Per Diem Calculator
Total travel per diem for lodging and meals.
Results update as you type.
How it works
Per diem is a fixed daily allowance that covers lodging, meals, and incidental expenses while traveling for work, and this calculator totals it. You enter the number of days and the daily lodging and meals-and-incidentals rates, and it returns the total per diem and the combined daily amount. Per diem simplifies business travel expenses: instead of tracking and submitting receipts for every meal and hotel, the traveler receives a set amount per day based on the destination. In the United States, the GSA publishes standard per diem rates for domestic locations, with higher rates for expensive cities, while the State Department and Defense Department set international and military rates. Employers may follow these rates or set their own policy. The lodging portion covers the hotel, and the meals-and-incidentals (M&IE) portion covers food and small costs like tips. A common rule is that the first and last travel days are reimbursed at a reduced M&IE rate, often 75 percent, since they are partial days — you can adjust the days or rate to reflect this. Using per diem, both employers and travelers save time on expense reporting and gain predictability. Enter the days and daily rates to find your total per diem.
Total = days × (lodging rate + meals rate)
Per diem totals the daily lodging rate plus the daily meals-and-incidentals rate, multiplied by the number of days. Employers and government agencies use set daily rates that vary by destination to reimburse travel costs without requiring itemized receipts for every expense.
Source:Travel per diem (GSA)
We review all our tools from time to time to ensure accuracy.
Worked example
How to use this calculator
- 1
Enter your values
Enter number of days, lodging rate per day and meals & incidentals per day.
- 2
Adjust the options
Fine-tune any options to match your situation.
- 3
Read your result
Total per diem updates instantly as you type — no button to press.
Frequently asked questions
What is per diem?
Per diem, Latin for per day, is a fixed daily allowance an employer or agency pays to cover lodging, meals, and incidental expenses during business travel. Instead of itemizing every receipt, the traveler gets a set amount per day based on the destination. It simplifies expense reporting and gives predictable travel budgets for both parties.
How is per diem calculated?
Multiply the number of travel days by the sum of the daily lodging rate and the daily meals-and-incidentals rate. For five days at $150 lodging and $70 meals, the total is $1,100. Rates vary by destination, so use the applicable rate for your travel location, which the calculator applies to your number of days.
Who sets per diem rates?
In the US, the General Services Administration (GSA) sets standard per diem rates for the continental United States, with higher rates in costly cities. The State Department sets foreign rates and the Defense Department sets rates for non-foreign areas like Alaska and Hawaii. Private employers may adopt these rates or establish their own per diem policies.
Are the first and last days reimbursed fully?
Usually not for meals. Travel days at the start and end of a trip are typically reimbursed at a reduced meals-and-incidentals rate, commonly 75 percent, because they are partial days. Lodging is paid for nights actually stayed. To reflect this, you can lower the meals rate or adjust the day count for those partial travel days.
Is per diem taxable?
Per diem paid at or below the applicable federal rate under an accountable plan, with proper documentation of time, place, and business purpose, is generally not taxable to the employee. Amounts exceeding the federal rate, or paid without the required substantiation, may be treated as taxable income. Check your employer's plan and current tax rules for specifics.