Des Moines, IA - Best Moving Companies Near Me
Fact Checked by: Quick answer: Our top pick for local moves in Des Moines, IA, is TWO MEN AND A TRUCK, thanks to their reputation for quality customer service.. If you’re moving out of Iowa to another state, we recommend Safeway Moving in terms of overall value.
- Best Des Moines-based mover: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK
- Best interstate mover: Safeway Moving
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only mover: HireAHelper
- Best rental truck: U-Haul Truck Rental
Preferred partners
Our track record
Best movers for those moving locally in Des Moines, IA
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK: 4.76 out of 5 stars
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving: 4.58 out of 5 stars
- All Mighty Movers LLC: 4.48 out of 5 stars
- Black Belt Movers: 4.48 out of 5 stars
- Adamantine Spine Moving: 4.42 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service (34%)
- Professional and polite staff (31%)
- Careful handling (28%)
- Damage to items (25%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (20%)
- Unexpected charges (18%)
Company Info
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 2527384
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (37%)
- Efficient service (32%)
- Careful handling (30%)
- Damage to items (20%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (15%)
- Unexpected charges (12%)
Company Info
Years in Business: 7
DOT #: 2378173
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (44%)
- Professional and polite staff (40%)
- Good communication (36%)
- Unexpected charges (36%)
- Lack of communication (32%)
- Damage to items (28%)
Company Info
Pricing: $130/hr
Years in Business: 10
DOT #: 2468266
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (37%)
- Professional and polite staff (35%)
- Good communication (30%)
- Unexpected charges (18%)
- Minor damages to items (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (12%)
Company Info
Pricing: $100/hr
Years in Business: 25
DOT #: 1471037
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
Best movers for those moving out of Iowa
As you may guess, interstate — or out-of-state — moves are those that cross state lines. Movers must meet certain federal licensing requirements and standards to handle interstate moves. Consider one of these highly rated, fully licensed interstate moving companies if you’re leaving Iowa for a new state:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- Allied Van Lines: 4.75 out of 5 stars
- North American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
rating
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- 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
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
- Fragile packing
- Storage options
- 24/7 shipment tracking
- Quick & efficient
- Accurate quotes
- Custom crates for electronics & art
- Satellite shipment tracking
- 1,500 local agents covering all 50 states
- Self-packing option
- No deposit required
Best moving containers in Des Moines, IA
Moving containers offer a hybrid DIY solution that falls somewhere between a full-service moving company and a rental truck. With moving containers, you won’t have the help of a moving crew (you’ll have to do the loading and unloading) but you will get the benefit of a professional driver — a perk that doesn’t come with renting a truck.
Container costs in Des Moines vary depending on how many containers you need and how far you’re moving. Be sure to get moving quotes from multiple companies so you can best compare prices and services.
We recommend starting with these two top-tier moving container companies:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
Best rental trucks for your Des Moines, IA move
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to move out of state or locally in Des Moines, a moving truck rental is your best option. On average, a truck rental in Iowa costs a base rate of $19–$39 a day and a fee of $0.69–$1.19 per mile.
While you’ll certainly save money by renting a truck rather than hiring full-service movers or using a moving container, you will ultimately be responsible for every aspect of your move — including the driving.
We recommend these top truck rental companies for a full DIY move:
- 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
Labor-only movers in Des Moines, IA
Labor-only companies can be helpful if you are using a moving container or rental truck but still want some assistance with the heavy lifting. A labor-only mover will provide you with a moving crew to load and unload your items, and you can also pay for additional packing support, as well as disassembly and reassembly of furniture, fitness equipment, and electronics.
Check out our picks for labor-only companies in Des Moines:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
Top-rated movers in nearby cities
- Pleasant Hill movers
- West Des Moines movers
- Johnston movers
- Urbandale movers
- Clive movers
- Norwalk movers
- Altoona movers
- Ankeny movers
- Grimes movers
- Waukee movers
- Indianola movers
- Newton movers
- Ames movers
- Boone movers
- Pella movers
- Marshalltown movers
- Oskaloosa movers
- Fort Dodge movers
- Carroll movers
- Ottumwa movers
- Cedar Falls movers
- Waterloo movers
- Waverly movers
How we chose the best movers in Des Moines
How do I find a reputable Des Moines mover?
If you’re looking for the best movers in Des Moines, here’s what you should look for:
- A good reputation: Whether they’re a new family-owned business in Des Moines or a large van lines company with years of experience operating all over Iowa, a good reputation is absolutely essential. Watch out for red flags and common moving scams.
- Look into dispute resolution: All businesses may have some hiccups, but it's how they handle these incidents that shows the company’s true colors. If a mover in Des Moines has a history of unresolved customer complaints, it might be best to look elsewhere.
- Ensure experience aligns with your move: A mover with excellent reviews for local moves in Des Moines may not be the best interstate moving company. Verify that the company has adequate experience with the type of move you're planning.
- Get multiple estimates: Reputable Des Moines movers should provide a free estimate for your move. Getting moving quotes from multiple companies will give you a good idea of a fair price for the services you need.
Fortunately, the Des Moines movers on this list all pass this checklist with flying colors and have been hand selected by our experts at moveBuddha.
If you want to broaden your search to the whole state, check out the best moving companies in Iowa.
Average cost of movers in Des Moines, Iowa
The pricing table below shows ballpark costs for local moves within the Des Moines area and its surrounding suburbs. Or check out our post on the cost to move in Iowa for more pricing info.
Keep in mind the price ranges listed are only averages. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the specific requirements of your move.
You can also check out our moving cost calculator for more accurate moving cost estimate.
Local moving costs in Des Moines
If you’re moving within 50 miles of Des Moines, it’s considered a local move. The cost of a rental truck combines a base fee and the mileage fees. In Des Moines, the base fee ranges from $19 to $39 while the mileage ranges from $0.69 per mile to $1.19 per mile.
And if you’re looking for some labor help, the average cost for movers in Des Moines is $142 per hour.
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $957 | $198 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,155 | $198 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,593 | $278 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,093 | $389 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,482 | $389 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $5,119 | $545 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Interstate moving costs out of Des Moines
The cost to move from Des Moines to a different state is determined by how much you’re moving and how far away the new state is from Iowa. Here are a few examples:
- Des Moines to New York Movers: $907 to $7,817
- Des Moines to California Movers: $1,349 to $8,479
- Des Moines to Illinois Movers: $384 to $5,315
- Des Moines to Texas Movers: $733 to $7,213
Don’t see your new home state? Check out these popular moving routes.
Factors that affect the cost of your move
- Distance: Your moving costs in Des Moines will be determined in large part by where you are relocating. A local move within 50 miles of Des Moines will be less expensive than moving 450 miles across Iowa state lines.
- Move size: The more stuff you have, the more your move will cost, since moving companies determine price based on how large your truck and moving truck need to be. For long-distance and interstate relocations out of Des Moines, a moving company will base your price on the total estimated weight and volume of your belongings. Decluttering and downsizing to reduce those total measurements can help you keep costs down.
- Moving method: A full-service mover will likely be the most expensive option, and renting a truck will save you the most money. Just make sure you are factoring in services with pricing, so you don’t end up skimping on the help you need for your specific move just to cut costs.
- Additional services: No matter what kind of move you opt for, extra options like packing, labor, and comprehensive insurance will all come with added fees.
- The time of the year: Relocating during peak moving season (May–September) will cost you more because demand is higher and availability is lower. If possible, plan your move between October and April for a lower rate.
FAQs
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