TLE Calculator
Know how many hotel nights the government will cover on each end of your CONUS PCS, before you book them.
Your daily rates
$180/day
Days 1 to 5
$135/day
Days 6 to 10
E-1 to O-3 with dependents
Rates shown are daily maximums, actual reimbursement is based on receipts. Keep every one.
$1,800
10 of 20 days used
Old station
$900
5 days
New station
$900
5 days
2025 rates and approximate limits, verify current rates with your finance office. TLE is capped; keep all receipts.
The limits matter more than the rate
The daily rates are ceilings, not checks. Receipts drive what you actually get back. And the clock is the real constraint: 10 days per station, the rate drops 25% after day 5, and the whole window closes at 20 days.
10 days
Cap per station
20 days
Combined maximum
75%
Daily rate after day 5
30 days
If dependents lodge separately
How TLE actually pays out
- 1
Pick your pay grade and dependency status
Daily TLE rates depend on both. Without dependents everyone gets the same rate; with dependents, O-4 and above get a higher ceiling than E-1 through O-3.
- 2
Enter days at your old station
TLE covers lodging while you clear housing before you depart, up to 10 days on this end.
- 3
Enter days at your new station
The same 10-day cap applies while you house-hunt at Wright-Patterson. Between both ends, 20 days is the maximum.
- 4
Watch the day-6 step-down
Days 1 to 5 at each station reimburse at the full daily rate; days 6 to 10 drop to 75% of it. Plan your lodging with the cheaper back half in mind.
- 5
Keep every receipt
The rates shown are daily maximums, actual reimbursement is based on itemized lodging receipts. No receipt, no money.
- 6
File with your finance office
Submit receipts with your travel voucher and verify current rates before you book, they change annually.
Questions people actually ask
What is TLE and who gets it?
Temporary Lodging Expense reimburses lodging costs around a CONUS permanent change of station. It covers up to 10 days at your old duty station and up to 10 days at your new one. 20 days total.
How much does TLE pay per day?
For 2025: $130/day without dependents, $180/day for E-1 through O-3 with dependents, and $200/day for O-4 and above with dependents. For the first 5 days at each station. Days 6 to 10 reimburse at 75% of those rates.
Can I stay with friends or family and still claim TLE?
Yes. Alternative lodging is allowed, but you must itemize your actual expenses. You cannot claim the flat daily maximum without receipts.
Does TLE cover meals?
Meals are included in some TLE calculations. Verify with your finance office before you count on it. This calculator covers the lodging limits only.
What if my family stays behind at a separate location?
TLE can extend to 30 days if you are married with dependents lodging at a separate location. Talk to your finance office. The standard 20-day cap does not apply in that case.
Tools that pair with this one
Ten days goes fast when you're house-hunting.
Chris sets up WPAFB families with a shortlist before they land. Showings stacked inside your TLE window, in neighborhoods that work on your BAH.