2026 Per Diem Calculator for Tennessee

Planning a business trip to Tennessee

Tennessee’s per-diem table lists separate lodging benchmarks for Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Brentwood or Franklin. Start with the city where the traveler will stay overnight, then check the month of travel. Do not use Nashville’s rate for a statewide itinerary or default to the standard row when the calculator lists the destination separately.

The table supports planning, while the employer’s travel policy determines what can be booked and how a business expense must be documented. Before confirming a hotel, check how the company handles taxes, parking, ground transportation, and any required approval above the lodging limit.

Where business travelers stay in Tennessee

Travelers attending a downtown event can compare hotels near Knoxville Convention Center against the Knoxville row in the calculator. Keeping the room search tied to the venue also makes it easier to estimate local transport alongside lodging.

For meetings in southeastern Tennessee, hotels near Chattanooga Convention Center keep the search tied to the event area. A hotel elsewhere in the city may have a lower room rate but create additional parking or local-transport costs, so compare the total itinerary rather than the nightly price alone.

Nashville travelers with an early departure, late arrival, or short connection can consider hotels near Nashville airport. For a downtown conference or a multi-day meeting, choose the hotel around the main work location and treat airport access as one part of the decision.

Conferences, meetings, and multi-city travel

Tennessee’s major business destinations are far enough apart that one hotel strategy will not fit the full state. If an itinerary moves between Nashville, Knoxville, Chattanooga, or Memphis, calculate each overnight against the applicable row and account for transport between cities separately.

For group travel, identify the fixed meeting point before comparing rooms. Keeping colleagues near the same venue can simplify arrival times and shared transport, but the organizer should still check each booking against the company’s policy and approval rules.

Using per diem and documenting expenses

Separate lodging from meals and incidental expenses when reviewing the budget. A hotel invoice may contain room charges, taxes, meals, parking, and other items that the employer treats differently, so categorize them according to policy rather than grouping the full invoice under lodging.

After the trip, submit an expense report that connects each charge with the correct date, destination, and business purpose. If a convention or meeting required a hotel above the benchmark, include the reason and prior approval instead of assuming the published rate guarantees reimbursement.

Some of the Biggest Companies:

• FedEx (Memphis): Major logistics and courier services company.
• HCA Healthcare (Nashville): Major healthcare provider with multiple facilities.
• Nissan North America (Franklin): Major automotive manufacturer.
• Jack Daniel’s (Lynchburg): Produces whiskey and spirits.
• Tennessee Valley Authority (Knoxville): Provides electricity and energy services.

Eastman Chemical Company (Kingsport): Specializes in chemicals and materials.