($621+) Washington DC, MD to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Washington DC, MD to Des Moines, IA

Full-service movers for the 1,016-mile relocation from Washington DC, Maryland, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,962 and $7,996. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $376 - $2,508, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Washington DC typically charge a base rate around $180 plus $85 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,962 - $4,788
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,444 - $5,574
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,006 - $7,996

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 Washington DC to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Washington DC, MD to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market: 70% of Washington DC movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Des Moines, 60% of movers offer the same service.

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

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Iowa Motor Truck Association is a good first thing to confirm.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Washington DC, MD to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Washington DC, Maryland, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,150 and $3,874. 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 Washington DC costs roughly $100/month if you need it.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,150 - $2,139
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,450 - $2,798
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,036 - $3,874

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Washington DC, MD, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $878, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $94 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $188 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Washington DC, MD, and Des Moines, IA, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

What are the best moving containers Washington DC to Des Moines?

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 Washington DC, MD to Des Moines, IA

Renting a moving truck for the 1,016-mile move from Washington DC, Maryland, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $621 and $1,813, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $405 - $463
• Daily insurance: $38/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $25
• Washington DC daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.99 - $1.19

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $621 - $1,229
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $685 - $1,431
• 4+ bedrooms: $843 - $1,813

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $188 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 $82 and $408 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $405 - $463 in fuel for the 1,016-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $878 in Washington DC, Maryland, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

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

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 Washington DC, MD to Des Moines, IA

If you're moving a larger household from Washington DC, Maryland, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Des Moines, Iowa.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,136 and $2,261.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,035 - $1,925
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,136 - $2,261
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,677 - $3,192

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 $94 - $188 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 Washington DC, Maryland, typically costs $878.

What are the best freight companies from Washington DC to Des Moines?

1. 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.
2. 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.

Cost of living: Washington DC, MD vs Des Moines, IA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Des Moines, side by side with Washington DC 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.

Our take

How you handle your interstate move from Washington DC, MD, to Des Moines, IA, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,962 - $7,996 on the 1,016-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,150 - $3,874 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $621 - $1,813 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,444 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include MercyOne and Principal Financial Group.