Moving from New Jersey to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Newark and Des Moines it is about 1,179 miles and 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving); the 6 city pairs we price between the two states run from 1,058 to 1,187 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.
- ~1,179 miNewark → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $5,306+2-bedroom, movers
- 6City routes priced
In short
Between Newark and Des Moines it is about 1,179 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $5,306 – $7,074 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 424 movers based in New Jersey hold interstate authority.
Newark 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 New Jersey and Iowa.
Cost of moving from New Jersey to Iowa
At about 1,179 miles, full-service movers should land around $5,306 – $7,074 for a two-bedroom home and $6,101 – $8,135 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,820 – $5,093; a freight trailer is $2,547 – $3,396.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,979 – $5,306 | $2,865 – $3,820 | $1,910 – $2,547 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,775 – $6,367 | $3,438 – $4,584 | $2,292 – $3,056 |
| 2 bedrooms | $5,306 – $7,074 | $3,820 – $5,093 | $2,547 – $3,396 |
| 3 bedrooms | $6,101 – $8,135 | $4,393 – $5,857 | $2,929 – $3,905 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,897 – $9,196 | $4,966 – $6,621 | $3,311 – $4,414 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,958 – $10,611 | $5,730 – $7,640 | $3,820 – $5,093 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,179 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 New Jersey to Iowa
Every pair of cities we cover in the two states, nearest first. Run any pair through the calculator for a measured distance.
| Route | Distance | Transit | 2 bedrooms | 3 bedrooms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paterson to Cedar Rapids | ~1,058 mi | 3–7 days | $4,761 – $6,348 | $5,475 – $7,300 |
| Newark to Cedar Rapids | ~1,061 mi | 3–7 days | $4,775 – $6,366 | $5,491 – $7,321 |
| Jersey City to Cedar Rapids | ~1,069 mi | 3–7 days | $4,811 – $6,414 | $5,532 – $7,376 |
| Paterson to Des Moines | ~1,177 mi | 3–7 days | $5,297 – $7,062 | $6,091 – $8,121 |
| Newark to Des Moines | ~1,179 mi | 3–7 days | $5,306 – $7,074 | $6,101 – $8,135 |
| Jersey City to Des Moines | ~1,187 mi | 3–7 days | $5,342 – $7,122 | $6,143 – $8,190 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in New Jersey
255 of the 424 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 2,208 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 200 of 1,351 vehicle inspections (14.8%), below the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 507 of 2,203 driver inspections (23.0%, against 13.0%). 2 carriers have 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flower Transfer LogisticsSewell, NJ · USDOT 346532 | 262 | 4 of 201 | 1 of 262 |
| Budd Van Lines IncSomerset, NJ · USDOT 185771 | 107 | 4 of 56 | 9 of 107 |
| Cross Country Long Distance MoversClifton, NJ · USDOT 3051646 | 80 | 11 of 52 | 56 of 80 |
| Moving Express & Storage IncPassaic, NJ · USDOT 2055103 | 62 | 8 of 38 | 14 of 62 |
| Cobra Van Lines Moving SystemHackensack, NJ · USDOT 4309696 | 51 | 6 of 29 | 15 of 51 |
| Imovers LLCEdgewater, NJ · USDOT 3513866 | 47 | 5 of 19 | 16 of 47 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
558 listed household-goods carriers are based in New Jersey, 424 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the New Jersey 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 New Jersey. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from New Jersey
New Jersey to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from New Jersey to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Newark and Des Moines, the distance is about 1,179 miles. From our model that is $5,306 – $7,074 for a two-bedroom home and $6,101 – $8,135 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,820 – $5,093 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,547 – $3,396. Across the 6 city pairs we price between New Jersey and Iowa, distances run from 1,058 to 1,187 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from New Jersey to Iowa take?
Newark to Des Moines is 3 days on the road (about 21 hours of driving). The move itself typically takes 3 to 7 days, because at this distance it usually travels on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Get the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for New Jersey to Iowa?
Yes. A move from New Jersey into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 558 listed movers based in New Jersey, 424 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within New Jersey.
What is the cheapest way to move from New Jersey to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,547 – $3,396 for a two-bedroom home over 1,179 miles against $5,306 – $7,074 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,820 – $5,093, splits the difference and gives you days to load.