PCS Toolkit
PCS Cost Calculator
DLA + per diem + MALT + TLE + PPM. Every entitlement, by paygrade. The math TMO covers in 4 minutes during your transition brief — broken down honestly.
Your move
Estimated reimbursements
Total estimate
$4,458
DLA — Dislocation Allowance
Flat payment, no receipts required
$1,840
MALT — POV mileage
1,000 mi × $0.22/mi
$220
Per Diem (travel days)
4 days @ $109 + 75% per dependent
$763
TLE — Temporary Lodging Expense
10 days · receipts required · CONUS cap 14
$1,635
Reality check: These are PLANNING estimates calibrated to the 2025 DTMO DLA table and FY2026 standard CONUS per diem rate. Actual entitlements depend on the current JTR, your destination's locality rate, your actual move weight (weighed at a certified scale), and your TMO's determination. Verify before counting on a specific dollar amount.
Six things TMO won't emphasize
- PPM is real money. A motivated E-5 with light HHG can net $5,000–$15,000 on a CONUS move by doing PPM with a rental truck. The catch: you need empty + full weight tickets, DD Form 2278 approval BEFORE you move, and pre-approval on your routing.
- Per diem on dependent travel. Your dependents get 75% of the standard rate for each day of travel — many service members forget to claim this for their spouse and kids. That's real money on a 4-day cross-country trip.
- TLE caps at 14 days CONUS but you have to USE the days. Don't move into your new place on day 3 and lose 11 days of reimbursement. Stay in TLE eligible lodging through day 14 if your transition allows.
- Advance pay is interest-free. You can request advance pay (1–3 months of base pay) to fund your move. Repaid via payroll deduction over 12 months. Most service members don't use it because they don't know — it's genuinely free working capital.
- Weight ticket gold. If you do PPM, weigh your vehicle EMPTY first, then FULL. The difference is your shipped weight. Cat scales at truck stops cost $13 each — keep ALL receipts. Lost weight tickets = lost reimbursement.
- OCONUS is different. TLA (Temporary Lodging Allowance) replaces TLE overseas, with different rules and longer caps (60+ days with command approval). The locality rates are higher. Don't apply CONUS math to an overseas move.
Adjacent tools