TLE Calculator: Temporary Lodging Expense for a PCS
Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) partially repays lodging and meals while you and your family stay in temporary lodging in the CONUS during a PCS. Enter the locality per diem rates (from the DTMO per diem rate lookup) and what you actually pay per night. The example shows a member with a spouse, a teen and a younger child.
The example rates are placeholders. Look up the real lodging and M&IE rates for each location and month with the DTMO per diem rate lookup.
How TLE is calculated
- Percentage. One person (you alone) is 65%. Two people (you and one dependent) are 100%. Add 35% for each additional dependent age 12 or older and 25% for each additional dependent under 12 (DTMO TLE FAQ; DFAS TLE page; JTR par. 050601-B).
- Lodging. Multiply the percentage by the locality lodging rate. Use the lower of that ceiling and your actual nightly cost, including lodging tax.
- Meals. Add the percentage times the locality M&IE rate.
- Daily cap. The daily amount can't exceed $290 (DTMO TLE FAQ; JTR par. 050601-B4b).
- Days. Up to 21 days for a move to a CONUS duty station (including from overseas), and up to 7 days in the CONUS when moving to an overseas duty station. When both duty stations are in the CONUS, the days can be split between them (JTR par. 050601-B2, Table 5-13, as revised by PDTATAC MAP 66-24(R), effective November 2, 2024). Some locations are approved for extended TLE, up to 60 days total, granted in 10-day increments (DTMO TLE FAQ; DFAS).
This calculator assumes you stay in the lodging with your dependents. It estimates only the CONUS end of an overseas move; the overseas end uses Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), which isn't estimated here. It doesn't model extended TLE. TLE isn't authorized for house hunting (DFAS). The math is the same as the TLE part of the PCS Move Cost & Entitlement Estimator. See also the 2026 DLA rates and calculator.
| Rule | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Percentages | 65% / 100% / +35% / +25% | DTMO TLE FAQ, DFAS |
| Daily maximum | $290 | DTMO TLE FAQ (JTR par. 050601-B4b), DFAS |
| Days: to a CONUS duty station / to an OCONUS duty station | 21 / 7 | JTR Table 5-13 (MAP 66-24(R)), DFAS |
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.