Guyader Avocat · International arbitration
For the same dispute, compare what the leading arbitral institutions cost, based on their official fee schedules.
- Eight institutions, schedules in force
- Schedules checked against official calculators
- Conversion at the ECB reference rate
Least expensive institution
| Institution | Administrative fees | Arbitrators’ fees | Total | Range | % of claim |
|---|
Administrative fees and arbitrators’ fees only, excluding registration fees, expenses, taxes and counsel costs. “Cap”: the schedule only sets a maximum; that institution is left out of the ranking.
How each institution is computed
| Institution | Schedule and method |
|---|
Which institution for your clause?
Cost is only one criterion: seat, enforcement of the award, language and timetable matter just as much. We help you draft or review the clause. Reply within 24 working hours. Or write directly to guyader@guyader-avocat.fr.
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Reading the comparison
Different methods. Not every institution publishes a range. The ICC, SCC, CEPANI, Swiss Rules and CCJA set a minimum and a maximum; SIAC and HKIAC only a maximum; DIS a fixed amount. For each institution, the average case follows the method of its own calculator where one exists.
A currency snapshot. Each schedule is expressed in the institution’s currency. The comparison converts the amount in dispute at the ECB reference rate, applies the schedule, then converts the result back. Exchange-rate moves can therefore shift the ranking.
What is not compared. Registration fees, arbitrators’ expenses, VAT or local taxes and, above all, counsel and expert costs, which often outweigh institutional costs. The full budget calculator includes them.
LCIA and ICDR. These institutions pay arbitrators by the hour, with no scale tied to the amount in dispute: they are covered by the dedicated estimator.
Frequently asked questions
Which arbitral institution is the cheapest?
It depends on the amount in dispute and the number of arbitrators: schedules are degressive and their bands do not coincide. The comparison shows the ranking for your amount, in the average or maximum case.
Is the ICC more expensive than SIAC or the SCC?
Not always. The gap varies with the amount: enter yours to see the result. Institutional costs are usually lower than counsel and expert costs.
Why is HKIAC not ranked?
Its ad valorem schedule only sets a cap per arbitrator, and arbitrators are often paid by the hour. The comparison shows that cap but does not set it against other institutions’ averages.
Do the amounts include VAT?
No. Schedules exclude taxes; VAT or local tax depends on the situation of the parties and arbitrators.
Where do the schedules come from?
From each institution’s official texts in force in October 2026. The ICC, SIAC, DIS, CEPANI, Swiss Rules and SCC schedules were checked against those institutions’ online calculators.
Sources: ICC Arbitration Rules 2026 and Schedule of Fees; SIAC Schedule of Fees 2025; SCC Arbitration Rules 2023, Appendix IV (schedule as of 1 January 2024); DIS Arbitration Rules 2018, Annex 2 as of 1 March 2026; CEPANI Arbitration Rules 2026, Schedule I; Swiss Rules 2021, Appendix B; HKIAC 2024 Schedule of Fees (applicable from 1 January 2026); CCJA Decision No. 004/99 of 3 February 1999; ECB reference rates. Independent estimate by Guyader Avocat. General information, not legal advice for a specific case.