Per Diem Calculator (2026-27 GSA Rates)

Pick a destination and your travel dates to get the maximum federal per diem: lodging for each night at that month's GSA rate, plus meals and incidentals (M&IE), with the first and last day at 75%.

Covers all 295 GSA localities in the continental U.S. and the standard rate for everywhere else ($113 lodging, $68 M&IE). FY2027, valid Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027. Source: GSA, read 2026-10-15.

Choose a state, a locality and your travel dates.

North Dakota: GSA lists no named localities, so the whole state uses the standard rate.

How the calculation works

  1. Lodging, per night. Each night uses the GSA rate for the month it falls in, so a trip that crosses a seasonal change mixes two rates. A trip of N days has N − 1 nights.
  2. M&IE, per day. Every full day earns the locality's M&IE. The first and last day of travel earn 75%.
  3. Add them up. Lodging is a ceiling reimbursed against actual cost; M&IE is a flat allowance.

Look up a single rate

Every state's localities, with the month-by-month lodging schedule:

Per diem rates by state

Travel nurse? The same rates cap tax-free stipends. Check an offer with the stipend calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is per diem calculated?

Per diem has two parts. Lodging is allowed per night, up to the GSA rate for the locality and month of that night. Meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) are a flat daily amount, paid at 75% on the first and last day of travel. Outside named GSA localities the FY2027 standard rate applies: $113 a night for lodging and $68 a day for M&IE.

What is the first and last day per diem rate?

75% of the full-day M&IE. GSA's breakdown gives $68 → $51.00, $74 → $55.50, $80 → $60.00, $86 → $64.50, $92 → $69.00.

Is lodging tax included in the per diem rate?

No. GSA lodging rates exclude taxes; federal travelers claim lodging taxes separately. Private employers set their own policy.

Do I get per diem for a same-day trip?

Under federal rules, travel of 12 hours or less generally earns no M&IE, and there is no lodging. Rules for trips over 12 hours but under 24 differ by agency; check your employer's policy. This calculator shows one day at 75% for a same-day trip as an upper bound.

When do per diem rates change?

Every October 1, the start of the federal fiscal year. This calculator uses FY2027 rates, valid October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027.