Moving from Iowa to Washington
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Seattle it is about 1,706 miles and 4 days on the road (about 31 hours of driving); the 10 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,443 to 1,827 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.
- ~1,706 miDes Moines → Seattle
- 7–14 daysTypical transit
- $7,677+2-bedroom, movers
- 10City routes priced
In short
About 907 people moved from Iowa to Washington in 2024 (Census estimate, ±766), and about 652 went the other way. Between Des Moines and Seattle it is about 1,706 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $7,677 – $10,236 in our model, delivered in 7–14 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to Washington
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 907 people a year (±766), against about 652 (±304) from Washington to Iowa, so Washington gains about 255 people a year on this exchange. Iowa is the 38th-largest of the 48 states sending people to Washington; Washington took in about 221,646 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Linn County | King County | 105 ±148* |
| Linn County | Pierce County | 65 ±77* |
| Johnson County | King County | 49 ±58* |
| Johnson County | Spokane County | 40 ±63* |
| Dallas County | King County | 36 ±60* |
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 Seattle, 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 Washington.
Cost of moving from Iowa to Washington
At about 1,706 miles, full-service movers should land around $7,677 – $10,236 for a two-bedroom home and $8,829 – $11,771 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $5,527 – $7,370; a freight trailer is $3,685 – $4,913.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,758 – $7,677 | $4,146 – $5,527 | $2,764 – $3,685 |
| 1 bedroom | $6,909 – $9,212 | $4,975 – $6,633 | $3,316 – $4,422 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,677 – $10,236 | $5,527 – $7,370 | $3,685 – $4,913 |
| 3 bedrooms | $8,829 – $11,771 | $6,357 – $8,475 | $4,238 – $5,650 |
| 4 bedrooms | $9,980 – $13,307 | $7,186 – $9,581 | $4,790 – $6,387 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $11,516 – $15,354 | $8,291 – $11,055 | $5,527 – $7,370 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,706 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 Washington
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 Spokane | ~1,443 mi | 7–14 days | $6,494 – $8,658 | $7,468 – $9,957 |
| Cedar Rapids to Spokane | ~1,533 mi | 7–14 days | $6,899 – $9,198 | $7,933 – $10,578 |
| Des Moines to Seattle | ~1,706 mi | 7–14 days | $7,677 – $10,236 | $8,829 – $11,771 |
| Des Moines to Tacoma | ~1,709 mi | 7–14 days | $7,691 – $10,254 | $8,844 – $11,792 |
| Des Moines to Vancouver | ~1,716 mi | 7–14 days | $7,722 – $10,296 | $8,880 – $11,840 |
| Des Moines to Olympia | ~1,732 mi | 7–14 days | $7,794 – $10,392 | $8,963 – $11,951 |
| Cedar Rapids to Seattle | ~1,798 mi | 7–14 days | $8,091 – $10,788 | $9,305 – $12,406 |
| Cedar Rapids to Tacoma | ~1,802 mi | 7–14 days | $8,109 – $10,812 | $9,325 – $12,434 |
| Cedar Rapids to Vancouver | ~1,815 mi | 7–14 days | $8,168 – $10,890 | $9,393 – $12,524 |
| Cedar Rapids to Olympia | ~1,827 mi | 7–14 days | $8,222 – $10,962 | $9,455 – $12,606 |
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 Washington end, 458 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Washington, moving costs in Washington, or the reverse trip, Washington 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 Washington moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to Washington?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Seattle, the distance is about 1,706 miles. From our model that is $7,677 – $10,236 for a two-bedroom home and $8,829 – $11,771 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $5,527 – $7,370 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $3,685 – $4,913. Across the 10 city pairs we price between Iowa and Washington, distances run from 1,443 to 1,827 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to Washington take?
Des Moines to Seattle is 4 days on the road (about 31 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 7 to 14 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Iowa to Washington?
Yes. A move from Iowa into Washington 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 Washington?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $3,685 – $4,913 for a two-bedroom home over 1,706 miles against $7,677 – $10,236 with full-service movers. A container, about $5,527 – $7,370, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to Washington each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 907 people (±766) moved from Iowa to Washington that year, against about 652 (±304) from Washington to Iowa. That makes Iowa the 38th-largest source of new residents for Washington among the states.