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A line of steam irons on an ironing board on a blue background Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

The Best Steam Irons of 2025

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A line of steam irons on an ironing board on a blue background Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

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1
Editor's Choice Product image of PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam Iron
Best Steam Iron

PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam Iron

Check Price at Amazon

This iron excels at creating steam for ironing clothing and fabrics. If that's your goal or your need, the PurSteam SteamBurst+ is the obvious choice. Read More

Pros

  • Large water tank for large loads of ironing
  • Does not leak
  • Several steam level options
  • Feels good in hand

Cons

  • None that we can find
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Oliso TG1600 Pro+
Best Smart Steam Iron

Oliso TG1600 Pro+

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The Oliso is an advanced steam iron with smart technology to prevent your ironing board and clothes from getting burned. Read More

Pros

  • Glides smoothly
  • Lifts to prevent burns
  • Easy-to-read controls

Cons

  • Some creasing
  • Some water spray
3
Product image of Steamery Cirrus 3
Most Versatile Steamer

Steamery Cirrus 3

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The Steamery Cirrus 3 is a versatile clothes steamer that's easy to use and releases wrinkles in no time. Read More

Pros

  • Gets creases out quickly
  • Easy to use
  • Works as an iron

Cons

  • Small water tank
  • Only one setting
  • Can tip easily
4
Product image of Rowenta Focus Excel DW5280

Rowenta Focus Excel DW5280

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This iron has a durable design that smooths fabrics without creating new wrinkles but it falls short on steam performance power compared to our No. 1. Read More

Pros

  • Heats up quickly
  • Sturdy

Cons

  • So-so at wrinkle removal
  • Insufficient steam levels
5
Product image of Reliable Maven 140IS

Reliable Maven 140IS

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This iron's bulky size doesn't stop it from effortlessly smoothing out wrinkled fabrics but it does require extra storage space in your hall closet. Read More

Pros

  • Great at removing wrinkles
  • Sturdy
  • Good features

Cons

  • Bulky design
  • No spray function
  • Best Steam Iron PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam Iron
  • Best Smart Steam Iron Oliso TG1600 Pro+
  • Most Versatile Steamer Steamery Cirrus 3
  • Other Steam Irons We Tested
  • Why You Should Trust Us
  • What to Consider About Steam Irons
  • FAQ: Steam Irons
  • Read More About Ironing and Laundry on Reviewed

While the best clothes dryers can help with the occasional wrinkles, nothing gives your clothing that crisp, fresh from the dry cleaner’s feel like a steam iron. This compact (and may we add, highly underrated) laundry room appliance brings the reviving power of steam to refresh clothing and remove even the most stubborn wrinkles. Steam irons are especially helpful for lovers of linen (a notoriously wrinkly fabric) and business people who desire a clean, starched look.

After weeks of testing, researching, and, well, ironing, we have selected the PurSteam SteamBurst+ (available at Amazon) as the best steam iron for most people. It is easy to use, has a large water tank for extended tasks, and is priced right.

A PurSteam iron on a beige background
Credit: Reviewed / PurSteam
Best Steam Iron
PurSteam SteamBurst+ 1750W Steam Iron
  • Weight: 3.3 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

Like a pair of skates on ice, the PurSteam SteamBurst+ smoothly slides across fabrics and excels at removing wrinkles quickly with little to no effort, which is, well, the point here. It's also sums up why she's won our award for best steam iron.

More specifically, we love how easy the controls are to read and easily found the right temperature settings for our fabrics. The iron's large, 13.5-fluid-ounce water tank is one of the biggest of any iron we tested and easy to fill, allowing it to give off loads of steam, as its name suggests. The tank also does not leak, which is a nice, if surprising perk, as leakage is a common issue with other steam irons we tested. The PurSteam SteamBurst+ offers several levels of steam options. The water buttons are on its handle for easy adjustment while ironing, and the anti-drip feature keeps water from leaking out of the ceramic soleplate.

We previously tested PurSteam Professional Grade 1700W Steam Iron, an earlier version of the PurSteam SteamBurst+.

Pros

  • Large water tank for large loads of ironing

  • Does not leak

  • Several steam level options

  • Feels good in hand

Cons

  • None that we can find

Buy now at Amazon

The Oliso steam iron sitting on an ironing board.
Credit: Reviewed / Samantha Mangino

The touch sensors on the Oliso steam iron prevent your ironing board and clothes from any burns.

Best Smart Steam Iron
Oliso TG1600 Pro+
  • Weight: 4.37 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

The Oliso smart steam iron has the most advanced design of any steam iron in our guide. Using touch sensors on the handle, the steam iron automatically lowers and raises itself off the ironing board based when you touch and lift your hand from the handle. This is a useful feature because it means you don’t have to set the iron on its heel when you’re not using it, and it keeps it from toppling over—a concern for many steam irons.

Instead, you just take your hand off the iron and it raises up on legs that protract and retract from within the iron plate—no more burns on your ironing board or clothes.

The Oliso iron does a great job at ironing. During testing, it removed all wrinkles from both linen and cotton. It has easy to read settings that clearly describe the heat level and fabrics its best used for.

Generally, it tracks smoothly across fabrics. However, we did notice some occasional creasing. As the steam function warms up, there is some water spray released before the steam is ready, so we recommend testing the steam button away from clothes the first time you press it.

This is a fantastic choice if you’re looking for one of the best steam irons with smart technology. Not only do you get an iron that performs well, but the smart touch feature makes it especially handy.

Pros

  • Glides smoothly

  • Lifts to prevent burns

  • Easy-to-read controls

Cons

  • Some creasing

  • Some water spray

Buy now at Amazon

The Steamery Cirrus 3 sitting on a table.
Credit: Reviewed / Tim Renzi

This dual clothes steamer and steam iron refreshes clothes quickly.

Most Versatile Steamer
Steamery Cirrus 3
  • Weight: 1.89 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

Steamery’s Cirrus 3 is a clothes steamer first, but unlike most steamers, it features a ceramic plated head. This lets you use it like a steam iron, too. Out of all the irons we tested, the Cirrus 3 tracked the smoothest across fabrics with no creasing. Despite the Cirrus having a smaller ironing surface than others we tested, it got the job done just as quickly.

It only has one temperature setting that heats up to 210°F and isn’t adjustable for different fabrics. The steam button is well placed on the machine and easy to reach. Since it is a steamer first, it releases a lot more steam than other irons we tested, which helped loosen up fabrics for wrinkle releasing. It has a very small water compartment that is removable and easy to fill.

The iron is shaped similar to a hammerhead shark, far different from the standard steam iron. Because of its design, we found that it strained our arm after ironing just two items. Also, beware that it is quite tippy. While it features a flat base, the steamer iron is top heavy and falls over easily.

Despite its few downfalls, this steam iron is a versatile tool, pulling double duty as a clothing steamer and steam iron that deftly blasts wrinkles away.

Read our full review of the Steamery Cirrus 3

Pros

  • Gets creases out quickly

  • Easy to use

  • Works as an iron

Cons

  • Small water tank

  • Only one setting

  • Can tip easily

Buy now at Amazon


$139.99 from eBay


Other Steam Irons We Tested

Product image of Rowenta Focus Excel DW5280
Rowenta Focus Excel DW5280
  • Weight: 3.22 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

Despite being a well-made iron that didn’t wobble on the ironing board, the DW5280 only got out 50% of the wrinkles in our tests. Its heavy-duty design tracks smoothly across fabric and its setting buttons are easy to reach while in use.

However, its steam isn’t nearly as powerful as our top pick’s. The plumes of steam this iron released were on the smaller side, and we had to press the steam button more often than we did with the other irons to get sufficient steam for ironing out wrinkles.

This iron was also difficult to angle under the sink faucet, and the tint of the water tank made it tough to see when it was full.

Pros

  • Heats up quickly

  • Sturdy

Cons

  • So-so at wrinkle removal

  • Insufficient steam levels

$79.99 from Amazon


$79.99 from The Home Depot


$105.50 from Walmart

Product image of Reliable Maven 140IS
Reliable Maven 140IS

Weight: 9.86 pounds Auto Shut-off: Yes

Reliable Maven’s steam iron is one of the bulkiest we tested. Instead of a built-in water tank, this iron is tethered to a base that doubles as a 54-ounce tank. Even with its large design, the station fits on our ironing board, and it feels sturdy sitting there during use. While other irons rest on their back heel, the dedicated base means there’s less risk of burning your ironing board or clothes when the iron isn’t in use.

There’s no water spray feature, though we didn’t miss that feature during testing. The amount of steam power alone thoroughly removed the wrinkles in the cotton shirt and linen tablecloth.

If you’re doing a lot of ironing, this iron will help you run through your whole closet quickly and efficiently. You can position it on an ironing board, but it will take up a lot of space, so we recommend placing it on a table nearby.

Pros

  • Great at removing wrinkles

  • Sturdy

  • Good features

Cons

  • Bulky design

  • No spray function

Buy now at Amazon


$239.00 from Walmart

Product image of Singer SteamCraft Plus
Singer SteamCraft Plus
  • Weight: 4.18 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

We love the look of this iron’s bright turquoise color and vintage design. The 12-foot power cord is one of the longest of any iron we tested, making it easy to move the iron freely around the ironing board without pulling the cord taut.

Unfortunately, the Singer Steam Iron fell short at removing wrinkles during our fabric tests. After seven minutes of ironing with our top-performing irons, they had already removed most of the wrinkles, but the Singer had only removed about half.

Additional concerns: The settings button is awkwardly positioned on the handle and is easy to bump. The hole to the water tank is narrow and requires a specific angle to be filled, which is burdensome to fill up.

Pros

  • Easy to read controls

  • Extra long cord

  • Tracks smoothly

Cons

  • Awkward buttons

  • Hard to fill

Buy now at Walmart


$64 $84 at Wayfair


$63.99 from Walmart

Product image of CHI Professional Iron - 13101
CHI Professional Iron - 13101
  • Weight: 2.9 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

The Chi Steam Iron has one of the longest cords, making it a great choice if you live in a home with fewer electrical outlets. It’s also one of the easiest to fill and the controls are clear and easy to use.

Unfortunately, the iron fell over quickly during topple tests, causing the water tank lid to pop open and resulting in a pesky, wet mess to clean up. Using the steam function also caused water droplets to leak from the plate, soaking the fabric. The ceramic-coated soleplate didn’t travel as smoothly as stainless-steel-plated irons did. It stumbled on the fabric, creating creases that needed another pass to smooth out.

Pros

  • Easy to fill

  • Easy to read controls

  • Long cord

Cons

  • Leaked water

  • Tipped over easily

$65.27 from Amazon


$65 $70 at Wayfair


$58.70 from Walmart


$65.27 from Target

Product image of Black & Decker Allure D3030
Black & Decker Allure D3030
  • Weight: 3.1 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

The Black and Decker D3030 steam iron stood out for its innovative water tank design. It has the best opening, creating a little pocket so water easily pours into the tank without any spillage. Unfortunately, its controls lack clear markers and are difficult to read.

The plates are made from stainless steel, which should last you plenty of years. The smooth steel plate superbly pressed out the creases in a wrinkled dress shirt. However, the iron caught on the fabric several times, and required a bit of skill to avoid creating more wrinkles.

The D3030 is also steadier than other irons when resting on its heel, so it can withstand a few accidental bumps of the ironing board without tipping over right away.

Pros

  • Easy to fill

  • Glides over fabric easily

  • Gets out almost all of the wrinkles

Cons

  • Difficult to read controls

Buy now at Amazon


$48 $56 at Wayfair


$47.99 from Walmart

Product image of Sunbeam Classic GCSBCL-317-000
Sunbeam Classic GCSBCL-317-000
  • Weight: 2.68 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

The Sunbeam Classic steam iron has some of the clearest controls out of all the irons we tested. You can select your temperature by choosing the fabric you’re working with. It heats up 25 degrees higher than most other steam irons, leaving fabrics like cotton dress shirts truly flat and crisp.

On the downside, the iron's auto shut-off feature takes 60 seconds before it kicks on—almost double the time of most others we tested. Between the very high heat settings and the extra-long shut-off time, the iron left prominent scorch marks after only 30 seconds in our burn tests. You can expect freshly pressed laundry from this extra-hot iron, but just make sure to use it with care.

Pros

  • Easy to read settings

  • Got all of the wrinkles out

Cons

  • Runs hot

  • So-so build quality

  • Weak steam flow

$25.87 from Amazon


$45.42 from eBay


$39.87 from Walmart

Product image of Nori Press
Nori Press
  • Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Auto Shut-off: Yes

The Nori Steam Iron's sleek design resembles a hair straightener than a steam iron. This unique iron has two aluminum panels that clamp around fabric to smooth out wrinkles in pant legs or shirt collars.

It sits lower down on our list because the water tank is small (1 ounce). You'll need to refill the tank more frequently than others in our guide, which can be difficult as the tank is narrow. (A funnel can help.)

It isn't ideal to use as an everyday iron, but it is a nice supplement to your ironing routine as it can tackle smaller sections and areas that a larger or less capable steam iron can't. The Nori is a great compact option for a travel iron that easily stores in your luggage or carry-on bag. It's also a handy alternative to a full-size iron for storing in small spaces like under bathroom counters or in dorm rooms or tiny homes.

Pros

  • Compact design

  • Easy to ready settings

Cons

  • Hard to fill

  • Difficult to maneuver

  • Weak steam flow

Buy now at Amazon


Why You Should Trust Us

Not only have we done loads of research on steam irons to complement our institutional knowledge, we tested many on this list. We did things like ironing our own clothing and linens. We tested the minimum and maximum temperatures of each steam iron, and how quickly each heats up. We also looked at usability features like how easily we could fill each iron’s water tank and how smoothly it glides across fabric (challenging each with a cotton dress shirt and a linen tablecloth). We also considered other features like electrical cord length, stability, and water tank size.

What to Consider About Steam Irons

Most steam irons have a triangular shape and a water tank for creating steam. Most also feature a water spray feature which squirts water on fabric to help release wrinkles.

Factors to consider when purchasing include:

  • Weight
  • Size of water tank
  • Effectiveness at removing wrinkles
  • Automatic shut-off (a safety feature)

FAQ: Steam Irons

A person using the steam function on an iron to release a puff of steam.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser

Most steam irons have a triangular shape that includes a water tank that when filled creates steam.

What is the right heat setting for a fabric?

Steam irons feature different heat settings, often named by the fabric type they’re suited for. Polyester and nylon blends will be a low setting, around 250°F, while cotton and linen are often the hottest temperature, around 450°F. The controls are typically set through a dial, but some digital versions have buttons or even a touchscreen panel.

There are some slight differences in the designs you’ll encounter. The flat, heated surface of the iron is called the soleplate. You’ll usually find either stainless steel or ceramic soleplates. During testing, our top two performers had stainless steel plates.

How do you use the steamer on an iron?

The controls for most steam irons sit near the handle, making it easy to adjust the settings while you’re using it. This is also where you can control the iron’s steam distribution to flow continuously (or not at all).

Using the steam button will dampen and heat clothes without requiring pressure from the iron. You can use this feature over an ironing board, or you can hold your iron vertically to steam delicate fabrics while they’re hanging up.

Is a steamer better than a steam iron?

A clothes steamer is another popular option for releasing wrinkles from your wardrobe.

Why? They’re typically gentler on fabrics since they don’t apply direct heat on the actual material. Instead, the hot steam gets into textiles to release wrinkles. Because of that, clothes steamers are a better choice for delicate fabrics like silk and polyester, which are prone to burning.

However, the direct heat of a steam iron can achieve a sleek, ironed press, especially on fabrics like cotton and linen. The pressure of a steam iron is also essential if you want sharp creases on garments like dress shirts or slacks.

Read More About Ironing and Laundry on Reviewed

Meet the testers

Samantha Mangino

Samantha Mangino

Staff Writer, Home

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Samantha Mangino is a self-proclaimed homebody. Conveniently she is a home staff writer at Reviewed, covering cleaning, appliances, furniture, and home furnishings and décor. She knows her way around a house and has tested everything from furniture, sponges, steam irons, to Legos. She’s always on the hunt for the latest internet trends and wants to help make your home cleaner and cozier.

See all of Samantha Mangino's reviews
Natalie Nguyen

Natalie Nguyen

Stack Commerce Junior Editor

Natalie Nguyen is a full-time writer and editor at StackCommerce. She's based in New York City and graduated with a B.A. in English and minors in Political Science and Art History from Saint Joseph's University. Natalie has written and edited for publishers like Popular Science, New York Post, PCMag, and Boing Boing on everything from lifestyle to technology products.

When she isn't writing content, she loves making matcha, working out, overspending on coffee, and finding the best pastries in the city.

See all of Natalie Nguyen's reviews

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