{
  "slug": "touring-per-diem",
  "title": "Touring Per-Diem & Van Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "Tour Per-Diem & Van Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/touring-per-diem",
  "summary": "Budget daily per-diems and van fuel/mileage for a tour run.",
  "description": "Touring budgets blow up from two things: underestimating fuel cost on a long drive and forgetting per-diems compound daily across a full band. This calculator takes route mileage, van fuel economy, current gas price, and a per-person daily food allowance to project total tour transportation and per-diem cost, then divides it against gig income to show whether the run is profitable before you leave the driveway.",
  "formula": "Fuel cost = (miles ÷ MPG) × gas price; per-diem total = people × days × daily rate; total cost = fuel + per-diem + lodging.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=touring-per-diem",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "miles",
      "label": "Total tour route miles",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 2200,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "mpg",
      "label": "Van fuel economy",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 16,
      "unit": "mpg",
      "min": 4,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gasPrice",
      "label": "Gas price per gallon",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3.6,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "people",
      "label": "People on tour",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 5,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "days",
      "label": "Tour length",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 10,
      "unit": "days",
      "min": 1,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "dailyRate",
      "label": "Per-diem per person per day",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 20,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "lodging",
      "label": "Total lodging cost for the run",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 600,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "total",
      "label": "Total tour cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "fuel",
      "label": "Fuel cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perDiemTotal",
      "label": "Total per-diem",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "lodging",
      "label": "Lodging cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "perDay",
      "label": "Average cost per day",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "Total tour route miles: 2200",
      "Van fuel economy: 16 mpg",
      "Gas price per gallon: 3.6 $",
      "People on tour: 5",
      "Tour length: 10 days",
      "Per-diem per person per day: 20 $",
      "Total lodging cost for the run: 600 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Total tour cost: $2,095",
      "Fuel cost: $495",
      "Total per-diem: $1,000",
      "Lodging cost: $600",
      "Average cost per day: $210"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter total tour route miles.",
      "Enter van fuel economy (mpg).",
      "Enter gas price per gallon ($).",
      "Enter people on tour.",
      "Enter tour length (days).",
      "Enter per-diem per person per day ($).",
      "Enter total lodging cost for the run ($).",
      "Read your total tour cost on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "miles": 1300,
        "mpg": 9.6,
        "gasPrice": 2.16,
        "people": 3,
        "days": 6,
        "dailyRate": 10,
        "lodging": 350
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "miles": 2200,
        "mpg": 16,
        "gasPrice": 3.6,
        "people": 5,
        "days": 10,
        "dailyRate": 20,
        "lodging": 600
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "miles": 3500,
        "mpg": 25.6,
        "gasPrice": 5.760000000000001,
        "people": 8,
        "days": 16,
        "dailyRate": 30,
        "lodging": 950
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What's a reasonable per-diem rate for a DIY tour?",
      "a": "Most DIY touring bands run $15–$25 per person per day for food, while bands with tour support or bigger guarantees run $30–$50. Anything under $15 usually means eating gas station food the whole run, which catches up with you by week two."
    },
    {
      "q": "How do I know if the tour is actually profitable?",
      "a": "Sum every guarantee, door split, and merch estimate across all dates and compare it to this total cost number. If gig income barely covers costs, you're touring for exposure and merch sales, not the guarantees — which can still be worth it, just go in knowing that."
    },
    {
      "q": "Should I budget extra beyond fuel and food?",
      "a": "Yes — add a contingency of 10–15% of total cost for van repairs, parking, tolls, and gear replacement. A blown alternator or a stolen pedal can eat an entire tour's profit margin if you haven't planned for it."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/gig-pay-split",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/merch-table-profit"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — Touring Per-Diem & Van Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/touring-per-diem)"
}