Movers
Ames
Iowa
UniMovers brings affordable, labor-only moving to Ames — staffed by Iowa State University students. You rent the truck, we bring the muscle. Save 40–60% compared to full-service movers in Ames.
Book Now!ISU Student Movers
in Ames Iowa
Ames is home to over 30,000 students at Iowa State University, making it one of the most active moving markets in the state. With a dense rental market centered around Campustown and a major lease-turn every August, the demand for reliable, affordable movers in Ames is enormous — and mostly underserved.
UniMovers Ames is operated by our Des Moines team — one of Iowa’s highest-rated moving crews with a 4.9-star Google rating. Our Ames movers are ISU students who know the campus, know the apartment complexes, and know exactly how tight those Frederiksen Court stairwells are. When you book with us, you’re supporting a working student and keeping money in the Ames community. A portion of every move goes to our working student scholarship fund.
Save 40–60%
Labor-only means you pay for the muscle, not the truck markup. Rent a U-Haul and pocket the difference vs. full-service.
ISU Student Crew
Every mover is a current Iowa State student or recent Cyclone grad. Real local knowledge, real community investment.
Fully Insured
Insurance is always included — no hidden fees, no upsells. Card-only flat rate with zero surprises on move day.
4.9-Star Rated
Our Des Moines operation has 60+ Google reviews at 4.9 stars. That reputation extends to every Ames job we run.
The Ames Moving Calendar:
Built Around ISU
Nearly every lease in Ames turns in August — making it the single busiest week of the year for movers in Ames, IA. ISU’s on-campus move-in runs Aug. 17–24, while most off-campus apartments begin leases Aug. 1. That overlap creates an intense rush window where crews book out weeks in advance. Here’s what to know:
ISU’s official fall move-in dates: Aug. 17 (apartments), Aug. 18–21 (residence halls), Aug. 22–24 (returning students). Classes begin Aug. 25. See ISU’s official move-in page.
Every Neighborhood
in Ames Iowa
We know Ames — the apartment complexes, the CyRide routes, the parking situations, and the building layouts. Whether you’re in Campustown or heading out to Ankeny, our crews cover all of Story County and the surrounding area.
Campustown & Welch Ave
The densest student rental area in Ames. We move people in and out of Welch Ave apartments, Block One, and all surrounding complexes constantly.
South Campus Area
Gray Ave, Beach Ave, Hayward Ave — high-density student housing steps from campus. Tight parking and narrow hallways we know by heart.
North Ames
Grayhawk Apartments, Grand Ave corridor, and family rentals north of campus. Quick access from I-35 makes logistics easy.
West Ames
The Social West Ames, Hilton Coliseum area, Somerset neighborhood. We run CyRide-adjacent moves here regularly.
South Duff & East Ames
South Duff retail corridor, East Ames neighborhoods, ISU Research Park area. Also serve Ankeny and Huxley to the south.
Surrounding Story County
Boone, Nevada, Huxley, Madrid, and all of Story County are within our service area. Contact us to confirm travel fee details.
How It Works
Six easy steps to a stress-free move in Ames. No confusing quotes, no runaround — just ISU students showing up ready to work.
Fill Out Booking Form
Online in minutes
Get Your Estimate
Fast, no obligation
Confirm Date & Time
We lock it in with you
Truck & Boxes Ready
You prep, we power up
We Do the Work
Sit back, Cyclone
Moving Services in
Ames Iowa
As labor-only movers, we handle every physical aspect of your move except driving the truck. Not comfortable driving a moving truck? We can connect you with a PODS container — no driving required.
We supply lifting straps, ratchet straps, and assembly tools. Moving blankets and dollies can be rented through your truck rental company. Not sure what size truck you need? Here’s a guide.
Backed by Iowa’s
Best-Rated Crew.
UniMovers Ames is operated by our Des Moines location — one of the most trusted moving teams in Iowa with a 4.9-star rating and 60+ verified Google reviews. You get the reliability of an established operation with the local knowledge of ISU students who actually live in Ames.
Scholarship Fund
A portion of every Ames move goes to our working student scholarship fund — supporting the ISU students on your crew.
4.9 Stars in Des Moines
Our parent team’s track record speaks for itself. That same standard applies to every job we run in Ames.
ISU Move-In Ready
We staff specifically for ISU’s August rush. When campus move-in week hits, we have crews ready and waiting.
Community First
Beyond scholarships, we give back to a local Iowa nonprofit — investing in the communities we operate in.
Reviews from Our
Des Moines & Ames Customers
Movers were polite, considerate, kind and intelligent. This has been my consistent experience with this company. I highly recommend!
What an amazing value. This team was able to get two extra large PODs emptied and into my home, barn, and garage in 6 hours. This would have taken me weeks to do myself. Please know what they are about — it felt good supporting their cause.
FAQs — Moving in
Ames Iowa
Our Ames operation is managed by our Des Moines team, but our movers are ISU students based in Ames. You get the infrastructure of an established operation with crews who actually know Campustown, Welch Ave, and the rest of the city.
Labor-only means we provide the people — not the truck. You rent a U-Haul or PODS container, we handle all the loading, unloading, packing, and assembly. This typically saves you 40–60% compared to a full-service mover that bundles the truck. Learn more about how labor-only movers work.
Book at least 3 weeks before your move date for anything in August. ISU’s official fall move-in runs Aug. 17–24, but most off-campus Ames leases start Aug. 1 — meaning the entire month gets slammed. The earlier you book, the better your crew selection and availability. See ISU’s official move-in dates.
U-Haul has a location in Ames on South Duff Ave. Penske is also available in the area. If you’d rather not drive a truck at all, PODS delivers a container to your door — we load and unload it for you. PODS vs. renting a truck — which is right for you?
Yes. Our crews know ISU’s on-campus buildings including Frederiksen Court, Geoffroy Hall, Linden Hall, Willow Hall, and the University Village apartments. We’re familiar with ISU’s unloading zones, 90-minute vehicle windows, and parking restrictions on move-in day.
Yes — we serve all of Story County including Boone, Nevada, Huxley, Madrid, and Ankeny. Contact us for travel fee details on moves outside of Ames city limits.
Yes — insurance is always included in every UniMovers booking at no additional charge. All movers carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation. We will never upsell you on coverage. Learn more about moving insurance.
Full-service moves in Ames typically range from $1,000–$2,500 for intrastate moves. With UniMovers’ labor-only model you pay significantly less — 40–60% less — because the truck rental is separate. See a full breakdown of moving costs. Get a free quote for your specific move.
Ready to Move, Cyclone?
Get a free, no-obligation quote for your Ames move. Our Des Moines team will confirm availability and get you an ISU crew.
Get Your Free Quote