Des Moines to Durham Movers

Best Des Moines to Durham Movers

Want help with the heavy lifting?

Updated March 13, 2026

Looking for reliable Des Moines to Durham movers for this 1,074 mile interstate move? See our top 5 recommended movers, get estimated moving costs, and read our Des Moines to Durham moving guide below. We analyzed 28 Durham to Des Moines moving companies across 28,145 review data points and more than 21,000 movers nationwide using our 11-point rating system to bring you data-backed moving recommendations.

Key Takeaways:

  • Adamantine Spine Moving is our overall top recommended Des Moines to Durham moving company
  • No Sweat Services Inc is the most affordable company to hire
  • Moving from Des Moines to Durham will cost on average between $2,000 - $6,500
  • Our rankings and results are unbiased & backed by data… NOT paid promotions
Des Moines to Durham featured image

Best Des Moines to Durham Movers

RankCompanyScoreLicenseAction
1Adamantine Spine Moving9.54Authorized For Property, HHG
2Adamantine Spine Moving9.44Authorized For Property, HHG
3Athens Moving Experts9.34Authorized For HHG
4Capital Moving & Storage9.27Authorized For HHG
5Best Move Inc9.25Authorized For Property

Our Top Recommendations

TOP PICK
Adamantine Spine Moving featured image

Adamantine Spine Moving

Best moving company overall for Des Moines to Durham

9.54/10
ExceptionalView details
RUNNER-UP
Adamantine Spine Moving featured image

Adamantine Spine Moving

9.44/10
ExceptionalView details
ALSO GREAT
Athens Moving Experts featured image

Athens Moving Experts

Best overall value

9.34/10
ExceptionalView details

Adamantine Spine Moving

Exceptional
9.54/10

2815 36th St, Des Moines, IA, 50310

11-Point Rating

9.8
9.5
9.3
9.7
8.9
9.7
9.8
9.7
9.8
9.0
9.7
Adamantine Spine Moving featured image

Best moving company overall to hire when moving from Des Moines to Durham! Adamantine Spine Moving takes the #1 spot for our overall ranking and is the top recommended movers for this route.

Adamantine Spine Moving is the number 1 ranked moving service in Des Moines, IA with an overall score of 9.54 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 100% of all movers in Iowa and the top 99.19% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 27 other Des Moines moving companies and better than 179 movers in Iowa.

Our Research

  • Analyzed 360 total reviews
  • Reviewed 7 social profiles and review listings
  • Checked for license verification at IADOT & FMCSA
  • Crunched 898 data points pertaining to the above

11 Point Rating

MetricScorevs NationwidePositive ReviewsNegative ReviewsPositive Score
Quality9.78↑ 17.9%161199.4%
Punctuality9.52↑ 19.3%40197.6%
Affordability9.33↑ 23.2%34197.1%
Communication9.70↑ 30.6%89198.9%
Stick to Prices8.94↑ 50.0%23292.0%
Speed9.69↑ 14.9%59198.3%
Friendliness9.80↑ 12.3%109199.1%
Will Hire Again9.71↑ 20.8%159298.8%
Professionalism9.78↑ 19.7%117199.2%
Conflict Handling9.01↑ 121.6%110100.0%
Precision & Care9.69↑ 22.3%84198.8%

Recent Adamantine Spine Moving Reviews

Quality - 9.78/10

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

Overall Review Distribution
Positive
161 (99.4%)
Negative
1 (0.6%)

Additional Details

Moving Services Offered by Adamantine Spine Moving

  • Local Moving
  • Long Distance Moving
  • Apartment/Condo Moving
  • B2B Moving
  • Home Moving
  • Office Moving
  • Furniture Moving
  • Loading & Unloading
  • Moving Into Storage
  • Packing & Unpacking

Adamantine Spine Moving

Exceptional
9.44/10

656 S Governor St, Iowa City, IA, 52240

11-Point Rating

9.8
9.8
9.2
9.6
9.1
9.5
9.7
9.7
9.7
8.2
9.7
Adamantine Spine Moving featured image

Adamantine Spine Moving is the number 2 ranked moving service in Des Moines, IA with an overall score of 9.44 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 98.32% of all movers in Iowa and the top 98.3% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 26 other Des Moines moving companies and better than 176 movers in Iowa.

Our Research

  • Analyzed 501 total reviews
  • Reviewed 7 social profiles and review listings
  • Checked for license verification at IADOT & FMCSA
  • Crunched 1,160 data points pertaining to the above

11 Point Rating

MetricScorevs NationwidePositive ReviewsNegative ReviewsPositive Score
Quality9.77↑ 17.7%209398.6%
Punctuality9.78↑ 22.6%690100.0%
Affordability9.15↑ 20.8%37392.5%
Communication9.62↑ 29.5%116397.5%
Stick to Prices9.13↑ 53.1%21195.5%
Speed9.47↑ 12.2%68494.4%
Friendliness9.73↑ 11.4%140397.9%
Will Hire Again9.66↑ 20.1%201697.1%
Professionalism9.71↑ 18.9%141397.9%
Conflict Handling8.19↑ 101.4%13286.7%
Precision & Care9.67↑ 22.1%115298.3%

Recent Adamantine Spine Moving Reviews

Quality - 9.77/10

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

Overall Review Distribution
Positive
209 (98.6%)
Negative
3 (1.4%)

Additional Details

Moving Services Offered by Adamantine Spine Moving

  • Local Moving
  • Long Distance Moving
  • Apartment/Condo Moving
  • B2B Moving
  • Home Moving
  • Office Moving
  • Furniture Moving
  • Loading & Unloading
  • Moving Into Storage
  • Packing & Unpacking

Athens Moving Experts

Exceptional
9.34/10

6601 Hillsborough St # 111, Raleigh, NC, 27606

11-Point Rating

9.8
9.7
9.5
9.5
8.7
9.8
9.8
9.7
9.7
7.0
9.6
Athens Moving Experts featured image

Get the best bang for your buck hiring Athens Moving Experts of Raleigh. They have the best affordability index score which measures both quality and affordability.

Athens Moving Experts is the number 3 ranked moving service in Raleigh, NC with an overall score of 9.34 out of 10. Based on our extensive analysis, this is an Exceptional score and places it in the top 97.1% of all movers in North Carolina and the top 97.04% of moving companies nationwide. They score better than 25 other Raleigh moving companies and better than 708 movers in North Carolina.

Our Research

  • Analyzed 991 total reviews
  • Reviewed 5 social profiles and review listings
  • Checked for license verification at NCUC & FMCSA
  • Crunched 3,932 data points pertaining to the above

11 Point Rating

MetricScorevs NationwidePositive ReviewsNegative ReviewsPositive Score
Quality9.78↑ 17.9%7491797.8%
Punctuality9.73↑ 22.1%215498.2%
Affordability9.47↑ 25.1%99397.1%
Communication9.50↑ 27.9%2211394.4%
Stick to Prices8.70↑ 46.0%43786.0%
Speed9.77↑ 15.7%339997.4%
Friendliness9.85↑ 12.9%464698.7%
Will Hire Again9.66↑ 20.1%7332596.7%
Professionalism9.72↑ 18.9%4841497.2%
Conflict Handling7.01↑ 72.4%20969.0%
Precision & Care9.57↑ 20.8%4382095.6%

Recent Athens Moving Experts Reviews

Quality - 9.78/10

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

Overall Review Distribution
Positive
749 (97.8%)
Negative
17 (2.2%)

Additional Details

Moving Services Offered by Athens Moving Experts

  • Local Moving Services
  • Long Distance Moving Services
  • Commercial Moving Services
  • Specialized Moving Services
  • Packing Services
  • Loading/Unloading ONLY Service
  • Interior Arrangement

Capital Moving & Storage

Exceptional
9.27/10

3450 Bush St Suite 245, Raleigh, NC, 27609

11-Point Rating

9.7
9.6
9.4
9.3
9.7
9.8
9.8
9.7
9.7
5.8
9.6

Best Move Inc

Exceptional
9.25/10

Burlington, IA, 52601

11-Point Rating

9.6
9.5
9.1
9.4
8.1
9.7
9.8
9.6
9.6
7.8
9.6

How Much Do Des Moines to Durham Movers Cost?

Moving 1,074 miles from Des Moines, IA to Durham, NC will typically cost between $2,500 and $6,500 to hire full service movers. See the chart below for a detailed breakdown by home size.

  • Expected Range: $2,500 - $6,500
  • Expected Time To Complete: 2-4 days
  • Most Affordable Recommended Movers: No Sweat Services Inc
HOME SIZEMOVING COSTVOLUME OF PACKED ITEMS (FT3)$/FT3
Studio$1,811300 ft3$6.04
1 Bedroom$2,695450 ft3$5.99
2 Bedrooms$4,453750 ft3$5.94
3 Bedrooms$6,4771100 ft3$5.89
4 Bedrooms$9,3411600 ft3$5.84
5+ Bedrooms$10,4181800 ft3$5.79

Pro tip for the cheapest long distance move

Find long distance movers in Durham that already have a booked job heading from Durham to Des Moines. Their moving truck would be making the trip back to Durham from Des Moines entirely empty. If you can find a Durham moving company willing to move your stuff on the return leg, you'll score a real deal!

Moving Containers: A cheaper Des Moines to Durham moving option

Hire local Des Moines movers for the pickup location at an hourly rate. They can quickly load your moving container. When your container is dropped off at your new home, hire Durham movers to unpack the container and move you into your new home. You'll have to piece this Des Moines to Durham move together yourself with at least 3 different companies. Taking on this scheduling responsibility will save you a little money by moving with this strategy.

How we ranked the top Des Moines to Durham movers

Why you should trust us

We take reviews seriously to protect people just like you! Our team has been crunching data on moving companies since 2010. Our math-based ranking system uses data, manual review, and statistical analysis to help you hire the best Des Moines, IA to Durham, NC long distance movers.

Rating Methodology

Here's the methodology we used to come up with the best movers for the Des Moines to Durham moving route:

Our data scientist working on the years of experience formula

Our original review-based ranking algorithm

We started with a total of 28 companies that offer interstate moving services in both the Des Moines and Durham areas.

From these 28 companies, we analyzed a total of 8,603 reviews dating all the way back to February 2009.

We also reviewed a total of 9 state and federal moving licenses from these 28 companies and 144 different 3rd party review and social profiles.

Each of the ~8,000 reviews was scored according to our detailed 11-point rating criteria

Reviews are time-weighted so that more recent reviews carry more weight. This helps you understand how a mover is doing today... not 5 years ago. We have 0 Des Moines to Durham moving company data points from the past 2 years that carry more weight.

Bayesian averages calculated to fairly account for the differences between companies that are newer(like Athens Moving Experts) vs older more established companies (like Best Move Inc).

The Great Guys Moving 11-Point Rating Breakdown

Our 11-point rating criteria scores every Des Moines to Durham moving company across 11 of the most important criteria for a succesful moving experience.

Quality

Overall quality of the service provided on moving day.

9.16/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 5,394 reviews

Punctuality

Did the crew show up on-time with the required equipment?

8.80/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 1,738 reviews

Affordability

How affordable was the moving service?

8.36/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 942 reviews

Communication

Responsiveness before, during, and after the move.

8.59/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 1,927 reviews

Stick to Prices

Was the final price consistent with the original quote?

7.51/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 634 reviews

Speed

Efficiency without taking unnecessary time to increase costs.

9.22/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 2,107 reviews

Friendliness

Was the moving crew cordial and friendly on moving day?

9.46/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 3,224 reviews

Will Hire Again

How likely a customer is to hire the same movers again.

8.98/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 5,398 reviews

Professionalism

Did the moving crew behave professionally on moving day?

9.06/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 3,478 reviews

Conflict Handling

How well the company responds to accidents and issues.

5.56/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 434 reviews

Precision & Care

Were walls scratched? Did furniture get damaged or lost?

8.87/10 avg (Des Moines & Durham combined) from 2,869 reviews

Des Moines to Durham Moving Guide

From Des Moines to Durham: Comparable Neighborhoods at a Glance

Des Moines vs Durham Neighborhood Comparison
Des MoinesDurhamHow They're Similar
East VillageDowntown Durhamurban core with boutiques & nightlife
Sherman HillTrinity Parkhistoric district with Victorian homes
BeaverdaleHope Valleyfamily-friendly suburban feel
DrakeDuke Parkcollege-town vibe with local eateries
Ingersoll ParkNinth Street Districtartsy neighborhood with boutiques
North GrandNorthgate Parkemerging area with local businesses
McKinleyWatts-Hillandalequiet streets near parks
Woodland HeightsForestwoodresidential with newer homes
Capitol EastWalltowndiverse community with artistic initiatives
River BendForest Hillsscenic riverside with tree-lined streets
  • East Village in Des Moines & Downtown Durham in Durham are both known for their urban core with boutiques & nightlife
  • Des Moines' Sherman Hill neighborhood & Durham's Trinity Park both share a historic district with Victorian homes
  • If you're moving from Beaverdale, check out Hope Valley in the Durham area for a family-friendly suburban feel
  • Do you enjoy Drake's college-town vibe with local eateries? You're sure to love Duke Park
  • Move from Ingersoll Park to Ninth Street District and continue to enjoy these neighborhood qualities: an artsy neighborhood with boutiques
  • North Grand & Northgate Park are both known for their emerging area with local businesses
  • Des Moines' McKinley neighborhood & Durham's Watts-Hillandale neighborhood both have quiet streets near parks
  • If you're moving from Woodland Heights, look into Forestwood for a residential area with newer homes
  • Do you cherish living in Capitol East's diverse community with artistic initiatives? Move into Walltown for something similar
  • The similar vibes of River Bend & Forest Hills are both known for scenic riverside with tree-lined streets

Des Moines vs. Durham: Comparing the Local Foodie Scene

ComparisonDes MoinesDurham
Most iconic local food itemPork Tenderloin SandwichCarolina-Style BBQ
Most popular meat dishIowa Chop (Pork)Pulled Pork BBQ
Most popular street food itemTaco TrucksFood Trucks (various cuisines)
Most popular vegan foodKale Caesar SaladVegan Barbecue
Top 3 iconic restaurants that summarize the city
  • 801 Chophouse
  • Fong's Pizza
  • Zombie Burger
  • Nana's Restaurant
  • Dame's Chicken & Waffles
  • Pizzeria Toro
Fitness/Health Conscientiousness💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪💪
Abundance of Food Trucks🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚🚚
Foodie Scene🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴🍴
Vegan Friendly🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱🌱

If you're moving from Des Moines to Durham, you will be trading the iconic Pork Tenderloin Sandwich of Des Moines for the equally delicious Carolina-Style BBQ of Durham. And while the locals in Des Moines rave about their flavorful Iowa Chop (Pork) and sumptuous Taco Trucks, Durham residents know they have tasty Pulled Pork BBQ and Food Trucks (various cuisines) to savor. While the vegan transplants might be saying goodbye to the Kale Caesar Salad they've grown to love, they can get ready for the Vegan Barbecue of Durham. In the days before your move, make sure you get one final trip to iconic Des Moines eateries like 801 Chophouse, Fong's Pizza, and Zombie Burger. After the boxes are unpacked in Durham, don't wait too long before making your way to Durham's acclaimed eateries like Nana's Restaurant, Dame's Chicken and Waffles, and Pizzeria Toro.

When comparing lifestyles, Durham shows a greater emphasis on fitness and health consciousness than Des Moines. Food truck fans will discover a greater selection in Durham compared to what you are used to in Des Moines. Also, the overall foodie scene is more bustling in Durham.

Discover Durham Restaurants You'll Love

Moving to Durham is an opportunity to try lots of new restaurants. Sure, you'll miss your old Des Moines favorites, but we've got you covered. If you loved Centro, Zombie Burger + Drink Lab, and Fong's Pizza in Des Moines, we're sure you'll love Copa, Only Burger, and Pompieri Pizza in Durham. See our Durham restaurant discovery table below to find the closest comparison restaurant to all of your cherished Des Moines hotspots. For example, if you enjoyed dining at 801 Chophouse, head to Bin 54 Steak and Cellar on your first Friday night after the boxes are unpacked.

Des MoinesDurhamWhat You'll Love
CentroCopaOffers a vibrant atmosphere with delicious Latin-inspired dishes.
Zombie Burger + Drink LabOnly BurgerKnown for its creative and mouth-watering burger options.
Fong's PizzaPompieri PizzaUnique and creative pizza combinations that delight the palate.
801 ChophouseBin 54 Steak & CellarHigh-end steakhouse offering premium cuts and wines.
Hoisin Chinese BBQShanghai RestaurantOffers a similar experience with authentic Asian flavors.
ProofM SushiKnown for its innovative menu and top-notch culinary experience, similar to Proof's gourmet offerings.
Jethro's BBQThe PitFamous for its authentic and flavorful BBQ offerings.
Eatery AThe Refectory CafeA well-rounded menu spotlighting fresh and local ingredients.
La MieGuglhupf Bakery, Cafe & BiergartenOffers artisan pastries and a similar bakery-cafe experience.
Saint KildaBeyú CaffèShares a focus on creating a great daytime brunch spot that transitions into evening offerings.

Real Estate & Lifestyle Differences between Des Moines and Durham

ComparisonDes MoinesDurham
Typical Architecture StyleCraftsmanColonial Revival
Walkability👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟👟
Bikeability🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲🚲
Urban Lifestyle🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️🏛️
Most popular items mentioned in real estate listingSpacious yards, family-friendlyProximity to tech hubs, vibrant arts scene
  • The Craftsman architecture that Des Moines is known for will be replaced with the Colonial Revival architecture typical of Durham.
  • Compared to Des Moines's real estate listings that commonly reference spacious yards and family-friendly neighborhoods, Durham real estate listings often highlight features like proximity to tech hubs and a vibrant arts scene.
  • Make sure you unpack those walking shoes. Durham is more walkable than Des Moines.
  • Make sure the movers take care of your bike. Durham is more bike-friendly than Des Moines.
  • Durham has more of an urban feel than Des Moines.
  • Durham housing costs are 103% more expensive than they are in Des Moines, with a median home price of $404,856 compared to Des Moines’s $199,739.
  • Over the prior 5 years, home prices in Durham have increased by 64% compared to a 38% increase in Des Moines.
  • Rent in Durham is 59.65% more expensive than in Des Moines.

Pet-friendly Neighborhoods in Durham, NC

  1. 1 Woodcroft: Miles of shaded neighborhood trails connect to the American Tobacco Trail and Piney Wood Dog Park, making daily walks and off-leash play easy.
  2. 2 Duke Park: Tree-lined streets with sidewalks and a large central park with walking paths and open lawns make everyday strolls simple and social.
  3. 3 Northgate Park: Direct access to Northgate Park, the Ellerbe Creek Trail, and Northgate Dog Park provides abundant walkable, pup-friendly green space.

Charts & Visualizations

With 28,145 data points across 28 moving companies and 8,603 reviews, we've got a lot of data to work with. Here are some of the charts and visualizations we've created to help you understand the moving industry in Des Moines to Durham.

Comparing ratings, review history, and total data points

Bubble size represents the number of analyzed data points. Hover over bubbles for details.

Ranking history

How the currently ranked top Des Moines to Durham movers have performed over time

11-Point Rating Comparison

Detailed breakdown of Des Moines to Durham moving company 11-point ratings

Statewide 11-Point Percentile Comparison

See how our recommended top movers compare to all movers in Iowa & North Carolina

Quality iconQuality
Punctuality iconPunctuality
Affordability iconAffordability
Communication iconCommunication
Stick to Prices iconStick to Prices
Speed iconSpeed
Friendliness iconFriendliness
Will Hire Again iconWill Hire Again
Professionalism iconProfessionalism
Conflict Handling iconConflict Handling
Precision & Care iconPrecision & Care
Adamantine Spine Moving Logo

Adamantine Spine Moving

Exceptional9.54
97
86
87
98
94
85
90
96
97
100
95
Adamantine Spine Moving Logo

Adamantine Spine Moving

Exceptional9.44
96
98
82
96
96
69
82
93
93
97
94
Athens Moving Experts Logo

Athens Moving Experts

Exceptional9.34
98
97
95
95
91
95
97
95
95
90
91
Capital Moving & Storage Logo

Capital Moving & Storage

Exceptional9.27
97
89
92
88
100
94
91
95
96
78
93
Best Move Inc Logo

Best Move Inc

Exceptional9.25
90
88
81
91
78
82
87
90
88
95
91

Percentile Ranking

0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
*Note: the above data points reflect a moving company's percentile ranking compared to all moving companies in Iowa & North Carolina.

List of All Des Moines to Durham Moving Companies Analyzed

  • Wolf Moving
  • All My Sons Moving & Storage
  • No Sweat Services Inc
  • All Iowa Movers
  • Next Stop Movers
  • Movin' On Movers
  • CJ Moving Services LLC
  • Best Move Inc
  • Capital Moving & Storage
  • White Glove Movers
  • Cavemen Moving & Storage Co.
  • Hemmen Moving
  • Maher Brothers Transfer & Storage
  • Kirby's Moving Company
  • Adamantine Spine Moving
  • Maher Brothers Transfer & Storage
  • Royalty Moving Systems, LLC
  • Adamantine Spine Moving
  • Two Men and a Truck
  • DC Movers LLC Raleigh
  • TROSA Moving
  • Truckin' Movers Corporation
  • Two Men and a Truck
  • John's Moving & Storage
  • Crabtree Family Moving
  • Excel Moving & Storage Inc
  • Athens Moving Experts
  • Miracle Movers Raleigh