($1,065+) Irvine, CA to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Irvine, CA to Des Moines, IA

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,679-mile move from Irvine, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, with costs ranging from $1,296 - $11,025. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $401 - $2,676. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Irvine and Des Moines. Local movers in Irvine typically start around $197 as a base rate plus $75/hour per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,296 - $5,135
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,198 - $7,363
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,208 - $11,025

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 Irvine to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Irvine, CA to Des Moines, IA

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

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

Look for Iowa Motor Truck Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Iowa 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 Irvine, CA to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Irvine, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,586 and $5,116. 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 Des Moines. If you go over that window, storage in Irvine adds around $110/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,586 - $2,814
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,891 - $4,178
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,767 - $5,116

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Containers are self-loaded, so many people hire hourly help for the heavy lifting. moveBuddha data shows two movers for about five hours runs around $937 in Irvine, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: If you want stronger coverage than the default liability, full-value protection is the upgrade to consider. Most providers charge 1% - 2% of your shipment value, roughly $500 - $1,000 for $50,000 in contents.
• Storage: After the first month, rental fees average $100 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $201 per month for a larger 12- to 16-foot unit.
• Access: If you anticipate needing to access items while in storage, confirm there's a facility conveniently located near your Des Moines, IA, destination before booking.

What are the best moving containers Irvine 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 Irvine, CA to Des Moines, IA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,679 miles from Irvine, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, running $1,003 - $2,831. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $715 - $817
• Daily insurance: $40/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $27
• Irvine daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,003 - $1,926
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,073 - $2,291
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,481 - $2,831

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 $100 and $468.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $201.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $715 and $817 for the 1,679-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 $937 for 2 movers in Irvine, California, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Irvine 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 Irvine, CA to Des Moines, IA

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Irvine, California, to Des Moines, Iowa. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,575 and $3,342.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,441 - $2,662
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,575 - $3,342
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,235 - $4,136

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 Irvine, California, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $937.
• More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $100 and $201 per foot.

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

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
3. ALL Service Handling (4.76/5 stars): ALL Service Handling is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.

Cost of living: Irvine, CA 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 Irvine 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.