Calculator
Contract review and drafting cost calculator
Contract pricing splits into two worlds: billed hours and flat quotes. This estimator shows both for the same document so you can see which one is likely to cost you less.
Your document
Estimated cost
$300 to $1,000
Based on roughly 1.5 to 4.0 hours of professional time for this document.
Line items
| Line item | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Flat fee reviewSimple contract review is commonly quoted at $300 to $1,000 flat. | $300 | $1,000 |
| Estimated total | $300 | $1,000 |
Hourly versus flat fee, same document
| Pricing model | Estimated range |
|---|---|
| Hourly attorney1.5 to 4.0 hours at $200 to $500 | $300 to $2,000 |
| Flat fee serviceQuoted per document, scope defined in advance | $300 to $1,000 |
For this document a flat fee caps your downside. Hourly only wins if the work turns out to be genuinely quick.
How we estimate this
- Hourly figures use a business attorney band of $200 to $500 an hour. Large city firms and specialists exceed this, and rural solo practitioners can fall below it.
- Hour estimates per document type come from typical scopes: an NDA is under two hours to review, a commercial lease is rarely under three.
- Flat fee bands start from common market pricing of $300 to $1,000 for a simple review and $500 to $3,000 for drafting, then scale with complexity.
- Complexity multiplies the hours by 0.75 for simple work, 1 for moderate work and 1.6 for complex work.
- Each extra negotiation round adds half an hour to an hour and a half of billed time, or a separate charge on a flat fee engagement.
- We exclude litigation, disputes over a signed contract, and translation or notarisation costs.
Questions worth asking before you sign an engagement
- Does the flat fee include redlines from the other side, and how many rounds?
- What is the minimum billing increment on hourly work, six minutes or fifteen?
- Who does the work, the named attorney or a junior?
- Is there a cap, and what happens the moment it is reached?
- Will you get a reusable template you can run yourself next time?
Educational estimates only. The figures on this page are general market research, not legal advice, and no attorney client relationship is created by using this site. Cost of Legal does not provide, broker or arrange legal services, and does not sell or pass on your details to anyone. Confirm current fees with the relevant government office or a licensed professional before you spend money.