($718+) Des Moines, IA to Philadelphia, PA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Philadelphia, PA

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,076-mile move from Des Moines, Iowa, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with costs ranging from $2,136 - $8,469. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $281 - $1,876. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Des Moines and Philadelphia. Local movers in Des Moines typically start around $737 as a base rate plus $142/hour per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,136 - $4,905
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,602 - $6,383
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,734 - $8,469

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 Philadelphia.

Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Philadelphia, PA

Specialty needs vary by market — 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Philadelphia, 90% of movers offer the same service.

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

Look for Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Pennsylvania beyond this list.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Des Moines, IA to Philadelphia, PA

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, cost between $1,253 and $4,250. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Philadelphia. If you go over that window, storage in Des Moines adds around $60/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,253 - $2,246
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,646 - $3,286
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,223 - $4,250

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $70 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $141 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 $657 in Des Moines, IA, 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 Philadelphia, PA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Philadelphia?

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 Philadelphia, PA

Plan on $711 - $1,955 for a rental moving truck on the 1,076-mile route from Des Moines, Iowa, to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $321 - $367
• Daily insurance: $28/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 Philadelphia based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $711 - $1,392
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $792 - $1,590
• 4+ bedrooms: $955 - $1,955

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $321 - $367 for the 1,076-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for about 5 hours typically costs around $657.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 1,076-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $141 per night, adding $281 - $422 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $47 and $281.

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

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 Philadelphia, PA

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 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,239 and $2,578.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,162 - $1,979
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,239 - $2,578
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,830 - $3,264

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $70 and $141.
• Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
• Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for roughly five hours typically average $657.

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

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.
3. Ruan Transportation Management Systems (4.5/5 stars): Ruan Transportation Management Systems 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.

Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Philadelphia, PA

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