BAH 2027: when the rates come out and what to expect

Short answer: as of Oct 15, 2026, DoD has not released 2027 BAH rates. Based on recent years, expect them in mid-December 2026, taking effect Jan. 1, 2027. We don't publish predicted rates; any "2027 BAH" number you see before the official release is a guess.

The timeline

• Last year: DoD released the 2026 BAH rates on Dec. 11, 2025, effective Jan. 1, 2026, with an average increase of 4.2% and a member cost-share of $93 to $212 a month depending on grade (official release).
• Where they land: the Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) BAH rate lookup and its downloadable rate files.
• When you're paid it: new rates start Jan. 1; you'll see them on your January LES (MyPay help if you can't get in).

What to expect (without guessing numbers)

• Averages hide your number. DoD announces one average change, but rates are set separately for each of the 299 military housing areas, grade, and with/without dependents. Some areas go up a lot, some go down.
• Rate protection: per DoD, a service member who keeps uninterrupted BAH eligibility at a given location will not see a rate decrease, even if that area's new rate is lower. Grade and dependency changes have their own rules; see DTMO's BAH page.
• PCSing in 2027? You'll get the 2027 rate for your new duty station's ZIP, not your old one's protected rate.
• Using the Post-9/11 GI Bill? Its housing allowance is based on E-5 with-dependents BAH for the school's ZIP, so a new BAH year changes it too, on VA's schedule (check VA's GI Bill rates).

Check your 2026 rate now

Use our free BAH calculator (official 2026 DTMO data). When DoD publishes 2027 rates, we'll load the official file into the same tool, and you'll be able to compare years.

Related: MyPay not working? · 2026 VA disability pay chart · Leaving-the-service timeline · All tools