What is BAH Calculator? How It Works and Why You Need It
Our BAH calculator helps military families accurately project housing allowances for any location and rank combination. Planning your finances during a Permanent Change of Station (PCS) can be stressful, but understanding your housing allowance shouldn't be.
How the Military Calculates BAH
The Department of Defense determines Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates annually based on data collected for approximately 300 military housing areas in the United States. They consider:
- Rental Market Data: Current median market rents for various housing types (apartments, townhouses, single-family homes).
- Utility Costs: Average electricity, heating, and water/sewer costs.
- Dependency Status: Rates differentiate between service members with and without dependents.
- Pay Grade: Rates scale from E-1 through O-10.
Using Our BAH Calculator
Follow these simple steps to get your accurate rate:
Step 1: Select Your Rank
Our calculator covers all pay grades:
- Enlisted (E-1 to E-9)
- Officer (O-1 to O-10)
- Warrant Officer (W-1 to W-5)
Step 2: Enter Location
You can search by:
- Duty station ZIP code
- State and City selection
Step 3: Dependency Status
Select "With Dependents" or "Without Dependents". Note that the "With Dependents" rate is typically significantly higher to accommodate family housing needs.
Special Calculation Scenarios
Partial BAH
Service members without dependents who live in government quarters (like barracks or shipboard) may receive Partial BAH, which is a much smaller amount.
BAH Rate Protection
The military's "Rate Protection" policy ensures that if BAH rates in your area decrease, your allowance will not go down as long as you maintain your eligibility status and residence at that location. However, if rates go up, you will receive the higher rate.