Per Diem / Travel Rate Calculator
Per diem rates set the maximum daily reimbursement for lodging and meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) during business travel. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) publishes CONUS (continental U.S.) rates for thousands of cities and counties, updated each fiscal year. This free tool lets you look up official GSA rates by destination and calculate total trip reimbursement for any number of travel days.
Open the full Per Diem Calculator →Opens on perdiemcalculator.com
What this tool calculates
- Official GSA CONUS lodging and M&IE rates for every listed city and county
- Calculates total trip reimbursement based on number of travel days
- Covers the current fiscal year and prior year for comparison
- Useful for federal employees, government contractors, and private employers who use GSA rates as a benchmark
How it works
Four steps, under two minutes.
- Select your destination
Choose state, then city or county from the GSA locality list.
- Choose fiscal year
Current and prior fiscal year rates are available.
- Enter travel days
Number of full travel days for lodging and M&IE calculation.
- See your reimbursement
Daily rates, total lodging, total M&IE, and combined trip total.
Frequently asked questions
What is per diem?
Per diem (Latin: "per day") is a daily allowance paid to employees or contractors to cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses while traveling for work. Federal agencies use GSA-published rates; private employers may use GSA rates as a benchmark or set their own.
What does CONUS mean?
CONUS stands for "Continental United States" — the 48 contiguous states and D.C. Alaska, Hawaii, and U.S. territories have separate rates published by the Department of Defense (OCONUS rates).
What are M&IE rates?
M&IE stands for Meals & Incidental Expenses. The GSA M&IE rate covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, and minor incidentals (tips, laundry, etc.). On the first and last day of travel, the IRS requires the rate to be reduced to 75%.
When do GSA rates change?
GSA updates CONUS per diem rates on October 1 of each year, the start of the federal fiscal year. Rates for high-cost cities like New York, San Francisco, and Washington D.C. are typically higher and reviewed annually.
Can private employers use GSA rates?
Yes. Many private companies use GSA rates as a benchmark because they are IRS-safe-harbor amounts. As long as reimbursements do not exceed GSA rates, they are generally non-taxable to employees under an accountable plan.
Ready to calculate?
Look up official GSA CONUS per diem rates for lodging and M&IE by city and fiscal year — for employees, contractors, and crew.
Open the full Per Diem Calculator →Rates are sourced from the GSA and updated periodically. Always verify current rates at gsa.gov before submitting reimbursement claims.
Other calculators
Section 8 / Housing Voucher
Estimate your housing voucher amount, income limits, and tenant rent share based on your ZIP code and family size.
⚖️FamilyAlimony & Spousal Support
Estimate monthly alimony or spousal maintenance under your state's guidelines — covers all 50 states with statute-specific formulas.