If you’re keen to avoid spending more time ironing than you have to, then it’s worth taking the time to choose the best iron you can afford. After all, investing wisely now could help claw back those precious minutes of your life spent staring at an ironing board – and over a lifetime, those savings could amount to years*. Money well spent, we think you’ll agree.
Deciding on a new iron is yet another unwanted timesink, however, so that’s where this guide comes in. There’s an overwhelming amount of models on the market, all at a wide range of different prices, and not much to set them apart at first glance – while you can pick up a budget iron for under a tenner, the top-flight models can set you back hundreds of pounds.
To help you decide, we’ve put together a short buying guide to answer some of the key questions you may have when deciding on your new iron. You’ll find our bite-size guide below, but if you just want to know which irons to buy, then scroll down the page and skip straight to our top steam iron picks.
*This is not a scientific estimate.
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How to choose the best steam iron
Shouldn’t I spend the extra on a steam generator iron instead?
That depends on what you’re looking for. A steam iron is markedly smaller and cheaper, so it’s the better choice if you’ll be ironing small amounts of clothing, or don’t have storage space for a larger steam generator iron – the best steam irons put out a prodigious amount of steam, so can be equally effective. If you can pay the premium (normally well over £100) and want the largest steam output, however – and would also rather spend less time refilling your iron – then the bulky water tanks of a steam generator iron are a far better fit. The best steam generators produce dramatically more steam than standard steam irons, so if budget and space aren’t a concern, they’re a great choice. So far, we’ve only researched the best standard steam irons, but we’ll be adding our pick of the best steam generators in an upcoming update.
How much should I spend on a steam iron?
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good iron, but it may be worth spending a little more if you iron in batches or will be using it at least once a week. An extra £20-25 can also get you some handy added features, such as vertical steam (which lets you iron clothes that are hanging up), an auto-clean function or a larger water tank so you don’t need to refill as often.
Is a bigger soleplate better?
A bigger soleplate (and a bigger iron in general) will nearly always mean a heavier iron. That little bit of extra weight could make your job easier as it will do some of the work for you, but it may also be more tiring on the arms. However, a larger plate will cover a greater surface area, meaning you can get the job done quicker, and bigger won’t always feel dramatically heavier when you’re actually ironing: the best soleplates have super-slick coatings which slide effortlessly across garments, making their weight less noticeable.
The best steam irons to buy
Philips Azur Performer GC4526/87 Plus Steam Iron: The best all-round iron
Price when reviewed: £60
The Philips Azur Performer is one of the most powerful steam irons you can get for the price, but that’s not the only reason why we included it in this list. Its built-in calc (which is another name for scale) container is one of its winning features, collecting calc while you work and keeping performance consistent thanks to its Self Clean descaling function. This combined with the triple precision tip and auto steam control makes for a pain free ironing experience.
There are a few extra useful design features, too, including a side opening door, which makes refilling water easier than on most models. Surprisingly, however, the Philips doesn’t come with a water jug so you’ll need to take the iron to the tap or find an alternative jug to use. The cable is on the short side, too, which may be a dealbreaker if you like to move your ironing board around, but otherwise it’s hard to beat at around the £60 mark.
Key specs - Weight: 1.5kg; Soleplate: T-ionicGlide; Water Capacity: 300ml; Steam Output: 50g continuous/210g shot; Power: 2600W.
Tefal Ultimate Anti-Scale FV9740 Steam Iron: Feature-packed and brilliant to use
Price when reviewed: £95
The Tefal FV9740 heats up quickly and packs a whole load of power into a regular-sized iron, but you’re probably wondering what else is has to offer for its top of the range price tag. The answer is a whole lot of features which together make for an effortless ironing experience. Tefal’s Durilium soleplate glides over clothes with barely any resistance, and the ergonomic steam trigger, automatic steam function, anti-drip system, and autoclean function are a welcome sight too.
The vertical steam function means that you can treat hanging clothes and the anti-scale collector is another nice touch. The former eliminates the need for a separate clothes steamer and the latter is well worth the extra pennies if you live in an area with hard water. It’ll keep your iron working to its full potential and for much longer, so you won’t need to splash out again after a short period of time.
Key specs - Weight: 2kg; Soleplate: Tefal Durilium; Water Capacity: 350ml; Steam Output: 55g continuous/220g shot; Power: 2800W.
Swan SI3070N Travel Iron: The best steam iron for travel
Price when reviewed: £15
The Swan SI3070N isn’t the best for heavyweight ironing sessions but it’s ideal for holidays, business trips or to have on hand at home for quick touch-ups, especially if you already own a steam generator iron. It’s simple in design and equally simple to use, with a warm-up indicator light and single steam button.
Despite its compact size and affordable price tag, the Swan travel iron comes with adjustable heat settings, so you can adjust the temperature to suit the clothing and use it on most fabrics. You’ll probably need to go over most areas a couple of times if you’re ironing a full garment (rather than just a sleeve or collar) and the lack of a proper handle makes it a little tricky to hold at first, but it does a much better job than most travel irons.
Key specs - Weight: 599g; Soleplate: Stainless Steel; Water Capacity: 100ml; Steam Output: Single shot button; Power: 2750W.
Russell Hobbs Powersteam 20630 Ultra Iron: The best budget steam iron
Price when reviewed: £30
The Russell Hobbs Powersteam is as good as many of the steam irons available for twice the price, making it a great option if you’re on a budget but don’t want to compromise on performance. It has the quickest heat-up time of all the irons on this list and comes with a vertical steam function, which is usually the reserve of much pricier models. It also has a generous 3m cord and a triple action cleaning system, which means you won’t have to worry about looking for a replacement iron in a few months’ time if you live in an area with hard water.
Even though it looks pretty impressive with its all-black design, the Powersteam’s plastic casing doesn’t feel particularly robust and is no better than you’d expect for the low price. The iron also seems to need refilling more regularly than other similarly sized steam irons, which will prove tiresome if you tend you to iron in large batches. That said, it still offers great value for money and could easily pass for an iron worth twice the price.
Key specs - Weight: 1.6kg; Soleplate: Ceramic; Water Capacity: 300ml; Steam Output: 45g continuous/210g shot; Power: 3100W.
Morphy Richards TurboSteam Pro 303123: Best for big ironing jobs
Price when reviewed: £44.99
The TurboSteam Pro comes with a pearl ceramic soleplate that uses fancy-sounding TriZone technology – Morphy Richards claims that it’s gentle on clothing and leaves it crease free from the first glide. This rings true: combined with an extra large water tank and 3m cord, the Morphy Richards is a great option if you’re not looking to spend the earth.
Although the TurboSteam comes with no frills or special features, it’s hard to find any fault with the basics it does offer. The electronic dial is easy to use and makes choosing the right settings simple, and an electronic control regulates and maintains a consistent temperature – leaving little room for accidents. With a comfy ergonomic handle and all the essential features, it’s a perfect choice for the ironing demands of bigger families.
Key specs - Weight: 1.55kg; Soleplate: Pearl ceramic; Water Capacity: 400ml; Steam Output: 50g constant/170g boost; Power: 2800W.