2026 military housing worksheet
BAH Calculator
Use this BAH calculator to check 2026 Basic Allowance for Housing by duty ZIP code, pay grade, and dependent status. The lookup uses official ZIP-to-MHA mapping plus official 2026 rate tables.
Review the mapped MHA area before relying on the result. BAH entitlement can still vary based on duty location rules, orders, and finance-office guidance.
Step 1
Enter your duty ZIP code and pay grade
Step 2
Review the mapped MHA and rate
Estimated monthly BAH
$3,759
Annualized
$45,108
12 x monthly rate
Review before using this BAH calculator result
- Confirm the ZIP code belongs to the duty location BAH area you need.
- Check whether your situation should use the with-dependents or without-dependents table.
- Use the mapped MHA name as a sanity check before saving or sharing the result.
- For entitlement questions, compare the result with official finance guidance.
How this BAH calculator works
- Enter a 5-digit duty ZIP code.
- The tool maps that ZIP code to an official Military Housing Area, or MHA.
- Select a pay grade and dependent status.
- The page looks up the 2026 rate from the official MHA table and shows a monthly and annual estimate.
This BAH calculator is designed for quick review, not for legal or payroll determination. It is most useful when you already know the duty ZIP code and want to confirm the mapped area and approximate housing allowance for 2026.
ZIP code to MHA mapping matters
BAH rates are assigned by MHA, not by ZIP code alone. The ZIP code is a lookup step. That means the same state can contain many different BAH areas, and a ZIP code near a boundary may map to a different MHA than users expect. This is why the result panel shows both the ZIP code you entered and the MHA code and area name used for the rate.
If the MHA name looks wrong for your situation, stop there and verify the duty ZIP code before using the amount. A BAH calculator is only as good as the area mapping behind it.
What inputs affect the result
- Duty ZIP code: used to locate the correct MHA area.
- Pay grade: selects the pay-grade column in the 2026 rate file.
- Dependent status: switches between the with-dependents and without-dependents tables.
- Year: this page currently uses the 2026 official rate set only.
The calculator does not currently adjust for partial months, historic years, overseas OHA, temporary lodging, or any branch-specific finance exception. Those situations need additional review beyond a simple BAH calculator.
Privacy and processing notes
This BAH calculator runs in the browser after the page loads the local 2026 dataset. It does not ask for an account, military ID, or finance login. Your ZIP code, pay grade, and dependent-status choices stay in the page session unless you choose to copy or download the result yourself.
Examples
Real ZIP-based examples from the 2026 data
| Duty ZIP code | Mapped MHA | Example pay grade | What to review |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20593 | DC053 · Washington, DC Metro Area | E-6 with dependents | Useful for checking a dense, high-cost MHA where the mapped area matters. |
| 29152 | SC263 · Sumter / Shaw AFB, SC | E-5 with dependents | Good for reviewing a base-centered MHA in a lower-cost housing area. |
| 92101 | CA038 · San Diego, CA | O-3 without dependents | Shows how coastal metro rates can differ sharply by pay grade and status. |
| 30301 | GA071 · Atlanta, GA | E-7 with dependents | Helps compare a large city MHA against a nearby military-focused location. |
When this BAH calculator is useful
This page is useful when you need a quick 2026 BAH estimate by ZIP code, want to verify that a ZIP maps to the MHA you expected, or need a simple review tool before using a rate in planning. It can also help users explain why two ZIP codes in the same region may not produce the same BAH result.
Limitations and review notes
- This BAH calculator uses official 2026 files, but it is still a review tool.
- It does not determine legal entitlement, back pay, or corrections.
- It does not cover overseas housing allowance or prior-year historical lookups yet.
- Users should review duty ZIP selection, dependent status, and official finance guidance.
FAQ
Common BAH calculator questions
Use the duty ZIP code that matches the housing area you need to review. If you are unsure, verify the ZIP before relying on the BAH calculator result.
BAH is paid by Military Housing Area. The ZIP code is only the lookup step that finds the correct MHA and rate table row.
Yes. The current page uses official 2026 ZIP-to-MHA mapping and official 2026 rate files stored locally in the site build.
Yes. In many MHAs the gap is meaningful, so the dependent-status switch is an important part of the review.
The calculator supports enlisted, warrant, officer prior-enlisted, and officer grades that appear in the official 2026 files.
No. Use the calculator as a review tool, then confirm the duty ZIP, MHA, and entitlement details with official finance channels if the result affects pay.