How do I calculate my federal sentencing guideline range?

Your federal sentencing guideline range is determined by two numbers: your total adjusted offense level (1–43) and your criminal history category (I–VI). Enter both into the Federal Sentencing Guideline Range Calculator above to get your estimated range from the official U.S. Sentencing Commission sentencing table. Your attorney calculates the offense level by adding a base offense level for your charge, then applying enhancements and reductions including a 2–3 point reduction for acceptance of responsibility if you plead guilty.

How much time can you get off with the First Step Act (FSA)?

Under the First Step Act (18 U.S.C. § 3632), eligible inmates earn 10–15 days of time credits for every 30 days they participate in evidence-based recidivism reduction (EBRR) programs. Minimum and low-risk inmates earn 15 days per 30 days; medium and high-risk inmates earn 10 days per 30. Credits are capped at 365 days. These are applied to early placement in prerelease custody (halfway house or home confinement) or to reduce supervised release by up to 12 months. Use the FSA Time Credits Calculator above to estimate the specific numbers for your sentence.

What determines your BOP security level?

The Bureau of Prisons assigns a security level — minimum, low, medium, or high — based on a point system using 7 factors: (1) severity of the current offense, (2) prior violence history, (3) number of prior commitments, (4) immigration/detainer status, (5) escape history, (6) voluntary surrender, and (7) age. Scores 0–11 without public safety factors generally result in minimum security. Public safety factors (sex offense, 10+ year sentence, STG affiliation) can bump a minimum score to low. Use the BOP Security Level Calculator to estimate your designation.

What percentage of federal defendants get below the guideline range?

Nationally, about 53% of federal defendants are sentenced below their guideline range (FY2022 USSC data). However, the reasons and rates vary significantly by offense type: drug cases see 52% below range (largely through 5K1.1 cooperation motions), fraud cases see 40% below range (35% by judicial variance alone), and child pornography cases see 57% below range because many judges consider the guidelines overstacked. Use the Sentencing Statistics tool to see data specific to your offense type and offense level.

Free Federal Sentencing Tools

Federal Sentencing Calculators — Built for the people who need them.

The tools attorneys use and charge thousands for. Built free — no login, no account, no charge.

The Calculators

Five tools. Every number that matters at sentencing.

The federal sentencing system runs on numbers — offense levels, criminal history points, sentence months, time credits. These calculators let you work through those numbers before your attorney does, so you can ask better questions and understand the answers.

Federal Sentencing Guideline Range Calculator

Guideline Range

Enter your offense level (1–43) and criminal history category (I–VI). The calculator instantly shows your recommended sentencing range in months — the same starting point every federal judge uses.

? What is my guideline range in months?

? How many criminal history points do I have?

? How does acceptance of responsibility change the level?

? What does my range look like in years instead of months?

How to use it: Ask your attorney for the "total adjusted offense level" and "criminal history points" — or estimate them yourself. The calculator accepts both inputs and shows the official range. Err on the high side when estimating — assume a higher level until your attorney confirms the actual calculation.

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Federal Sentencing Statistics — USSC Data

USSC FY2022 Data

The U.S. Sentencing Commission publishes data on every federal sentence. This tool shows you what actually happened at sentencing for people in your offense category — what percentage were sentenced within range, below range through cooperation, below range through judicial variance, and above range. Plus the median sentence.

? What percentage of people in my offense type got below the guideline range?

? What was the median sentence for drug trafficking / fraud / firearms cases?

? How much does cooperation (5K1.1) affect outcomes in cases like mine?

? What does the data show for defendants at my specific offense level?

Important context: These are national averages — not predictions. A 38% below-range rate for drug cases means 38% of drug defendants nationally got below range, for many different reasons including cooperation, Fast Track programs, and individual judge decisions. The data helps you understand the landscape, not guarantee a result.

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FSA Time Credits Calculator — First Step Act

18 U.S.C. § 3632

The First Step Act of 2018 created a system where eligible inmates earn time credits for participating in evidence-based programming. Minimum and low-risk inmates earn 15 days per 30 days of programming. Medium and high-risk earn 10 days per 30. Credits are capped at 365 days and can be applied to reduce time in custody or supervised release. This calculator checks eligibility first — many offense types are excluded by law.

? Is my offense eligible for FSA time credits?

? How many days of FSA credits can I earn on my sentence?

? What is my earliest possible release date with FSA + good time credits?

? How does my PATTERN risk level affect how much I earn?

Good time credits are separate: Under 18 U.S.C. § 3624(b), every eligible federal inmate earns 54 days per year of the sentence regardless of FSA eligibility. This calculator shows both — the total picture of what can reduce actual custody time.

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BOP Security Level Designation Calculator

Bureau of Prisons Form BP-337

The Bureau of Prisons designates every inmate to a security level — minimum, low, medium, or high — using a point system called the Security Designation and Custody Classification form (BP-337). Seven factors are scored: offense severity, prior violence history, prior federal commitments, immigration detainer, escape history, voluntary surrender, and age. This calculator walks through all seven and estimates the result.

? Will I be designated to a minimum security camp or a low / medium / high security prison?

? What factors are pushing my security level higher than it should be?

? Does an ICE detainer affect my security designation?

? What is a Public Safety Factor and how does it affect designation?

Voluntary surrender helps: Defendants who self-surrender score significantly lower on the surrender factor than those taken into custody. This is one of the few designation factors you can still influence at the time of sentencing — discuss it with your attorney.

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Printable Federal Sentencing Guideline Reference Sheets

7 Major Guidelines

The federal sentencing guidelines are notoriously complex — but for each offense type, the structure is knowable. These reference sheets break down seven major guidelines: fraud (§2B1.1), drug trafficking (§2D1.1), child pornography (§2G2.2), immigration reentry (§2L1.2), firearms (§2K2.1), money laundering (§2S1.1), and robbery (§2B3.1). Each sheet shows how the score is built, a worked example at a realistic offense level, and specific questions to ask your attorney — on STF letterhead.

? What enhancements apply to my fraud / drug / firearms case?

? What questions should I ask my attorney about the sentencing calculation?

? What does a worked example look like for someone in a situation like mine?

Print it and bring it to the visit: These sheets are designed to print on a single page — bring them to your next attorney meeting and work through the questions together. Understanding the calculation is how you verify your attorney is fighting for every point.

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Before you use these tools

These calculators are informational. Your attorney does the official calculation.

The guideline range calculator gives you the recommended sentencing range — the same starting point your attorney and the judge will use. But the actual calculation for your specific case depends on case-specific facts that only your attorney knows: what the factual basis says, how the PSR calculates the offense level, whether any departures or variances apply, and what enhancements the government is pursuing.

Use these tools to understand the system and ask better questions — not to predict your outcome. The number that matters most is the one in the plea agreement and the PSR, confirmed by your attorney. Always err on the high side when estimating.