Moving from Missouri to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Saint Louis and Des Moines it is about 319 miles and about 6 hours; the 8 city pairs we price between the two states run from 209 to 397 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.
- ~319 miSaint Louis → Des Moines
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $1,436+2-bedroom, movers
- 8City routes priced
In short
About 3,254 people moved from Missouri to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±970), and about 2,421 went the other way. Between Saint Louis and Des Moines it is about 319 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $1,436 – $1,914 in our model, delivered in 1–3 days. 132 movers based in Missouri hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Missouri to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 3,254 people a year (±970), against about 2,421 (±738) from Iowa to Missouri, so Iowa gains about 833 people a year on this exchange. Missouri is the 6th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | Polk County | 264 ±274* |
| Boone County | Johnson County | 205 ±263* |
| Andrew County | Mills County | 162 ±191* |
| Jackson County | Polk County | 152 ±148 |
| Randolph County | Lucas County | 138 ±157* |
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.
Saint Louis 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 Missouri and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Missouri to Iowa
At about 319 miles, full-service movers should land around $1,436 – $1,914 for a two-bedroom home and $1,651 – $2,201 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,034 – $1,378; a freight trailer is $689 – $919.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,077 – $1,436 | $775 – $1,034 | $517 – $689 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,292 – $1,723 | $930 – $1,240 | $620 – $827 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,436 – $1,914 | $1,034 – $1,378 | $689 – $919 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,651 – $2,201 | $1,189 – $1,585 | $792 – $1,057 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,866 – $2,488 | $1,344 – $1,792 | $896 – $1,194 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $2,153 – $2,871 | $1,550 – $2,067 | $1,034 – $1,378 |
Transport only, for an estimated 319 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 Missouri to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. 1 has a full route page with a map, transit and licensed movers.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kansas City to Des Moines | ~209 mi | 1–3 days | $941 – $1,254 | $1,082 – $1,442 |
| Columbia to Des Moines | ~227 mi | 1–3 days | $1,022 – $1,362 | $1,175 – $1,566 |
| Columbia to Cedar Rapids | ~247 mi | 1–3 days | $1,112 – $1,482 | $1,278 – $1,704 |
| Saint Louis to Cedar Rapids | ~285 mi | 1–3 days | $1,283 – $1,710 | $1,475 – $1,967 |
| Kansas City to Cedar Rapids | ~292 mi | 1–3 days | $1,314 – $1,752 | $1,511 – $2,015 |
| Saint Louis to Des Moines | ~319 mi | 1–3 days | $1,436 – $1,914 | $1,651 – $2,201 |
| Springfield to Des Moines | ~353 mi | 1–3 days | $1,589 – $2,118 | $1,827 – $2,436 |
| Springfield to Cedar Rapids | ~397 mi | 1–3 days | $1,787 – $2,382 | $2,054 – $2,739 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Missouri
51 of the 132 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,422 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 298 of 1,266 vehicle inspections (23.5%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 131 of 2,416 driver inspections (5.4%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has an acute or critical violation found in an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Van LinesFenton, MO · USDOT 77949 | 2,112 | 268 of 1,102 | 71 of 2,110 |
| Carlyle Van Lines IncWarrensburg, MO · USDOT 279780 | 78 | 10 of 35 | 5 of 78 |
| Day Transfer Company IncCape Girardeau, MO · USDOT 2441154 | 45 | 11 of 27 | 6 of 45 |
| Modern Piano MovingSullivan, MO · USDOT 454870 | 19 | 0 of 8 | 1 of 19 |
| Pack and Load Moving and Storage LLCSaint Louis, MO · USDOT 4345256 | 15 | 0 of 8 | 7 of 15 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Kansas LLCKansas City, MO · USDOT 1980643 | 11 | 0 of 8 | 0 of 11 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
238 listed household-goods carriers are based in Missouri, 132 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Missouri 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 Missouri. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Missouri
Missouri to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Missouri to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Saint Louis and Des Moines, the distance is about 319 miles. From our model that is $1,436 – $1,914 for a two-bedroom home and $1,651 – $2,201 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $1,034 – $1,378 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $689 – $919. Across the 8 city pairs we price between Missouri and Iowa, distances run from 209 to 397 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Missouri to Iowa take?
Saint Louis to Des Moines is about 6 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 Missouri to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Missouri into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 238 listed movers based in Missouri, 132 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Missouri.
What is the cheapest way to move from Missouri to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $689 – $919 for a two-bedroom home over 319 miles against $1,436 – $1,914 with full-service movers. A container, about $1,034 – $1,378, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Missouri to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 3,254 people (±970) moved from Missouri to Iowa that year, against about 2,421 (±738) from Iowa to Missouri. That makes Missouri the 6th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.