The line, in consequences

Felony vs Misdemeanor: the Practical Differences

Every figure sourced and dated. Updated 2026-09-01.

The label drives everything downstream: sentencing exposure, collateral consequences, and cost. Defense economics track it directly: misdemeanors commonly run $1,500 to $5,000 while felony retainers start at $5,000 to $15,000, at hourly rates of $150 to $500 either way.

Either way, counsel is not optional

If hiring is out of reach, the public-defender test (125% to 250% of poverty guidelines; single person under $39,900 at the generous end) exists exactly for this. Back to Criminal Defense.

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Sources for every figure on this page

$1,500 to $5,000: Nolo 2026: common misdemeanor representation range (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$5,000 to $15,000: Zabriskie 2026: typical felony retainer range (serious felonies to $50,000+) (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$150 to $500: LegalMatch 2026: criminal defense hourly-rate range (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
125% to 250%: LegalClarity 2026: public-defender income cutoffs as a share of federal poverty guidelines (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).
$39,900: LegalClarity 2026: single-person presumptive eligibility at the 250% cutoff (published estimate, retrieved 2026-09-01).