The 7 Best Steam Irons of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

BEAUTURAL 1800-Watt Steam Iron with Digital LCD Screen

4.9

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3.8/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Heat Time
  5/5

Our top pick is the BEAUTURAL 1800-Watt Steam Iron with Digital LCD Screen. Beginners will love how the display screen walks you through which setting to use, while professional ironers will love how quickly this iron heats up and removes wrinkles.

This steam iron scored a perfect rating for its heat-up time because it was ready to use in just 10 seconds. Our tester appreciated that the display screen noted whether the specific fabric should be wet or dry. (You don't have to do any Google research when you're using this device.) Plus, the display does an excellent job of walking users through which setting to choose, so you get the most out of your time spent ironing. The iron also earned a perfect score for both design and portability. Its ceramic soleplate is large enough to iron everyday fabrics with ease, and the grip handle is perfectly designed for hours of ironing. (This is ideal if you're a quilter working on a lengthy project or a parent tackling laundry.)

In our testing, when ironing satin materials, the BEAUTURAL iron only took one to two passes to remove all wrinkles and was able to remove a crease in one pass. It performed similarly with linen, on both the dry and steam setting, removing all wrinkles and a crease in one pass. With cotton, this steam iron removed all creases in one pass on the dry setting, but the steam setting took several passes and used a good amount of water to remove them all. However, it still removed a crease in one pass.

Notably, this iron is decked out with several safety features, which makes it really user-friendly and our top pick. The iron has an automatic shut-off feature that'll kick in if it's idle for too long. The water fill area has a splash guard that helps prevent leaks or accidental spills onto your clothing, too. After six months of regularly using this iron, our at-home tester said: "For under $40, this is an amazing iron! I really notice the heat and power of this iron. At 1800W, it's more powerful than most that I've used." Ultimately, all of the features and design elements of this steam iron are simple but thoughtful, which is why it's our top pick for beginners and experts alike.

Price at time of publish: $40

_{Dimensions: 5.75 x 4.88 x 11.3 inches | Weight: 3.18 pounds | Color: Gray and white | Cord Length: Not listed | Wattage: 1,800 watts | Water Tank Capacity: 11.5 ounces}

Best Budget

BLACK + DECKER ICR2020 Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron with Retractable Cord

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.2/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  3/5
• Heat Time
  4/5

If you're looking to save space in your laundry room or makeshift ironing area, opt for an iron with a retractable cord. The BLACK+DECKER ICR2020 Steam Iron is our favorite in the budget category because it's incredibly effective at removing wrinkles and easy to store when you're done with your chore. It also has a vertical steaming feature, which is optimal for de-wrinkling hanging garments.

Besides having a space-saving retractable cord, this steam iron was incredibly effective at removing wrinkles. It was able to smooth out all fabrics in just one to two passes, and our tester actually said, "That was awesome," when it immediately removed the wrinkles from the linen fabric. For cotton and linen, the iron heated in two minutes, as advertised. For satin, it was ready in 30 seconds. Our testers didn't love that there is no "ready" or "not ready" light, but they did love the detailed setting information on this iron, even though cotton and linen were included in the same setting. They also noted that the water reservoir was large, which is great when you have a lot of laundry to get through. Our at-home tester noted that this iron may have a small sole plate, but it packs a punch despite its small size. "It is lightweight, but has all of the features of a larger, heavier iron," she said. "Also, I like that it has a retractable cord that works very well."

Price at time of publish: $28

_{Dimensions: 4.84 x 11.73 x 5.79 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Color: Green | Cord Length: Not listed | Wattage: 1,200 watts | Water Tank Capacity: Not listed}

Best Splurge

Rowenta DG8624U1 Perfect Pro Station Iron

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.6/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Value
  4/5
• Heat Time
  4/5

Our splurge-worthy pick is the Rowenta DG8624U1 Perfect Pro Station Iron because it delivers professional-grade results and comes with its own docking station. If you're someone who irons often or values the feel and design of a top-notch product, this is an excellent choice. Our long-term tester called this steam iron her "workhorse" after using it regularly for six months to support her sewing and quilting. The large water tank and smartly designed pointed tip made this pick stand out in our testing, but we're aware that it's a more expensive choice that's maybe more suitable for everyday ironers or quilters who are after extra precision.

During testing, this iron breezed through satin, linen, and cotton fabrics, and the steam was particularly spectacular at removing creases and wrinkles. This iron is heavier than others on the list, which can be an asset if you need to apply pressure to a garment or seam, but it might seem more like a burden for everyday use. Katie Berry, The Spruce's Cleaning Review Board member, stresses that "it's 12 pounds without water." It wouldn't be suitable for someone with arthritis or weaker hands. Also, while the design is eye-catching, this iron does take up a good amount of space, so you'll want to make sure you have somewhere to store it safely.

Price at time of publish: $284

_{Dimensions: 45.72 x 35.56 x 29.85 inches | Weight: 12 pounds | Color: Blue | Cord Length: 12 feet | Wattage: 1,800 watts | Water Tank Capacity: 37 ounces}

Best Cordless

Panasonic NI-L70SR Cordless 1500W Steam/Dry Iron

4.4

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3.6/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  3.5/5
• Heat Time
  4.8/5

If you are looking for an easy-to-use, cordless steam iron, consider the Panasonic NI-L70SR Cordless 1500W Steam/Dry Iron. This cordless iron had our testers in love because it has a comfortable grip and doesn't drip. Not to mention, the iron heats up quickly, and the heat settings are simple enough for beginners to use.

This iron was hot and ready to use for cotton and linen fabrics in under a minute, although it took a little bit longer for the satin setting to achieve its heat level. In addition to testing this in iron in the lab, we also sent it home with a tester who used it for six months. This long-term tester said the cordless design was ideal for steaming curtains or working further away from an outlet. She did note that she wished the charging base cord was at the back of the base, rather than the front.

Our lab testers loved that this iron includes a carrying case but noted that it's a little bulky. The iron itself is cordless, which is excellent for tackling projects that require a lot of twisting and turning. While it de-wrinkled the cotton and satin fabrics quickly and effectively, it struggled on linen. Our testers noted that the linen napkin still showed wrinkles even after several passes.

Price at time of publish: $85

_{Dimensions: 9.31 x 11.94 x 7 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Color: Green and white | Cord Length: Not applicable | Wattage: 1,500 watts | Water Tank Capacity: 5.21 ounces}

Best Basic

Sunbeam Classic 1200-Watt Mid-Size Anti-Drip Non-Stick Soleplate Iron

4.6

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3.4/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Value
  2.5/5
• Heat Time
  5/5

If you're looking for a run-of-the-mill steam iron, opt for the Sunbeam Classic 1200-Watt Mid-Size Anti-Drip Non-Stick Soleplate Iron. As the name suggests, it packs a ton of good features for an affordable iron and earned a high overall rating because it was so quick to heat up and easy to use.

In our testing, this Sunbeam iron heated to 450 degrees in less than a minute. Our testers loved that it was light and easy to maneuver, and they only docked half a point for portability because the 8-foot cord is not retractable. When it came to ironing multiple fabric types, this iron performed well on both satin and cotton, getting all of the wrinkles out in just a few passes. It took a little more effort to get the wrinkles out of linen.

Our tester loved that the iron is straightforward, and it's easy to distinguish between the settings. (The "off" setting is very obvious.) They also noted that the iron is easy to grip, but the spray feature is a little awkward to use due to its placement. Even with this minor inconvenience, they noted that it's a "solid basic iron." This option is for you if you're looking for an affordable and reliable iron to add to your routine.

Price at time of publish: $35

_{Dimensions: 6.3 x 11.6 x 5.6 inches | Weight: 2.7 pounds | Color: White | Cord Length: 8 feet | Wattage: 1,200 watts | Water Tank Capacity: Not listed}

Best for Travel

Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot Travel Iron

4.3

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  3.3/5
• Design
  4/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  5/5
• Heat Time
  4.5/5

If you're looking for a travel steam iron, try the Sunbeam Hot-2-Trot Travel Iron that our testers deemed "small but mighty." It effectively de-wrinkled all three fabrics we put it up against, and our testers specifically noted that it's the perfect size to iron armholes and more delicate, hard-to-reach places.

This tiny steam iron heated in under a minute, although our temperature gauge said it wasn't quite as hot as it reported. While it's lightweight, our testers noted it's likely only good for someone with smaller hands as the features are quite small. They found the heat dial tiny and the puff steam button hard to click on. If you have long nails or larger hands, you might have difficulty using this iron. It was also difficult to sit the iron upright due to where the cord meets the iron.

However, they loved the large water opening and could quickly fill up the reservoir without spills and noted that it holds enough water for small projects. Ultimately, this would be a great iron for traveling or crafting but opt for a more heavy-duty steam iron if you tend to iron frequently, or if you iron tough seams or larger quilts.

Price at time of publish: $15

_{Dimensions: 3.46 x 3.13 x 6.57 inches | Weight: 1.17 pounds | Color: Blue and white | Cord Length: 8 feet | Wattage: 800 watts | Water Tank Capacity: 3.1 ounces}