Estimate your 2026 PPM/DITY reimbursement, DLA, MALT, per diem, and profit from a self-arranged military PCS move
A DITY move — officially called a PPM (Personally Procured Move) since the terminology update — is one of the most valuable financial opportunities available to military service members during a PCS (Permanent Change of Station). Instead of letting the government contract a moving company on your behalf, you arrange your own relocation and receive reimbursement up to 100% of what the government would have paid. If you can move your household goods for less than that reimbursement, you keep the difference as income. This calculator uses the current 2026 Joint Travel Regulations (JTR) rates to estimate every component of your PPM reimbursement: the HHG (Household Goods) incentive payment based on weight, the MALT (Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation) for driving your privately owned vehicles, per diem for meals and lodging during transit, and DLA (Dislocation Allowance) — the one-time payment designed to offset the cost of establishing a new household. It also calculates your authorized travel days, any available advance pay, the 60%/40% payment split, and your estimated profit or loss after federal taxes. The HHG reimbursement is the centerpiece of a PPM. The government pays $208.51 per hundredweight (cwt) — that is, per 100 pounds — of your authorized household goods shipment. Your authorized weight allowance depends on your pay grade and whether you are moving with or without dependents, ranging from 5,000 pounds for junior enlisted without dependents all the way to 18,000 pounds for senior officers. The key rule: you are reimbursed for the lesser of your actual weight or your authorized allowance. Moving overweight does not earn extra reimbursement — it just means you carry the extra weight at your own cost. That is why careful weight planning and using certified scale weight tickets is essential to maximizing your PPM incentive. MALT is calculated at $0.21 per mile per privately owned vehicle (POV). If you and your spouse each drive a vehicle to the new duty station, you can claim MALT for both — up to two POVs. For a 1,500-mile move with two POVs, that adds $630 to your total reimbursement with no additional paperwork beyond your travel authorization. Per diem during transit is paid at $178 per day for the service member, $133.50 per day for each dependent age 12 or older, and $89 per day for each dependent under 12. The number of authorized travel days follows a JTR formula: one day for the first 400 miles, then one additional day for each subsequent 350 miles (rounded up if the remainder exceeds 50 miles). For a 1,200-mile move, you would receive three authorized travel days. The DLA is a one-time flat-rate allowance that varies by pay grade and dependent status. At the E-5 level with dependents, DLA is approximately $2,785.91. At the O-5 level with dependents, it rises to $4,225.61. DLA is not payable if you are separating from service, reporting to your first permanent duty station without dependents, or in certain other first-PDS scenarios defined in JTR Chapter 5. PPM profit — the amount you receive above your actual moving expenses — is taxable income. You will receive a W-2 reflecting the taxable profit amount, and most financial advisors recommend setting aside approximately 22% for federal taxes if you are in the middle income brackets. Your net after-tax profit represents the true financial benefit of choosing a PPM over a government-arranged move. Before your move, you can request an advance of up to 60% of the estimated HHG reimbursement through your finance office using DD Form 2278 (PPM Authorization). The remaining 40% is paid after your move upon submission of DD Form 1351-2 (Travel Voucher) along with certified weight tickets and receipts. Planning your move expenses around this advance structure helps with cash flow during what is often an expensive transition period. This calculator covers CONUS (continental United States) moves. OCONUS moves, separations, and certain special assignment categories have different rules and rate schedules not reflected here. Always verify your entitlements with your transportation office and personal finance specialist before committing to a PPM.
Understanding the DITY / PPM Military Move
What Is a DITY / PPM Move?
A PPM (Personally Procured Move), commonly called a DITY (Do-It-Yourself) move, is a military relocation option where the service member arranges and executes their own PCS move rather than using a government-contracted carrier. In exchange, the government reimburses the member up to 100% of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) — the amount it would have paid a professional moving company. Any difference between the reimbursement and actual out-of-pocket costs is retained by the service member as taxable income. Members must obtain a PPM authorization (DD Form 2278) before the move and submit certified weight tickets and receipts afterward to claim reimbursement.
Weight Allowances by Pay Grade
The JTR Table 5-37 establishes weight allowances for each pay grade, varying between moves with and without dependents. Junior enlisted (E-1 through E-3) without dependents are authorized 5,000 pounds; with dependents, 8,000 pounds. Senior NCOs and officers have higher allowances — up to 18,000 pounds for O-6 and above regardless of dependent status. An additional pro-gear allowance of up to 2,000 pounds for the member (professional books, papers, and equipment) and 500 pounds for a spouse is NOT counted against the primary weight allowance. Exceeding your authorized weight is a common mistake that reduces reimbursement without extra penalty, so accurate weight planning is essential.
How Reimbursement Is Calculated
Your total PPM reimbursement has four components. The HHG incentive payment is (min(actual weight, authorized weight) / 100) × $208.51 per cwt — the largest single component. MALT covers your POV driving at $0.21 per mile per vehicle, up to two vehicles. Per diem covers daily subsistence during transit at $178/day for the member plus additional amounts for dependents based on their age. DLA is a one-time flat payment based on pay grade and dependent status. These four amounts sum to your total authorized reimbursement. Your profit is the total reimbursement minus your actual moving expenses.
Maximizing Your PPM Profit
The most effective way to maximize PPM profit is to move your household goods for as little as possible while staying at or near your authorized weight allowance. Renting a truck through a military discount program (Penske, Budget, etc.) and doing your own loading and driving often costs 50–80% less than the reimbursement rate. Getting weight tickets from a certified CAT scale (found at most truck stops) before and after loading — with a full gas tank and no passengers — is mandatory. Plan to spend $25–150 on weight tickets. Other expenses that count against profit include packing materials, hired labor, tolls, and fuel. Keep all receipts, as they are required for your travel voucher and may affect your tax deductions.
How to Use the DITY Move Calculator
Select Your Pay Grade and Dependent Status
Choose your military branch (for reference), your pay grade (E-1 through O-10), and whether you are moving with or without dependents. If you have dependents, enter the number age 12 and over and the number under 12 separately — this affects the per diem calculation. Check the 'Separating from service' box if you are retiring or separating, as DLA is not payable in that case.
Enter Distance, HHG Weight, and POVs
Enter the official DTOD distance between your old and new duty stations in miles. Enter your estimated HHG weight — use the room estimator (1,500 lbs per room) if you are unsure. Select the number of privately owned vehicles you plan to drive to the new duty station (0, 1, or 2). The calculator shows your authorized weight allowance and warns you if your estimated weight exceeds it.
Enter Your Actual Moving Expenses
Enter your total estimated out-of-pocket moving costs: truck rental, fuel, packing materials, hired labor, tolls, and weight ticket fees. If you leave this blank, the calculator shows total reimbursement only. When expenses are entered, you see gross profit, estimated 22% federal tax on that profit, and net after-tax profit — the real financial result of your PPM.
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The results panel shows your total reimbursement broken down into DLA, MALT, per diem, and HHG incentive components. Visual charts show the reimbursement mix and weight allowance utilization. The advance pay section shows how much you can request before your move (60%) and how much is paid upon completion with receipts (40%). Use Export CSV to save your estimates or Print Results for your records.
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How does the PPM/DITY reimbursement rate work in 2026?
The 2026 HHG incentive reimbursement rate is $208.51 per hundredweight (cwt) — that is, $208.51 for every 100 pounds of authorized household goods moved. Your reimbursement is based on the lesser of your actual shipment weight or your authorized weight allowance by pay grade. For example, if you are an E-5 with dependents (authorized 9,000 lbs) and you move 8,000 lbs, you receive 80 cwt × $208.51 = $16,680.80 in HHG reimbursement alone, before adding MALT, per diem, and DLA. Note that effective January 2025, the DoD reduced the PPM rate from the prior 95% of GCC structure, so rates are lower than in prior years.
What is MALT and how much do I receive?
MALT (Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation) is the per-mile reimbursement for driving your privately owned vehicles to the new duty station. The 2026 rate is $0.21 per mile per vehicle, up to two vehicles. If you and your spouse each drive a car 1,000 miles, you receive 1,000 × 2 × $0.21 = $420 in MALT. MALT is separate from fuel costs — it is a flat-rate allowance regardless of what you actually spend on gas. To claim MALT, your vehicles must be driven on official travel orders and listed on your authorization.
Is PPM profit taxable income?
Yes. Any surplus from your PPM — the amount by which your total reimbursement exceeds your actual moving expenses — is taxable income reported on a W-2. The IRS treats this as regular income, and most service members in the middle income brackets will owe approximately 22% in federal income tax on the surplus amount. This calculator uses 22% as the estimate. State income tax may also apply depending on your state of legal residence. Planning for this tax liability is important — many members set aside a portion of the advance pay for the eventual tax bill.
What is DLA and who is eligible?
DLA (Dislocation Allowance) is a one-time payment designed to offset the cost of disrupting your household during a PCS move. Unlike the HHG reimbursement which is weight-based, DLA is a flat amount determined by your pay grade and dependent status. In 2026, DLA ranges from approximately $1,019 for E-1 without dependents to $6,386 for O-7 and above with dependents. DLA is not payable if you are separating or retiring from service, reporting to your first permanent duty station without dependents, or in certain other first-PDS scenarios defined in JTR Chapter 5. Eligibility should always be confirmed with your transportation office.
How do I get weight tickets and why are they required?
Weight tickets are certified scale receipts showing the weight of your truck or vehicle before and after loading. Net weight equals loaded weight minus empty (tare) weight. You need at least two tickets: one empty (tare) and one loaded. Rules are strict: your tank must be full and there must be no passengers in the vehicle during both weigh-ins. CAT scales at truck stops are the most commonly used option, costing $10–$25 per weigh-in. Without certified weight tickets, you cannot claim HHG reimbursement — they are required documentation for your DD Form 1351-2 travel voucher submitted after the move.
Can I do a partial PPM and still use a government move?
Yes. A partial PPM allows you to move some of your household goods yourself and have the government move the rest. You receive HHG reimbursement only for the portion you self-move, calculated against the weight you personally shipped. This is useful if you want to profit from moving lighter, easily transportable items (electronics, valuables, clothes) while letting the government handle bulky furniture. The government-arranged portion will not count toward your PPM reimbursement, but it also won't cost you anything out of pocket. Coordinate a partial PPM through your transportation office early in the PCS process to ensure proper authorization.