($721+) Des Moines, IA to Augusta, GA Movers
Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Augusta, GA, runs anywhere from $735 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,308 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,044 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 2 to 8 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 $2,126, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $8,308 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,255 - $4,197, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $735 - $1,882.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Des Moines, IA, to Augusta, GA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,638 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 Augusta, GA
There are 3 main ways to move from Des Moines to Augusta: full-service movers, moving containers, and rental trucks. Full-service handles labor and transportation for you, with a 2-3 bedroom move on this route costing $2,638 - $6,378. Moving containers run about 30% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 60% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 8 days for this 1,044-mile route, depending on which option you go with.
Here is how full-service movers, moving containers, rental trucks, and freight trailers compare on the 1,044-mile route from Des Moines to Augusta, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,126 for a studio up to $8,308 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,255 - $4,197 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $735 - $1,882, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,108 - $3,291, billed by the space you actually use.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated September 16, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Augusta, GA
Full-service movers for the 1,044-mile relocation from Des Moines, Iowa, to Augusta, Georgia, cost between $2,126 and $8,308. 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 $253 - $1,684, 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 Augusta:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,126 - $5,293
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,638 - $6,378
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,390 - $8,308
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 Augusta.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Iowa to Georgia. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
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 Augusta, GA
Specialty needs vary by market — 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Augusta, 100% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing92% of local movers | $421 - $4,210 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready58% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $168 - $1,010/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $253 - $2,021 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage42% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs67% of local movers | $842 - $2,526 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,105 - $8,420 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $631 - $1,198 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items42% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: Adamantine Spine Moving | $842 - $2,105 |
| Piano | Any piano type75% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $674 - $2,947 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling17% of local movers | $253 - $1,263 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect17% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: All Mighty Movers LLC | $547 - $1,684 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $253 - $12,630+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $253 - $2,947+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Des Moines to Augusta?
If you're vetting a mover on your own instead, membership in Georgia Movers Association is a good first thing to confirm.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving offers the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing locks in your cost upfront, and 24/7 customer support is available throughout the move.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. Operating since 1995, AVL staffs every move with full-time in-house crews trained on antiques, art, and other high-value items.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. As one of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, real-time shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan.
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 Augusta, GA
Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Augusta, Georgia, cost between $1,255 and $4,197. 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 Augusta:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,255 - $2,223
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,521 - $3,124
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,073 - $4,197
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 Des Moines, IA, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $589, 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 $63 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $126 per month.
- Access: Most major container companies serve both Des Moines, IA, and Augusta, GA, 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.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Iowa to Georgia 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 $1,255. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,521 - $3,124, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers Des Moines to Augusta?
- 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:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.7/5), 29 years in business
- All Mighty Movers LLC (4.8/5), 12 years in business
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving (4.8/5), 8 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Des Moines, IA to Augusta, GA
Truck rentals from Des Moines, Iowa, to Augusta, Georgia, range from $735 - $1,882 for the 1,044-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $280 - $320
- Daily insurance: $25/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $17
- 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 Augusta based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $735 - $1,395
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $787 - $1,564
- 4+ bedrooms: $949 - $1,882
Pro tip: A rental truck from Des Moines to Augusta looks affordable at first glance, with base rates of $735 - $1,882. But once you factor in fuel ($280 - $320) , overnight lodging ($126/night), meals, and equipment rentals, most people end up spending $600 - $1,200 more than the base rate suggests. Building that into your budget upfront saves you from sticker shock at the end of the move.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $589.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $280 - $320 for the 1,044-mile drive, depending on whether your truck takes gas or diesel.
- Equipment: Appliance dollies, auto transport trailers, and furniture pads are separate rentals. Expect to spend between $51 and $274, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $126 per night for hotel stops on the 1,044-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $253 - $379.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Des Moines to Augusta?
- 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 Augusta, GA
If you're moving a larger household from Des Moines, Iowa, 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 Augusta, Georgia.
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 $1,331 and $2,524.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Des Moines to Augusta:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,108 - $2,001
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,331 - $2,524
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,744 - $3,291
Pro tip: Freight pricing rewards efficient packing. Trailers are 8 feet tall and accessed via a 4-foot ramp, so technique matters, especially for heavy pieces. Since each additional linear foot adds to your quote, packing strategically is one of the easiest ways to control costs.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Seasonal demand: Pricing tends to rise during peak moving season, particularly between mid-May and mid-September.
- Moving labor: Most customers hire loading help since freight is self-loaded. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for roughly 5 hours typically costs $589.
- More space: Freight companies bill by linear footage. If your belongings take up more room than anticipated, the extra space adds between $63 and $126 per foot.
What are the best freight companies from Des Moines to Augusta?
- 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.
- 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.
- Ruan Transportation Management Systems (4.5/5 stars): Ruan Transportation Management Systems is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and based facilities mean accessible support staff and area-specific scheduling flexibility that national-only freight carriers typically don't match.
Pro tip: Freight trailers move fast, making them one of the quickest ways to get your belongings from Des Moines to Augusta. 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 Augusta, GA
Day-to-day costs in Augusta are close to what you're used to in Des Moines: cost of living index of 80 versus 87, with average rent of $1,250/mo compared to $1,150/mo. Housing, income, and taxes are all in a similar range, so budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. Walkability and safety scores are close too, at 45/100 and 57.8/100 in Des Moines versus 22/100 and 51.54/100 in Augusta.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Augusta, GA to Des Moines, IA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Iowa to Georgia in the past 3 months alone, keeping our pricing data current. Run your numbers through our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers to avoid low-ball or inflated estimates and steer clear of bad actors. For context, we track 36 movers based in Iowa, handy for sizing up options on this 1,044-mile route.
Our take
The 1,044-mile move from Des Moines, IA, to Augusta, GA, costs between $2,126 and $8,308 with full-service movers, $1,255 - $4,197 with a moving container, and $735 - $1,882 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 $2,638 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 Questo and Morris Communications.
FAQs: Moving from Des Moines, IA, to Augusta, GA
What is the best time of year to move from Des Moines, IA to Augusta, GA?
Aim for a move between October and March, when demand drops and rates tend to be lower across all service types. Peak season runs mid-May through mid-September, and weekends and month-end dates are pricier regardless of season. Georgia also has a hurricane season running June through November, worth factoring into your timing if you have flexibility. A midweek, mid-month date outside peak season is your best bet for saving money.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Georgia?
Moving companies in Georgia are regulated by the the Georgia Department of Public Safety (GDPS). Regulations include insurance requirements and the handling of consumer complaints.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($280 - $320), daily insurance ($25/day), and equipment rentals ($6 - $17) on top. Overnight stops can add another $126/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
How walkable is Augusta?
Augusta has a walkability score of 22 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 33, 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.
How much does it cost to move from Des Moines, IA to Augusta, GA?
Costs on this route range from around $2,126 to $8,308, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $2,126 and $8,308, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
What percentage of Des Moines movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 75% of movers in Des Moines handle piano moves, and 42% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
