How Much Do Des Moines Movers Cost?
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: The typical cost for hiring movers in Des Moines is $142 per hour, with the total cost to move ranging from $950 to $5,112, on average. If you’re moving out of Iowa, the cost of hiring long-distance movers in Des Moines really depends on where you’re moving.
Use our moving cost calculator below for a quick and personalized price estimate for your move out of Des Moines, IA.
Jump to the cost information best for your Des Moines move:
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Average cost to hire a local moving company in Des Moines
Hiring a full-service Des Moines mover is definitely the most convenient option, but that convenience comes at a cost — professional movers tend to be more expensive than other moving options. If you want movers to do all the heavy lifting for you and you can afford it, hire a full-service moving company for your Des Moines move.
If you want to save money, you can do some of the work yourself by hiring a container company or renting a moving truck where you do the packing and loading and they transport your belongings in Des Moines for you.
Here are the average moving costs from Des Moines to another state with different types of movers:
| Destination | Professional Movers | Containers | Rental Trucks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis | $2,078 - $5,695 | $1,277 - $2,538 | $466 - $929 |
| New York City | $2,691 - $6,985 | $1,670 - $3,372 | $793 - $1,764 |
| Las Vegas | $2,962 - $6,937 | $1,871 - $3,709 | $960 - $2,209 |
And here's how much professional movers cost in Des Moines based on your move size:
| Home size | Avg. total cost | Cost/hour | # of movers | # hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $950 | $198 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 bedroom | $1,148 | $198 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 bedroom | $1,586 | $278 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 bedroom | $3,086 | $389 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 bedroom | $3,475 | $389 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ bedroom | $5,112 | $545 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
- Studio: The average cost to hire movers in Des Moines to move a studio apartment is $950. You'll need two movers for three hours at $198 per hour.
- One bedroom: If you have a one-bedroom apartment or home, expect to pay around $1,148 for local Des Moines movers. You'll need two movers for four hours at $198 per hour.
- Two bedrooms: The average cost to hire Des Moines movers to move a two-bedroom home is $1,586. You'll need three movers for five hours at $278 per hour.
- Three bedrooms: For a three-bedroom home, expect to pay $3,086 for local Des Moines movers. A three-bedroom typically requires four movers for eight hours at $389 per hour.
- Four bedrooms: Moving a four-bedroom house in Des Moines will cost $3,475, on average. The cost to move a larger home can vary, but typically requires four movers for nine hours at $389 per hour.
- Five or more bedrooms: The cost of hiring Des Moines movers for a home with five or more bedrooms is $5,112. You'll need five movers for ten hours at $545 per hour.
It's worth noting the cost per hour for Des Moines movers remains the same for all home sizes, ranging from $198 per hour for two movers to $545 per hour for five movers. As the size of your home increases, the number of movers and hours required for the move also increases, resulting in a higher overall cost.
Overall, hiring local Des Moines movers is a convenient and stress-free way to move within the city. By knowing the approximate cost for your home size, you can budget accordingly and make informed decisions for your upcoming move.
Best local moving companies in Des Moines, IA
Our expert team of analysts has dug deep into licensing, insurance options, online reviews, and hundreds of other data points to find you the best local moving companies in Des Moines.
| Company | Quote | Rating | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
most popular
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Get A Quote |
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2601 104th St #400, Urbandale, IA, 50322 (515) 216-3654 |
| All Mighty Movers LLC | Get A Quote |
|
59 Clark St., Des Moines, IA, 50314 (515) 313-1395 |
| College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | Get A Quote |
|
10500 Hickman Rd Suite H, Clive, IA, 50325 (336) 810-1801 |
Visit our best movers in Des Moines page to see a complete list of moving companies, including hourly rates, services, and reviews. And if you’re moving outside of Des Moines, consider one of Des Moines’s top long-distance movers.
Average cost to hire interstate movers in Des Moines
Since the cost of moving out of Des Moines depends so much on where you’re moving, here are some example costs. For more detailed guides on your specific destination, find your moving route to Des Moines or use our moving cost calculator to get quotes from the top interstate movers.
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Cost to move a one-bedroom home out of state from Des Moines
Des Moines to Los Angeles:
$2,859–$5,518
Des Moines to New York City:
$2,583–$5,528
Des Moines to Chicago:
$1,343–$3,310
Des Moines to Houston:
$2,517–$5,032
Des Moines to Phoenix:
$2,583–$5,337
Cost to move a two- or three-bedroom home out of state from Des Moines
Des Moines to Los Angeles:
$3,448–$6,370
Des Moines to New York City:
$2,691–$5,912
Des Moines to Chicago:
$1,736–$4,500
Des Moines to Houston:
$2,740–$5,895
Des Moines to Phoenix:
$3,002–$6,577
Cost to move a four- bedroom home (or larger) out of state from Des Moines
Des Moines to Los Angeles:
$6,307–$10,536
Des Moines to New York City:
$4,682–$8,050
Des Moines to Chicago:
$2,807–$5,713
Des Moines to Houston:
$4,287–$7,399
Des Moines to Phoenix:
$5,559–$9,103
Best interstate moving companies in Des Moines, IA
Now that you have an idea of what your move from Des Moines should cost, it’s time to start looking at the best interstate moving companies. We vetted each one, examining their pricing, services, and our own real-life customer reviews to pick the best options for you.
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
- White-glove handling of fragile & high-end items
- Guaranteed pickup & delivery
- $250 deposit for interstate moves
- Mobile app with 24/7 customer service
- Financing available
Average cost to rent a moving truck in Des Moines
You'll definitely have to break a sweat, but moving truck rentals in Des Moines will be much easier on your wallet than full-service movers. The average cost to rent a moving truck in Des Moines ranges from $19-$39 per day.
While cheaper than full-service moving companies, you’ll have to do all the heavy lifting yourself — from boxing up your belongings to loading them on the truck, hauling them to your new spot, and unloading everything there.
Here are the typical costs of Des Moines rental trucks:
- Base cost: $19–$39 per day
- Mileage fee: $0.69–$1.19 per mile
- Fuel cost: Dependent on driving distance.
- Truck coverage: $20–$55 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): special parking permits are issued by the Traffic and Transportation Division of the Engineering Department and are intended to provide for services or needs of an infrequent or unique nature. Examples include utility work, constructions, special events, etc.
- Equipment costs (optional): Dolly, straps, blankets
The total cost to rent a truck from companies like Budget or U-Haul will depend on:
- How far you drive the truck
- How long you have the truck rental
- Additional insurance
- Parking
- Toll fees
- Fuel
- Accommodations and dining
- Moving equipment rentals
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
- Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
- Round-trip and one-way moves available
- User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
Average cost to rent a moving container in Des Moines
Des Moines has plenty of moving container companies to choose from. The containers are delivered, you load everything into them, the company picks it up, and it gets put in storage until you're ready for everything to be delivered to your new place.
Naturally, the advantage with containers like PODS and U-Pack is storage. These things will buy you time if you end up with a weird gap between leases.
Here's roughly what moving containers in Des Moines are going to cost:
- Storage fee: $59.95 per 30 days
- Damage coverage: $10–$350 based on coverage level
- Parking permit (if necessary): special parking permits are issued by the Traffic and Transportation Division of the Engineering Department and are intended to provide for services or needs of an infrequent or unique nature. Examples include utility work, constructions, special events, etc.
- Door lock (if necessary): $10–$15
- Equipment costs (if necessary): Dolly, straps, blankets (optional)
Storing everything in a one-bedroom will end up costing somewhere around $70–$450 door-to-door. Still, you might want to factor in a little extra in case you decide to hire a third-party moving crew.
Each large container holds about three rooms until it's completely full. You might end up needing more containers, but keep in mind that your cost will essentially double with each container you add.
| Company | Quote | Rating | Price |
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U-Pack 
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Check prices |
5 / 5
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PODS 
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Check prices |
4.8 / 5
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1-800-Pack-Rat 
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Check prices |
4.45 / 5
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Factors that affect the cost of movers in Des Moines, IA
The biggest factor that affects the cost of movers in Des Moines, IA, is distance, but there are several other price considerations to keep in mind, including:
- The size of your move: The more belongings you have, the more your move will cost. Moving a four-bedroom home will typically be more expensive than moving a studio apartment.
- When you move: You’ll usually pay more to move during peak season (May–September) because demand is higher. Similarly, the time of month and day of the week you book your move will impact cost. Demand will be higher the first and last of each month, when leases change over, and on Fridays and Saturdays, the most popular moving days. To save money on your move, consider booking during the week and in the middle of one of the off-season months, if possible.
- The type of move: Professional movers are the most convenient option, but they will cost you more than going with a DIY option like moving container companies or moving truck rentals.
- Any add-on services you select: Even if you go with a DIY move, you may want to hire third-party movers to assist you with loading and unloading. And professional movers offer a variety of optional services like packing and unpacking to help customize and streamline your relocation. But these additional services will come at an extra cost.
Quick tips for a stress-free move
- Have important documentation.
Places like high rises and managed apartments will often require a copy of your mover's insurance
and elevator reservation on moving day.
- Get approval.
Check ahead with any neighborhood, community, or HOA rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
- Secure a parking permit (if needed). special parking permits are issued by the Traffic and Transportation Division of the Engineering Department and are intended to provide for services or needs of an infrequent or unique nature. Examples include utility work, constructions, special events, etc.
- Check state licensing laws. When moving within Iowa, make sure to hire a company that is licensed by the Iowa Department of Transportation.
Each household goods mover in the state should have an Iowa Motor Carrier (IOWAMC) Number, which means they’ve met minimum insurance and highway safety requirements.
- Invest in moving insurance. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound.
Work with your movers to ensure all these items are taken care of before moving day.
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