How to use the mediation cost calculator
Enter the mediator's hourly rate, how long you expect the session to run, how many parties are splitting the bill, any administrative fee and the court filing fee you want to compare against. The calculator returns the total, your share and the number of mediator hours that cost the same as filing suit.
Legal basis (as of September 2026) — The Alternative Dispute Resolution Act, 28 U.S.C. 651 to 658, requires every federal district to authorize ADR and to adopt local rules for it, which is why court-annexed mediation often carries no separate fee. A civil case itself is filed for a $350 statutory fee under 28 U.S.C. 1914(a) plus a $55 administrative fee. Federal Rule of Evidence 408 keeps settlement discussions out of evidence offered to prove liability or amount.
Korea prices mediation directly into the court fee instead: a mediation petition there carries one fifth of the stamp duty a lawsuit would cost, with the balance due if the case converts to litigation. United States court fees do not scale that way, so the number that decides whether mediation is cheap is the mediator's rate, not the size of the dispute.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Local ADR rules, private provider schedules and confidentiality protections all vary, so check your district's local rules and consult a licensed attorney about your dispute.
Frequently asked questions
Usually not a separate one. Under the Alternative Dispute Resolution Act (28 U.S.C. 651 to 658) each district authorizes its own ADR program by local rule, and court-annexed mediation is often free or offered at a set rate once the case is on file.
In private mediation the parties normally split the mediator's hourly rate and any case management fee, though a settlement agreement or a fee-shifting statute can move that cost. Confirm the split in the mediation agreement before the session.
Federal Rule of Evidence 408 keeps settlement negotiations out of evidence to prove liability or amount, and most court ADR programs and state mediation statutes add their own confidentiality rules. Scope varies, so ask about the rule that applies to your session.