($357+) St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA Movers
Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Des Moines, IA, runs anywhere from $347 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $6,621 for full-service movers handling a larger 4 - 5 bedroom household. The two cities sit about 349 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 4 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 $1,019, while larger 4 - 5 bedroom relocations can reach $6,621 or more.
- Moving containers run $905 - $2,973, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $347 - $931.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from St. Louis, MO, to Des Moines, IA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $1,644 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 St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA
There are 3 main ways to move from St. Louis 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 $1,644 - $4,955. 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 1 to 4 days for this 349-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 349-mile route from St. Louis to Des Moines, broken down by home size:
- Studio / 1 bedroom: full-service $1,019 - $3,657, container $905 - $1,700, rental truck $347 - $644, freight trailer $798 - $1,516.
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: full-service $1,644 - $4,955, container $1,123 - $2,116, rental truck $383 - $763, freight trailer $889 - $1,764.
- 4+ bedrooms: full-service $2,630 - $6,621, container $1,593 - $2,973, rental truck $448 - $931, freight trailer $1,188 - $2,310.
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 St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA
Full-service movers for the 349-mile relocation from St. Louis, Missouri, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,019 and $6,621. 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 $256 - $1,704, 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 St. Louis typically charge a base rate around $247 plus $145 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from St. Louis to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,019 - $3,657
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,644 - $4,955
- 4+ bedrooms: $2,630 - $6,621
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. Louis to Des Moines.
The following are real quotes requested by moveBuddha readers in the past 90 days for moves from Missouri to Iowa. 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 St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA
Specialty needs vary by market — 86% of St. Louis movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 85% nationally. In Des Moines, 58% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing93% of local movers | $426 - $4,260 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready86% of local movers85% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $170 - $1,022/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $256 - $2,045 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage36% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs86% of local movers | $852 - $2,556 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,130 - $8,520 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $638 - $1,212 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items36% of local movers46% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $852 - $2,130 |
| Piano | Any piano type64% of local movers71% nationallyTop pick: Arch Moving | $682 - $2,982 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling21% of local movers | $256 - $1,278 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect14% of local movers22% nationallyTop pick: ABC Quality Moving & Storage | $554 - $1,704 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $256 - $12,780+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $256 - $2,982+ |
What are the best full-service movers from St. Louis 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
How much do local movers cost in St. Louis, MO?
Based on recent quotes for this route, a 2-bedroom move from St. Louis to Des Moines with a local mover averages $1,562 - $4,708. Working with a local mover based in St. Louis, MO often costs less than hiring a national carrier on routes under 500 miles. Shorter routes come with lower fuel overhead and simpler logistics, and local movers can offer more direct communication and quicker booking windows.
The tradeoff is that smaller companies may lack the infrastructure for longer hauls. Verify proper interstate licensing and relevant experience before signing anything.
ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.72/5 stars) is a local mover in St. Louis, based on our analysis of feedback from 263 customers, 83.7% of which is positive.
Address: 3050 Armona Dr, St. Louis, MO, 63129 | Founded: 1989
Moving container costs from St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA
Moving containers from St. Louis, Missouri, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $905 and $2,973. 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 St. Louis costs roughly $90/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from St. Louis to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $905 - $1,700
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,123 - $2,116
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,593 - $2,973
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $64 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $128 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 $596 in St. Louis, MO. 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 Missouri 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 $905. Underestimating and needing 1 - 2 additional containers can push your total to $1,123 - $2,116, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise.
What are the best moving containers St. Louis 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 St. Louis 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 St. Louis:
- Arch Moving (4.7/5), 23 years in business
- ABC Quality Moving & Storage (4.6/5), 37 years in business
- Simple Moves (4.7/5), 25 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA
A rental truck for this 349-mile move from St. Louis, Missouri, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $347 and $931. The base rate covers the vehicle only; budget for:
- Fuel for the drive: $95 - $108
- Daily insurance: $26/day
- Equipment rentals: $6 - $17
- St. Louis daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.69 - $0.99
| 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 St. Louis to Des Moines based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $347 - $644
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $383 - $763
- 4+ bedrooms: $448 - $931
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from St. Louis to Des Moines starts at $347 - $931, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($95 - $108) , overnight lodging ($128/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for an additional $600 - $1,200 on top of your base rate to cover those costs.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in St. Louis, Missouri, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $596.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $95 - $108 for the 349-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 $277, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $128 per night for hotel stops on the 349-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $256 - $383.
What are the best moving truck rentals from St. Louis 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 St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA
Freight trailers are a solid option for larger DIY moves from St. Louis, Missouri, 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 $767 and $1,764.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from St. Louis to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $798 - $1,516
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $889 - $1,764
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,188 - $2,310
Pro tip: A 4-foot ramp sounds simple, but heavy or awkward furniture can make the climb tricky. With 8 feet of height to work with, smart vertical stacking is key. Since freight companies charge by the linear foot, every extra foot you use adds to the bill.
What other costs come with freight trailers?
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading help. In St. Louis, Missouri, hiring 2 movers for about 5 hours typically costs $596.
- More space: You only pay for the trailer footage you use, but underestimating your load can add roughly $64 - $128 per additional foot to your total.
- Time of year: Rates tend to climb during peak moving season (mid-May through mid-September) when trailer demand is at its highest.
What are the best freight companies from St. Louis to Des Moines?
- 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.
- Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. (4.42/5 stars): Flanagan-White Delivery, Inc. 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 are one of the fastest ways to move your belongings interstate, often beating full-service movers on delivery time. If getting your stuff to Des Moines quickly is a priority, freight is worth a hard look. That said, freight carriers typically require you to be available to receive your shipment within a set window, so if you need short-term storage or your new place won't be ready right away, a container or full-service mover may give you more flexibility.
Cost of living: St. Louis, MO vs Des Moines, IA
There's not a big cost-of-living gap between St. Louis and Des Moines to plan around. Cost of living index: 84 vs. 87. Average rent: $1,250/mo vs. $1,150/mo. The bigger factor in your budget is the one-time cost of the move itself, covered above. Walkability: 66 vs. 45. Safety index: 30.35 vs. 57.8.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Des Moines, IA to St. Louis, MO guide.
Why book your mover through moveBuddha:
moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Missouri 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 54 movers based in Missouri, handy for sizing up options on this 349-mile route.
Our take
For a move from St. Louis, MO, to Des Moines, IA, full-service movers are the most hands-off option, with costs ranging from $1,019 for a studio to $6,621 for a 4 - 5 bedroom home on the 349-mile route. If you want to cut costs without doing everything yourself, moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $905 - $2,973. A rental truck from Budget or U-Haul is the lowest-cost option at $347 - $931, though you'll be handling the driving and loading yourself. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with quotes starting around $1,644 for a 2-bedroom move, 30 days of free storage included, and 24/7 live customer support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include MercyOne and Principal Financial Group.
FAQs: Moving from St. Louis, MO, to Des Moines, IA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from St. Louis, MO to Des Moines, IA?
Cutting 500 pounds from your shipment, roughly one bedroom's worth of items, saves approximately $200 - $400 on a full-service move on this route. Beyond that, staying organized matters just as much. A solid moving checklist keeps you on schedule and helps you avoid costly last-minute mistakes.
Is Des Moines a safe place to live?
Des Moines has a safety index of 57.8 out of 100 and a crime index of 5.0, compared to 30.35 and 69.65 in St. Louis. Neither figure tells the whole story on its own, so it's worth digging into specific neighborhoods before you commit to an address.
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 66 and 58 in St. Louis. 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 percentage of St. Louis movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 64% of movers in St. Louis handle piano moves, and 36% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 71% and 46% nationally.
