- Claim limit
- $10,000
- Court
- New York City Civil Court, Small Claims Part
- File online
- No — in person/mail
- Appeal window
- 30 days
What counts toward the limit
The limit applies to what you are asking the court to award, which is not the same as everything you are out of pocket:
- The principal amount you are claiming — up to $10,000.
- exclusive of interest and costs — so those sit outside the cap rather than eating into it.
- A claim larger than the limit can be filed for the limit, giving up the rest. That choice is normally final.
- Splitting one dispute into two cases to get under the limit is not permitted.
Small Claims Desk does not advise on what to claim or for how much. The limit above is the court’s; the number you put in the form is yours.
When the claim is bigger than the limit
Should I just file for the limit and give up the rest?
That is a real choice people make, and it is normally final — you cannot come back later for the remainder. Whether it is the right choice depends on the size of the gap and on whether the defendant could pay a larger judgment at all. We cannot make that call for you.
Can I file two cases to cover the whole amount?
No. Splitting one dispute into two claims to get under the cap is not permitted, and a court that notices will dismiss.
What does the higher court cost?
More, in every dimension: a larger filing fee, formal procedure, and in practice the need for a lawyer. That is the trade the limit exists to let you avoid.
Does the limit include what the dispute cost me in time?
The court awards money for the loss you can prove, not for the inconvenience. Costs and interest are handled separately from the cap.
Common questions
How much can you sue for in small claims court in New York?
In New York City the small claims limit is $10,000. Elsewhere in New York the limit depends on the court that serves you — it is set by court type, not by one statewide number.
What if I am owed more than the New York limit?
You can file for the limit and give up the difference, or file in a higher division where the procedure is more formal and the costs are higher. Courts do not allow one dispute to be split into two small claims cases.
Do court costs count toward the New York limit?
exclusive of interest and costs, so they are handled separately from the cap.
Does the limit change by county in New York?
Yes. In New York the figure depends on the court type that serves you, which is why the number above is scoped rather than statewide. Pick your county to see the limit that applies to you.
Pick the county where you would sue
Small claims is filed at the county level. Pick your county for its court, fee, and forms — or start your claim and we'll ask where you'd sue.
Start my claimYour small claims filing packet — $49
Everything above, assembled and filled in with your facts:
- Your court's own forms, with your claim written in the language the court expects
- A demand letter built from the same facts
- A filing checklist with your court's address, hours, and fee
- What to bring to your hearing
Answer a few questions first. See your claim written out before you pay anything.
Reviewed by Small Claims Desk · Last reviewed 2026-08-20 · Sourced from New York judiciary self-help resources and each county's clerk of court and N.Y.C. Civil Court Act, Article 18 — Small Claims (§§ 1801-1814): §1801 (defines a small claim; $10,000 ceiling, exclusive of interest and costs), §1803 (commencement; $15 fee for claims of $1,000 or less and $20 for claims over $1,000; clerk serves notice of claim by ordinary first-class and certified mail), §1804 (informal, simplified procedure — court does substantial justice and is not bound by rules of practice, procedure, pleading or evidence), §1807 (review — either party may appeal only on the ground that substantial justice was not done). See how we verify.