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Washington, DC per diem rates

The FY2027 GSA rates for Washington, DC, from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027: a lodging cap of US$192 to US$295 a night depending on the dates, and US$92 a day for meals and incidental expenses.

Guests checking in at a hotel reception

Washington, DC per diem for FY2027

  • Lodging, per nightUS$192 to US$295
  • Meals and incidentals, per dayUS$92
  • First and last day, mealsUS$69

Washington, DC per diem, FY2027

Lodging is capped per night at the rate for that night's date. Meals and incidental expenses (M&IE) are a flat amount per day. The daily maximum is the two together.

DatesLodging per nightM&IE per dayDaily maximum
1 Oct to 31 Oct 2026US$287US$92US$379
1 Nov to 28 Feb 2027US$203US$92US$295
1 Mar to 30 Jun 2027US$295US$92US$387
1 Jul to 31 Aug 2027US$192US$92US$284
1 Sept to 30 Sept 2027US$287US$92US$379

US$92 M&IE, by meal

BreakfastUS$23
LunchUS$26
DinnerUS$38
Incidental expensesUS$5
First and last day (75%)US$69

Example: three nights at the peak rate

A trip during 1 Mar to 30 Jun 2027, when lodging is capped at US$295 a night. Two full days in between and two travel days.

3 nights × US$295US$885
2 full days × US$92US$184
2 travel days × US$69US$138
Maximum for the tripUS$1,207

Washington, DC per diem, FY2026

October 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026. Use these for travel in that period, even when the claim is paid later.

DatesLodging per nightM&IE per dayDaily maximum
1 Oct to 31 Oct 2025US$275US$92US$367
1 Nov to 28 Feb 2026US$196US$92US$288
1 Mar to 30 Jun 2026US$276US$92US$368
1 Jul to 31 Aug 2026US$183US$92US$275
1 Sept to 30 Sept 2026US$275US$92US$367

Washington, DC and the IRS high-low method

Washington, DC is a high-cost locality all year under IRS Notice 2026-60. An employer using the high-low method instead of the GSA rate can pay up to US$329 a day there, of which US$86 counts as meals.

Per diem rates in other cities

Frequently asked questions

For FY2027, from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027: lodging up to US$192 to US$295 a night depending on the dates, and US$92 a day for meals and incidental expenses.

GSA lists it as: Washington DC (also the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax, and the counties of Arlington and Fairfax, in Virginia; and the counties of Montgomery and Prince George's in Maryland). A destination outside that area takes its own county's rate, or the standard rate of US$113 for lodging and US$68 for M&IE.

75% of the M&IE rate, US$69 in Washington, DC. Lodging is paid for each night at the rate for that night's date.

The highest lodging rate is US$295 in FY2027 against US$276 in FY2026, and M&IE is US$92 against US$92. The full FY2026 table is on this page.

Not up to these rates, when the employee records the dates, place and business purpose of the trip under an accountable plan. Any amount above the federal rate is taxable wages.

Where these numbers come from

Lodging and M&IE are copied from GSA's FY2027 and FY2026 per diem files. The high-low status is from IRS Notice 2026-60.

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Travel claims coded before you're home

Smartbills keeps the per diem, the bookings and the card charges from a trip together. The claim is already coded by the time the traveller gets back.

See expense management