SeaBagLocation first
Look up the applicable area using its ZIP code.
The right comparison
Keep paygrade and dependency status visible while checking a rate.
Part of the pay toolkit
Move between BAH, basic pay, and payday references in one app.
Keep the allowance separate from the rent.
Basic Allowance for Housing is one part of military compensation. It is useful context when comparing orders or planning a move, but a quoted rental price is not the same thing as an allowance entitlement.
In SeaBag, open the BAH tool and enter the relevant ZIP code, grade, and dependency status. Check the rate year and compare like-for-like inputs before carrying the number into a budget.
DTMO publishes the official housing-allowance information. Use those resources and your servicing personnel or finance office to resolve an entitlement question. This website does not connect to your personnel record or decide your eligibility.
BAH exists so housing costs do not fall on the member, and the rate you receive is tied to the location your orders assign rather than the one you would choose. When you compare two duty stations, look up both ZIP codes with the same paygrade and dependency status, then weigh the allowance against the rents you actually find there. Remember that a rate is protected in place: if the published rate for your location drops while you remain stationed there, rate protection usually holds your payment steady, which is why two members with the same ZIP code can see different amounts. Plan around the rate year as well — rates adjust on January 1, and a mid-year PCS can mean a new calculation. None of this replaces your finance office: entitlements, partial BAH, and unusual situations are their decisions, and the DTMO tables remain the authoritative numbers.
Official reference
Defense Travel Management Office · BAH ↗Use the current source and your command’s guidance for official decisions.
Common questions
Can I check BAH by ZIP code?
The app’s lookup uses ZIP code along with paygrade and dependency status.
Does the amount include basic pay?
No. Basic pay and BAH are separate parts of compensation and have separate references in SeaBag.
Who publishes the official BAH rates?
The Defense Travel Management Office. Follow the source link below to its BAH resources.