($1,015+) Des Moines, IA to Anaheim, CA Movers
Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Anaheim, CA, runs anywhere from $1,015 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $9,501 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,676 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 4 to 15 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 $2,305, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $9,501 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,467 - $5,283, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $1,015 - $2,836.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Des Moines, IA, to Anaheim, CA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,233 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 Des Moines, IA to Anaheim, CA
Moving options from Des Moines to Anaheim fall into 3 main service types: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. A 2-3 bedroom full-service move costs $3,233 - $6,666 on this route, with movers handling all labor and transportation. Moving containers come in around 45% less for the same home size, and rental trucks are around 67% less, though both require you to handle the loading. This 1,676-mile route typically takes 4 to 15 days door to door.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,676-mile route from Des Moines to Anaheim, broken down by home size:
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Rental truck | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio / 1 bedroom | $2,305 - $5,406 | $1,467 - $2,844 | $1,015 - $1,817 | $1,268 - $2,560 |
| 2 - 3 bedrooms | $3,233 - $6,666 | $1,765 - $3,827 | $1,065 - $2,206 | $1,426 - $3,061 |
| 4+ bedrooms | $5,800 - $9,501 | $2,610 - $5,283 | $1,410 - $2,836 | $2,088 - $4,023 |
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Anaheim, CA
Hiring full-service movers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Anaheim, California, costs between $2,305 and $9,501. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,676-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $355 - $2,364, 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 Des Moines and Anaheim. For a rough baseline, movers based in Des Moines tend to start around $737 plus $142/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 Des Moines to Anaheim:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,305 - $5,406
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,233 - $6,666
- 4+ bedrooms: $5,800 - $9,501
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 Des Moines to Anaheim.
Pro tip: Avoiding peak moving season dates (May - September) is one of the easiest ways to reduce costs. Off-season moves typically come with lower pricing and more room to negotiate since movers have fewer bookings.
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Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Anaheim, CA
Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Anaheim, 54% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing63% of local movers | $591 - $5,910 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready60% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $236 - $1,418/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $355 - $2,837 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage8% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs50% of local movers | $1,182 - $3,546 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,955 - $11,820 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $885 - $1,682 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items12% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Lint Van Lines | $1,182 - $2,955 |
| Piano | Any piano type43% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $946 - $4,137 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling | $355 - $1,773 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect4% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving | $768 - $2,364 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $355 - $17,730+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $355 - $4,137+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Des Moines to Anaheim?
Movers licensed to operate in California are typically members of the California Moving & Storage 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 Des Moines, IA. 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 Des Moines, IA to Anaheim, CA
Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Anaheim, California, cost between $1,467 and $5,283. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Anaheim. If you go over that window, storage in Des Moines adds around $60/month.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Des Moines to Anaheim:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,467 - $2,844
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,765 - $3,827
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,610 - $5,283
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $89 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $177 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Anaheim, CA, 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 $827 in Des Moines, IA. 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 Iowa to California 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 $1,467. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,765 - $3,827.
What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Anaheim?
- 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 Des Moines 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 Des Moines:
- All Mighty Movers LLC (4.8/5), 12 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 8 years in business
- The Approved Movers (4.8/5), 6 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Des Moines, IA to Anaheim, CA
Plan on $1,015 - $2,836 for a rental moving truck on the 1,676-mile route from Des Moines, Iowa, to Anaheim, California. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:
- Fuel for the drive: $630 - $720
- Daily insurance: $35/day
- Equipment rentals: $8 - $24
- Des Moines daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $1.19
| 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 Des Moines to Anaheim based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,015 - $1,817
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,065 - $2,206
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,410 - $2,836
Pro tip: The advertised base rate of $1,015 - $2,836 does not include fuel ($630 - $720), lodging ($177/night for overnight stops), meals, or equipment rentals. When you add those up, the true cost of your move from Des Moines to Anaheim typically runs more than the base rate alone, with meals, equipment, and other extras adding roughly $600 - $1,200 on top of fuel and lodging.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Gas: Fuel adds $630 - $720 for the 1,676-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 Des Moines, Iowa, for about 5 hours typically costs around $827.
- Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
- Lodging: The 1,676-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $177 per night, adding $355 - $532 in hotel costs total.
- Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $59 and $355.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Des Moines to Anaheim?
- 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 Des Moines, IA to Anaheim, CA
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 Des Moines, Iowa, to Anaheim, California. 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,426 and $3,061.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Des Moines to Anaheim:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,268 - $2,560
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,426 - $3,061
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,088 - $4,023
Pro tip: Freight trailers offer generous space but reward good packing strategy. The 4-foot ramp can be challenging for large or heavy pieces, and using the full 8-foot height takes careful stacking. Because you're billed by the linear foot, maximizing vertical space keeps your costs lower.
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 $89 - $177 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for about five hours typically runs $827.
What are the best freight companies from Des Moines to Anaheim?
- MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Primarily known as a top moving container option for its DIY hybrid model where customers load and the company drives, MovingYourself also functions as a strong freight option thanks to its 53-foot trucks and pay-only-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
- U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. Best known for its container service, U-Pack also runs a top-notch freight trailer operation with the same no-deposit, pay-by-the-foot approach that keeps overall costs lower than most freight competitors.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Des Moines to Anaheim. If you have a hard move-in date and want your stuff there as soon as possible, freight is hard to beat. It's worth noting that freight works best when you're ready to receive your delivery, so if your move-in date is still up in the air or you'll need short-term storage, a moving container is likely the more practical choice.
Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Anaheim, CA
The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Anaheim, side by side with Des Moines on housing, income, and taxes.
| Measure | Des Moines, IA | Anaheim, CA |
|---|---|---|
| Cost of living index | 87 | 165 |
| Average rent | $1,150/mo | $2,550/mo |
| Median home value | $183,553 | $769,966 |
| Average income | $63,966/yr | $90,583/yr |
| Unemployment rate | 5.9% | 4.1% |
| State income tax | Up to 4.4% | Up to 13.3% |
| Walkability score | 45/100 | 56/100 |
| Safety index | 57.8/100 | 46.82/100 |
| Air quality | Good | Good |
Cost of living index is relative to the U.S. average of 100. Figures reflect the latest available city and state data.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Anaheim, CA to Des Moines, IA guide.
Why you should use moveBuddha to find a mover:
In the past 3 months, we've processed 10 real quotes from Iowa to California, so our pricing data stays current. Use our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and spot bad actors early. We track 67 movers licensed in Iowa, useful context for sizing up this 1,676-mile move.
Our take
Full-service movers on the 1,676-mile route from Des Moines, IA, to Anaheim, CA, run $2,305 - $9,501 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,467 - $5,283, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $1,015 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,233, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include PacSun and Firmenich.
FAQs: Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Anaheim, CA
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What do local movers charge in Des Moines?
Local movers based in Des Moines typically start around $737 as a base rate, plus $142/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 Anaheim run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
How do I know a mover is licensed in California?
When contacting a local moving company for an estimate in California, make sure each has a “T Number” issued by the California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC). Moving companies with valid T Numbers have met state requirements for insurance, safety, and financial stability and have passed criminal clearance checks conducted by the California Department of Justice.
What are the best neighborhoods in Anaheim?
For families, Anaheim Hills, Canyon District, and Platinum Triangle are worth a look in Anaheim. If you're moving solo or without kids, Platinum Triangle, Anaheim Resort Area, and West Anaheim tend to be popular picks instead.
How walkable is Anaheim?
Anaheim has a walkability score of 56 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 52, compared to 45 and 39 in Des Moines. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What percentage of Des Moines movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 43% of movers in Des Moines handle piano moves, and 12% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.