Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a United States (U.S.) based allowance that provides uniformed service members equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local housing markets when government quarters are not provided. A service member stationed outside of the U.S., including U.S. territories and possessions, who does not have government housing available is eligible for Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA).

There are several types of BAH to satisfy various housing situations that occur among military members. In general, the amount of BAH you receive depends on your location, pay grade, and whether you have dependents. Under most circumstances, you receive BAH for the location where you are assigned, not where you live. Additionally, you may be entitled to some BAH amounts if you are residing separately from your dependents. This occurs in situations involving unaccompanied overseas tours or having a dependent child that resides with a former spouse. The rules regarding these situations can become quite complex. Consult your Finance Office if you are in one of these situations.

The BAH rates have increased an average of 4.2% effective January 1, 2026.

Active duty Service members are eligible for Basic Allowance for Housing.

Rates

Basic Allowance for Housing rates are based on local area rental market data and vary by geographic duty station, pay grade and dependency status. The cost of utilities is also considered. BAH is based only on rental properties, not homeownership costs like mortgage payments and property taxes.

BAH also includes rate protection. This means, if a service member’s current BAH rate is less than the previous year, the member receives at least the same amount of BAH as the previous year, provided that the member’s duty location, rank and dependency status remain the same. If BAH rates go up, the member will receive the higher BAH rate as long as their eligibility is uninterrupted. This ensures that members who have made long-term commitments in the form of a lease or contract are not penalized if the area’s housing costs decrease.

For a complete listing of BAH rates, see BAH Rates for All Locations. Service members can calculate their individual BAH rates using the BAH Calculator: https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/

Housing

BAH enables service members to live off base at a comparable rate as their civilian counterparts. It is not designed to cover all housing costs for all members. Some members may have out-of-pocket expenses because the rates are based on the median cost of rent. A service member’s actual expense may be higher or lower depending on the service member’s choice of housing and where they live.

Service members are free to make housing choices that best suit their needs; therefore, they may choose to use all their housing allowance to rent expensive housing close to their duty station or they may choose to have a longer commute by renting a larger home in a less expensive area/outlying area that is further from their duty station.

Secretarial Housing Allowance Waivers

In accordance with DAFI 36-3012, section 7.3.9.1., Secretarial Housing Allowance Waivers provide temporary assistance to DAF servicemembers and their dependents to ease the transition of a PCS move to a new permanent duty station in limited situations when the members and dependents will reside separately. If a waiver is approved, the Airman or Guardian will retain/obtain a with dependent housing allowance for a defined period based on the old permanent duty station/primary residence, dependent’s designated location or new permanent duty station. Guidance is found in the Joint Travel Regulations (JTR); an Airman or Guardian may request a Secretarial Housing Allowance Waiver.

What situations apply?

The following circumstances are eligible for waiver approval:

• Low/no cost PCS move
• PCS for training (such as professional military education or technical training),
• Delayed/Advanced Dependent Travel, or assignment to CONUS-Isolated tour with approved 15-month minimum tour length.

Who is eligible?

• Airmen and Guardians with dependents who resided with them at the prior duty station (old permanent duty station) before departing for a new permanent duty station unless the member was serving at a dependent-restricted/unaccompanied tour.
• For ARC members, dependents must have resided with the Airman at the Airman's home at the place entered/time called to active duty or current primary residence.
• Airmen and Guardians with dependents at a government-approved designated location. “Designated place” is defined as the location to which the government authorized the movement of dependents. Guidance is found in the JTR, Appendix A, and applicable AF guidance.
• Airmen and Guardians without dependents (only eligible for a waiver based on low/no cost move as specified on PCS orders).

Individual requests are reviewed and considered on a case by-case basis. The JTR, Appendix A, defines Secretarial Process as, “Action by the Per Diem, Travel, and Transportation Allowance Committee Principal member or a subordinate level specified by the principal. AFPC/CC, or authorized delegate, approves/disapproves housing allowance waiver requests based on the eligible circumstances as defined by the Secretary concerned. Guidance located on myFSS for Secretarial Housing Allowance Waivers provides additional details and specific JTR references.

Different Types of BAH

BAH With Dependents and BAH Without Dependents

A service member with a permanent duty within the 50 United States, who is not furnished government housing, is eligible BAH, based on the service member's dependency status at the permanent duty ZIP Code. A service member stationed overseas, including U.S. protectorates, who is not furnished government housing, is eligible for Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA) based on the service member's dependency status. If a service member is serving an UNACCOMPANIED overseas tour, the service member is eligible for BAH at the "with dependents" rate, based on the dependent's U.S. residence ZIP Code, plus OHA at the "without dependents" rate, if the service member is not furnished government housing overseas.

Partial BAH

A service member without dependents who is living in government quarters is entitled to a Partial BAH.

BAH Reserve Component/Transit (BAH RC/T)

BAH RC/T is a non-locality housing allowance for service members in particular circumstances, for example, reservists on active duty for 30 or fewer days. It also applies when a service member is in transit from selected areas where no prior BAH rate exists (such as overseas). It does not vary by geographic location. BAH RC/T was set based on the old Basic Allowance for Quarters (BAQ), which was based on the national average for housing. BAH RC/T is published annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's rates by the national average percentage growth of housing costs.

BAH-Differential (BAH-Diff)

BAH-Diff is the housing allowance amount for a service member who is assigned to single-type quarters and who is authorized a basic allowance for housing solely by reason of the service member's payment of child support. A service member is not entitled to BAH-Diff if the monthly rate of that child support is less than the BAH-Diff. BAH-Diff is determined by the U.S. Secretary of Defense (SECDEF) and was equal to the difference between BAQ with dependents and BAQ without dependents in 1997 for the service member's grade. BAH-Diff is published annually and is determined by increasing the previous year's rates by the percentage growth of military basic pay. For more information contact your Finance Office.

Note: Beginning with the 2012 BAH rates, the Department is publishing the average percentage breakdown between rent and utilities for each Military Housing Area. This additional information will assist service members with making informed housing choices when relocating to a new area. https://www.travel.dod.mil/Portals/119/Documents/BAH/PDF_BAH-Rate-Component-Breakdown/2026-BAH-Rate-Component-Breakdown.pdf

Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH):
https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/

Different Types of BAH:
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Pay/Allowances/BAH_Types/

BAH Overview:
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Nov/30/2003123606/-1/-1/0/BAH_FACT_SHEET.PDF

BAH Calculator: 
https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/BAH-Rate-Lookup/

BAH Component Breakdown for All Locations:
https://www.travel.dod.mil/Portals/119/Documents/BAH/PDF_BAH-Rate-Component-Breakdown/2026-BAH-Rate-Component-Breakdown.pdf

BAH Service Representatives:
https://www.travel.dod.mil/Allowances/Basic-Allowance-for-Housing/

BAH Primer:
https://media.defense.gov/2022/Jun/23/2003023204/-1/-1/0/BAH-PRIMER.PDF

Department of Defense Financial Management Regulation (FMR), Volume 7A, Chapter 26 "Housing Allowances":
https://comptroller.war.gov/Portals/45/documents/fmr/current/07a/07a_26.pdf