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    E-Discovery & Document Review Cost Estimator

    Estimate e-discovery costs including data collection, processing, review, and production. Calculate per-GB and per-document costs for litigation budgeting.

    Estimate Your Discovery Costs

    Enter your case parameters to generate a phased cost estimate for the entire e-discovery workflow. Inputs include the estimated volume of data to be collected (in gigabytes), the number of custodians (individuals whose data will be searched), the data sources involved (email, file shares, cloud storage, messaging platforms, databases), the anticipated review methodology (manual, technology-assisted review with TAR, or hybrid), the expected responsiveness rate (percentage of documents likely to be relevant), and the production format (native, TIFF, or PDF). The calculator outputs cost estimates for each phase: collection ($15-$50 per GB), processing ($20-$75 per GB), hosting ($15-$30 per GB per month), first-pass review ($0.50-$2.50 per document), privilege review ($1.00-$3.50 per document), and production ($0.03-$0.10 per page). A Technology Assisted Review (TAR) scenario shows potential savings of 40-70% on review costs compared to linear manual review.

    E-Discovery Cost Benchmarks

    $18,000/GB
    Average All-In Cost
    Average total cost per gigabyte of data processed through the complete e-discovery lifecycle from collection to production
    73%
    Review Cost Share
    Percentage of total e-discovery costs attributable to document review according to the RAND Institute for Civil Justice
    40-70%
    TAR Cost Savings
    Typical cost savings achieved by using Technology Assisted Review (TAR/predictive coding) compared to linear manual review
    $1.25
    Avg. Cost Per Document
    Average cost to review a single document using a blended approach of first-pass review and quality control

    How to Use This Calculator

    1

    Define Data Volume

    Estimate the total data volume in gigabytes and the number of custodians. As a benchmark, the average corporate custodian produces 5-15 GB of potentially relevant data, and email accounts average 2-5 GB per custodian. If you are unsure of the data volume, enter the number of custodians and the calculator will estimate based on typical volumes.

    2

    Select Review Methodology

    Choose between manual linear review, Technology Assisted Review (TAR/predictive coding), or a hybrid approach. TAR is most cost-effective for document sets exceeding 50,000 documents. Manual review is appropriate for smaller collections or matters requiring detailed analysis of every document. Hybrid approaches use TAR for first-pass review and manual review for privilege and quality control.

    3

    Set Production Parameters

    Indicate the expected production format (native, TIFF with load files, or PDF) and any special requirements such as redactions, Bates numbering, or metadata production. Native production is the least expensive while TIFF with redactions is the most expensive per page.

    4

    Review Phased Estimates

    The calculator breaks down costs by phase so you can identify the biggest cost drivers and evaluate strategies for reduction. Common cost reduction strategies include narrowing custodian lists, applying date range filters early, using TAR for large document sets, and negotiating native production to avoid TIFF conversion costs.

    What This Calculator Helps You Do

    • ✓Build accurate litigation budgets that properly account for e-discovery costs, which are frequently underestimated by 50% or more
    • ✓Support proportionality arguments under FRCP Rule 26(b)(1) by quantifying the cost of discovery relative to the amount in controversy
    • ✓Evaluate whether Technology Assisted Review offers meaningful cost savings for your specific document volume and case complexity
    • ✓Compare vendor proposals by understanding the industry-standard cost per GB and per document for each phase of the e-discovery lifecycle
    • ✓Advise clients on total litigation cost exposure including discovery before deciding whether to pursue or settle a claim

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much does e-discovery cost per gigabyte?

    The all-in cost of e-discovery ranges from $5,000 to $30,000 per gigabyte when you include collection, processing, hosting, review, and production. The wide range reflects differences in review methodology (TAR vs. manual), responsiveness rates, and production complexity. Processing alone costs $20-$75 per GB, hosting runs $15-$30 per GB per month, and review is the largest variable cost. A gigabyte of data typically contains 5,000-15,000 documents depending on file types, and the per-document review cost drives the total. Using TAR can reduce the all-in cost to $5,000-$10,000 per GB while manual review pushes it toward $20,000-$30,000 per GB.

    What is Technology Assisted Review (TAR) and when should I use it?

    TAR, also called predictive coding, uses machine learning to classify documents as relevant or not relevant based on training from a human reviewer. After the reviewer codes a seed set of documents, the algorithm scores the remaining documents by relevance, dramatically reducing the number that need human eyes. TAR is most effective for document sets exceeding 50,000 documents, where it typically reduces review costs by 40-70%. Courts have widely accepted TAR as an appropriate review methodology since the 2012 decision in Da Silva Moore v. Publicis Groupe. For collections under 10,000 documents, manual review is often faster and equally cost-effective.

    How can I reduce e-discovery costs?

    The most effective strategies are: (1) Narrow the custodian list to only individuals likely to have relevant documents, (2) Apply date range and keyword filters during processing to reduce the review population, (3) Use TAR for first-pass review on large document sets, (4) Negotiate with opposing counsel for native production format to avoid TIFF conversion costs, (5) Use offshore or contract reviewers for first-pass review at $25-$45 per hour instead of associate attorneys at $200-$400 per hour, and (6) Implement litigation hold procedures and information governance policies proactively to reduce the volume of data that accumulates in the first place.

    Streamline Your Discovery Workflow

    InstaThink Legal helps litigation teams manage discovery costs, track vendor budgets, and automate document collection workflows. Keep your cases on budget.

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