The BEST Moving Companies in Des Moines, IA
Quick answer: Our top pick for local moves in Des Moines, IA, is Two Men and a Truck, thanks to their reputation for quality customer service.. If you’re moving out of Iowa to another state, we recommend Safeway Moving in terms of overall value.
- Best Des Moines-based mover: Two Men and a Truck
- Best interstate mover: Safeway Moving
- Best moving container: PODS
- Best labor-only mover: HireAHelper
- Best rental truck: U-Haul Truck Rental
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Our track record
Each year, 400,000+ people trust our moving recommendations. Here are a few reasons why:
- Founded in 2015
- 2,500+ moving companies analyzed
- $50,000 in moving & auto transport grants delivered
- Up-to-date pricing info & industry data
- Fact-checked for accuracy
Best movers for those moving locally in Des Moines, IA
- Two Men and a Truck: 4.72 out of 5 stars
- Black Belt Movers: 4.52 out of 5 stars
- College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving: 4.42 out of 5 stars
- Adamantine Spine Moving: 4.38 out of 5 stars
- All Mighty Movers LLC: 4.38 out of 5 stars
- Efficient service (34%)
- Professional and polite staff (31%)
- Careful handling (28%)
- Damage to items (25%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (20%)
- Unexpected charges (18%)
Company Info
Years in Business: 27
DOT #: 2527384
Two Men and a Truck, a reputable moving company in Urbandale, IA, has been providing local residential moving services since 1998. Renowned for their packing, unpacking, and labor-only services, they stand out by requiring no deposit and accepting credit cards, adding convenience for their clients. With an impressive average rating of 4.6 on Google from over 500 reviews and a BBB rating of A+, they excel in customer satisfaction compared to other nearby movers. Their proven track record makes them a trusted choice for local moves.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Pianos
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
- Professional and polite staff (37%)
- Efficient service (32%)
- Careful handling (30%)
- Damage to items (20%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (15%)
- Unexpected charges (12%)
Company Info
Years in Business: 7
DOT #: 2378173
College Hunks Hauling Junk & Moving, serving Clive, IA since 2018, specializes in local residential moves and stands out from other nearby movers with their comprehensive packing, unpacking, and labor-only services. They also cater to office moving needs, making them a versatile choice. While their Yelp reviews average 3.2 from 14 ratings, their astounding 4.8 out of 1452 Google reviews suggest a generally positive customer experience. Additionally, they accept credit cards and do not require a deposit, offering convenience and flexibility. Despite their F rating from the BBB, their extensive positive feedback on Google indicates a largely satisfactory service.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Storage
- Pay by credit card
- Efficient service (37%)
- Professional and polite staff (35%)
- Good communication (30%)
- Unexpected charges (18%)
- Minor damages to items (15%)
- Delayed arrival or delivery (12%)
Company Info
Pricing: $100/hr
Years in Business: 25
DOT #: 1471037
Adamantine Spine Moving, a trusted local moving company serving Des Moines, IA, has been a reliable choice for residential moves since 2000. With a remarkable average rating of 4.6 on Yelp and a perfect 5.0 on Google, it consistently outshines other nearby movers. Renowned for its A+ BBB rating, the company offers comprehensive services including packing, crating, and the careful handling of pianos, art, and antiques. Charging $100 per hour for local moves, Adamantine Spine Moving accepts cash, credit cards, and money orders, ensuring flexible payment options for their clients.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- International moves
- Packing
- Unpacking
- Offices
- Pianos
- Art
- Antiques
- Grandfather clocks
- Crating
- Full-valuation coverage
- Storage
- Safes
- Pay by money order
- Pay by cash
- Pay by credit card
- Deposit Required
- Efficient service (44%)
- Professional and polite staff (40%)
- Good communication (36%)
- Unexpected charges (36%)
- Lack of communication (32%)
- Damage to items (28%)
Company Info
Pricing: $130/hr
Years in Business: 10
DOT #: 2468266
All Mighty Movers LLC, a trusted local moving company serving Des Moines, IA, has been providing top-notch residential moving services since 2015. Unlike many other local movers, All Mighty Movers stands out with their ability to handle challenging items like pianos, hot tubs, and pool tables. Their consumer reviews reflect their reputation: they boast an impressive 4.8 average rating on Google with 455 reviews and maintain an A rating from the Better Business Bureau. With competitive rates at $130 per hour and convenient payment options including credit cards, All Mighty Movers offers reliable and professional services without requiring a deposit.
Services Offered
- Local moves
- Interstate moves
- Offices
- Pianos
- Hot Tubs
- Pool Tables
- Safes
- Pay by credit card
Best movers for those moving out of Iowa
As you may guess, interstate — or out-of-state — moves are those that cross state lines. Movers must meet certain federal licensing requirements and standards to handle interstate moves. Consider one of these highly rated, fully licensed interstate moving companies if you’re leaving Iowa for a new state:
- Safeway Moving: 4.85 out of 5 stars
- Mayzlin Relocation: 4.9 out of 5 stars
- BLVD Moving: 4.25 out of 5 stars
- PODS: 4.8 out of 5 stars
- American Van Lines: 4.5 out of 5 stars
- GPS tracking en route
- Veteran-owned
- Dedicated move coordinator
- Flat-rate pricing
- Donates a portion of moves to charity
- Family-owned, with locations covering the East Coast
- Full refund if you cancel within 7 days of your move
- Hands-on customer service
- 24/7 support
- Price-matching policy
- Family owned & operated
- Affordable pricing
- Binding estimates
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Experienced & fully trained moving crews
- Specializes in moving art & antiques
- Competitive pricing
- Can handle last-minute moves
- Climate-controlled storage
Best moving containers in Des Moines, IA
Moving containers offer a hybrid DIY solution that falls somewhere between a full-service moving company and a rental truck. With moving containers, you won’t have the help of a moving crew (you’ll have to do the loading and unloading) but you will get the benefit of a professional driver — a perk that doesn’t come with renting a truck.
Container costs in Des Moines vary depending on how many containers you need and how far you’re moving. Be sure to get moving quotes from multiple companies so you can best compare prices and services.
We recommend starting with these two top-tier moving container companies:
- 30 days storage included
- Local and long distance moving options
- Unlimited loading/unloading time
- Store on property or at a facility
- Long distance moves only
- Only pay for the space you use
- No deposit or initial fees
- Fast delivery time frames
Best rental trucks for your Des Moines, IA move
If you’re looking for the cheapest way to move out of state or locally in Des Moines, a moving truck rental is your best option. On average, a truck rental in Iowa costs a base rate of $19–$39 a day and a fee of $0.69–$1.19 per mile.
While you’ll certainly save money by renting a truck rather than hiring full-service movers or using a moving container, you will ultimately be responsible for every aspect of your move — including the driving.
We recommend these top truck rental companies for a full DIY move:
- More than 20,000 locations with prominent pricing
- Rental options include everything from pick-up trucks to 26-foot moving trucks
- Gentle-Ride Suspension add protection to avoid damaging your items during transit
- U-Box moving containers available if you don't want to drive
- Limits environmental impact as part of the EPA's SmartWay Program
- Non-slip flooring makes loading and unloading easier
- Easily choose truck size with their Truck Wizard Tool
Labor-only movers in Des Moines, IA
Labor-only companies can be helpful if you are using a moving container or rental truck but still want some assistance with the heavy lifting. A labor-only mover will provide you with a moving crew to load and unload your items, and you can also pay for additional packing support, as well as disassembly and reassembly of furniture, fitness equipment, and electronics.
Check out our picks for labor-only companies in Des Moines:
- First call quoting, get a quote in just a couple of minutes
- Rates are typically 20-40% lower than the industry averages
- $1,000 money-back service guarantee
- Fast and accurate delivery times
- Free damage coverage with additional coverage options
- Quick and easy booking process
- National 4.75/5 star rating (these guys are good at what they do)
- Dedicated move concierge specialist
- Pay as you go service. 2-hour minimum and then prorated down to the minute
- The time clock starts when the movers arrive and ends when you tell them
Top-rated movers in nearby cities
How we chose the best movers in Des Moines
moveBuddha’s expert team analyzed moving rates from 26 Iowa movers and listed the top five best movers based on customer satisfaction, reviews, and cost.
Customer satisfaction (40%): The company consistently delivers services in a timely matter with good communication and within the estimated cost.
Dispute resolution (20%): Mistakes cannot be avoided in the moving industry. We look for companies that own their mistakes and make genuine efforts to fix any issues that arise during a move.
Industry reputation (15%): The company is well-regarded within the moving industry and participates in industry conferences and organizations.
Online reputation (15%): The company maintains a professional website with accurate information. The company promptly and professionally responds to online customer inquiries.
Service options (10%): We look for companies with a deep breadth of services including full packing, storage, specialty item handling, and expedited delivery.
Here is our full moving company rating methodology.
How do I find a reputable Des Moines mover?
If you’re looking for the best movers in Des Moines, here’s what you should look for:
- A good reputation: Whether they’re a new family-owned business in Des Moines or a large van lines company with years of experience operating all over Iowa, a good reputation is absolutely essential. Watch out for red flags and common moving scams.
- Look into dispute resolution: All businesses may have some hiccups, but it's how they handle these incidents that shows the company’s true colors. If a mover in Des Moines has a history of unresolved customer complaints, it might be best to look elsewhere.
- Ensure experience aligns with your move: A mover with excellent reviews for local moves in Des Moines may not be the best interstate moving company. Verify that the company has adequate experience with the type of move you're planning.
- Get multiple estimates: Reputable Des Moines movers should provide a free estimate for your move. Getting moving quotes from multiple companies will give you a good idea of a fair price for the services you need.
Fortunately, the Des Moines movers on this list all pass this checklist with flying colors and have been hand selected by our experts at moveBuddha.
If you want to broaden your search to the whole state, check out the best moving companies in Iowa.
Average cost of movers in Des Moines, Iowa
The pricing table below shows ballpark costs for local moves within the Des Moines area and its surrounding suburbs. Or check out our post on the cost to move in Iowa for more pricing info.
Keep in mind the price ranges listed are only averages. Actual costs can vary greatly depending on the specific requirements of your move.
You can also check out our moving cost calculator for more accurate moving cost estimate.
Local moving costs in Des Moines
If you’re moving within 50 miles of Des Moines, it’s considered a local move. The cost of a rental truck combines a base fee and the mileage fees. In Des Moines, the base fee ranges from $19 to $39 while the mileage ranges from $0.69 per mile to $1.19 per mile.
And if you’re looking for some labor help, the average cost for movers in Des Moines is $142 per hour.
| Home Size | Avg. Total Cost | Cost/hour | # of Movers | # Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $898 | $198 | 2 movers | 3 hours |
| 1 Bedroom | $1,096 | $198 | 2 movers | 4 hours |
| 2 Bedroom | $1,534 | $278 | 3 movers | 5 hours |
| 3 Bedroom | $3,034 | $389 | 4 movers | 8 hours |
| 4 Bedroom | $3,423 | $389 | 4 movers | 9 hours |
| 5+ Bedroom | $5,060 | $545 | 5 movers | 10 hours |
Interstate moving costs out of Des Moines
The cost to move from Des Moines to a different state is determined by how much you’re moving and how far away the new state is from Iowa. Here are a few examples:
- Des Moines to California Movers: $1,086 to $7,395
- Des Moines to New York Movers: $753 to $5,868
- Des Moines to Illinois Movers: $319 to $4,638
- Des Moines to New York Movers: $753 to $5,868
Don’t see your new home state? Check out these popular moving routes.
Factors that affect the cost of your move
- Distance: Your moving costs in Des Moines will be determined in large part by where you are relocating. A local move within 50 miles of Des Moines will be less expensive than moving 450 miles across Iowa state lines.
- Move size: The more stuff you have, the more your move will cost, since moving companies determine price based on how large your truck and moving truck need to be. For long-distance and interstate relocations out of Des Moines, a moving company will base your price on the total estimated weight and volume of your belongings. Decluttering and downsizing to reduce those total measurements can help you keep costs down.
- Moving method: A full-service mover will likely be the most expensive option, and renting a truck will save you the most money. Just make sure you are factoring in services with pricing, so you don’t end up skimping on the help you need for your specific move just to cut costs.
- Additional services: No matter what kind of move you opt for, extra options like packing, labor, and comprehensive insurance will all come with added fees.
- The time of the year: Relocating during peak moving season (May–September) will cost you more because demand is higher and availability is lower. If possible, plan your move between October and April for a lower rate.
FAQs
Do I need to get a parking permit for local movers in Des Moines?
special parking permits are issued by the Traffic and Transportation Division of the Engineering Department and are intended to provide for services or needs of an infrequent or unique nature. Examples include utility work, constructions, special events, etc.
For more info on parking permits in Des Moines, visit the local DOT website.
How can I save money when hiring a Des Moines moving company?
You can save money when hiring a Des Moines mover by planning your moving date outside of peak season, which runs from May through September. Moving during the week and between October and April allows for the greatest savings.
There are other ways to negotiate your moving costs, including asking a company about any moving discounts or deals that may apply to you.
Do Des Moines movers offer storage?
Yes, many Des Moines movers offer short- and long-term storage options. Many moving companies operate their own storage facilities, but some may partner with a third-party warehouse. It's always worth asking about a mover’s storage options and getting estimates for the added cost.
If your Des Moines mover doesn’t offer storage — or you need services beyond what they can provide — reach out to at least three of the best self-storage companies to get an idea of the price of self-storage before choosing one.
How can I see all moving companies in Iowa?
You can see all moving companies in Iowa by taking a look at our full list of Iowa movers.
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