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Movers in Des Moines, IA
Des Moines sits at the heart of America's insurance and finance corridor, drawing corporate relocations to Principal Financial Group and Wells Fargo alongside families drawn by housing prices well below the national average. Star Van Lines-FMCSA-registered USDOT 4176875-moves locals from $89-$179/hr and handles long-distance routes starting at $830 to Chicago. Call (855) 822-2722 for an exact quote.
Dennis has 15+ years of experience in interstate moving and has coordinated over 1,000 relocations across the United States.
Few Midwestern cities have quietly become this attractive to corporate movers. Des Moines has built a national reputation as an insurance and financial services hub, with employers like Principal Financial Group, Wells Fargo, and Hy-Vee pulling steady corporate relocations alongside families who've done the math on a cost of living roughly 8-12% below the national average. Whether you're moving into a Downtown high-rise that requires elevator reservations and a COI, or settling into a brick bungalow in Beaverdale, the logistics vary block by block. That's where an experienced crew makes a real difference.
Star Van Lines is FMCSA-registered under USDOT #4176875 and MC #1607491, operating since 2016 with 240+ verified reviews across local and interstate moves. We cover Des Moines proper and surrounding suburbs including West Des Moines, Urbandale, Ankeny, Waukee, Johnston, Clive, Altoona, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Windsor Heights, Grimes, and Bondurant. From the Victorian streets of Sherman Hill to the wooded cul-de-sacs of South of Grand, our crews know what each neighborhood demands. Ready to get moving? Call (855) 822-2722 for an exact quote.
Local moves in Des Moines run $89-$179/hr depending on crew size, truck count, and access conditions. A studio or one-bedroom in a Downtown or Historic East Village loft typically takes 2-4 hours. But budget extra time if the building requires elevator reservations or a loading dock. Multi-story condos in the Western Gateway area often require a COI before movers can enter, so confirm that with your property manager at least 1-2 weeks out.
In residential neighborhoods like Beaverdale or the Drake area, street parking for moving trucks is generally straightforward. Although around Drake University, semester move-in weekends pack the streets and finding curb space becomes its own project. Plan your move date accordingly. Sherman Hill's narrower streets and South of Grand's curvy, tree-lined roads mean larger trucks need extra maneuvering room, so we scout routes in advance whenever access looks tight.
Des Moines winters are serious. Average lows hit 15°F and snowfall totals roughly 35 inches annually. If you're moving December through March, confirm driveways and sidewalks are cleared before the crew arrives. Summer heat waves can push temps to 95-100°F with high humidity, so morning start times matter. Fall is usually the most comfortable season for a Des Moines move.
Moving out of Des Moines? We run long-distance routes to major destinations across all 50 states. Our most common corridors from the metro include Chicago at 330 miles, Dallas at 580 miles, Denver at 680 miles, and Atlanta at 750 miles. Every long-distance move comes with a binding estimate, so your price is locked before the truck rolls and there are no surprise charges at delivery.
We assign you a single coordinator who stays with your move from the initial inventory through final delivery. Full-value protection is available on all interstate shipments. Because timelines shift, we can stage your shipment at one of our 43 warehouse locations nationwide if your new home isn't ready on arrival day. That's not a common need, but it's good to know the option exists. Call (855) 822-2722 to get a binding estimate on your specific route.
Star Van Lines has handled relocations in and out of Des Moines since 2016, earning 240+ verified reviews under USDOT #4176875 and MC #1607491. Here's why Des Moines residents choose us:
FMCSA-registered, fully documented - We operate under USDOT #4176875 and MC #1607491, so your move is covered under federal interstate moving regulations. No shortcuts.
Need coverage beyond Iowa? We serve all 50 states with 43 warehouse locations nationwide, giving you flexibility if your timeline shifts.
One coordinator, dedicated to your move - You won't get passed between departments. A single move coordinator manages your job from quote to delivery.
Are you moving into a condo that requires a COI? We provide certificates of insurance for managed buildings in Downtown, East Village, and anywhere else that requires documentation.
Full-value protection is available on every shipment, local or long-distance, so your belongings are covered at replacement value rather than depreciated cost. That distinction matters more than most people realize until something goes wrong.
What's Included with Every Move
Furniture Disassembly & Reassembly
Beds, tables, shelving units, and sectional sofas broken down for safe transport and reassembled at your new home.
Packing Materials
Blankets, shrink wrap, and corner protectors for your furniture. Boxes and specialty packing available as an add-on.
Furniture Protection
Quilted moving blankets and stretch wrap on every piece. Hardwood floors and door frames protected during carry.
Secure Loading
Items loaded by weight distribution and secured with straps and load bars to prevent shifting during transit.
Room-by-Room Placement
We place items in the rooms you choose. Label your boxes and we'll put them where they belong.
Post-Move Cleanup
We remove all packing debris, blankets, and wrapping material from your new home before we leave.
How Your Des Moines Move Works
Free Quote
Call (855) 822-2722 or fill out our online form. We'll ask about your home size, move date, and any items that need special handling. You'll get a detailed estimate - usually within 30 minutes.
Custom Moving Plan
Your move coordinator reviews the details and builds a plan around your address, access conditions, and timeline. If your Des Moines building requires elevator reservations or HOA approval, we handle that paperwork.
Professional Packing & Loading
Our crew arrives on move day with all materials. Furniture gets wrapped, fragile items get boxed, and everything is loaded by weight and fragility. In summer, we start early to beat the heat.
Secure Transport & Tracking
Your shipment travels in a climate-prepared truck. You'll have a point of contact for status updates throughout transit. Long-distance moves include GPS tracking.
Delivery & Setup
We unload room by room, reassemble furniture, and place items where you want them. Before we leave, we clean up all packing materials. You inspect everything and sign off.
Our Moving Services in Des Moines
Local Moving
Hourly-rate local moves within Des Moines and surrounding neighborhoods. Professional crews, fully equipped trucks, upfront pricing - no hidden fees.
Learn More →Long Distance Moving
Full-service interstate moving to and from Des Moines. Licensed and insured for all 50 states with room-by-room delivery.
Learn More →Commercial & Office Moving
Office relocations, retail moves, and commercial logistics in Des Moines. Minimal downtime, after-hours scheduling available.
Learn More →Packing & Unpacking
Professional packing using 15 types of materials. From fragile glassware to heavy furniture - covered by our standard protection plan.
Learn More →Storage Solutions
Climate-controlled, 24/7 monitored warehouse storage on individual pallets. 43 warehouse locations nationwide, flexible short- and long-term options.
Learn More →Special Item Moving
Expert handling of pianos, pool tables, safes, hot tubs, and other heavy or fragile items. Custom crating and specialized equipment available.
Learn More →Popular Neighborhoods in Des Moines
Downtown / Western Gateway / Gray's Lake Area draws renters and condo owners who want walkable access to offices, riverfront trails, and nightlife. Most high-rise and mid-rise buildings require a certificate of insurance (COI) from your mover, and elevator reservations with a move-in fee are standard. Loading docks or alley access are typically required since street parking is limited. One-way streets and time-restricted curb space mean larger trucks need designated loading zones. Coordinate building entry codes and fob access well before move day.
Historic East Village sits just east of Downtown and mixes renovated lofts, small condos, and older single-family homes near the Capitol. Loft and condo buildings typically have an HOA and may require a COI; older houses generally don't. Metered street parking and small private lots serve the area, so budget time to secure meter bags or permits for your moving truck. Street closures around local events can complicate access, so check the calendar in advance.
Beaverdale, in northwest Des Moines, is probably the most straightforward neighborhood for a moving truck. Formal HOAs are uncommon, a COI isn't typically required for standard house moves, and street parking is generally ample. Most homes have driveways or detached garages. Watch for narrow residential streets and low-hanging branches, especially when backing a large truck toward older alley garages.
Sherman Hill, just west of Downtown, features Victorian and early-20th-century homes, some subdivided into apartments, within a historic preservation district. No typical HOA governs the area, though properties are subject to historic preservation guidelines. Street parking and off-alley garages are available. Because the streets are older and narrower, larger trucks should stay curbside rather than attempting tight alleys.
Waveland Park / Drake Area surrounds Drake University and Waveland Golf Course with a mix of student rentals, bungalows, and family homes. Most older housing here has no HOA, though newer townhomes near campus may have small associations. Semester move-in and move-out weekends bring heavy parking competition and traffic. Scheduling your move on a non-peak day makes a real difference here.
Highland Park / Oak Park / Union Park on the north side offer early-20th-century homes at relatively affordable prices, with a median sale price around $175,000 per recent local real estate data. HOAs are rare, and street parking plus driveways can typically accommodate moving trucks curbside. Hilly stretches and older alleys require attention, and winter ice on side streets adds an extra planning layer.
South of Grand / Waterbury / Greenwood / Westwood in the west-central part of the city features larger, often historic homes on wooded, curvy streets near parks and the Des Moines Art Center. Streets are narrow and winding, so larger trucks need to mind turning radii and steep driveways, especially in winter. Confirm access if the property sits on a private lane, since a few PUDs in the area have their own rules.
Climate and Lifestyle
Des Moines has a true four-season climate. Winters run cold, with average highs near 32°F and lows around 15°F; the city sees roughly 35 inches of snowfall annually, and single storms can drop 4-8 inches at once. Spring brings warming temps, with highs climbing from the upper 40s in March to the low 70s by May, but it also brings severe thunderstorms, hail, and tornado risk. Summers are warm and humid, with average highs of 83-86°F and occasional heat waves pushing toward 100°F. Morning moves are strongly recommended if you're scheduling between June and August. Fall is the most comfortable moving season, with highs from the upper 70s in September cooling to the upper 40s by November. Annual precipitation runs 35-37 inches.
Job Market and Major Employers
Des Moines is a national insurance and financial services hub. Principal Financial Group is headquartered Downtown, offering a large concentration of finance, insurance, and asset management roles. Wells Fargo runs major banking, mortgage, and back-office operations in the metro. Hy-Vee, the employee-owned grocery chain, is headquartered in West Des Moines with corporate offices and distribution facilities. UnityPoint Health and MercyOne anchor the healthcare sector with hospitals and clinics throughout the area. State of Iowa government offices near the Capitol round out the public-sector employment base. Because so many of these employers run large back-office operations, the metro draws a steady flow of corporate relocations, including consolidated shipments from workers moving entire households on company dime.
Cost of Living and Housing
Des Moines sits roughly 8-12% below the national average cost of living. That gap is real, and it's one of the main reasons the metro keeps attracting remote workers and corporate transfers. Median home values in the city run in the $190,000-$210,000 range as of 2025, with north-side neighborhoods like Highland Park and Oak Park coming in lower, around $175,000 at the median. Median rent for a one-bedroom apartment runs approximately $950-$1,050 per month. In most cases, you'll find more square footage here than you'd get for the same dollar in coastal metros. Local moving services start at $89-$179/hr. Call (855) 822-2722 for an exact quote.
Tips for Moving to Des Moines
Verify HOA and building rules 1-2 weeks out. Condos and townhomes may require a COI from your mover, set specific move-in hours, and require elevator reservations. Iowa HOAs can enforce fees and assessments, so confirm requirements early. Don't assume.
Plan around Downtown and campus traffic. In the Downtown and East Village areas, coordinate loading-zone access with property management and avoid rush hours. Near Drake University, steer clear of semester move-in and move-out weekends when parking is scarce.
Build a seasonal weather buffer. Winter moves between December and March require confirmed snow and ice removal on driveways and side streets. Spring and summer moves call for tarps and plastic wrap on standby, since severe thunderstorms and high winds can arrive quickly. It's not a matter of if but when.
Drive your route before move day. Local guidance specifically recommends testing your commute at peak hours and checking DART bus routes. Do the same with your moving route. Narrow streets, low tree limbs, and tight turns in neighborhoods like Sherman Hill, Beaverdale, and South of Grand are much easier to spot from a car than on the morning of the move, when the clock is already running.
Service Areas
Star Van Lines provides local and long-distance moving services across Des Moines and the surrounding area:
West Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, Waukee, Grimes, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Windsor Heights, Bondurant
We provide moving services across all 50 states from 43 warehouse locations nationwide. Whether you're relocating within the Des Moines metro or moving cross-country, call (855) 822-2722 for a free quote.
What to know before moving to Des Moines
Benefits of moving to Des Moines
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Cost of average house
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Des Moines Moving Costs
Rates based on $89-$179/hr. Final hours depend on access conditions, floor level, elevator availability, and volume.
Local Moving Rates
| Move size | Estimate Prices |
|---|---|
| Studio / 1BR | $178-$716 |
| 2BR | $356-$1,074 |
| 3BR | $534-$1,611 |
Long Distance Moving Rates from Des Moines
| Distance | Estimate Prices |
|---|---|
| Chicago, IL | $830 |
| Dallas, TX | $1,022 |
| Denver, CO | $1,112 |
| Atlanta, GA | $1,175 |
Use our moving cost calculator to build a more detailed estimate, or call (855) 822-2722 for a binding quote. Pricing disclaimer: Rates are based on US moving industry market averages for the Des Moines metro as of 2026. Call (855) 822-2722 for an exact quote based on your move size and distance. Final cost depends on inventory volume, services selected, access conditions, and seasonal demand.
Ways to Save on Your Move
- Declutter before the move - fewer items mean lower costs
- Pack non-fragile items yourself to reduce labor hours.
- Choose a weekday for loading when demand is lower.
- Book 6-8 weeks in advance for better scheduling options.
- Get quotes from licensed movers and compare - always verify USDOT numbers
Frequently Asked Questions: Des Moines Moving
How much do movers cost in Des Moines, IA?
Local moves in Des Moines run $89-$179/hr depending on crew size, truck size, and access conditions. Long-distance routes start at $830 to Chicago (330 miles), $1,022 to Dallas (580 miles), $1,112 to Denver (680 miles), and $1,175 to Atlanta (750 miles). Rates are based on US moving industry market averages for the Des Moines metro as of 2026. Call (855) 822-2722 for an exact quote based on your move size and distance. Final cost depends on inventory volume, services selected, access conditions, and seasonal demand.
Is Star Van Lines licensed to move in Des Moines?
Yes. Star Van Lines is fully licensed and FMCSA-registered to operate in Des Moines and across all 50 states. You can verify our credentials directly on the FMCSA website using USDOT #4176875 and MC #1607491. We carry the required insurance and can provide a certificate of insurance (COI) for buildings in Downtown, East Village, or any managed complex that requires one. Call (855) 822-2722 to confirm your building's requirements before move day.
What is the best time of year to move in Des Moines?
Fall - specifically September and October - tends to be the most comfortable season for moving in Des Moines. Average highs drop from around 77°F in September to a manageable 47°F by November, without the humidity of summer or the ice risk of winter. Summer moves are doable but heat waves can reach 95-100°F with high humidity, so morning start times are strongly recommended. Winter moves between December and March require extra planning - Des Moines averages about 35 inches of snowfall per year, and side streets can stay slick long after main roads are cleared. Spring brings severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes, so always monitor weather alerts and have tarps ready.
Do I need a parking permit for a moving truck in Des Moines?
It depends on your neighborhood. In Downtown Des Moines and the Historic East Village, street parking is limited and time-restricted - you may need to arrange meter bags or short-term permits for your moving truck, and most buildings require use of a designated loading dock or alley. Around Drake University, parking competition is heaviest during semester move-in and move-out weekends, so scheduling your move on a non-peak day helps. In residential neighborhoods like Beaverdale, Sherman Hill, and Highland Park, street parking is generally easier and most blocks can accommodate a moving truck curbside. Call (855) 822-2722 and we can help you plan access logistics for your specific address.
What areas around Des Moines do you serve?
Star Van Lines serves Des Moines and the surrounding metro, including West Des Moines, Urbandale, Clive, Johnston, Ankeny, Altoona, Waukee, Grimes, Norwalk, Pleasant Hill, Windsor Heights, and Bondurant - all within roughly 15 miles of central Des Moines. We also handle long-distance moves from Des Moines to any destination in all 50 states. Call (855) 822-2722 to confirm service availability for your specific origin and destination.
Do you offer storage options for my Des Moines move?
Yes. Star Van Lines offers storage solutions backed by 43 warehouse locations nationwide. Whether you need short-term storage during a gap between your move-out and move-in dates, or longer-term storage while you settle into a new Des Moines neighborhood, we can accommodate your timeline. This is especially useful for Downtown condo moves where elevator reservations and building move-in windows can create scheduling gaps. Call (855) 822-2722 to ask about storage availability and pricing for your specific move dates.
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USDOT #4176875 | MC #1607491 | Licensed & Insured