Moving from Iowa to New Jersey
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Newark it is about 1,179 miles and 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving); the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,058 to 1,187 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.
- ~1,179 miDes Moines → Newark
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,306+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 2,427 people moved from Iowa to New Jersey in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,908). Between Des Moines and Newark it is about 1,179 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,306 – $7,074 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to New Jersey
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 2,427 people a year (±1,908). Iowa is the 11th-largest of the 41 states sending people to New Jersey; New Jersey took in about 149,816 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Humboldt County | Hunterdon County | 86 ±129* |
| Black Hawk County | Hudson County | 20 ±26* |
| Polk County | Hudson County | 19 ±32* |
| Humboldt County | Monmouth County | 16 ±26* |
| Linn County | Bergen County | 16 ±22* |
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.
Des Moines to Newark, 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 Iowa and New Jersey.
Cost of moving from Iowa to New Jersey
At about 1,179 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,306 – $7,074 for a two-bedroom home and $6,101 – $8,135 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,820 – $5,093; a freight trailer is $2,547 – $3,396.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,979 – $5,306 | $2,865 – $3,820 | $1,910 – $2,547 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,775 – $6,367 | $3,438 – $4,584 | $2,292 – $3,056 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,306 – $7,074 | $3,820 – $5,093 | $2,547 – $3,396 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,101 – $8,135 | $4,393 – $5,857 | $2,929 – $3,905 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,897 – $9,196 | $4,966 – $6,621 | $3,311 – $4,414 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,958 – $10,611 | $5,730 – $7,640 | $3,820 – $5,093 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,179 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 Iowa to New Jersey
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cedar Rapids to Paterson | ~1,058 mi | 3–7 days | $4,761 – $6,348 | $5,475 – $7,300 |
| Cedar Rapids to Newark | ~1,061 mi | 3–7 days | $4,775 – $6,366 | $5,491 – $7,321 |
| Cedar Rapids to Jersey City | ~1,069 mi | 3–7 days | $4,811 – $6,414 | $5,532 – $7,376 |
| Des Moines to Paterson | ~1,177 mi | 3–7 days | $5,297 – $7,062 | $6,091 – $8,121 |
| Des Moines to Newark | ~1,179 mi | 3–7 days | $5,306 – $7,074 | $6,101 – $8,135 |
| Des Moines to Jersey City | ~1,187 mi | 3–7 days | $5,342 – $7,122 | $6,143 – $8,190 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Iowa
35 of the 58 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 540 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 64 of 257 vehicle inspections (24.9%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 26 of 538 driver inspections (4.8%, against 13.0%). 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucker Freight Lines IncDubuque, IA · USDOT 1674 | 328 | 46 of 155 | 3 of 328 |
| Boost Express Van Lines IncDavenport, IA · USDOT 2453637 | 32 | 7 of 14 | 3 of 32 |
| Mihm Transfer IncFort Atkinson, IA · USDOT 2170310 | 24 | 1 of 6 | 0 of 24 |
| C & K Transfer LLCGrinnell, IA · USDOT 206 | 21 | 1 of 5 | 1 of 21 |
| Maher Bros Transfer and Storage IncCedar Rapids, IA · USDOT 87390 | 19 | 0 of 9 | 2 of 19 |
| Dubuque Moving & Storage IncDubuque, IA · USDOT 1071770 | 18 | 2 of 11 | 0 of 18 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
119 listed household-goods carriers are based in Iowa, 58 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Iowa directory ranks them. At the New Jersey end, 558 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in New Jersey, moving costs in New Jersey, or the reverse trip, New Jersey to Iowa. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Iowa
Iowa to New Jersey moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to New Jersey?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Newark, the distance is about 1,179 miles. From our model that is $5,306 – $7,074 for a two-bedroom home and $6,101 – $8,135 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,820 – $5,093 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,547 – $3,396. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Iowa and New Jersey, distances run from 1,058 to 1,187 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to New Jersey take?
Des Moines to Newark is 3 days on the road (about 21 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 Iowa to New Jersey?
Yes. A move from Iowa into New Jersey is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 119 listed movers based in Iowa, 58 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Iowa.
What is the cheapest way to move from Iowa to New Jersey?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,547 – $3,396 for a two-bedroom home over 1,179 miles against $5,306 – $7,074 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,820 – $5,093, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to New Jersey each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 2,427 people (±1,908) moved from Iowa to New Jersey that year. That makes Iowa the 11th-largest source of new residents for New Jersey among the states.