Move Options & DITY Comparison
Compare Government Move (TMO) vs. Partial DITY vs. Full DITY side-by-side. Score the options on profit, physical effort, schedule control, and claims protection.
Decision Facet Radar
Scored 1 (Low) to 5 (High)Full DITY (PPM) Move
You assume full responsibility for your entire relocation. You rent the truck or hire your own containers, pack all items, drive, and unload.
Interactive DITY Profit Estimator
Model weight, distance, and expenses to forecast your net relocation profit.
PPM profits are subject to federal income tax (on the profit portion, not the expenses). Keep all receipts! Expenses reduce your taxable DITY income.
Plan on 100%, not 130%. PPM reimbursement was temporarily raised to 130% of the Government Constructed Cost during the 2024–25 moving-contract crisis. That incentive has ended — the current rate is 100% of the GCC. If you are budgeting off a friend's move from 2024 or 2025, your payout will be lower than theirs was.
These estimates use a proxy payout rate for quick comparison. For a settlement based on your own Government Constructed Cost, use the DITY / PPM profit calculator.
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Heavy-duty materials to keep your goods secure. Route purchases via our affiliate links.
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Heavy-Duty Stretch Plastic Wrap
Elastic self-adhering plastic wrap to hold drawers closed and protect furniture.
Premium Mattress Protection Bags
Thick tear-resistant polythene bags to safeguard beds during transit.
*Disclosures: As an associate, we earn commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site. This helps support our free tools.
Relocation Partners & Moving Services
Compare military-certified DITY truck rentals and professional trailer-drop freight solutions.
Penske Truck Rental
15% Military Discount (code MILITARY)Full DIY moves (you pack and drive everything long-distance). Military ID or proof of Veteran status required at pickup.
U-Haul
1 Month Free Storage for Service MembersFull or partial DITY on a budget — in-town trucks from $19.95, U-Box containers ship with 24 free furniture pads. Questions: militarymove@uhaul.com
ABF U-Pack / SureMove
$50 Military Discount CodeDITY moves without driving a massive freight truck
Budget Truck Rental
Military Discount — verify at bookingBudget-conscious local or regional relocations
Estes SureMove
Custom Military RatesLarge household freight trailer drops and ramps
Sync Move Options to Your Account
Soon you can save your DITY calculations, compare rates, and track receipts across devices.
HHG vs. partial DITY vs. full DITY, side by side
Every PCS with household goods comes down to one decision: who moves your stuff, and who keeps the money the government would have spent. The comparison tool above models the dollars with your own weight and cost estimates; this table is the plain-language version of the trade. When you are ready to model an actual settlement from your real Government Constructed Cost figure, use the DITY / PPM profit calculator; for the travel-side entitlements (MALT, per diem, DLA), use the PCS cost estimator.
| Government (HHG) | Partial DITY | Full DITY (PPM) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who packs and drives | Contracted movers pack, load, ship, and deliver | Movers take most; you move a chosen portion | You (or labor you hire) handle everything |
| Payout potential | None — the government pays the movers | PPM incentive on the weight you self-move | Incentive based on 100% of the Government Constructed Cost; profit after documented expenses |
| Out-of-pocket risk | Lowest — claims process covers loss/damage | Low — small upfront costs on your portion | Highest — truck, fuel, and labor paid upfront, reimbursed at settlement |
| Schedule control | Least — pack-out and delivery windows assigned | Mixed — your portion moves on your timeline | Full — you set every date |
| Paperwork burden | Lowest — inventory sheets and any claims | Moderate — weight tickets for your portion | Highest — certified empty/full weight tickets, receipts, DD 2278 settlement |
| Best fit | OCONUS moves, short-notice orders, no time to spare | Families wanting movers plus some payout and control of valuables | Local or short-distance moves, light households, profit-motivated movers |
Common questions
- What is the difference between an HHG move and a PPM (DITY) move?
- In a government-arranged HHG move, the Personal Property Office books contracted movers who pack, load, and ship your household goods — you pay nothing but you also control nothing about the schedule. In a Personally Procured Move (PPM, still commonly called DITY), you move your own goods and the government pays you an incentive based on the Government Constructed Cost — what it would have paid movers — which can leave real profit after your documented expenses.
- Can I do a partial DITY instead of choosing one or the other?
- Yes, and many families should. A partial PPM means the government movers take most of your goods while you self-move a portion — typically high-value, essential, or fragile items — and you collect the PPM incentive on the weight you moved yourself. It combines the low effort of an HHG move with some of the PPM payout.
- Is PPM profit taxable?
- The incentive payment above your documented moving expenses is taxable income, withheld at settlement. Keeping receipts for truck rental, fuel, packing materials, tolls, and weight tickets directly reduces the taxable portion — the DITY profit calculator models this.
- What weight am I allowed to move?
- Your household goods weight allowance is set by grade and dependency status in the Joint Travel Regulations — from around 5,000 lbs for a junior enlisted member without dependents up to 18,000 lbs for senior grades. Exceeding it puts the overage cost on you in either move type.