Dover, DE → Des Moines, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Dover to Des Moines

About 1,139 road miles heading west. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,870–$7,240, delivery in 3–7 days, 143 carriers on the Dover side and 191 in Des Moines.

1,139 miroad distance
20 h 20 mindriving time
3–7 daysdelivery window
$4,870–$7,2402-bedroom estimate

Photo: Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States · CC BY 2.0

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Dover, Delaware
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 1,139 miles (965 straight-line)
Drive time: 20 h 20 min
Delivery window: 3–7 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 143 (103 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Dover

Moving from Dover to Des Moines is a long-distance move of roughly 1,139 road miles, heading west from Delaware to Iowa.

At this distance carriers price by shipment weight and mileage rather than by the hour. A two-bedroom home (around 5,000 lb of goods) typically costs $4,870 to $7,240 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 3 to 7 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 20 h 20 min.

On the Dover side there are 143 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (103 of them authorized for interstate work), and 191 around Des Moines (116 interstate). For an interstate move you can book from either end; movers near the origin handle loading and are usually the better first call, while a destination-side company can be useful if you need storage or delivery-day help in Des Moines.

Dover has a population of about 40,000 and Des Moines about 212,086. Des Moines is the denser city (2,428 people per square mile versus 1,654 in Dover), which often means shuttle trucks, parking restrictions or building move-in windows on delivery day. Labor and living costs run lower in Iowa than in Delaware, which tends to make destination-side services such as unpacking or storage cheaper than the same services back home.

Cost of moving from Dover to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 1,139 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,950	$2,370	$2,900
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,920	$3,560	$4,350
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$4,870	$5,940	$7,240
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$7,790	$9,500	$11,590
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$10,710	$13,060	$15,930

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,620–$2,290

One-way truck for the distance, mileage and fuel included; you load and drive.

Portable container

$2,040–$2,990

Container delivered, you load, company transports; transit is slower than a mover.

Full-service mover

$4,870–$7,240

Two-bedroom reference; crew loads, hauls and unloads.

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Dover, DE → Des Moines, IA. Adjust the other options to see your range.

—to—

Typical full-service range.

Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.

Moving companies for this route

Near Dover (origin)

Em Way INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 1934741
MC: 690698
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 100 trucks, 50 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (302) 450-3272 Route Verify on FMCSA

Tri-Coast Carriers LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1510668
MC: 566208
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 66 trucks, 60 drivers
USDOT registered: 2006

Call (713) 451-8884 Route Verify on FMCSA

Two Men And A Truck

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Jkb Corp

USDOT: 2546977
MC: 886752
Based in: Dover, DE 19901 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 17 trucks, 24 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (302) 734-5017 Route Verify on FMCSA

Collett & Son Welding INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 872818
MC: 903323
Based in: Smyrna, DE 19977 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 15 trucks, 12 drivers
USDOT registered: 2000

Call (302) 376-1830 Route Verify on FMCSA

Mom Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3876998
MC: 1421184
Based in: Dover, DE 19901 (3 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 10 trucks, 10 drivers
USDOT registered: 2022

Call (302) 264-0450 Route Verify on FMCSA

Benjamin Mast

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4262251
MC: 1653912
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 9 trucks, 1 drivers
USDOT registered: 2024

Call (302) 632-7389 Route Verify on FMCSA

A & D Trucking LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3100720
MC: 77314
Based in: Dover, DE 19904 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2018

Call (609) 816-6185 Route Verify on FMCSA

R Gill USA Corporation

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3621695
MC: 1237363
Based in: Smyrna, DE 19977 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 5 trucks, 5 drivers
USDOT registered: 2021

Call (610) 477-5003 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 143 movers in Dover

Near Des Moines (destination)

Dhl Freight

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Standard Forwarding LLC

USDOT: 1996747
MC: 16536
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50316 (3 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 302 trucks, 277 drivers
USDOT registered: 2010

Call (800) 447-2012 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jacobson Warehouse Co

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Jacobson Transportation Company INC

USDOT: 241594
MC: 172189
Based in: Clive, IA 50325 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 483 trucks, 459 drivers
USDOT registered: 1984

Call (219) 742-2278 Route Verify on FMCSA

Ntb

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: Nationwide Truck Brokers INC

USDOT: 158325
MC: 142245
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50309 (1 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 158 trucks, 165 drivers
USDOT registered: 1974

Call (515) 245-2595 Route Verify on FMCSA

Crawford Trucking INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 450195
MC: 232411
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50321 (4 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 70 trucks, 73 drivers
USDOT registered: 1991

Route Verify on FMCSA

Arona Home Essentials

Licensed interstate

Legal name: Arona Corporation

USDOT: 1278309
MC: 33302
Based in: West Des Moines, IA 50265 (8 mi from center)
Service: Local moves
Fleet: 70 trucks, 120 drivers
USDOT registered: 2004

Call (515) 225-9029 Route Verify on FMCSA

Nounou Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3497497
MC: 1155202
Based in: Des Moines, IA 50313 (6 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 60 trucks, 130 drivers
USDOT registered: 2020

Call (515) 201-2579 Route Verify on FMCSA

Vgt Transportation INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2633507
MC: 945435
Based in: West Des Moines, IA 50265 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 45 trucks, 45 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (618) 655-4444 Route Verify on FMCSA

Homemakers Plaza INC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 4354064
MC: 1702859
Based in: Urbandale, IA 50322 (8 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 32 trucks, 37 drivers
USDOT registered: 2025

Call (515) 309-4637 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 191 movers in Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Dover

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Dover to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,950 to $2,900 for a studio, $2,920 to $4,350 for a one-bedroom, $4,870 to $7,240 for a two-bedroom, $7,790 to $11,590 for a three-bedroom and $10,710 to $15,930 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Dover?

About 1,139 road miles (965 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 20 h 20 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 3 to 7 days after pickup. Carriers give a spread rather than a fixed date because long-distance trucks carry several shipments; a dedicated truck or expedited service shortens the window for an extra fee.

Does my mover need interstate authority for this move?

Yes. Crossing from Delaware into Iowa makes this an interstate move, so the carrier must hold active FMCSA operating authority (an MC number) in addition to its USDOT number. The company cards on this page flag which carriers are authorized for interstate work.

Is it cheaper to rent a truck or use a container for Dover to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,620 to $2,290 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $2,040 to $2,990. Both save money versus a full-service crew but you do the loading, and container transit can take longer than a mover's delivery window.

When is the least expensive time to book this move?

Rates are highest in summer and around the last days of any month, when demand peaks. Mid-month, mid-week and winter dates are usually quoted below the standard rate. Booking four to eight weeks ahead gives you the widest choice of carriers on the Dover–Des Moines corridor.