($1,058+) Ontario, CA to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Ontario, CA to Des Moines, IA

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,649-mile move from Ontario, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, with costs ranging from $1,330 - $9,822. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $319 - $2,124. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Ontario and Des Moines. Local movers in Ontario typically start around $248 as a base rate plus $110/hour per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,330 - $5,273
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,217 - $7,437
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,853 - $9,822

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 Ontario to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Ontario, CA to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 85% of Ontario 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 Ontario 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 Ontario, CA to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Ontario, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,546 and $5,450. 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 Ontario costs roughly $100/month if you need it.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,546 - $2,967
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,959 - $3,872
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,644 - $5,450

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 Ontario, CA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $743, 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 $80 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $159 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both Ontario, CA, 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 Ontario 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 Ontario, CA to Des Moines, IA

Renting a moving truck for the 1,649-mile move from Ontario, California, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $977 and $2,730, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $557 - $637
• Daily insurance: $32/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $21
• Ontario daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $977 - $2,013
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,124 - $2,279
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,402 - $2,730

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $557 - $637 for the 1,649-mile drive, depending on whether your rental truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: You'll handle the heavy lifting unless you bring in help. Two movers in Ontario, California, for about 5 hours typically costs around $743.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 1,649-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $159 per night, adding $319 - $478 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $53 and $319.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Ontario 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 Ontario, CA to Des Moines, IA

If you're moving a larger household from Ontario, California, and want to stay in control of the loading process, freight trailers offer a practical middle ground between hiring movers and renting a truck yourself. A 28-foot trailer is delivered to your door, you load what you need, and the carrier handles the drive to Des Moines, Iowa.

Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. Most moves on this route fall between $1,474 and $3,319.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,365 - $2,569
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,474 - $3,319
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,221 - $4,233

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 $80 - $159 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 Ontario, California, typically costs $743.

What are the best freight companies from Ontario 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. Sea-Logix, LLC (4.76/5 stars): Sea-Logix, LLC 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: Ontario, CA 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 Ontario 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.