How Much Can You Sue for in Small Claims Court

The Short Answer

Every state sets its own dollar cap for small claims court, and the range is wide — from $2,500 in Kentucky to $25,000 in Tennessee and Delaware. Rhode Island's limit is $5,000. The limit applies to the principal amount you are claiming. Interest and court costs are usually added on top and do not count toward the cap.

If your claim exceeds the limit, you generally have two choices: file in a higher court (which often requires an attorney and costs more in fees) or voluntarily reduce your claim to the small claims maximum and waive the difference.

State-by-State Small Claims Limits (2026)

Here are the limits for selected states. These reflect the statutory caps in effect as of 2026 — some states adjusted their limits recently, while others have not changed theirs in decades.

• Kentucky: $2,500 (KRS 24A.230 — unchanged since 2011; legislative attempts to raise it, including HB 365 and SB 121, have not passed)
• Tennessee: $25,000
• Delaware: $25,000
• Georgia: $15,000 or less
• Texas: $20,000
• California: $12,500 (individuals), $6,250 (businesses)
• Florida: $8,000
• New York: $10,000 (New York City), $5,000 (other city courts), $3,000 (town/village courts)
• Illinois: $10,000
• Ohio: $6,000
• Pennsylvania: $12,000
• North Carolina: $5,000–$10,000, depending on the county
• Michigan: $7,000
• Rhode Island: $5,000
• Virginia: $5,000

The exact limit for your state's small claims or equivalent court may have changed since this list was compiled. Check your state's court website for the current figure.

What Counts Toward the Limit

The cap applies to the principal damages you are seeking — the core amount the defendant owes you. In most states, statutory interest on the debt and court costs (filing fees, service fees) are calculated separately and added to the judgment. In Kentucky, for example, post-judgment interest accrues at 6% per annum, compounded annually, under KRS 360.040.

In Kentucky, you cannot split a single cause of action into multiple lawsuits to stay under the cap. If a contractor owes you $4,000 for abandoned work, you cannot file two $2,000 claims.

When Your Claim Is Over the Limit

If the real value of your dispute exceeds the small claims ceiling, you have a decision to make. Filing in general civil court gives you access to the full amount but brings higher costs — filing fees climb, procedural rules tighten, and you may need a lawyer. For a $3,000 dispute in Kentucky, that means the District Court's general civil docket (which handles claims up to $5,000) rather than the Small Claims Division.

The alternative is to waive the excess. If a contractor owes you $3,200 and you would rather handle it yourself in small claims, you can sue for $2,500 and waive the remaining $700. For a full recovery, file in general District Court for claims up to $5,000, or Circuit Court for claims over $5,000.

For many people, the simplicity and low cost of small claims court make the trade-off worthwhile. In Kentucky, mandatory filing charges total $68, and certified-mail service costs $35 per defendant, so a one-defendant case starts at $103 before local add-ons. Hiring an attorney for a general civil case can easily cost $250 to $750 just for drafting the complaint.

Kentucky's Low Limit in Context

Kentucky's $2,500 cap is among the lowest in the country, and it has not changed since 2011. Bills to raise it surface regularly in the General Assembly — HB 365 in 2026 proposed an increase — but none have passed. The practical effect is that Kentucky filers with mid-range disputes ($3,000 to $5,000) face a harder choice between waiving part of their claim and paying for a more formal court process.

If you are filing a claim at or below $2,500 in Kentucky, our Kentucky Small Claims Filing Guide covers the full process from demand letter to hearing prep, including the forms, fees, and deadlines specific to the Small Claims Division of District Court.

See more Kentucky guides →