Sugar Land, TX → Des Moines, IA · Long-distance move

Movers from Sugar Land to Des Moines

About 986 road miles heading north. Typical two-bedroom cost $4,380–$6,520, delivery in 2–5 days, 1,180 carriers on the Sugar Land side and 191 in Des Moines.

986 miroad distance
17 h 42 mindriving time
2–5 daysdelivery window
$4,380–$6,5202-bedroom estimate

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

Open navigation Google Maps Apple Maps Waze

Route summary

From: Sugar Land, Texas
To: Des Moines, Iowa
Road distance: ≈ 986 miles (835 straight-line)
Drive time: 17 h 42 min
Delivery window: 2–5 days
Move type: Interstate – FMCSA authority required
Movers at origin: 1,180 (498 interstate)
Movers at destination: 191 (116 interstate)

Reverse: Des Moines → Sugar Land

Moving from Sugar Land to Des Moines is a long-distance move of roughly 986 road miles, heading north from Texas 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 $4,380 to $6,520 with a full-service mover, and delivery usually takes 2 to 5 days after pickup because long-haul trucks consolidate several households per trip. Driving it yourself takes about 17 h 42 min.

On the Sugar Land side there are 1,180 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA in and around the city (498 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.

Sugar Land has a population of about 107,726 and Des Moines about 212,086. The two cities have comparable density (2,741 and 2,428 people per square mile), so loading and unloading conditions are usually similar at both ends. Note that Iowa does collect a state income tax, unlike Texas, so factor that into the cost-of-living comparison.

Cost of moving from Sugar Land to Des Moines

Full-service estimate for 986 miles, by home size
Home size	Est. weight	Low	Typical	High
Studio	2,000 lb	$1,750	$2,140	$2,610
1 Bedroom	3,000 lb	$2,630	$3,210	$3,910
2 Bedrooms	5,000 lb	$4,380	$5,340	$6,520
3 Bedrooms	8,000 lb	$7,010	$8,550	$10,430
4+ Bedrooms	11,000 lb	$9,640	$11,760	$14,340

Rental truck (DIY)

$1,460–$2,070

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

Portable container

$1,900–$2,790

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

Full-service mover

$4,380–$6,520

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

Moving cost calculator

Distance is pre-filled for Sugar Land, TX → 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 Sugar Land (origin)

Ranger Energy Services LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2544062
MC: 10575
Based in: Houston, TX 77042 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 105 trucks, 178 drivers
USDOT registered: 2014

Call (713) 935-8900 Route Verify on FMCSA

3 Men Movers

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

Legal name: 3 Men Movers LTD

USDOT: 1914113
MC: 685878
Based in: Houston, TX 77074 (10 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 95 trucks, 88 drivers
USDOT registered: 2009

Call (713) 333-6683 Route Verify on FMCSA

Roadrunner Dedicated Service LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 2443733
MC: 843742
Based in: Houston, TX 77035 (11 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 69 trucks, 27 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (832) 613-9202 Route Verify on FMCSA

Sunshine Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate

USDOT: 3061153
MC: 55323
Based in: Sugar Land, TX 77478 (2 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 55 trucks, 55 drivers
USDOT registered: 2017

Call (713) 303-0587 Route Verify on FMCSA

Jd Express INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2399905
MC: 822597
Based in: Fresno, TX 77545 (10 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 50 trucks, 49 drivers
USDOT registered: 2013

Call (877) 630-5449 Route Verify on FMCSA

Lrb Transportation LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1736170
MC: 635958
Based in: Houston, TX 77085 (9 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 25 trucks, 25 drivers
USDOT registered: 2008

Call (713) 255-2183 Route Verify on FMCSA

Featherlite Logistics LLC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 2820143
MC: 940290
Based in: Richmond, TX 77407 (7 mi from center)
Service: Long-distance
Fleet: 23 trucks, 23 drivers
USDOT registered: 2015

Call (214) 687-8317 Route Verify on FMCSA

Hepta Run INC

Licensed interstate Safety: Satisfactory

USDOT: 1168426
MC: 469196
Based in: Houston, TX 77042 (11 mi from center)
Service: Local & long-distance
Fleet: 21 trucks, 21 drivers
USDOT registered: 2003

Call (713) 780-4006 Route Verify on FMCSA

All 1,180 movers in Sugar Land

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

Tips for this move

Declutter first: long-haul pricing is by weight, so every hundred pounds you sell or donate saves money.
Check whether a shuttle truck is needed in Des Moines if a 53-foot trailer cannot reach your street.
Keep vehicle titles, passports and prescriptions with you; movers cannot carry some items at all.
Insist on a binding or binding-not-to-exceed estimate after an in-home or video survey.

Near Sugar Land

Near Des Moines

Related routes

Other destinations from Sugar Land

Other origins to Des Moines

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to move from Sugar Land to Des Moines?

Typical full-service estimates for this route are $1,750 to $2,610 for a studio, $2,630 to $3,910 for a one-bedroom, $4,380 to $6,520 for a two-bedroom, $7,010 to $10,430 for a three-bedroom and $9,640 to $14,340 for four or more bedrooms. Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items add to these figures.

How far is Des Moines from Sugar Land?

About 986 road miles (835 miles in a straight line). Driving without overnight stops takes roughly 17 h 42 min.

How long will the movers take to deliver?

Expect a delivery window of 2 to 5 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 Texas 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 Sugar Land to Des Moines?

A one-way rental truck for this distance typically runs $1,460 to $2,070 including mileage and fuel, and a portable container about $1,900 to $2,790. 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 Sugar Land–Des Moines corridor.