Moving from Nebraska to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Omaha and Des Moines it is about 142 miles and about 3 hours; the 4 city pairs we price between the two states run from 142 to 319 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.
- ~142 miOmaha → Des Moines
- 1–3 daysTypical transit
- $639+2-bedroom, movers
- 4City routes priced
In short
About 4,800 people moved from Nebraska to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±1,250), and about 6,626 went the other way. Between Omaha and Des Moines it is about 142 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $639 – $852 in our model, delivered in 1–3 days. 38 movers based in Nebraska hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Nebraska to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 4,800 people a year (±1,250), against about 6,626 (±1,928) from Iowa to Nebraska, so Iowa loses about 1,826 people a year on this exchange. Nebraska is the 4th-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Douglas County | Pottawattamie County | 1,015 ±284 |
| Douglas County | Marion County | 283 ±275 |
| Sarpy County | Pottawattamie County | 280 ±175 |
| Douglas County | Woodbury County | 194 ±195* |
| Sarpy County | Hancock County | 193 ±221* |
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.
Omaha 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 Nebraska and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Nebraska to Iowa
At about 142 miles, full-service movers should land around $639 – $852 for a two-bedroom home and $735 – $980 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $460 – $613; a freight trailer is $307 – $409.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $479 – $639 | $345 – $460 | $230 – $307 |
| 1 bedroom | $575 – $767 | $414 – $552 | $276 – $368 |
| 2 bedrooms | $639 – $852 | $460 – $613 | $307 – $409 |
| 3 bedrooms | $735 – $980 | $529 – $705 | $353 – $470 |
| 4 bedrooms | $831 – $1,108 | $598 – $797 | $399 – $532 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $959 – $1,278 | $690 – $920 | $460 – $613 |
Transport only, for an estimated 142 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 Nebraska 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Omaha to Des Moines | ~142 mi | 1–3 days | $639 – $852 | $735 – $980 |
| Lincoln to Des Moines | ~197 mi | 1–3 days | $887 – $1,182 | $1,019 – $1,359 |
| Omaha to Cedar Rapids | ~263 mi | 1–3 days | $1,184 – $1,578 | $1,361 – $1,815 |
| Lincoln to Cedar Rapids | ~319 mi | 1–3 days | $1,436 – $1,914 | $1,651 – $2,201 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Nebraska
25 of the 38 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 252 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 24 of 102 vehicle inspections (23.5%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 15 of 252 driver inspections (6.0%, against 13.0%). None has an acute or critical violation from an FMCSA investigation in the past 12 months.
| Carrier | Inspections | Vehicle out of service | Driver out of service |
|---|---|---|---|
| N & W Transfer IncPlattsmouth, NE · USDOT 53226 | 73 | 6 of 24 | 0 of 73 |
| Ford Storage & Moving CompanyOmaha, NE · USDOT 563314 | 73 | 6 of 29 | 1 of 73 |
| Second to None MovingOmaha, NE · USDOT 1791230 | 15 | 0 of 4 | 1 of 15 |
| Cornhusker Moving Group IncOmaha, NE · USDOT 1015106 | 12 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 12 |
| Firefighters on the MovePapillion, NE · USDOT 1686194 | 10 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 10 |
| American Eagle Van Lines IncNorfolk, NE · USDOT 256825 | 10 | 2 of 7 | 0 of 10 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
73 listed household-goods carriers are based in Nebraska, 38 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Nebraska 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 Nebraska. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Nebraska
Nebraska to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Nebraska to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Omaha and Des Moines, the distance is about 142 miles. From our model that is $639 – $852 for a two-bedroom home and $735 – $980 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $460 – $613 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $307 – $409. Across the 4 city pairs we price between Nebraska and Iowa, distances run from 142 to 319 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Nebraska to Iowa take?
Omaha to Des Moines is about 3 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 Nebraska to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Nebraska into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 73 listed movers based in Nebraska, 38 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Nebraska.
What is the cheapest way to move from Nebraska to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $307 – $409 for a two-bedroom home over 142 miles against $639 – $852 with full-service movers. A container, about $460 – $613, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Nebraska to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 4,800 people (±1,250) moved from Nebraska to Iowa that year, against about 6,626 (±1,928) from Iowa to Nebraska. That makes Nebraska the 4th-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.