How to use the Supreme Court petition cost calculator
Enter the amount at stake, the date judgment was entered below and your printing quote. The calculator returns the docketing fee, a booklet printing estimate, the combined filing fees across all three levels, what that total is as a share of your claim, and the 90-day petition deadline.
Legal basis (as of September 2026) — Supreme Court Rule 38(a) sets a $300 docketing fee for a petition for a writ of certiorari, and Rule 33.1 requires booklet format with 40 copies, which is normally the larger line item. The time to petition in a civil case is set by 28 U.S.C. 2101(c) at 90 days from entry of judgment or from denial of a timely rehearing petition, and Rule 13.5 allows a Justice to extend that for good cause. Rule 39 covers proceeding in forma pauperis.
Korea prices the same step very differently: stamp duty there rises with the value of the claim and a final appeal costs twice the first instance amount. United States fees are flat at every level, so the amount in controversy changes nothing about the fee, and review remains discretionary rather than something the fee buys.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Printing rates vary by vendor and page count, and the Court can revise its fee schedule, so confirm figures with the Clerk of the Supreme Court and consult a licensed appellate attorney before filing.
Frequently asked questions
Supreme Court Rule 38(a) sets a $300 docketing fee for a petition for a writ of certiorari. The larger expense is usually booklet-format printing under Rule 33.1, which requires 40 copies of the petition.
Under 28 U.S.C. 2101(c) a petition in a civil case is generally due within 90 days of entry of the judgment or of the denial of a timely rehearing petition. A Justice may extend the time for good cause under Rule 13.5.
No. Supreme Court and federal appellate fees are flat regardless of the amount at stake, and review is discretionary, so paying the fee does not entitle you to a decision on the merits.