Published October 11, 2026
What is the military household goods weight allowance by rank for 2026? An E-5 with dependents gets 9,000 pounds. The same E-5 without dependents gets 7,000. An O-4 with a family gets 17,000, and nobody in uniform ships more than 18,000 pounds at government expense. The numbers come from the Joint Travel Regulations, the official authority for military travel entitlements, and they are the same numbers your transportation office will use. Know yours before the packers arrive, because anything above it comes out of your pocket.
The 2026 table
| Pay grade | Without dependents | With dependents |
|---|---|---|
| E-1 to E-3 | 5,000 lbs | 8,000 lbs |
| E-4 | 7,000 lbs | 8,000 lbs |
| E-5 | 7,000 lbs | 9,000 lbs |
| E-6 | 8,000 lbs | 11,000 lbs |
| E-7 | 11,000 lbs | 13,000 lbs |
| E-8 | 12,000 lbs | 14,000 lbs |
| E-9 | 13,000 lbs | 15,000 lbs |
| W-1 / O-1 | 10,000 lbs | 12,000 lbs |
| W-2 / O-2 | 12,500 lbs | 13,500 lbs |
| W-3 / O-3 | 13,000 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| W-4 / O-4 | 14,000 lbs | 17,000 lbs |
| W-5 / O-5 | 16,000 lbs | 17,500 lbs |
| O-6 and above | 18,000 lbs | 18,000 lbs |
A few notes on reading it. You rate the "with dependents" figure if you have eligible dependents, whether or not they are making this particular move. The top enlisted leader in each service rates 17,000 with dependents (14,000 without) for orders issued after taking the position. And if you are moving up from enlisted or warrant to officer and the new rank carries a lower number, you keep the old one. The regulation does not punish a promotion.
What does not count against it
Professional gear, usually called pro-gear, sits outside the table. Up to 2,000 pounds of your job-related equipment, uniforms, tools, reference materials, and another 500 pounds of your spouse's job-related gear do not count toward the household goods total when they are properly documented and inventoried. Personal computers do not qualify. File the pro-gear paperwork with your transportation office before the move, not after, because retroactive paperwork is where this benefit goes to die.
One more protection people forget: you are entitled to a free re-weigh. If the scale says you are heavier than your household looks, the transportation office at either end can set up a second weigh at no cost to you. Use it before you accept an overweight bill.
Where people lose money
Exceed the allowance and the excess is billed back to you, roughly a dollar or more per pound, and a single overage can run into four figures. The painful version of this is the family that ships 10,500 pounds on a 9,000-pound allowance and learns the price of 1,500 pounds after delivery. Overseas moves can carry additional restrictions on top of the table, so confirm the number with your local office rather than assuming the stateside figure travels with you.
For a PPM the allowance matters twice, because it is also your payout ceiling. The government reimburses 100 percent of what it would have cost to move your weight, but the calculation uses the lesser of your actual weight and your authorized weight. Pounds over the limit earn nothing. That makes the table above the single most important number in your PPM estimate: every pound you move up to it pays, and every pound past it rides free.
Frequently asked questions
How much weight can an E-5 ship on a PCS move?
An E-5 is authorized 7,000 pounds without dependents and 9,000 pounds with dependents, plus up to 2,000 pounds of pro-gear that does not count against the household goods total.
What is the maximum military weight allowance?
18,000 pounds. O-6 and above are authorized 18,000 pounds with or without dependents, and no service member can ship more than that at government expense.
Does pro-gear count against my weight allowance?
No, when it is properly documented. Up to 2,000 pounds of the member's professional gear and 500 pounds of a spouse's job-related gear are excluded from the household goods total. File the pro-gear paperwork with the transportation office before the move.
What happens if I go over my weight allowance?
You pay the excess. Overweight charges run roughly $1 or more per pound over your limit, and a single overage can run into four figures. On a PPM, pounds over your allowance also earn no reimbursement.
Can I get my shipment re-weighed if I think the weight is wrong?
Yes. Service members are entitled to a free re-weigh of their household goods, arranged through the transportation office at the losing or gaining installation.
Estimate your PPM payout before the move.