($915) Movers From Illinois to Des Moines, IA

Quick answer: Moving from Illinois to Des Moines, IA, costs $323 to $4,212 and takes one to four days. How much you’re moving, your move date, and whether you hire a company or do the move yourself will affect the overall cost of your 277-mile move.

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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
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  • Family owned
  • East coast focus
  • Affordable pricing
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  • Certified crews
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.8 / 5
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  • Unlimited storage
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
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  • 24/7 cust. service
  • Competitive rates
  • 10% discounts

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Moving the reverse route? We’ve got you covered with our moving from Des Moines, IA to Illinois guide.

The best Illinois to Des Moines, IA, full-service moving companies

Hiring an interstate moving company from Illinois to Des Moines is a big deal.

There are more than 8,000 moving companies in the U.S. But don’t worry, you won’t have to filter through all of them. We’ve done the research for you and narrowed the list based on customer satisfaction, cost, and services.

Here are the best long-distance moving companies serving Illinois to Des Moines.

Best Overall Value
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.85 / 5
(855) 650-0657
At A Glance
  • GPS tracking en route
  • Veteran-owned
  • Dedicated move coordinator
  • Flat-rate pricing
  • Donates a portion of moves to charity
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(855) 650-0657
Best for personalized service
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.9 / 5
(980) 217-6841
At A Glance
  • 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
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(980) 217-6841
Most Experienced Mover
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
(866) 835-2392
At A Glance
  • Experienced & fully trained moving crews
  • Specializes in moving art & antiques
  • Competitive pricing
  • Can handle last-minute moves
  • Climate-controlled storage
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(866) 835-2392
Best Nationwide Coverage
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.8 / 5
At A Glance
  • 30 days storage included
  • Local and long distance moving options
  • Unlimited loading/unloading time
  • Store on property or at a facility
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Best customer service
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.45 / 5
(855) 929-4120
At A Glance
  • 10% discount for veterans and seniors
  • Very competitive rates due to their national coverage
  • Services local, long-distance, and international moves
  • Can service most domestic moves within 48 hours
  • 24/7 customer service
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(855) 929-4120

Cost to hire professional movers from Illinois to Des Moinestoggle

Hiring movers for a studio apartment or one-bedroom home from Illinois to Des Moines will cost between $915 to $2,783. The cost to move a two- to three-bedroom home from Illinois to Des Moines will range from $1,568 to $4,212, and a large move from Illinois to Des Moines will cost from $2,081 to $5,692.

The best moving containers for your Illinois to Des Moines move

If you want a budget-friendly move without driving a rental truck, moving containers are a great middle-ground option. You handle the packing and loading, while the company takes care of transportation.

Many providers also offer storage options, giving you extra flexibility if your new home isn’t ready yet. It’s an easy way to move at your own pace while skipping the hassle of long-distance driving.

Here are our moving container companies in Illinois, that can get your belongings safely to your new home in Des Moines, IA:

Best Nationwide Coverage
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.8 / 5
At A Glance
  • 30 days storage included
  • Local and long distance moving options
  • Unlimited loading/unloading time
  • Store on property or at a facility
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Best value container
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 5 / 5
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At A Glance
  • Long distance moves only
  • Only pay for the space you use
  • No deposit or initial fees
  • Fast delivery time frames
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best for large moves
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices (352) 322-2920
At A Glance
  • Combines affordability of DIY moving with convenience of a truck and driver
  • Only pay for the truck space you use
  • Offers vehicle shipping
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Check prices (352) 322-2920

Cost of moving containers from Illinois to Des Moinestoggle

Moving containers from Illinois to Des Moines will cost you $607 to $1,419 for a small move. For a two- to three-bedroom move, moving containers can cost $1,046 to $2,171. A four-bedroom move or bigger will cost $1,438 to $2,510.

Here are the cheapest moving containers for your move to Des Moines.

The best moving truck rentals for your Illinois to Des Moines move

If you don’t mind a little DIY, renting a moving truck is the most affordable way to relocate to Illinois to Des Moines. You’ll have to handle the packing, loading, and driving — but the upside is you control the timeline from start to finish.

Check out these top-rated truck rental companies in Illinois:

Best Value Rental
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
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At A Glance
  • Competitive base prices with specialized discounts
  • Round-trip and one-way moves available
  • User-friendly website makes it easy to book the right truck
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Best Availability
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.15 / 5
Check prices (800) 468-4285
At A Glance
  • 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
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Check prices (800) 468-4285

Cost of moving truck rentals from Illinois to Des Moinestoggle

A moving rental truck is generally the cheapest option for moving from Illinois to Des Moines, but it requires you to do all of the driving and labor.

Moving a studio or one-bedroom apartment in a rental truck will cost around $304 to $527. A larger move will cost $323 to $683, and a four-bedroom or more move from Illinois to Des Moines costs from $388 to $823. These estimates include the estimated fuel cost.

These are the cheapest rental truck companies for your move from Illinois

The best hourly movers for your Illinois to Des Moines move

Labor-only movers are a great option if you’ve already arranged transportation for your move to Des Moines, IA, but want to avoid the strain of moving bulky furniture and heavy boxes on your own.

A moving labor company will provide you with a professional moving crew with enough members to match your move size. They’ll load your items into your moving container or rental truck and you’ll pay them by the hour for their assistance.

We recommend using one of these labor-only moving companies in Illinois to make your move faster and easier:

Best Labor Only
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.5 / 5
Check prices Visit Website
At A Glance
  • 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
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Best customer experience
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moveBuddha logo iconrating starstarstarstarstar 4.3 / 5
(866) 774-5063
At A Glance
  • 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
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(866) 774-5063

How much does it cost to move from Illinois to Des Moines, IA?

The table below lays out average cost ranges to move from Illinois to Des Moines for different moving services depending on the size of your home.

Hiring a professional Illinois moving company will be on the more expensive side, while renting a truck or a moving container is usually cheaper but requires more work.

Size of the Move Moving Company Moving Container Rental Truck
Studio / 1 Bedroom $915 - $2,783 $607 - $1,419 $304 - $527
2 - 3 bedrooms $1,568 - $4,212 $1,046 - $2,171 $323 - $683
4+ bedrooms $2,081 - $5,692 $1,438 - $2,510 $388 - $823

*These price ranges are a rough estimate based on 277 miles and historical averages. The actual size of your move, additional services required, truck parking access, market conditions, and availability can greatly affect the final cost of your move.

The cost to move from Illinois to Des Moines, IA, will depend on:

  • Move size: The amount of items you have — as well as your home size and layout — will impact the total cost of your relocation.
  • Time of year: Summer is peak moving season in Illinois, so moving companies will likely charge more.
  • DIY vs. professional mover: DIY moving services are usually cheaper but involve more work and stress compared to letting the pros handle your move.

Use our moveBuddha moving cost calculator to get a more accurate estimate for your moving costs.

Things to know before moving from Illinois to Des Moines, IA

Cost of living: Illinois vs Des Moines, IA

Illinois Des Moines
Average rent cost $1,179 $1,150
Average home value $249,224 $192,347
Average income (per capita) $78,433 $58,492
Unemployment rate 5% 6%
State income tax 5% 4%
  • Rent is about 2% less expensive in Des Moines than in Illinois.
  • Home prices are about 23% lower in Des Moines than in Illinois.
  • The average income is about 25% lower in Des Moines than in Illinois.
  • Des Moines has a higher unemployment rate than Illinois by about 11%.
  • Income taxes are 11% lower in Des Moines than in Illinois.

How life is different in Des Moines from Illinois

Des Moines Illinois
Population 699,292 12,549,689
Political leaning Democratic 57-41 Democratic 55-45
Summer high 86ºF 86ºF
Winter low 13ºF 17ºF
Annual rain 36" 40"
Annual snow 33" 22"
Crime index 5.0 19.7
  • The population of Des Moines is approximately 94% lower than the population of Illinois.
  • In the last presidential election, Des Moines voted Democratic and Illinois voted Democratic.
  • The average high in the summertime in Des Moines is 86ºF and in Illinois, it’s 86ºF.
  • During the coldest part of the year, Des Moines reaches the temperature of 13ºF and Illinois gets down to 17ºF.
  • You can expect about 36 inches of annual rainfall in Des Moines vs 40 inches of rainfall in Illinois.
  • In Des Moines, it snows about 33 inches annually vs 22 inches of snow in Illinois.
  • Des Moines has a lower crime rate than Illinois with a crime index of 19.7 vs 5.0.

Things to do in Des Moines

Whether you’re looking for parks, museums, sports, or even universities, you’ll be happy to find a plethora of these in Des Moines.

Museums in Des Moinestoggle

  • Des Moines Art Center
  • State Historical Museum
  • Science Center of Iowa
  • Salisbury House
  • World Food Prize Hall of Laureates
  • Wells Fargo Museum
  • Fort Des Moines Museum & Education Center
  • Polk County Heritage Gallery

Parks in Des Moinestoggle

  • Gray's Lake Park
  • Pappajohn Sculpture Park
  • Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden
  • Robert D. Ray Asian Gardens
  • Clive Greenbelt Trail
  • Des Moines River Trail
  • Rotary Riverwalk Park

Sports Teams in Des Moinestoggle

  • Drake Bulldogs

Universities in Des Moinestoggle

  • AIB College of Business
  • Mercy College of Health Sciences
  • Drake University
  • Grand View University
  • Vatterott College Des Moines

Other considerations when moving to Des Moines, IA

  • Weather: September, June and May are the most pleasant months in Des Moines, while January and December are the least comfortable months.
  • HOA rules: Check ahead with any neighborhood or community rules on moving to ensure a smooth move.
  • Elevator reservation: One common and important example of something that should be handled ahead of time is reserving the building's elevator and finding out their rules for using the elevator.
  • Parking permits: Some cities require parking permits for large vehicles, find out ahead of time with your new local rules.
  • State licensing: When moving within Iowa, make sure to hire a company that is licensed by the Iowa Department of Transportation. Each household goods mover in the state should have an Iowa Motor Carrier (IOWAMC) Number, which means they’ve met minimum insurance and highway safety requirements. Make sure the moving company you use has a license before hiring.
  • State regulator: You can verify a Iowa moving license and its status on the state regulator's official website.
  • Moving permits: Iowa does not require any moving permits, but it is helpful to check local parking restrictions before moving into the state.
  • Change of address: We recommend submitting your change of address form with USPS at least a week prior to your move. You can set an official move date on the form and this way all of your mail will get properly forwarded to Iowa. Get started here.
  • Mover's insurance: Every state has their own requirements when it comes to insurance. Choose cost-free Released Value Protection from movers for basic coverage at 60 cents per pound.
  • Moving checklist: Peace of mind is priceless. Our moving checklist will help you know you’ve got everything covered.

FAQ

How long does a move from Illinois to Des Moines take?

The time frame for a move from Illinois to Des Moines, IA, varies based on your moving method and starting location. The actual loading up of your items should not take more than a day, even with DIY moves.

Obviously, the further upstate you are in Illinois, the longer the drive time to Des Moines will be. If you’re driving a rental truck, the move could be completed in one or two days, on average, depending on your route and how often you stop.

With professional movers or moving containers, delivery times to Des Moines from Illinois can range from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the company’s schedule and transit logistics. You can always ask for a general timeline before booking.

How far in advance should I book movers when moving from Illinois to Des Moines?

Because of the 277-mile move, it’s best to book your move from Illinois to Des Moines as soon as you have your moving details. Ideally, you’d book your move two to three months ahead of time.

What time of year is the cheapest to move to Des Moines, IA?

With the summer highs of 86ºF and the winter lows of 13ºF, most people move to Des Moines from Illinois during the spring and fall months. To avoid competing during those busy moving seasons, you could save some money by booking your move to Des Moines during summer or winter.

Helpful moving resources