How Much Does Bankruptcy Filing Cost?
Updated for 2026 — national average costs with state-by-state breakdowns
Low End
$1,000
Average
$2,500
High End
$5,000
per filing
What Does Bankruptcy Filing Include?
Filing for bankruptcy provides legal debt relief. Chapter 7 eliminates most debts while Chapter 13 creates a repayment plan. Attorney fees, court costs, and credit counseling are required.
The national average cost for bankruptcy filing is $2,500 per filing. Most homeowners pay between $1,000 and $5,000, though costs can vary significantly based on your location, the scope of work, and other factors outlined below.
What Affects the Price?
Chapter
Chapter 7: $1,000-$2,500 total. Chapter 13: $2,500-$5,000+ total
Court Fees
Chapter 7 filing: $338. Chapter 13 filing: $313
Required Courses
Credit counseling + debtor education: $50-$100 total
Key Cost Factors
- ✓Chapter 7 vs Chapter 13
- ✓Attorney fees
- ✓Court filing fees
- ✓Credit counseling costs
- ✓Case complexity
- ✓Location
💡 Tips to Save Money
- 1.Chapter 7 is less expensive than Chapter 13
- 2.Legal aid organizations may help if you qualify
- 3.Some attorneys offer payment plans
- 4.The court filing fee can be paid in installments
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📈 Bankruptcy Filing Cost Trends (2022–2026)
Prices have increased +17.8% over the last 5 years
$2,123
2022
$2,212
2023
$2,356
2024
$2,422
2025
$2,500
2026
| Year | National Avg | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $2,123 | — |
| 2023 | $2,212 | +4.2% |
| 2024 | $2,356 | +6.5% |
| 2025 | $2,422 | +2.8% |
| 2026 | $2,500 | +3.2% |
Based on national averages adjusted for annual inflation. Actual costs vary by location and project scope.
Bankruptcy Filing Cost by State
Costs vary significantly by state due to labor rates, cost of living, and local market conditions. Click any state for a detailed breakdown.
| State | Low | Average | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $820 | $2,050 | $4,100 |
| Alaska | $1,280 | $3,200 | $6,400 |
| Arizona | $950 | $2,375 | $4,750 |
| Arkansas | $800 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| California | $1,350 | $3,375 | $6,750 |
| Colorado | $1,080 | $2,700 | $5,400 |
| Connecticut | $1,220 | $3,050 | $6,100 |
| Delaware | $1,050 | $2,625 | $5,250 |
| District of Columbia | $1,250 | $3,125 | $6,250 |
| Florida | $980 | $2,450 | $4,900 |
| Georgia | $900 | $2,250 | $4,500 |
| Hawaii | $1,420 | $3,550 | $7,100 |
| Idaho | $920 | $2,300 | $4,600 |
| Illinois | $1,050 | $2,625 | $5,250 |
| Indiana | $880 | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Iowa | $860 | $2,150 | $4,300 |
| Kansas | $850 | $2,125 | $4,250 |
| Kentucky | $840 | $2,100 | $4,200 |
| Louisiana | $870 | $2,175 | $4,350 |
| Maine | $1,020 | $2,550 | $5,100 |
| Maryland | $1,150 | $2,875 | $5,750 |
| Massachusetts | $1,300 | $3,250 | $6,500 |
| Michigan | $920 | $2,300 | $4,600 |
| Minnesota | $1,020 | $2,550 | $5,100 |
| Mississippi | $780 | $1,950 | $3,900 |
| Missouri | $870 | $2,175 | $4,350 |
| Montana | $950 | $2,375 | $4,750 |
| Nebraska | $880 | $2,200 | $4,400 |
| Nevada | $1,020 | $2,550 | $5,100 |
| New Hampshire | $1,120 | $2,800 | $5,600 |
| New Jersey | $1,250 | $3,125 | $6,250 |
| New Mexico | $900 | $2,250 | $4,500 |
| New York | $1,320 | $3,300 | $6,600 |
| North Carolina | $900 | $2,250 | $4,500 |
| North Dakota | $900 | $2,250 | $4,500 |
| Ohio | $900 | $2,250 | $4,500 |
| Oklahoma | $830 | $2,075 | $4,150 |
| Oregon | $1,100 | $2,750 | $5,500 |
| Pennsylvania | $1,020 | $2,550 | $5,100 |
| Rhode Island | $1,150 | $2,875 | $5,750 |
| South Carolina | $870 | $2,175 | $4,350 |
| South Dakota | $850 | $2,125 | $4,250 |
| Tennessee | $860 | $2,150 | $4,300 |
| Texas | $930 | $2,325 | $4,650 |
| Utah | $950 | $2,375 | $4,750 |
| Vermont | $1,080 | $2,700 | $5,400 |
| Virginia | $1,050 | $2,625 | $5,250 |
| Washington | $1,150 | $2,875 | $5,750 |
| West Virginia | $800 | $2,000 | $4,000 |
| Wisconsin | $940 | $2,350 | $4,700 |
| Wyoming | $920 | $2,300 | $4,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will bankruptcy ruin my credit?
Bankruptcy stays on your credit report for 7-10 years, but many people see their credit score begin recovering within 1-2 years.
What's the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13?
Chapter 7 eliminates most unsecured debts in 3-6 months. Chapter 13 creates a 3-5 year repayment plan and lets you keep more assets.
🏙️ Bankruptcy Filing Cost by City
Compare bankruptcy filing costs in the most popular US cities:
New York City
NY
$3,625
Los Angeles
CA
$3,450
Chicago
IL
$2,875
Houston
TX
$2,375
Phoenix
AZ
$2,450
Philadelphia
PA
$2,800
San Antonio
TX
$2,200
San Diego
CA
$3,300
Dallas
TX
$2,550
San Jose
CA
$3,800
Austin
TX
$2,625
Jacksonville
FL
$2,300
Fort Worth
TX
$2,375
Columbus
OH
$2,250
Charlotte
NC
$2,375
Indianapolis
IN
$2,200
View all 219 cities →
San Francisco, CA
$3,875
Seattle, WA
$3,250
Denver, CO
$2,875
Washington D.C., DC
$3,375
Nashville, TN
$2,500
Oklahoma City, OK
$2,050
El Paso, TX
$2,050
Boston, MA
$3,500
Portland, OR
$2,950
Las Vegas, NV
$2,550
Memphis, TN
$2,050
Louisville, KY
$2,125
Baltimore, MD
$2,750
Milwaukee, WI
$2,300
Albuquerque, NM
$2,200
Tucson, AZ
$2,200
Fresno, CA
$2,625
Sacramento, CA
$2,950
Mesa, AZ
$2,375
Kansas City, MO
$2,250
Atlanta, GA
$2,625
Omaha, NE
$2,200
Colorado Springs, CO
$2,550
Raleigh, NC
$2,450
Long Beach, CA
$3,375
Virginia Beach, VA
$2,625
Miami, FL
$3,000
Oakland, CA
$3,625
Minneapolis, MN
$2,700
Tampa, FL
$2,550
Tulsa, OK
$2,050
Arlington, TX
$2,375
New Orleans, LA
$2,375
Pittsburgh, PA
$2,375
St. Louis, MO
$2,200
Bakersfield, CA
$2,550
Anaheim, CA
$3,375
Honolulu, HI
$3,750
Santa Ana, CA
$3,300
Riverside, CA
$2,875
Corpus Christi, TX
$2,125
Lexington, KY
$2,200
Stockton, CA
$2,750
Henderson, NV
$2,550
St. Paul, MN
$2,625
Cincinnati, OH
$2,200
Anchorage, AK
$3,200
Greensboro, NC
$2,200
Plano, TX
$2,625
Newark, NJ
$3,125
Lincoln, NE
$2,125
Orlando, FL
$2,550
Irvine, CA
$3,500
Durham, NC
$2,375
Chula Vista, CA
$3,200
Toledo, OH
$2,050
Fort Wayne, IN
$2,050
Jersey City, NJ
$3,375
St. Petersburg, FL
$2,550
Laredo, TX
$2,000
Madison, WI
$2,450
Chandler, AZ
$2,450
Buffalo, NY
$2,300
Lubbock, TX
$2,050
Scottsdale, AZ
$2,800
Reno, NV
$2,625
Glendale, AZ
$2,375
Gilbert, AZ
$2,550
Winston-Salem, NC
$2,125
North Las Vegas, NV
$2,450
Norfolk, VA
$2,450
Chesapeake, VA
$2,550
Irving, TX
$2,500
Fremont, CA
$3,625
Richmond, VA
$2,450
Boise, ID
$2,450
San Bernardino, CA
$2,700
Spokane, WA
$2,375
Des Moines, IA
$2,125
Tacoma, WA
$2,875
Modesto, CA
$2,625
Fontana, CA
$2,750
Moreno Valley, CA
$2,700
Fayetteville, NC
$2,125
Birmingham, AL
$2,050
Rochester, NY
$2,300
Salt Lake City, UT
$2,625
Oxnard, CA
$3,050
Knoxville, TN
$2,125
Worcester, MA
$2,875
Brownsville, TX
$1,950
Grand Rapids, MI
$2,250
Newport News, VA
$2,375
Huntsville, AL
$2,125
Amarillo, TX
$2,050
Little Rock, AR
$2,050
Montgomery, AL
$2,000
Akron, OH
$2,050
Augusta, GA
$2,050
Baton Rouge, LA
$2,125
Mobile, AL
$2,000
Shreveport, LA
$2,000
Tallahassee, FL
$2,250
Hartford, CT
$2,875
Providence, RI
$2,800
Charleston, SC
$2,450
Savannah, GA
$2,200
Columbia, SC
$2,125
Chattanooga, TN
$2,125
Fort Lauderdale, FL
$2,950
Dayton, OH
$2,050
Sioux Falls, SD
$2,125
Springfield, MO
$2,000
Jackson, MS
$1,950
Palm Bay, FL
$2,375
Lakeland, FL
$2,300
Cape Coral, FL
$2,450
Pensacola, FL
$2,200
Port St. Lucie, FL
$2,450
Naperville, IL
$2,875
Tempe, AZ
$2,500
Overland Park, KS
$2,375
McKinney, TX
$2,550
Frisco, TX
$2,625
Cary, NC
$2,550
Clarksville, TN
$2,125
Cedar Rapids, IA
$2,050
Peoria, AZ
$2,450
Surprise, AZ
$2,375
Denton, TX
$2,450
Roseville, CA
$2,875
Gainesville, FL
$2,200
Bellevue, WA
$3,500
Murfreesboro, TN
$2,300
Round Rock, TX
$2,550
Columbia, MD
$2,875
Boulder, CO
$3,125
Ann Arbor, MI
$2,750
Santa Fe, NM
$2,625
Wilmington, NC
$2,300
Greenville, SC
$2,200
Fargo, ND
$2,125
Provo, UT
$2,450
Duluth, MN
$2,200
Billings, MT
$2,300
Missoula, MT
$2,450
Cheyenne, WY
$2,200
Burlington, VT
$2,700
Portland, ME
$2,700
Concord, NH
$2,625
Bismarck, ND
$2,125
Rapid City, SD
$2,125
Casper, WY
$2,200
Bangor, ME
$2,375
Charleston, WV
$2,000
Dover, DE
$2,450
Manchester, NH
$2,700
Bridgeport, CT
$3,000
Stamford, CT
$3,375
Wichita, KS
$2,050
Topeka, KS
$2,000
Springfield, IL
$2,125
Rockford, IL
$2,125
Erie, PA
$2,050
Scranton, PA
$2,125
Flint, MI
$1,950
Lansing, MI
$2,125
Syracuse, NY
$2,200
Albany, NY
$2,375
Eugene, OR
$2,625
Salem, OR
$2,550
Fort Collins, CO
$2,750
Pueblo, CO
$2,125
Aurora, CO
$2,700
Santa Barbara, CA
$3,500
Santa Rosa, CA
$3,200
Pasadena, CA
$3,450
Visalia, CA
$2,500
Pomona, CA
$2,950
Myrtle Beach, SC
$2,200
Daytona Beach, FL
$2,300
Sarasota, FL
$2,625
Naples, FL
$2,950
Ocala, FL
$2,125
Athens, GA
$2,125
Macon, GA
$2,000
Lexington, SC
$2,125
Asheville, NC
$2,550
Flagstaff, AZ
$2,700
Rochester, NY
$2,300
New Haven, CT
$2,700
Manchester, NH
$2,625
Augusta, GA
$2,050
Fort Myers, FL
$2,450
Wilmington, NC
$2,375
Arlington, VA
$3,250
Green Bay, WI
$2,125
South Bend, IN
$2,050
Bend, OR
$2,800
Bellingham, WA
$2,750
Midland, TX
$2,375
Waco, TX
$2,050
Newark, NJ
$3,000
Related Cost Guides
💬 What Did You Pay?
Real costs reported by homeowners for Bankruptcy Filing
$2,524
Avg Reported
$1,767
Lowest Reported
$3,660
Highest Reported
Recent Reports
$2,024
Dallas, TX · Jan 2026
★★★☆☆
$2,835
Chicago, IL · Feb 2026
★★★★☆
$2,090
Phoenix, AZ · Mar 2026
★★★★★
$3,080
Denver, CO · Apr 2026
★★★☆☆
$2,185
Atlanta, GA · May 2026
★★★★☆
$3,294
Seattle, WA · Jun 2026
★★★★★
📐 Bankruptcy Filing Cost Calculator
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