Kentucky Per Diem Allowance

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

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From the vibrant equestrian culture of Lexington to the major logistics and healthcare hubs in Louisville, Kentucky is a dynamic center for business, manufacturing, and tourism. For organizations with employees traveling to Kentucky, understanding the nuances of per diem rates is key to efficient and compliant expense management.

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

Kentucky Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Kentucky 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 Centers

Kentucky's largest metro areas have specific Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates.

  • Louisville (Jefferson County):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with peak rates of $164 per night (Oct, Sep) and rates as low as $120 per night (Nov-Jan).
  • Lexington (Fayette County):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $118 per night.

The first and last day of travel for these locations, the M&IE rate is $60.00.

Other Notable Locations

It's important to note how rates are handled in metro areas that cross state lines.

  • Covington (Kenton County): As part of the Cincinnati, OH metro area, Covington has its own designated high-cost rate.
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $163 per night.
    • The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $64.50.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Kentucky not specifically listed by the GSA—such as Paducah (McCracken County)—the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).

Kentucky Per Diem Rate Calculator

Find the exact per diem allowance for your trip to Kentucky 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.

Kentucky GSA Lodging Rates

Financial year
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County
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Kentucky Meals and Incidental Rates

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

While private companies often use GSA rates as a benchmark, Kentucky has its own set of rules for state employees and specific laws that apply to private businesses.

  • Reimbursement As A Matter of Policy: Kentucky state law does not require private employers to reimburse employees for business-related travel expenses. This makes having a clear, detailed, and consistently enforced company travel policy essential for setting expectations and avoiding disputes.
  • Kentucky's State Employee Travel Regulations: The state has a distinct travel policy (200 KAR 2:006) for its own public employees. This policy sets specific reimbursement rates for meals and lodging that differ from the federal GSA system. For example, for FY 2025, the state sets individual meal allowances ($12 for breakfast, $15 for lunch, $23 for dinner) and a standard lodging cap of $110, with some exceptions.

Kentucky Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

It's crucial to distinguish between the federal GSA system and Kentucky's state policy, as they apply to different groups and have different rules.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for U.S. federal government employees traveling in Kentucky. It is also the most common standard used by private businesses to ensure their reimbursement plan is IRS-compliant.
  • State of Kentucky Policy: Applies only to Kentucky state government employees. It does not govern private sector businesses.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): Sets combined M&IE rates and lodging rates that often vary by season and location (county).
  • State of Kentucky Policy: Sets its own specific, individual meal reimbursement amounts and a separate lodging cap, which is less variable than the federal system.

Legal Focus

  • Federal Law (GSA): Designed to create a uniform system for federal travel that reflects market-rate costs across the country.
  • State of Kentucky Policy: Aims to manage the state's budget and create a standard, auditable reimbursement process for its public employees.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

From manufacturing site visits to client meetings in Louisville, travel in Kentucky is diverse. You need an expense management platform that offers precision, control, and efficiency. Fyle’s intelligent software automates the entire per diem and travel expense process, saving time and eliminating errors.

Here’s how Fyle streamlines your Kentucky expense management:

  • Automated Policy Controls For Any Rate: Whether your company follows GSA rates, state guidelines, or a custom internal policy, Fyle’s rules engine can be configured to match. It automatically flags out-of-policy expenses before they’re submitted, ensuring 100% compliance.
  • Real-Time Expense Capture: Empower your employees to report expenses the moment they happen. A quick photo of a receipt from Fyle’s mobile app or a forwarded email is all it takes to create a verifiable expense entry, ending the hassle of collecting receipts after a trip.
  • Effortless Mileage Tracking For Accurate Reimbursement: For employees driving to client sites or between cities, Fyle’s Google Maps-powered mileage tracker makes logging trips for reimbursement simple, accurate, and IRS-compliant.
  • Seamless Integration With Your Accounting System: Fyle connects directly with leading accounting software like NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct. All approved per diem and travel expense data flows automatically into your general ledger, closing the books faster and without manual data entry.

With Fyle, you can manage your Kentucky travel expenses with confidence, providing a modern, hassle-free experience for your employees while maintaining perfect financial control.

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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.