In Texas, most criminal defense case projects cost between $1,500 and $15,000 per case, with a typical price near $5,000. Local labour, permits and materials move the final price, so treat the range below as a planning guide.
Typical criminal defense case cost
$1,500 – $15,000
per case · typical $5,000
A general planning range, not a quotation.
Criminal defense case cost breakdown
- Misdemeanor (DUI, petty theft)$1,500 – $5,000typical $3,000
- Felony (drug, assault)$5,000 – $15,000typical $10,000
- Complex federal case$15,000 – $50,000typical $30,000
At a glance
- Typical range$1,500 – $15,000
- Unitper case
- Cities covered91
What Criminal Defense costs
Legal fees for misdemeanor or felony defense. Misdemeanors run $1,500–$5,000; felonies $5,000–$15,000+ for trial. Costs depend on case complexity and attorney experience.
By city in Texas
- Abilene
- Allen
- Amarillo
- Arlington
- Atascocita
- Austin
- Baytown
- Beaumont
- Bedford
- Brownsville
- Bryan
- Burleson
- Carrollton
- Cedar Hill
- Cedar Park
- Channelview
- College Station
- Conroe
- Coppell
- Corpus Christi
- Dallas
- DeSoto
- Denton
- Duncanville
- Edinburg
- El Paso
- Euless
- Farmers Branch
- Flower Mound
- Fort Worth
- Friendswood
- Frisco
- Galveston
- Garland
- Georgetown
- Grand Prairie
- Grapevine
- Haltom City
- Harlingen
- Houston
- Hurst
- Irving
- Keller
- Killeen
- Kyle
- Lake Jackson
- Laredo
- League City
- Leander
- Lewisville
- Little Elm
- Longview
- Lubbock
- McAllen
- McKinney
- Mesquite
- Midland
- Mission
- Mission Bend
- Missouri City
- New Braunfels
- North Richland Hills
- Odessa
- Pasadena
- Pearland
- Pflugerville
- Pharr
- Plano
- Port Arthur
- Richardson
- Rockwall
- Rosenberg
- Round Rock
- Rowlett
- San Angelo
- San Antonio
- Schertz
- Sherman
- Spring
- Sugar Land
- Temple
- Texarkana
- Texas City
- The Colony
- The Woodlands
- Tyler
- Waco
- Waxahachie
- Weslaco
- Wichita Falls
- Wylie
Frequently asked questions
How much does a criminal defense lawyer cost?
Misdemeanor cases cost $1,500–$5,000; felonies $5,000–$15,000. Complex cases can exceed $50,000. Public defenders are free but overworked.
What affects criminal defense fees?
Severity of charges, case complexity, attorney reputation, and time spent. Trial preparation and expert witnesses add costs.
How can I afford a criminal defense lawyer?
Payment plans, flat fees, or pro bono services. Some lawyers offer reduced rates for certain cases. Don't choose solely on price—experience matters.