How this GSA per diem calculator works
The U.S. General Services Administration sets CONUS per diem each federal fiscal year (October 1–September 30). Every rate has two parts: a lodging ceiling (before tax, by month) and a daily meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) allowance.
For FY2026, the standard CONUS rate is $110 lodging + $68 M&IE = $178 per full day. Pick a state and locality (or enter a ZIP) and your trip dates. The calculator applies the correct fiscal year, monthly lodging cap, and the FTR 75% first- and last-day M&IE rule.
Browse GSA rates by state or read the methodology. Official published tables remain on gsa.gov per diem rates.
To calculate meals and lodging: multiply the locality lodging cap by each overnight stay, add full-day M&IE for days in between, and pay 75% of M&IE on the first and last travel day. Do not mix this with POV mileage or with IRS trucker meal rates.
Popular GSA rate lookups
- Washington (Seattle, Tacoma)
- California (San Diego)
- Nevada (Las Vegas, Reno)
- Arizona (Phoenix)
- Washington, DC
- Rhode Island (Newport)
- Indiana
- Ohio (Columbus)
- Minnesota (Minneapolis)
- Utah (Salt Lake City)
- Michigan (Detroit)
FY2026 M&IE tiers
First and last travel day = 75% of the M&IE total. Incidentals are $5 in every tier.
| M&IE total | Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner | First/last day (75%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $68 | $16 | $19 | $28 | $51 |
| $74 | $18 | $20 | $31 | $55.5 |
| $80 | $20 | $22 | $33 | $60 |
| $86 | $22 | $23 | $36 | $64.5 |
| $92 | $23 | $26 | $38 | $69 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the GSA per diem rate for FY2026?
For most CONUS locations the standard rate is $110 lodging plus $68 M&IE ($178 per full day). About 300 higher-cost localities have their own lodging caps and M&IE tiers.
How do you calculate per diem rates for meals and lodging?
Look up the GSA locality for the destination and dates. Lodging is the monthly cap times each overnight (never prorated). M&IE is the daily meals-and-incidentals amount: 100% on full days and 75% on the first and last travel day. Trip total = lodging nights + full-day M&IE + 75% first/last-day M&IE, minus any government-provided meals.
How does the 75% first and last day rule work?
On the first and last calendar day of a trip, GSA reimburses 75% of the daily M&IE rate. Lodging is never prorated. A three-night trip is four travel days: two at 75% M&IE and two at 100%.
Is this the official GSA per diem rates lookup?
No. This is an independent per diem rate calculator that looks up published GSA CONUS tables (the same figures as gsa.gov). It is not a government website. Confirm amounts with your agency and the Federal Travel Regulation, and use gsa.gov/perdiem when you need the official source.
Are GSA per diem and GSA mileage the same thing?
No. Per diem is lodging plus M&IE for an overnight trip. Mileage is a separate privately owned vehicle (POV) reimbursement, generally the IRS standard mileage rate under the Federal Travel Regulation—not a GSA lodging table. Washington and other states may publish their own mileage rates for state employees.
What is the difference between GSA and IRS per diem rates?
GSA sets federal CONUS locality lodging and M&IE (used on this homepage calculator). The IRS sets special transportation-industry meal rates for qualifying over-the-road truck drivers ($80 CONUS / $86 OCONUS from Oct 1, 2025). Use the trucker calculator for IRS transportation rates; do not apply GSA city tables to OTR miles unless your employer says to.
Can I use this as a military per diem calculator?
This tool is GSA CONUS (48 states + DC). Military and DoD travel often uses Joint Travel Regulations and DoD per diem (including OCONUS). Those tables are not the same as GSA. Use this calculator only when your orders or policy point to GSA CONUS rates.
How do I look up per diem rates by state or city?
Open this calculator and pick a state, locality, or ZIP, or browse GSA rates by state. Cities not listed as a GSA non-standard area use that state's standard CONUS rate. Examples people search: Seattle, Tacoma, Las Vegas, San Diego, Phoenix, Minneapolis, and Washington, DC.
What if my city is not on the GSA list?
Use the standard CONUS rate for that state. GSA publishes localities (usually a key city plus county), not every town. Enter a ZIP in the calculator to map to the correct destination.