Iowa Moving Costs
Moving costs in Iowa: local movers average $1,000 – $1,257 for a 2BR home (1,587 sq ft median). 26ft truck rental averages $1,592. Mover prices from the Move-Price pricing engine, truck prices from U-Haul rates, home sizes from Realtor.com, and migration from Census ACS and IRS data.
Professional Movers
Local 2BR Move
$1,000
– $1,257
Truck Rental — DIY
26ft U-Haul (one-way)
Best Months
May, September
lowest prices
Inbound rank and net migration rate: IRS SOI U.S. Population Migration Data, 2022–2023
How We Calculate Iowa Moving Costs
Every number on this page is derived from public government datasets and our real-world pricing engine — not surveys or guesses. Here is exactly where each figure comes from.
Where Iowa Movers Go
Census ACS 2016–2020 County-to-County FlowsHome Size & Move Volume
Realtor.com Inventory Data · March 2026All-home median size
Active listings, all property types
2BR estimated size
1,587 × 0.62 ratio
2BR move volume
984 sqft × 0.652 CF/sqft (AMSA density)
Avg move distance
Weighted by Census county-to-county moves
AMSA standard: 5,000 lbs ÷ 7 lbs/ft³ = 700 ft³ national anchor, scaled by state home size. A 641 ft³ load fits in a 20ft truck (~1,015 ft³ capacity).
Truck Price Methodology
Move-Price Pricing Engine
Rates from sampled U-Haul quotes (2024–2025), by distance and truck size
Under 50 miles: U-Haul in-town rate (base fee + per-mile charge)
50 miles and over: one-way rate, interpolated between quoted distances
Fuel, tolls, and seasonal or route-demand swings are not included — actual quotes vary by date and route
Iowa demand level: Low Demand (IRS net rate: -0.06%)
Cost at Derived Average Move Distance (144 miles)
Weighted average of the three kinds of move: 57.1% within the same county × 12 mi + 25.7% to another county × 77 mi + 17.2% to another state × 684 mi. How this is calculated
Truck Rental — DIY
10ft
$250
Studio
15ft
$319
1–2 Bedrooms
26ft
$479
3–4 Bedrooms
Professional Movers
2BR Local Move
$1,000
– $1,257
Full-service, labor included
Popular Routes from Des Moines, IA
Routes ranked by ACS 2022 out-migration volume. Prices from our pricing engine.
| Destination | Miles | 10ft (Studio) | 15ft (1–2BR) | 26ft (2–4BR) | Save vs. Movers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chicago, IL | 330 | $473 | $519 | $779 | Save $1,274 |
Best ValueMinneapolis, MN | 245 | $334 | $395 | $591 | Save $1,085 |
Dallas, TX | 870 | $1,082 | $1,142 | $1,823 | Save $4,555 |
Movers vs. DIY Truck — Which Is Cheaper?
Prices below are for the first popular route from Des Moines. Use our calculator below for your specific ZIP codes.
DIY Truck Rental
You drive, you save
* Prices: Des Moines → Chicago (330 mi)
Professional Movers
They handle everything
Get Your Iowa Moving Quote
Enter your ZIP codes for a real-time estimate — truck rental, movers, fuel, and tolls.
Moving Cost Calculator (Real Prices)
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How much does moving cost in the US?
The average moving cost in the US ranges from $800 to $5,000 depending on distance, home size, and services. For very small or minimal moves, costs can start as low as around $300 for local short-distance relocations or basic labor-only help.
Compare moving costs across cities nationwide
How Consolidated Moving Costs Are Calculated
Long-distance consolidated moving costs are typically based on the total cubic feet (ft³) your items occupy in the truck, not weight. Each item is assigned an average volume using standard moving inventory estimates, then multiplied by a per cubic foot rate.
Consolidated Moving Cost Table (Long Distance)
| Item | Cubic Feet (ft³) | Avg Rate ($/ft³) | Total Cost ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Box | 1.5 | $5.50 | $8.25 |
| Medium Box | 3.0 | $5.50 | $16.50 |
| Large Box | 5.0 | $5.50 | $27.50 |
| Wardrobe Box | 15.0 | $5.50 | $82.50 |
| Dresser | 30.0 | $5.50 | $165.00 |
| Queen Mattress | 60.0 | $5.50 | $330.00 |
| Sofa (3-seat) | 60.0 | $5.50 | $330.00 |
| Loveseat | 35.0 | $5.50 | $192.50 |
| Coffee Table | 10.0 | $5.50 | $55.00 |
| Dining Table | 30.0 | $5.50 | $165.00 |
| Bookshelf | 20.0 | $5.50 | $110.00 |
| Desk | 25.0 | $5.50 | $137.50 |
| Office Chair | 10.0 | $5.50 | $55.00 |
| Washing Machine | 30.0 | $5.50 | $165.00 |
| Refrigerator | 60.0 | $5.50 | $330.00 |
| Bicycle | 10.0 | $5.50 | $55.00 |
Moving Costs by City in Iowa
Truck prices: U-Haul in-town rates for a local move (~25 mi). Mover range is the Move-Price pricing engine estimate for a 2BR local move.
| City | Truck 10ft (Studio) | Truck 15ft (1–2BR) | Truck 26ft (3–4BR) | Movers (2BR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Des MoinesLargest City | $65 | $75 | $100 | $1,000 – $1,257 |
Cedar Rapids | $65 | $75 | $100 | $1,000 – $1,257 |
Davenport | $65 | $75 | $100 | $1,000 – $1,257 |
Truck prices: U-Haul 26ft one-way. Intrastate: 77 mi avg within Iowa. Weighted avg: 144 mi (all move types). Interstate: 684 mi avg to another state.
Get your exact quoteIowa Moving Tips
IA winter moves need de-icing products for walkways
Corn harvest season (Sept–Oct) can slow rural road access
IA is a hidden gem for affordable movers — well below national average
Best & Worst Times to Move in Iowa
Best months (lowest prices)
Avoid these months (peak prices)
How Much Does It Cost to Move to or from Iowa? (2025)
Moving costs in Iowa depend on home size, distance, and whether you hire professional movers or rent a truck yourself. For a typical 2-bedroom home in Des Moines, local professional movers charge between $1,000 – $1,257. Long-distance moves from Iowa average $4,615 – $6,154. A 26ft U-Haul one-way rental averages $1,592 (684-mile avg distance).
The median listed home size in Iowa is 1,587 square feet according to Realtor.com inventory data (March 2026). A 2-bedroom home is typically 62% of the all-home median — approximately 984 square feet in Iowa. Move volume is calculated using the AMSA (American Moving & Storage Association) industry standard: a 2-bedroom home averages 5,000 lbs of household goods, which at 7 lbs per cubic foot of truck space equals 700 ft³ nationally. This is scaled proportionally by Iowa's home size relative to the national median, giving approximately 641 cubic feet — fitting comfortably in a 20ft truck (~1,015 ft³ capacity) for most 2BR loads.
According to Census ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county migration flows, 57.1% of Iowa movers stay within the same county, 25.7% move to a different county within the state, and 17.2% move out of state. Weighting these shares by the average distance of each kind of move — measured between county population centers — gives a derived average move distance of 144 miles for Iowa residents.
IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) migration data for 2022–23 ranks Iowa #29 of 50 states for net inbound migration, with a net rate of -0.06%. The most common out-of-state destinations from Iowa are IL, MN, TX (ACS flow data).
For long-distance moves from Iowa, truck prices for the most popular routes range from $591 to $1,823 for a 26ft U-Haul. Professional movers for the same routes range from $1,676 to $7,973.
The best months to move in Iowa are May, September, October, when demand is lower and you can save 20–35% compared to peak summer rates. Avoid December and January — this is when mover availability is lowest and both truck and labor prices peak.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much do movers cost in Iowa?
How much is a moving truck rental in Iowa?
What is the cheapest time to move in Iowa?
What is the average home size in Iowa?
Data Sources & Methodology
Migration mobility %
Census ACS 2016–2020 County-to-County Migration Flows (movers within county / to another county / to another state)
View sourceInbound rank & net rate
IRS Statistics of Income — U.S. Population Migration Data 2022–2023 (net domestic migration ÷ filing population)
View sourceAvg move distance
Census county-to-county flows weighted by distance between 2020 county population centers (× 1.2 road factor); same-county moves use √(avg county land area) ÷ 2
View sourceCubic feet estimate
AMSA household weights (5,000 lbs for a 2BR ÷ 7 lbs/ft³ = 700 ft³), scaled by the state’s median home size
View sourceTruck rental prices
U-Haul rates — sampled 2024–2025 quotes, in-town rate under 50 miles and one-way table (interpolated by distance) above
View sourceMover cost ranges
Move-Price pricing engine — estimated volume × per-cubic-foot rate (plus mileage under 500 miles)
View source