Document Review Time Calculator
Estimate the time and cost to review a document set based on page count, review speed, and hourly rate.
How to use this tool
- Enter number of pages, minutes per page and reviewer hourly rate in the fields above.
- Results update instantly as you type — or click Calculate.
- Read your estimated review time and the full breakdown beneath it.
This is an estimate, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and individual circumstances. Consult a qualified attorney before making any legal decisions.
Estimate attorney or paralegal time and cost for reviewing a document production. Actual review speed depends on document complexity, language, and the reviewer's familiarity with the subject matter.
⚠ This tool provides general estimates for education only and is not financial, tax or legal advice. Figures may not reflect your situation — verify with a qualified professional.
Formula
Review hours = (pages × minutes per page) ÷ 60
Review cost = review hours × hourly rate
How it works
This calculator estimates the time and cost to review a document set by converting a per-page review speed (in minutes) into total hours, then multiplying by the reviewer's hourly billing rate. The minutes-per-page input is the primary driver of accuracy; realistic values range from 1–2 minutes for straightforward documents to 5–10 minutes for complex technical or legal materials. The estimate assumes continuous review at a constant pace and does not account for breaks, re-review, privilege logging, or supervision overhead.
Worked example
- Total review minutes = 100 pages × 3 min/page = 300 minutes
- Review hours = 300 ÷ 60 = 5 hours
- Review cost = 5 hours × $200/hr = $1,000
Estimated review time of 5 hours at an estimated cost of $1,000 for 100 pages at 3 min/page and $200/hr.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying a single review speed to all document types -- dense financial records take far longer per page than routine correspondence, so a blended rate produces an inaccurate project estimate.
- Omitting quality-control time, typically 10-20% of first-pass review hours, from the total cost estimate.
- Treating review hours as uninterrupted continuous work -- attorney fatigue reduces accuracy on large document sets; production schedules should build in breaks or rotating reviewers.
Key terms
- Document review
- The process of examining documents (often in litigation or due diligence) to identify relevance, privilege, or key facts.
- Review speed (min/page)
- The average time a reviewer spends per page; varies by document complexity, language, and reviewer expertise.
- Privilege log
- A list of documents withheld from disclosure on grounds of attorney-client privilege or work-product protection, adding time to a review project.
- Hourly billing rate
- The per-hour charge for a reviewer's time, which may differ between junior associates, paralegals, and senior attorneys.
- e-Discovery
- Electronic discovery — the process of identifying, collecting, and reviewing electronically stored information for legal proceedings.
Frequently asked questions
- How many pages per hour can a reviewer process?
- Speeds vary widely. A basic relevance review may achieve 60–100 pages per hour; a detailed privilege and issue-code review may be as slow as 15–30 pages per hour. Technology-Assisted Review (TAR) can increase throughput substantially.
- What is e-discovery?
- E-discovery (electronic discovery) is the process of identifying, collecting, and reviewing electronically stored information (ESI) for litigation. It often involves enormous document volumes measured in gigabytes or terabytes.
- Can I reduce review costs?
- Yes. Culling documents using search terms, date filters, and deduplication before review can dramatically reduce the review population. TAR/predictive coding tools further reduce manual review volume.