PACER costs $0.10 a page, and nothing if you use $30 or less a quarter
PACER, the federal courts' online records system, charges $0.10 for each page you view, search or download. A 5 page document costs $0.50. If your charges for a quarter are $30 or less, they are waived. The courts say 75 percent of users pay nothing in a given quarter.
PACER charges
| Per page viewed, searched or downloaded | $0.10 |
|---|---|
| Search with no matches | $0.10 (one page) |
| Quarterly waiver | Charges of $30 or less are waived |
| Users who pay nothing in a quarter | 75 percent |
| 5 page document | $0.50 |
|---|---|
| 300 pages in a quarter (waived) | $0 |
The charge counts every page a search or report returns, including a search that finds nothing. Sources: PACER Service Center, Frequently Asked Questions.
What this price covers
At $0.10 a page, $30 buys 300 pages a quarter. That is why most people who look up a case never get a bill.
What changes your price
- How much you read. Each page is $0.10.
- Your quarterly total. Stay at $30 or under and you pay nothing.
Ways to pay less
- Keep your use under $30 a quarter to pay nothing.
- Search carefully. Even a search that finds nothing is charged as one page.
How we got these numbers
Every fee on this page comes from the federal courts' own fee schedules or from federal law. The fees are set nationally by the Judicial Conference of the United States and by Congress, so they are the same in every federal court. Where we show a total, we only add up fees the courts list, so you can see the full amount in one place. We do not add our own guesses, and lawyer fees are not included. The schedules we used took effect on December 1, 2023 and were still the current versions when we last checked on September 26, 2026.
Common questions
How much does PACER cost?
$0.10 a page.
Is PACER free?
Yes, if your charges are $30 or less in a quarter.
How much is a 5 page document on PACER?
$0.50.