($280+) St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 247-mile move from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Des Moines, Iowa, with costs ranging from $972 - $6,337. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $288 - $1,920. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between St. Paul and Des Moines. Local movers in St. Paul typically start around $243 as a base rate plus $100/hour per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $972 - $3,826
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,713 - $4,682
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,160 - $6,337

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 St. Paul to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 91% of St. Paul 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 St. Paul to Des Moines?

Look for Iowa Motor Truck Association membership as a baseline when comparing movers in Iowa beyond this list.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is our pick for best overall value. Flat-rate pricing, 24/7 support, and 30 days of free storage make Safeway the clearest value on this list.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover on this list. AVL has been moving customers since 1995 and uses full-time in-house crews trained on high-value items like art and antiques.
3. Allied Van Lines (4.2/5 stars): Allied Van Lines is best for contents coverage. One of the largest van line networks in North America, Allied offers fragile-only packing, 24/7 monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan against damage, loss, and breakage.

How much do local movers cost in St. Paul, MN?

Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from St. Paul to Des Moines with a local mover averages $1,628 - $4,448. A local mover in St. Paul, MN is worth considering for moves under 500 miles. Short-distance moves don't always need the scale of a national carrier, and local companies can offer streamlined service, more flexible pickup windows, and a more personal approach to coordination.

Be sure to confirm interstate licensing, insurance coverage, and delivery expectations before booking.

Moving container costs from St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $852 and $2,747. The container gets dropped at your door and you load it at your own pace. U-Haul gives you 3 days to load and PODS gives you up to 30. Once you're done, the company handles all the transportation. If you need extra time, storage in St. Paul runs about $70/month.

Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Paul to Des Moines:

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $852 - $1,450
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,088 - $2,137
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,476 - $2,747

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 St. Paul, MN, two movers for roughly five hours costs around $672, 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 $72 per month, while a 12- to 16-foot unit runs around $144 per month.
• Access: Most major container companies serve both St. Paul, MN, and Des Moines, IA, 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.

What are the best moving containers St. Paul 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 St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA

A rental truck is the cheapest way to cover the 247 miles from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Des Moines, Iowa, running $295 - $744. It's also the most hands-on option, and the base rate doesn't include:

• Fuel for the drive: $75 - $86
• Daily insurance: $29/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• St. Paul daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $295 - $513
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $307 - $589
• 4+ bedrooms: $386 - $744

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Equipment: Tow dollies, appliance dollies, and moving pads are not included in the base rate. These extras often total between $72 and $336.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $144.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $75 and $86 for the 247-mile drive, depending on whether your truck runs on gas or diesel.
• Moving labor: If you'd rather not do all the heavy lifting, budget around $672 for 2 movers in St. Paul, Minnesota, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Paul 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 St. Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA

If you're moving a larger household from St. Paul, Minnesota, 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. Most moves on this route fall between $852 and $1,743.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $767 - $1,346
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $852 - $1,743
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,170 - $2,049

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 $72 - $144 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in St. Paul, Minnesota, for about five hours typically runs $672.

What are the best freight companies from St. Paul 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. T.A. Dedicated, Inc. (4.8/5 stars): T.A. Dedicated, 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: St. Paul, MN vs Des Moines, IA

The price of the move is only part of the picture. Here is how everyday costs compare once you are settled in Des Moines, side by side with St. Paul 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.