First and last day of travel per diem: the 75% M&IE rule

For a qualifying federal trip lasting 24 hours or more, the first and last travel days normally receive 75% of the applicable M&IE rate. Full days between them receive 100%. This factor does not turn a $113 lodging ceiling into $84.75.

At the $92 M&IE tier, the travel-day amount is $69. At the $74 tier, it is $55.50. The GSA meal table publishes these figures directly, so they can be checked without relying on a calculator’s rounding.

With a $92 full-day rate and no deductible provided meals, a Monday departure and Wednesday return produces $69 + $92 + $69 = $230 of meals and incidentals. There are only two lodging nights.

Meals supplied by the government or included in a registration fee are handled after the 75% reduction. For example, a deductible $26 lunch on the first day reduces $69 to $43, not to 75% of $66.

The Federal Travel Regulation separately addresses travel of more than 12 but less than 24 hours. Agency exceptions, ship travel and other authorized methods may differ. This site’s calculator is limited to qualifying overnight, single-destination trips and does not determine whether a traveler qualifies for per diem in the first place.

Check the applicable authorization before treating a calculated amount as a claim.