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Military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Calculator

Estimate military Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates by rank and location.

Quick Answer:BAH provides active-duty US service members with a tax-free monthly housing stipend determined by rank, dependency status, and local rental costs.

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How to Use the BAH Calculator: Military Basic Allowance for Housing Rates

1Select your military pay grade (enlisted E-1 through E-9, warrant officer, or commissioned officer O-1 through O-6).
2Choose your dependent status (with dependents or without dependents).
3Choose your duty station cost of living tier (low, average, high, or very high).
4Optionally input your actual rent or mortgage cost to evaluate your monthly surplus or deficit.

Formula & How It Works

BAH Rate Determination

Annual BAH = Monthly BAH Rate × 12

Non-taxable monthly housing allowance based on DoD military housing surveys.

Worked Examples

E-5 with Dependents in Medium Metro

Input: Rank: E-5, With Dependents, Medium Cost Tier, Actual Rent: $2,100

Explanation: The $2,300 non-taxable stipend fully covers the $2,100 monthly lease and provides a $200 monthly buffer.

Result: Monthly BAH: $2,300, Annual: $27,600, Surplus: +$200/mo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is BAH income taxable on federal tax returns?▼

No. BAH is completely exempt from federal income tax, state income tax, and FICA payroll taxes.

What is individual rate protection under BAH rules?▼

If local BAH rates drop while you remain assigned to the same duty station, your allowance rate is grandfathered and will not decrease.

Does BAH change if you have more than one child?▼

No. The Department of Defense pays only two rates: with dependents (one or more qualifying dependents) or without dependents.

Can dual-military couples both collect BAH?▼

Yes. Both service members receive BAH at the without-dependents rate, or one member can claim dependents for the higher rate while the other claims single.

Quick Reference & Conversion Table

Pay Grade	Without Dependents (Avg)	With Dependents (Avg)	High Cost Metro (With Dep)
E-4	$1,650	$2,050	$2,563
E-5	$1,850	$2,300	$2,875
E-6	$2,100	$2,550	$3,188
O-1	$1,850	$2,250	$2,813
O-3	$2,500	$2,950	$3,688

⚠️ Common Pitfalls to Avoid

•Assuming BAH is subject to federal or state income taxation (BAH is 100% tax-free).
•Confusing the with-dependents rate with multiple dependent increases (the rate is identical whether you have one dependent or five).

💡 Practical Real-World Uses

•Budgeting off-base apartment rentals and home purchases during Permanent Change of Station (PCS) moves.
•Calculating total military civilian-equivalent compensation packages.

Last reviewed & updated: 2026-11-11

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