($782+) Des Moines, IA to Hartford, CT Movers

Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Hartford, CT

Hiring full-service movers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Hartford, Connecticut, costs between $2,127 and $8,791. A full-service interstate moving company handles loading, transportation, and unloading across the 1,209-mile route, with optional professional packing available for an additional $283 - $1,884, 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 Hartford. 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 Hartford:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,127 - $5,075
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,665 - $5,995
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,343 - $8,791

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 Hartford.

Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Hartford, CT

Specialty needs vary by market: 60% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Hartford, 67% of movers offer the same service.

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

Movers licensed to operate in Connecticut are typically members of the Movers & Warehousemen’s Association of Connecticut, 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 Hartford, CT

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Hartford, Connecticut, cost between $1,272 and $4,104. 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 Hartford:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,272 - $2,384
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,576 - $3,067
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,112 - $4,104

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $71 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $141 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 $659 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 Hartford, CT, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Hartford?

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 Hartford, CT

Plan on $782 - $2,017 for a rental moving truck on the 1,209-mile route from Des Moines, Iowa, to Hartford, Connecticut. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $362 - $414
• Daily insurance: $28/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• 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 Hartford based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $782 - $1,391
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $773 - $1,722
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,052 - $2,017

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Additional insurance: Supplemental coverage typically averages around $30 per day.
• Lodging: Budget around $141 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 $659 for 2 movers and 5 hours of labor.
• Gas: Fuel for the 1,209-mile drive falls between $362 and $414, 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 $47 and $283 to your total.

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

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 Hartford, CT

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Des Moines, Iowa, to Hartford, Connecticut. Standard trailers run 28 feet long, and you're only charged for the portion you actually fill. The carrier drops the trailer off, you load it at your own pace, and they handle the drive to your new city.

Pricing is based entirely on the linear footage your shipment occupies, not the full trailer length. Most long-distance freight moves land somewhere between $848 and $2,530.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,112 - $2,022
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,249 - $2,530
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,656 - $3,385

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 $659.
• More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $71 - $141 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 Hartford?

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.

Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Hartford, CT

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

How you handle your interstate move from Des Moines, IA, to Hartford, CT, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $2,127 - $8,791 on the 1,209-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,272 - $4,104 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $782 - $2,017 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,665 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include Aetna and Prudential Retirement Insurance And Annuity Co.