($1,137+) Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA Movers

Full-service moving costs from Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,756-mile move from Seattle, Washington, to Des Moines, Iowa, with prices running from $2,846 - $11,506. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $389 - $2,592 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Seattle and Des Moines are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Seattle movers tend to run around $260 as a base rate plus $141/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,846 - $6,258
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,570 - $8,254
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,208 - $11,506

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 Seattle to Des Moines.

Specialty moving services from Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA

Specialty needs vary by market — 92% of Seattle 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 Seattle to Des Moines?

Iowa Motor Truck Association membership is a quick way to confirm a mover is legitimate in Iowa, on top of the picks below.

1. Safeway Moving (4.9/5 stars): Safeway Moving is the best overall value on this route. Flat-rate pricing means no surprise charges on moving day, and their support team is consistently rated among the most responsive in the industry.
2. American Van Lines (4.9/5 stars): American Van Lines is the most experienced mover here, 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, with fragile-only packing, 24/7 shipment monitoring, and an optional full-value protection plan that covers damage, loss, and breakage.

Moving container costs from Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Seattle, Washington, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,590 and $5,748. 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 Seattle typically runs around $120/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,590 - $3,088
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,054 - $4,034
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,805 - $5,748

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Access: Most major container brands operate in both Seattle, WA 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 $907 in Seattle, WA, according to moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Storage: Monthly container rental after the first 30 days averages $97 for small units (7 - 8 feet) and about $194 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 Seattle 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 Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA

Renting a moving truck for the 1,756-mile move from Seattle, Washington, to Des Moines, Iowa, costs between $1,126 and $3,032, before these typical add-ons:

• Fuel for the drive: $724 - $828
• Daily insurance: $39/day
• Equipment rentals: $9 - $26
• Seattle daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $1.19 - $1.39

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,126 - $2,145
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,196 - $2,503
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,404 - $3,032

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 $97 and $454.
• Lodging: An overnight stop typically averages around $194.
• Gas: Expect fuel to run between $724 and $828 for the 1,756-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 $907 for 2 movers in Seattle, Washington, for about 5 hours.
• Additional insurance: Damage protection plans generally add about $30 per day.

What are the best moving truck rentals from Seattle 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 Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Seattle, Washington, 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. Overall pricing for a move of this size and distance typically lands around $1,594 and $3,326.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,430 - $2,779
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,594 - $3,326
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,134 - $4,422

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 $97 - $194 more per foot.
• Moving labor: Freight trailers don't include loading crews. Two movers in Seattle, Washington, for about five hours typically runs $907.

What are the best freight companies from Seattle 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. Allstate Transport (4.76/5 stars): Allstate Transport 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: Seattle, WA 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 Seattle 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.