Calculate travel per diem for a trip: enter travel days to get meals (M&IE) and lodging totals at the GSA standard rate, or enter your destination’s rates.

Count departure and return dates. One-day entries do not establish eligibility.

Prefilled with the FY 2027 GSA standard rate for most of the continental US ($68). Enter your destination’s rate if different.

Prefilled with the FY 2027 GSA standard lodging rate ($113). Enter your destination’s rate or actual cost.

Optional settings

Optional. Blank uses travel days minus one.

Travel Per Diem Formula

Per diem is a daily travel allowance. This calculator has three modes: total trip lodging plus meals and incidental expenses (M&IE), M&IE only, and a daily-rate comparison. Enter the rate applicable to your destination, travel dates and reimbursement policy.

Total trip estimate = lodging nights × nightly amount + M&IE allowance.

With the first/last-day adjustment turned on and a trip of at least two days:

M&IE = (travel days − 2) × daily M&IE + 2 × first/last percentage × daily M&IE.

Enter the percentage as 75 in the calculator for 75%; the formula uses 0.75. A one-day entry applies the percentage once. When the adjustment is off, M&IE equals days multiplied by the full daily rate. This arithmetic does not establish whether a one-day trip qualifies for an allowance.

FY2027 Standard CONUS Rates

For October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, GSA’s standard continental U.S. lodging cap is $113 per night and the standard M&IE allowance is $68 per day. The combined full-day reference is $181. For FY2026, the corresponding standard amounts were $110 and $68. Destination-specific rates and seasons can differ; the standard rate is not a nationwide maximum.

ReferenceFY2026FY2027
Standard CONUS lodging cap$110$113
Standard CONUS M&IE$68$68
75% of standard M&IE$51$51

Example: Three Days and Two Nights

Use three travel days, two eligible lodging nights at $113, daily M&IE of $68, and 75% M&IE on the first and last days. Meals total $51 + $68 + $51 = $170. Lodging totals 2 × $113 = $226. The trip estimate is $396.

How to Use the Calculator

  1. Select total trip, M&IE only, or daily rate.
  2. Look up the applicable destination and travel-date rates. Enter eligible lodging costs or the allowance you want to model.
  3. Enter whole travel days. Lodging defaults to days minus one; use More options to change the number of nights.
  4. Set the first/last-day percentage, then select Calculate. Split trips across different rates into separate calculations.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does GSA always reimburse the lodging cap? No. A lodging cap is generally a maximum; reimbursement depends on eligible actual lodging expenses, travel authorization and agency rules. This tool multiplies the amount you enter by nights and does not validate a travel claim.

Does a return day include lodging? Only if there is an eligible lodging night. Daily-rate mode shows a comparison containing one lodging night; the trip mode uses your entered number of nights.

Are these military PCS rules? This is general travel-allowance arithmetic. Use the PCS Per Diem Calculator for its separate travel-day and dependent-share model, and follow the applicable orders and JTR.

Does the calculator convert currencies? No. Results are shown in dollars; enter all amounts in the same currency.

Sources checked October 20, 2026: GSA FY2027 bulletin, destination rate lookup, and M&IE breakdowns.