Moving from Indiana to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Indianapolis and Des Moines it is about 479 miles and about 9 hours; the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 380 to 515 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.
- ~479 miIndianapolis → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $2,156+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
About 751 people moved from Indiana to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±487), and about 1,199 went the other way. Between Indianapolis and Des Moines it is about 479 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $2,156 – $2,874 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 99 movers based in Indiana hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Indiana to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 751 people a year (±487), against about 1,199 (±953) from Iowa to Indiana, so Iowa loses about 448 people a year on this exchange. Indiana is the 17th-largest of the 43 states sending people to Iowa; Iowa took in about 59,199 from other states in all.
| From | To | People a year |
|---|---|---|
| Montgomery County | Johnson County | 140 ±213* |
| Marion County | Linn County | 95 ±148* |
| Lake County | Linn County | 86 ±114* |
| Dubois County | Linn County | 53 ±88* |
| Warrick County | Linn County | 52 ±88* |
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.
Indianapolis to Des Moines, 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 Indiana and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Indiana to Iowa
At about 479 miles, full-service movers should land around $2,156 – $2,874 for a two-bedroom home and $2,479 – $3,305 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,552 – $2,069; a freight trailer is $1,035 – $1,380.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,617 – $2,156 | $1,164 – $1,552 | $776 – $1,035 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,940 – $2,587 | $1,397 – $1,862 | $931 – $1,242 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,156 – $2,874 | $1,552 – $2,069 | $1,035 – $1,380 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,479 – $3,305 | $1,785 – $2,380 | $1,190 – $1,586 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,802 – $3,736 | $2,018 – $2,690 | $1,345 – $1,793 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,233 – $4,311 | $2,328 – $3,104 | $1,552 – $2,069 |
Transport only, for an estimated 479 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 Indiana to Iowa
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis to Cedar Rapids | ~380 mi | 1–3 days | $1,710 – $2,280 | $1,966 – $2,622 |
| Fort Wayne to Cedar Rapids | ~400 mi | 3–7 days | $1,800 – $2,400 | $2,070 – $2,760 |
| Evansville to Cedar Rapids | ~410 mi | 3–7 days | $1,845 – $2,460 | $2,122 – $2,829 |
| Evansville to Des Moines | ~475 mi | 3–7 days | $2,138 – $2,850 | $2,458 – $3,278 |
| Indianapolis to Des Moines | ~479 mi | 3–7 days | $2,156 – $2,874 | $2,479 – $3,305 |
| Fort Wayne to Des Moines | ~515 mi | 3–7 days | $2,318 – $3,090 | $2,665 – $3,554 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Indiana
51 of the 99 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 4,745 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 689 of 2,623 vehicle inspections (26.3%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 235 of 4,739 driver inspections (5.0%, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Atlas Van Lines IncEvansville, IN · USDOT 125550 | 1,609 | 223 of 888 | 71 of 1,609 |
| Allied Van Lines IncFort Wayne, IN · USDOT 76235 | 970 | 158 of 525 | 38 of 969 |
| North American Moving & StorageFort Wayne, IN · USDOT 70851 | 862 | 149 of 468 | 33 of 861 |
| Wheaton World Wide MovingIndianapolis, IN · USDOT 70719 | 688 | 88 of 405 | 44 of 687 |
| Fastmover Express IncFishers, IN · USDOT 3701508 | 195 | 21 of 102 | 8 of 195 |
| WS Thomas Transfer LLCGreenfield, IN · USDOT 2093310 | 98 | 16 of 59 | 0 of 98 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
166 listed household-goods carriers are based in Indiana, 99 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Indiana directory ranks them. At the Iowa end, 119 are based in the state, useful for a local crew after delivery: movers in Iowa, moving costs in Iowa, or the reverse trip, Iowa to Indiana. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Indiana
Indiana to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Indiana to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Indianapolis and Des Moines, the distance is about 479 miles. From our model that is $2,156 – $2,874 for a two-bedroom home and $2,479 – $3,305 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,552 – $2,069 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $1,035 – $1,380. Across the 6 city pairs we price between Indiana and Iowa, distances run from 380 to 515 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Indiana to Iowa take?
Indianapolis to Des Moines is about 9 hours. 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 Indiana to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Indiana into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 166 listed movers based in Indiana, 99 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Indiana.
What is the cheapest way to move from Indiana to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $1,035 – $1,380 for a two-bedroom home over 479 miles against $2,156 – $2,874 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,552 – $2,069, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Indiana to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 751 people (±487) moved from Indiana to Iowa that year, against about 1,199 (±953) from Iowa to Indiana. That makes Indiana the 17th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.