($1,096+) Des Moines, IA to Modesto, CA Movers

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

Full-service movers for the 1,781-mile relocation from Des Moines, Iowa, to Modesto, California, cost between $2,583 and $11,258. 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 $296 - $1,972, 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 Des Moines typically charge a base rate around $737 plus $142 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,583 - $5,232
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,388 - $7,428
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,144 - $11,258

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 Modesto.

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

Specialty needs vary by market — 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Modesto, 79% of movers offer the same service.

What are the best full-service movers from Des Moines to Modesto?

California Moving & Storage Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in California, on top of the picks below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Des Moines, IA to Modesto, CA

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Modesto, California, cost between $1,632 and $5,464. With a moving container, you load on your own schedule. U-Haul gives you 3 days to fill yours, while PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're ready, the company transports it straight to your new place. Need more time first? Storage in Des Moines typically costs about $60/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,632 - $2,816
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,069 - $3,983
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,771 - $5,464

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $74 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $148 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
• Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $690 in Des Moines, IA, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
• Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Modesto, CA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Modesto?

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 Des Moines, IA to Modesto, CA

Plan on $1,139 - $3,224 for a rental moving truck on the 1,781-mile route from Des Moines, Iowa, to Modesto, California. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $559 - $639
• Daily insurance: $30/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $20
• Des Moines daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $1.19

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,139 - $2,066
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,185 - $2,484
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,449 - $3,224

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
• Lodging: Budget around $148 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 Des Moines, Iowa, usually costs about $690 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
• Gas: Fuel for the 1,781-mile drive falls between $559 and $639, 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 $49 and $296 to your total.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Des Moines to Modesto?

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 Des Moines, IA to Modesto, CA

For larger DIY moves from Des Moines, Iowa, 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 Modesto, California.

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 $1,639 and $3,319.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,398 - $2,695
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,639 - $3,319
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,106 - $4,371

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In Des Moines, Iowa, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $690.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $74 - $148 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 Des Moines to Modesto?

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is our pick for best for large moves. The company is best known as a top moving container option for its hybrid model where you load and they drive, and that same model translates well to freight thanks to their 53-foot trucks and pay-by-the-foot pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Beyond their flagship container service, U-Pack also runs freight trailers with the same no-deposit, no-upfront-fee model, charging only for the linear footage you actually fill.
3. Ruan Transportation Management Systems (4.5/5 stars): Ruan Transportation Management Systems is our pick for best locally owned freight company. Their locally owned and operated facilities mean you work with support staff who know the route and the area, giving you more responsive scheduling than national-only carriers typically offer.

Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Modesto, CA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Modesto, side by side with Des Moines 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.