The rule in Maryland
The small claims limit in Maryland is $5,000. The rule is Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405; the Maryland General Assembly, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 4-405 puts it this way: “the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000 exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees”. The court that hears these cases: District court small claims.
Among the 51 jurisdictions with a verified figure on this site, Maryland ranks 40th from the top. That is $5,000 below the median of $10,000. It is 2 times Kentucky's $2,500 floor and 20% of the $25,000 top figure. 9 other verified jurisdictions use the same $5,000 figure, including Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut and Hawaii.
Next door, Delaware allows $25,000, Pennsylvania allows $12,000, Virginia allows $5,000, West Virginia allows $20,000 and District of Columbia allows $10,000. Delaware goes $20,000 further, so a dispute worth $25,000 could stay in small claims there but not in Maryland.
Worked check against the $5,000 figure: a $2,500 claim uses 50% of the limit and leaves $2,500 of room; a claim of exactly $5,000 still fits, because the rule caps the amount rather than excluding it; a claim of $5,001 is $1 over, and the rule leaves interest, costs and attorney fees out of that count.
The source checked for Maryland does not publish a statewide filing fee, so this page shows none; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts the current amount.
Deposit disputes are a common small claims case. Maryland caps deposits at 1 month's rent (deposit rules), so a claim for a full deposit stays under the $5,000 limit whenever the monthly rent is $5,000 or less.
Source: Maryland General Assembly, Courts and Judicial Proceedings § 4-405 · Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405 · last checked October 20, 2026.
Where the case goes
A claim within the limit is filed with the District court small claims. The linked source is the place to confirm forms, the filing fee and where to file before starting; the guides on filing a small claims case and serving the papers explain the usual steps in general terms.
Questions
What is the small claims limit in Maryland?
$5,000, under Md. Code, Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 4-405. Checked October 20, 2026.
Do interest and costs count toward the Maryland limit?
No. The source words the limit as “the amount claimed does not exceed $5,000 exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney's fees”, which leaves those amounts out of the count.
How much does it cost to file a small claim in Maryland?
The source checked does not publish a statewide fee; the clerk of the court where the case is filed posts it.