Home addition cost in Tennessee
Statewide estimate from BLS wages and BEA prices. Reviewed Nov 4, 2026.
- Statewide range (300 sq ft)
- $33,800 – $68,600
- Per sq ft
- $111 – $222
- before permit
- Versus US midpoint
- −11%
- US $57,500
- Metros covered
- 8
Tennessee prices for home addition: $33,800 to $68,600 for 300 sq ft, or $111 to $222 per sq ft without the permit. The state midpoint is 11% below the national one. Local wages for carpenters are $24.44 an hour.
Inside Tennessee, the metros we cover range from $49,100 (Johnson City) to $53,500 (Nashville) at the midpoint. Pick your closest city in the table for a tighter number.
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Estimated cost for 300 sq ft in Tennessee (statewide), standard level
$44,200 to $58,100
About $145 to $189 per sq ft before permits. Labor is about 64% of the bill.
| Part | Low | High |
|---|---|---|
| Materials | $15,000 | $19,600 |
| Labor | $28,400 | $37,100 |
| Permits and fees | $870 | $1,400 |
| Total | $44,200 | $58,100 |
Cost breakdown for 300 sq ft in Tennessee
| Part of the job | Low | Midpoint | High | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Materials | $11,500 | $17,300 | $23,100 | 34% |
| Labor | $21,800 | $32,700 | $43,600 | 64% |
| Permits and fees | $460 | $1,150 | $1,850 | 2% |
| Total | $33,800 | $51,200 | $68,600 | 100% |
Tennessee versus the states around it
Tennessee ranks 40 of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) for home addition, where 1 is the most expensive. The costliest is Hawaii at $76,300 and the cheapest Arkansas at $48,200, both for 300 sq ft at the midpoint. Tennessee sits at $51,200. The five states closest by workforce center are listed below.
| State | Distance | Range | Midpoint | vs. here |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 170 miles away | $34,500 – $70,000 | $52,200 | +2% |
| Alabama | 190 miles away | $32,900 – $66,800 | $49,800 | −3% |
| Georgia | 210 miles away | $34,100 – $69,200 | $51,700 | +1% |
| Indiana | 300 miles away | $38,500 – $78,000 | $58,300 | +14% |
| Mississippi | 330 miles away | $32,500 – $66,000 | $49,300 | −4% |
Related projects, priced for Tennessee
Each project weights the trades differently, so Tennessee's wage level does not push every price by the same amount. Compared with the US midpoint, kitchen remodel is −6% and roof replacement −11%.
| Project | Size | Range | vs. US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kitchen remodel | 120 sq ft | $17,400 – $29,600 | −6% |
| Bathroom remodel | 45 sq ft | $4,250 – $21,100 | −9% |
| Detached garage | 576 sq ft | $26,600 – $53,300 | −8% |
| Roof replacement | 2,000 sq ft of roof | $5,350 – $11,200 | −11% |
What carpenters and the other trades earn in Tennessee
Tennessee's labor line is priced from 6 trades, each compared with its US median wage. After weighting by each trade's share of the work, the state comes out at 0.86 times the national level.
Carpenters (47-2031), 50% of the weighting: a median of $24.44 an hour, 16% below the US median of $29.12. The middle half of them earn between $22.36 and $28.80 an hour. About 8,200 work in the state. That is 25.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 43.1 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051), 10% of the weighting: a median of $23.04 an hour, 16% below the US median of $27.41. The middle half of them earn between $20.92 and $25.38 an hour. About 3,920 work in the state. That is 12.0 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 13.3 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For electricians (47-2111, weighted 10%) the local median is $29.37 an hour, which is 3% below the national $30.38. The middle half of them earn between $23.26 and $36.57 an hour. BLS counts 17,070 of them working in the state, 52.1 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 48.7), so the local bench is about average.
Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152), 10% of the weighting: a median of $28.17 an hour, 8% below the US median of $30.67. The middle half of them earn between $22.72 and $35.32 an hour. About 9,270 work in the state. That is 28.3 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 30.0 nationally, so the supply of crews looks typical.
For drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081, weighted 10%) the local median is $22.84 an hour, which is 19% below the national $28.33. The middle half of them earn between $18.98 and $27.18 an hour. BLS counts 1,150 of them working in the state, 3.5 for every 10,000 jobs (US: 5.3), so the local bench is thinner than average.
Roofers (47-2181), 10% of the weighting: a median of $21.97 an hour, 18% below the US median of $26.65. The middle half of them earn between $18.33 and $23.53 an hour. About 2,110 work in the state. That is 6.4 per 10,000 jobs, compared with 8.7 nationally, so expect fewer local crews to bid.
A crew paid at the 75th percentile for carpenters ($28.80 an hour) would add about $2,850 to the statewide midpoint; one at the 25th percentile ($22.36) would take off about $1,350. Use that as a rough guide to how far a bid can sit from our midpoint on wages alone.
BLS counts 3,278,760 jobs across Tennessee (May 2025), which is 2.1% of US employment.
| Trade | Weight | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct | US median | Ratio | Level used |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carpenters (47-2031) | 50% | $22.36 | $24.44 | $28.80 | $29.12 | 0.84 | state |
| Cement masons and concrete finishers (47-2051) | 10% | $20.92 | $23.04 | $25.38 | $27.41 | 0.84 | state |
| Electricians (47-2111) | 10% | $23.26 | $29.37 | $36.57 | $30.38 | 0.97 | state |
| Plumbers, pipefitters and steamfitters (47-2152) | 10% | $22.72 | $28.17 | $35.32 | $30.67 | 0.92 | state |
| Drywall and ceiling tile installers (47-2081) | 10% | $18.98 | $22.84 | $27.18 | $28.33 | 0.81 | state |
| Roofers (47-2181) | 10% | $18.33 | $21.97 | $23.53 | $26.65 | 0.82 | state |
| Blended | 100% | 0.86 | |||||
Basic, standard or premium: Tennessee prices
Bands overlap on purpose, since a good standard job can cost as much as a light premium one. Below are the three bands for the default size, then a grid from bump-out (100 sq ft) to large suite (600 sq ft).
Basic
$33,800 to $47,700
Bump-out or simple room without plumbing
Standard
$44,200 to $58,100
Standard room addition with HVAC and electrical
Premium
$54,700 to $68,600
Large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation
| Size | Basic | Standard | Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| bump-out (100 sq ft) | $11,600 – $16,600 | $15,300 – $20,300 | $19,100 – $24,100 |
| 20x20 room (400 sq ft) | $44,900 – $63,300 | $58,700 – $77,000 | $72,500 – $90,800 |
| large suite (600 sq ft) | $67,200 – $94,400 | $87,600 – $115,000 | $108,000 – $135,500 |
Why two Tennessee quotes can differ
Type of addition
A new room is $125-$250 per sq ft; a bump-out $85-$200; an attic conversion $50-$150; a garage conversion $50-$200 (HomeGuide).
Plumbing and fixtures
Adding a bathroom or kitchen drives the price up the most.
Permits
Construction permits run $500-$2,000, or $5-$21 per $1,000 of project cost (HomeGuide).
Foundation
A foundation, framing, roofing and matching exterior finishes all have to be built before the interior work starts.
Weather windows across Tennessee
Weather decides when digging and ground work can happen, and Tennessee is not uniform. The table uses NOAA's 1991-2020 climate normals from the weather station nearest each metro we cover, and counts the months that are neither cold nor hot enough to complicate the job.
Knoxville has the longest comfortable season of the metros we cover in Tennessee at 11 months (February through December); Jackson has the shortest at 7 (March through June and September through November). Rainfall runs from 44 inches a year in Johnson City to 57 inches in Jackson.
We do not adjust prices by month, because we have no reliable published data on seasonal pricing. Timing is still worth raising when you collect bids.
| Metro | Jan avg low °F | Jul avg high °F | Precip (in/yr) | Comfortable months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | 30 | 91 | 51 | 9: February through June and September through December |
| Memphis | 33 | 92 | 55 | 10: September through June |
| Knoxville | 30 | 88 | 52 | 11: February through December |
| Chattanooga | 32 | 91 | 55 | 9: February through June and September through December |
| Kingsport | 27 | 87 | 45 | 9: March through November |
| Clarksville | 28 | 90 | 54 | 7: March through June and September through November |
| Jackson | 27 | 91 | 57 | 7: March through June and September through November |
| Johnson City | 26 | 86 | 44 | 9: March through November |
Which Tennessee city is cheapest for home addition?
2 of the 8 metros sit above the statewide midpoint of $51,200, and the top-to-bottom gap is 9%. Each row prices the default size with that metro's own BLS wages and BEA price levels, so the gap between rows is real local variation rather than a flat markup.
| Metro | Range (300 sq ft) | Midpoint | vs. state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville, TN | $35,300 – $71,600 | $53,500 | +4% |
| Chattanooga, TN | $34,000 – $68,900 | $51,500 | +1% |
| Memphis, TN | $33,900 – $68,700 | $51,300 | level |
| Knoxville, TN | $33,600 – $68,100 | $50,800 | −1% |
| Clarksville, TN | $33,000 – $66,900 | $50,000 | −2% |
| Jackson, TN | $32,700 – $66,300 | $49,500 | −3% |
| Kingsport, TN | $32,700 – $66,200 | $49,400 | −3% |
| Johnson City, TN | $32,400 – $65,700 | $49,100 | −4% |
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Home addition in Tennessee: your questions
+How much does it cost to build a home addition in Tennessee?
$33,800 to $68,600 for 300 sq ft, using statewide wages and prices. Metro areas inside Tennessee can sit above or below that.
+Which city in Tennessee is cheapest for home addition?
Johnson City at about $49,100 (midpoint, 300 sq ft). The priciest is Nashville at $53,500.
+Is home addition cheaper in Tennessee than the US average?
It is 11% cheaper: $51,200 against $57,500 for 300 sq ft at the midpoint.
+What share of the price is labor in Tennessee?
About 64% ($32,700). Materials are 34%. Statewide labor for this job is weighted 0.86x the national wage level.
+What do carpenters earn in Tennessee?
The BLS statewide median is $24.44 an hour, against $29.12 for the US. The 25th to 75th percentile range is $22.36 to $28.80.
+Where does Tennessee rank for home addition costs?
40th most expensive of 51 (the 50 states plus DC) at the midpoint, $51,200 for 300 sq ft. Rank 1 is the costliest.
+What do basic and premium home addition work cost in Tennessee?
For 300 sq ft, basic work runs $33,800 to $47,700 and premium work $54,700 to $68,600. Basic means: bump-out or simple room without plumbing. Premium means: large addition with bath or kitchen and a new foundation.
+Does the season matter for home addition in Tennessee?
Yes where winters or summers are hard. Of the Tennessee metros we cover, Knoxville has the most comfortable months (11 of 12) based on NOAA 1991-2020 normals. Our prices do not change by month, so ask contractors whether they charge more or less in busy and slow seasons.
Home addition by city in Tennessee
Where these numbers come from
Base prices are national ranges from the sources below. We scale labor by local BLS wages, materials by BEA goods prices and permits by the BEA all-items price level. Full method on the methodology page.
- HomeGuide: How Much Does a Home Addition Cost? (2026) (accessed November 4, 2026)
- Cost to Renovate: Renovation Labor Report 2026: Where the Money Goes (accessed November 4, 2026)
- HomeGuide: 2026 Building Permit Costs | Fees & Cost Calculator (accessed November 4, 2026)
- BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics, May 2025
- BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991-2020
Note on derived figures: Materials = 32% of the installed price, from Cost to Renovate's mid-range 'Structural' category split (56% labor, 32% materials, 11% permits and design). It is a category average rather than an addition-specific figure.