Moving from Omaha, NE to Des Moines, IA
About 142 miles across a state line, from Nebraska 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 Omaha, NE to Des Moines, IA covers about 142 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $639 – $852 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 166 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 142 miles, about 3 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 $639 – $852. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 3 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Omaha to Des Moines
| 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.
Worked example: a two-bedroom home, Omaha to Des Moines
142 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $710. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $639 to $852, 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 Omaha to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 166 people a year (±93) moved from Douglas County, NE, home to Omaha, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 303 people a year (±156). Movers from Douglas 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 4,800 people a year (±1,250) moving from Nebraska to Iowa and about 6,626 people a year (±1,928) from Iowa to Nebraska — a net gain for Nebraska of about 1,826 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Sarpy County, NE | 6,215 ±816 |
| Lancaster County, NE | 3,870 ±713 |
| Pottawattamie County, IA | 1,015 ±284 |
| San Joaquin County, CA | 808 ±796 |
| Washington County, NE | 609 ±266 |
| 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
34 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Omaha (46 counting those licensed only inside Nebraska). 22 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 21.7% of their 92 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Storage & Moving CompanyUSDOT 563314 | Omaha · 12 mi | 240 trucks | 73 | 20.7% of 29 |
| N&W Transfer, IncUSDOT 7585272 | Plattsmouth · 19 mi | 47 trucks | 0 | — |
| N & W Transfer IncUSDOT 53226 | Plattsmouth · 19 mi | 36 trucks | 73 | 25.0% of 24 |
| Firefighters on the MoveUSDOT 1686194 | Papillion · 11 mi | 23 trucks | 10 | 0.0% of 3 |
| Two Men and A TruckUSDOT 2590545 | Omaha · 4 mi | 20 trucks | 9 | 25.0% of 4 |
| Coleman American Moving Services IncUSDOT 1119370 | Omaha · 5 mi | 12 trucks | 0 | — |
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 Nebraska 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 Omaha to Des Moines
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 142 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 Omaha
All routes from Omaha, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Omaha to Lincoln, NE | ~59 mi | $505 – $817 |
| Omaha to Sioux Falls, SD | ~190 mi | $855 – $1,140 |
| Omaha to Kansas City, MO | ~193 mi | $869 – $1,158 |
| Omaha to Overland Park, KS | ~200 mi | $900 – $1,200 |
| Omaha to Minneapolis, MN | ~338 mi | $1,521 – $2,028 |
| Omaha to Fargo, ND | ~455 mi | $2,048 – $2,730 |
| Omaha to Denver, CO | ~567 mi | $2,552 – $3,402 |
| Omaha to Colorado Springs, CO | ~582 mi | $2,619 – $3,492 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS, from Saint Paul, MN.
Omaha to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Omaha to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 142 miles cost about $479 – $639 for a studio, $639 – $852 for a two-bedroom home and $735 – $980 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Omaha to Des Moines take?
The drive is about 3 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 Omaha to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $307 – $409 for a two-bedroom home, against $639 – $852 with full-service movers; a moving container is $460 – $613.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Omaha to Des Moines?
Yes. Omaha is in Nebraska and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 34 listed movers within 30 miles of Omaha hold it.
How many people move from Omaha to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 166 people a year (margin of error ±93) moved from Douglas County, which contains Omaha, 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.