($687+) Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA Movers
Moving from Montgomery, AL, to Des Moines, IA, runs anywhere from $648 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,631 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 935 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 7 days door to door. Use our moving cost calculator to compare estimates and options for your specific move.
- Full-service moves for smaller spaces (studio apartments and 1-bedrooms) start around $2,258, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,631 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,221 - $3,926, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $648 - $1,862.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Montgomery, AL, to Des Moines, IA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,750 on this route. They also throw in 30 days of free storage and have 24/7 customer support.
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Compare moving options from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA
There are 3 main ways to move from Montgomery to Des Moines: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,750 - $6,144. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 7 days for this 935-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 935-mile route from Montgomery to Des Moines, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,258 - $5,105 | $1,221 - $2,089 | $648 - $1,264 | $1,121 - $1,958 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $2,750 - $6,144 | $1,510 - $3,113 | $742 - $1,547 | $1,281 - $2,468 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $4,213 - $8,631 | $2,156 - $3,926 | $887 - $1,862 | $1,593 - $3,142 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA
Full-service movers for the 935-mile relocation from Montgomery, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $2,258 and $8,631. With a long-distance moving company, loading, transportation, and unloading are all taken care of. If you want to skip packing boxes, too, that can be added for $247 - $1,644, depending on your home size. What you pay in the end is mainly a function of how much your shipment weighs and how far it's traveling. As a point of reference, local movers in Montgomery typically charge a base rate around $462 plus $133 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Montgomery to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,258 - $5,105
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,750 - $6,144
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,213 - $8,631
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 Montgomery to Des Moines.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Alabama to Iowa. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Demand for full-service movers surges during peak moving season from May - September, pushing prices higher. Shifting your move to a cooler month could save you a meaningful amount on your total bill.
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Specialty moving services from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA
Specialty needs vary by market — 100% of Montgomery movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Des Moines, 58% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing100% of local movers | $411 - $4,110 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready100% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: McCorquodale Transfer | $164 - $986/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $247 - $1,973 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage60% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs40% of local movers | $822 - $2,466 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,055 - $8,220 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $616 - $1,170 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items60% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: McCorquodale Transfer | $822 - $2,055 |
| Piano | Any piano type80% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: McCorquodale Transfer | $658 - $2,877 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling80% of local movers | $247 - $1,233 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect40% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: Motivated Movers, Inc. | $534 - $1,644 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $247 - $12,330+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $247 - $2,877+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Montgomery to Des Moines?
Movers licensed to operate in Iowa are typically members of the Iowa Motor Truck Association, worth checking for before you book any of the three below.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 customer support, and 30 days of free storage are included with every move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list, with 30+ years in business since 1995. AVL is one of the few national carriers that uses full-time in-house crews instead of contracted labor.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, combining fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Montgomery, AL. At that distance, local movers often charge 30% - 40% more because they don't spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments the way national carriers do. If a direct route and faster delivery (averaging 2 days) are priorities, a local mover may be worth considering, but that service comes at a higher price.
Moving container costs from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA
Moving containers from Montgomery, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,221 and $3,926. 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 Montgomery typically runs around $70/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Montgomery to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,221 - $2,089
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,510 - $3,113
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,156 - $3,926
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $62 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $123 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 $575 in Montgomery, AL. 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.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Alabama to Iowa move in the past 90 days. Our pricing data is drawn from 1,500+ monthly data points across our vetted mover network and refreshed every month.
Pro tip: Before ordering moving containers, take a careful inventory of everything you're moving. A typical 1-bedroom home weighs around 3,000 pounds and fits in a single container starting at $1,221. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,510 - $3,113, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Montgomery to Des Moines?
- Units Moving and Portable Storage (4.3/5 stars)
- U-Pack (5.0/5 stars)
- MovingYourself (5.0/5 stars)
Want a hand without paying for full service? A container or truck move does not mean doing all the heavy lifting yourself. You can hire a labor-only crew in Montgomery to load and unload while you handle the drive, then book full help later if you change your mind. Three top-rated local crews for labor-only help in Montgomery:
- McCorquodale Transfer (5.0/5), 28 years in business
- Motivated Movers, Inc. (4.6/5), 19 years in business
- Admiral Movers (4.8/5), 37 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA
A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 935 miles from Montgomery, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa, running $648 - $1,862. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:
- Fuel for the drive: $245 - $279
- Daily insurance: $25/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $16
- Montgomery daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| Home size | Typical truck size |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | 10 - 12 ft |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | 15 - 17 ft |
| 4+ bedrooms | 20 - 26 ft (typically requires diesel) |
These are typical moving truck rental costs from Montgomery to Des Moines based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $648 - $1,264
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $742 - $1,547
- 4+ bedrooms: $887 - $1,862
Pro tip: The base rate of $648 - $1,862 is just the starting point for a rental truck move from Montgomery to Des Moines. Fuel ($245 - $279) , lodging at around $123/night, meals, and equipment rentals are all on top of that. Factor in an extra $600 - $1,200 to get a realistic picture of what the move will actually cost.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $123 per night. Most long-distance moves with rental trucks require 1 - 3 overnight stops.
- Equipment: Tow dollies, auto trailers, and specialty moving equipment can add between $53 and $267 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $245 - $279 in fuel for the 935-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $575 in Montgomery, Alabama, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Montgomery to Des Moines?
- Budget Truck Rental (4.3/5 stars)
- Penske Truck Rental (4.0/5 stars)
- 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 Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA
Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Montgomery, Alabama, to Des Moines, Iowa. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.
Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,281 and $2,468.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Montgomery to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,121 - $1,958
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,281 - $2,468
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,593 - $3,142
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
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 $62 - $123 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Montgomery, Alabama, for about five hours typically runs $575.
What are the best freight companies from Montgomery to Des Moines?
- 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.
- 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.
- MAF Expedited Bhm Express (4/5 stars): MAF Expedited Bhm Express 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.
Pro tip: If speed matters on your move from Montgomery to Des Moines, freight trailers are one of the fastest interstate options available, second only to renting a truck and driving it yourself. The tradeoff is that freight works best when you're ready to receive your belongings on the other end. If your timeline is tight on the receiving side or you need a short storage buffer, a moving container might be a better fit.
Cost of living: Montgomery, AL vs Des Moines, IA
Day-to-day costs in Des Moines are close to what you're used to in Montgomery: cost of living index of 87 versus 79, with average rent of $1,150/mo compared to $1,200/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 26/100 and 34.75/100 in Montgomery versus 45/100 and 57.8/100 in Des Moines.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Des Moines, IA to Montgomery, AL guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Alabama to Iowa in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 46 movers based in Alabama, handy for sizing up options on this 935-mile route.
Our take
For a move from Montgomery, AL, to Des Moines, IA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $2,258 for a studio to $8,631 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 935-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,221 - $3,926. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $648 - $1,862, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $2,750 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include MercyOne and Principal Financial Group.
FAQs: Moving from Montgomery, AL, to Des Moines, IA
How long does a move from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA take?
Full-service movers and container companies typically complete this route in 5 - 7 days, since carriers consolidate shipments heading the same direction. Freight trailers are usually the fastest option outside of driving yourself, with deliveries in 3 - 5 days, though you'll need to be ready to receive your shipment on arrival. Driving a rental truck yourself puts the schedule entirely in your hands.
What do local movers charge in Montgomery?
Local movers based in Montgomery typically start around $462 as a base rate, plus $133/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Des Moines run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
How much does it cost to move from Montgomery, AL to Des Moines, IA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,258 to $8,631, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,258 and $8,631, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
How walkable is Des Moines?
Des Moines has a walkability score of 45 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 39, compared to 26 and 33 in Montgomery. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Montgomery movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 80% of movers in Montgomery handle piano moves, and 60% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
