($573+) Birmingham, AL to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Birmingham, AL to Des Moines, IA

Hiring full-service movers from Birmingham, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $1,916 and $8,619. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 846-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $261 - $1,740, depending on the size of your home. Your final cost comes down to two things: the total weight of your shipment and the distance between Birmingham and Des Moines. For a rough baseline, movers based in Birmingham tend to start around $310 plus $175/hour per mover on local jobs, before long-distance pricing takes over for a move this size.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,916 - $5,122
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,488 - $6,425
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,562 - $8,619

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 Birmingham to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Birmingham, AL to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of Birmingham 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 Birmingham to Des Moines?

If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Iowa Motor Truck Association is a good first thing to confirm.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.

Moving container costs from Birmingham, AL to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Birmingham, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,106 and $3,588. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in Birmingham runs about $70/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,106 - $2,000
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,538 - $2,746
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,067 - $3,588

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 $609 in Birmingham, AL. 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 $65 per month for a small 7- to 8-foot container and $131 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 Birmingham 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 Birmingham, AL to Des Moines, IA

Renting a moving truck for the 846-mile move from Birmingham, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $573 and $1,689, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $234 - $268
• Daily insurance: $26/day
• Equipment rentals: $6 - $17
• Birmingham daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $573 - $1,114
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $638 - $1,324
• 4+ bedrooms: $790 - $1,689

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
• Lodging: Budget around $131 per night if your drive requires an overnight stop. Typically, you'll make 1 - 3 overnight stops, depending on move distance.
• Moving labor: Bringing in professional loading help in Birmingham, Alabama, usually costs about $609 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
• Gas: Fuel for the 846-mile drive falls between $234 and $268, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, moving pads, and vehicle trailers are easy to overlook but can add between $44 and $261 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Birmingham 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 Birmingham, AL to Des Moines, IA

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Birmingham, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $783 and $2,290.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $975 - $1,893
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,219 - $2,290
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,622 - $2,900

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $65 - $131 to your final bill.
• Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
• Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Birmingham, Alabama, typically costs $609.

What are the best freight companies from Birmingham 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. Kykenkee, Inc. (4.54/5 stars): Kykenkee, Inc. 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: Birmingham, AL vs Des Moines, IA

Good news for your budget: Des Moines isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Birmingham. Cost of living index runs 87 there against 87 here, and rent, income, and tax rates all fall in a comparable band. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores land in a similar range too - 33/100 and 38.36/100 here versus 45/100 and 57.8/100 there.