Moving from Minneapolis, MN to Des Moines, IA
About 274 miles across a state line, from Minnesota 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 Minneapolis, MN to Des Moines, IA covers about 274 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,233 – $1,644 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 186 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 274 miles, about 5 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 $1,233 – $1,644. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Minneapolis to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $925 – $1,233 | $666 – $888 | $444 – $592 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,110 – $1,480 | $799 – $1,065 | $533 – $710 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,233 – $1,644 | $888 – $1,184 | $592 – $789 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,418 – $1,891 | $1,021 – $1,361 | $681 – $907 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,603 – $2,137 | $1,154 – $1,539 | $769 – $1,026 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,850 – $2,466 | $1,332 – $1,776 | $888 – $1,184 |
Transport only, for an estimated 274 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, Minneapolis to Des Moines
274 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,370. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,233 to $1,644, 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 Minneapolis to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 186 people a year (±88) moved from Hennepin County, MN, home to Minneapolis, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 293 people a year (±132). Movers from Hennepin County make up 0.7% 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 5,086 people a year (±1,099) moving from Minnesota to Iowa and about 5,965 people a year (±1,581) from Iowa to Minnesota — a net gain for Minnesota of about 879 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Ramsey County, MN | 12,138 ±1,365 |
| Anoka County, MN | 8,764 ±1,203 |
| Dakota County, MN | 6,506 ±899 |
| Carver County, MN | 2,839 ±475 |
| Washington County, MN | 2,544 ±572 |
| 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
56 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Minneapolis (187 counting those licensed only inside Minnesota). 34 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 17.5% of their 715 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bay and BayUSDOT 125630 | Eagan · 10 mi | 360 trucks | 954 | 15.8% of 507 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 125665 | Saint Paul · 6 mi | 221 trucks | 63 | 13.9% of 36 |
| Manning Transfer IncUSDOT 116111 | Blaine · 14 mi | 60 trucks | 104 | 23.5% of 51 |
| AAA Movers IncUSDOT 1140502 | Brooklyn Park · 11 mi | 44 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Matt's Moving LLCUSDOT 1704106 | Saint Paul · 10 mi | 32 trucks | 15 | 25.0% of 4 |
| Twin Cities Moving Systems IncUSDOT 1273556 | Prior Lake · 22 mi | 30 trucks | 47 | 25.0% of 24 |
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 Minnesota 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 Minneapolis to Des Moines
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 274 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 Minneapolis
All routes from Minneapolis, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis to Saint Paul, MN | ~10 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Rochester, MN | ~90 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Minneapolis to Sioux Falls, SD | ~231 mi | $1,040 – $1,386 |
| Minneapolis to Fargo, ND | ~250 mi | $1,125 – $1,500 |
| Minneapolis to Madison, WI | ~272 mi | $1,224 – $1,632 |
| Minneapolis to Omaha, NE | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Minneapolis to Milwaukee, WI | ~347 mi | $1,562 – $2,082 |
| Minneapolis to Chicago, IL | ~414 mi | $1,863 – $2,484 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Minneapolis to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Minneapolis to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 274 miles cost about $925 – $1,233 for a studio, $1,233 – $1,644 for a two-bedroom home and $1,418 – $1,891 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Minneapolis to Des Moines take?
The drive is about 5 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 Minneapolis to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $592 – $789 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,233 – $1,644 with full-service movers; a moving container is $888 – $1,184.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Minneapolis to Des Moines?
Yes. Minneapolis is in Minnesota and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 56 listed movers within 30 miles of Minneapolis hold it.
How many people move from Minneapolis to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 186 people a year (margin of error ±88) moved from Hennepin County, which contains Minneapolis, 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.