UK Court Fee Calculator for Money Claims (2026)

Court Fees for a Money Claim in England and Wales

The fee to issue a claim for money in the County Court depends on the amount claimed. If you claim interest, the fee is worked out on the claim plus the interest up to the day you issue. The same fee applies whether you claim online or on the paper form N1. If you do not state an amount, the fee is the one for an unlimited claim, £10,000.

If the claim is defended and goes to a hearing, a hearing fee is payable. On the small claims track (most claims up to £10,000) it runs from £27 for claims up to £300 to £346 for claims over £3,000. On the fast track (up to £25,000) it is £619, and on the intermediate and multi-tracks it is £1,334.

Worked example. You are owed £2,500 and add £90 of statutory interest. The issue fee is based on £2,590, so it is £115. The claim is under £10,000, so it would normally go on the small claims track, where the hearing fee for a £2,500 claim is £181. If the other side pays in full before the hearing fee is due, you would not need to pay it; once paid, it is not normally refunded.

These are the fees in the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008, as last changed on 13 July 2026. The track limits come from Part 26 of the Civil Procedure Rules: small claims up to £10,000, fast track up to £25,000, the intermediate track up to £100,000 for simpler cases, and the multi-track for everything else. Personal injury claims (£1,000 to £5,000 depending on the type) and housing disrepair claims (£1,000) have lower small-claims limits. Before issuing, send a letter before action; our small claims guide and Money Claim Online guide explain the rest of the process.

Help with Fees

Help with Fees is for court fees in England and Wales; Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own fee exemption schemes. If you are on a low income, HM Courts and Tribunals Service may pay some or all of the fee through Help with Fees. You must have savings under a limit that depends on the fee: under £4,250 for fees up to £1,420, under three times the fee for fees from £1,421 to £5,000, and under £16,000 for larger fees (or if you or your partner are 66 or over). For a full waiver, gross monthly income must be no more than £1,420 for a single person or £2,130 for a couple, plus £425 for each child under 14 and £710 for each child aged 14 or over. Above that you may still get partial help. Some benefits also meet the income test. Apply on gov.uk before or when you pay.

Scotland and Northern Ireland

Scotland uses simple procedure in the sheriff court for claims up to £5,000, not counting interest and expenses. Lodging the claim form costs £23 for claims of £300 or less and £127 for other claims (fees from 1 April 2026; on 1 April 2027 the £127 fee rises to £131). Larger claims use ordinary cause, which this calculator does not cover. See our simple procedure guide.

Northern Ireland has a small claims court for claims up to £5,000. The fee is £49 up to £300, £81 up to £500, £113 up to £1,000, £163 up to £3,000 and £244 above that (from 1 April 2026). Larger claims are brought by civil bill in the county court (£302 for claims over £5,000). See our Northern Ireland small claims guide.

The calculator does not cover counterclaims, applications during the case, enforcement fees, fixed costs you can claim back from the other side, or claims in the High Court.

If you are the one being chased for money, you do not have to pay anyone for debt advice: free, confidential help is available from StepChange, National Debtline and MoneyHelper.

Fees checked on 26 September 2026 against the Civil Proceedings Fees Order 2008 and Civil Procedure Rules Part 26 (England and Wales), the Sheriff Court Fees Order 2026 (Scotland) and the Department of Justice county court fee schedule of 1 April 2026 (Northern Ireland). This is general information, not legal advice, and RecordingLaw.com is not affiliated with HM Courts and Tribunals Service or any court. Always check the fee on the court's own site before you pay.