The Best Steam Irons of 2023

Weight: 3.54 pounds Auto Shut-off: Yes

The Maytag M1400 impressively heats to its highest temperature in just 30 seconds, one of the fastest of any steam iron we tested. It excels at smoothing most of the wrinkles on cotton and linen fabrics.

The 7-ounce water tank is on the small side for steam iron and was somewhat hard to fill, as it required angling it precisely under the faucet so it wouldn’t overflow.

It took us about 17 minutes to iron a cotton dress shirt and linen tablecloth and by the end, we’d run the water tank dry. (Ironing more than two items would have required frequent refilling of the water tank.)

Another gripe we have is the awkward placement of the control button, which is located at the top of the handgrip. Each time we used the iron, we bumped the button, accidentally changing the setting. The digital display indicated heat settings through a pictograph system, which we found easy to read.

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 with 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.

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.

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.

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 creating a 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.

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 making more wrinkles.

The D3030 is 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.

Weight: 2.68 pounds Auto Shut-off: Yes

The Sunbeam Classic steam iron has some of the most clear 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 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, just make sure to use it with care.

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 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.