Delaware Per Diem Allowance

Calculate Delaware’s per diem rate based on GSA guidelines to simplify your business travels.

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Home to more than 65% of Fortune 500 companies and a major center for the financial services and chemical industries, Delaware is a small but mighty hub for corporate travel. For any organization with employees traveling to the First State, a clear and compliant strategy for managing expenses is vital for financial control and operational efficiency.

Per diem, a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental expenses, is the most common method for handling travel reimbursements. This guide offers a comprehensive look at the federal per diem rates for Delaware, clarifies important state laws, and shows how you can automate the entire process.

Delaware Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Delaware are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These federal rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as a common benchmark for private sector companies looking to create an IRS-compliant reimbursement policy.

For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), key rates are broken down as follows:

Major Business and Tourist Areas

Delaware's primary destinations have their own designated Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates.

  • Wilmington (New Castle County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $127 per night.
  • Lewes (Sussex County):
    • M&IE: $74 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak summer rate of $221 per night (June-Aug) and a rate of $124 per night for all other months.

The first and last day of travel for these locations, the M&IE rate is $55.50.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Delaware not specifically listed by the GSA—such as Kent County, which includes the state capital of Dover—the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

Delaware Per Diem Rate Calculator

Find the exact per diem allowance for your business trip to Delaware with our easy-to-use calculator. Select the fiscal year, choose your destination, and input your travel dates. The tool will instantly provide the correct lodging and M&IE rates based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

Dates
Lodging (L)
Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
Total (L + M&IE)
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Lodging (L)
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Meals & Incidentals (M&IE)
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Total (L + M&IE)
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*For the first and last day of travel, M&lE spend is limited to 75% of its normal, daily allowance.

Delaware GSA Lodging Rates

Financial year
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County
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Delaware Meals and Incidental Rates

Financial year
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County
Daily M&IE Total
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Some Important Delaware Per Diem Laws

For private employers in Delaware, state law provides flexibility, which makes a company's own internal policy the most important factor in managing travel expenses.

  • Understanding Employer Discretion in Delaware: Delaware state law (Title 19, Labor) does not require private employers to reimburse employees for business-related travel expenses. This means the decision to pay per diem or reimburse actual costs is determined by the employer's internal policy.
  • The Importance of A Written Company Policy: Because state law does not mandate reimbursement, a clearly written and consistently applied travel policy is essential. This document becomes the binding agreement between the employer and employee, setting clear expectations and preventing disputes over which expenses are covered.

Delaware Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

It's crucial to distinguish between the federal GSA system and Delaware's state laws, as they apply to different groups.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Delaware. It is also the most common standard used by private businesses for an IRS-compliant accountable plan.
  • Delaware State Law: Does not mandate expense reimbursement for private employers. The primary legal considerations are the employer's own policies and federal minimum wage laws (FLSA), which ensure expenses don't drop an employee's effective pay below the minimum wage.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): Sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for locations in Delaware that federal agencies must use.
  • Delaware State Law: Does not set or regulate per diem rates for private companies. Businesses are free to set their own reimbursement rates or policies, though using GSA rates is a common best practice.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Aims to create a uniform, cost-controlled system for federal travel.
  • Delaware State Law: Relies on the agreements made between an employer and employee, giving businesses flexibility while holding them accountable to their own written policies.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Managing business travel expenses requires a system that ensures both compliance and efficiency. Fyle's expense management software automates the entire process, giving you complete control over your travel spend.

Here’s how Fyle puts you in control of your Delaware travel expenses:

  • Build Your Policy Directly Into The Workflow: Take your company's travel policy and make it active. With Fyle, you can configure your specific rules—from GSA per diem limits to project-based spending caps—and the system will automatically check every expense for compliance, stopping bad spend before it starts.
  • Get A Real-Time View Of Spending As It Happens: Don't wait until the end of the month to understand your travel costs. Fyle's analytics dashboard gives finance leaders an up-to-the-minute view of expenses as they are submitted, enabling better forecasting and immediate budget oversight.
  • Capture Every Expense with Zero Effort: Your employees can submit expenses instantly from anywhere in the state. A simple text message with a photo of a receipt is all it takes for Fyle to create a coded, compliant expense entry, eliminating the need for manual reports.
  • Simplify Mileage with Automatic Tracking: For employees driving along I-95 or to client sites across the state, Fyle's Google Maps integration provides a simple, one-click solution for tracking vehicle mileage accurately and in compliance with IRS rules.
  • Close Your Books Faster Than Ever: Fyle integrates directly with all major accounting platforms, including Sage, NetSuite, QuickBooks, and Xero. All approved expense data flows straight into your general ledger, eliminating hours of manual data entry and ensuring a faster, more accurate close.

With Fyle, you can manage your Delaware travel expenses with the confidence that comes from complete control and effortless efficiency.

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The content on this page is for informational use. As legal standards and per diem rates are subject to change, users should verify current details with official GSA or government resources. This information does not serve as financial or legal counsel.