($500+) Detroit, MI to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Detroit, MI to Des Moines, IA

Full-service movers for the 600-mile relocation from Detroit, Michigan, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,485 and $8,765. 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 $270 - $1,800, 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 Detroit typically charge a base rate around $248 plus $100 per hour, per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,485 - $4,151
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,449 - $5,859
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,185 - $8,765

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 Detroit to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Detroit, MI to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 89% of Detroit movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Des Moines, 58% of movers offer the same service.

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

Movers licensed to operate in Iowa are typically members of the Iowa Motor Truck 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 Detroit, MI to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Detroit, Michigan, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,081 and $3,417. You load everything on your own schedule (U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30). When you're ready, the company takes care of getting the container from point A to point B. Need more time than that? Extra storage in Detroit typically runs around $85/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,081 - $1,799
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,266 - $2,540
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,761 - $3,417

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Detroit, MI and Des Moines, IA. 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 $630 in Detroit, MI, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $68 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $135 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 Detroit to Des Moines?

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 Detroit, MI to Des Moines, IA

Truck rentals from Detroit, Michigan, to Des Moines, Iowa, range from $471 - $1,327 for the 600-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $172 - $196
• Daily insurance: $27/day
• Equipment rentals: $6 - $18
• Detroit daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79

These are typical moving truck rental costs from Detroit to Des Moines based on home size:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $471 - $871
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $519 - $1,077
• 4+ bedrooms: $629 - $1,327

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $135 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 $293 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $172 - $196 in fuel for the 600-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $630 in Detroit, Michigan, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

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

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 Detroit, MI to Des Moines, IA

Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from Detroit, Michigan, to Des Moines, Iowa. 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 $810 and $1,991.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $954 - $1,670
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,023 - $1,991
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,380 - $2,600

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 - $135 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Detroit, Michigan, for about five hours typically runs $630.

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

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. XPO Logistics Freight, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): XPO Logistics Freight, Inc. 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: Detroit, MI vs Des Moines, IA

Detroit and Des Moines land in a similar range on everyday costs. The cost of living index sits at 92 in Detroit and 87 in Des Moines, and rent tracks closely too ($1,250/mo vs. $1,150/mo). You likely won't need to rework your monthly budget much after this move. Walkability (51 vs 45) and safety scores (27.08 vs 57.8) come out about the same too.