Moving from Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA
About 1,345 miles across a state line, from Arizona into Iowa, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Phoenix, AZ to Des Moines, IA covers about 1,345 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $6,053 – $8,070 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 191 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,345 miles from Arizona to Iowa. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $6,053 – $8,070 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 24 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Phoenix to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $4,539 – $6,053 | $3,268 – $4,358 | $2,179 – $2,905 |
| 1 bedroom | $5,447 – $7,263 | $3,922 – $5,229 | $2,615 – $3,486 |
| 2 bedrooms | $6,053 – $8,070 | $4,358 – $5,810 | $2,905 – $3,874 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,960 – $9,280 | $5,011 – $6,682 | $3,341 – $4,455 |
| 4 bedrooms | $7,868 – $10,491 | $5,665 – $7,554 | $3,777 – $5,036 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $9,079 – $12,105 | $6,537 – $8,716 | $4,358 – $5,810 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,345 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Phoenix to Des Moines
1,345 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $6,725. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $6,053 to $8,070, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Phoenix to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 191 people a year (±140) moved from Maricopa County, AZ, home to Phoenix, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 178 people a year (±78). Movers from Maricopa County make up 0.8% of the 25,352 people a year who moved into Polk County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 2,187 people a year (±942) moving from Arizona to Iowa and about 4,596 people a year (±2,154) from Iowa to Arizona — a net gain for Arizona of about 2,409 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pinal County, AZ | 17,904 ±2,214 |
| Pima County, AZ | 10,124 ±953 |
| Coconino County, AZ | 6,398 ±704 |
| Yavapai County, AZ | 3,689 ±618 |
| Clark County, NV | 2,998 ±761 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Dallas County, IA | 2,686 ±651 |
| Story County, IA | 2,109 ±459 |
| Warren County, IA | 1,438 ±390 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 914 ±314 |
| Boone County, IA | 691 ±258 |
Licensed movers at each end
67 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Phoenix (250 counting those licensed only inside Arizona). 39 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.2% of their 128 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dircks Moving & LogisticsUSDOT 923640 | Phoenix · 7 mi | 24 trucks | 0 | — |
| Muscular Moving Men LLCUSDOT 1829172 | Phoenix · 17 mi | 22 trucks | 27 | 42.1% of 19 |
| Camelback Moving IncUSDOT 1635834 | Phoenix · 3 mi | 20 trucks | 35 | 0.0% of 26 |
| M&S Trucking and Moving LLCUSDOT 4035484 | Phoenix · 12 mi | 20 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 2 |
| Just-In Time MovingUSDOT 1759501 | Mesa · 21 mi | 20 trucks | 32 | 4.5% of 22 |
| Daniel's Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 653536 | Phoenix · 7 mi | 18 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Des Moines end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Des Moines: Lint Van Lines Inc (Des Moines, 27 trucks), The Affordable Movers (West Des Moines, 6 trucks), Duplicate- You First Moving (Urbandale, 5 trucks), Iowa Movers LLC (Clive, 5 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Arizona into Iowa, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Phoenix to Des Moines
Insist on a survey
Over 1,345 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 1,345 miles of handling.
Arriving in Des Moines
A local move inside Des Moines later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $505 – $831 for a two-bedroom home and $849 – $1,533 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Des Moines are Cedar Rapids (about 122 mi), Omaha (about 142 mi), Lincoln (about 197 mi).
Other routes from Phoenix
All routes from Phoenix, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Phoenix to Tucson, AZ | ~124 mi | $558 – $744 |
| Phoenix to Moreno Valley, CA | ~346 mi | $1,557 – $2,076 |
| Phoenix to Las Vegas, NV | 347 mi | $1,562 – $2,082 |
| Phoenix to San Diego, CA | 355 mi | $1,598 – $2,130 |
| Phoenix to Fontana, CA | ~365 mi | $1,643 – $2,190 |
| Phoenix to Los Angeles, CA | 374 mi | $1,683 – $2,244 |
| Phoenix to Anaheim, CA | ~383 mi | $1,724 – $2,298 |
| Phoenix to Albuquerque, NM | ~384 mi | $1,728 – $2,304 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Phoenix to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Phoenix to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,345 miles cost about $4,539 – $6,053 for a studio, $6,053 – $8,070 for a two-bedroom home and $6,960 – $9,280 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Phoenix to Des Moines take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 24 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Phoenix to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,905 – $3,874 for a two-bedroom home, against $6,053 – $8,070 with full-service movers; a moving container is $4,358 – $5,810.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Phoenix to Des Moines?
Yes. Phoenix is in Arizona and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 67 listed movers within 30 miles of Phoenix hold it.
How many people move from Phoenix to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 191 people a year (margin of error ±140) moved from Maricopa County, which contains Phoenix, to Polk County, which contains Des Moines.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.