Note: this calculator provides a general, informational comparison only — not legal advice and not a prediction of how your specific case would turn out at trial.
What This Calculator Actually Does
It puts a settlement offer side by side with a realistic estimate of proceeding to trial — factoring in the amount you'd likely recover, the fees still ahead of you, and the time involved — so you're comparing the offer against a grounded alternative rather than your best-case expectations. For the fuller, guided version of this decision, including non-monetary factors like certainty and collectability, see the settle-or-court decision tool.
What You'll Need to Use It
- The offer currently on the table, including any conditions attached to it.
- What you originally claimed, for comparison.
- An estimate of the fees and costs still ahead if you proceed — see the court fee calculator for a starting figure.
- An honest sense of your case's strength, since that shapes how much weight to put on a favourable trial outcome.
How a Rejected Offer Can Affect Costs Later
Ontario's rules allow for formal, written offers to settle, and rejecting one can carry consequences beyond the immediate dispute: doing worse at trial than an offer you turned down can affect how costs are awarded against you. See offers to settle for how this works before you decide to reject an offer outright.
What to Do With the Result
If the numbers point toward settling, a documented, formal offer protects your position either way — see offers to settle. If they point toward proceeding, preparing for trial walks through what comes next.
Official sources
- Rules of the Small Claims Court, O. Reg. 258/98 — the procedural rules governing claims, defences, settlement conferences, trials and enforcement.
- ontario.ca: Suing Someone in Small Claims Court — the official overview, including the current monetary limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this calculator free to use?
Yes — it's provided as a free informational tool, with no account or payment required.
How is this different from the settle-or-court decision tool?
This calculator focuses on the numbers — comparing a settlement figure against an estimated trial outcome and cost. The guided settle-or-court tool walks through the fuller decision, including non-monetary factors like certainty, time, and collectability.
Can a rejected settlement offer affect costs later?
Yes — Ontario's rules allow for formal offers to settle, and doing worse at trial than a rejected offer can affect how costs are awarded against you.
Does this calculator guarantee what I'd actually get at trial?
No — it produces a general, informational comparison only, not a prediction. Every case turns on its own facts and evidence.