Hire Movers in Des Moines, IA
HireAHelper makes it easy to book affordable move helpers in Des Moines. Compare moving companies, get an estimate, and book movers online instantly.
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Top-Rated Hourly Moving Help, In Your Local Area
With HireAHelper, you can read reviews, compare movers, research moving costs in Des Moines, and get tips for a smoother move—all in one place. Discover how hiring moving labor through HireAHelper can help you save up to 50% vs. a traditional move.
Table of ContentsLabor-Only vs. The Traditional Move The Cost of Hiring Movers in Des Moines, IA |
How Booking With HireAHelper Works
Give us the key details about your upcoming move—like your move date, home size, and any stairs or heavy items that might require extra help.
We instantly match you with the best-value moving companies near you, using proprietary data from over 850,000 HireAHelper moves.
Review your moving quote and hire your movers in just a few clicks. And if you need help, you can call or chat with us 7 days a week—before, during, or after your move.
The HireAHelper Moving Advantage
The Traditional Move
Moving With HireAHelper
Compare the Top 6 Des Moines, IA Movers
For over 18 years, HireAHelper has partnered with top-rated moving companies to help tens of thousands of people complete successful moves. With real customer reviews, free estimates, upfront pricing, and no hidden fees, you always know what to expect before you book.
$170/hr
After 2 movers 2 hr minIowa Moving 1, LLC
Urbandale, IA
540 moves with HireAHelper
$150/hr
After 2 movers 2 hr minKBA Movers
Des Moines, IA
42 moves with HireAHelper
$100/hr
After 2 movers 2 hr minNexMove
$175/hr
After 2 movers 2 hr minUniMovers Des Moines
Des Moines, IA
$120/hr
After 2 movers 2 hr minDedicated Movers
Des Moines, IA
1 move with HireAHelper
Labor-Only vs. The Traditional Move
When most people think of a moving company, they picture a full-service crew that loads, drives, and unloads everything. For in-town moves, this is known as local full-service.
Labor-only moving works differently. You handle the transportation—like a rental truck or PODS container—and we connect you with professional movers to load or unload your stuff.
While labor-only requires a bit more work on your end to coordinate all the details, it’s considerably more affordable.
| Full-Service Moving | Labor-Only Moving | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $$$ | $ |
| Moving Truck | Included | You Provide |
| Loading Help | ✅ | ✅ |
| Unloading Help | ✅ | ✅ |
| Packing | Add-on | Add-on |
The Cost of Moving in Des Moines, IA
In Des Moines labor-only moving help typically costs between $330.98 and $730.63.
If you’re tackling a smaller job, like unloading a PODS-style container, moving into a storage unit, or just need help with the heavy lifting, you can hire hourly moving labor for around $82.16 an hour.
HireAHelper’s Best Price Guarantee Find a lower price for the same move? We’ll match it—because making your move easier and more affordable in Des Moines is what we’re here for. |
The Cost of Labor-Only vs. Local-Full Service
Even after factoring in the cost of a rental truck, gas, and supplies, labor-only moving usually costs less than half of what you’d pay for local full-service. Full-service is definitely more convenient—but that convenience comes at a price.
| Labor-Only | Local-Full Service | |
|---|---|---|
| Des Moines, IA | $439.64 | $1,143.60 |
| Iowa | $439.64 | $1,143.60 |
| The United States | $451.87 | $1,167.76 |
Labor-Only Moving Costs by Move Size
As mentioned above, it costs $439.64 on average to hire moving helpers (labor-only) in Des Moines, IA, with an average hourly rate of $82.16. Your final price will depend on how long your move takes.
To get a better sense of what your move might cost, you can see the average cost for different-sized moves in the table below. Learn more about HireAHelper's methodology for calculating average costs based on proprietary data from over 1 million moves.
| Home Size | Average Cost | Average # of Movers | Average # of Hours |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment | $330.98 | 2 movers | 2.2 hours |
| 2 Bedroom Apartment | $382.60 | 2 movers | 2.3 hours |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment | $442.60 | 2 movers | 2.7 hours |
| 2 Bedroom House | $414.69 | 2 movers | 2.6 hours |
| 3 Bedroom House | $484.81 | 2 movers | 2.7 hours |
| 4 Bedroom House | $584.14 | 3 movers | 3.1 hours |
| 5 Bedroom House | $730.63 | 3 movers | 3.9 hours |
236 Des Moines Mover Reviews
On average, movers on HireAHelper earn 4.8 stars out of 5.0 after 317,733 verified customer reviews
I recently hired Iowa Moving 1 to transfer my belongings into a new apartment and they were awesome. They exceeded my expectations in my top categories: excellent communication, promptness and hard-working. I highly recommend them for your next move!
Super friendly and professional guys today! And very quick. They did a ton of work, a TON, in the extreme heat problem we're in the middle of, and these dudes were still so very friendly and good spirited! The friendliest and most enjoyable movers I've ever had. And I'm retired military, so I've used a lot of movers in my life.
The crew did an excellent job. They arrived on time completed the job within the time constraints. Moved some very tricky items and nothing was damaged . Great moving team
The team did a phenomenal job. Very respectful and polite. They were asking what else they could load for us after what we had planned was done. I’d recommend them to anyone. Red info help moving or loading furniture.
Nothing but good things to say. We had movers cancel at the last minute and needed movers before leaving town. KBA movers agreed to appear the same day to move a very heavy pool table. They were on time, polite and moved the pool table out of the basement. Thank you for your help.
Very thorough job completed with attention to detail on protecting furniture and with loading tightly and in a manner that will protect stuff in transit. Would recommend using them!
Arrived within the stated time window and had moving tools to hold doors open, lift heavy objects, and disassemble/reassemble furniture. They moved everything carefully and were professional the whole time. Courteous and hard working, I would definitely use them again.
Tony and his coworker were great! They accommodated my request to start earlier, were careful with our belongings, and were extremely professional and friendly.
They showed up on time, did not complain about the work we needed to be done, and asked if there was anything else we needed them for. I would definitely recommend these gentlemen.
Tony and his crew showed up on time and worked their tails off until the job was done. They were exceptionally kind to my son and made him feel part of the crew. I’d recommend Tony for any moving job.
Extremely efficient and prepared. Were very quick with unloading and assisted with everything that I needed. Everyone was friendly and hard working as well. Would definitely recommend.
Tony and the other two helpers did an excellent job of moving my things into the pod, making sure that everything was protected well. They were friendly and easy to work with.
HireAHelper's Moving Guide for Des Moines
Why Book Your Des Moines Move with HireAHelper?
Frequently Asked Moving Questions in Des Moines
You've got moving questions — we’ve got answers. Learn what to expect when moving in Des Moines.
The short answer is that booking with HireAHelper saves you hours of work, helps you get the best price and value, and protects you and your belongings. Here are some of the key ways HireAHelper makes booking movers better:
- Vetted Movers You Can Trust: Every mover on our platform is vetted, background-checked, and held to our high standards. And if anything goes wrong, we act as your advocate to find a resolution with your mover. If we can’t find a resolution, our $1,000 Service Guarantee will cover you and your items.
- Book in Minutes, Not Hours: Contacting multiple local movers, comparing quotes, determining their availability, and researching their reputation can take hours of work. On the other hand, HireAHelper lets you easily compare the reputation of movers, instantly determine availability, see transparent pricing for each, and book online in just a few clicks—even same-day in many areas.
- Dedicated Customer Support: Last minute questions are normal, and our experienced and friendly team is here 7 days a week to help with anything before, during, or after your move.
- Smart, Affordable Protection Options: HireAHelper offers an easy and affordable way to protect your items during a labor-only move. Our optional SmartProtection covers up to $10,000 worth of belongings, and the lowest tier ($2,500) is only $19.
- Best Price Guarantee: All these benefits must come at a higher price, right? Wrong. HireAHelper’s platform lets you compare rates for different movers, so you can be sure you’re getting a good deal. Found a better price for the same service? We’ll match it. That means you don’t pay extra to use HireAHelper—in fact, you may save money.
All Des Moines movers listed on HireAHelper are required to provide standard repair coverage, which reimburses $0.60 per pound for damaged items. Some states may have different rules, and full-value protection is only required by the federal government for moves that cross state lines.
One of the advantages of booking with HireAHelper is that every move includes our $1,000 Service Guarantee. Plus, you can upgrade your protection by adding SmartProtection™—an optional coverage for labor-only moves that offers up to $10,000 in damage coverage, with multiple tiers to choose from.
Yes, professional movers will typically disassemble and reassemble furniture as part of the moving process. However, there are certain items that movers may not be able to disassemble. Learn more about how furniture disassembly and reassembly works when you hire movers.
One set of stairs is always included in your mover’s rate when you book through HireAHelper, but additional sets of stairs may cost more. The best way to get an accurate estimate is to get a quote and indicate the number of sets of stairs that you have—make sure to include stairs leading to a basement if you will have any items that need to be moved into or out of it. Read more about when movers charge for extra for stairs.
You should start packing at least three to four weeks before your move, but the sooner the better. If you need to downsize or organize, we recommend starting that process 6-8 weeks before your move when at all possible.
Need to move in a hurry or don’t have time to pack? HireAHelper makes it easy to add professional packing as an add-on to your move. When available, you can get packing help for just several rooms or your whole home.
For helpful tips, step-by-step guides, and checklists, go to our packing hub.
Resources for Your Move
Whether you are just starting to plan for your move, or you are dreaming about packing boxes in your sleep, we are here to help. We have loads of advice from professional movers to make your move as smooth as possible.
How to Organize Your Move: A Complete Guide
Is Buying Moving Boxes Worth It?
Help Your Pet Adjust to a New Home: Moving Tips for Dog and Cat Parents
