Best Clothing Irons of 2024
1. BEST OVERALL STEAM IRON
CHI Steam Iron with Titanium-Infused Ceramic Soleplate
PROS
- Great steam release
- Soft grip handle
- Retractable cord
CONS
- Easy to tip over
You may know the CHI name from its curling irons, hair straighteners, curling wands and other beauty products. The brand has applied its top-notch heating and pressing technology to its line of irons too. In our Lab, this model not only expertly pressed linen and heavy cotton, but it also had the most powerful burst of steam in our tests.
The CHI is comfortable in the hand, and when you dial the fabric selection, the illuminated display confirms your choice. The large water tank’s lid swivels out to fill, and a retractable cord means tidy, safe storage (no tripping over a dangling cord). The scratch-resistant ceramic soleplate glides beautifully.
This is such a Lab favorite that when a staffer comes in to borrow an iron — to freshen up GH lab coats for a photo shoot or press table linens for events in our Good Housekeeping dining room — we hide this one away, lest it disappear on us! But take note, we did find the CHI prone to tipping.
2. BEST VALUE STEAM IRON
BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron
PROS
- Impressive wrinkle removal
- Retractable cord
- Well-priced
CONS
- Takes a bit longer than others to heat up
The Black+Decker Vitessa was among our top performers for wrinkle removal and is available at a third of the cost of our top pick. We love the six different temperature settings for more customized ironing. The nonstick soleplate glides evenly and we didn’t experience any snagging. This light model (only 2 pounds) handily removed wrinkles from all of our test fabrics — linen, heavy cotton, light cotton, wool, silk and polyester and did a very good job producing steam.
To store, just push a button to retract the cord. It took a little longer to heat up, but once it picks up steam, it’s a cinch to maneuver. We appreciate its clear water tank that allows you to easily see how much water you have left. Overall, it’s a great budget buy.
3. BEST CORDLESS STEAM IRON
Panasonic 360º Ceramic Cordless Freestyle Iron
PROS
- Portable and convenient to use without an outlet
- Double-tipped soleplate
- Deep groove around soleplate for ironing around buttons
- Removable water tank to fill at sink
CONS
- Base is a bit bulky
We named this handy iron with its own dock the best overall pick in our most recent cordless iron test — and over 1,100 five-star reviews on Amazon back us up. The Panasonic 360º Freestyle Cordless has a pointed tip at each end of the soleplate, so the whole surface is functional in any direction. Holes in the perimeter allow it to emit steam all around. You can speedily de-wrinkle larger items without the flat end of an iron scrunching up what you’ve already gone over.
You have to set it back on the base to reheat as you reposition your ironing. When we tested a similar cordless model, we never waited long for it to get back to full temperature.There’s no cord to wrinkle what you’ve already pressed and you can move around to touch up bedding and other fabrics that are far from an outlet. With an easy-clean ceramic soleplate, this is a favorite portable option for sewers and quilters. It has a carrying case and removable tank to fill at the sink, plus steam, spray and temperature controls right on the handle. We like the deep groove that runs around the soleplate so you can glide around a button, zipper or snap. Although bulky, the base automatically shuts off if no movement is sensed after 10 minutes.
4. FASTEST-HEATING STEAM IRON
Conair ExtremeSteam Pro Steam Iron
PROS
- Heats up quickly
- Stable when upright
- Easy-read water tank
- Vertical steam function
CONS
- Bulky to maneuver
The Conair ExtremeSteam Pro heats up in under 60 seconds, even to the highest heat setting,and was a top steam producer in our tests. This model also impressively flattened persistent wrinkles on cotton, wool, silk and linen. Rubber feet make it less likely to topple, but it was a little bulky to maneuver. We found that keeping the water tank full to the max line helped prevent drips as we steamed.
This Good Housekeeping Seal-holder resists corrosion with a calcium collector and self-cleaning function. It has adjustable temperature settings, continuous vertical steam that doesn’t spit and a misting function that doesn’t drench fabric.
5. BEST STEAM IRON FOR BEGINNERS
Rowenta Smart Temp Steam Iron
PROS
- Simple to use
- Lightweight
CONS
- Water tank isn’t transparent
The Rowenta Smart Temp Steam model is designed to iron all fabrics at optimal heat, without any temperature dials. We didn’t test this exact model in our Lab yet, but did evaluate a similar Rowenta with the same smart temperature function. It finished in a three-way tie for best wrinkle remover (with CHI and Black+Decker) and came in second in Lab performance tests.
With a 4.3-star Amazon rating, we aren’t the only ones loving this. One reviewer said, “I am most impressed with the amount of steam generated.” A stainless-steel soleplate and anti-calc system help the iron work and look like new for years. One pain point is the dark water tank which makes it hard to see how much water is inside. You have to lift the iron and jiggle it to gauge the water level.
We also like the Rowenta brand’s Professional Steam Station with a 57-ounce removable water tank, fabric steamer and garment steamer. But it is an investment at almost $200.
