Maine Per Diem Allowance

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

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From its rugged coastline and vibrant port cities to its quiet inland towns, Maine is a unique destination for business and tourism. For organizations with employees traveling to the Pine Tree State for conferences, client meetings, or seasonal work, a clear understanding of per diem rates is essential for managing expenses. 

Per diem, a daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidental costs, provides a streamlined approach to reimbursement. This guide offers a comprehensive look at the per diem rates for Maine, the state's important employee-protective laws, and how to automate the process for complete compliance.

Maine Per Diem Rates

Per diem rates for official travel in Maine are set by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These federal rates are mandatory for federal employees and serve as a critical benchmark for private companies, especially given Maine's own laws on expense reimbursement. The rates are highly seasonal, particularly in the state's popular coastal tourist areas.

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

Major Metro Areas 

Maine's largest city has its own specific, seasonal per diem rate.

  • Portland (Cumberland & Sagadahoc Counties):
    • M&IE: $80 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with rates of $211 per night (June-August) and ranging from $114 to $199 during other months.

Tourist and High-Cost Areas 

Maine's world-famous coastal destinations have some of the most dramatic seasonal rate changes in the country.

  • Bar Harbor / Rockport (Hancock & Knox Counties):
    • M&IE: $92 per day
    • Lodging: Extremely seasonal, with a peak summer rate of $304 per night (July-August) and an off-season rate as low as $128 (November-April).
    • The first and last day of travel M&IE rate is $69.00.
  • Kennebunk / Kittery / Sanford (York County):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak summer rate of $201 per night (July-August) and an off-season rate of $119.

Standard CONUS Rate 

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

Maine Per Diem Rate Calculator

To find the precise per diem allowance for your trip anywhere in Maine, our calculator provides instant, accurate results based on the official GSA schedule.

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Your per diem allowance

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Meals & Incidentals (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.

Maine GSA Lodging Rates

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Maine Meals and Incidental Rates

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Some Important Maine Per Diem Laws

Maine has strong employee protection laws regarding wages and expenses that all private employers must follow.

  • Mandatory Expense Reimbursement: Maine law requires employers to reimburse employees for necessary business-related expenses. The law prohibits employers from deducting business costs from an employee's pay, which is interpreted to mean that employers must cover necessary costs incurred by an employee for their job.
  • Minimum Wage: Maine has a state minimum wage that is adjusted annually for inflation and is significantly higher than the federal standard. As of January 1, 2025, the state minimum wage will be $14.65 per hour.
  • Overtime Rules: Maine law requires overtime pay at time-and-a-half for all hours worked over 40 in a workweek for non-exempt employees. As of January 1, 2025, the salary threshold to qualify for an exemption is $43,951 per year.

Maine Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

The legal framework in Maine is unique because both state and federal laws create strong obligations for employers.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Maine.
  • Maine Law: Mandatory for almost all private-sector employees, requiring employers to reimburse necessary business expenses.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): The GSA sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for various locations in Maine that federal agencies must use.
  • Maine Law: The state does not set its own per diem rates, but it does require reimbursement. Therefore, employers must use a method (like paying actual costs or using a per diem system) that fully covers the employee's necessary expenses. Using the GSA rates is a very common and highly defensible way to meet this legal requirement.

Legal Foundation

  • Federal Law (GSA): A comprehensive regulatory system designed to standardize and control government travel costs.
  • Maine Law: A protective framework ensuring employees are not forced to subsidize their employer’s business operations by paying for travel or other necessary expenses out of their own pockets.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Given Maine's mandatory reimbursement laws and extreme seasonal rate changes, an automated expense management system is a critical compliance tool for any business. Fyle’s platform ensures your company meets its legal obligations while simplifying the process for everyone.

Fyle helps you master Maine per diem and expense tracking:

  • Ensure Full Compliance: With Maine law requiring reimbursement, Fyle helps you create an accountable plan. It automatically applies the correct GSA rates for any destination, from Portland to Bar Harbor, ensuring your per diem policy is fair, consistent, and meets legal standards.
  • Automated and Accurate Rate Calculation: Fyle eliminates manual errors by instantly calculating the correct per diem based on travel location and dates, including Maine's dramatic seasonal rate swings and the 75% M&IE rule.
  • Effortless Expense Submissions: Empower your employees to report expenses in real-time. A simple photo of a receipt from Fyle’s mobile app or a forwarded email is all it takes to create an expense entry, making compliance easy for your traveling team.
  • Proactive Policy Enforcement: Build your travel policy directly into Fyle. The platform acts as your first line of defense, checking every expense against your rules before submission, preventing out-of-policy spend and reducing the burden on your finance team.
  • IRS-Compliant Mileage Tracking: For employees driving across the state, Fyle’s Google Maps-powered mileage tracker offers an easy and accurate way to log trips, ensuring compliant records for reimbursement.
  • Direct Accounting Integration: Fyle syncs seamlessly with all major accounting software, including NetSuite, QuickBooks, Xero, and Sage Intacct. All approved per diem and travel data flows directly into your general ledger, saving time and ensuring financial accuracy.

With Fyle, you can confidently manage your Maine travel expense process, ensuring you meet your legal obligations while providing a modern, hassle-free experience for your employees.

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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.