($757+) Des Moines, IA to Charleston, SC Movers

Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Charleston, SC

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,200-mile move from Des Moines, Iowa, to Charleston, South Carolina, with prices running from $2,187 - $9,049. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $291 - $1,940 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Des Moines and Charleston are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Des Moines movers tend to run around $737 as a base rate plus $142/hour per mover, for comparison.

Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Des Moines to Charleston:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,187 - $5,068
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,712 - $6,423
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,896 - $9,049

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 Charleston.

Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Charleston, SC

Specialty needs vary by market — 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Charleston, 60% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Des Moines to Charleston?

Movers licensed to operate in South Carolina are typically members of the South Carolina Trucking Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Des Moines, IA to Charleston, SC

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Charleston, South Carolina, cost between $1,362 and $4,666. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Des Moines runs about $60/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Des Moines to Charleston:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,362 - $2,382
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,654 - $3,421
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,377 - $4,666

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $679 in Des Moines, IA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
• Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $73 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $146 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
• Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Charleston, SC, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Charleston?

1. Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
2. U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
3. MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)

Moving truck rental costs from Des Moines, IA to Charleston, SC

A rental truck for this 1,200-mile move from Des Moines, Iowa, to Charleston, South Carolina, costs between $773 and $2,248. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $370 - $423
• Daily insurance: $29/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• Des Moines daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $1.19

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Des Moines to Charleston based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $773 - $1,490
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $880 - $1,808
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,127 - $2,248

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
• Lodging: Budget around $146 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 $679 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
• Gas: Fuel for the 1,200-mile drive falls between $370 and $423, 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 $49 and $291 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Des Moines to Charleston?

1. Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
2. Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
3. 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 Charleston, SC

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Des Moines, Iowa, to Charleston, South Carolina, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.

What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,405 and $2,682.

Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Des Moines to Charleston:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,156 - $2,078
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,405 - $2,682
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,755 - $3,409

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $73 - $146 to your final bill.
• Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
• Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, typically costs $679.

What are the best freight companies from Des Moines to Charleston?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
3. Ruan Transportation Management Systems (4.5/5 stars): Ruan Transportation Management Systems is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.

Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Charleston, SC

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Charleston, side by side with Des Moines on housing, income, and taxes.

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.