Moving from Des Moines, IA to Phoenix, AZ
About 1,345 miles across a state line, from Iowa into Arizona, 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 Des Moines, IA to Phoenix, AZ 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 178 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,345 miles from Iowa to Arizona. 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 Des Moines to Phoenix
| 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, Des Moines to Phoenix
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 Des Moines to Phoenix
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 178 people a year (±78) moved from Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines, to Maricopa County, AZ, home to Phoenix. Going the other way: about 191 people a year (±140). Movers from Polk County make up 0.1% of the 189,397 people a year who moved into Maricopa County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 4,596 people a year (±2,154) moving from Iowa to Arizona and about 2,187 people a year (±942) from Arizona to Iowa — a net gain for Arizona of about 2,409 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Dallas County, IA | 4,388 ±856 |
| Warren County, IA | 1,961 ±665 |
| Story County, IA | 1,914 ±373 |
| Johnson County, IA | 859 ±254 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 695 ±375 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Pinal County, AZ | 11,423 ±1,245 |
| Los Angeles County, CA | 8,614 ±1,297 |
| Pima County, AZ | 6,565 ±949 |
| San Diego County, CA | 5,206 ±1,126 |
| Coconino County, AZ | 5,198 ±805 |
Licensed movers at each end
11 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Des Moines (33 counting those licensed only inside Iowa). 5 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 0.0% of their 3 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lint Van Lines IncUSDOT 543541 | Des Moines · 5 mi | 27 trucks | 1 | — |
| Duplicate- You First MovingUSDOT 3253628 | Urbandale · 7 mi | 5 trucks | 0 | — |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Des Moines LLCUSDOT 3528959 | Des Moines · 5 mi | 3 trucks | 2 | 0.0% of 1 |
| All Mighty Movers LLCUSDOT 2468266 | Des Moines · 1 mi | 2 trucks | 1 | — |
| Dedicated Movers of Iowa LLCUSDOT 4536957 | Des Moines · 4 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
| Combined Relocation Services LLCUSDOT 1666941 | Huxley · 21 mi | 2 trucks | 0 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Phoenix end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Phoenix: Dircks Moving & Logistics (Phoenix, 24 trucks), Muscular Moving Men LLC (Phoenix, 22 trucks), Camelback Moving Inc (Phoenix, 20 trucks), M&S Trucking and Moving LLC (Phoenix, 20 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Iowa into Arizona, 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 Des Moines to Phoenix
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 Phoenix
A local move inside Phoenix later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $515 – $845 for a two-bedroom home and $867 – $1,560 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Phoenix are Scottsdale (about 11 mi), Tempe (about 11 mi), Mesa (about 17 mi).
Other routes from Des Moines
All routes from Des Moines, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines to Cedar Rapids, IA | ~122 mi | $549 – $732 |
| Des Moines to Omaha, NE | ~142 mi | $639 – $852 |
| Des Moines to Lincoln, NE | ~197 mi | $887 – $1,182 |
| Des Moines to Overland Park, KS | ~220 mi | $990 – $1,320 |
| Des Moines to Sioux Falls, SD | ~243 mi | $1,094 – $1,458 |
| Des Moines to Minneapolis, MN | ~274 mi | $1,233 – $1,644 |
| Des Moines to Chicago, IL | ~361 mi | $1,625 – $2,166 |
| Des Moines to Greenville, SC | ~893 mi | $4,019 – $5,358 |
Also moving to Phoenix: from Tucson, AZ, from Saint George, UT, from Moreno Valley, CA, from Las Vegas, NV.
Des Moines to Phoenix moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Des Moines to Phoenix?
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 Des Moines to Phoenix 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 Des Moines to Phoenix?
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 Des Moines to Phoenix?
Yes. Des Moines is in Iowa and Phoenix is in Arizona, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 11 listed movers within 30 miles of Des Moines hold it.
How many people move from Des Moines to Phoenix each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 178 people a year (margin of error ±78) moved from Polk County, which contains Des Moines, to Maricopa County, which contains Phoenix.
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.