Per Diem Calculator
Budget a business trip. Add up lodging and meal per diem across your travel days, with the standard 75% first- and last-day meal rule.
Expense tracking and travel tools
Learn moreHow per diem adds up
Per diem reimburses travel without itemized receipts: a fixed lodging rate per night plus a meals & incidentals (M&IE) rate per day. Travel days — your first and last — get only 75% of the meal rate, since you’re not away for the whole day.
How it’s calculated & sources
Lodging = nights (days − 1) × nightly rate. M&IE = full rate for interior days plus 75% for the first and last day. Total = lodging + M&IE.
Benchmark: GSA per diem structure — lodging plus M&IE, with first/last travel days at 75% of the meal rate (U.S. GSA).
Results update as you type and are general estimates, not personalized financial, tax, medical or legal advice. Verify with a professional.
Worked example
A 4-day trip at $150 lodging and $79 M&IE is $450 lodging (3 nights) plus about $277 in meals — roughly $727 total.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find my city’s rate?
The GSA publishes locality lodging and M&IE rates at gsa.gov; high-cost cities run well above the standard rate.
Is per diem taxable?
Reimbursements up to the federal rate under an accountable plan are generally tax-free; amounts above the rate can be taxable income.