I've selected the best steam irons for fast, crease-free results every time – tried and tested on mixed laundry loads, from summer delicates to everyday cotton

Ironing has a bad reputation, with many of us avoiding it at all costs, often to the detriment of our clothes. However, the best steam iron really can make ironing a pleasure. After testing quite a few models, I've learnt that the right features, weight and design make all the difference between effortless and arduous.

And with spring finally here, you'll probably want to refresh linen shirts and lightweight dresses that have been tucked away in storage for months. That’s where a reliable steam iron really comes into its own, making light work of creases on delicate, warm-weather fabrics.

For this guide, I've selected six irons that we put through their paces by working through family-sized loads, with the wider Ideal Home team pitching in. We tested them on real fabrics in real scenarios, rating everything from adjustable steam settings to water tank size and how easy each soleplate was to clean. Plus, for the cordless models, we've timed the recharge cycles to ensure these cordless picks don't slow you down.

Powerful steam, smooth-gliding soleplates, clever, intuitive settings set today's best models apart, even if you prefer to use a clothes steamer. The Morphy Richards easyCHARGE Power+ Cordless Iron impressed me the most, but because every laundry basket is different, I've included an option for every need and budget.

Quick list

An overview of the very best irons that impressed in testing at a glance.

The best steam irons – tried and tested by Ideal Home's experts

Best steam iron overall

I loved the design of this Morphy Richards iron and its performance more than lives up to it, earning it top spot in this guide. As a cordless model, it's brilliantly convenient, and crucially, there's no faff when it comes to recharging.

The onboard lights clearly show how much charge you've got left, which is a genuinely genius touch, and reheating is lightning-fast, taking just 25 seconds. That's quicker than the Tower CeraGlide iron at 30 seconds and noticeably faster than Morphy Richards' own EasyCHARGE cordless steam iron, which takes 40 seconds.

Steam performance also impressed me. It delivers a steady 30g/min of continuous steam (you can learn more about steam output in our how to choose a steam iron section), with a powerful 130g/min shot via the trigger button, including vertical steaming/ While that's lower than pricier steam generator irons like the Philips PerfectCare 7000, the cordlessness makes ironing feel far easier and more fluid in real use.

The steam is quiet, consistent and effective, and the iron glides smoothly across fabrics. There are a couple of minor niggles, such as the water spray button being a little overzealous and leaving damp patches, but overall, this iron strikes the best balance of performance, features and value of all the models tested.

Reviewed by Molly Cleary

Best steam generator iron

The Philips PerfectCare Steam Generator 7000 was the surprise standout favourite of our ironing test run. It was easy to hastily judge this iron on looks alone; it's very big, a bit strange-looking compared to a conventional iron and quite heavy too.

But looks can be deceiving, and it turns out that this steam generator system was an absolute dream to use. How does it work? You fill up the 1.8-litre water tank (which can last you for up to an incredible two hours of use), and then simply lift off the ultra-light iron from the base itself, heating up typically within two minutes.

The iron itself uses OptimalTEMP technology, which means that it can automatically adjust to whichever fabric you're ironing, which we found a particularly clever feature while testing. You can also use it vertically if you want to tease the creases out of your work shirt or use the continuous steam function for your sheets.

During testing, I envisioned that the Philips PerfectCare Steam Generator 7000 would be ideal for families with plenty of washing to get through, or for houses bursting with bedrooms, and therefore plenty of sheets to change. It would be especially ideal for anyone renting out rooms in their house who needs to do industrial levels of laundry.

And it really comes into its own with natural, wrinkle-prone fabrics like linen, viscose and hemp, where that powerful, consistent steam makes light work of even the most stubborn creases.

I know that the hefty size definitely won't be for everyone, but if you do need a bigger, more heavy-duty iron, you really can't do better than the Philips PerfectCare Steam Generator 7000.

Reviewed by Molly Cleary

Best cordless iron

During testing, I found that I could get all the benefits of a cordless iron with the Tower CeraGlide iron. And the option to use it as a corded iron if you want to makes it stand out from the other two cordless options in this guide.

If you're wondering how the ability to be both cordless and corded works, this iron uses a base that can be used for a quick burst of charge, or just be fixed to the bulk of the iron as you go, meaning there's no need to stop for a charge.

With a fantastically affordable RRP of £24, it's an excellent value iron and impressed during testing, with its really quick heating time of 30 seconds (with other models such as the Morphy Richards easyCHARGE taking 40 seconds), a 40g/min steam output and a 180g/min steam boost.

Equipped with a high-performance ceramic soleplate, it glides effortlessly over a variety of different fabrics, and its large 360ml water tank means you can iron a full laundry load without frequent refills, compared with the Tefal Freemove Air Cordless iron in this guide's smaller, 250ml capacity.

Ok, it doesn't have the biggest water tank of them all, but it's definitely the most suitable cordless option for small to medium homes with similarly sized laundry piles.

Reviewed by Molly Cleary

Best corded iron

The Russell Hobbs Power Steam Ultra iron has become a reliable go-to in my household thanks to its ultra-smooth ceramic soleplate, which makes light work of large laundry loads. While it's a corded model, it heats up in under 30 seconds and delivers an impressive 70mg/min continuous steam output. The long three-metre cord also helps prevent it from feeling restrictive, especially when using the vertical steam function.

I used the powerful 210g/min steam shot to remove deep creases from curtains, and the burst of steam was visibly strong and effective. An adjustable temperature dial makes it easy to switch between fabrics, while the auto shut-off feature adds reassurance. A generous 360ml water tank and self-clean function also make this iron easy to live with.

The only downside is the fiddly front-fill water tank, which is tricky without the included beaker. That aside, the CeraGlide ceramic soleplate glides beautifully, and the rose gold accents give this powerful iron a stylish finish, even if it's not quite as convenient as a cordless alternative.

Reviewed by Molly Cleary

Best lightweight iron

I found the Morphy Richards EasyCharge cordless iron has great heat retention and heats up super fast. You only need to replace the iron on its dock for approximately 40 seconds, then the light turns green, and you’re ready to go again.

The powerful steam function and high temperature combine to effectively remove creases after one or 2 passes of the iron. Saying this, during testing, the steam output was a tad inconsistent compared with corded irons in this list, making it trickier to remove tougher creases and wrinkles.

One of the real highlights is its lightweight design, which made a noticeable difference during longer ironing sessions. It’s easy to lift, glide, and reposition, especially when tackling larger loads or awkward items like bedding and shirts on hangers. The reduced weight also gave me better control, helping to easily manoeuvre around buttons, seams, and cuffs.

It also boasts a generous 350ml water tank, which is impressive for a cordless model. Even with the steam set to maximum, the reservoir lasts well; during a 30-minute press session, I only needed to refill it once. That means fewer interruptions and more efficient tackling of larger laundry piles.

Reviewed by Jenny McFarlane

Best value steam iron

If you are looking for a heavy-duty iron at a lower price point, then the Beldray Steam Surge Pro is a great alternative to the Philips PerfectCare Steam Generator 7000. Beldray is well known for its affordable range of irons, and the Steam Pro surge didn’t disappoint, delivering brilliant value for money.

For the RRP of £55, you get an iron with a 1.2L water tank that delivers 30 minutes of continuous steam, which easily got me through a load of laundry. The iron doesn’t automatically adjust the temperature of the iron like the Phillips one; however, you can manually adjust the heat setting to the fabric you’re ironing. It can also be used vertically to get creases out of shirts.

The 2-metre power cord meant I easily reached the end of the ironing board, but I found that it kept getting in the way when ironing large items. However, I found the built-in cord storage in the base handy for keeping the cord out of the way when ironing smaller items.

The main downside was that the iron plate didn’t deliver as smooth an experience as others that I had tested. It also struggled with ironing out deep-set creases and occasionally left some water splatters.

Reviewed by Molly Cleary

How we test steam irons

At Ideal Home, we know how important it is to have hands-on experience with products before we recommend them to you, in line with our testing protocol. That's why I've tested most of the irons in this round-up extensively at our test facility before coming to the conclusion in this ranking. Each model was assessed for heat-up time, steam efficiency, glide, and ease of use over repeated sessions.

The Morphy Richards EasyCHARGE Cordless Iron has been tested by Jenny McFarlane, Ideal Home's Senior Digital Editor, in her Belfast home, providing real-world feedback. She took on a full family-sized laundry load with this cordless model.

That included testing them on shirts, linen, and bedsheets to check their credentials, timing how long it took them to remove wrinkles on cotton/linen, their steam output volume and consistency, how well they glide over fabrics, and their stability and ergonomics. We looked at how many passes it took each iron to blast through the worst creases, how ergonomic and powerful each iron was and subsequently how each would fare getting through an average household's laundry pile.

We've also rated the irons you can see here in terms of how user-friendly they are, as well as affordability and specialist features, making sure to include options for smaller homes as well as those who have a lot of washing to un-crease.

Below, you can see how we rated the irons, and you can read more about exactly who tested each of these irons.

• We used the same fabrics for every test, including cotton shirts, linen pillowcases, and duvet covers to ensure consistency.
• We timed wrinkle removal, steam output, and the number of passes needed for creases.
• Molly Cleary and I followed the same protocol with full laundry loads.
• We created a structured approach to scoring subjective features like glide, comfort, and ease of use, rating them on a 1 - 5 scale.
• We assessed their value and features in context, like affordability and extras rated by usefulness.

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Molly Cleary

Molly is the Ecommerce Editor for Ideal Home, covering all things appliance related - including irons! She tested the choices above at Future's test facility in Reading, and was a convert to the art of ironing. She loved the Tower options on offer - both corded and cordless.

Jenny McFarlane

Jenny McFarlane joined the Ideal Home team as Senior Digital Editor in 2023, following a couple of years working across sister brands Real Homes, Homes & Gardens, Livingetc and Gardeningetc. As part of Ideal Home's commitment to how we test the products we recommend, she tested a number of these steam irons while tackling a never-ending laundry mountain in her busy family home.

How to choose a steam iron

You don’t want just any old iron. Look for strong steam and a smooth-glide soleplate to power through the ironing pile. If the steam is strong enough, you save even more time because it penetrates through the garment, ironing both sides at once. Premium models also offer intelligent controls that save time and hassle, because you can iron all garments on a single setting.

Thea Whyte, a steam iron expert at AO, shares her advice: 'Before spending your money, it’s always worth considering what additional features the appliance has.'

'Whether it's unique technology that removes limescale from your iron or perhaps a special soleplate design that helps distribute steam evenly, there are many bonuses that the higher-tier irons have that make ironing easier.'

What else should I look for?

'Many features make a good steam iron! Firstly, high wattage ensures rapid heating, enabling quick and efficient wrinkle removal,' explains David Foulstone, Marketing & Communications Director at Morphy Richards.

'Secondly, a quality soleplate, preferably made of materials like ceramic or stainless steel, ensures smooth gliding over fabrics and even heat distribution. Additionally, a long power cord offers greater flexibility and convenience during ironing sessions.'

In addition, these are the main things to look out for when you're choosing a good iron.

• Constant steam: Measured in g/min (grams per minute), the bigger the number, the more powerful the steam, which relaxes the fabric weave to make it easier to smooth out creases.
• Steam shot: Again measured in g/min, press a button for an extra boost to tackle stubborn creases. The bigger the better.
• Vertical steam: Hold the iron up and press the steam shot button to refresh and uncrease hanging garments and curtains.
• Water spray: Most irons also offer a simple spray of water at the press of a button, another useful tool for creases, but we prefer steam for most fabrics.
• Intelligent temperature setting: Some irons – usually pricier models – don’t need you to select the temperature, they just automatically get it right for all fabrics. This saves time because you don’t need to look at garment labels or divide them into one-dot, two-dot and three-dot piles. Iron in any old order.
• Soleplate: You want a material that glides smoothly over all fabrics, with plenty of holes to deliver steam and a groove above it, so you can easily iron under shirt buttons. An all-round soleplate is best, so you can iron in any direction.
• Auto off: The power should switch off automatically if the iron is left flat for a couple of minutes, or left upright for longer.
• Anti-scale: All the irons here feature a limescale filter that removes impurities from the water. You can push a button to clean the filter, forcing out deposits using the iron’s own steam.
• Anti-drip: Water is cut off if there’s not enough to create steam, to prevent drips.
• Cord: Some models have a power cord that’s too short. It depends on where your socket is, but we prefer a 3m length.
• Storage: All these irons are designed so the cord wraps around the base when not in use. But some are designed better than others. We want our cord to stay put when the iron’s in the cupboard.

FAQs