Moving from Iowa to Texas
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Houston it is about 960 miles and 2 days on the road (about 17 hours of driving); the 32 city pairs we price between the two states run from 703 to 1,342 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.
- ~960 miDes Moines → Houston
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,320+2-bedroom, movers
- 32City routes priced
In short
About 3,755 people moved from Iowa to Texas in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,433), and about 5,861 went the other way. Between Des Moines and Houston it is about 960 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,320 – $5,760 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to Texas
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 3,755 people a year (±1,433), against about 5,861 (±2,811) from Texas to Iowa, so Texas loses about 2,106 people a year on this exchange. Iowa is the 37th-largest of the 50 states sending people to Texas; Texas took in about 556,156 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Woodbury County | Brazoria County | 288 ±373* |
| Johnson County | Dallas County | 233 ±203 |
| Scott County | Tarrant County | 209 ±161 |
| Polk County | Travis County | 156 ±190* |
| Warren County | Midland County | 142 ±159* |
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 Houston, 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 Texas.
Cost of moving from Iowa to Texas
At about 960 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,320 – $5,760 for a two-bedroom home and $4,968 – $6,624 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,110 – $4,147; a freight trailer is $2,074 – $2,765.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,240 – $4,320 | $2,333 – $3,110 | $1,555 – $2,074 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,888 – $5,184 | $2,799 – $3,732 | $1,866 – $2,488 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,320 – $5,760 | $3,110 – $4,147 | $2,074 – $2,765 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,968 – $6,624 | $3,577 – $4,769 | $2,385 – $3,180 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,616 – $7,488 | $4,044 – $5,391 | $2,696 – $3,594 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,480 – $8,640 | $4,666 – $6,221 | $3,110 – $4,147 |
Transport only, for an estimated 960 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 Texas
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Des Moines to McKinney | ~703 mi | 3–7 days | $3,164 – $4,218 | $3,638 – $4,851 |
| Des Moines to Plano | ~716 mi | 3–7 days | $3,222 – $4,296 | $3,705 – $4,940 |
| Des Moines to Garland | ~725 mi | 3–7 days | $3,263 – $4,350 | $3,752 – $5,002 |
| Des Moines to Amarillo | ~730 mi | 3–7 days | $3,285 – $4,380 | $3,778 – $5,037 |
| Des Moines to Irving | ~735 mi | 3–7 days | $3,308 – $4,410 | $3,804 – $5,071 |
| Des Moines to Dallas | ~738 mi | 3–7 days | $3,321 – $4,428 | $3,819 – $5,092 |
| Des Moines to Arlington | ~747 mi | 3–7 days | $3,362 – $4,482 | $3,866 – $5,154 |
| Des Moines to Fort Worth | ~750 mi | 3–7 days | $3,375 – $4,500 | $3,881 – $5,175 |
| Cedar Rapids to McKinney | ~775 mi | 3–7 days | $3,488 – $4,650 | $4,011 – $5,347 |
| Cedar Rapids to Plano | ~788 mi | 3–7 days | $3,546 – $4,728 | $4,078 – $5,437 |
| Cedar Rapids to Garland | ~796 mi | 3–7 days | $3,582 – $4,776 | $4,119 – $5,492 |
| Cedar Rapids to Irving | ~809 mi | 3–7 days | $3,641 – $4,854 | $4,187 – $5,582 |
| Cedar Rapids to Dallas | ~810 mi | 3–7 days | $3,645 – $4,860 | $4,192 – $5,589 |
| Cedar Rapids to Arlington | ~821 mi | 3–7 days | $3,695 – $4,926 | $4,249 – $5,665 |
| Cedar Rapids to Fort Worth | ~826 mi | 3–7 days | $3,717 – $4,956 | $4,275 – $5,699 |
| Des Moines to Lubbock | ~834 mi | 3–7 days | $3,753 – $5,004 | $4,316 – $5,755 |
| Cedar Rapids to Amarillo | ~840 mi | 3–7 days | $3,780 – $5,040 | $4,347 – $5,796 |
| Cedar Rapids to Lubbock | ~938 mi | 3–7 days | $4,221 – $5,628 | $4,854 – $6,472 |
| Des Moines to Austin | ~950 mi | 3–7 days | $4,275 – $5,700 | $4,916 – $6,555 |
| Des Moines to Houston | ~960 mi | 3–7 days | $4,320 – $5,760 | $4,968 – $6,624 |
| Cedar Rapids to Houston | ~1,013 mi | 3–7 days | $4,559 – $6,078 | $5,242 – $6,990 |
| Cedar Rapids to Austin | ~1,022 mi | 3–7 days | $4,599 – $6,132 | $5,289 – $7,052 |
| Des Moines to San Antonio | ~1,030 mi | 3–7 days | $4,635 – $6,180 | $5,330 – $7,107 |
| Cedar Rapids to San Antonio | ~1,104 mi | 3–7 days | $4,968 – $6,624 | $5,713 – $7,618 |
| Des Moines to Corpus Christi | ~1,141 mi | 3–7 days | $5,135 – $6,846 | $5,905 – $7,873 |
| Des Moines to El Paso | ~1,145 mi | 3–7 days | $5,153 – $6,870 | $5,925 – $7,901 |
| Des Moines to Laredo | ~1,194 mi | 3–7 days | $5,373 – $7,164 | $6,179 – $8,239 |
| Cedar Rapids to Corpus Christi | ~1,205 mi | 7–14 days | $5,423 – $7,230 | $6,236 – $8,315 |
| Cedar Rapids to El Paso | ~1,257 mi | 7–14 days | $5,657 – $7,542 | $6,505 – $8,673 |
| Cedar Rapids to Laredo | ~1,270 mi | 7–14 days | $5,715 – $7,620 | $6,572 – $8,763 |
| Des Moines to McAllen | ~1,275 mi | 7–14 days | $5,738 – $7,650 | $6,598 – $8,798 |
| Cedar Rapids to McAllen | ~1,342 mi | 7–14 days | $6,039 – $8,052 | $6,945 – $9,260 |
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 Texas end, 2,409 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Texas, moving costs in Texas, or the reverse trip, Texas 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 Texas moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to Texas?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Houston, the distance is about 960 miles. From our model that is $4,320 – $5,760 for a two-bedroom home and $4,968 – $6,624 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,110 – $4,147 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,074 – $2,765. Across the 32 city pairs we price between Iowa and Texas, distances run from 703 to 1,342 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to Texas take?
Des Moines to Houston is 2 days on the road (about 17 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 Texas?
Yes. A move from Iowa into Texas 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 Texas?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,074 – $2,765 for a two-bedroom home over 960 miles against $4,320 – $5,760 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,110 – $4,147, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to Texas each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 3,755 people (±1,433) moved from Iowa to Texas that year, against about 5,861 (±2,811) from Texas to Iowa. That makes Iowa the 37th-largest source of new residents for Texas among the states.