($578+) Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA Movers
Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Pittsburgh, PA, runs anywhere from $578 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,670 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 778 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 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 $1,637, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,670 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,067 - $3,444, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $578 - $1,478.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Des Moines, IA, to Pittsburgh, PA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,425 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 Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA
Moving options from Des Moines to Pittsburgh fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. The most hands-off option, full-service, runs $2,425 - $5,995 for a 2-3 bedroom home and includes all labor and transportation. Moving containers cost about 43% less than full-service for the same size, and rental trucks land around 75% less, with both DIY options requiring you to load yourself. Covering 778 miles, this route usually takes 2 to 7 days from pickup to delivery.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 778-mile route from Des Moines to Pittsburgh, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $1,637 - $4,199, container $1,067 - $1,905, rental truck $578 - $1,047, freight trailer $1,008 - $1,680.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $2,425 - $5,995, container $1,385 - $2,696, rental truck $613 - $1,243, freight trailer $1,086 - $2,243.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $3,789 - $7,670, container $1,839 - $3,444, rental truck $729 - $1,478, freight trailer $1,471 - $2,840.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated October 30, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA
Hiring full-service movers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, costs between $1,637 and $7,670. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 778-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $267 - $1,780, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Des Moines and Pittsburgh. For a rough baseline, movers based in Des Moines tend to start around $737 plus $142/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Des Moines to Pittsburgh:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,637 - $4,199
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,425 - $5,995
- 4+ bedrooms: $3,789 - $7,670
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 Des Moines to Pittsburgh.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA
Specialty needs vary by market: 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Pittsburgh, 59% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing62% of local movers | $445 - $4,450 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready58% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $178 - $1,068/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $267 - $2,136 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage8% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs50% of local movers | $890 - $2,670 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,225 - $8,900 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $667 - $1,266 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items12% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Adamantine Spine Moving | $890 - $2,225 |
| Piano | Any piano type38% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $712 - $3,115 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling | $267 - $1,335 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect4% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $579 - $1,780 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $267 - $13,350+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $267 - $3,115+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Des Moines to Pittsburgh?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national full-service movers are almost always better priced than local movers in Des Moines, IA. Local companies typically run 30% - 40% more at longer distances because they aren't set up to consolidate shipments the way national carriers do. The one case where a local mover might be worth the premium is if you want a dedicated direct-route truck, which averages a 2-day delivery time, but expect to pay more for that convenience.
Moving container costs from Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA
Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, cost between $1,067 and $3,444. 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 Des Moines typically runs around $60/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Des Moines to Pittsburgh:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,067 - $1,905
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,385 - $2,696
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,839 - $3,444
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $67 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $134 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 $623 in Des Moines, IA, 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 Pittsburgh, PA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Iowa to Pennsylvania 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 $1,067. 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 $1,385 - $2,696.
What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Pittsburgh?
- 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines:
- All Mighty Movers LLC (4.8/5), 12 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 8 years in business
- The Approved Movers (4.8/5), 6 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA
A rental truck for this 778-mile move from Des Moines, Iowa, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, costs between $578 and $1,478. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $220 - $252
- Daily insurance: $27/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- Des Moines daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $1.19
| 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 Des Moines to Pittsburgh based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $578 - $1,047
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $613 - $1,243
- 4+ bedrooms: $729 - $1,478
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $578 - $1,478 when pricing out a rental truck from Des Moines to Pittsburgh. Fuel alone runs $220 - $252, and overnight lodging ($134/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $134 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
- Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Des Moines, Iowa, usually costs about $623 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 778-mile drive falls between $220 and $252, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $45 and $267 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Des Moines to Pittsburgh?
- 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 Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA
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 Des Moines, Iowa, to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. 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 $1,086 and $2,243.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Des Moines to Pittsburgh:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,008 - $1,680
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,086 - $2,243
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,471 - $2,840
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?
- More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $67 and $134.
- Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
- Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for roughly five hours typically average $623.
What are the best freight companies from Des Moines to Pittsburgh?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Pittsburgh quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Pittsburgh, PA
Day-to-day costs in Pittsburgh are close to what you're used to in Des Moines: cost of living index of 92 versus 87, with average rent of $1,500/mo compared to $1,150/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 45/100 and 57.8/100 in Des Moines versus 62/100 and 62.26/100 in Pittsburgh.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Pittsburgh, PA to Des Moines, IA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Iowa to Pennsylvania over the past 3 months, giving us some of the most up-to-date pricing data around. Running your move through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. There are 58 movers in our Iowa network to compare for this 778-mile move.
Our take
For a move from Des Moines, IA, to Pittsburgh, PA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,637 for a studio to $7,670 for a 4+ bedroom home on the 778-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,067 - $3,444. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $578 - $1,478, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,425 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include UPMC and The PNC Financial Services Group.
FAQs: Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Pittsburgh, PA
How long does a move from Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 2 to 7 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 are the best neighborhoods in Pittsburgh?
For families, Brookline, Highland Park, and Point Breeze are worth a look in Pittsburgh. If you're moving solo or without kids, Downtown, Greenfield, and Oakland tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Des Moines, IA to Pittsburgh, PA?
Renting a moving truck is almost always the most affordable option, since you handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself. A 2-bedroom rental truck move on this route averages $613 - $1,243. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Is Pittsburgh a safe place to live?
Pittsburgh has a safety index of 62.26 out of 100 and a crime index of 37.74, compared to 57.8 and 5.0 in Des Moines. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What percentage of Des Moines movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 38% of movers in Des Moines handle piano moves, and 12% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 40% and 26% nationally.