($496+) Des Moines, IA to Dallas, TX Movers
Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Dallas, TX, runs anywhere from $496 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,740 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 696 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,619, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,740 or more.
- Moving containers run $993 - $3,434, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $496 - $1,377.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Des Moines, IA, to Dallas, TX. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,236 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 Dallas, TX
There are 3 main ways to move from Des Moines to Dallas: 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 $2,236 - $5,720. Containers cost roughly 38% less than full-service for the same home size, and rental trucks run about 75% less, though loading is on you with either DIY option. At 696 miles, expect 1 to 6 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 696-mile route from Des Moines to Dallas, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $1,619 - $4,168 | $993 - $1,910 | $496 - $920 | $940 - $1,603 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,236 - $5,720 | $1,379 - $2,698 | $557 - $1,126 | $1,094 - $1,953 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,062 - $7,740 | $1,776 - $3,434 | $642 - $1,377 | $1,476 - $2,801 |
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 Dallas, TX
Hiring full-service movers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Dallas, Texas, costs between $1,619 and $7,740. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 696-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $277 - $1,844, 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 Dallas. 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 Dallas:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,619 - $4,168
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,236 - $5,720
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,062 - $7,740
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 Dallas.
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 Des Moines, IA to Dallas, TX
Specialty needs vary by market: 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Dallas, 55% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing62% of local movers | $461 - $4,610 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready58% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $184 - $1,106/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $277 - $2,213 |
| 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 | $922 - $2,766 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,305 - $9,220 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $691 - $1,312 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items12% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Adamantine Spine Moving | $922 - $2,305 |
| Piano | Any piano type38% of local movers40% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $738 - $3,227 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling | $277 - $1,383 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect4% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $599 - $1,844 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $277 - $13,830+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $277 - $3,227+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Des Moines to Dallas?
Look for Southwest Movers Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Texas 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 carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Des Moines, IA. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Des Moines, IA to Dallas, TX
Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Dallas, Texas, cost between $993 and $3,434. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Des Moines costs roughly $60/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Des Moines to Dallas:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $993 - $1,910
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,379 - $2,698
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,776 - $3,434
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Access: Most major container brands operate in both Des Moines, IA and Dallas, TX. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
- Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $645 in Des Moines, IA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $69 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $138 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
- Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Iowa to Texas 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 $993. 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 $1,379 - $2,698.
What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Dallas?
- 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 Dallas, TX
Renting a moving truck for the 696-mile move from Des Moines, Iowa, to Dallas, Texas, costs between $496 and $1,377, before these typical add-ons:
- Fuel for the drive: $204 - $233
- Daily insurance: $28/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 Dallas based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $496 - $920
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $557 - $1,126
- 4+ bedrooms: $642 - $1,377
Pro tip: The base rate of $496 - $1,377 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Des Moines to Dallas. Fuel ($204 - $233), lodging at around $138/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in roughly $600 - $1,200 more for meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $138 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $60 and $300 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $204 - $233 in fuel for the 696-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $645 in Des Moines, Iowa, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Des Moines to Dallas?
- 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 Dallas, TX
For larger DIY moves from Des Moines, Iowa, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Dallas, Texas.
Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For a 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,094 and $1,953.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Des Moines to Dallas:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $940 - $1,603
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,094 - $1,953
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,476 - $2,801
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Demand cycles: Trailer costs climb during peak moving season, especially from mid-May through mid-September when demand is at its highest.
- More space: You're billed only for the linear feet you use, but underestimating your inventory means paying for extra space, typically around $69 - $138 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for about five hours typically runs $645.
What are the best freight companies from Des Moines to Dallas?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Des Moines to Dallas, 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: Des Moines, IA vs Dallas, TX
Good news for your budget: Dallas isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Des Moines. Cost of living index runs 100 there against 87 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 45/100 and 57.8/100 here versus 46/100 and 48.6/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Dallas, TX to Des Moines, IA guide.
Why use moveBuddha to find your mover:
We've processed 10 real quotes from Iowa to Texas 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 696-mile move.
Our take
The 696-mile move from Des Moines, IA, to Dallas, TX, costs between $1,619 and $7,740 with full-service movers, $993 - $3,434 with a moving container, and $496 - $1,377 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $2,236 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.
Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Dallas tend to point to ample economic opportunity and fabulous weather, though high housing costs and terrible traffic come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. and American Airlines Group, Inc..
FAQs: Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Dallas, TX
What do local movers charge in Des Moines?
Local movers based in Des Moines typically start around $737 as a base rate, plus $142/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Dallas run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How long does a move from Des Moines, IA to Dallas, TX take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 1 to 6 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 Dallas?
For families, Preston Hollow, Lake Highlands, and Uptown are worth a look in Dallas. If you're moving solo or without kids, Bishop Arts District, Deep Ellum, and Design District tend to be popular picks instead.
What is the cheapest way to move from Des Moines, IA to Dallas, TX?
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 $557 - $1,126. See our cheapest truck rental recommendations for the lowest available rates on your DIY move.
Is Dallas a safe place to live?
Dallas has a safety index of 48.6 out of 100 and a crime index of 51.4, 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 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.