Moving from Kansas City, MO to Des Moines, IA
About 209 miles across a state line, from Missouri 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 Kansas City, MO to Des Moines, IA covers about 209 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $941 – $1,254 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 152 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 209 miles, about 4 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 $941 – $1,254. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 4 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Kansas City to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $705 – $941 | $508 – $677 | $339 – $451 |
| 1 bedroom | $846 – $1,129 | $609 – $813 | $406 – $542 |
| 2 bedrooms | $941 – $1,254 | $677 – $903 | $451 – $602 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,082 – $1,442 | $779 – $1,038 | $519 – $692 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,223 – $1,630 | $880 – $1,174 | $587 – $782 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,411 – $1,881 | $1,016 – $1,354 | $677 – $903 |
Transport only, for an estimated 209 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, Kansas City to Des Moines
209 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,045. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $941 to $1,254, 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 Kansas City to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 152 people a year (±148) moved from Jackson County, MO, home to Kansas City, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 93 people a year (±49). Movers from Jackson 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 3,254 people a year (±970) moving from Missouri to Iowa and about 2,421 people a year (±738) from Iowa to Missouri — a net gain for Iowa of about 833 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Johnson County, KS | 6,887 ±967 |
| Clay County, MO | 4,004 ±713 |
| Cass County, MO | 2,802 ±672 |
| Platte County, MO | 1,855 ±528 |
| Wyandotte County, KS | 1,633 ±490 |
| 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
54 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Kansas City (78 counting those licensed only inside Missouri). 30 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 12.1% of their 58 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studdard Moving and StorageUSDOT 99388 | Leavenworth · 25 mi | 22 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Century Van Lines IncUSDOT 888860 | Leavenworth · 25 mi | 20 trucks | 0 | — |
| Gerber Transfer LLCUSDOT 2391030 | Bonner Springs · 19 mi | 17 trucks | 12 | 14.3% of 7 |
| Dba Mike Hammer Local MovingUSDOT 2929832 | Lenexa · 13 mi | 14 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 6 |
| All My Sons Moving & Storage of Kansas LLCUSDOT 1980643 | Kansas City · 4 mi | 11 trucks | 11 | 0.0% of 8 |
| SPD Transfer ServiceUSDOT 283973 | Kansas City · 6 mi | 11 trucks | 3 | 0.0% of 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 Missouri 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 Kansas City to Des Moines
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 209 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 Kansas City
All routes from Kansas City, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Kansas City to Kansas City, KS | ~3 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Kansas City to Overland Park, KS | ~12 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Kansas City to Columbia, MO | ~141 mi | $635 – $846 |
| Kansas City to Springfield, MO | ~173 mi | $779 – $1,038 |
| Kansas City to Lincoln, NE | ~190 mi | $855 – $1,140 |
| Kansas City to Wichita, KS | ~208 mi | $936 – $1,248 |
| Kansas City to Tulsa, OK | ~254 mi | $1,143 – $1,524 |
| Kansas City to Saint Louis, MO | ~278 mi | $1,251 – $1,668 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Overland Park, KS, from Saint Paul, MN.
Kansas City to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Kansas City, MO to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 209 miles cost about $705 – $941 for a studio, $941 – $1,254 for a two-bedroom home and $1,082 – $1,442 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Kansas City, MO to Des Moines take?
The drive is about 4 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 Kansas City, MO to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $451 – $602 for a two-bedroom home, against $941 – $1,254 with full-service movers; a moving container is $677 – $903.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Kansas City, MO to Des Moines?
Yes. Kansas City is in Missouri and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 54 listed movers within 30 miles of Kansas City hold it.
How many people move from Kansas City, MO to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 152 people a year (margin of error ±148) moved from Jackson County, which contains Kansas City, 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.