Moving from Richmond, VA to Des Moines, IA
About 1,055 miles across a state line, from Virginia 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 Richmond, VA to Des Moines, IA covers about 1,055 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $4,748 – $6,330 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 3 to 7 days. The carrier must hold active FMCSA interstate authority.
The route
At 1,055 miles between Virginia and Iowa, 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 3 to 7 days. The price gap between those two is real — a two-bedroom home runs $4,748 – $6,330 full-service — so ask which one you are buying.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 3 days on the road (about 19 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- either a dedicated truck or a consolidated load
- Book ahead
- 4 to 6 weeks
Cost of moving from Richmond to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $3,561 – $4,748 | $2,564 – $3,418 | $1,709 – $2,279 |
| 1 bedroom | $4,273 – $5,697 | $3,076 – $4,102 | $2,051 – $2,735 |
| 2 bedrooms | $4,748 – $6,330 | $3,418 – $4,558 | $2,279 – $3,038 |
| 3 bedrooms | $5,460 – $7,280 | $3,931 – $5,241 | $2,621 – $3,494 |
| 4 bedrooms | $6,172 – $8,229 | $4,444 – $5,925 | $2,962 – $3,950 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $7,121 – $9,495 | $5,127 – $6,836 | $3,418 – $4,558 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,055 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, Richmond to Des Moines
1,055 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $5,275. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $4,748 to $6,330, 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 Richmond to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) sampled nobody moving from Richmond city, VA to Polk County, IA, or between their metro areas, so it publishes no estimate for this pair; people leaving Richmond city mostly go to the counties listed below.
At state level, the 2024 survey counts about 409 people a year (±295) moving from Virginia to Iowa and about 465 people a year (±381) from Iowa to Virginia — a net gain for Virginia of about 56 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Henrico County, VA | 5,086 ±908 |
| Chesterfield County, VA | 3,271 ±716 |
| Hanover County, VA | 791 ±299 |
| Fairfax County, VA | 630 ±182 |
| Petersburg City, VA | 429 ±275 |
| 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
21 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Richmond (46 counting those licensed only inside Virginia). 12 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.8% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stewart Moving and StorageUSDOT 1194537 | Midlothian · 13 mi | 95 trucks | 102 | 26.0% of 50 |
| RCS MovingUSDOT 805773 | Richmond · 4 mi | 31 trucks | 10 | 0.0% of 5 |
| D1 MovingUSDOT 3013397 | Richmond · 4 mi | 22 trucks | 28 | 21.1% of 19 |
| Dunmar Moving SystemUSDOT 392896 | Richmond · 10 mi | 20 trucks | 1 | 0.0% of 1 |
| Worth Moving LLCUSDOT 2574535 | Richmond · 3 mi | 14 trucks | 9 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Bold Moving and Storage LLCUSDOT 3139358 | Richmond · 6 mi | 11 trucks | 14 | 37.5% of 8 |
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 Virginia 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 Richmond to Des Moines
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.
Get it binding or not-to-exceed
A non-binding estimate is a guess with no ceiling. On 1,055 miles the gap between a guess and a weighed load is measured in four figures.
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 Richmond
All routes from Richmond, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond to Norfolk, VA | ~92 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Richmond to Chesapeake, VA | ~100 mi | $465 – $761 |
| Richmond to Virginia Beach, VA | ~109 mi | $491 – $654 |
| Richmond to Arlington, VA | ~110 mi | $495 – $660 |
| Richmond to Washington, DC | ~112 mi | $504 – $672 |
| Richmond to Baltimore, MD | ~150 mi | $675 – $900 |
| Richmond to Raleigh, NC | ~162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Richmond to Harrisburg, PA | ~223 mi | $1,004 – $1,338 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Richmond to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Richmond to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,055 miles cost about $3,561 – $4,748 for a studio, $4,748 – $6,330 for a two-bedroom home and $5,460 – $7,280 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Richmond to Des Moines take?
The drive is 3 days on the road (about 19 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 Richmond to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $2,279 – $3,038 for a two-bedroom home, against $4,748 – $6,330 with full-service movers; a moving container is $3,418 – $4,558.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Richmond to Des Moines?
Yes. Richmond is in Virginia and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 21 listed movers within 30 miles of Richmond hold it.
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.