($585+) Jackson, MS to Des Moines, IA Movers
Moving from Jackson, MS, to Des Moines, IA, runs anywhere from $615 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,964 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 825 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 $1,955, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,964 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,129 - $3,966, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $615 - $1,557.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Jackson, MS, to Des Moines, IA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,540 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 Jackson, MS to Des Moines, IA
There are 3 main ways to move from Jackson to Des Moines: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service is the most expensive but covers everything from labor to transportation, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route averaging $2,540 - $6,425. Containers cost roughly 30% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 60% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 825 miles, expect 2 to 7 days in transit no matter which service you choose.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 825-mile route from Jackson 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 $1,955 - $5,074 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,129 - $2,187), rental truck ($615 - $1,091), or freight trailer ($1,026 - $1,931). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,540 - $6,425 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $8,964.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Jackson, MS to Des Moines, IA
Hiring full-service movers from Jackson, Mississippi, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $1,955 and $8,964. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 825-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $241 - $1,608, 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 Jackson and Des Moines. For a rough baseline, movers based in Jackson tend to start around $279 plus $127/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 Jackson to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,955 - $5,074
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,540 - $6,425
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,388 - $8,964
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 Jackson to Des Moines.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Mississippi to Iowa. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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 Jackson, MS to Des Moines, IA
Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of Jackson movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Des Moines, 58% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing83% of local movers | $402 - $4,020 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready100% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: The Armstrong Company | $161 - $965/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $241 - $1,930 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage33% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs67% of local movers | $804 - $2,412 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,010 - $8,040 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $602 - $1,144 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items33% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: The Armstrong Company | $804 - $2,010 |
| Piano | Any piano type67% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: The Armstrong Company | $643 - $2,814 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling17% of local movers | $241 - $1,206 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect22% nationallyTop pick: | $523 - $1,608 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $241 - $12,060+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $241 - $2,814+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Jackson to Des Moines?
Look for Iowa Motor Truck Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Iowa beyond this list.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Jackson, MS. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Jackson, MS to Des Moines, IA
Moving containers from Jackson, Mississippi, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,129 and $3,966. 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 Jackson runs about $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Jackson to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,129 - $2,187
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,451 - $2,978
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,028 - $3,966
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $60 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $121 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 $563 in Jackson, MS, 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 Mississippi 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 $1,129. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,451 - $2,978, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Jackson 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 Jackson 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 Jackson:
- My Two Movers (4.8/5), 18 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk (4.9/5)
- McCorquodale Transfer (4.2/5)
Moving truck rental costs from Jackson, MS to Des Moines, IA
Plan on $615 - $1,557 for a rental moving truck on the 825-mile route from Jackson, Mississippi, to Des Moines, Iowa. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $211 - $241
- Daily insurance: $24/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $16
- Jackson daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89
| 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 Jackson to Des Moines based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $615 - $1,091
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $671 - $1,364
- 4+ bedrooms: $790 - $1,557
Pro tip: A rental truck from Jackson to Des Moines looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $615 - $1,557. But once you factor in fuel ($211 - $241) , overnight lodging ($121/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
- Lodging: Budget around $121 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 Jackson, Mississippi, usually costs about $563 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
- Gas: Fuel for the 825-mile drive falls between $211 and $241, 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 $40 and $241 to your total.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Jackson 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 Jackson, MS to Des Moines, IA
Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Jackson, Mississippi, to Des Moines, Iowa, 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 $1,219 and $2,405.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Jackson to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,026 - $1,931
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,219 - $2,405
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,544 - $3,142
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Jackson, Mississippi, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $563.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $60 - $121 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from Jackson to Des Moines?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.
- Kllm Transport Services (4.88/5 stars): Kllm Transport Services is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.
Pro tip: One of the biggest advantages of freight trailers is speed. For an interstate move, freight delivery is one of the fastest options you have short of driving a rental truck yourself. It's a smart choice when your timeline is firm and you'll be ready to receive your shipment. If there's any chance your new place won't be ready or you need a few weeks of storage, a moving container with built-in storage may serve you better.
Cost of living: Jackson, MS vs Des Moines, IA
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between Jackson and Des Moines to plan around. Cost of living index: 76 vs. 87. Average rent: $1,170/mo vs. $1,150/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 26 vs. 45. Safety index: 17.62 vs. 57.8.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Des Moines, IA to Jackson, MS guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Mississippi to Iowa in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 22 movers based in Mississippi, handy for sizing up options on this 825-mile route.
Our take
A move from Jackson, MS, 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 $1,955 - $8,964 on the 825-mile route. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack bring that cost down to $1,129 - $3,966, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the most economical at $615 - $1,557. For full-service movers, Safeway Moving, starting around $2,540 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 Jackson, MS, to Des Moines, IA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Jackson, MS 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 17.62 and 82.38 in Jackson. 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 26 and 33 in Jackson. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What are the best neighborhoods in Des Moines?
For families, Linden Heights, Waterbury, and Waveland Park are worth a look in Des Moines. If you're moving solo or without kids, Sherman Hill, Downtown, and East Village tend to be popular picks instead.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Iowa?
When moving within Iowa, make sure to hire a company that is licensed by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Each household goods mover in the state should have an Iowa Motor Carrier (IOWAMC) Number, which means they’ve met minimum insurance and highway safety requirements.
What percentage of Jackson movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 67% of movers in Jackson handle piano moves, and 33% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
