($1,024+) Los Angeles, CA to Des Moines, IA Movers

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

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,682-mile move from Los Angeles, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, with prices running from $1,309 - $10,500. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $396 - $2,640 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Los Angeles and Des Moines are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Los Angeles movers tend to run around $200 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,309 - $5,513
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,427 - $7,655
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,735 - $10,500

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 Los Angeles to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Los Angeles, CA to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 88% of Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles, CA to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Los Angeles, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,464 and $5,439. 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 Los Angeles typically runs around $110/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,464 - $2,785
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,969 - $3,937
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,714 - $5,439

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $99 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $198 per month.
• Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Des Moines, IA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
• Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $924 in Los Angeles, CA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.

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

A rental truck for this 1,682-mile move from Los Angeles, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $1,097 and $2,802. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:

• Fuel for the drive: $706 - $807
• Daily insurance: $40/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $26
• Los Angeles daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,097 - $1,966
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,118 - $2,482
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,495 - $2,802

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 $99 and $462.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $198.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $706 and $807 for the 1,682-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 $924 for 2 movers in Los Angeles, California, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

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

For larger DIY moves from Los Angeles, California, 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 Des Moines, Iowa.

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 $1,575 and $3,214.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,303 - $2,688
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,575 - $3,214
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,042 - $4,438

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 $99 - $198 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Los Angeles, California, for about five hours typically runs $924.

What are the best freight companies from Los Angeles to Des Moines?

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.
3. Sea-Logix, LLC (4.76/5 stars): Sea-Logix, LLC is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.

Cost of living: Los Angeles, 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 Los Angeles 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.