About the Federal GSA Per Diem Calculator

I originally created a Virginia Per Diem Calculator because I was tired of the back and forth with my business office (over 20 years ago now) as I struggled to get the calculations right. Like any good programmer, I'm lazy, so I dug into the policy and created a tool to make my life easier. It turned out that lots of other people found it useful too, so I have maintained it over the years, even as I have changed jobs.

Recently I was asked to put together a calculator for the GSA Federal rate. It was a great opportunity to learn some new things and expand my horizons, so I have now done that. I hope you find it useful.

The data underlying the calculator is updated yearly when the rates come out. Feel free to send me a note if you do not yet see the rates for future dates.

Please note the important points below.

• These pages are provided as a service. Always refer to your official travel policy and your business office for definitive answers.
• Please send any updates or corrections to <help at perdiemcalc.net>.

2026 Update

• Faster, simpler calculator interface without jQuery or jQuery UI.
• Native date pickers that work better on phones.
• Real-time location search with keyboard and touch selection.
• Responsive mobile layout with larger touch targets.
• Softer rounded panels, clearer focus states, and improved readability.
• Trip totals appear automatically after rates load.
• A Share button copies or shares the current calculation link.
• Shared links preserve:
  • Departure and return dates
  • Location
  • Travel-day selections
  • Provided breakfast, lunch, and dinner selections
• Invalid date ranges are caught earlier, including ranges over 366 days.
• Calculation errors are presented more clearly.
• The proration tool no longer requires inline JavaScript or jQuery.

Thanks

David Tod