Iowa · 66,000 residents
55 FMCSA-registered movers serving Ames, IA — local hourly rates, long-distance cost tables, a calculator and the routes people take out of the city.
Ames, Iowa is home to about 66,000 people across 28.2 square miles, and its moving market is served by 55 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA within roughly 45 miles of downtown.
Local moves inside Ames are quoted by the hour: expect around $120 per hour for two movers and a truck, $160 for three, and $205 for a four-person crew, usually with a two- or three-hour minimum plus a travel fee. 25 of the local carriers hold interstate authority, and 37 report operating beyond 100 miles, so long-distance capacity is reasonable.
Ames is relatively spread out (2,355 people per square mile), so trucks can usually park close to the door and hourly moves tend to run at the lower end of the time ranges below.
Ranges cover a full-service crew (loading, transport, unloading). Packing, storage, stairs and specialty items are extra; the calculator below adds them.
| Home size | Crew | Hours | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2 movers | 3–5 h | $510 | $620 | $760 |
| 1 Bedroom | 2 movers | 4–6 h | $610 | $740 | $900 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 3 movers | 5–8 h | $990 | $1,210 | $1,480 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 4 movers | 7–10 h | $1,570 | $1,910 | $2,330 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 5 movers | 9–13 h | $2,380 | $2,900 | $3,540 |
| Home size | Est. weight | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2,000 lb | $1,140 | $1,400 | $1,700 |
| 1 Bedroom | 3,000 lb | $1,380 | $1,690 | $2,060 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 5,000 lb | $2,310 | $2,810 | $3,430 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 8,000 lb | $3,690 | $4,500 | $5,490 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 11,000 lb | $5,080 | $6,190 | $7,550 |
| Home size | Est. weight | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2,000 lb | $1,720 | $2,100 | $2,560 |
| 1 Bedroom | 3,000 lb | $2,580 | $3,150 | $3,840 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 5,000 lb | $4,300 | $5,240 | $6,400 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 8,000 lb | $6,880 | $8,390 | $10,230 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 11,000 lb | $9,460 | $11,530 | $14,070 |
| Home size | Est. weight | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | 2,000 lb | $2,770 | $3,380 | $4,120 |
| 1 Bedroom | 3,000 lb | $4,150 | $5,060 | $6,180 |
| 2 Bedrooms | 5,000 lb | $6,920 | $8,440 | $10,300 |
| 3 Bedrooms | 8,000 lb | $11,070 | $13,500 | $16,470 |
| 4+ Bedrooms | 11,000 lb | $15,230 | $18,570 | $22,650 |
Set your home size, distance and extras for an instant range.
Typical full-service range.
Estimates use market baselines described on the cost guide; your quotes will vary by inventory, access and date.
55 FMCSA-registered household-goods carriers within about 45 miles, ordered by interstate authority, fleet size and proximity. Pins mark each company's ZIP-code area, not the exact street address.
Legal name: Central Iowa Towing And Recovery INC
Legal name: Myers & Associates LLC
Legal name: B & B Enterprises Llp
Legal name: Brad Eslick
Legal name: Andrew Ross
Legal name: Adam Dudley
Legal name: McDowell & Sons Lime Company
Legal name: Sean Huen
Legal name: Joshua Hazen
Legal name: Damon Adams
Legal name: Sean Allen Huen
Legal name: Dunahoo Trucking LLC
Hover a company to highlight its pin. Map data © Google.
37 of the carriers above report operating beyond 100 miles, and 25 hold interstate authority. For a move that crosses state lines, filter for the "Licensed interstate" badge, ask for a binding estimate after a video or in-home survey, and expect a delivery window rather than a fixed date. Typical 1,000-mile costs from Ames run $2,580–$3,840 for a one-bedroom and $6,880–$10,230 for a three-bedroom home.
Local movers in Ames typically charge about $120 to $205 per hour depending on crew size. A studio move usually totals $510 to $760, a two-bedroom $990 to $1,480 and a four-bedroom $2,380 to $3,540.
For a 1,000-mile move a two-bedroom household typically costs $4,300 to $6,400 and a three-bedroom $6,880 to $10,230. Use the calculator on this page to set your exact distance.
There are 55 household-goods carriers registered with the FMCSA within about 45 miles of Ames, of which 25 are authorized for interstate moves.
Every company card on this page shows the carrier's USDOT number and, for interstate movers, its MC number as recorded by the FMCSA. Enter the USDOT number on the FMCSA website to see the current authority status, insurance on file and safety record before you book.
Two to four weeks is enough for a local move outside the summer peak; long-distance moves and month-end dates are better booked six to eight weeks ahead, when more carriers still have capacity.
Most do. Flights of stairs, elevator waits and long carries from the truck to the door are common surcharges, typically a flat fee per flight or an extra hour of labor. Tell the estimator about both addresses so the quote includes them.