Army Dity Move Calculator

Planning a Personally Procured Move (PPM), formerly known as a Do-It-Yourself (DITY) move? Use this calculator to estimate your potential reimbursement and out-of-pocket costs. This tool helps you understand the financial implications of moving your household goods yourself versus letting the government arrange it.

Estimated Household Goods Weight (lbs):

Government Weight Allowance (lbs):

Estimated Government Constructive Cost ($):

This is the estimated cost the government would pay a commercial mover for your move. Obtain this estimate from your Transportation Office (TMO).

Government Reimbursement Percentage (%):

Typically 95% of the constructive cost, but confirm with your TMO.

Your Estimated Actual Costs:

Truck/Trailer Rental Cost ($):

Fuel Cost ($):

Packing Supplies Cost ($):

Labor/Assistance Cost ($):

Other Costs (Tolls, Storage, etc.) ($):

Weight Ticket Cost ($):

Crucial for reimbursement. You need empty and full weight tickets.

function calculateDityMove() { var estimatedHhgWeight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('estimatedHhgWeight').value); var govWeightAllowance = parseFloat(document.getElementById('govWeightAllowance').value); var estimatedGovConstructiveCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('estimatedGovConstructiveCost').value); var govReimbursementPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById('govReimbursementPercentage').value); var actualTruckRentalCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualTruckRentalCost').value); var actualFuelCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualFuelCost').value); var actualPackingSuppliesCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualPackingSuppliesCost').value); var actualLaborAssistanceCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualLaborAssistanceCost').value); var actualOtherCosts = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualOtherCosts').value); var actualWeightTicketCost = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualWeightTicketCost').value); if (isNaN(estimatedHhgWeight) || isNaN(govWeightAllowance) || isNaN(estimatedGovConstructiveCost) || isNaN(govReimbursementPercentage) || isNaN(actualTruckRentalCost) || isNaN(actualFuelCost) || isNaN(actualPackingSuppliesCost) || isNaN(actualLaborAssistanceCost) || isNaN(actualOtherCosts) || isNaN(actualWeightTicketCost) || estimatedHhgWeight < 0 || govWeightAllowance < 0 || estimatedGovConstructiveCost < 0 || govReimbursementPercentage 100 || actualTruckRentalCost < 0 || actualFuelCost < 0 || actualPackingSuppliesCost < 0 || actualLaborAssistanceCost < 0 || actualOtherCosts < 0 || actualWeightTicketCost 0) { adjustedConstructiveCost = estimatedGovConstructiveCost * (reimbursableWeight / estimatedHhgWeight); } else if (reimbursableWeight > 0 && estimatedGovConstructiveCost > 0) { // Edge case: if estimatedHhgWeight is 0 but allowance is positive, this implies user expects to move something. // For simplicity, if estimatedHhgWeight is 0, we assume no move, thus 0 constructive cost. // If user enters 0 for estimatedHhgWeight, they likely mean no move. adjustedConstructiveCost = 0; } // 3. Calculate Maximum Government Reimbursement var maxGovReimbursement = adjustedConstructiveCost * (govReimbursementPercentage / 100); // 4. Calculate Total Actual Costs var totalActualCosts = actualTruckRentalCost + actualFuelCost + actualPackingSuppliesCost + actualLaborAssistanceCost + actualOtherCosts + actualWeightTicketCost; // 5. Calculate Net Gain/Loss var netGainLoss = maxGovReimbursement – totalActualCosts; var resultHtml = '

DITY Move Calculation Results:

'; resultHtml += 'Reimbursable Weight: ' + reimbursableWeight.toFixed(0) + ' lbs'; resultHtml += 'Adjusted Government Constructive Cost: $' + adjustedConstructiveCost.toFixed(2) + "; resultHtml += 'Maximum Government Reimbursement: $' + maxGovReimbursement.toFixed(2) + "; resultHtml += 'Total Estimated Actual Costs: $' + totalActualCosts.toFixed(2) + "; if (netGainLoss >= 0) { resultHtml += 'Estimated Net Gain: $' + netGainLoss.toFixed(2) + "; resultHtml += 'Congratulations! Based on your estimates, you could potentially save money by performing a DITY move.'; } else { resultHtml += 'Estimated Net Loss: $' + Math.abs(netGainLoss).toFixed(2) + "; resultHtml += 'Based on your estimates, a DITY move might cost you more out-of-pocket than you would be reimbursed. Consider re-evaluating your costs or discussing options with your TMO.'; } document.getElementById('dityMoveResult').innerHTML = resultHtml; } .calculator-container { font-family: 'Arial', sans-serif; background-color: #f9f9f9; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.1); max-width: 700px; margin: 20px auto; border: 1px solid #ddd; } .calculator-container h2 { color: #2c3e50; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 20px; font-size: 1.8em; } .calculator-container h3 { color: #34495e; margin-top: 25px; margin-bottom: 15px; font-size: 1.4em; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; padding-bottom: 5px; } .calculator-container p { color: #555; line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 10px; } .calc-input-group { margin-bottom: 15px; display: flex; flex-direction: column; } .calc-input-group label { margin-bottom: 5px; color: #333; font-weight: bold; font-size: 0.95em; } .calc-input-group input[type="number"] { padding: 10px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; font-size: 1em; width: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; } .calc-input-group input[type="number"]:focus { border-color: #007bff; outline: none; box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.25); } .help-text { font-size: 0.85em; color: #777; margin-top: 5px; margin-bottom: 0; } .calculate-button { display: block; width: 100%; padding: 12px 20px; background-color: #28a745; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-size: 1.1em; cursor: pointer; transition: background-color 0.3s ease; margin-top: 20px; } .calculate-button:hover { background-color: #218838; } .calculator-result { margin-top: 30px; padding: 20px; background-color: #e9f7ef; border: 1px solid #d4edda; border-radius: 8px; } .calculator-result h3 { color: #28a745; margin-top: 0; border-bottom: none; padding-bottom: 0; } .calculator-result p { margin-bottom: 8px; color: #333; } .calculator-result .success { color: #28a745; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; } .calculator-result .error { color: #dc3545; font-weight: bold; font-size: 1.1em; }

Understanding Your Army DITY Move (PPM)

A Personally Procured Move (PPM), commonly known as a DITY move, allows service members to take charge of their own relocation. Instead of the government hiring a moving company, you handle the logistics yourself, and the government reimburses you for a percentage (typically 95%) of what it would have cost them to move your household goods (HHG).

Key Benefits of a DITY Move:

Potential for Profit: If your actual moving costs are less than the government's reimbursement, you keep the difference.
Control: You decide the moving dates, packing methods, and transportation.
Faster Delivery: You can often move your belongings quicker than a commercial mover, especially for short distances.
Personalized Care: You handle your own items, reducing the risk of damage by third parties.

Important Considerations:

Weight Allowance: Your reimbursement is capped by your rank and dependency status. Exceeding this allowance means you pay for the excess weight out of pocket.
Weight Tickets: You MUST obtain certified empty and full weight tickets for your moving vehicle. Without these, you cannot be reimbursed.
Receipts: Keep meticulous records of all expenses, including truck rental, fuel, packing supplies, tolls, and hired labor.
Taxes: The profit from a DITY move is considered taxable income.
Physical Effort: A DITY move requires significant physical labor for packing, loading, and unloading.

How to Plan Your DITY Move:

Contact Your Transportation Office (TMO): This is your first and most crucial step. They will provide you with your weight allowance, estimated government constructive cost, and all necessary paperwork and briefings.
Get Estimates: Research rental truck companies, packing supply costs, and potential fuel expenses.
Document Everything: Take photos of your belongings before and after packing. Keep all receipts organized.
Weigh Your Vehicle: Obtain certified weight tickets (empty and full) at a public weigh station.
Submit Your Claim: After your move, submit all required documentation and receipts to your TMO for reimbursement.

This calculator provides an estimate based on the information you provide. Always consult with your local Transportation Office (TMO) for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding your specific DITY move entitlements and procedures.