Moving from Alabama to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Birmingham and Des Moines it is about 782 miles and 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving); the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 666 to 949 miles.
Prices from our published model (last updated ), not quotes. Distances marked ~ are estimated from city coordinates. Carriers: FMCSA Motor Carrier Census, snapshot 2026-09-24. We do not move anyone.
- ~782 miBirmingham → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $3,519+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 323 people moved from Alabama to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±371), and about 427 went the other way. Between Birmingham and Des Moines it is about 782 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $3,519 – $4,692 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 85 movers based in Alabama hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Alabama to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 323 people a year (±371), against about 427 (±327) from Iowa to Alabama, so Iowa loses about 104 people a year on this exchange. Alabama is the 26th-largest of the 43 states sending people to Iowa; Iowa took in about 59,199 from other states in all. The margin of error is as large as the estimate, so read it as a handful of households rather than a count.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile County | Scott County | 201 ±294* |
| Shelby County | Linn County | 101 ±157* |
| Etowah County | Hancock County | 46 ±67* |
| Jefferson County | Dubuque County | 37 ±54* |
| Madison County | Johnson County | 37 ±48* |
US Census Bureau: ACS 2024 state-to-state migration and ACS 2016–2020 county-to-county flows; people a year with a 90% margin of error. County names link to their cost guides. * Margin as large as the estimate.
Birmingham to Des Moines, the representative route
Each state is represented by its largest city we cover. The map shows that corridor; the table further down prices every city pair between Alabama and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Alabama to Iowa
At about 782 miles, full-service movers should land around $3,519 – $4,692 for a two-bedroom home and $4,047 – $5,396 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $2,534 – $3,378; a freight trailer is $1,689 – $2,252.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $2,639 – $3,519 | $1,900 – $2,534 | $1,267 – $1,689 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,167 – $4,223 | $2,280 – $3,040 | $1,520 – $2,027 |
| 2 bedrooms | $3,519 – $4,692 | $2,534 – $3,378 | $1,689 – $2,252 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,047 – $5,396 | $2,914 – $3,885 | $1,942 – $2,590 |
| 4 bedrooms | $4,575 – $6,100 | $3,294 – $4,392 | $2,196 – $2,928 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $5,279 – $7,038 | $3,801 – $5,067 | $2,534 – $3,378 |
Transport only, for an estimated 782 miles, from our published model: distance × home-size factor × service rate, shown as −10% to +20% around the base figure. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items sit on top. How we price it.
City-to-city routes from Alabama to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. Run any pair through the calculator for a measured distance.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville to Cedar Rapids | ~666 mi | 3–7 days | $2,997 – $3,996 | $3,447 – $4,595 |
| Huntsville to Des Moines | ~709 mi | 3–7 days | $3,191 – $4,254 | $3,669 – $4,892 |
| Birmingham to Cedar Rapids | ~748 mi | 3–7 days | $3,366 – $4,488 | $3,871 – $5,161 |
| Birmingham to Des Moines | ~782 mi | 3–7 days | $3,519 – $4,692 | $4,047 – $5,396 |
| Montgomery to Cedar Rapids | ~846 mi | 3–7 days | $3,807 – $5,076 | $4,378 – $5,837 |
| Montgomery to Des Moines | ~878 mi | 3–7 days | $3,951 – $5,268 | $4,544 – $6,058 |
| Mobile to Cedar Rapids | ~939 mi | 3–7 days | $4,226 – $5,634 | $4,859 – $6,479 |
| Mobile to Des Moines | ~949 mi | 3–7 days | $4,271 – $5,694 | $4,911 – $6,548 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Alabama
45 of the 85 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 603 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 84 of 349 vehicle inspections (24.1%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 57 of 603 driver inspections (9.5%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Covan World-Wide MovingincorporatedMidland City, AL · USDOT 256677 | 138 | 33 of 85 | 6 of 138 |
| Coleman Worldwide Moving LLCMidland City, AL · USDOT 2897746 | 102 | 9 of 68 | 8 of 102 |
| Coleman American Moving Services IncMidland City, AL · USDOT 148986 | 91 | 12 of 41 | 4 of 91 |
| Port City Transfer LLCIrvington, AL · USDOT 3324282 | 41 | 7 of 37 | 1 of 41 |
| E & E Transfer CompanySylacauga, AL · USDOT 3650158 | 37 | 7 of 22 | 3 of 37 |
| McKinney & Sons Transfer LLCLexington, AL · USDOT 1058049 | 28 | 4 of 11 | 3 of 28 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
168 listed household-goods carriers are based in Alabama, 85 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Alabama directory ranks them. At the Iowa end, 119 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Iowa, moving costs in Iowa, or the reverse trip, Iowa to Alabama. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Alabama
Alabama to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Alabama to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Birmingham and Des Moines, the distance is about 782 miles. From our model that is $3,519 – $4,692 for a two-bedroom home and $4,047 – $5,396 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $2,534 – $3,378 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,689 – $2,252. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Alabama and Iowa, distances run from 666 to 949 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Alabama to Iowa take?
Birmingham to Des Moines is 2 days on the road (about 14 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Alabama to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Alabama into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 168 listed movers based in Alabama, 85 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Alabama.
What is the cheapest way to move from Alabama to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,689 – $2,252 for a two-bedroom home over 782 miles against $3,519 – $4,692 with full-service movers. A container, about $2,534 – $3,378, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Alabama to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 323 people (±371) moved from Alabama to Iowa that year, against about 427 (±327) from Iowa to Alabama. That makes Alabama the 26th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.