($992+) Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA

Full-service movers for the 1,756-mile relocation from Des Moines, Iowa, to Seattle, Washington, cost between $2,246 and $9,837. 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 $346 - $2,308, 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 Des Moines typically charge a base rate around $737 plus $142 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,246 - $5,141
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,052 - $6,986
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,103 - $9,837

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 Seattle.

Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA

Specialty needs vary by market: 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Seattle, 57% of movers offer the same service.

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

All three below meet the standards set by the Washington Movers Conference, the group most Washington movers are affiliated with.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.

Moving container costs from Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Seattle, Washington, cost between $1,532 and $5,171. 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 Seattle:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,532 - $2,779
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,845 - $4,087
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,678 - $5,171

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Des Moines, IA and Seattle, WA. 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 $808 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 $87 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $173 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.

What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Seattle?

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 Seattle, WA

Truck rentals from Des Moines, Iowa, to Seattle, Washington, range from $992 - $2,866 for the 1,756-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $645 - $737
• Daily insurance: $35/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
• 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 Seattle based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $992 - $1,948
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,085 - $2,413
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,410 - $2,866

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $808.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $645 - $737 for the 1,756-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $69 and $375, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $173 per night for hotel stops on the 1,756-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $346 - $519.

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

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 Seattle, WA

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 Seattle, Washington.

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 $1,506 and $3,049.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,285 - $2,628
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,506 - $3,049
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,037 - $4,390

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
• Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $808.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $87 and $173 per foot.

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

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: Des Moines, IA vs Seattle, WA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Seattle, 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.

Our take

How you handle your interstate move from Des Moines, IA, to Seattle, WA, 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 $2,246 - $9,837 on the 1,756-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,532 - $5,171 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $992 - $2,866 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $3,052 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.

Beyond the move itself, people who've relocated to Seattle tend to point to beautiful nature and ample economic opportunity, though high cost of living and rainy weather come up as common complaints. Major employers in the area include Amazon.com and Starbucks.