Moving from Wichita, KS to Des Moines, IA
About 389 miles across a state line, from Kansas into Iowa, so the federal interstate rules apply from the first quote.
Distance estimated from city coordinates; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not quotes.
In short
Moving from Wichita, KS to Des Moines, IA covers about 389 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,751 – $2,334 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 143 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 389 miles, about 7 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $1,751 – $2,334. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 7 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Wichita to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,313 – $1,751 | $945 – $1,260 | $630 – $840 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,575 – $2,101 | $1,134 – $1,512 | $756 – $1,008 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,751 – $2,334 | $1,260 – $1,680 | $840 – $1,120 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,013 – $2,684 | $1,449 – $1,933 | $966 – $1,288 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,276 – $3,034 | $1,638 – $2,185 | $1,092 – $1,456 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,626 – $3,501 | $1,891 – $2,521 | $1,260 – $1,680 |
Transport only, for an estimated 389 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Wichita to Des Moines
389 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,945. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,751 to $2,334, transport only. Every parameter is on the methodology page; moving cost per mile explains why the rate falls with distance.
How many people move from Wichita to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 143 people a year (±128) moved from Sedgwick County, KS, home to Wichita, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 67 people a year (±60). Movers from Sedgwick County make up 0.6% of the 25,352 people a year who moved into Polk County from another county or state.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 2,460 people a year (±1,764) moving from Kansas to Iowa and about 1,184 people a year (±452) from Iowa to Kansas — a net gain for Iowa of about 1,276 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Butler County, KS | 1,815 ±496 |
| Johnson County, KS | 1,204 ±429 |
| Shawnee County, KS | 1,104 ±313 |
| Reno County, KS | 754 ±234 |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 586 ±263 |
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Dallas County, IA | 2,686 ±651 |
| Story County, IA | 2,109 ±459 |
| Warren County, IA | 1,438 ±390 |
| Black Hawk County, IA | 914 ±314 |
| Boone County, IA | 691 ±258 |
Licensed movers at each end
10 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Wichita (27 counting those licensed only inside Kansas). 7 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.4% of their 23 vehicle inspections ended with a truck put out of service. The largest by registered fleet:
| Carrier | Based in | Size | Inspections, 24 mo | Vehicle out of service |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 2277955 | Wichita · 6 mi | 17 trucks | 6 | 20.0% of 5 |
| King's Moving & Storage IncUSDOT 957078 | Wichita · 6 mi | 8 trucks | 3 | 100.0% of 1 |
| American MoversUSDOT 1698749 | Wichita · 2 mi | 7 trucks | 7 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Ok Transfer LLCUSDOT 1799712 | Wichita · 2 mi | 5 trucks | 5 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Air Capital Office Movers LLCUSDOT 2839434 | Wichita · 6 mi | 5 trucks | 5 | 20.0% of 5 |
| Titan MovingUSDOT 2727872 | Wichita · 6 mi | 3 trucks | 1 | — |
How these figures are calculated
At the Des Moines end
For a local crew after delivery, the largest licensed carriers within 30 miles of Des Moines: Lint Van Lines Inc (Des Moines, 27 trucks), The Affordable Movers (West Des Moines, 6 trucks), Duplicate- You First Moving (Urbandale, 5 trucks), Iowa Movers LLC (Clive, 5 trucks).
Rules that apply to this move
Because the truck crosses from Kansas into Iowa, 49 CFR Part 375 applies: a written estimate before loading, no more than 110% of a non-binding estimate collected at delivery, and full-value protection unless you choose released value in writing. See binding vs non-binding estimates and valuation explained.
Before you book Wichita to Des Moines
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 389 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
Arriving in Des Moines
A local move inside Des Moines later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $505 – $831 for a two-bedroom home and $849 – $1,533 for three bedrooms. The nearest cities we cover from Des Moines are Cedar Rapids (about 122 mi), Omaha (about 142 mi), Lincoln (about 197 mi).
Other routes from Wichita
All routes from Wichita, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Wichita to Tulsa, OK | ~151 mi | $680 – $906 |
| Wichita to Oklahoma City, OK | ~179 mi | $806 – $1,074 |
| Wichita to Overland Park, KS | ~197 mi | $887 – $1,182 |
| Wichita to Norman, OK | ~199 mi | $896 – $1,194 |
| Wichita to Kansas City, KS | ~206 mi | $927 – $1,236 |
| Wichita to Kansas City, MO | ~208 mi | $936 – $1,248 |
| Wichita to McKinney, TX | ~365 mi | $1,643 – $2,190 |
| Wichita to Dallas, TX | ~398 mi | $1,791 – $2,388 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Wichita to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Wichita to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 389 miles cost about $1,313 – $1,751 for a studio, $1,751 – $2,334 for a two-bedroom home and $2,013 – $2,684 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Wichita to Des Moines take?
The drive is about 7 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Wichita to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $840 – $1,120 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,751 – $2,334 with full-service movers; a moving container is $1,260 – $1,680.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Wichita to Des Moines?
Yes. Wichita is in Kansas and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 10 listed movers within 30 miles of Wichita hold it.
How many people move from Wichita to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 143 people a year (margin of error ±128) moved from Sedgwick County, which contains Wichita, to Polk County, which contains Des Moines.
Sources for this page
The published cost model; US Census Bureau ACS migration flows (± is the 90% margin of error); the FMCSA Motor Carrier Census and Safety Measurement System; 49 CFR Part 375. Data last refreshed September 24, 2026.