BAH Calculator2026 Basic Allowance for Housing Value, PCS Compare & Type II Rates
BAH is a tax-free monthly allowance set by your duty station’s housing area, your pay grade and whether you have dependents; 2026 rates rose 4.2% on average. Enter your rate to see its yearly value, the taxable salary it replaces, what is left after rent and how a PCS changes it, or switch tabs for 2026 partial BAH and BAH Type II by grade.
Non-locality rates from the DTMO 2026 Non-Locality BAH Rates; local rates from the official DoD lookup.
What it means
How BAH works in 2026
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a tax-free monthly allowance set by three things: the Military Housing Area (MHA) of your permanent duty station’s ZIP code, your pay grade, and whether you have dependents. 2026 rates took effect January 1, 2026 and rose 4.2% on average.
DoD sets each MHA’s rate from local rent and utility costs for six housing types, so two bases in the same state can pay very different amounts. Your rate is based on where you are assigned, not where you choose to live, and rate protection keeps your old, higher rate if your area’s rate falls while you stay there.
Finding your exact local rate
Locality BAH comes from DoD’s official lookup: enter your duty station ZIP, year 2026 and grade at the DTMO BAH rate lookup, then bring the number back here. The calculator turns it into an annual figure, its civilian pre-tax equivalent and your rent surplus or shortfall, and compares two duty stations side by side. For partial BAH, BAH Type II (RC/T) and BAH-DIFF, which do not depend on location, the 2026 rates are built in.
2026 non-locality BAH rates (monthly)
These are the same everywhere. Partial BAH is paid to members without dependents who live in government quarters. BAH RC/T (often called BAH Type II) is paid to reservists on active duty orders of 30 days or less and in a few other cases. BAH-DIFF goes to members in single quarters who pay child support.
| Grade | Partial BAH | BAH RC/T with dep. | BAH RC/T without dep. | BAH-DIFF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| O-10 | $50.70 | $3,035.10 | $2,466.30 | $465.60 |
| O-9 | $50.70 | $3,035.10 | $2,466.30 | $465.60 |
| O-8 | $50.70 | $3,035.10 | $2,466.30 | $465.60 |
| O-7 | $50.70 | $3,035.10 | $2,466.30 | $465.60 |
| O-6 | $39.60 | $2,731.80 | $2,261.70 | $395.70 |
| O-5 | $33.00 | $2,633.40 | $2,178.00 | $382.50 |
| O-4 | $26.70 | $2,320.80 | $2,017.80 | $255.00 |
| O-3 | $22.20 | $1,920.30 | $1,618.20 | $254.70 |
| O-2 | $17.70 | $1,638.30 | $1,281.90 | $300.60 |
| O-1 | $13.20 | $1,466.70 | $1,100.70 | $324.60 |
| O-3E | $22.20 | $2,063.70 | $1,746.60 | $266.10 |
| O-2E | $17.70 | $1,862.40 | $1,485.30 | $318.60 |
| O-1E | $13.20 | $1,721.40 | $1,291.80 | $374.10 |
| W-5 | $25.20 | $2,241.30 | $2,051.40 | $159.00 |
| W-4 | $25.20 | $2,054.70 | $1,821.30 | $196.20 |
| W-3 | $20.70 | $1,883.40 | $1,531.20 | $295.50 |
| W-2 | $15.90 | $1,730.70 | $1,359.00 | $312.30 |
| W-1 | $13.80 | $1,497.90 | $1,139.40 | $302.70 |
| E-9 | $18.60 | $1,971.60 | $1,494.90 | $399.30 |
| E-8 | $15.30 | $1,818.30 | $1,374.30 | $374.40 |
| E-7 | $12.00 | $1,687.20 | $1,265.70 | $433.20 |
| E-6 | $9.90 | $1,559.10 | $1,169.70 | $419.10 |
| E-5 | $8.70 | $1,403.70 | $1,052.70 | $380.10 |
| E-4 | $8.10 | $1,219.50 | $915.60 | $338.70 |
| E-3 | $7.80 | $1,133.70 | $850.50 | $277.80 |
| E-2 | $7.20 | $1,080.60 | $811.50 | $371.10 |
| E-1 | $6.90 | $1,080.60 | $811.50 | $439.20 |
Source: DTMO 2026 Non-Locality BAH Rates, effective January 1, 2026.
BAH rules that change what you get
One dependent or six, the with-dependents rate is the same. It is set by status, not family size.
With no children, each member gets the without-dependents rate. With children, one member draws the with-dependents rate and the other the without-dependents rate.
If your MHA’s rate drops, you keep the higher rate as long as you stay at that location and your status does not change. A promotion still raises it.
BAH is not a reimbursement. Rent less than your BAH and the difference is yours, tax-free.
How to use this BAH calculator
- Look up your rateUse the DoD lookup for your duty ZIP, grade and dependency status, or your LES.
- Enter rent and utilitiesSee how much of your BAH a lease would use and what is left over.
- Compare a PCSEnter the BAH at your next duty station to see the monthly and yearly change.
- Check non-locality ratesSwitch tabs for partial BAH, BAH Type II and BAH-DIFF by grade.
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BAH FAQ
DoD sets a rate for each Military Housing Area from local rents and utilities, then pays it by pay grade and dependency status. Your duty station ZIP code decides the MHA.
Rates rose 4.2% on average on January 1, 2026. Individual areas rose more or less, and rate protection keeps members from losing money where rates fell.
No. BAH is excluded from federal and state income tax and from Social Security and Medicare tax.
No. The with-dependents rate is the same whether you have one dependent or several.
A small fixed allowance paid to members without dependents who live in government quarters. In 2026 it ranges from $6.90 for an E-1 to $50.70 for O-7 and above.
BAH RC/T (formerly Type II) is a flat national rate for reservists on active duty orders of 30 days or less. For an E-5 in 2026 it is $1,403.70 with dependents and $1,052.70 without.
Yes. BAH is an allowance, not a reimbursement, so any amount above your housing costs is yours.
Without children, each gets the without-dependents rate. With children, one gets the with-dependents rate and the other the without-dependents rate.
Yes. The Post-9/11 GI Bill housing allowance equals BAH for an E-5 with dependents at the school’s ZIP code.
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Manzoor Ahmad
Calculator developer & web designer · 13+ years in web development and SEO
Last reviewed: October 30, 2026I am a pharmacist turned tech geek, and I design, code and test every calculator on DexoCalc myself. I have not served in the military, so this tool does not run on opinion: the partial BAH, BAH RC/T and BAH-DIFF figures are the DTMO 2026 non-locality rates entered cell by cell, and for local rates I send you to DoD’s own ZIP lookup rather than guessing.
Spot a result that does not match an official source? Tell me and I will re-check it.
Sources
- DTMO: Basic Allowance for Housing
- DTMO: 2026 Non-Locality BAH Rates
- DTMO: BAH rate lookup
- IRS Publication 3: Armed Forces’ Tax Guide
Disclaimer: DexoCalc is independent and not affiliated with the Department of Defense (Department of War), the Department of Veterans Affairs or any military branch. Results are educational estimates; official records and your chain of command decide.
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