($759+) Des Moines, IA to Burlington, VT Movers

Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Burlington, VT

Full-service movers for the 1,216-mile relocation from Des Moines, Iowa, to Burlington, Vermont, cost between $2,105 and $8,450. 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 $291 - $1,940, 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 Burlington:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,105 - $5,125
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,665 - $6,626
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,435 - $8,450

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 Burlington.

Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Burlington, VT

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

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

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 Burlington, VT

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Burlington, Vermont, cost between $1,223 and $4,104. 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 Burlington:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,223 - $2,201
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,656 - $3,163
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,177 - $4,104

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Des Moines, IA and Burlington, VT. 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 $679 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 $73 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $146 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 Burlington?

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 Burlington, VT

Truck rentals from Des Moines, Iowa, to Burlington, Vermont, range from $759 - $2,079 for the 1,216-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $375 - $429
• 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 Burlington based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $759 - $1,506
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $781 - $1,705
• 4+ bedrooms: $981 - $2,079

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $73 and $340.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $146.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $375 and $429 for the 1,216-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $679 for 2 movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

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

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 Burlington, VT

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Des Moines, Iowa, to Burlington, Vermont, 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. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,236 and $2,658.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,090 - $2,105
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,236 - $2,658
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,759 - $3,317

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 $73 - $146 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for about five hours typically runs $679.

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

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.

Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Burlington, VT

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

The 1,216-mile move from Des Moines, IA, to Burlington, VT, costs between $2,105 and $8,450 with full-service movers, $1,223 - $4,104 with a moving container, and $759 - $2,079 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 $2,665 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include The University of Vermont Health Network and University of Vermont.