2026 BAH Rates: How Basic Allowance for Housing Works
Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) is a tax-free allowance that helps cover the cost of housing when you don't live in government quarters. For 2026, BAH rates rose about 4.2% on average, though the change varies a lot by location.
What determines your BAH rate
BAH is set by three factors:
- Location — specifically the ZIP code where you live/work, grouped into Military Housing Areas (MHAs). High-cost cities pay far more.
- Pay grade — higher ranks receive higher BAH.
- Dependents — there is a "with dependents" and a "without dependents" rate (the amount doesn't change with the number of dependents).
Enter your ZIP code to look up your 2026 BAH and full take-home pay.
Calculate my pay →Is BAH taxable?
No. BAH is not subject to federal income tax. This is why it's such a valuable part of military compensation — a service member receiving $2,000/month in BAH keeps the full $2,000, unlike taxable wages.
How to look up your exact BAH
The official source is the DoD BAH rate lookup at travel.dod.mil. The easiest way is to enter your ZIP code into the military pay calculator, which resolves your location automatically and combines BAH with your basic pay, BAS, taxes, and deductions to show your real monthly take-home.
BAH for Reserve and Guard members
On active-duty orders of 30+ days, reservists receive the local BAH rate. For shorter periods (and for some training), a separate non-locality rate called BAH RC/Transit applies. See our reserve drill pay guide for details.
Frequently asked questions
Is BAH taxable?
No. BAH is not subject to federal income tax, which makes it one of the most valuable parts of military pay.
How much did BAH go up in 2026?
BAH rose about 4.2% on average for 2026, though the change varies by location.
Does BAH change with number of dependents?
No. There is one 'with dependents' rate and one 'without dependents' rate per grade and location; it does not scale with how many dependents you have.