($1,039+) Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,756-mile move from Des Moines, Iowa, to Seattle, Washington, with prices running from $2,549 - $10,739. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $346 - $2,308 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Des Moines and Seattle 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 Seattle:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,549 - $5,605
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,433 - $7,169
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,025 - $10,739

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 Seattle.

Specialty moving services from Des Moines, IA to Seattle, WA

Specialty needs vary by market — 58% of Des Moines movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Seattle, 92% of movers offer the same service.

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

Movers licensed to operate in Washington are typically members of the Washington Movers Conference, 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 Seattle, WA

Moving containers from Des Moines, Iowa, to Seattle, Washington, cost between $1,543 and $5,527. 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 Seattle. 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 Seattle:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,543 - $3,000
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,054 - $3,993
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,695 - $5,527

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Des Moines, IA and Seattle, WA. 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 $808 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 $87 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $173 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 Seattle?

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 Seattle, WA

Truck rentals from Des Moines, Iowa, to Seattle, Washington, range from $1,093 - $3,063 for the 1,756-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $645 - $737
• Daily insurance: $35/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $23
• 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 Seattle based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,093 - $2,040
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,172 - $2,453
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,551 - $3,063

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Gas: Fuel adds $645 - $737 for the 1,756-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 $808.
• Additional insurance: Supplemental damage protection adds roughly $30 per day to your rental cost.
• Lodging: The 1,756-mile drive typically calls for 2 - 3 overnight stops at around $173 per night, adding $346 - $519 in hotel costs total.
• Equipment: Dollies, furniture pads, and vehicle tow gear are almost always billed separately. These extras typically add between $58 and $346.

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

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 Seattle, WA

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 Seattle, Washington.

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 $1,562 and $3,161.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,416 - $2,700
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,562 - $3,161
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,266 - $4,422

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 $87 - $173 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Des Moines, Iowa, for about five hours typically runs $808.

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

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is best for large moves. Best known as a top moving container option thanks to its DIY hybrid model (you load, they drive), MovingYourself also doubles as a strong freight choice with their 53-foot trucks and pay-for-the-space-you-use pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer on this list. In addition to their well-known container service, U-Pack offers freight trailers that follow the same pay-by-the-foot model with no deposits or upfront fees, making them one of the most flexible freight options for budget-conscious moves.
3. 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 operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.

Cost of living: Des Moines, IA vs Seattle, WA

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