($510+) Garland, TX to Des Moines, IA Movers
Moving from Garland, TX, to Des Moines, IA, runs anywhere from $510 for a DIY rental-truck move of a small home up to $8,042 for full-service movers handling a larger 4+ bedroom household. The two cities sit about 690 miles apart, and a move on this route usually takes 1 to 6 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 $1,509, while larger 4+ bedroom relocations can reach $8,042 or more.
- Moving containers run $1,042 - $3,459, and renting a moving truck from Budget or U-Haul is the cheapest route at $510 - $1,307.
- Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars) is our top recommendation for a move from Garland, TX, to Des Moines, IA. They're known for transparent pricing, with 2-bedroom quotes starting around $2,231 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 Garland, TX to Des Moines, IA
There are 3 main ways to move from Garland 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 $2,231 - $5,597. Moving containers run about 44% less than full-service for the same home size, while rental trucks come in around 76% less, though both put loading on your shoulders. Plan on 1 to 6 days for this 690-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 690-mile route from Garland to Des Moines, broken down by home size:
Home size makes the biggest difference in what you'll pay on this route. A studio or 1-bedroom runs $1,509 - $4,078 with full-service movers and considerably less with a container ($1,042 - $1,833), rental truck ($510 - $946), or freight trailer ($956 - $1,650). A 2 - 3 bedroom home moves that range up to $2,231 - $5,597 full-service, and a 4+ bedroom household tops out around $8,042.
Pricing reflects moveBuddha's monthly dataset of 1,500+ live quotes across our vetted mover network. Last updated November 2, 2026.
Full-service moving costs from Garland, TX to Des Moines, IA
For the 690-mile move from Garland, Texas, to Des Moines, Iowa, full-service movers cost between $1,509 and $8,042. A long-distance moving company takes care of loading, hauling, and unloading. For an added cost of $284 - $1,896 (1 - 5+ bedrooms), crews will pack your boxes. The weight of your shipment and the mileage between the two cities are what drive your final cost. For scale, local movers in Garland generally start around $181 plus $92 per hour, per mover.
Here's a breakdown of full-service moving costs by home size from Garland to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,509 - $4,078
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,231 - $5,597
- 4+ bedrooms: $4,013 - $8,042
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 Garland to Des Moines.
Pro tip: Moving company rates climb during peak moving season (May –-September) when demand peaks. Scheduling your move outside of that window can lead to noticeably lower costs and better availability.
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Specialty moving services from Garland, TX to Des Moines, IA
Specialty needs vary by market: 56% of Garland movers offer storage-in-transit, compared to 60% nationally. In Des Moines, 60% of movers offer the same service.
| Service | When you need it | Typical cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full packing | Full crew packing75% of local movers | $474 - $4,740 |
| Storage in transit | New place not ready56% of local movers60% nationallyTop pick: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK | $190 - $1,138/mo |
| Shuttle fee | Truck can't reach door | $284 - $2,275 |
| Full-value protection | More than $0.60/lb coverage12% of local movers | $300 - $600 (1% - 2% of value) |
| Small moves | Under ~2,000 lbs62% of local movers | $948 - $2,844 |
| Office / commercial | Workplace relocation | $2,370 - $9,480 |
| Car shipping | Second vehicle | $710 - $1,349 |
| Antiques & fine art | Fragile, high-value items24% of local movers26% nationallyTop pick: AM Moving Company LLC | $948 - $2,370 |
| Piano | Any piano type40% of local movers41% nationallyTop pick: Fantastic Moves | $758 - $3,318 |
| Pool table | Disassembly & re-leveling10% of local movers | $284 - $1,422 |
| Hot tub | Heavy, needs disconnect7% of local movers9% nationallyTop pick: InNout Movers (TX) | $616 - $1,896 |
| Wine collection | Climate-controlled transport | $284 - $14,220+ |
| Pet relocation | Ground, air, or concierge | $284 - $3,318+ |
What are the best full-service movers from Garland 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.
Good to know: For moves over 500 miles, national movers are consistently lower-priced than local companies in Garland, TX. Van lines spread long-haul costs across multiple shipments, while local movers tend to charge 30% - 40% more for the same distance. A direct route with a local mover averages 2-day delivery, but that added speed typically carries a higher price tag.
Moving container costs from Garland, TX to Des Moines, IA
Moving containers from Garland, Texas, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,042 and $3,459. 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 Garland costs roughly $80/month if you need it.
Take a look at moving container pricing by home size from Garland to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,042 - $1,833
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,259 - $2,488
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,720 - $3,459
What other costs come with moving containers?
- Storage: Small containers (7 - 8 feet) run about $71 per month after the initial period, while larger units (12 - 16 feet) cost around $142 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 $664 in Garland, TX. 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 Texas 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 $1,042. Underestimating how much you have and needing an extra container means paying for another one, so getting your count right upfront saves you from a costly surprise. For reference, a 2 - 3 bedroom home typically runs $1,259 - $2,488.
What are the best moving containers Garland 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 Garland 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 Garland:
- Fantastic Moves (4.6/5), 31 years in business
- AB Moving (4.5/5), 26 years in business
- Evolution Moving Company (4.9/5), 12 years in business
Moving truck rental costs from Garland, TX to Des Moines, IA
Truck rentals from Garland, Texas, to Des Moines, Iowa, range from $510 - $1,307 for the 690-mile drive. You handle the loading, driving, and unloading yourself, plus these extra costs:
- Fuel for the drive: $208 - $238
- Daily insurance: $28/day
- Equipment rentals: $7 - $19
- Garland daily rental rate: $19 - $39
- Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $0.59 - $0.79
| 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 Garland to Des Moines based on home size:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $510 - $946
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $545 - $1,134
- 4+ bedrooms: $687 - $1,307
Pro tip: Truck rental pricing for a move from Garland to Des Moines starts at $510 - $1,307, but that number does not tell the whole story. Fuel ($208 - $238), overnight lodging ($142/night), meals, and equipment rentals are all separate. Plan for roughly $600 - $1,200 more on top of fuel and lodging to cover meals, equipment, and other extras.
What other costs come with rental trucks?
- Moving labor: Rental trucks don't come with loaders. Hiring 2 movers in Garland, Texas, for roughly 5 hours usually costs about $664.
- Gas: Fuel costs total $208 - $238 for the 690-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 $57 and $308, depending on what you need.
- Additional insurance: Daily coverage upgrades typically add around $30.
- Lodging: Budget around $142 per night for hotel stops on the 690-mile drive. With 2 - 3 overnight stops, total lodging typically costs $284 - $427.
What are the best moving truck rentals from Garland 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 Garland, TX 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 Garland, Texas, 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. A 2 - 3 bedroom long-distance move using this method runs roughly between $1,039 and $1,970.
Take a look at freight trailer costs based on home size for moves from Garland to Des Moines:
- Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $956 - $1,650
- 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,039 - $1,970
- 4+ bedrooms: $1,348 - $2,768
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?
- 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 $71 - $142 more per foot.
- Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Garland, Texas, for about five hours typically runs $664.
What are the best freight companies from Garland to Des Moines?
- 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.
- 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.
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: Garland, TX vs Des Moines, IA
Day-to-day costs in Des Moines are close to what you're used to in Garland: cost of living index of 87 versus 100, with average rent of $1,150/mo compared to $1,624/mo. With an index gap that small, budgeting for this move mostly comes down to the moving costs above rather than a shift in your monthly expenses. For reference, walkability and safety scores are 40/100 and 62.87/100 in Garland versus 45/100 and 57.8/100 in Des Moines.
Moving the reverse route? We've got you covered with our Des Moines, IA to Garland, TX guide.
Why moveBuddha is the smarter way to find a mover:
Over the last 3 months, moveBuddha has processed 10 real quotes from Texas to Iowa, so we know current pricing better than most. Checking our moving cost calculator before you talk to movers helps you avoid low-ball or inflated estimates. Texas alone has 843 movers in our database, worth knowing for a 690-mile move like this one.
Our take
How you handle your interstate move from Garland, TX, to Des Moines, IA, comes down to your budget and how much time and work you're able to put into it. Hands-off relocations handled by full-service movers range from $1,509 - $8,042 on the 690-mile route and handle everything. Moving containers from PODS or U-Pack run $1,042 - $3,459 and put you in charge of loading. Rental trucks from Budget or U-Haul are the lowest-cost option at $510 - $1,307 with you handling everything. For full-service moves, Safeway Moving is our top pick, starting around $2,231 for a 2-bedroom move with 30 days of free storage and 24/7 live support.
Worth knowing beyond the move itself: Major employers in the area include MercyOne and Principal Financial Group.
FAQs: Moving from Garland, TX, to Des Moines, IA
What are some tips for saving money on a move from Garland, TX 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.
How much does it cost to move from Garland, TX to Des Moines, IA?
Costs on this route range from around $510 to $8,042, depending on your home size and which service you choose. Full-service movers typically fall between $1,509 and $8,042, while DIY options like rental trucks and containers come in lower. Moving during peak season (May - September) tends to push prices higher across the board.
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 40 and 41 in Garland. If you're used to getting around on foot or by bike, this is worth factoring into which neighborhood you pick.
What extra costs come with a truck rental on this route?
The base rate only covers the vehicle. Expect to add fuel ($208 - $238), daily insurance ($28/day), and equipment rentals ($7 - $19) on top. Overnight stops can add another $142/night for lodging if your drive spans more than a day.
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 Garland movers handle specialty items like pianos or antiques?
About 40% of movers in Garland handle piano moves, and 24% handle antiques and fine art, compared to 41% and 26% nationally.