Sitework in Tennessee on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as the rest of DirtBid: 11 cost regions and 95 counties, each with a soil-risk rating from USDA and USGS data. Nashville Metro runs highest at 0.94×; Jackson Metro lowest at 0.80×.
Tennessee multipliers and county ratings are planning-level: built from federal price and soil data, and not yet checked against local bids or a local estimator.
Cost regions
11
Counties in the model
95
Richmond Metro baseline
1.00×
Nashville Metro
0.94×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Hawthorne, Sengtown, Mimosa
14 counties in this region. 5 of 14 rate high for shallow rock. 1 of 14 rate high for shrink-swell clay. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 11 of the 14. Highest risk score: Cannon County (5 of 10).
Counties: Cannon County, Cheatham County, Davidson County, Dickson County, Hickman County, Macon County, Maury County, Robertson County, Rutherford County, Smith County, Sumner County, Trousdale County, Williamson County, Wilson County
Rest of Tennessee
0.88×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Hawthorne, Lily, Bodine
51 counties in this region. 19 of 51 rate high for shallow rock. 12 of 51 rate high for water table. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 23 of the 51. Highest risk score: Bedford County (5 of 10).
Counties: Bedford County, Benton County, Bledsoe County, Carroll County, Claiborne County, Clay County, Cocke County, Coffee County, Cumberland County, Decatur County, DeKalb County, Dyer County, Fentress County, Franklin County, Giles County, Greene County, Grundy County, Hancock County, Hardeman County, Hardin County, Haywood County, Henderson County, Henry County, Houston County, Humphreys County, Jackson County, Johnson County, Lake County, Lauderdale County, Lawrence County, Lewis County, Lincoln County, McMinn County, McNairy County, Marshall County, Meigs County, Monroe County, Moore County, Obion County, Overton County, Perry County, Pickett County, Putnam County, Rhea County, Scott County, Sevier County, Van Buren County, Warren County, Wayne County, Weakley County, White County
Memphis Metro
0.89×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Grenada, Falaya, Memphis
3 counties in this region. 3 of 3 rate high for water table. 2 of 3 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Shelby County (5 of 10).
Counties: Fayette County, Shelby County, Tipton County
Knoxville Metro
0.89×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Fullerton, Dewey, Gilpin
9 counties in this region. 6 of 9 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 7 of the 9. Highest risk score: Blount County (5 of 10).
Counties: Anderson County, Blount County, Campbell County, Grainger County, Knox County, Loudon County, Morgan County, Roane County, Union County
Chattanooga Metro
0.88×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Lily, Bouldin, Fullerton
3 counties in this region. 2 of 3 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 1 of the 3. Highest risk score: Hamilton County (5 of 10).
Counties: Hamilton County, Marion County, Sequatchie County
Clarksville Metro
0.87×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Sengtown, Baxter, Pembroke
2 counties in this region. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 2 of the 2. Highest risk score: Montgomery County (4 of 10).
Counties: Montgomery County, Stewart County
Kingsport Metro
0.81×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Dandridge, Wallen, Dewey
2 counties in this region. 2 of 2 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 2 of the 2. Highest risk score: Hawkins County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Hawkins County, Sullivan County
Johnson City Metro
0.83×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Chestnut, Braxton, Keener
3 counties in this region. 2 of 3 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 1 of the 3. Highest risk score: Washington County (5 of 10).
Counties: Carter County, Unicoi County, Washington County
Jackson Metro
0.80×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Smithdale, Providence, Loring
4 counties in this region. 3 of 4 rate high for water table. 3 of 4 rate high for dewatering. Highest risk score: Madison County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Chester County, Crockett County, Gibson County, Madison County
Cleveland Metro
0.83×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Montevallo, Fullerton, Sequoia
2 counties in this region. 2 of 2 rate high for shallow rock. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 1 of the 2. Highest risk score: Bradley County (5 of 10).
Counties: Bradley County, Polk County
Morristown Metro
0.81×Cost multiplier
Dominant ground: Dewey, Dandridge, Talbott
2 counties in this region. USGS maps karst-prone rock across much of 2 of the 2. Highest risk score: Hamblen County (5 of 10). This multiplier sits outside the range the model was tested on, so treat it as rougher.
Counties: Hamblen County, Jefferson County
FAQ
Tennessee Cost Questions
Which soil problems drive sitework cost in Tennessee?
From USDA soil survey data, the most common across the state: shallow rock (38 of 95 counties rate high), water table (18 of 95 counties rate high), dewatering (15 of 95 counties rate high). A parcel can differ from its county, so read the survey for your exact site.
Where do the Tennessee multipliers come from?
From the Commerce Department's Regional Price Parities, on the same Richmond Metro = 1.00 scale as Virginia. Across 29 reviewed regions that method missed by about 0.03 on average. They have not been checked against executed bids in Tennessee, so use them for planning, not a final bid.
How reliable are the Tennessee county ratings?
They are screening ratings from federal soil and geology data, not a local estimator's review and not a geotechnical report. Tested against 511 reviewed counties, they land within one level most of the time, and exact matches are less common. Get borings before you price a real site.
Soil Report
See what's under your Tennessee parcel
A $350 DirtBid AI Soil Report reads the official USDA survey for your exact parcel, flags the hazards above, and prices the risk — before you buy land or sign a contract.