Moving from Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA
About 1,706 miles across a state line, from Washington 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 Seattle, WA to Des Moines, IA covers about 1,706 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $7,677 – $10,236 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 7 to 14 days. About 160 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A genuine long haul at 1,706 miles from Washington to Iowa. Almost all of these move as consolidated freight: your goods share a trailer and the carrier quotes 7 to 14 days rather than a date. It is why a two-bedroom home here runs $7,677 – $10,236 instead of scaling straight with distance, and also why there is more handling and a looser schedule.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- 4 days on the road (about 31 hours of driving)
- Usually moves on
- a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households
- Book ahead
- 6 to 8 weeks
Cost of moving from Seattle to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $5,758 – $7,677 | $4,146 – $5,527 | $2,764 – $3,685 |
| 1 bedroom | $6,909 – $9,212 | $4,975 – $6,633 | $3,316 – $4,422 |
| 2 bedrooms | $7,677 – $10,236 | $5,527 – $7,370 | $3,685 – $4,913 |
| 3 bedrooms | $8,829 – $11,771 | $6,357 – $8,475 | $4,238 – $5,650 |
| 4 bedrooms | $9,980 – $13,307 | $7,186 – $9,581 | $4,790 – $6,387 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $11,516 – $15,354 | $8,291 – $11,055 | $5,527 – $7,370 |
Transport only, for an estimated 1,706 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, Seattle to Des Moines
1,706 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $8,530. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $7,677 to $10,236, 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 Seattle to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 160 people a year (±143) moved from King County, WA, home to Seattle, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 13 people a year (±21). Movers from King County make up 0.6% 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 652 people a year (±304) moving from Washington to Iowa and about 907 people a year (±766) from Iowa to Washington — a net gain for Washington of about 255 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Snohomish County, WA | 21,771 ±1,735 |
| Pierce County, WA | 21,425 ±1,746 |
| Kitsap County, WA | 3,349 ±699 |
| Maricopa County, AZ | 3,295 ±699 |
| Spokane County, WA | 3,045 ±593 |
| 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
79 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Seattle (299 counting those licensed only inside Washington). 48 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 16.1% of their 274 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Relocation Services Aff Aes TransportationUSDOT 340754 | Fife · 25 mi | 86 trucks | 184 | 12.0% of 108 |
| Hogland Transfer CoUSDOT 8264 | Everett · 24 mi | 67 trucks | 44 | 26.7% of 15 |
| CMS Relocation & LogisticsUSDOT 505087 | Kent · 15 mi | 59 trucks | 8 | 0.0% of 4 |
| Hansen Bros Moving & StorageUSDOT 8257 | Bellevue · 9 mi | 46 trucks | 10 | 16.7% of 6 |
| Hill Moving Services IncUSDOT 534666 | Poulsbo · 17 mi | 34 trucks | 10 | 33.3% of 3 |
| 4252510911USDOT 153161 | Kent · 15 mi | 31 trucks | 22 | 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 Washington 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 Seattle to Des Moines
Insist on a survey
Over 1,706 miles the price is driven almost entirely by weight. A quote given without a video or in-home survey is a guess that gets revised upward on loading day, and at this distance the revision is expensive.
Keep full-value protection
It is the default on an interstate move. Signing it away for released value means 60 cents per pound, about $18 for a 30 lb television, after 1,706 miles of handling.
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 Seattle
All routes from Seattle, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Seattle to Tacoma, WA | ~29 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Seattle to Olympia, WA | ~55 mi | $535 – $873 |
| Seattle to Vancouver, WA | ~160 mi | $720 – $960 |
| Seattle to Portland, OR | 174 mi | $783 – $1,044 |
| Seattle to Salem, OR | ~218 mi | $981 – $1,308 |
| Seattle to Spokane, WA | ~266 mi | $1,197 – $1,596 |
| Seattle to Eugene, OR | ~289 mi | $1,301 – $1,734 |
| Seattle to Missoula, MT | ~460 mi | $2,070 – $2,760 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Seattle to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Seattle to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 1,706 miles cost about $5,758 – $7,677 for a studio, $7,677 – $10,236 for a two-bedroom home and $8,829 – $11,771 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Seattle to Des Moines take?
The drive is 4 days on the road (about 31 hours of driving), but the move usually takes 7 to 14 days because it moves on a consolidated load sharing trailer space with other households. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 6 to 8 weeks, 8 to 12 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Seattle to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $3,685 – $4,913 for a two-bedroom home, against $7,677 – $10,236 with full-service movers; a moving container is $5,527 – $7,370.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Seattle to Des Moines?
Yes. Seattle is in Washington and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 79 listed movers within 30 miles of Seattle hold it.
How many people move from Seattle to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 160 people a year (margin of error ±143) moved from King County, which contains Seattle, 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.