Ontario Small Claims
Court Calculator.
Estimate the total value of your Ontario Small Claims Court claim — including pre-judgment interest, court costs, and recoverable expenses. Updated for 2026.
· Reviewed by Jonathan Kleiman, J.D.
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Calculate your Small Claims Court claim value
Use this calculator to estimate the total value of your Ontario Small Claims Court claim. Pre-judgment interest is calculated under section 128 of the Courts of Justice Act using the quarterly rate published by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General. The current pre-judgment interest rate (Q2 2026) is 2.5%.
Claim Value Estimator
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How Ontario Small Claims Court interest is calculated
Pre-judgment interest in Ontario Small Claims Court is governed by section 128 of the Courts of Justice Act. The calculation uses simple interest — not compound interest — at the rate published quarterly by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General.
The formula
Interest = Principal × Rate × Days ÷ 365
Where Principal is the amount claimed, Rate is the pre-judgment interest rate for the quarter in which the proceeding was commenced, and Days is the number of days from the date the cause of action arose to the date of the court order.
Key rules for pre-judgment interest
- Interest is simple, not compound — it does not accrue on itself (s. 128(2))
- The rate is locked at the quarterly rate when the proceeding is commenced — it does not fluctuate
- Interest runs from the date the cause of action arose, not the date you filed the claim
- If your contract specifies an interest rate, the contractual rate applies instead (s. 128(1))
- Interest must be claimed in the Plaintiff's Claim — if not pleaded, the court may not award it
- The court retains discretion to vary the interest rate or period under s. 130
Current Ontario pre-judgment interest rates
| Quarter | Pre-Judgment Rate | Post-Judgment Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Q2 2026 (Apr – Jun) | 2.5% | 4.0% |
| Q1 2026 (Jan – Mar) | 2.5% | 4.0% |
| Q4 2025 (Oct – Dec) | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| Q3 2025 (Jul – Sep) | 3.0% | 4.0% |
| Q2 2025 (Apr – Jun) | 3.3% | 5.0% |
| Q1 2025 (Jan – Mar) | 4.0% | 5.0% |
Source: Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General
What costs can you recover in Small Claims Court?
The successful party in an Ontario Small Claims Court action may recover a variety of costs in addition to the principal claim and interest. Understanding what is recoverable can help you accurately estimate the total value of your case.
Court disbursements
- Filing fees — $108 (infrequent claimant) or $228 (frequent claimant)
- Trial request fee — $308 (infrequent) or $403 (frequent)
- Service costs — process server fees (typically $80 – $200 per defendant)
- Witness fees — $11/day standard attendance allowance; $27/day for professionals
- Enforcement costs — $68 for a writ of seizure and sale; $144 for garnishment
- Other disbursements — photocopying, postage, corporate profile reports, preparation costs (capped at $200)
Representation fees
Under section 29 of the Courts of Justice Act, the court may award up to 15% of the amount claimed in representation fees to the successful party. On a $50,000 claim, this could mean up to $7,500 in recoverable legal costs.
If an Offer to Settle was made at least 7 days before trial and the other party received a less favourable result, the court may award up to double costs — 30% of the amount claimed (Rule 14.07). The cost award calculator computes the maximum award on your numbers — representation fee, offer-to-settle doubling, and disbursements.
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Ontario Small Claims Court filing fees (2026)
Court fees are set by Ontario Regulation 332/16 and vary depending on whether you are classified as an infrequent claimant (fewer than 10 claims per year in the same court) or a frequent claimant (10 or more). Most individuals and small businesses are infrequent claimants. To add up the exact fees for every step of your case, use the Small Claims Court filing fee calculator.
| Fee | Infrequent | Frequent |
|---|---|---|
| Filing a claim | $108 | $228 |
| Filing a defence | $77 | $77 |
| Filing a motion | $127 | $127 |
| Requesting a trial date | $308 | $403 |
| Default judgment | $94 | $128 |
| Issuing a witness summons | $33 | $33 |
| Notice of garnishment | $144 | $144 |
| Writ of seizure and sale | $68 | $68 |
Source: Ontario.ca — Small Claims Court Fees. Fee waivers available via Form 20 for low-income applicants.
Ontario limitation periods — how long do you have to sue?
Before filing a claim, you must ensure you are within the applicable limitation period — the Ontario Limitation Period Calculator estimates your presumptive filing deadline. Under the Limitations Act, 2002:
- Basic limitation — 2 years from the date you discovered (or ought to have discovered) the claim
- Ultimate limitation — 15 years from the date of the act or omission that caused the loss
- The "discovery" rule considers when you first knew the loss occurred, that it was caused by the defendant, and that a lawsuit was an appropriate remedy
- Missing the limitation period can permanently bar your claim — consult a lawyer promptly
Not sure if you're within the limitation period? Run your dates through the Limitation Period Calculator, then book a free 30-minute consultation to confirm the real deadline for your case. Don't wait — the limitation clock is running.
Small Claims Court calculator FAQ
What is the maximum amount for Small Claims Court in Ontario?
As of October 1, 2025, the Ontario Small Claims Court handles civil disputes up to $50,000, exclusive of interest and costs. This limit was increased from $35,000 by Ontario Regulation 42/25. Claims above $50,000 must be filed in the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. The $50,000 limit applies per plaintiff — in multi-party litigation, each plaintiff may claim up to $50,000 independently.
Can I claim interest in Small Claims Court?
Yes. Under section 128 of the Courts of Justice Act, you are entitled to pre-judgment interest on the amount claimed. The interest rate is set quarterly by the Ontario Ministry of the Attorney General — the current rate (Q2 2026) is 2.5%. Interest is calculated as simple interest from the date the cause of action arose to the date of the court order. If your contract specifies a different interest rate, the contractual rate applies instead.
Can I recover court filing fees?
Yes. The successful party can recover court filing fees, service costs, and other reasonable disbursements. The court may also award up to 15% of the amount claimed in representation fees (legal costs). If an Offer to Settle was made and the other party received a less favourable result at trial, the court may award up to double costs (30%) of the amount claimed.
How long do I have to sue in Ontario?
Under the Limitations Act, 2002, the basic limitation period is 2 years from the date you discovered (or ought to have discovered) the claim. There is also a 15-year ultimate limitation period from the date of the act or omission that caused the loss. Missing the limitation period can permanently bar your claim. Consult a lawyer promptly if you believe you may have a claim.
Do I need a lawyer for Small Claims Court?
You are not legally required to have a lawyer in Small Claims Court, but having one significantly improves your chances. A Small Claims Court lawyer understands the procedural rules, knows how to present evidence effectively, can negotiate settlements that self-represented parties often miss, and can recover up to 15% of the claim amount in representation fees. Jonathan offers a free 30-minute consultation to assess your case.
Need help recovering money through Ontario Small Claims Court?
Jonathan Kleiman helps businesses and individuals recover unpaid debts, enforce contracts, pursue unpaid invoices, and resolve Small Claims Court disputes throughout Toronto and Ontario.
- Free 30-minute consultation
- Flat-fee and block-fee pricing — no surprises
- Disputes up to $50,000
- Available evenings and weekends
- Serving Toronto and all of Ontario
Request a free consultation
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