E-9 PCS Weight Allowance (2026)
Sergeant Major, Master Gunnery Sergeant, Master Chief Petty Officer — household goods you can ship on a permanent change of station.
With pro-gear declared separately, an E-9 moving with a family can ship up to 17,500 lbs in total (15,000 household goods + 2,000 member pro-gear + 500 spouse pro-gear).
What E-9 is called in each branch
| Army | Sergeant Major / Command Sergeant Major |
|---|---|
| Marine Corps | Master Gunnery Sergeant / Sergeant Major |
| Navy | Master Chief Petty Officer |
| Air Force | Chief Master Sergeant |
| Space Force | Chief Master Sergeant |
| Coast Guard | Master Chief Petty Officer |
Special rules for E-9
The senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the senior enlisted leader of each service (Sergeant Major of the Army, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard) are authorized more: 17,000 lbs with dependents and 14,000 lbs without, for the rest of their career.
Compared with the next grades
| Grade | Without dependents | With dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-8 | 12,000 lbs | 14,000 lbs |
| E-9 | 13,000 lbs | 15,000 lbs |
Estimate your household weight room by room →Free, no login. Shows how close you are to 15,000 lbs and what excess weight would cost.
How much weight can an E-9 ship on a PCS move?
An E-9 is authorized 15,000 lbs of household goods with dependents and 13,000 lbs without dependents. Professional gear (up to 2,000 lbs, plus 500 lbs for a spouse) does not count against that limit.
Does pro-gear count toward the E-9 weight allowance?
No. Professional books, papers and equipment are shipped in addition to the 15,000 lbs (or 13,000 lbs), as long as they are declared and weighed separately at pickup.
What happens if an E-9 goes over the weight allowance?
You pay for the excess yourself, billed per pound across the full distance of the move. Estimating your household weight before pickup — room by room — is the cheapest way to avoid that bill.
Who counts as "with dependents"?
A member who has a dependent eligible to travel at government expense with the PCS — whether or not the dependent actually travels. After the death of all dependents or a divorce that leaves none, the first PCS still uses the with-dependents allowance.
Source: Joint Travel Regulation, Table 5-37 (PCS and NTS weight allowances). The JTR is the authoritative source and is updated periodically — confirm against the current edition and your orders. BaseNeed does not issue entitlements.
All grades: PCS weight allowance by rank · full guide with pro-gear rules · E-9 BAH at every duty station