A lawyer billable hours calculator helps clients track attorney billing against a retainer balance, understand how time increments work, and estimate total legal fees for a matter. Enter your attorney's rate and time to see exactly what each interaction costs.
Attorney Billing Calculator
Per hour charged to your matter
Real time for phone call, email, research, etc.
Billing Details
Billing Increment Reference
How much does each activity cost at your hourly rate?
| Activity | Actual Time | Billed (0.1 hr) | Billed (0.25 hr) |
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How to Use the Lawyer Billable Hours Calculator
Attorney billing can be confusing, especially when small tasks get rounded up to minimum billing increments. This lawyer billable hours calculator helps you understand exactly how much each interaction with your attorney costs — so you can manage legal expenses more effectively.
Step 1: Enter Your Attorney's Rate and Billing Increment
Your fee agreement with your attorney should specify the hourly rate and billing increment. The most common billing increment is 0.1 hour (6 minutes), meaning any activity lasting 1–6 minutes is billed as 6 minutes. A 4-minute phone call is billed as 6 minutes. A 7-minute email is billed as 12 minutes. Some attorneys use 0.25-hour (15-minute) minimums, which are more favorable for longer activities but can be expensive for quick communications.
Step 2: Track Your Retainer Balance
Your retainer is a trust account your attorney draws against as work is performed. You should receive monthly billing statements showing how the retainer was applied. When your retainer balance drops below a threshold (often 25–50% of the original retainer), your attorney will typically ask you to replenish it. If your case concludes with retainer remaining, that balance must be refunded to you.
Tips to Manage Legal Costs
Save money on attorney fees: batch questions into a single email (instead of three short ones), be organized and prepared before calls (saves billable time), review billing statements monthly for discrepancies, ask if certain administrative tasks can be handled by a paralegal (lower rate), and consider flat-fee arrangements for predictable tasks. For matters under $5,000, many attorneys offer flat fees for: simple divorces, LLC formations, wills, and minor criminal matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do lawyers bill for their time?
Most attorneys bill in minimum increments — typically 0.1 hour (6 minutes) or 0.25 hour (15 minutes). A 5-minute phone call billed in 6-minute increments = 0.1 hour × $300/hr = $30. Some attorneys use 0.5 hour minimums for court appearances. Always ask your attorney about their minimum billing increment.
What is a retainer fee?
A retainer is money paid upfront to secure an attorney's services. The attorney deposits the retainer in a client trust account (IOLTA) and bills against it as work is performed. When the retainer is depleted, you pay more. Unused retainer must be returned to you. Some attorneys charge flat fees instead of hourly retainers.
What are typical attorney hourly rates?
Attorney rates vary enormously by location, specialty, and experience. General range: junior associates $150–$250/hr, mid-level associates $250–$400/hr, senior partners $400–$700+/hr. New York/SF big firm partners: $500–$1,500+/hr. Solo practitioners and small firms: $150–$400/hr.
What is contingency fee vs hourly billing?
Contingency fee: attorney takes a percentage (usually 33%) of your settlement/verdict — you pay nothing upfront. Used in personal injury, workers comp, and some employment cases. Hourly billing: you pay per hour regardless of outcome. Used for most other matters.
Is this tool free?
Yes, completely free with no signup required. All calculations run locally in your browser.