($711+) Philadelphia, PA to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Philadelphia, PA to Des Moines, IA

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,076-mile move from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Des Moines, Iowa, with prices running from $2,033 - $8,387. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $292 - $1,944 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Philadelphia and Des Moines are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Philadelphia movers tend to run around $282 as a base rate plus $130/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,033 - $4,667
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,736 - $6,135
• 4+ bedrooms: $4,374 - $8,387

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 Philadelphia to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Philadelphia, PA to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 90% of Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, PA to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,203 and $4,420. 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 Philadelphia typically runs around $80/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,203 - $2,200
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,533 - $3,286
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,093 - $4,420

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Philadelphia, PA 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 $680 in Philadelphia, PA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $73 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $146 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 Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, PA to Des Moines, IA

Plan on $726 - $1,935 for a rental moving truck on the 1,076-mile route from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Des Moines, Iowa. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $333 - $380
• Daily insurance: $29/day
• Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
• Philadelphia daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.89 - $0.99

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $726 - $1,323
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $832 - $1,606
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,044 - $1,935

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $146 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 $63 and $316 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $333 - $380 in fuel for the 1,076-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $680 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia, PA to Des Moines, IA

Freight trailers are a good fit for medium-to-large moves where you need more space than a container but don't want to drive a rental truck from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Des Moines, Iowa. The trailer is delivered to your address, you load it, and the carrier takes it the rest of the way.

Unlike truck rentals with flat rates, freight trailers scale with your shipment. Every additional section of trailer space you fill increases your total. Most long-distance moves using this method run roughly between $1,265 and $2,449.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,173 - $2,166
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,265 - $2,449
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,778 - $3,468

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 $73 - $146 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, for about five hours typically runs $680.

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

1. MovingYourself (5/5 stars): MovingYourself is the best for large moves pick. While it's a top moving container option for the DIY hybrid setup (you handle the loading, they handle the driving), the same approach makes it a strong freight choice for 3 to 5+ bedroom homes that need 53 feet of trailer capacity with pay-as-you-go pricing.
2. U-Pack (5/5 stars): U-Pack is the best value freight trailer here. In addition to their popular container service, U-Pack delivers a top-tier freight trailer option that uses the same pay-by-the-foot pricing model and skips deposits and upfront fees entirely.
3. Pipco Transportation, Inc. (4.66/5 stars): Pipco Transportation, Inc. is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Local ownership translates to accessible support staff and facilities based in the communities they serve, giving customers more direct communication than they'd typically get from a national-only freight network.

Cost of living: Philadelphia, PA 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 Philadelphia 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.