Moving from Texas to Iowa
An interstate move, so the FMCSA's rules apply from the first quote. Between Houston and Des Moines it is about 960 miles and 2 days on the road (about 17 hours of driving); the 32 city pairs we price between the two states run from 703 to 1,342 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.
- ~960 miHouston → Des Moines
- 3–7 daysTypical transit
- $4,320+2-bedroom, movers
- 32City routes priced
In short
About 5,861 people moved from Texas to Iowa in 2024 (Census estimate, ±2,811), and about 3,755 went the other way. Between Houston and Des Moines it is about 960 miles; a two-bedroom move with full-service movers runs $4,320 – $5,760 in our model, delivered in 3–7 days. 407 movers based in Texas hold interstate authority.
Who moves from Texas to Iowa
The Census Bureau's 2024 survey puts the flow at about 5,861 people a year (±2,811), against about 3,755 (±1,433) from Iowa to Texas, so Iowa gains about 2,106 people a year on this exchange. Texas is the 2nd-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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lubbock County | Polk County | 115 ±139* |
| Harris County | Story County | 104 ±110* |
| Dallas County | Dallas County | 84 ±132* |
| Hidalgo County | Greene County | 82 ±79 |
| Tarrant County | Polk County | 79 ±73 |
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.
Houston 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 Texas and Iowa.
Cost of moving from Texas to Iowa
At about 960 miles, full-service movers should land around $4,320 – $5,760 for a two-bedroom home and $4,968 – $6,624 for three bedrooms. Load a container yourself and the two-bedroom figure drops to $3,110 – $4,147; a freight trailer is $2,074 – $2,765.
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,240 – $4,320 | $2,333 – $3,110 | $1,555 – $2,074 |
| 1 bedroom | $3,888 – $5,184 | $2,799 – $3,732 | $1,866 – $2,488 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,320 – $5,760 | $3,110 – $4,147 | $2,074 – $2,765 |
| 3 bedrooms | $4,968 – $6,624 | $3,577 – $4,769 | $2,385 – $3,180 |
| 4 bedrooms | $5,616 – $7,488 | $4,044 – $5,391 | $2,696 – $3,594 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $6,480 – $8,640 | $4,666 – $6,221 | $3,110 – $4,147 |
Transport only, for an estimated 960 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 Texas 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McKinney to Des Moines | ~703 mi | 3–7 days | $3,164 – $4,218 | $3,638 – $4,851 |
| Plano to Des Moines | ~716 mi | 3–7 days | $3,222 – $4,296 | $3,705 – $4,940 |
| Garland to Des Moines | ~725 mi | 3–7 days | $3,263 – $4,350 | $3,752 – $5,002 |
| Amarillo to Des Moines | ~730 mi | 3–7 days | $3,285 – $4,380 | $3,778 – $5,037 |
| Irving to Des Moines | ~735 mi | 3–7 days | $3,308 – $4,410 | $3,804 – $5,071 |
| Dallas to Des Moines | ~738 mi | 3–7 days | $3,321 – $4,428 | $3,819 – $5,092 |
| Arlington to Des Moines | ~747 mi | 3–7 days | $3,362 – $4,482 | $3,866 – $5,154 |
| Fort Worth to Des Moines | ~750 mi | 3–7 days | $3,375 – $4,500 | $3,881 – $5,175 |
| McKinney to Cedar Rapids | ~775 mi | 3–7 days | $3,488 – $4,650 | $4,011 – $5,347 |
| Plano to Cedar Rapids | ~788 mi | 3–7 days | $3,546 – $4,728 | $4,078 – $5,437 |
| Garland to Cedar Rapids | ~796 mi | 3–7 days | $3,582 – $4,776 | $4,119 – $5,492 |
| Irving to Cedar Rapids | ~809 mi | 3–7 days | $3,641 – $4,854 | $4,187 – $5,582 |
| Dallas to Cedar Rapids | ~810 mi | 3–7 days | $3,645 – $4,860 | $4,192 – $5,589 |
| Arlington to Cedar Rapids | ~821 mi | 3–7 days | $3,695 – $4,926 | $4,249 – $5,665 |
| Fort Worth to Cedar Rapids | ~826 mi | 3–7 days | $3,717 – $4,956 | $4,275 – $5,699 |
| Lubbock to Des Moines | ~834 mi | 3–7 days | $3,753 – $5,004 | $4,316 – $5,755 |
| Amarillo to Cedar Rapids | ~840 mi | 3–7 days | $3,780 – $5,040 | $4,347 – $5,796 |
| Lubbock to Cedar Rapids | ~938 mi | 3–7 days | $4,221 – $5,628 | $4,854 – $6,472 |
| Austin to Des Moines | ~950 mi | 3–7 days | $4,275 – $5,700 | $4,916 – $6,555 |
| Houston to Des Moines | ~960 mi | 3–7 days | $4,320 – $5,760 | $4,968 – $6,624 |
| Houston to Cedar Rapids | ~1,013 mi | 3–7 days | $4,559 – $6,078 | $5,242 – $6,990 |
| Austin to Cedar Rapids | ~1,022 mi | 3–7 days | $4,599 – $6,132 | $5,289 – $7,052 |
| San Antonio to Des Moines | ~1,030 mi | 3–7 days | $4,635 – $6,180 | $5,330 – $7,107 |
| San Antonio to Cedar Rapids | ~1,104 mi | 3–7 days | $4,968 – $6,624 | $5,713 – $7,618 |
| Corpus Christi to Des Moines | ~1,141 mi | 3–7 days | $5,135 – $6,846 | $5,905 – $7,873 |
| El Paso to Des Moines | ~1,145 mi | 3–7 days | $5,153 – $6,870 | $5,925 – $7,901 |
| Laredo to Des Moines | ~1,194 mi | 3–7 days | $5,373 – $7,164 | $6,179 – $8,239 |
| Corpus Christi to Cedar Rapids | ~1,205 mi | 7–14 days | $5,423 – $7,230 | $6,236 – $8,315 |
| El Paso to Cedar Rapids | ~1,257 mi | 7–14 days | $5,657 – $7,542 | $6,505 – $8,673 |
| Laredo to Cedar Rapids | ~1,270 mi | 7–14 days | $5,715 – $7,620 | $6,572 – $8,763 |
| McAllen to Des Moines | ~1,275 mi | 7–14 days | $5,738 – $7,650 | $6,598 – $8,798 |
| McAllen to Cedar Rapids | ~1,342 mi | 7–14 days | $6,039 – $8,052 | $6,945 – $9,260 |
Routes without a link are priced on estimated distance only; the calculator measures the exact drive.
Roadside inspections: interstate movers based in Texas
190 of the 407 interstate movers listed here had at least one roadside inspection in the 24 months to September 13, 2026, 1,348 inspections in all. Inspectors put the vehicle out of service in 189 of 866 vehicle inspections (21.8%), above the 19.0% for listed movers nationally. Drivers were put out of service in 299 of 1,346 driver inspections (22.2%, against 13.0%). 1 carrier has 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fast Transfers IncEagle Pass, TX · USDOT 643206 | 152 | 19 of 113 | 14 of 152 |
| Next Stop Moving & StorageTaylor, TX · USDOT 3756197 | 56 | 10 of 32 | 5 of 56 |
| Scobey Moving & Storage LtdSan Antonio, TX · USDOT 1274056 | 47 | 4 of 33 | 3 of 47 |
| American Knights MovingHouston, TX · USDOT 1977907 | 39 | 7 of 26 | 4 of 39 |
| Apple MovingAustin, TX · USDOT 3538096 | 37 | 4 of 17 | 5 of 37 |
| Lone Star Van Lines IncFort Worth, TX · USDOT 601326 | 34 | 7 of 23 | 11 of 34 |
FMCSA Safety Measurement System carrier summary, 24-month window. How the comparison is calculated.
Licensed movers at both ends
2,409 listed household-goods carriers are based in Texas, 407 of them with interstate authority, which this move requires; the Texas 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 Texas. The federal rules for the move itself are in who regulates movers and binding vs non-binding estimates.
Other moves from Texas
Texas to Iowa moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Texas to Iowa?
Between the two states' main cities, Houston and Des Moines, the distance is about 960 miles. From our model that is $4,320 – $5,760 for a two-bedroom home and $4,968 – $6,624 for three bedrooms with full-service movers, transport only. A container you load yourself is about $3,110 – $4,147 for the two-bedroom home; a freight trailer about $2,074 – $2,765. Across the 32 city pairs we price between Texas and Iowa, distances run from 703 to 1,342 miles, so use the table for your own cities.
How long does a move from Texas to Iowa take?
Houston to Des Moines is 2 days on the road (about 17 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 Texas to Iowa?
Yes. A move from Texas into Iowa is regulated by the FMCSA, so the carrier needs active interstate operating authority as well as a USDOT number. Of the 2,409 listed movers based in Texas, 407 hold that authority; the rest can only move you within Texas.
What is the cheapest way to move from Texas to Iowa?
Load a freight trailer yourself: about $2,074 – $2,765 for a two-bedroom home over 960 miles against $4,320 – $5,760 with full-service movers. A container, about $3,110 – $4,147, splits the difference and gives you days to load.
How many people move from Texas to Iowa each year?
The Census Bureau's 2024 American Community Survey estimates about 5,861 people (±2,811) moved from Texas to Iowa that year, against about 3,755 (±1,433) from Iowa to Texas. That makes Texas the 2nd-largest source of new residents for Iowa among the states.