or settle for the limit amount before filing — a defendant who will pay $9,500 today may be worth more than a $12,000 judgment you have to collect. A lawyer can advise which fits your facts; this page cannot.
Limits keep moving
Nine states have raised their caps recently — Idaho, Kansas, Maine, Minnesota, Nebraska, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia among them — and Utah's is scheduled to rise again to $25,000 on January 1, 2030. That is exactly why so many older websites quote wrong numbers, and why the clerk's current figure beats any roundup, including ours.
Sources: Nolo — State Small Claims Court Dollar Limits · Delaware Courts · Idaho Court Assistance Office · Kansas Session Laws 2024 (HB 2604). Researched October 2026 — confirm current figures with the court clerk.
Before you file anywhere, check the claim limit and filing fee for your state — a claim $1 over the limit can be dismissed or bounced to regular civil court.
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