Moving from Delaware to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Wilmington and Des Moines it is about 1,113 miles and 3 days on the road (about 20 hours of driving); the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 997 to 1,126 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.
- ~1,113 miWilmington → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,009+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 0 people moved from Delaware to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±174), and about 325 went the other way. Between Wilmington and Des Moines it is about 1,113 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,009 – $6,678 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 16 movers based in Delaware hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Delaware to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 0 people a year (±174), against about 325 (±501) from Iowa to Delaware, so Iowa loses about 325 people a year on this exchange. Delaware is the 39th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Kent County | Osceola County | 11 ±16* |
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.
Wilmington 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 Delaware and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Delaware to Iowa
At about 1,113 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,009 – $6,678 for a two-bedroom home and $5,760 – $7,680 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,606 – $4,808; a freight trailer is $2,404 – $3,205.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,756 – $5,009 | $2,705 – $3,606 | $1,803 – $2,404 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,508 – $6,010 | $3,246 – $4,327 | $2,164 – $2,885 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,009 – $6,678 | $3,606 – $4,808 | $2,404 – $3,205 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,760 – $7,680 | $4,147 – $5,529 | $2,765 – $3,686 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,511 – $8,681 | $4,688 – $6,251 | $3,125 – $4,167 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,513 – $10,017 | $5,409 – $7,212 | $3,606 – $4,808 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,113 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 Delaware 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wilmington to Cedar Rapids | ~997 mi | 3–7 days | $4,487 – $5,982 | $5,159 – $6,879 |
| Dover to Cedar Rapids | ~1,012 mi | 3–7 days | $4,554 – $6,072 | $5,237 – $6,983 |
| Wilmington to Des Moines | ~1,113 mi | 3–7 days | $5,009 – $6,678 | $5,760 – $7,680 |
| Dover to Des Moines | ~1,126 mi | 3–7 days | $5,067 – $6,756 | $5,827 – $7,769 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Delaware
8 of the 16 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 46 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 6 of 28 vehicle inspections (21.4%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 11 of 45 driver inspections (24.4%, against 13.0%). With fewer than 30 vehicle inspections, a single out-of-service order moves that rate by several points, so treat it as a small sample. None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jrmoving LLCMiddletown, DE · USDOT 2404539 | 19 | 5 of 11 | 1 of 19 |
| First Rate MoversMillsboro, DE · USDOT 4000852 | 10 | 0 of 7 | 1 of 9 |
| Keep It - Moving & Labor LLCCamden Wyo, DE · USDOT 3361659 | 6 | 0 of 4 | 4 of 6 |
| Iq Moving&Storage IncWilmington, DE · USDOT 3773052 | 5 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 5 |
| Harold Moving Service LLCNew Castle, DE · USDOT 1428058 | 3 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 3 |
| S H Haughton Truckingmoving Co LLCNew Castle, DE · USDOT 1424027 | 1 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
31 listed household-goods carriers are based in Delaware, 16 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Delaware 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 Delaware. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Delaware
Delaware to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Delaware to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Wilmington and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,113 miles. From our model that is $5,009 – $6,678 for a two-bedroom home and $5,760 – $7,680 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,606 – $4,808 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,404 – $3,205. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Delaware and Iowa, distances run from 997 to 1,126 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Delaware to Iowa take?
Wilmington to Des Moines is 3 days on the road (about 20 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 Delaware to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Delaware into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 31 listed movers based in Delaware, 16 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Delaware.
What is the cheapest way to move from Delaware to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,404 – $3,205 for a two-bedroom home over 1,113 miles against $5,009 – $6,678 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,606 – $4,808, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Delaware to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 0 people (±174) moved from Delaware to Iowa that year, against about 325 (±501) from Iowa to Delaware. That makes Delaware the 39th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.