PPM / DITY · MILITARY

Military Move Calculator (PPM / DITY)

Estimate your Personally Procured Move reimbursement — by weight and distance — before you plan a PPM (formerly DITY) move.

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PPM / DITY

Estimate your PPM reimbursement

Estimated weight moved

Distance (miles)

mi

Estimated PPM reimbursement

$3,700 – $5,800

Reimbursement (the incentive) for moving ~5,000 lb about 1,000 mi. Your profit is this minus what you spend on the truck, fuel, and help.

Planning figure only. Reimbursement is a percentage of the Government Constructed Cost and is capped at your rank’s authorized weight allowance. The portion above your documented expenses is taxable, so keep every receipt and certified weight ticket. Confirm official numbers with your transportation office (TMO / PPPO) before you commit. Example: a large move can exceed $15,000.

COST

How does PPM / DITY reimbursement work?

In a Personally Procured Move (PPM, formerly called DITY), you move yourself and the government reimburses you a percentage of what it would have paid a contractor to move the same weight the same distance (the Government Constructed Cost). You keep the difference between that reimbursement and your actual costs, minus taxes. Rough reimbursement ranges by weight and distance:

Small move (~2,000 lbs, 500 mi)

$1,200 – $2,000

Mid-size move (~5,000 lbs, 1,000 mi)

$3,500 – $6,000

Household move (~8,000 lbs, 1,500 mi)

$6,500 – $11,000

Large move (~12,000 lbs, 2,500 mi)

$12,000 – $20,000

These are estimates of the reimbursement (the incentive), not your out-of-pocket cost. Your actual profit is the reimbursement minus what you spend on the truck, fuel, equipment, and help. Always confirm your official numbers with your installation's transportation office (TMO / PPPO).

WHAT DRIVES THE PRICE

What determines your PPM (DITY) reimbursement?

01

Authorized weight allowance

Your rank and dependency status set the maximum weight the government will pay to move. Reimbursement is capped at that allowance even if you move more, so know your allowance before you load.

02

Actual weight moved

You are paid on certified empty and full truck weights (weight tickets). Keep every certified scale ticket — no ticket, no payment for that weight.

03

Distance

The Government Constructed Cost scales with mileage between authorized origin and destination. Longer moves mean a larger reimbursement pool.

04

Your actual expenses

Truck rental, fuel, tolls, packing materials, and hired labor are your costs. Reimbursement above those costs is taxable income; keep receipts for anything you can claim.

METHODOLOGY

This estimate approximates PPM incentive pay as a weight-and-distance function based on the Government Constructed Cost model (reimbursement is a set percentage of the government's constructed cost to move that weight and distance). It is a planning figure only. Your official entitlement depends on current GSA/DoD rate tables, your authorized weight allowance, and certified weight tickets. Confirm with your transportation office before you commit.

FREQUENTLY ASKED

Military PPM move FAQ

What is a PPM or DITY move?+

A Personally Procured Move (PPM), formerly the Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move, is when a service member arranges their own move instead of using a government-contracted carrier. The government reimburses a percentage of its constructed cost, and you keep any surplus over your actual expenses.

How much does the military pay for a PPM move?+

Reimbursement is based on a percentage of the Government Constructed Cost to move your authorized weight the authorized distance. It varies widely with weight and distance, from roughly $1,200 on a small local move to $20,000+ on a large cross-country move.

Is PPM reimbursement taxable?+

The portion of your reimbursement that exceeds your documented moving expenses is treated as taxable income. Keep receipts for the truck, fuel, equipment, and labor so you can reduce the taxable amount.

What are weight tickets and why do they matter?+

Weight tickets are certified scale weighings of your vehicle empty and fully loaded. The difference is your net moved weight, which the reimbursement is calculated on. Without certified tickets, you cannot be paid for that weight.

What is my weight allowance?+

Your maximum authorized weight is set by your pay grade and whether you have dependents. Reimbursement is capped at that allowance. Your transportation office can give you the exact figure for your rank and status.

Can I do a partial PPM?+

Yes. You can move part of your household goods yourself (a partial PPM) and have a government carrier handle the rest. You are reimbursed for the weight you personally move, up to your remaining allowance.

Long-distance movers for PCS moves

Doing a partial PPM, or want a quote to compare against your reimbursement? These long-distance movers handle interstate and cross-country PCS relocations.

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