($906+) Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA

Full-service movers for the 1,399-mile relocation from Phoenix, Arizona, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $2,272 and $9,052. 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 $308 - $2,052, 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 Phoenix typically charge a base rate around $140 plus $85 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,272 - $5,259
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,928 - $7,008
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,367 - $9,052

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 Phoenix to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 85% of Phoenix 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 Phoenix to Des Moines?

Look for Iowa Motor Truck Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Iowa beyond this list.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Phoenix, Arizona, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,403 and $4,577. You're in charge of loading, and the timeline is yours to set. U-Haul allows 3 days while PODS gives you a full 30. After that, the company picks it up and delivers it to your new address. Running behind schedule? Storage in Phoenix costs roughly $90/month if you need it.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,403 - $2,567
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,792 - $3,728
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,385 - $4,577

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Moving labor: Because loading is on you with a container move, hourly labor help is a popular add-on. In Phoenix, AZ, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $718, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: After the first month, ongoing rental fees kick in. A small container (7 - 8 feet) averages about $77 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $154 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Phoenix, AZ, and Des Moines, IA, but confirm a facility is within reasonable distance if you need to retrieve items while in storage.
• Added contents protection: Full-value protection provides broader coverage than the standard liability in your contract. It typically costs 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on $50,000 worth of belongings.

What are the best moving containers Phoenix 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 Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 1,399 miles from Phoenix, Arizona, to Des Moines, Iowa, running $915 - $2,344. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $457 - $522
• Daily insurance: $31/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
• Phoenix daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.89

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $915 - $1,648
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $979 - $2,001
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,197 - $2,344

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Phoenix, Arizona, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $718.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $457 - $522 for the 1,399-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
• Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $62 and $333, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $154 per night for hotel stops on the 1,399-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $308 - $462.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Phoenix 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 Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA

For larger DIY moves from Phoenix, Arizona, freight trailers give you plenty of room without putting you behind the wheel. Standard trailers are 28 feet long. You load the section you need, and the carrier transports everything to Des Moines, Iowa.

Because freight companies bill by linear footage, your total is based on how much of the trailer you occupy, not the full length. For most medium-to-large moves on this route, pricing typically falls between $1,490 and $2,780.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,288 - $2,334
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,490 - $2,780
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,927 - $4,047

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Phoenix, Arizona, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $718.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $77 - $154 per additional foot to your total.
• Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.

What are the best freight companies from Phoenix to Des Moines?

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Empire Transport (4.84/5 stars): Empire Transport 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.

Cost of living: Phoenix, AZ vs Des Moines, IA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Des Moines, side by side with Phoenix on housing, income, and taxes.

Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.