($982+) Portland, OR to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Portland, OR to Des Moines, IA

Full-service movers handle loading, transportation, and unloading on the 1,788-mile move from Portland, Oregon, to Des Moines, Iowa, with costs ranging from $2,591 - $10,935. You can have movers pack your boxes for an additional $335 - $2,232. Like most long-distance moves, your price is determined by the total weight of your belongings and the distance between Portland and Des Moines. Local movers in Portland typically start around $278 as a base rate plus $130/hour per mover.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,591 - $5,626
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,461 - $8,138
• 4+ bedrooms: $6,601 - $10,935

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 Portland to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Portland, OR to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market: 59% of Portland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Des Moines, 60% of movers offer the same service.

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

All three below meet the standards set by the Iowa Motor Truck Association, the group most Iowa movers are affiliated with.

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

Moving container costs from Portland, OR to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Portland, Oregon, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,524 and $5,364. 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 Portland typically runs around $100/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,524 - $2,740
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,856 - $4,031
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,692 - $5,364

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $84 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $167 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 $781 in Portland, OR. 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.

What are the best moving containers Portland 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 Portland, OR to Des Moines, IA

Truck rentals from Portland, Oregon, to Des Moines, Iowa, range from $982 - $2,751 for the 1,788-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:

• Fuel for the drive: $635 - $726
• Daily insurance: $33/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
• Portland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $1.19

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $982 - $1,949
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,107 - $2,319
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,353 - $2,751

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Portland, Oregon, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $781.
• Gas: Fuel costs total $635 - $726 for the 1,788-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 $67 and $363, depending on what you need.
• Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
• Lodging: Budget around $167 per night for hotel stops on the 1,788-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $335 - $502.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Portland 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 Portland, OR to Des Moines, IA

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Portland, Oregon, to Des Moines, Iowa, when you want to do the loading yourself without having to drive a massive vehicle. The trailer is delivered, you pack it up, and the carrier handles the long haul.

What sets freight trailers apart is the pay-for-what-you-use pricing model. Each additional foot of trailer space you occupy adds to the cost. Pricing for a 2 - 3 bedroom move of this distance typically lands between $1,592 and $3,099.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,319 - $2,391
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,592 - $3,099
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,153 - $4,080

What other costs come with freight trailers?

• More space: Freight trailers are billed by the section you fill. If you misjudge your shipment size, each extra foot of trailer space adds around $84 - $167 to your final bill.
• Peak season pricing: Expect higher rates during peak season (mid-May to mid-September) when trailer availability tightens across the country.
• Moving labor: Loading is on you unless you hire outside help. A half-day crew of two movers in Portland, Oregon, typically costs $781.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.

Cost of living: Portland, OR 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 Portland 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.

Our take

Full-service movers on the 1,788-mile route from Portland, OR, to Des Moines, IA, run $2,591 - $10,935 depending on home size. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack are a middle-ground option at $1,524 - $5,364, and rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul start as low as $982 for the most budget-conscious movers. Safeway Moving is our top overall pick for full-service moves, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $3,461, 30 days of free storage, and a 24/7 support team you can actually reach.

Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include MercyOne and Principal Financial Group.