Tennessee Bail Bond Calculator

Enter the bail amount to compare what posting it costs in Tennessee: cash with the court, a bond through a licensed bail agent, or a percentage deposit with the court where Tennessee law offers one. It runs in your browser and nothing is stored.

Tennessee sets the premium at 10% by statute.

Enter the bail amount to compare the ways to post it.

Bail bond agents in Tennessee

Professional bondsmen are licensed by the Department of Commerce and Insurance through its Board of Professional Bondsmen, and local courts still approve them. (Tenn. Dept. of Commerce & Insurance (Pub. Ch. 491, 2025))

Under this law, TDCI's Division of Regulatory Boards will license and have oversight of professional bondsmen through the newly created Board of Professional Bondsmen. Local courts will still approve of professional bondsmen operating within their jurisdiction; however, all professional bondsmen must first be licensed by TDCI.

Note: TDCI notice dated January 5, 2026: all professional bondsmen had to register with TDCI by March 1, 2026.

Since July 1, 2025, a professional bondsman must charge a Tennessee resident a premium of 10 percent of the bond (the statute previously set 10 percent as a maximum); a nonresident may be charged 10 to 15 percent. (T.C.A. § 40-11-316(a), as amended by Pub. Ch. 318 (2025))

Subsection 40-11-316(a), is amended by deleting the language "not assess more than ten percent (10%)" and substituting "assess ten percent (10%)".

Note: Public Chapter 318 (2025), § 2, effective July 1, 2025 (§ 5); enrolled act opened on 2026-10-20. The codified T.C.A. (Lexis-hosted) was not re-fetched.

Bail agents are licensed by the Tennessee Department of Commerce & Insurance, Board of Professional Bondsmen, where a license can be checked and a complaint filed.

Cash bail in Tennessee

The current constitution makes all prisoners bailable by sufficient sureties, except capital offences when the proof is evident or the presumption great. (Tenn. Const. art. I, § 15)

That all prisoners shall be bailable by sufficient sureties, unless for capital offences, when the proof is evident, or the presumption great.

Note: Current text as quoted in SJR 25 (114th General Assembly). A constitutional amendment on the November 3, 2026 ballot would let bail be denied for more listed offenses; not law unless approved and certified.

What this page does not do

  • It does not set or predict bail; the judge or the bail schedule does.
  • It does not quote any bail agent; collateral and extra fees depend on the agreement you sign.
  • Some items for this state could not be confirmed at an official source and are left out. Ask the court clerk or the state regulator.
  • It collects nothing; your entries stay in your browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a bail bond cost in Tennessee?

Since July 1, 2025, a professional bondsman must charge a Tennessee resident a premium of 10 percent of the bond (the statute previously set 10 percent as a maximum); a nonresident may be charged 10 to 15 percent. (T.C.A. § 40-11-316(a), as amended by Pub. Ch. 318 (2025)).

Can you pay a percentage of bail to the court in Tennessee?

We found no Tennessee rule that lets a defendant post a percentage of bail with the court. Ask the clerk which forms of bail the court accepts.

Sources

Checked against the sources above on October 20, 2026.

Know someone who could use this? Share this free tool:

Share: