($390+) Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA Movers
Moving from Indianapolis, IN, to Des Moines, IA, runs anywhere from $390 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,215 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 476 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 4 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $1,172, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,215 or more.
- Moving containers run $936 - $3,025, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $390 - $1,050.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Indianapolis, IN, to Des Moines, IA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,894 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA
There are 3 main ways to move from Indianapolis to Des Moines: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $1,894 - $4,933. Moving containers run about 40% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 78% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 4 days for this 476-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 476-mile route from Indianapolis to Des Moines, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,172 - $3,523 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($936 - $1,708), rental truck ($390 - $771), or freight trailer ($833 - $1,567). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $1,894 - $4,933 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $7,215.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA
A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 476-mile move from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Des Moines, Iowa, with prices running from $1,172 - $7,215. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $259 - $1,728 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Indianapolis and Des Moines are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Indianapolis movers tend to run around $245 as a base rate plus $75/hour per mover, for comparison.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Indianapolis to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,172 - $3,523
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,894 - $4,933
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,343 - $7,215
Packing, storage, shuttle fees, and added coverage can stack on top of the base price. See the full add-ons and specialty services table below for what each runs from Indianapolis to Des Moines.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA
Specialty needs vary by market: 57% of Indianapolis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Des Moines, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing78% of local movers | $432 - $4,320 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready57% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: Leaders Moving & Storage Co. | $173 - $1,037/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $259 - $2,074 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs41% of local movers | $864 - $2,592 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,160 - $8,640 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $647 - $1,229 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items28% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Leaders Moving & Storage Co. | $864 - $2,160 |
| Piano | Any piano type37% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Leaders Moving & Storage Co. | $691 - $3,024 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling9% of local movers | $259 - $1,296 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect11% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: Busy Bee Movers | $562 - $1,728 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $259 - $12,960+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $259 - $3,024+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Indianapolis to Des Moines?
All three below meet the standards set by the Iowa Motor Truck Association, the group most Iowa movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
How much do local movers cost in Indianapolis, IN?
Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from Indianapolis to Des Moines with a local mover averages $1,950 - $5,080. A local mover in Indianapolis, IN is worth considering for moves under 500 miles. Short-distance moves don't always need the scale of a national carrier, and local companies can offer streamlined service, more flexible pickup windows, and a more personal approach to coordination.
Be sure to confirm interstate licensing, insurance coverage, and delivery expectations before booking.
Planes Moving & Storage Company (4.58/5 stars) is a local mover in Indianapolis, based on our analysis of feedback from 1,017 customers, 95.4% of which is positive.
Address: 2635 Planes Dr, Indianapolis, IN, 46219 | Founded: 1921
Moving container costs from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA
Moving containers from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $936 and $3,025. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Indianapolis typically runs around $80/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Indianapolis to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $936 - $1,708
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,139 - $2,288
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,657 - $3,025
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $65 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $130 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
- Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $605 in Indianapolis, IN, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
- Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Des Moines, IA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Indiana to Iowa move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $936. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,139 - $2,288.
What are the best moving containers Indianapolis to Des Moines?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Indianapolis to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Indianapolis:
- Busy Bee Movers (4.1/5), 35 years in business
- Bellhop Moving (4.4/5), 15 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.6/5), 14 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA
A rental truck for this 476-mile move from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $390 and $1,050. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $131 - $150
- Daily insurance: $26/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $17
- Indianapolis daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Indianapolis to Des Moines based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $390 - $771
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $424 - $863
- 4+ bedrooms: $554 - $1,050
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $390 - $1,050 when pricing out a rental truck from Indianapolis to Des Moines. Fuel alone runs $131 - $150, and overnight lodging ($130/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Indianapolis, Indiana, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $605.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $131 - $150 for the 476-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $52 and $281, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $130 per night for hotel stops on the 476-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $259 - $389.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Indianapolis to Des Moines?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- U-Haul Truck Rental (4.2/5 stars)
The best truck rental companies for this route, based on moveBuddha's ratings.
Freight trailer costs from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Indianapolis, Indiana, to Des Moines, Iowa. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $959 and $1,794.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Indianapolis to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $833 - $1,567
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $959 - $1,794
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,225 - $2,350
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Indianapolis, Indiana, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $605.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $65 and $130 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Indianapolis to Des Moines?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Indianapolis to Des Moines, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Indianapolis, IN vs Des Moines, IA
Day-to-day costs in Des Moines are close to what you're used to in Indianapolis: cost of living index of 87 versus 86, with average rent of $1,150/mo compared to $1,399/mo. With an index gap that small, budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 31/100 and 39.29/100 in Indianapolis versus 45/100 and 57.8/100 in Des Moines.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Des Moines, IA to Indianapolis, IN guide.
Why moveBuddha makes finding a mover easier:
In the past 3 months we've processed 10 quotes from Indiana to Iowa, so our pricing data reflects what movers are actually charging right now. Check our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers, the best way to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and bad actors. We track 137 movers in Indiana, so you have real options to compare for this 476-mile move.
Our take
A move from Indianapolis, IN, to Des Moines, IA, gives you several options depending on your budget and how much you want to do yourself. Full-service movers handle everything but cost the most, ranging from $1,172 - $7,215 on the 476-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $936 - $3,025, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $390 - $1,050. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $1,894 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and round-the-clock live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include MercyOne and Principal Financial Group.
FAQs: Moving from Indianapolis, IN, to Des Moines, IA
How long does a move from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 1 to 4 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are often one of the faster options outside of driving yourself, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What is the best time of year to move from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Indianapolis, IN to Des Moines, IA?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
Is Des Moines a safe place to live?
Des Moines has a safety index of 57.8 out of 100 and a crime index of 5.0, compared to 39.29 and 60.71 in Indianapolis. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
How walkable is Des Moines?
Des Moines has a walkability score of 45 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 39, compared to 31 and 43 in Indianapolis. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Indianapolis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 37% of movers in Indianapolis handle piano moves, and 28% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.