Calculate Ohio’s per diem rate based on GSA guidelines to simplify your business travels.
As a cornerstone of American industry and a hub for business, education, and healthcare, Ohio sees a constant flow of corporate and official travel. From the major metropolitan areas of Columbus, Cleveland, and Cincinnati to its smaller towns, managing travel expenses effectively is crucial for any organization.
Per diem—a fixed daily allowance for lodging, meals, and incidentals—provides a structured and efficient method for reimbursement. This guide offers a comprehensive overview of the per diem rates applicable across Ohio, key state laws affecting employers, and how to automate the entire process for compliance and convenience.
For federal travel purposes, and as a common benchmark for private businesses, per diem rates in Ohio are established by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). These rates vary by county to reflect local economic conditions and costs of living.
For Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025), the per diem rates for Ohio are broken down as follows:
Ohio's largest cities are designated as Non-Standard Areas (NSAs) with their own specific rates.
Certain tourist destinations in Ohio also have unique, seasonal rates.
For any county in Ohio not specifically listed by the GSA as a Non-Standard Area (NSA), the standard CONUS rate applies. For FY 2025, this rate is $178 ($110 for lodging and $68 for M&IE).
To find the precise and up-to-date per diem allowance for your trip anywhere in Ohio, our calculator provides instant results based on the official GSA schedule.
While the GSA sets federal travel rates, private employers in Ohio must operate within the state's own legal framework for wage payment. Understanding these numbers and rules is key to staying compliant.
Ohio law does not have a specific statute that requires private companies to reimburse employees for business-related expenses. The decision to use a per diem system or another reimbursement method is based on the employer's internal policy.
This is the most critical aspect of Ohio law concerning expenses. The state's wage payment statute explicitly includes "reimbursement for expenses" in its legal definition of "wages." This means that once an employer agrees to reimburse an expense (via a written or unwritten policy), that reimbursement is treated as wages owed to the employee and must be paid in a timely manner on a regular payday (at least semi-monthly as required by Ohio law).
The federal Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) provides a baseline of protection that works in conjunction with Ohio's own minimum wage. An employer cannot require an employee to pay for business expenses if doing so would cause their effective hourly wage to fall below the minimum wage.
Ohio law strictly controls what can be deducted from an employee's paycheck. An employer cannot unilaterally deduct the cost of a business expense without prior written authorization from the employee for that specific, lawful purpose.
Furthermore, deductions for the employer's benefit (such as for tools, equipment, or damages) are generally not permitted if they reduce an employee's wages below the $10.85 per hour minimum wage. For example, an employer cannot legally deduct the cost of fuel for a company delivery truck from an employee's paycheck if it brings their pay below this threshold.
The per diem rules for a private company employee in Ohio are fundamentally different from the GSA system that governs federal employees.
Managing travel expenses for employees traveling across Ohio—from Columbus to Cleveland to Cincinnati and beyond—requires a system that is both accurate and easy to manage. Enforcing your company's travel policy is crucial, especially when promised reimbursements are considered wages under state law. Fyle's expense management platform is designed to automate this entire process.
Fyle helps you master per diem and expense tracking for Ohio travel:
With Fyle, you can manage your Ohio travel expense process with confidence, ensuring you meet your policy obligations while providing a modern, hassle-free experience for your employees.
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.
