($674+) Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA Movers
Moving from Baton Rouge, LA, to Des Moines, IA, runs anywhere from $674 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $7,920 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 1,000 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 $2,168, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $7,920 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,104 - $3,719, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $674 - $1,813.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Baton Rouge, LA, to Des Moines, IA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,418 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 Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA
There are 3 main ways to move from Baton Rouge to Des Moines: 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 $2,418 - $5,745. Moving containers run about 39% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 71% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 2 to 8 days for this 1,000-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 1,000-mile route from Baton Rouge to Des Moines, broken down by home size:
- Full-service movers: $2,168 for a studio up to $7,920 for a 4+ bedroom home.
- Moving containers: $1,104 - $3,719 depending on home size.
- Rental trucks: $674 - $1,813, the lowest-cost option across the board.
- Freight trailers: $1,066 - $2,975, 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 November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA
Full-service movers for the 1,000-mile relocation from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $2,168 and $7,920. 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 $272 - $1,812, 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 Baton Rouge typically charge a base rate around $558 plus $150 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Baton Rouge to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,168 - $4,883
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,418 - $5,745
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,290 - $7,920
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 Baton Rouge to Des Moines.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Louisiana to Iowa. Prices are based on 1,500+ monthly pricing data points collected across our network of vetted movers and updated monthly.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA
Specialty needs vary by market: 63% of Baton Rouge movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Des Moines, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing63% of local movers | $453 - $4,530 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready63% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $181 - $1,087/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $272 - $2,174 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage13% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs67% of local movers | $906 - $2,718 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,265 - $9,060 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $679 - $1,289 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items7% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: Acadiana Movers | $906 - $2,265 |
| Piano | Any piano type38% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: All My Sons Moving & Storage | $725 - $3,171 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling7% of local movers | $272 - $1,359 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect9% nationallyTop pick: AD Movers (LA) | $589 - $1,812 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $272 - $13,590+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $272 - $3,171+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Baton Rouge to Des Moines?
All three below meet the standards set by the Iowa Motor Truck Association, the group most Iowa movers are affiliated with.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this list, with flat-rate pricing that holds firm on moving day and a customer support team available around the clock.
- American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here. With 30+ years of interstate moves behind them, AVL uses full-time in-house crews instead of the contracted labor most national carriers rely on.
- Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment tracking, and an optional full-value protection plan available on every long-distance move.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national carriers are typically lower-priced than local moving companies in Baton Rouge, LA. 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 Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA
Moving containers from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,104 and $3,719. 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 Baton Rouge costs roughly $80/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Baton Rouge to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,104 - $2,055
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,480 - $3,004
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,996 - $3,719
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $68 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $136 per month.
- Access: Make sure your container company has a storage facility reasonably close to your new home in Des Moines, IA, if you need to retrieve anything while items are still in storage.
- Moving labor: Since you're responsible for loading the container yourself, many customers bring in hourly help. Based on moveBuddha data, hiring 2 movers for approximately 5 hours costs about $634 in Baton Rouge, LA. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
- Added contents protection: Full-value protection goes beyond the standard minimum and covers repair, replacement, or reimbursement at declared value. Pricing is typically 1% - 2% of your total shipment value, about $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 move.
Every price below reflects an actual quote from a moveBuddha reader planning a Louisiana to Iowa 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 $1,104. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,480 - $3,004.
What are the best moving containers Baton Rouge to Des Moines?
- 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 Baton Rouge 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 Baton Rouge:
- TWO MEN AND A TRUCK (4.4/5), 15 years in business
- Acadiana Movers (4.4/5), 16 years in business
- Moving Nola (5.0/5)
Moving truck rental costs from Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA
Truck rentals from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to Des Moines, Iowa, range from $674 - $1,813 for the 1,000-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $288 - $329
- Daily insurance: $27/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
- Baton Rouge daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.79 - $1.09
| 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 Baton Rouge to Des Moines based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $674 - $1,267
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $699 - $1,445
- 4+ bedrooms: $896 - $1,813
Pro tip: Budget beyond the advertised rate of $674 - $1,813 when pricing out a rental truck from Baton Rouge to Des Moines. Fuel alone runs $288 - $329, and overnight lodging ($136/night), meals, and equipment rentals add up quickly. Most people spend roughly $600 - $1,200 more on meals, equipment, and other extras beyond fuel and lodging by the time the move is done.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $136 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 $59 and $294 to your total.
- Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
- Gas: Plan on spending $288 - $329 in fuel for the 1,000-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
- Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $634 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Baton Rouge to Des Moines?
- 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 Baton Rouge, LA to Des Moines, IA
If you're moving a larger household from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 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 Des Moines, Iowa.
Freight trailers are priced by the linear feet your belongings take up, so you only pay for the space you use. A 2 - 3 bedroom move on this route typically falls between $1,124 and $2,238.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Baton Rouge to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,066 - $1,849
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,124 - $2,238
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,533 - $2,975
Pro tip: Loading a freight trailer is a bit different from filling a container. The 4-foot ramp can be steep with large items, and getting the most out of 8 feet of vertical clearance takes planning. Since pricing is based on linear feet used, every inch of wasted space has a cost.
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 $68 - $136 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, for about five hours typically runs $634.
What are the best freight companies from Baton Rouge to Des Moines?
- 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.
- 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.
Pro tip: Freight trailers are a great option when you need your belongings in Des Moines fast. For interstate moves, freight is one of the quickest delivery methods out there. Just keep in mind that freight carriers expect you to be available to receive your shipment, so it works best when your move-in is locked in and you don't need temporary storage on either end.
Cost of living: Baton Rouge, LA vs Des Moines, IA
Good news for your budget: Des Moines isn't meaningfully more or less expensive to live in than Baton Rouge. Cost of living index runs 87 there against 93 here. Focus your planning on the move itself rather than a change in monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 39/100 and 30.74/100 here versus 45/100 and 57.8/100 there.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Des Moines, IA to Baton Rouge, LA guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Louisiana to Iowa 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 73 movers based in Louisiana, handy for sizing up options on this 1,000-mile route.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Baton Rouge, LA, to Des Moines, IA, 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 $2,168 - $7,920 on the 1,000-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,104 - $3,719 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $674 - $1,813 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,418 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 MercyOne and Principal Financial Group.
FAQs: Moving from Baton Rouge, LA, to Des Moines, IA
How walkable is Des Moines?
Des Moines has a walkability score of 45 out of 100 and a bike-friendliness score of 39, compared to 39 and 44 in Baton Rouge. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What are the best neighborhoods in Des Moines?
For families, Linden Heights, Waterbury, and Waveland Park are worth a look in Des Moines. If you're moving solo or without kids, Sherman Hill, Downtown, and East Village tend to be popular picks instead.
How do I know a mover is licensed in Iowa?
When moving within Iowa, make sure to hire a company that is licensed by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Each household goods mover in the state should have an Iowa Motor Carrier (IOWAMC) Number, which means they’ve met minimum insurance and highway safety requirements.
What do local movers charge in Baton Rouge?
Local movers based in Baton Rouge typically start around $558 as a base rate, plus $150/hour per mover. That's a useful baseline if you're hiring help just to load a rental truck or container rather than booking a full long-distance move. Rates in Des Moines run similarly and are worth checking if you need help unloading on the other end.
What size moving truck do I need for this route?
Rental trucks generally range from 10 to 26 feet. A 15- to 17-foot truck covers most 2-bedroom moves, while a smaller 10- to 12-foot truck works for a studio or 1-bedroom. Homes with 4 or more bedrooms usually need a 20- to 26-foot truck, and anything that size typically runs on diesel rather than gas.
What percentage of Baton Rouge movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 38% of movers in Baton Rouge handle piano moves, and 7% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.