Calculate travel per diem rates with lodging and meals & incidentals (M&IE). Get total per diem allowance for business trips.
Per diem rates are daily allowances provided by employers or government agencies to cover lodging and meals & incidental expenses (M&IE) during business travel. The travel per diem calculator helps you estimate your total per diem allowance based on the lodging rate, M&IE rate, and number of travel days.
The US General Services Administration (GSA) sets per diem rates for federal employees, but many private companies use the same rates as a benchmark. Rates vary by destination — high-cost cities like New York and San Francisco have significantly higher per diem rates than rural areas.
This tool computes your daily per diem, total per diem for the trip, and shows the lodging and M&IE breakdown. It is invaluable for business travelers filing expense reports and for companies setting travel policies. Whether you are a beginner or experienced professional, this free online tool provides instant, reliable results without manual computation. By automating the calculation, you save time and reduce the risk of costly errors in your planning and decision-making process.
Per diem simplifies expense management. Instead of submitting individual receipts for every meal, you receive a flat daily amount. This calculator helps you know what to expect before the trip and verify the math on your expense report after. Having a precise figure at your fingertips empowers better planning and more confident decisions.
Daily Per Diem = Lodging Rate + M&IE Rate Total Per Diem = Daily Per Diem × Number of Days
Result: $916
Daily per diem: $150 lodging + $79 M&IE = $229/day. Total for 4 days: $229 × 4 = $916.
GSA updates per diem rates annually on October 1st. Rates are based on average daily rate (ADR) data from the lodging industry. High-cost cities like DC, NYC, and San Francisco have the highest rates.
While not required to follow GSA rates, most companies use them as a baseline. Some offer a flat per diem, while others reimburse actual expenses up to a cap.
The Department of State sets per diem rates for international destinations. These rates account for local cost of living and fluctuate with currency exchange rates.
The GSA standard CONUS rate for FY2025 is $107 for lodging and $68 for M&IE. Higher rates apply to ~300 non-standard areas.
Under the GSA's accountable plan, no. If you spend less than your per diem on meals, you keep the difference. Lodging per diem typically requires receipts.
Under an accountable plan (requires business purpose and timely reporting), per diem is not taxable up to the GSA rate. Amounts exceeding the GSA rate are taxable.
Meals & Incidental Expenses covers breakfast, lunch, dinner, tips for meal-related services, and incidentals like laundry and dry cleaning. It does not include transportation, lodging, or entertainment expenses.
Visit gsa.gov/perdiem and search by city and state. International rates are set by the State Department at aoprals.state.gov.
Yes, if your destination changes mid-trip. Each day uses the per diem rate for the city where you spend the night.