DLA Rates 2026 & Dislocation Allowance Calculator
Dislocation Allowance (DLA) is a flat payment that partially covers the cost of moving your household on a Permanent Change of Station (PCS). The amount depends only on your pay grade and whether you have dependents. Pick both below, or read the full 2026 table.
2027 rates: new DLA rates usually take effect January 1. The 2026 table took effect January 1, 2026, and the PDF is dated December 31, 2025. This page will be updated when DTMO publishes the 2027 table. Until then, every amount here is a 2026 rate.
2026 primary DLA rates (effective January 1, 2026)
| Grade | Without dependents | With dependents |
|---|---|---|
| O-10 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-9 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-8 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-7 | $5,187.33 | $6,385.58 |
| O-6 | $4,758.96 | $5,749.63 |
| O-5 | $4,583.51 | $5,542.06 |
| O-4 | $4,247.61 | $4,885.43 |
| O-3 | $3,404.11 | $4,041.88 |
| O-2 | $2,700.31 | $3,451.28 |
| O-1 | $2,273.82 | $3,085.23 |
| O-3E | $3,675.83 | $4,343.80 |
| O-2E | $3,124.87 | $3,919.27 |
| O-1E | $2,687.09 | $3,621.10 |
| W-5 | $4,315.51 | $4,715.58 |
| W-4 | $3,832.45 | $4,323.11 |
| W-3 | $3,221.08 | $3,960.78 |
| W-2 | $2,860.70 | $3,643.75 |
| W-1 | $2,394.55 | $3,151.31 |
| E-9 | $3,147.54 | $4,149.51 |
| E-8 | $2,888.97 | $3,824.94 |
| E-7 | $2,468.19 | $3,551.31 |
| E-6 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-5 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-4 | $2,389.42 | $3,548.02 |
| E-3 | $2,355.48 | $3,548.02 |
| E-2 | $2,025.26 | $3,548.02 |
| E-1 | $1,870.58 | $3,548.02 |
Source: PDTATAC, Dislocation Allowance (DLA) Rates, Primary DLA Rates, effective January 1, 2026 (DTMO PDF), checked 2026-11-02. O-1E, O-2E and O-3E are commissioned officers with more than 4 years of prior enlisted or warrant service. Secondary and partial DLA have their own rate tables and are not shown here.
Who qualifies
- Generally, a service member who moves their household on PCS orders and isn't assigned to single-type government quarters (such as barracks) gets DLA. Members below E-5 who are assigned to single-type quarters may not qualify (Military OneSource DLA FAQs).
- No DLA on the move from your home to your first duty station unless you are authorized to move dependents there, and none when you leave active duty (same source).
- Your grade and dependency status on the effective date of your PCS orders set the amount (DTMO DLA page).
- Only one DLA per fiscal year, unless an exception in JTR par. 050501 applies (DTMO). DLA rules are in JTR section 0505.
- A secondary DLA can apply when PCS orders are amended, modified, canceled or revoked (JTR par. 050507). A partial DLA is a one-time flat payment for a qualifying event (JTR par. 050508). Both are described on the DTMO DLA page (DTMO).
DLA is one part of what a PCS pays. To estimate it together with mileage, per diem, TLE and the PPM incentive, use the PCS Move Cost & Entitlement Estimator. For temporary lodging alone, use the TLE calculator.
Not official. Not financial, tax or legal advice. DuffelMath is an independent site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department of Defense, DFAS, the VA or any military service. Estimates only; your finance office, transportation office and DFAS decide what you are actually paid. Rates as of 2026-10-27 unless a page says otherwise; check the linked official sources.