Washington Per Diem Allowance

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

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Home to global technology and aerospace giants, Washington state has a dynamic and diverse economy. To manage these varied travel costs, a clear per diem policy is a critical business tool.

This guide is designed to provide clarity on travel expenses in Washington. We will cover the official GSA per diem rates, explain the laws that govern employee reimbursement, and show you how to streamline the entire process.

Washington Per Diem Rate

Per diem rates for official travel in Washington 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:

Puget Sound Metro Areas

The state's primary business and technology corridor has its own designated Non-Standard Area (NSA) rates with significant seasonal variations.

  • Seattle (King County):
    • M&IE: $92 per day
    • Lodging: Seasonal, with a peak summer rate of $248 per night (June-Sep) and a rate of $188 per night for all other months.
  • Vancouver (Clark, Cowlitz, & Skamania Counties):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $155 per night.
  • Tacoma (Pierce County):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $136 per night.

The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $69.00 for Seattle and $64.50 for Vancouver and Tacoma.

Other Notable Locations

  • Spokane (Spokane County):
    • M&IE: $86 per day
    • Lodging: A flat rate of $126 per night.
    • The first and last day of travel, the M&IE rate is $64.50.

Standard CONUS Rate

For any county in Washington 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).

Washington Per Diem Rate Calculator

Find the exact per diem allowance for your business trip to Washington 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.

Washington GSA Lodging Rates

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Washington Meals and Incidental Rates

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Some Important Washington Per Diem Laws

While Washington State law provides flexibility, employers must be aware of wage protection laws and specific local ordinances.

  • The Role of Company Policy in Reimbursement: Washington State law does not have a broad statute requiring private employers to reimburse all business expenses. This makes having a clear, detailed, and consistently enforced company travel policy essential for setting expectations and managing expenses fairly.
  • Minimum Wage Protections: A critical legal consideration is that any unreimbursed, necessary business expense cannot cause an employee's effective earnings to drop below Washington's state minimum wage, which is one of the highest in the nation. This creates a legal floor for reimbursement.
  • The Seattle Wage Theft Ordinance: Employers operating within the City of Seattle should be aware that the local ordinance is stricter than state law. It requires employers to pay employees for "all compensation owed," which explicitly includes reimbursement for necessary business expenses.

Washington Per Diem Laws vs Federal Law

It's important to understand the distinction between the federal GSA system and Washington's state law.

Primary Applicability

  • Federal Law (GSA): Mandatory for all U.S. federal government employees on official business in Washington. It is also the most common standard used by private businesses for an IRS-compliant accountable plan.
  • Washington State Law: Does not mandate a specific reimbursement system for private employers (outside of Seattle) but provides strong wage protections. The primary legal considerations are the employer's own policies and the state's minimum wage laws.

Rate Setting and Usage

  • Federal Law (GSA): Sets specific, non-negotiable per diem rates for various locations in Washington that federal agencies must use.
  • Washington 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.
  • Washington State Law: Aims to protect employee wages and relies on the agreements made between an employer and employee, holding businesses accountable to their own written policies.

How Fyle Can Automate Per Diem and Expense Tracking

Managing travel expenses across Washington’s diverse economy requires a smart and adaptable system. Fyle's expense management platform automates this complexity, providing powerful financial controls while simplifying the process for your employees.

Here’s how Fyle helps you master your Washington travel expenses:

  • A Policy Engine Built for Washington's Diverse Rates: Easily configure Fyle with the different GSA rates for Seattle, Vancouver, and Spokane, including all seasonal adjustments. The system automatically validates every expense against the right policy, ensuring compliance and preventing budget surprises.
  • Expense Reporting That's as Fast as Your Business: Empower your team to submit expenses in seconds. A photo of a receipt via text messages is all it takes to create a complete, auditable record, eliminating the need for manual expense reports.
  • Real-Time Visibility Into Corporate Card Spending: Integrate your company's existing corporate cards with Fyle to get a live feed of all transactions. This gives finance leaders immediate oversight into spending and automates the tedious reconciliation process for cardholders.
  • Accurate Mileage Tracking for Every Business Trip: Fyle’s Google Maps powered mileage tracker provides a simple and IRS-compliant way to log business travel, guaranteeing fair reimbursement.
  • A Faster, More Accurate Financial Close: Fyle integrates seamlessly with leading accounting software like NetSuite, QuickBooks, Sage, and Xero. All approved expense data flows straight to your general ledger, saving hours of manual work and ensuring your financial records are always up-to-date.

With Fyle, you can confidently manage your Washington travel expenses, 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.