Moving from Madison, WI to Des Moines, IA
About 280 miles across a state line, from Wisconsin 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 Madison, WI to Des Moines, IA covers about 280 miles and is an interstate move. Full-service movers cost $1,260 – $1,680 for a two-bedroom home in our model, delivered in 1 to 3 days. About 101 people a year move between the two counties (Census).
The route
A short interstate haul: 280 miles, about 5 hours of driving. Long enough to be priced on weight, short enough that most carriers run it on a dedicated truck rather than pooling your goods with other shipments — a two-bedroom home typically runs $1,260 – $1,680. That means a tight delivery date and far less handling.
- Move type
- Interstate move
- Driving
- about 5 hours
- Usually moves on
- a dedicated truck
- Book ahead
- 2 to 4 weeks
Cost of moving from Madison to Des Moines
| Home size | Full-service movers | Moving container | Freight trailer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | $945 – $1,260 | $680 – $907 | $454 – $605 |
| 1 bedroom | $1,134 – $1,512 | $816 – $1,089 | $544 – $726 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,260 – $1,680 | $907 – $1,210 | $605 – $806 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,449 – $1,932 | $1,043 – $1,391 | $696 – $927 |
| 4 bedrooms | $1,638 – $2,184 | $1,179 – $1,572 | $786 – $1,048 |
| 5+ bedrooms | $1,890 – $2,520 | $1,361 – $1,814 | $907 – $1,210 |
Transport only, for an estimated 280 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, Madison to Des Moines
280 miles × 2.0 (two-bedroom size multiplier) × $2.50 (full-service rate) = $1,400. The range runs 10% under that to 20% over: $1,260 to $1,680, 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 Madison to Des Moines
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates that about 101 people a year (±73) moved from Dane County, WI, home to Madison, to Polk County, IA, home to Des Moines. Going the other way: about 76 people a year (±82). Movers from Dane County make up 0.4% 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 3,739 people a year (±964) moving from Wisconsin to Iowa and about 4,117 people a year (±1,324) from Iowa to Wisconsin — a net gain for Wisconsin of about 378 people a year.
| County | People a year |
|---|---|
| Milwaukee County, WI | 1,643 ±293 |
| Columbia County, WI | 1,125 ±315 |
| Cook County, IL | 1,074 ±243 |
| Jefferson County, WI | 888 ±258 |
| Rock County, WI | 794 ±213 |
| 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
12 household-goods carriers with interstate authority are based within 30 miles of Madison (25 counting those licensed only inside Wisconsin). 10 of them had a roadside inspection in the last 24 months, and 22.0% of their 41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reynolds Transfer & Storage IncUSDOT 74488 | Madison · 0 mi | 34 trucks | 6 | 25.0% of 4 |
| O'Mara Moving Systems IncUSDOT 74476 | Madison · 5 mi | 18 trucks | 36 | 16.7% of 24 |
| Mad City MovingUSDOT 699743 | McFarland · 8 mi | 14 trucks | 0 | — |
| Yerges Van Liners IncUSDOT 46561 | Fort Atkinson · 28 mi | 12 trucks | 3 | 100.0% of 2 |
| Capital City Transfer IncUSDOT 257153 | Verona · 12 mi | 8 trucks | 1 | — |
| Gorilla Movers of Wisconsin IncUSDOT 2627768 | Sun Prairie · 12 mi | 7 trucks | 4 | 0.0% of 3 |
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 Wisconsin 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 Madison to Des Moines
Ask whether it is hourly or flat
At 280 miles some carriers still quote hourly plus mileage rather than by weight. Get both numbers so you can compare like with like — hourly can win on a short haul with easy access at both ends.
Confirm it is a one-day run
Most carriers cover this distance in a single day, which avoids an overnight charge and a second crew. If a quote assumes two days, ask why.
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 Madison
All routes from Madison, nearest first.
| Route | Distance | 2-bedroom, movers |
|---|---|---|
| Madison to Milwaukee, WI | ~87 mi | $515 – $845 |
| Madison to Green Bay, WI | ~141 mi | $635 – $846 |
| Madison to Chicago, IL | ~142 mi | $639 – $852 |
| Madison to Cedar Rapids, IA | ~162 mi | $729 – $972 |
| Madison to Grand Rapids, MI | ~219 mi | $986 – $1,314 |
| Madison to Saint Paul, MN | ~263 mi | $1,184 – $1,578 |
| Madison to Minneapolis, MN | ~272 mi | $1,224 – $1,632 |
| Madison to Indianapolis, IN | ~330 mi | $1,485 – $1,980 |
Also moving to Des Moines: from Cedar Rapids, IA, from Omaha, NE, from Kansas City, MO, from Overland Park, KS.
Madison to Des Moines moving FAQ
How much does it cost to move from Madison to Des Moines?
From our published model, full-service movers over about 280 miles cost about $945 – $1,260 for a studio, $1,260 – $1,680 for a two-bedroom home and $1,449 – $1,932 for a three-bedroom home, transport only; packing, storage and specialty items are extra.
How long does a move from Madison to Des Moines take?
The drive is about 5 hours, but the move usually takes 1 to 3 days because it moves on a dedicated truck, because the corridor is too short to be worth consolidating. Ask for the delivery window in writing. Book ahead: 2 to 4 weeks, 4 to 6 in summer.
What is the cheapest way to move from Madison to Des Moines?
Loading a freight trailer yourself: about $605 – $806 for a two-bedroom home, against $1,260 – $1,680 with full-service movers; a moving container is $907 – $1,210.
Do I need an interstate-licensed mover for Madison to Des Moines?
Yes. Madison is in Wisconsin and Des Moines is in Iowa, so the carrier needs active FMCSA interstate authority (an MC number) as well as a USDOT number. 12 listed movers within 30 miles of Madison hold it.
How many people move from Madison to Des Moines each year?
The Census Bureau's American Community Survey (2016–2020) estimates about 101 people a year (margin of error ±73) moved from Dane County, which contains Madison, 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.