($998+) Des Moines, IA to Ontario, CA Movers

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

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,647-mile move from Des Moines, Iowa, to Ontario, California, with prices running from $2,330 - $9,748. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $299 - $1,996 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Des Moines and Ontario are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Des Moines movers tend to run around $737 as a base rate plus $142/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,330 - $4,920
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,187 - $7,152
• 4+ bedrooms: $5,298 - $9,748

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 Ontario.

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

Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Ontario, 54% of movers offer the same service.

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

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.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Ontario, California, cost between $1,388 and $4,891. 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 Des Moines costs roughly $60/month if you need it.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,388 - $2,665
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,884 - $3,727
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,619 - $4,891

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Des Moines, IA and Ontario, CA. Still, double-check that a nearby facility is available if you need to access your belongings before delivery.
• Moving labor: Because containers are self-loaded, many customers hire hourly help. Two movers for about 5 hours typically cost around $699 in Des Moines, IA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $75 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $150 for larger ones (12 - 16 feet).
• Added contents protection: For more coverage beyond the standard minimum, full-value protection is the typical upgrade, generally 1% - 2% of your declared shipment value. On a $50,000 household, that's roughly $500 - $1,000 as a one-time fee.

What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Ontario?

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 Ontario, CA

Truck rentals from Des Moines, Iowa, to Ontario, California, range from $998 - $2,789 for the 1,647-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $523 - $598
• 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 Ontario based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $998 - $1,770
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,018 - $2,303
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,322 - $2,789

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $150 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 $65 and $324 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $523 - $598 in fuel for the 1,647-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $699 in Des Moines, Iowa, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

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

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 Ontario, 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 Ontario, 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 $1,449 and $2,981.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,326 - $2,399
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,449 - $2,981
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,035 - $4,032

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight pricing is based on exactly how much of the trailer you fill. If your items take up more than expected, the added footage can increase your cost by between $75 and $150.
• Peak season impact: Moving during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) often means higher trailer rates as demand increases across the board.
• Moving labor: Unless you plan to load everything yourself, factor in labor costs. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for roughly five hours typically average $699.

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

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the pick for best for large moves. The company is well-regarded as a top moving container option for its load-it-yourself, we-drive-it model, and that same model makes it a strong freight option for larger homes that benefit from the company's 53-foot trucks and footage-based pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack offers the best value freight trailer on this route. Alongside their flagship container service, U-Pack provides a top-notch freight trailer option that follows the same model: no deposits, no upfront fees, and pricing based on the linear footage you actually use.

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

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Ontario, 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.

Our take

The 1,647-mile move from Des Moines, IA, to Ontario, CA, costs between $2,330 and $9,748 with full-service movers, $1,388 - $4,891 with a moving container, and $998 - $2,789 for a rental truck. Your budget and how much heavy lifting you want to do are the two biggest factors in choosing the right option. If you go with full-service movers, Safeway Moving is our top recommendation, with transparent flat-rate pricing starting around $3,187 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage, and 24/7 customer support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Prime Healthcare and Niagara Bottling.