Arbitration Cost Calculator & Procedure Navigator (2026)

This arbitration cost calculator and procedure navigator helps you understand what an international arbitration is likely to cost and how it will unfold at ten leading forums: the ICC, SIAC, LCIA, HKIAC, the SCC, ICSID, the PCA, the ICDR, the AAA, and ad hoc arbitration under the UNCITRAL Rules. First, enter your amount in dispute below. Then the tool shows which procedural tracks your dispute qualifies for at each institution — ordinary, expedited, or streamlined — an indicative range for legal fees, each institution’s registration fee and fee model, and a step-by-step map of the proceeding with citations to the governing rules.

Version note: every arbitration cost figure in this calculator states the rules edition and fee schedule it is based on, current as of August 2026. For example, it covers the new ICC 2026 Rules and Schedule of Fees (effective 1 June 2026), HKIAC’s fee changes effective 1 January 2026, and the AAA-ICDR administrative fee schedules amended effective 1 September 2025. Moreover, we review and update this page annually. Importantly, institutional fees cover administration and tribunal compensation only; counsel fees, experts, and hearing logistics are separate — see the estimator and cost-drivers sections below.

Arbitration Cost Calculator: Check Your Options

How to Use This Arbitration Cost Calculator

To begin, enter your amount in dispute and select Check my options. Meanwhile, each institution card updates with the procedural tracks available to your dispute under the thresholds in force as of August 2026, and the estimator shows an indicative legal-fee range for a case of that size. Next, open each card’s step-by-step procedure to see how the case would run — who files what, in what order, under which rule, and the award deadline that applies. Finally, for a precise administrative-fee and tribunal-fee figure at your exact arbitration amount, use the linked official cost calculators: this page deliberately links to source schedules rather than reproducing tables that institutions revise.

ICC International Court of Arbitration (Paris)

Rules edition	ICC Arbitration Rules 2026 (in force 1 June 2026)
Fee model	Ad valorem: administrative expenses and arbitrator fees scale with the amount in dispute under the 2026 Schedule of Fees, which applies to Requests filed on or after 1 June 2026 (administrative expenses reduced below US$10M; targeted increases in the larger bands)
Filing fee	US$5,000 with the Request (non-refundable first advance on administrative expenses, credited to the claimant toward the advance on costs)
Expedited options	Expedited Procedure applies automatically up to US$4M for arbitration agreements concluded on or after 1 June 2026 (US$3M for agreements concluded 2021 to mid-2026; US$2M for those concluded March 2017 to 2020); Highly Expedited Arbitration Provisions (HEAP, Appendix VI) available by agreement at any amount, with a three-month award target
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

Step-by-step ICC procedure behind the arbitration cost calculator

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant files the Request for Arbitration with the Secretariat (Art. 4); the arbitration commences on receipt.
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent files its Answer and any counterclaims within 30 days (Art. 5).
3. Phase 2 — Track and Advance on Costs Meanwhile, the Court decides whether the Expedited Procedure applies; under the 2026 Rules the Secretary General fixes the advances on costs.
4. Phase 3 — Tribunal Constitution Thereafter, the tribunal is constituted under Arts. 12–13 (sole arbitrator or three, per the agreement or the Court’s decision).
5. Phase 4 — Procedural Framework Notably, the 2026 Rules remove the required Terms of Reference (retained only as an option): the initial case management conference (Art. 24) sets the procedural timetable, and under Art. 25 it is the cut-off for new claims without tribunal permission.
6. Phase 5 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, written submissions, document production, and the evidentiary hearing follow the timetable.
7. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the award follows: six months from the case management conference under the Expedited Procedure; three months under HEAP, with the option of an unreasoned award; all drafts are scrutinized by the ICC Court before issuance (Art. 37).

Official resources: ICC cost calculator · ICC 2026 Rules. See also our ICC arbitration practice page. In addition, the official ICC calculator prices your exact arbitration costs in seconds.

Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC)

Rules edition	SIAC Rules 2025, 7th edition (in force 1 January 2025)
Fee model	Ad valorem: SIAC administrative fees and tribunal fees scale with the amount in dispute under the revised Schedule of Fees (1 January 2025)
Filing fee	Non-refundable case filing fee: S$3,000 for overseas parties; S$3,270 for Singapore parties (includes 9% GST)
Expedited options	Streamlined Procedure is the default below S$1M (or by agreement): award within three months of tribunal constitution, with fees capped at 50% of the Schedule maxima. Expedited Procedure available up to S$10M — raised from S$6M — or where the circumstances warrant it; award within six months.
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

SIAC procedure step by step

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant files the Notice of Arbitration with the Registrar and pays the filing fee (Rule 6).
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent files its Response within 14 days.
3. Phase 2 — Track Determination Meanwhile, applications for the Streamlined or Expedited Procedure are decided by the President.
4. Phase 3 — Tribunal Constitution Thereafter, the tribunal is constituted; a sole arbitrator is the default under the Streamlined and Expedited Procedures.
5. Phase 4 — Procedural Framework Thereafter, a case management conference sets the timetable; the 2025 Rules also allow preliminary determination of dispositive issues and require consultation on information security.
6. Phase 5 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, written submissions and hearing follow; Streamlined cases are decided on documents unless the tribunal directs otherwise.
7. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the award issues: three months from constitution (Streamlined) or six months (Expedited); otherwise the tribunal submits its draft award within 90 days of the last directed submission for SIAC scrutiny.

Official resources: SIAC Schedule of Fees 2025 · SIAC Rules 2025. See also our SIAC arbitration practice page. Similarly, the 2025 Schedule of Fees fixes SIAC arbitration costs ad valorem, which this calculator checks against both thresholds.

London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA)

Rules edition	LCIA Arbitration Rules 2020; Schedule of Costs effective 1 December 2023
Fee model	Time-based, not ad valorem: arbitrator hourly rates range from £250 to a £650 maximum, and the Secretariat charges hourly administration rates. Registration fee: £1,950 with the Request.
Expedited options	No monetary expedited track. Expedited formation of the tribunal is available in cases of exceptional urgency (Art. 9A), alongside an Emergency Arbitrator procedure (Art. 9B).
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant files the Request for Arbitration electronically with the £1,950 registration fee (Art. 1).
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent files its Response within 28 days (Art. 2).
3. Phase 2 — Tribunal Constitution Thereafter, the LCIA Court appoints the tribunal (Art. 5) — institutional appointment is a distinctive LCIA feature; a sole arbitrator is the default unless the agreement or the circumstances warrant three.
4. Phase 3 — Procedural Framework Next, the tribunal must make contact with the parties within 21 days of appointment and set the procedural timetable (Art. 14).
5. Phase 4 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, the written phase and hearing proceed under the tribunal’s directions; the 2020 Rules expressly provide for virtual hearings and early determination (Art. 22.1(viii)).
6. Phase 5 — Award Finally, the tribunal is to issue its final award as soon as reasonably possible, with a target of no more than three months after the last submission (Art. 15.10).

Official resources: LCIA Schedule of Costs · LCIA Rules 2020. See also our LCIA arbitration practice page. In contrast, LCIA arbitration costs are time-based, so no ad valorem calculator scale applies.

Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC)

Rules edition	HKIAC Administered Arbitration Rules 2024 (in force 1 June 2024); Schedule of Fees as updated effective 1 January 2026
Registration fee	HK$10,000 (raised from HK$8,000 effective 1 January 2026)
Fee model	Party’s choice for tribunal fees: hourly rates under Schedule 2 (maximum agreed rate HK$7,500 per hour, raised from HK$6,500 effective 1 January 2026) or ad valorem under Schedule 3 (capped at HK$13,831,400 per arbitrator); HKIAC administrative fees are ad valorem under Schedule 1 (capped at HK$440,000)
Expedited options	Expedited Procedure available where the amount in dispute does not exceed HK$50M (doubled from HK$25M effective 1 January 2026), by agreement, or in exceptional urgency (Art. 42): sole arbitrator, award within six months
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

HKIAC procedure step by step

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant files the Notice of Arbitration with the HK$10,000 registration fee (Art. 4).
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent files its Answer within 30 days (Art. 5).
3. Phase 2 — Fee Election Meanwhile, the parties confirm their tribunal-fee choice: hourly or ad valorem.
4. Phase 3 — Tribunal Constitution Thereafter, the tribunal is constituted (Arts. 7–10); HKIAC decides any Expedited Procedure application (Art. 42).
5. Phase 4 — Procedural Framework Thereafter, a case management conference sets the procedural timetable; the 2024 Rules add express powers on information security, environmental considerations, and early determination (Art. 13.9).
6. Phase 5 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, written submissions and hearing follow; Hong Kong’s Arrangement with mainland China permits interim-measure applications to mainland courts in support of HKIAC arbitrations — a distinctive feature.
7. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the tribunal must declare proceedings closed and render its award within three months of closure (Art. 31.2); six months total under the Expedited Procedure.

Official resources: HKIAC Schedule of Fees · HKIAC 2024 Rules. See also our HKIAC arbitration practice page. Moreover, the official HKIAC fee calculator estimates arbitration costs under both fee options.

SCC Arbitration Institute (Stockholm)

Rules edition	SCC Arbitration Rules 2023 (in force 1 January 2023); separate SCC Expedited Arbitration Rules
Registration fee	EUR 3,000 excluding VAT (EUR 2,500 for expedited arbitration), non-refundable, forming part of the administrative fee
Fee model	Ad valorem: SCC administrative fees and arbitrator fees (median, minimum, maximum) follow the cost tables in Appendix IV (in force as of 1 January 2024), applied to the aggregate value of claims and counterclaims
Expedited options	The Expedited Rules apply only where the parties have agreed to them — there is no monetary threshold; sole arbitrator, compressed submissions, and a three-month award target from referral
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

SCC procedure step by step

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant files the Request for Arbitration and pays the EUR 3,000 registration fee.
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent submits its Answer within the period set by the Secretariat.
3. Phase 2 — Board Review and Advance Meanwhile, the SCC Board makes prima facie jurisdictional decisions and fixes the advance on costs from the cost tables.
4. Phase 3 — Tribunal Constitution Next, the tribunal is constituted; the SCC is known for fast constitution and referral.
5. Phase 4 — Referral and Framework Thereafter, the case is referred to the tribunal, which must promptly hold a case management conference and set a timetable.
6. Phase 5 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, written submissions and hearing follow; the 2023 Rules include express provision for joinder, multiple contracts, and summary procedure (Art. 39).
7. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the award is due within six months of referral under the Arbitration Rules, or three months under the Expedited Rules (extensions require SCC approval) — among the strictest institutional deadlines.

Official resources: SCC cost calculator · SCC Rules. See also our SCC arbitration practice page. Likewise, the SCC cost calculator projects arbitration fees at your exact amount.

ICSID (World Bank Group) — Investor–State Disputes

Rules edition	ICSID Convention Arbitration Rules 2022 (in force 1 July 2022); Schedule of Fees effective 1 July 2023
Key fees	Lodging fee US$25,000 with the Request; administrative charge US$52,000 on registration and annually thereafter; arbitrators are paid US$500 per hour plus expenses — time-based, not ad valorem
Expedited options	Expedited Arbitration (Rules 75–86) by consent of both parties: sole arbitrator by default and a timetable roughly half the standard track
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

ICSID procedure step by step

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement and Registration First, the investor files a Request for Arbitration with the US$25,000 lodging fee; the Secretary-General screens and registers it (Convention Art. 36).
2. Phase 2 — Tribunal Constitution Next, the tribunal is constituted — commonly three arbitrators, one appointed by each side and a president by agreement or through ICSID’s ballot and default mechanisms.
3. Phase 3 — Procedural Framework Then the first session must be held within 60 days of constitution (2022 Rules, Rule 29), fixing the procedural calendar.
4. Phase 4 — Written Phase Next come memorial and counter-memorial rounds, document production, and any bifurcated jurisdictional phase follow.
5. Phase 5 — Hearing Afterwards, the tribunal hears jurisdiction and merits.
6. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the tribunal must render the award within 240 days after the last submission (Rule 58); expedited cases run to compressed deadlines.
7. Phase 7 — Post-Award Lastly, ICSID awards are subject to internal annulment (Convention Art. 52), not national set-aside, and are enforceable in every Contracting State as if a final domestic judgment (Art. 54) — no New York Convention defenses apply.

Official resources: ICSID Schedule of Fees · ICSID 2022 Rules. For treaty-claim viability, see our Investment Protection practice and our ICSID practice page. However, ICSID arbitration costs accrue hourly rather than from a calculator scale, so budget on time estimates.

Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA, The Hague)

Role	Registry and appointing-authority services for ad hoc, treaty-based, investor–State, and inter-State arbitrations. The PCA administers cases under rules the parties choose — most commonly the UNCITRAL Rules — rather than imposing its own procedural code.
Key fees	Non-refundable fee of €3,000 for designation of an appointing authority by the PCA Secretary-General; registry time (deposits, hearings, communications) billed under the PCA Schedule of Fees (Secretary-General and senior legal staff EUR 275 per hour, legal staff EUR 195); under the 2024 Optional Protocol on Emergency Interim Measures, a EUR 7,500 administrative fee and EUR 20,000 initial deposit apply; a Financial Assistance Fund can support qualifying States
Expedited options	None of its own — availability depends on the chosen rules (for example, the UNCITRAL Expedited Arbitration Rules 2021 by consent)
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

PCA procedure step by step

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant serves a notice of arbitration under the applicable rules (commonly UNCITRAL Art. 3).
2. Phase 2 — Appointing Authority However, if appointments stall, a party asks the PCA Secretary-General to designate an appointing authority (€3,000) or, by agreement, to act as appointing authority directly.
3. Phase 3 — Constitution and Registry Setup Next, the tribunal is constituted; the PCA registry opens the case file and holds the deposit against costs.
4. Phase 4 — Procedural Framework Thereafter, a procedural order and timetable follow; the registry supports hearings, communications, and award logistics.
5. Phase 5 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, memorial-style written rounds, document production, and hearing follow per the chosen rules.
6. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the award follows; where the UNCITRAL Rules apply, the appointing authority may review the tribunal’s fee determination (Art. 41).

Official resources: PCA appointing-authority services. See also our PCA arbitration practice page. Similarly, PCA arbitration costs turn on registry time, not a calculator scale.

International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR)

Rules edition	ICDR International Dispute Resolution Procedures (amended and effective 1 March 2021), administered by the AAA’s international division
Fee model	Ad valorem two-payment structure — an initial filing fee and a final fee by claim band under the International Fee Schedule (amended effective 1 September 2025) — plus arbitrator compensation at the rates stated in each arbitrator’s disclosures
Expedited options	International Expedited Procedures apply where no claim or counterclaim exceeds US$500,000 (confirm the current threshold at filing): sole arbitrator and a documents-only presumption
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant files the Notice of Arbitration through the AAA-ICDR portal with the initial filing fee.
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent answers within 30 days; counterclaims are raised with the Answer.
3. Phase 2 — Track Determination Meanwhile, the ICDR determines whether the International Expedited Procedures apply.
4. Phase 3 — Tribunal Constitution Thereafter, arbitrators are appointed, typically through the ICDR list method with ranked strikes.
5. Phase 4 — Procedural Framework Thereafter, a procedural hearing sets the timetable; the ICDR’s international caseload makes U.S.-seated but internationally flavored procedure the norm.
6. Phase 5 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, written submissions, focused exchanges of documents, and the hearing follow.
7. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the award follows; expedited cases run to shortened deadlines with a documents-only presumption.

Official resources: ICDR rules and fee schedule. See also our ICDR arbitration practice page. For example, the linked fee schedule fixes both ICDR arbitration cost payments by claim band, and this calculator flags expedited eligibility.

American Arbitration Association (AAA) — Commercial Rules

Rules edition	AAA Commercial Arbitration Rules (amended 1 September 2022) — the domestic U.S. counterpart to the ICDR
Fee model	Ad valorem two-payment fee schedule (initial + final) by claim band, plus arbitrator compensation; the administrative fee schedule was amended effective 1 September 2025 and the former Flexible Fee option discontinued
Expedited options	Expedited Procedures apply automatically where no disclosed claim or counterclaim exceeds US$100,000; Large, Complex Case Procedures apply where a claim or counterclaim is at least US$1M
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant files the Demand for Arbitration with the initial filing fee.
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent answers within 14 days; counterclaims carry their own fees.
3. Phase 2 — Track Determination Then the AAA assigns the track: Expedited, standard, or Large, Complex Case Procedures.
4. Phase 3 — Tribunal Constitution Next, arbitrator appointment runs through the AAA list-and-rank process; a sole arbitrator under the Expedited Procedures.
5. Phase 4 — Procedural Framework Thereafter, a preliminary hearing and scheduling order follow; document exchange is deliberately narrower than court discovery.
6. Phase 5 — Hearing Then the evidentiary hearing follows — or documents-only in the smallest expedited cases.
7. Phase 6 — Award Finally, the award must issue no later than 30 calendar days after the hearing closes.

Official resources: AAA Commercial Rules and fee schedule. See also our AAA commercial arbitration practice page. As a result, smaller claims often clear the expedited track, and this arbitration cost calculator flags that threshold automatically.

Ad Hoc Arbitration Under the UNCITRAL Rules

Rules edition	UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (2021 revision) and, by consent, the UNCITRAL Expedited Arbitration Rules (in force 19 September 2021). Ad hoc: no administering institution unless the parties appoint one.
Fee model	No institutional fees at any amount. Arbitrator fees must be reasonable in amount (Art. 41); the parties can designate an appointing authority — often the PCA Secretary-General — to make appointments and review fee proposals.
Expedited options	The Expedited Rules apply by consent: sole arbitrator, no hearing by default, award within six months of tribunal constitution (extendable to nine)
Figures as of	August 2026

Your dispute: First, enter an amount above to see which tracks apply.

Step-by-step procedure

1. Phase 1 — Commencement First, the claimant serves the notice of arbitration directly on the respondent (Art. 3); the arbitration commences on receipt.
2. Phase 1 — Commencement Next, the respondent replies within 30 days.
3. Phase 2 — Appointments However, if appointments stall, the appointing-authority mechanism resolves them (Arts. 6–10).
4. Phase 3 — Constitution and Framework Thereafter, the tribunal is constituted and sets a provisional timetable at an early procedural conference.
5. Phase 4 — Written Phase and Hearing Subsequently, statements of claim and defence, document production, and hearing follow — with more party responsibility for logistics than in administered cases.
6. Phase 5 — Award Finally, the award follows (Arts. 33–39); the tribunal fixes its own fees subject to the reasonableness standard and appointing-authority review (Art. 41).

Official resources: UNCITRAL arbitration texts. See also our UNCITRAL Rules practice page. In short, ad hoc arbitration costs depend on the tribunal, so use this calculator for the counsel-fee picture.

What Drives Arbitration Costs Beyond the Calculator

Above all, remember what an arbitration cost calculator can and cannot capture. Institutional and tribunal fees are the visible, calculable part of an arbitration budget — and usually the smaller part. Instead, legal fees are typically the largest component, driven by the number and complexity of claims, document volume, the number of arbitrators, witness and expert counts, and whether jurisdiction is contested. In addition, party-appointed experts (quantum, industry, foreign law) and hearing logistics add further cost. Notably, two structural choices move budgets most: a sole arbitrator instead of three, and an expedited or streamlined track where the dispute qualifies. Finally, cost allocation matters: most rules empower tribunals to award costs against the losing party, so budget planning should model both downside exposure and recovery prospects.

Specifically, the estimator above reflects our firm’s indicative legal-fee ranges by dispute size, through final award. Moreover, because the ranges depend on staffing and scope rather than a meter running by the hour alone, we regularly agree fixed-fee and phased structures that give clients certainty at each stage — details on our retainer and payment options page. Meanwhile, the arbitration cost calculator above keeps those counsel ranges tied to your amount in dispute.

Arbitration Cost Calculator FAQs

Which institution is cheapest in this arbitration cost calculator?

In short, it depends on the amount in dispute and how the case runs. For example, ad valorem institutions (ICC, SIAC, SCC, HKIAC on that option) are predictable and proportionate for mid-size disputes; in contrast, time-based institutions (LCIA, ICSID) can be significantly cheaper for high-value disputes that settle early or turn on a narrow issue, and more expensive for document-heavy fights. The expedited and streamlined tracks — where your dispute qualifies — usually save more than any choice between institutions. Ultimately, this arbitration cost calculator surfaces those track savings at your amount.

Does the arbitration cost calculator show what I pay upfront?

No; rather, the calculator shows the total arbitration cost picture; institutions fix an advance on costs, typically paid in installments and shared equally between the parties, subject to adjustment as the case develops. However, if a respondent refuses to pay its share, the claimant can usually substitute payment and seek recovery in the award. Meanwhile, legal fees are billed per the engagement structure — hourly, phased, or fixed.

How long does institutional arbitration take?

Overall, expedited and streamlined tracks target three to six months from tribunal constitution to award. In contrast, ordinary commercial cases commonly run 12 to 24 months, and investor–State cases longer. Of course, the award deadlines cited in each card above are the rule-based backstops; real timelines depend on counterclaims, bifurcation, and tribunal availability. Consequently, pair the timeline with the arbitration cost calculator output when planning cash flow.

How accurate is this arbitration cost calculator?

This arbitration cost calculator reflects the official fee schedules and thresholds cited in each card, verified against institutional sources in August 2026. However, institutions revise their arbitration rules and fees, so the calculator links to each official schedule rather than reproducing every table. As a result, treat the output as planning guidance for arbitration costs and confirm figures with the linked official calculators before filing.

This page provides general information, not legal advice or a fee quote, and is based on the rules editions and fee schedules identified in each section (reviewed August 2026; updated annually). For a case-specific budget and strategy, contact the firm or visit our international arbitration practice.