Lawyer cost calculator
Short answer
Multiply the lawyer's hourly rate by a realistic low and high number of hours, then add expenses and court fees; for flat fees, add a buffer for work outside the agreed scope; for contingency fees, multiply the expected recovery by the percentage. The national average billed rate in Clio's 2025 data is $349 an hour, which this calculator uses as its starting value.
How the calculator works
The calculator does simple, visible arithmetic. It does not look up prices or guess what your case needs:
- Hourly: rate × low hours, and rate × high hours plus your overrun buffer, then expenses and court fees are added to both ends.
- Flat fee: the quoted fee, plus the buffer on the high end for work the flat fee does not cover (ask the lawyer to list exclusions in writing).
- Contingency: the recovery you assume × the percentage, plus expenses and court fees. The fee is owed only if there is a recovery, but expenses may be owed either way depending on the agreement.
The default rate of $349 is the national average billed rate in Clio's 2025 Legal Trends data[1]. Replace it with the rate a lawyer actually quotes you: rates vary widely by practice area, experience and city.
Estimating hours honestly
The hours are the part people get most wrong. Ask each lawyer two questions: "How many hours does a matter like mine usually take if it settles early?" and "How many if it goes to a hearing or trial?" Use the first answer as your low estimate and the second as your high estimate. If a lawyer will not give any range, that is useful information too.
Example: a lawyer quotes $300 an hour and estimates 8 to 20 hours. With a 20% buffer and $250 in court fees, the range is (8 × $300) + $250 = $2,650 to (20 × $300 × 1.2) + $250 = $7,450.
What a written fee agreement should tell you
ABA Model Rule 1.5, which most states have adopted in some form, requires fees to be reasonable and the basis of the fee to be communicated, preferably in writing; contingency agreements must be in writing and explain how the percentage is calculated and which expenses are deducted[2]. Before you sign, check that the agreement states the hourly rate of every person who may bill (partner, associate, paralegal), the billing increment (for example 0.1 hour), whether a retainer is refundable, and what happens to unused funds.
Comparing quotes from different lawyers
Quotes are only comparable when they are on the same basis. A $250-an-hour lawyer who needs 30 hours costs more than a $400-an-hour lawyer who needs 15. Convert each quote into an estimated total range with this calculator, then compare totals, not rates. Also compare what is excluded: court reporters, expert witnesses and appeals are often outside the quote.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average hourly rate for a lawyer?
Clio's 2025 Legal Trends data puts the national average billed rate at $349 an hour. Individual quotes vary widely by practice area, experience and location, so use the rate a lawyer actually quotes you.
Should I choose a flat fee or hourly billing?
A flat fee gives you price certainty for well-defined work, such as a simple will or an uncontested filing. Hourly billing is common when the amount of work is unpredictable, such as contested litigation. Ask what is excluded from any flat fee.
Do I pay expenses if I lose a contingency case?
It depends on the written agreement. Some agreements make the client responsible for case expenses regardless of the outcome; others waive them if there is no recovery. The agreement must say which.
Is this calculator's result a quote?
No. It only multiplies and adds the numbers you enter. A lawyer's written fee agreement is the only reliable statement of what you will be charged.
Sources
- Compare Lawyer Rates (2025 Legal Trends Report data) — Clio. National average billed rate $349/hour (checked October 11, 2026)
- Model Rule 1.5: Fees — American Bar Association. Fees must be reasonable; contingency agreements in writing; no contingency fees in criminal cases (checked October 11, 2026)