DITY Move Calculator

By: Jameson Myers May 2, 2025

In:

Determine costs with a military move calculator

Permanent Change of Station (PCS) orders are a way of life for many military families. When faced with a move, they often weigh their options between government-funded and Personally Procured Moves (PPM).

A PPM, also known as a DITY (do-it-yourself) move, is popular because it’s flexible and can mean significant savings.

Understanding how to calculate the costs of a DITY move will help you determine what makes the most sense for your PCS.

Woman using a pen, paper, calculator and online DITY calculator to estimate military moving costs.

Free DITY move estimator

The first step in figuring out your DITY move costs is getting a quote. U-Pack® makes it easy — just use our free online quote form for an instant moving cost estimate. All we’ll need is the origin, destination, move date and home size. Our quotes include the moving equipment, transportation (including fuel) and standard liability coverage.

U-Pack is a self-moving company. Since 1997, we’ve handled long-distance moves in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, including military moves.

With U-Pack, you’ll have more control of your move (date, equipment type, etc.) and maintain privacy by packing your own things.

Understanding PPM moving reimbursement

Since reimbursement amounts for service members can vary between military branches, you must visit the Transportation Office (TO) on base to get the details for your PCS.

PPM reimbursements are based on rank, dependents, distance, and travel time. The TO will provide the exact allowances and requirements. Here are some things you’ll want to know:

Government Procured Move (GPM) reimbursement amount (you can get 100% of this amount)

Dislocation Allowance (DLA)

How to submit weight tickets

Monetary Allowance in Lieu of Transportation (MALT)

Per diem amounts for you and your dependents

Is it true you can make a profit on a PPM or DITY move?

If the government reimbursement is more than what you’ll pay for a DITY move, you can keep the extra money as a profit. Remember to consider all moving expenses, like personal travel, meals, lodging and packing materials.

Note: If your DITY moving costs exceed the GPM reimbursement amount, you might want to allow the government to handle your move or look for military moving discounts to lower your PPM costs. Also, be sure to consult with an accountant or tax professional about any applicable taxes or deductions related to your PCS.

Reserve your PPM with U-Pack

If you’ve already gotten a quote, you're all set to reserve. In addition to our competitive prices, enter the code DITY10 online (or mention it on the phone) for an extra $100 in savings! Booking early secures the equipment and move date. If plans change, you can update or cancel the move for free up to 7 days in advance.

U-Pack bases prices on the space your things take up rather than their weight to keep costs low. But don’t worry! We can provide the weight tickets if you request them at the time of the reservation (online or over the phone), and the cost is only $150.

If you have questions about U-Pack or paying for your military move, one of our moving consultants can help at 844-362-5303844-594-3077. Thank you for your service!