I’ve helped thousands of people move over the last decade, and I can tell
you that no two moves are exactly alike. Let me help you find the mover that’s right for you.
I’ve helped thousands of people move over the last decade, and I can tell you
that no two moves are exactly alike. Let me help you find the mover that’s right for you.
Staying local in Cedar Rapids, Des Moines, or somewhere else in Iowa within a 50-mile radius?
A local mover in IA could be the way to go.
Out of 37 local Iowa companies we reviewed,
Claeys Brothers Moving & Storage Inc earned the top spot for Iowa
moves for their excellent service and fair rates.
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors.
Claeys Brothers Moving & Storage Inc has been in business for 70 years, demonstrating strong
staying power in a competitive industry with services like interstate moving and intrastate moving.
Review Quality
4.6
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation.
Claeys Brothers Moving & Storage Inc has about 78% positive reviews across roughly 27 total reviews
.
Quote Accuracy
4.2
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency.
Customers can request instant email quotes from Claeys Brothers Moving & Storage Inc.
Customer Service
4.4
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator.
Claeys Brothers Moving & Storage Inc emphasizes clear communication,
careful handling.
Recent Reviews
“Hands down THE ABSOLUTE BEST moving experience EVER! They are serious pros…super friendly and super professional…ridiculously fast. Didn’t damage one single thing. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!”
“The crew tore down and reassembled one office at a time…knowledgeable, professional, courteous and very patient. Could not have completed this overwhelming project without Claeys Bros…HIGHLY recommend their services.”
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors.
Action Moving & Storage, Inc. has been in business for 42 years, demonstrating strong
staying power in a competitive industry with services like interstate moving and intrastate moving.
Review Quality
4.1
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation.
Action Moving & Storage, Inc. has about 90% positive reviews across roughly 178 total reviews
.
Quote Accuracy
4.2
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency.
Customers can request instant email quotes from Action Moving & Storage, Inc..
Customer Service
4.7
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator.
Action Moving & Storage, Inc. emphasizes clear communication,
careful handling.
Recent Reviews
“Austin, Mikey, and Raul just cleared our basement out. They were efficient, professional, and covered everything so nothing got scratched or scrapped. And everything was clean when they left. I highly recommend them.”
“Great service. Great communication! Everyone was very friendly and made quick work of our move to Onawa! Will use them again if and when needed. VERY PROFESSIONAL!”
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors.
Key City Moving & Storage has been in business for 115 years, demonstrating strong
staying power in a competitive industry with services like labor-only moving and small-scale moving.
Review Quality
4.1
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation.
Key City Moving & Storage has about 94% positive reviews across roughly 48 total reviews,
with an average Yelp rating of 4.3.
Quote Accuracy
4.2
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency.
Customers can request instant email quotes from Key City Moving & Storage.
Customer Service
4.4
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator.
Key City Moving & Storage emphasizes clear communication,
careful handling.
Recent Reviews
Mike and his crew did a great job. Professional and on time. Used a huge semi. Nothing broke or scratched. Fairly priced to move us from Iowa to Wisconsin. I’d trust these guys again.—Google
High praise for the whole crew. It was the easiest move I’ve ever had thanks to their professional team, careful packing and great communication.—Yelp
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors.
Horizon Movers & Climate Control Storage has been in business for 27 years, demonstrating strong
staying power in a competitive industry with services like international moving and interstate moving.
Review Quality
4.1
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation.
Horizon Movers & Climate Control Storage has about 98% positive reviews across roughly 232 total reviews,
with an average Yelp rating of 4.7.
Quote Accuracy
4.2
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency.
Customers can request instant email quotes from Horizon Movers & Climate Control Storage.
Customer Service
4.4
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator.
Horizon Movers & Climate Control Storage emphasizes clear communication,
careful handling.
Recent Reviews
“Kyle and his team did an excellent job. They were on time very organized and kept great communication the whole time. Made stressful move easy. Would recommend the Horizon Movers”
“We moved a month ago using Horizon movers. This was a great company to deal with. They were on time, fast, and very hard-working. They were super careful with our furniture, and around doorways and walls moving things in and out.”
Companies with more years in business often outperform newer competitors.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has been in business for 27 years, demonstrating strong
staying power in a competitive industry with services like labor-only moving and interstate moving.
Review Quality
4.1
Customer reviews are the clearest window into a mover’s reputation.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK has about 92% positive reviews across roughly 251 total reviews,
with an average Yelp rating of 3.4.
Quote Accuracy
3.9
Quote reliability often comes down to clarity and consistency.
Customers can request quotes from TWO MEN AND A TRUCK.
Customer Service
5.0
From responsiveness to follow-through, customer service is a big differentiator.
TWO MEN AND A TRUCK emphasizes clear communication,
careful handling.
Recent Reviews
“Two men and a truck exceeded my expectations. They were efficient, communicative, pleasant, and didn’t break anything. Very happy with the experience and the cost was worth every penny.”
“James, Sam & Roquim were kind, professional, and handled our furniture with care. We’d highly recommend this team for any moving job!”
If you’re trying to save money, need extra storage, or want the freedom to move on your schedule, moving containers are a smart
alternative to hiring full-service movers. You’ll handle the loading yourself, but you’ll get several days to complete the task.
When you’re done, the container company will handle driving your items to your new home.
Opting for a rental truck is one of the most economical moving methods — but it requires the most hands-on work.
You’ll need to manage everything from start to finish, including driving. If you’re willing to put in the labor,
it can result in major savings, particularly for local moves.
Rental trucks can also be used for cross-country moves, but don’t overlook hidden costs like fuel and per-mile fees.
These extras can really add up, so take them into account when budgeting.
Want a hand with the heavy lifting without having to hire a full-service mover?
Labor-only companies can send crews to help you with loading, packing,
and even disassembly and reassembly of furniture and electronics. However,
you’ll still need to rent a moving truck and handle the driving.
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed 37 Iowa movers and listed the top movers
based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
The table below includes estimated moving costs for local relocations within Iowa.
For a deeper dive into pricing, here’s our guide on the cost to move in Iowa.
Remember, the figures shown are averages. Your actual moving costs may vary significantly based on the details of your move and whether the movers use flat-rate pricing.
On average, moving a studio within Iowa costs about $758.
Moving a one-bedroom apartment locally in Iowa
will cost around $1,036.
Two-bedroom moves in Iowa come in at approximately
$1,649.
The typical cost of moving a three-bedroom home in Iowa is
$3,754.
A four-bedroom move in Iowa generally runs about
$4,300.
Need to move a five-bedroom or larger house in Iowa? Expect to spend about
$6,593.
Factors that affect moving costs in Iowa
An online moving quote is a useful planning tool, but the actual price you pay will be based in large part on these variables.
Distance: Even local moves depend on time and fuel, while interstate moves from
Iowa can carry extra fees.
Size: A bigger home means more work and larger moving trucks, which means higher pricing.
Time of year: High-demand periods in Iowa
— such as peak moving seasons
— usually come with increased rates.
Additional services:
If you add services like packing or disassembly, expect those to raise your final cost.
Things to keep in mind when moving
Whether you are moving one town over in Iowa or are making a big
cross-country relocation,
here are some common considerations:
Weather:
Iowa has a humid continental climate throughout the state. Snowfall is common in Iowa. Spring brings in severe weather season. Iowa has about 50 thunderstorm days per year and has a tornado season. Iowa is known for hot and humid summers. Be sure to check the weather before your move, especially during the springtime.
HOA rules: If you are moving to or from a neighborhood that has an HOA,
it’s a good idea to brush up on the handbook. Many HOAs have established restrictions on which days and/or times moving is allowed,
as well as guidelines on permissible truck sizes, parking, and notifying residents about when your move will occur.
Checking the rules before moving day will ensure you won’t get hit with fines —
or end up with angry neighbors!
Elevator reservation:
If you’re moving to or from a multi-level building with an elevator, property management may require you to use
a service elevator or reserve an elevator ahead of time. You may also have some restrictions on when you can move,
so be sure to check on the guidelines ahead of time.
Parking permits:
Iowa does not require special permits for moving rental trucks and vans or moving containers,
but your destination state and/or city might. You can visit the municipal website for your new location for a list of
parking rules and restrictions, or a contact number to call for additional help.
Licensing and compliance:
All the movers on our list are verified as licensed and insured, but you can check licensing, USDOT status,
and safety violations for a mover in Iowa or any other U.S. state, by searching by their name in the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration database.
Change of address:
You should submit your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior
to your move. This will notify the postal service of your official moving date and help ensure all of your mail is forwarded to
your new Iowa or out-of-state residence.
Moving insurance: Federal law mandates that movers provide basic coverage — known as released value protection
— at no charge to customers. While it is free, this insurance offers very minimal coverage, however
— just $0.60 per pound per item. So, if a 25-pound TV valued at $2,000 is lost or damaged,
your compensation would only be $15 ($0.60 x 25 pounds). For high-value items, you may want to consider
purchasing more comprehensive protection directly through your moving company or with a third-party insurance provider.
FAQs
What should I consider when hiring a moving company in Iowa?
When selecting a moving company in Iowa,
look for a strong track record, honest and upfront pricing, a wide range of services,
and several insurance coverage choices. These elements — among others — are key to our reviews and rankings,
helping you easily identify the best movers in Iowa.
Be sure to request quotes from at least three movers,
including one of the best flat-rate companies
in Iowa, to compare value and services.
Is it easy to find interstate movers in Iowa?
Yes, it is. With 32 out of 37 movers in Iowa
licensed for interstate moves, most customers will have ample options. These movers are federally regulated, holding a
USDOT number and oversight by the
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
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