Moving from Saint Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA
About 273 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 Saint Paul, MN to Des Moines, IA covers about 273 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,229 – $1,638 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 375 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 273 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 $1,229 – $1,638. 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 Saint Paul to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $921 – $1,229 | $663 – $885 | $442 – $590 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,106 – $1,474 | $796 – $1,061 | $531 – $708 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,229 – $1,638 | $885 – $1,179 | $590 – $786 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,413 – $1,884 | $1,017 – $1,356 | $678 – $904 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,597 – $2,129 | $1,150 – $1,533 | $767 – $1,022 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,843 – $2,457 | $1,327 – $1,769 | $885 – $1,179 |
Transport only, for an estimated 273 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, Saint Paul to Des Moines
273 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,365. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,229 to $1,638, 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 Saint Paul to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 375 people a year (±321) moved from Ramsey County, MN, home to Saint Paul, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 31 people a year (±54). Movers from Ramsey County make up 1.5% 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 |
|---|---|
| Hennepin County, MN | 11,373 ±1,074 |
| Washington County, MN | 5,509 ±880 |
| Dakota County, MN | 4,375 ±634 |
| Anoka County, MN | 3,828 ±574 |
| St. Louis County, MN | 927 ±244 |
| 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 Saint Paul (184 counting those licensed only inside Minnesota). 34 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.9% of their 679 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 · 8 mi | 360 trucks | 954 | 15.8% of 507 |
| Berger Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 125665 | Saint Paul · 5 mi | 221 trucks | 63 | 13.9% of 36 |
| Manning Transfer IncUSDOT 116111 | Blaine · 16 mi | 60 trucks | 104 | 23.5% of 51 |
| AAA Movers IncUSDOT 1140502 | Brooklyn Park · 18 mi | 44 trucks | 7 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Matt's Moving LLCUSDOT 1704106 | Saint Paul · 1 mi | 32 trucks | 15 | 25.0% of 4 |
| Twin Cities Moving Systems IncUSDOT 1273556 | Prior Lake · 24 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 Saint Paul to Des Moines
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 273 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 Saint Paul
All routes from Saint Paul, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Paul to Minneapolis, MN | ~10 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Saint Paul to Rochester, MN | ~83 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Saint Paul to Sioux Falls, SD | ~238 mi | $1,071 – $1,428 |
| Saint Paul to Fargo, ND | ~259 mi | $1,166 – $1,554 |
| Saint Paul to Madison, WI | ~263 mi | $1,184 – $1,578 |
| Saint Paul to Milwaukee, WI | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Saint Paul to Omaha, NE | ~341 mi | $1,535 – $2,046 |
| Saint Paul to Chicago, IL | ~405 mi | $1,823 – $2,430 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Saint Paul to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Saint Paul to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 273 miles cost about $921 – $1,229 for a studio, $1,229 – $1,638 for a two-bedroom home and $1,413 – $1,884 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Saint Paul 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 Saint Paul to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $590 – $786 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,229 – $1,638 with full-service movers; a moving container is $885 – $1,179.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Saint Paul to Des Moines?
Yes. Saint Paul 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 Saint Paul hold it.
How many people move from Saint Paul to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 375 people a year (margin of error ±321) moved from Ramsey County, which contains Saint Paul, 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.