Des Moines, IA Moving Costs 2026
Des Moines local moving costs sit below the national average, steady inbound relocation into the insurance and finance economy keeps demand consistent, but a competitive mover market holds hourly pricing down.
Typical local move, 2-bedroom home
$825–$1,225
2-mover crew
$117/hr
3-mover crew
$175/hr
4-mover crew
$233/hr
Truck included · how we calculate
Des Moines hourly moving rates
| Crew size | Rate / hour | Typical for |
|---|---|---|
| 2 movers | $117 | Studio – 1BR |
| 3 movers | $175 | 2BR – 3BR |
| 4 movers | $233 | 4BR+ |
Local move cost by home size
| Home size | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $300 | $375 | $475 |
| 1 Bedroom | $425 | $525 | $625 |
| 2 Bedroom | $825 | $1,000 | $1,225 |
| 3 Bedroom | $1,125 | $1,375 | $1,700 |
| 4 Bedroom | $1,800 | $2,200 | $2,700 |
| 5+ Bedroom | $2,200 | $2,700 | $3,300 |
What makes Des Moines cost less
A local move is crew hours, so the question is always what the housing here does to those hours. Most Des Moines housing offers driveway and garage access, and the metro's compact footprint keeps drive time short. Older Sherman Hill and Beaverdale homes add porch steps and full basements.
Net of all that, Des Moines prices 6% below the national average. The same 2-bedroom local move that typically costs $1,075 nationally runs $1,000 in Des Moines, a difference of $75 less.
Who is moving in Des Moines, and when
Insurance and financial-services headquarters anchor the market, drawing steady professional relocation from Chicago and the coasts, with heavy suburban churn toward West Des Moines and Ankeny.
May through September is the practical moving season, with the tightest weeks at the end of July and August; winter weekdays are cheapest.
Moving from Des Moines to nearby metros
The closest markets we publish rates for, with the real road distance from Des Moines and what a 3-bedroom household costs over exactly that distance. Anything under about 50 miles is still priced as a local, hourly job; past that, per-mile transport starts stacking on top of the crew hours.
| Corridor | Distance | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines to Omaha, NE | 144 mi | $2,175 | $1,775–$2,650 |
| Des Moines to Kansas City, MO | 212 mi | $2,425 | $2,000–$2,950 |
| Des Moines to Sioux Falls, SD | 246 mi | $2,575 | $2,100–$3,150 |
| Des Moines to Minneapolis, MN | 277 mi | $2,675 | $2,200–$3,275 |
Get your exact Des Moines quote
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Des Moines moving cost FAQ
In 2026, Des Moines movers charge about $117/hour for a 2-mover crew, $175/hour for 3 movers, and $233/hour for 4, truck included.
Typical Des Moines local moves run $300–$475 for a studio up to $2,200–$3,300 for a large house.
Most Des Moines housing offers driveway and garage access, and the metro's compact footprint keeps drive time short. Older Sherman Hill and Beaverdale homes add porch steps and full basements. That is why Des Moines sits 6% below the national average: a typical 2-bedroom local move runs $1,000 here versus $1,075 nationally, a difference of $75.
Insurance and financial-services headquarters anchor the market, drawing steady professional relocation from Chicago and the coasts, with heavy suburban churn toward West Des Moines and Ankeny.
May through September is the practical moving season, with the tightest weeks at the end of July and August; winter weekdays are cheapest.
Des Moines to Omaha is roughly 144 miles. A 3-bedroom household on that corridor runs about $1,775–$2,650 off-peak, typically $2,175.
Moving across Iowa
See statewide costs, every city we cover, and popular routes in and out on the moving to Iowa hub.
Price Des Moines by home size and square footage
The table above is priced by bedroom count. If you know your home's finished square footage instead, the cost by square footage guide converts sq ft to a planning weight and a price. To sanity-check a written bid from a national brand against these figures, see how the major moving companies set their rates.