BAH Calculator
BAH calculator estimates your Basic Allowance for Housing by pay grade, duty location, and dependent status. Rates range from approximately $800/month for an E-1 in a low-cost area to over $4,000/month for senior officers in high-cost locations like San Diego or Washington D.C. Use this free tool to plan your military housing budget before PCS moves.
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Formula
How it works: BAH depends on three factors: pay grade (E-1 through O-10), whether you have qualifying dependents, and the housing cost category for your duty area. The DoD surveys local rental markets annually to set rates for each of the roughly 300 Military Housing Areas across the U.S.
Worked Example
Understanding Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH)
BAH is a monthly tax-free allowance paid to service members who do not receive government housing. It offsets civilian housing costs near your duty station and is one of the largest components of total military compensation.
- BAH rates vary by three main factors: pay grade (E-1 through O-10), duty station location, and whether you have qualifying dependents
- The DoD recalculates rates annually using rental market surveys across approximately 300 Military Housing Areas
- Service members with dependents receive a higher rate, typically 20% to 40% more than the without-dependents rate for the same grade and location
- BAH is non-taxable income, making its effective value significantly higher than the dollar amount suggests
- Rate protection ensures your BAH cannot decrease while you remain at the same duty station with the same dependent status
Use this estimator for budget planning, then confirm official rates through the Defense Travel Management Office or your installation finance office.
You can also calculate changes using our BAH by ZIP Code Calculator, Army BAH Calculator, BAH With Dependents Calculator or BAS Calculator.
2026 BAH Rate Ranges by Pay Grade (With and Without Dependents)
Estimated monthly Basic Allowance for Housing ranges across CONUS locations. Actual rates vary by Military Housing Area (MHA).
| Pay Grade | Without Dependents (Low-High) | With Dependents (Low-High) | Typical Increase with Dependents |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-3 | $600 - $1,800 | $800 - $2,400 | +$200 to +$600 |
| E-4 to E-5 | $800 - $2,400 | $1,000 - $3,200 | +$200 to +$800 |
| E-6 to E-7 | $1,000 - $2,800 | $1,200 - $3,600 | +$200 to +$800 |
| E-8 to E-9 | $1,200 - $3,200 | $1,400 - $3,800 | +$200 to +$600 |
| O-1 to O-3 | $1,000 - $2,800 | $1,200 - $3,400 | +$200 to +$600 |
| O-4 to O-6 | $1,400 - $3,400 | $1,600 - $4,000 | +$200 to +$600 |
| O-7 and above | $1,800 - $4,000 | $2,000 - $4,500 | +$200 to +$500 |
Note: Ranges reflect low-cost to high-cost CONUS locations. Hawaii and Alaska have separate, typically higher rates. BAH is non-taxable and recalculated annually by the DoD based on local rental surveys. Individual rate protection ensures your BAH does not decrease while at the same duty station. For reference only.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this the official BAH rate calculator?
No. This tool estimates BAH using a simplified illustrative table. For official rates, use the Defense Travel Management Office BAH calculator or contact your unit finance office. Official rates are published each December for the following year.
How much BAH does an E-5 receive?
An E-5 with dependents receives approximately $1,500 to $2,400 per month depending on duty station. Low-cost areas like Fort Leonard Wood pay around $1,500, medium-cost areas like Fort Hood pay around $1,800, and high-cost areas like Fort Meade can exceed $2,400.
Does BAH increase for each additional child?
No. BAH treats dependent status as binary: with dependents or without dependents. Whether you have 1 child or 5, the rate is the same. The jump from without-dependents to with-dependents can be $300 to $600 per month depending on rank and location.
Can I pocket the difference if my rent is less than BAH?
Yes. BAH is paid as a flat monthly allowance regardless of your actual housing costs. If you find housing below the BAH rate, you keep the difference tax-free. Conversely, if your rent exceeds BAH, you pay the difference out of pocket.
Does BAH change when I PCS to a new duty station?
Yes. BAH is recalculated based on housing costs at your new duty location. An E-6 might receive $1,600/month at Fort Riley but $3,200/month at a high-cost base near Washington D.C. Rate protection only applies while you remain at the same station.
Is BAH taxable income?
No. BAH is completely tax-free at both federal and state levels. This means $2,000 in BAH has the same purchasing power as roughly $2,500 to $2,800 in taxable salary, depending on your tax bracket.
Can I use this BAH Calculator on my own web page?
You can. Look for the "Embed" button near the top of this calculator. It lets you pick a size, border style, and color palette, then gives you an iframe tag to paste into any webpage. The widget is responsive, loads fast, and costs nothing. More details at calculory.com/services/embed-calculators.
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