Moving from Iowa to Wisconsin
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Des Moines and Milwaukee it is about 360 miles and about 7 hours; the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 162 to 406 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.
- ~360 miDes Moines → Milwaukee
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $1,620+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 4,117 people moved from Iowa to Wisconsin in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,324), and about 3,739 went the other way. Between Des Moines and Milwaukee it is about 360 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $1,620 – $2,160 in our model, delivered in 1–3 days. 58 movers based in Iowa hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Iowa to Wisconsin
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 4,117 people a year (±1,324), against about 3,739 (±964) from Wisconsin to Iowa, so Wisconsin gains about 378 people a year on this exchange. Iowa is the 7th-largest of the 47 states sending people to Wisconsin; Wisconsin took in about 116,098 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson County | Dane County | 232 ±204 |
| Dubuque County | Dodge County | 144 ±145* |
| Clayton County | Crawford County | 127 ±70 |
| Appanoose County | Jackson County | 114 ±118* |
| Jackson County | Dane County | 106 ±137* |
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 Milwaukee, 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 Wisconsin.
Cost of moving from Iowa to Wisconsin
At about 360 miles, full-service movers should land around $1,620 – $2,160 for a two-bedroom home and $1,863 – $2,484 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,166 – $1,555; a freight trailer is $778 – $1,037.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,215 – $1,620 | $875 – $1,166 | $583 – $778 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,458 – $1,944 | $1,050 – $1,400 | $700 – $933 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,620 – $2,160 | $1,166 – $1,555 | $778 – $1,037 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,863 – $2,484 | $1,341 – $1,788 | $894 – $1,192 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,106 – $2,808 | $1,516 – $2,022 | $1,011 – $1,348 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,430 – $3,240 | $1,750 – $2,333 | $1,166 – $1,555 |
Transport only, for an estimated 360 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 Wisconsin
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 Madison | ~162 mi | 1–3 days | $729 – $972 | $838 – $1,118 |
| Cedar Rapids to Milwaukee | ~239 mi | 1–3 days | $1,076 – $1,434 | $1,237 – $1,649 |
| Des Moines to Madison | ~280 mi | 1–3 days | $1,260 – $1,680 | $1,449 – $1,932 |
| Cedar Rapids to Green Bay | ~296 mi | 1–3 days | $1,332 – $1,776 | $1,532 – $2,042 |
| Des Moines to Milwaukee | ~360 mi | 1–3 days | $1,620 – $2,160 | $1,863 – $2,484 |
| Des Moines to Green Bay | ~406 mi | 3–7 days | $1,827 – $2,436 | $2,101 – $2,801 |
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 Wisconsin end, 174 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Wisconsin, moving costs in Wisconsin, or the reverse trip, Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Iowa to Wisconsin?
Between the two states' main cities, Des Moines and Milwaukee, the distance is about 360 miles. From our model that is $1,620 – $2,160 for a two-bedroom home and $1,863 – $2,484 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,166 – $1,555 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $778 – $1,037. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Iowa and Wisconsin, distances run from 162 to 406 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Iowa to Wisconsin take?
Des Moines to Milwaukee is about 7 hours. The move itself typically takes 1 to 3 days, because at this distance it usually travels on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Iowa to Wisconsin?
Yes. A move from Iowa into Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $778 – $1,037 for a two-bedroom home over 360 miles against $1,620 – $2,160 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,166 – $1,555, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Iowa to Wisconsin each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 4,117 people (±1,324) moved from Iowa to Wisconsin that year, against about 3,739 (±964) from Wisconsin to Iowa. That makes Iowa the 7th-largest source of new residents for Wisconsin among the states.