DITY Move (PPM) 2026: Rates, Weight Tickets, and How to Get Paid

DITY Move (PPM) 2026: Rates, Weight Tickets, and How to Get Paid

By the BaseNeed Team — military family resources, updated 2026

A DITY move — officially called a Personally Procured Move (PPM) — is one of the few parts of a PCS where you can actually walk away with money in your pocket. Instead of handing your household goods to government-contracted movers, you move some or all of it yourself, and the military pays you an incentive based on what it would have cost them. Done right, a DITY move in 2026 can turn moving weekend into a several-thousand-dollar payday. Done wrong — no weight tickets, no receipts, over your weight allowance — and you can leave real money on the table or get stuck with a tax bill you didn't plan for.

This guide breaks down exactly how a DITY move works in 2026: what it pays, how the reimbursement is calculated, the weight tickets you cannot skip, which expenses are reimbursable, and the step-by-step process from counseling to payment. Whether you're doing a full PPM across the country or a partial DITY with a single trailer, this is the playbook.

> Affiliate disclosure: BaseNeed is reader-supported. A few links below are Amazon affiliate links, and we may earn a small commission if you buy through them — at no extra cost to you. We only point to gear we'd actually load on moving day.

What Is a DITY Move? PPM Meaning Explained

"DITY" stands for Do-It-Yourself move — the legacy nickname that most service members still use. The Department of Defense officially renamed the program the Personally Procured Move (PPM) years ago, so you'll see both terms used interchangeably at your transportation office, in move.mil, and on your paperwork. They mean the same thing: you arrange and execute the move of your household goods (HHG) instead of the government's contracted moving company.

In exchange for taking on the work, the military reimburses you a percentage of the Government Constructed Cost (GCC) — the amount it would have cost the government to move that same weight of goods over that same distance using a commercial carrier. Because you're usually renting a truck and doing the labor yourself (or with cheap help) for far less than a professional carrier charges, the gap between the GCC and your actual costs becomes your profit.

You can do a PPM in almost any PCS scenario: a standard permanent change of station, a move to your first duty station, a separation or retirement move, and even many local moves. It's available to all branches — Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard — though the office you work with (TMO, PPPO, or your installation's personal property office) may go by different names. Before you commit, it helps to understand how much of your stuff you're even allowed to move on the government's dime, which is capped by your rank. Our guide to the 2026 PCS weight allowance limits by rank walks through exactly how those caps work — and they directly determine your DITY payout.

PPM vs. Government Move (HHG): 2026 Comparison

The core decision is whether to let the government's contracted movers handle everything (a standard HHG move) or to take it on yourself with a PPM. Neither is automatically "better" — it depends on your tolerance for labor, your cash flow, and how much control you want over timing. Here's how the two stack up.

DITY (PPM) vs. Government HHG Move — 2026 Side-by-Side

Many families split the difference with a partial DITY (more on that below): let the movers take the heavy, bulky items and personally move the smaller, high-value, or last-minute things you'd rather keep with you. If you're weighing the bigger picture of your move, our 2026 PCS season survival guide covers the full timeline, and the PCS binder checklist helps you keep every receipt and weight ticket organized — which matters more for a PPM than almost anything else.

How Much Does a DITY Move Pay? 2026 DITY Move Rates

This is the number everyone wants, and the honest answer is: there is no flat "per pound" DITY move rate. Your payment is a percentage of the Government Constructed Cost for your specific move — origin, destination, distance, and net weight all factor in. Two families moving the same weight can be paid very different amounts if one is going 300 miles and the other is going 3,000.

Here's how the DITY move rates actually work in 2026:

• The government calculates the GCC — what it would have paid a commercial carrier to move your net weight from A to B.
• For a full PPM, you're paid an incentive equal to a percentage of that GCC. In recent years the incentive has been set at 100% of the GCC (it was historically 95%). Because DoD sets this rate and it can change, always confirm the current percentage on move.mil or with your transportation office before you plan your budget.
• You're paid on the lesser of your actual net weight moved or your authorized PCS weight allowance for your rank. Move more than your allowance and you eat the cost of the excess — you are not paid for it.
• From your total incentive, your documented, allowable expenses (receipts) are treated as non-taxable reimbursement. Whatever is left over — your profit — is taxable income, and the finance office typically withholds federal tax on it.

So when you see search results promising "$0.80 per pound" or a fixed DITY rate, treat them with caution — those are old, region-specific estimates, not a guaranteed 2026 figure. The only binding number is the GCC your transportation office generates during counseling.

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DITY Move Estimator: How to Calculate Your PPM Payment

Before you rent a single truck, you want a realistic estimate of your incentive so you know whether the PPM is worth it. Here's how to calculate a DITY move estimate the right way in 2026:

1. Find your weight allowance. Look up your PCS household goods weight limit for your rank and dependency status. This is the ceiling on what you'll be paid for. (Again, the PCS weight allowance guide has the full chart.)
2. Estimate your actual weight. A common rule of thumb is roughly 1,000–1,500 pounds per fully furnished room, but the only accurate number comes from real weight tickets. Estimate conservatively.
3. Get the official GCC. Your transportation office (or move.mil counseling) will generate the Government Constructed Cost for your origin, destination, and estimated weight. This is the figure your payment is based on.
4. Subtract your projected expenses. Truck rental, fuel, supplies, tolls, and any hired labor. The difference between your incentive and your costs is your estimated profit.
5. Set aside taxes. Because the profit portion is taxable, plan to keep a meaningful slice (often around 22–25% of the profit) for the withholding. If your documented expenses are high, your taxable profit — and your tax — will be lower.

Third-party "DITY move estimator" and "calculate DITY move" tools online can give you a ballpark, but they are not official. The number that actually gets you paid is the GCC from your transportation office, so always confirm through move.mil or in-person counseling before you rely on any estimate.

How to Do a DITY Move: Step-by-Step

Ready to pull the trigger? Here's the full DITY move process from orders in hand to money in the bank.

1. Get your PCS orders. You cannot start a PPM without published orders.
2. Start your move on move.mil. Log in, create your move, and select a PPM (Personally Procured Move) shipment. The system routes you into counseling.
3. Complete PPM counseling. Your transportation office confirms your weight allowance, explains reimbursable expenses, and helps you complete the application paperwork (historically DD Form 2278, the Application for Do-It-Yourself Move and Counseling Checklist). Do not skip counseling — it's often required before you move to be eligible for payment.
4. Request an Advance Operating Allowance (AOA) if you need cash up front. You can typically request an advance of a portion of your estimated incentive to cover the truck rental and supplies. Requested through your transportation office.
5. Get your EMPTY (tare) weight ticket. Weigh each vehicle before you load it, with a full tank of gas and nothing from the move inside. Keep the certified ticket.
6. Pack and load. Use proper supplies, protect your goods, and photograph valuables before they go in the truck.
7. Get your FULL (gross) weight ticket. After loading, weigh the same vehicle again. Your net weight = full minus empty. That net weight drives your payment.
8. Drive to your destination and unload. Keep every fuel, toll, and equipment receipt along the way.
9. Submit your PPM claim. Turn in your weight tickets, receipts, orders, and completed paperwork to your transportation office or through move.mil — usually within 45 days of delivery. Miss the window and you risk delaying or forfeiting payment.
10. Get paid and save your records. Payment comes through DFAS. Keep copies of everything for tax season, since the profit portion shows up as taxable income.

DITY Move Weight Tickets: What You Need and How to Get Them

If there is one thing that makes or breaks a DITY move, it's weight tickets. No valid tickets, no payment — it's that simple. The military pays you on net weight, and the only proof of net weight is a certified empty ticket and a certified full ticket for every vehicle you move.

Where to get certified weight tickets: public truck scales (CAT Scale locations at many travel plazas and truck stops), moving-truck rental locations, landfills, gravel yards, feed stores, and some grain elevators. Call ahead and ask if they provide a certified weight ticket — a printed, official weigh slip. A bathroom scale or a "close enough" guess will not fly.

What each weight ticket must show:

• Your name and last four / order number (write it on the ticket if the scale doesn't capture it)
• The date of the weighing
• The vehicle and trailer identification (make/plate or a description)
• The gross, tare, or net weight as applicable
• The weigh location and the scale operator's certification or signature

The golden rules:

• Weigh empty first (tare), with a full fuel tank and all your normal passengers/pets out of the truck, then weigh full the same way. Consistency between the two weighings protects your net number.
• Get a separate set of tickets for each vehicle or trip. If you make two trailer runs, that's two empty tickets and two full tickets.
• Photograph every ticket the moment you get it. Faded thermal-paper slips are the #1 cause of payment headaches.

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DITY Move Reimbursable Expenses (and What's NOT Covered)

Every dollar of documented, allowable expense you claim comes back to you tax-free and shrinks the taxable "profit" portion of your incentive — so keep receipts for everything. Here's the general breakdown of DITY move reimbursable expenses in 2026. Your transportation office has the authoritative list, so confirm anything unusual before you count on it.

DITY / PPM Reimbursable vs. Non-Reimbursable Expenses

A few notes that trip people up: your personal vehicle's gas is handled through your PCS travel entitlements, not your PPM claim, and your hotel nights are covered by Temporary Lodging Expense (TLE) or per diem — not the PPM. Don't double-dip; claim each cost in the right lane. For the money side of the entire move, our 2026 military pay chart and allowances breakdown puts BAH, BAS, and PCS allowances in context.

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Partial DITY Move: How It Works

You don't have to move everything yourself to profit from a PPM. A partial DITY move (also called a partial PPM) lets the government's contracted movers handle the bulk of your household goods while you personally move a portion — and you get paid the incentive on just that portion's net weight.

This is a favorite for families who want some profit without a cross-country U-Haul marathon. Common partial-DITY scenarios:

• You tow a small trailer of tools, gym equipment, or garage items behind your POV.
• You move high-value or sentimental items yourself so they never leave your sight.
• You handle the "last-minute" household goods the movers can't take on pack-out day.

The mechanics are the same as a full PPM: you still need empty and full weight tickets for whatever you personally move, you still keep receipts, and you still submit a claim. The only difference is that your paid weight is limited to what you moved yourself, and the total (government move + your partial) still can't exceed your rank's weight allowance. A partial DITY is often the lowest-stress way to test the waters if you've never done a self-move before.

DITY Move Rules and Regulations for 2026 (Common Mistakes to Avoid)

The rules exist to protect your payment — and most denied or reduced DITY claims come down to a handful of avoidable mistakes. Keep these DITY move rules front and center:

• No counseling, no payment. Complete your PPM counseling and paperwork before you move. Starting the move first can disqualify you.
• Missing or illegible weight tickets are the number-one reason claims get cut. Photograph them and store digital backups immediately.
• Going over your weight allowance means the excess weight is unpaid — and if the government portion of a partial move plus your PPM exceeds the cap, you can owe money. Know your limit.
• Claiming the wrong expenses. Personal-vehicle gas, meals, and lodging belong to your travel entitlements, not the PPM. Mixing them up invites a rejection.
• Blowing the submission deadline. The typical window is 45 days from delivery. Late paperwork delays — or forfeits — your money.
• Forgetting about taxes. The profit is taxable and tax is withheld. If you didn't keep receipts to offset it, that "big check" shrinks fast.

A little organization goes a long way here. If you're juggling kids, pets, and a self-move all at once, our field-tested reads on surviving your first PCS move and PCS-ing with pets will save you some gray hairs. And if the DIY math doesn't pencil out for your family, compare it against affordable PCS moving help options before you decide.

Key Takeaways

• A DITY move (PPM) pays you a percentage of the Government Constructed Cost to move your own household goods — recently set at 100% of the GCC, but always confirm the current rate on move.mil.
• There is no flat per-pound rate; your payment depends on origin, destination, distance, and net weight, capped by your rank's weight allowance.
• Certified empty and full weight tickets are mandatory — no tickets, no payment. Photograph every one.
• Keep every receipt. Documented expenses come back tax-free and shrink the taxable profit portion of your incentive.
• Complete counseling before you move and submit your claim within about 45 days of delivery to protect your payout.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does a DITY move pay in 2026? A full DITY move (PPM) pays an incentive equal to a percentage of the Government Constructed Cost — in recent years set at 100% of the GCC. There's no fixed per-pound rate; your payment depends on your net weight, distance, and origin/destination, and is capped at your rank's weight allowance. Get the official figure during move.mil counseling.

Do I have to pay taxes on a DITY/PPM move? Your documented, allowable expenses are reimbursed tax-free. Anything left over — your profit — is taxable income, and the finance office typically withholds federal tax on it. Keeping thorough receipts lowers your taxable profit and your tax bill.

What weight tickets do I need for a PPM move? You need a certified empty (tare) weight ticket taken before loading and a certified full (gross) weight ticket taken after loading, for each vehicle or trip. Your net weight — full minus empty — is what you're paid on. Without valid certified tickets, your claim can be denied.

Can I do a partial DITY move? Yes. In a partial DITY, the government's movers handle most of your goods and you personally move a portion, getting paid the incentive on just that net weight. You still need weight tickets and receipts for whatever you move yourself, and the combined weight can't exceed your allowance.

How long does it take to get paid for a DITY move? Submit your claim within about 45 days of delivery. Processing times vary by service and workload, but many members see payment within a few weeks of turning in complete, correct paperwork. Missing tickets or receipts are the most common cause of delays.

What to Do Next

1. Confirm your weight allowance for your rank and dependency status so you know your paid ceiling.
2. Log into move.mil and create your PCS move, selecting a PPM shipment to start counseling.
3. Complete PPM counseling and your application paperwork before you move a single box.
4. Line up supplies and a truck, and request an Advance Operating Allowance if you need cash up front.
5. Weigh empty, load, weigh full, keep every receipt, and submit your claim within 45 days of delivery.

More From BaseNeed

• PCS Weight Allowance 2026: Household Goods Limits by Rank
• 2026 PCS Season Survival Guide for Military Families
• PCS Binder: The Complete 2026 Checklist of What to Include
• PCS Moving Help for Military Families: Affordable Movers
• 2026 Military Pay Chart: Base Pay, BAH, BAS & Allowances
• 15 Brutal Truths About Your First PCS Move
• PCS resources and checklists

Sources and Resources

• move.mil — Official DoD Moving Portal (PPM guidance)
• Military OneSource — Plan a Personally Procured Move
• Defense Travel Management Office (DTMO) — PCS allowances and per diem
• Defense Finance and Accounting Service (DFAS) — Travel and PPM pay

BaseNeed is built by and for the U.S. military community. Programs, rates, and rules change — always verify the current details on move.mil or with your local transportation office before you move. Safe travels on your next PCS.

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