Moving to
Moving to or from Des Moines, IA
Our file holds 48 reviews of moves into or out of Des Moines, dated 2017 to 21 Sept 2026. Haulest is not a carrier; the figures below are what those reviews show on cost, timing, and damage.
Anthony BaleMoving industry professional, author and writerReviewed 2026-09-24
Moving to Des Moines
The metro sits a bit under the national index and a bit over the state.
Inbound origins and cost. People moving into Des Moines most often come from Tucson, AZ; American Falls, ID; San Diego, CA. Across 15 priced reviews, the median for those inbound moves is $4,715. That sample is smaller than the outbound set, so treat it as a starting point, then check a moving cost guide before you sign.
Metro price level. BEA price parity for 2024 puts the Des Moines-West Des Moines metro at 91.7, with Iowa as a whole at 87.8, where the US equals 100. The metro sits a bit under the national index and a bit over the state. Use a move or stay calculator if you are weighing the pay against that price level.
What reviewers paid, Des Moines. A median needs 10 priced reviews. Reviews dated 2017 to 21 Sept 2026.
| Move | Median paid | Priced reviews |
|---|---|---|
| Into Des Moines from elsewhere | $4,715 | 15 |
| Out of Des Moines | $5,040 | 33 |
| From Des Moines within the state | not published | 1 |
| Price level, Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA (US = 100) | 91.7 | BEA 2024 |
Sources: Haulest review file, 21 Sept 2026 (reviewer-reported whole-move prices); US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Regional Price Parities, read 2024.
Moving out of Des Moines
Reviews cluster in Sep, Nov, Apr and thin out in Oct, Mar, Feb.
Outbound cities and cost. People leaving Des Moines most often head to Stamford, CT; Earleton, FL; Miami, FL. Across 33 priced reviews, the median outbound cost is $5,040, higher than the inbound median in this file. Many of those trips leave Iowa, which makes them interstate moves under USDOT and FMCSA rules rather than the state rules for a move that stays in Iowa.
When to book. Reviews cluster in Sep, Nov, Apr and thin out in Oct, Mar, Feb. Those are post dates, usually a few weeks after the move, so the truck was often booked earlier than the review month. If your date sits in a busy cluster, ask for the quote sooner and read how to read a moving estimate.
Where reviewers came from and went, Des Moines.
| Moved in from | Reviews | Moved out to | Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson, AZ | 1 | Stamford, CT | 3 |
| American Falls, ID | 1 | Earleton, FL | 2 |
| San Diego, CA | 1 | Miami, FL | 2 |
| South Bend, IN | 1 | Atlanta, GA | 2 |
| Dahinda, IL | 1 | San Diego, CA | 2 |
Source: Haulest review file, 21 Sept 2026 (reviewer-reported whole-move prices).
What makes a Des Moines move harder
That share is a count of writeups in the file, not a forecast for your load.
Access notes in reviews. The access problems these reviews name most are no single access problem, which means no single snag shows up often enough to plan around. Your own building can still differ from that quiet file. Before the quote, tell the mover the floor, the distance from where the truck can stop, and any rule about elevators or parking.
Damage and ratings. 14.6% of these reviews mention damage, and the mean rating is 4.33. That share is a count of writeups in the file, not a forecast for your load. Photograph the pieces, note marks that are already there, and ask how a claim is filed before you accept the written estimate.
Before you hire
Four checks before a deposit
Written estimate after a look
Interstate movers must give the booklet and a written estimate after a survey or a full description. A $499 ad is not an estimate.
FMCSA Protect Your MoveLegal name matches SAFER
USDOT on the paper, the truck doors, and the census. A different name is the walk.
USDOT / Companies House lookupWalk from cash and blank paper
FTC: unregistered interstate, huge deposit, cash only, or a blank contract. Photograph and leave.
FTC: hiring a mover110% on a COD non-binding job
Pay up to 110% plus agreed extras and they must hand over the load. Not a cap on extras you signed.
US interstate rules
Reviewed by Anthony Bale, 24 Sep 2026. Corpus as of 21 Sept 2026. Drafted with grok-4.7-medium via cursor-agent on 2026-09-24, then edited. Haulest is not a carrier.
Ask out loud
Questions people ask
- What does it cost to move to or from Des Moines?
- Moves into Des Moines have a median of $4,715 across 15 priced reviews. Moves out of Des Moines have a median of $5,040 across 33 priced reviews. A move that stays inside Iowa has too few priced reviews for a median.
- Where do people move from and where do they go?
- The origins named most often are Tucson, AZ; American Falls, ID; San Diego, CA. The destinations named most often are Stamford, CT; Earleton, FL; Miami, FL.
- Which months look busiest for a Des Moines move?
- Reviews cluster in Sep, Nov, Apr and thin out in Oct, Mar, Feb. The date on a review is usually a few weeks after the move, so book ahead of the month you see in the file.
- How often is damage mentioned, and which rules apply?
- 14.6% of these reviews mention damage, and the mean rating is 4.33. A move inside Iowa follows the state page rules. A move that leaves Iowa is interstate, under USDOT and FMCSA.
Next
Keep going
About Anthony Bale
A moving industry professional, author and writer. Anthony has been at different positions in the industry for the last 10 years, gaining significant knowledge on the relocation process. He himself has moved 6 times already, which helped him explore the other side of the moving process.
At Haulest he writes the US cost, hiring, and rights pages, reading the licensed review file every week so the numbers on the page are the numbers people reported.
Call for a free quote
From, then To. Date and home size after that. A person on the phone is faster if you already know the dates.
+1 (866) 961-9682Free quote, a person answersHaulest is not a carrier. We connect you to movers.
Haulest is a research desk and quote line. We are not a carrier.