($1,061+) Tacoma, WA to Des Moines, IA Movers

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

A full-service interstate moving company handles everything on the 1,769-mile move from Tacoma, Washington, to Des Moines, Iowa, with prices running from $2,654 - $12,112. Professional packing of all your boxes adds $326 - $2,172 if you want a fully hands-off experience. Shipment weight and the distance between Tacoma and Des Moines are the two biggest drivers of your final price. Locally, Tacoma movers tend to run around $316 as a base rate plus $133/hour per mover, for comparison.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $2,654 - $6,074
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $3,570 - $8,088
• 4+ bedrooms: $7,002 - $12,112

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 Tacoma to Des Moines.

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

Specialty needs vary by market — 97% of Tacoma 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 Tacoma 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 Tacoma, WA to Des Moines, IA

Moving containers from Tacoma, Washington, to Des Moines, Iowa, cost between $1,558 and $5,583. A container is delivered to your home and you load it on your own time. Loading windows vary by company: U-Haul gives you 3 days and PODS gives you 30. From there, the company takes over and transports it to Des Moines. If you go over that window, storage in Tacoma adds around $110/month.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,558 - $2,941
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $2,013 - $3,911
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,750 - $5,583

What other costs come with moving containers?

• Storage: Monthly rental charges begin after the first 30 days. Expect roughly $81 per month for smaller containers (7 - 8 feet) and around $163 per month for larger units (12 - 16 feet).
• Moving labor: Containers don't come with loading help, so many customers hire hourly movers for the job. Two movers for about 5 hours will run you around $760 in Tacoma, WA, per moveBuddha data. Compare the best labor-only movers nationwide
• Added contents protection: Standard coverage only reimburses by weight. Full-value protection gives you more complete coverage for higher-value items and typically costs 1% - 2% of your total declared value, around $500 - $1,000 on a $50,000 shipment.
• Access: National providers generally operate in both cities, but verify that a facility near your Des Moines, IA, destination exists if you plan to access stored items.

What are the best moving containers Tacoma 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 Tacoma, WA to Des Moines, IA

Plan on $1,137 - $2,942 for a rental moving truck on the 1,769-mile route from Tacoma, Washington, to Des Moines, Iowa. The rental company provides nothing beyond the vehicle, so add:

• Fuel for the drive: $611 - $699
• Daily insurance: $33/day
• Equipment rentals: $8 - $22
• Tacoma daily rental rate: $19 - $39
• Per-mile fee beyond your free allowance: $1.09 - $1.89

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,137 - $2,061
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,114 - $2,602
• 4+ bedrooms: $1,537 - $2,942

What other costs come with rental trucks?

• Lodging: Overnight accommodations on longer drives average around $163 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 $71 and $353 to your total.
• Additional insurance: Daily protection upgrades typically add about $30.
• Gas: Plan on spending $611 - $699 in fuel for the 1,769-mile move, depending on your truck's fuel type.
• Moving labor: Hiring a crew instead of doing the loading yourself typically costs around $760 in Tacoma, Washington, for a 2-person crew and 5 hours of labor.

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

Freight trailers are well suited for larger moves from Tacoma, 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 $1,562 and $3,326.

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

• Studio apartment / 1 bedroom: $1,346 - $2,674
• 2 - 3 bedrooms: $1,562 - $3,326
• 4+ bedrooms: $2,156 - $4,599

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 $81 - $163 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 Tacoma, Washington, typically costs $760.

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

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Allstate Transport (4.76/5 stars): Allstate Transport is the best locally owned freight company on this list. Locally owned and operated facilities give you direct access to support staff who know the area and can coordinate pickups and deliveries with greater flexibility than national carriers.

Cost of living: Tacoma, 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 Tacoma 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.