Moving from Memphis, TNto Des Moines, IA
About 566 miles across a state line, from Tennessee into Iowa. That makes it a federally regulated interstate move: the carrier must hold active interstate authority, must give you a written estimate before loading, and cannot demand more than 110% of a non-binding estimate before releasing your goods.
Distance estimated from city coordinates and labelled approximate; the calculator measures your exact route. Prices from our published model, not from quotes. We do not move anyone and nobody pays to be here.
The route
This sits in the range where carriers differ most. Some run it dedicated with a firm date; others consolidate it with other shipments and quote a window of several days. The price gap between those two is real, so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 2 days on the road (about 10 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Memphis to Des Moines
Full-service movers should land around $2,547 – $3,396 for a two-bedroom home and $2,929 – $3,905 for a three-bedroom home over about 566 miles. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $1,834 – $2,445; load a freight trailer and it is $1,223 – $1,630.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $1,910 – $2,547 | $1,375 – $1,834 | $917 – $1,223 |
| 1 bedroom | $2,292 – $3,056 | $1,650 – $2,201 | $1,100 – $1,467 |
| 2 bedrooms | $2,547 – $3,396 | $1,834 – $2,445 | $1,223 – $1,630 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,929 – $3,905 | $2,109 – $2,812 | $1,406 – $1,875 |
| 4 bedrooms | $3,311 – $4,415 | $2,384 – $3,179 | $1,589 – $2,119 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $3,821 – $5,094 | $2,751 – $3,668 | $1,834 – $2,445 |
Transport only, for an estimated 566 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.
When you move changes the price
Carriers sell capacity, and capacity is scarce between May and September, at month-ends and on Saturdays. The model prices the base rate; a peak-season date commonly adds 20 to 30 percent on top.
| Home size | October – April, mid-week | Summer weekend (+25%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 bedrooms | $2,547 – $3,396 | $3,184 – $4,245 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,929 – $3,905 | $3,661 – $4,881 |
Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer. A flexible date is usually the largest single saving on the move, and the only one that costs nothing.
Rules that apply to this move
Federal, not state. Because the truck crosses from Tennessee into Iowa, the move falls under the FMCSA's household-goods rules. The carrier must hold active interstate operating authority (an MC number) alongside its USDOT number, and both must be current on the day of the move.
Written estimate before loading. Binding fixes the price for the listed inventory; non-binding is the carrier's guess and the final bill follows the weighed shipment. The carrier cannot demand more than 110% of a non-binding estimate before releasing your goods at delivery, with the balance billed within 30 days. Ask for binding not-to-exceed by name.
Valuation. Basic released-value protection is included and pays 60 cents per pound per item. Full-value protection costs extra and is the one to buy for 566 miles of handling.
Paperwork you are owed. The federal "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet, a written delivery window, an itemised inventory at pickup, and access to the carrier's arbitration programme for disputes.
Licensed movers in Tennessee
274 household-goods carriers based in Tennessee are active on the FMCSA register. Browse them with USDOT numbers.
- Colonial Van Lines Inc, Clarkrange · USDOT 4071435 · 24 trucks
- Big League Movers Inc, Memphis · USDOT 1999318 · 20 trucks
- Lanigan Worldwide Moving & Warehousing Inc, Memphis · USDOT 296790 · 20 trucks
- Largest interstate carriers by registered fleet. Size is capacity, not quality. The 25 largest nationally.
Movers at the Des Moines end
119 household-goods carriers based in Iowa are active on the FMCSA register — useful if you need a local crew after delivery. Movers in Iowa.
Before you book Memphis to Des Moines
Six things to settle before anyone loads a box. They are ordered by how much money each one has cost people who skipped it.
Ask: dedicated or consolidated?
This is the distance where carriers split. A dedicated truck costs more and delivers on a date; a consolidated load costs less and delivers in a window. Decide which you are buying before you compare prices.
Insist on a survey
Past the local band the price tracks weight, and weight is not something anyone can eyeball. A quote given without a video or in-home survey can legally be revised upward once the truck is weighed.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 566 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
Pin down the delivery window
Get the spread in writing, along with what happens if they miss it. Carriers owe delay compensation under federal rules, but only if the dates were documented.
Look up the USDOT number
This crosses a state line, so the carrier must hold active interstate authority. Look the USDOT number up on the FMCSA register and confirm the authority and insurance are current before you sign anything.
Refuse a large deposit
Reputable carriers take little or nothing up front and bill on delivery. A demand for a big deposit — especially by wire, cash or a payment app — is the most reliable warning sign in the industry.
Arriving in Des Moines
A local move inside Des Moines later — across town, out of temporary housing — is billed by the hour: about $475 – $775 for a two-bedroom home and $795 – $1,425 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 Memphis
Priced the same way, nearest first. All routes from Memphis.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Memphis to Little Rock, AR | ~151 mi | $680 – $906 |
| Memphis to Jackson, MS | ~229 mi | $1,031 – $1,374 |
| Memphis to Nashville, TN | ~230 mi | $1,035 – $1,380 |
| Memphis to Huntsville, AL | ~231 mi | $1,040 – $1,386 |
| Memphis to Birmingham, AL | ~253 mi | $1,139 – $1,518 |
| Memphis to Evansville, IN | ~278 mi | $1,251 – $1,668 |
| Memphis to Saint Louis, MO | ~280 mi | $1,260 – $1,680 |
| Memphis to Chattanooga, TN | ~313 mi | $1,409 – $1,878 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Lincoln, NE, from Rochester, MN.
Memphis to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Memphis to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 566 miles cost about $1,910 – $2,547 for a studio, $2,547 – $3,396 for a two-bedroom home and $2,929 – $3,905 for a three-bedroom home, transport only. A moving container for the two-bedroom home is about $1,834 – $2,445 and a freight trailer about $1,223 – $1,630. Packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Memphis to Des Moines take?
The drive is 2 days on the road (about 10 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 3 to 7 days because it moves on either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load, depending on the carrier and the season. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Memphis to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $1,223 – $1,630 for a two-bedroom home against $2,547 – $3,396 with full-service movers. A moving container splits the difference at $1,834 – $2,445 and gives you days to load at your own pace. The trade is your labour and a wider delivery window. Moving between October and April, mid-month and mid-week, is worth another 20 to 30 percent on any of them.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Memphis to Des Moines?
Yes. Memphis is in Tennessee and Des Moines is in Iowa, so any carrier that moves your household goods must hold active interstate operating authority from the FMCSA, shown as an MC number, as well as a USDOT number. Check both on the FMCSA register. Interstate carriers must also give you a written estimate, the federal "Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move" booklet, and access to an arbitration programme.
When is the best time to move from Memphis to Des Moines?
October through April, mid-month, Tuesday to Thursday. Roughly 70 percent of US moves happen between May and September and carriers price on demand: the same shipment in peak season commonly runs 20 to 30 percent more, which on a three-bedroom home over this distance is $3,661 – $4,881 against $2,929 – $3,905. Book ahead: 4 to 6 weeks, 6 to 8 in summer.