The 7 Best Clothes Steamers of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Steamfast SF-562 Canister Garment Steamer

4.5

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Heat Time
  4/5

No matter what you’re planning to steam in your home—be it clothing, linens, or curtains—the Steamfast Upright Garment Steamer can make quick work of wrinkles. In our testing, we were blown away by this unit’s ability to blast through even the most stubborn creases in seconds, and it performed well on all types of materials, from cotton shirts to thick denim. 

This full-size steamer has two steam settings, and its 86-ounce water tank allows you to work for up to 96 minutes at a time, making it ideal for use around the house. During testing, it took around two minutes to heat up and produce a powerful stream of steam, and it removed the majority of wrinkles in a single pass, sailing through the effectiveness portion of our test. Its telescoping pole gets as tall as 47.2 inches, but we liked that it shrinks back down as well, making the unit compact enough to store in a closet.

If you have a handheld option in mind, this upright model is likely too bulky for you—even with the collapsible pole. The only other potential downside we found with this steamer is that the included fabric clips don’t shut completely, so they don’t hold thin linens well. That's probably an easy fix with extra clips or clothespins you may have around the house, and they still worked just fine with pants and other garments. Overall, we think this full-sized steamer is an effective option that offers great value.

Price at time of publish: $85

_{Dimensions: 13.2 x 13.2 x 47.2 inches | Weight: 9.8 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 86 ounces | Power Level: 1,500 watts | Heat Time: 45 seconds | Steam Time: 96 minutes | Steam Settings: 2}

Best Budget

True & Tidy TS-10 Handheld Garment Steamer

4.4

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Heat Time
  4/5

You can keep your clothes neat and wrinkle-free anywhere with the True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer. This compact model is our favorite budget pick, because it perfectly marries portability and quality at a reasonable price point. The handheld steamer weighs a little more than a pound and breaks down into two pieces, making it easy to pack in a carry-on or duffel bag. Despite its small size and relatively low wattage, it excelled in our testing. We found that it gave off an impressive flow of steam for a handheld unit, and it was able to remove most of the wrinkles in just two or three passes.

You operate this steamer using a simple on-off rocker switch, and we liked that the water tank is fully see-through, allowing you to monitor exactly how much water is left. On a full tank, it can run for around seven minutes, but we did find it frustrating to fill the reservoir. You have to put water in very slowly or it will back up and overflow. Otherwise, this steamer is a reliable and effective option that's suitable for a wide variety of tasks. You can pack it in a suitcase or carry it to the next room to perfectly prepare your outfit for the day, and rest assured that its price point matches its versatility and performance.

Price at time of publish: $30

_{Dimensions: 5.4 x 3.8 x 8.1 inches | Weight: 1.6 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 5.5 ounces | Power Level: 500 watts | Heat Time: 90 seconds | Steam Time: 7 minutes | Steam Settings: 1}

Best Splurge

Pure Enrichment PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5
• Heat Time
  4/5

If you’re willing to spend a little more on a sleek, versatile, full-size steamer, this option from Pure Enrichment impressed us during testing. The base of the unit has a triangular shape that features a foot pedal to turn it on and off, and a dial on the front allows you to adjust the steam level to one of its four settings. The 2-liter water tank is on the back of the base, and there’s even a space to wrap up the cord for more compact storage. Overall, we loved the design of this unit—we only knocked off half a point because the hanger and clips were made from a thin plastic that we worried would snap if dropped. 

This steamer readily removed wrinkles from our test fabric, needing just one or two passes to smooth the fabric on its highest setting. It can last up to an hour on a full water tank. It was effective overall, with the only downside being that thinner materials tend to slide out of the clips if you pull them taut. All in all, we think it’s a sleek and effective machine to add to your laundry room if you have the budget and space for it.

Price at time of publish: $110

_{Dimensions: 14.7 x 8.9 x 11 inches | Weight: 9.6 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 2 liters | Power Level: 1,500 watts | Heat Time: 2 minutes | Steam Time: 60 minutes | Steam Settings: 4}

Best Upright

Hamilton Beach Upright Garment Steamer

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5
• Heat Time
  3/5

The Hamilton Beach Upright Garment Steamer is a top choice if you’re hoping to steam curtains and oversized items. This upright unit (sometimes referred to as a "standing steamer" or "base-tank steamer") has a pole that extends up to 3 feet and has an extra-long hose to match. Additionally, we loved that the steamer is mounted on four caster wheels, which made it one of the easiest to move around, breezing through our tests for portability.

This unit can be used for up to 90 minutes at a time, and we were impressed by its steaming abilities. It was able to blast through wrinkles in one to two passes, leaving fabric smooth and ready to use. Unlike many other upright options, this steamer doesn’t include a built-in hanger component, but there’s a loop on top of the pole where you can hook your own hanger. After our testing, we've found that the only potential trade-offs are that this steamer only has one steam setting, and the water tank relies on its weight to stay in place, so it gets a bit wobbly when the tank isn’t as full. But we think it's a powerful steamer that'll certainly come in handy around the home.

Price at time of publish: $79

_{Dimensions: 19.5 x 14 x 16.5 inches | Weight: 14.5 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 0.5 quarts | Power Level: 1,500 watts | Heat Time: Not listed | Steam Time: 90 minutes | Steam Settings: 1}

Best Handheld

Electrolux LX-15002 Garment Steamer

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  3/5
• Heat Time
  5/5

Handheld steamers are more compact than upright units, making them a top choice if you have a smaller home. When we put it to the test, the Electrolux Garment Steamer was one of the top performers in this category. We were charmed by its sleek design and modern appearance, complete with a stylish silhouette and matte black finish (however, this finish can quickly show mineral deposits if you live in an area with hard water, according to Katie Berry, The Spruce's Cleaning Review Board member).

In addition to looking great and feeling sturdy, this handheld steamer also performed quite well. It was able to remove both large and small wrinkles in just two or three passes, and it gave off an impressive amount of steam on its high setting. The power button for this steamer is on the back of its head, and it has an indicator light that lets you know when it’s ready to use. There are two settings to choose from, and a trigger on the front allows you to start or stop the steam as needed. There’s even a sliding trigger lock that provides continuous steam. This model also features an unusually long 12-foot power cord, making it ideal in rooms with inconvenient outlet placement. The only major downside we encountered was that it occasionally spits water, which can be painful if the hot droplets land on your hand, and it's not the most budget-friendly handheld model out there. But it packs a lot of power into a small package.

Price at time of publish: $75

_{Dimensions: 6 x 4.5 x 9.8 inches | Weight: 4 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10 ounces | Power Level: 1,500 watts | Heat Time: 30 seconds | Steam Time: 18 minutes | Steam Settings: 2}

Best With Hanger

Conair CompleteSteam Ultimate Fabric Steamer

4.2

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  3.5/5
• Value
  3.5/5
• Heat Time
  4/5

The Conair Ultimate Fabric Steamer makes it easy to de-wrinkle your favorite clothing, as it has both an integrated hanger and two sets of clips to hold pants in place as you work. In testing, we liked that this unit heats up extremely quickly (in under one minute), and it has a large water tank that delivers a powerful stream of steam for more than an hour. The clips did a great job holding our linens taut as we steamed, which saved us from accidentally steaming our fingers. We do wish the bottom set could be adjusted vertically for more versatility, but the fact that it even has bottom clips sets this steamer apart from many others.

The Conair Steamer offers just one steam setting, but it was incredibly effective, removing wrinkles in a single pass. We especially loved that it proved to be so efficient, but it did lose points on portability, as its wheels don’t work well, and it’s somewhat awkward to move from room to room. If you're looking for a gadget to store in your laundry room and keep at the ready, it could be your ideal solution.

Price at time of publish: $90

_{Dimensions: 12 x 12.3 x 16.6 inches | Weight: 7.5 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 80 ounces | Power Level: 1,500 watts | Heat Time: 45 seconds | Steam Time: 90 minutes | Steam Settings: 1}