A Permanent Change of Station move brings orders, deadlines, and a pile of money questions. How much weight can you ship? What dislocation allowance will you receive? The calculator above estimates your core entitlements in one pass. It uses the JTR weight allowance table for your grade and dependent status. It then adds the CY2026 dislocation allowance, mileage pay, and per diem.
Treat the result as a planning estimate, never a final voucher. Official rates change, and local offices apply the current rules. The PPM incentive pay is not included here, since it varies by route and season. Confirm your figures with your transportation and finance offices. This guide explains each piece of the estimate.
What a PCS Move Includes
A PCS move relocates you and your household to a new duty station. The government ships household goods up to a set weight allowance. It also pays to move you and your family there. Several separate payments cover different parts of that journey. Each payment follows its own rule in the Joint Travel Regulations. Mixing them up causes most budget confusion.
Your orders start every entitlement clock. They name your new station, report date, and dependent status. Keep a copy of the orders with you during travel. Weight tickets, receipts, and lodging records also matter. Finance will ask for documents when you file your claim. Orderly paperwork speeds every payment.
Briefings turn raw orders into a workable plan. Transportation counsels the shipment side of the move. Finance counsels the money side during in processing. Attend both before you sign any moving contract. Their guidance reflects your exact orders and dates. Generic advice, including this page, cannot replace it.
Household Goods Weight Allowances
Weight allowances rise with pay grade. Junior enlisted members receive smaller allowances than senior officers. Having dependents raises the allowance for most grades. An E-7 with dependents, for example, may ship 13,000 pounds. The same E-7 without dependents receives 11,000 pounds. An O-3 without dependents also sits at 13,000 pounds.
Exceeding your allowance creates real costs. The government bills you for the excess weight later. That bill surprises many families after delivery day. Weigh your shipment risk before the movers arrive. Selling or donating heavy items can protect your budget. The margin line in the result shows your room to spare.
The Dislocation Allowance Explained
The dislocation allowance, called DLA, helps offset moving costs. It covers the small expenses of setting up a new home. Think deposits, basic supplies, and first shopping runs. The amount depends on grade and dependent status. This estimate uses the official CY2026 primary DLA rates. An E-7 with dependents receives $3,551.31 under that table.
Some moves do not qualify for DLA at all. Moves into government quarters often exclude it. First moves from home of record can also differ. Your finance office confirms eligibility for your exact orders. Never spend the DLA before eligibility is clear. Treat it as reimbursement support, not a bonus.
How to Use the Pcs Move Calculator
- Select your pay grade from the list.
- Choose whether you have dependents for this move.
- Enter your estimated household goods weight in pounds.
- Enter the distance to your new duty station in miles.
- Select how many vehicles you will drive yourselves.
- Press Calculate, then use Reset before another check.
Use the official distance when you can find it. Your transportation office can confirm the route mileage.
Worked Example 1: An E-7 Family Moving 2,100 Miles
The Inputs
A soldier at grade E-7 moves with dependents this summer. The family estimates 11,000 pounds of household goods. Their new station sits 2,100 miles away. They will drive one family vehicle themselves. The second vehicle ships separately at their own arrangement.
The Calculation
The E-7 with dependents allowance is 13,000 pounds. Subtracting the estimate leaves a margin of 2,000 pounds of room. Under the CY2026 table, DLA for this grade and status is $3,551.31. Travel days equal 2,100 divided by 350, exactly six days. Mileage pay equals 2,100 times $0.205 times one vehicle, or $430.50. Per diem equals six days times $178, or $1,068.
The Result
Adding the parts gives $3,551.31 plus $430.50 plus $1,068. The total estimate comes to $5,049.81. Their weight sits safely under the allowance. Six travel days shape their hotel and meal planning. Finance will settle the claim against actual documents later.
Worked Example 2: An O-3 Moving Without Dependents
The Inputs
An officer at grade O-3 moves without dependents. He estimates 9,000 pounds of household goods. His drive covers 1,200 miles to the new station. A friend helps him drive a second vehicle. Both vehicles travel the full route together.
The Calculation
The O-3 without dependents allowance is 13,000 pounds. Subtracting the estimate leaves a margin of 4,000 pounds of room. Under the CY2026 table, DLA for this grade and status is $3,404.11. Travel days equal 1,200 divided by 350, rounded up to four days. Mileage pay equals 1,200 times $0.205 times two vehicles, or $492.00. Per diem equals four days times $178, or $712.
The Result
Adding the parts gives $3,404.11 plus $492.00 plus $712. The total estimate comes to $4,608.11. Two vehicles raised the mileage pay noticeably. His weight margin leaves generous room for the shipment. He should still confirm every rate with finance.
MALT and Per Diem: The Travel Money
MALT is the monetary allowance in lieu of transportation. It pays $0.205 per mile for each vehicle you drive. The 2026 rate used here applies per authorized vehicle. Driving two vehicles doubles that line, as example two showed. Passengers do not add extra MALT payments. Keep fuel receipts anyway for your records.
Per diem covers lodging, meals, and incidentals during travel. The estimate uses the 2026 flat rate of $178 per day. Travel days follow the 350 mile standard. One day is allowed for every 350 miles, with a one day minimum. Dependents traveling with you can change per diem treatment. Finance applies the exact rules to your claim.
What This Estimate Leaves Out
The PPM incentive is not included in this total. A personally procured move pays an incentive based on shipment cost. That figure varies by route, weight, and season. It can be large, so get a counseling estimate first. Your transportation office runs that number for your route. Never assume the incentive before that counseling.
Other costs also sit outside this estimate. Temporary lodging expense may apply at either end. Dislocation for secondary moves, storage, and pet costs differ. Some items are reimbursable and some are not. A briefing at your transportation office maps them out. Ask questions there before you spend money.
Filing the Claim After the Move
Most travelers file their claim within days of arrival. Bring orders, weight tickets, and travel receipts. Lodging receipts matter when lodging is claimed separately. Keep every document until the payment settles fully. Partial payments sometimes arrive before the final audit. Track what you received against your estimate.
Errors on claims are common and fixable. Missing signatures and wrong dates cause many delays. A finance review can correct most honest mistakes. Respond quickly when the office asks for documents. Keep copies of everything you submit. That habit protects you during any later audit.
Ask about advance payments if cash flow worries you. Some entitlements can be advanced before travel begins. Advances settle against your final claim later. Requesting one requires its own short form. Finance explains which parts qualify in your case. Never guess at eligibility for an advance.
How Grade and Dependents Change the Tables
Both tables in this model key off the same two facts. Grade sets the row for weight and DLA. Dependent status then picks the column within that row. Enlisted and officer rows differ in both tables. Warrant officer rows sit between enlisted and officer values in places. Always select the grade printed on your orders.
Dependent status follows the orders, not your preference. A spouse or child listed on the orders counts. Changes in family status near a move need finance guidance. Updating records before orders are cut prevents mismatches. Wrong selections skew both the allowance and DLA lines. Double check the two selects before you calculate.
Preparing Your Home for the Movers
Preparation day decides how smoothly packing goes. Set aside items that travel with you in one room. Mark that room clearly as do not pack. Important papers, medicines, and chargers belong in that pile. Movers pack fast, and mistakes happen in the rush. A clear no pack zone prevents most of them.
Weight control starts weeks before the truck arrives. Garage and attic clutter adds surprising pounds. Sell, donate, or store heavy low value items. Books, gym gear, and spare furniture weigh the most. Finishing this cull early protects your margin. It also shortens your unpacking at the other end.
Travel Planning Between Stations
The 350 mile day is a planning standard, not a race target. Families with small children often drive shorter days. Extra days on the road may not earn extra per diem. Plan overnight stops before you depart. Booking rooms near the route saves evening stress. Keep the drive plan with your orders folder.
Vehicle readiness matters on long PCS drives. Service each car before a cross country trip. Tires, brakes, and fluids deserve a fresh check. A roadside breakdown complicates your report timeline. Save your command contact details in your phone. Arriving safely matters more than arriving fast.
Special Cases Worth Asking About
Some moves follow extra rules beyond the basics. Unaccompanied tours change dependent travel and weights. Moves overseas add customs, storage, and shipment splits. Retirements and separations use different authority and timelines. Medical and educational needs can add funded travel for family. Each case starts with the same orders review.
Dual military couples face their own choices. Two sets of orders can mean two allowances. Coordination with both commands prevents double claims. Ask finance how the household should file. Their answer can change which entitlements each spouse uses. Getting that guidance early avoids repayment later.
Keeping Records After You Arrive
Settled claims deserve the same care as pending ones. Audits can revisit a move years later. Keep digital scans of orders, tickets, and receipts. Store them with your tax records by year. A labeled folder takes minutes to maintain. It can save weeks during any review.
Compare the final settlement against this estimate. Note which lines matched and which shifted. That comparison sharpens your next move's planning. Most military families move several times over a career. Each settled claim teaches the next one. Experience steadily turns PCS chaos into routine.
Tips for a Smoother PCS Move
- Weigh your goods early and trim anything over the margin.
- Photograph valuable items before the movers pack them.
- Confirm DLA eligibility with finance before you spend it.
- Keep orders and receipts in one travel folder.
- Ask transportation about a PPM incentive estimate for your route.
- Plan travel days around the 350 mile standard.
- File your claim soon after you arrive and sign in.
- Recheck rates each year, because official figures change.
Good records turn a stressful move into a settled claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
1. What does PCS stand for?
PCS means Permanent Change of Station. It is an official move to a new duty station. Orders authorize the move and its entitlements. Short term trips, by contrast, fall under temporary duty rules instead.
2. Is this total what I will actually receive?
No, this is a planning estimate built from set tables. Your claim settles against real weights, days, and documents. Official rates also change over time. Confirm everything with your transportation and finance offices.
3. Why is PPM incentive pay missing?
The incentive depends on route, weight, and season. No single table can price it fairly here. Your transportation office calculates it during counseling. Ask for that estimate before choosing a PPM move.
4. What happens if my shipment is overweight?
The government can bill you for the excess weight cost. That charge arrives after delivery in many cases. Trimming belongings before packing prevents the bill. Watch the margin line in your estimate closely.
5. Does everyone get the dislocation allowance?
No, eligibility depends on the move details. Moving into government quarters often removes DLA. Some first moves also follow different rules. Finance confirms eligibility from your specific orders.
How the Calculation Works
6. How is the weight margin found?
Subtract your estimated weight from your allowance. A positive margin means room to spare. A negative margin warns of an overweight shipment. Example one left a 2,000 pound margin.
7. How are travel days counted?
Divide your miles by 350 and round up. At least one day always applies. A 2,100 mile trip earns six travel days. A 1,200 mile trip earns four days.
8. How is MALT calculated?
Multiply miles by $0.205 for each vehicle driven. One vehicle over 2,100 miles earns $430.50. Two vehicles over 1,200 miles earn $492.00. The rate is set for 2026 in this model.
9. How is per diem calculated here?
Multiply travel days by the flat $178 daily rate. Six days give $1,068 in this estimate. Four days give $712. Dependent travel can alter real per diem on a claim.
10. Where do the DLA figures come from?
They come from the official CY2026 primary DLA table. Each grade has a with dependents and without dependents rate. The calculator picks the row matching your selections. Later years will publish updated tables.
Practical Questions
11. How can I estimate my household goods weight?
A rough guide is about 1,000 pounds per room. Movers also offer pre move surveys for better estimates. Past move paperwork gives your best personal baseline. When unsure, plan as if you are near the limit.
12. Should I choose a PPM or a government move?
Compare the incentive estimate with your likely effort and costs. PPM moves pay more control but demand more work. Government moves handle the heavy lifting for you. Counseling at transportation lays out both paths.
13. When do I receive these payments?
Some advances are possible before travel in certain cases. Most money settles after you file the claim. Processing times vary by office and season. File promptly and keep copies of every form.
14. Do rates change every year?
Yes, mileage, per diem, and DLA rates are updated regularly. This estimate uses the 2026 figures stated above. A move next year may price differently. Recheck close to your report date.
15. Who can confirm my exact entitlements?
Your transportation office and your finance office share that role. Transportation counsels the shipment and PPM options. Finance confirms DLA, per diem, and claim payment. Bring your orders to both conversations.
CONCLUSION
A PCS budget rests on four clear parts: weight allowance, DLA, mileage, and per diem. This estimate joins them into one planning figure for your grade and route. Remember that official rates change and the PPM incentive sits outside the total. Confirm your numbers with your transportation and finance offices before you move. Keep this estimate beside your orders folder, and update it whenever your weight, route, or family status changes before departure day. Small updates keep the plan honest.