Court transcripts are priced by the page, and one hour of audio generally produces about 45 pages. The per-page rate depends on the jurisdiction and how fast you need the transcript: federal courts publish maximum rates by turnaround tier, and expedited delivery costs more per page than standard 30-day delivery.
The arithmetic of transcript pricing
Three numbers set your price: audio length, pages per hour, and per-page rate. Audio length comes from the court's recording. Pages per hour is fairly stable; the industry standard runs about 45 pages per hour of talking. The per-page rate is where jurisdictions differ, so the honest answer to what will this cost is a quote for your specific hearing, which we provide before any work begins.
A 30-minute motion hearing might come to roughly 22 pages. A full six-hour trial day might come to 270. Same audio, same rate structure, very different invoices, which is why per-page pricing is fairer than flat fees.
Why turnaround changes the rate
Federal courts set maximum transcript rates in tiers: ordinary (30 day), 14 day, expedited (7 day), 3 day, daily, and hourly delivery, with each faster tier priced higher per page. State and county courts often set their own rates. When you order from us, we quote against the applicable rate structure so there are no surprises.
Copies cost less than originals
If a transcript already exists, buying a copy is much cheaper than commissioning the original. In federal cases the first purchaser funds the original production, and everyone after pays a reduced copy rate. Check the docket before ordering; if a transcript entry exists, you likely want a copy order.