Best clothing iron for 2026, tested and reviewed on every fabric type
We put seven of these smooth operators to the test on tough wrinkles and delicate materials.
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Confession: Before starting this test to find the best clothing iron, I hadn't picked up my own iron since the last wedding I attended — oh, about three years ago. My wardrobe is full of fabrics that can generally pass for polished even when slightly rumpled (think: linen and jersey dresses), which makes it easy to skip the iron most days.
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Thankfully, ironing is a simple, if tedious, task, and I had plenty of clothes just waiting to be de-wrinkled. I tested seven different models over the course of a couple of weeks and a few loads of laundry. I was looking for the best irons for clothes that heated up quickly, performed well at both low and high temperatures and delivered consistent steam without leaks. As someone who's definitely not a whiz at the ironing board, you can trust that my picks for the best steam irons are genuinely easy to use and get the job done fast.
Best clothing irons of 2026
Wattage:1725| Soleplate material:Stainless steel | Weight:3.8 lbs. | Temperature settings:Three | Steam output?Yes
The Rowenta AccessSteam iron is a true workhorse that makes a great choice for everyday use. It heated up in about 40 seconds and produced big clouds of steam. The soleplate glided smoothly across different fabrics and easily pressed out wrinkles on both low and high heat settings. That may be thanks to its unique “microhole” system: it has over 350 tiny holes spread across the soleplate, vs. most of the models I tested, which had fewer but larger holes.
Rowenta has been making irons for over 100 years, so it’s a trusted brand in the space. The handle had a subtle texture that provided a nice grip, and the iron had a good weight without feeling heavy. It was substantial enough to press out tough wrinkles yet easy to maneuver, a plus for anyone who irons frequently.
The temperature gauge is a simple dial that sits behind the handle, and a pilot light switches off when the iron has reached the desired temperature. It also has a sleek, modern look thanks to metallic rose gold and silver accents.
- Retractable cord makes it easy to store
- Handle is comfortable to hold for long periods
- Quick to heat up
- Can be used as a vertical steamer
- Only 3 heat settings
- Temperature display behind the handle is a little hard to see
Wattage:1750 | Soleplate material:Nonstick ceramic | Weight:2.2 lbs.| Temperature settings:Three | Steam output?Yes
Maybe it's not so surprising for an iron from a brand called PurSteam, but this model gave off loads of steam and tackled wrinkly linen especially well. I also appreciated that it heated up super quickly, in less than 30 seconds — the fastest of all of the clothing irons I tested.
The soleplate on the SteamBurst+ is a nonstick ceramic material that glided smoothly over different fabrics, and it really knocked it out of the park on the high-heat setting test. (No leaks!) When ironing more delicate fabric like silk at a lower temperature, it took a couple of extra passes to get the wrinkles to release.
Design-wise, this clothing iron is pretty basic, with the temperature gauge located behind the handle on the body. The opening on the water tank was larger than the others, making it easy to fill without spills. As for the price, while we'd usually consider $50 the threshold for a budget iron, this one performed so much better than cheaper versions that it easily made the cut.
- Lightweight design
- Heats up very quickly
- Can be used as a vertical steamer
- Impressive steam output
- Cord isn’t retractable
- Temperature gauge behind the handle is a little hard to see
Wattage:1500 | Soleplate material:Stainless steel| Weight:4.18 lbs .| Temperature settings:Three | Steam output?Yes
I didn’t even know a cordless iron was a thing until trying out the Panasonic. You just plug in the charging base, let the iron heat up and then you’re ready to go to town with no cords to get in your way. It even comes with its own carrying case for travel (or to keep the iron dust-free when in storage).
This iron is ideal for delicate fabrics: It has a unique double-tipped soleplate that’s super-easy to maneuver around buttons, zippers and embellishments like ruffles, embroidery or lace trim. It tied the Rowenta for the top score at removing wrinkles on the low-heat setting for delicate fabrics like silk and synthetics. It’s also a great pick for sewers and quilters who need to press a lot of fabric and seams.
It took me a little while to get into the groove with this iron. Since it doesn’t have a heel like more traditional clothing irons, you can’t set it down vertically when not in use — it always needs to be returned to the charger (which you can keep right there on the ironing board) to reheat. But once I got the hang of it, it performed well on high-heat settings too, just not as well as some other picks that had higher wattage.
- Cordless design
- Double-tipped soleplate for easy getting between buttons and pleats
- Removable water tank for easy filling
- Comes with a carrying case for travel
- Iron must be placed back in charging cradle anytime you need to put it down
Factors to consider when choosing a clothing iron
If you're shopping for a new clothing iron, here are a few important factors to keep in mind.
✓ Power/wattage:A clothing iron needs enough watts to get to a temperature high enough to release tough wrinkles. Look for an iron with at least 1500 watts.
✓ Temperature and steam settings:Some irons have only three heat settings — low, medium and high — while others have five or six settings tied to specific fabrics. Steam settings can also vary, from a simple "on" or "off" to multiple levels. If it's important to you to know when the iron has reached the appropriate temperature, look for models with indicators that take the guesswork out.
Though the Black+Decker Vitessa iron wasn't a top pick, I appreciated that the temperature dial is visible from overhead, making it easier to see than some other models.
(Beth Roehrig)✓ Convenience features:Some clothing irons have retractable cords that make them more convenient to store. I also appreciated the irons with a vertical steaming option for quick touch-ups when you don't want to take out the ironing board. Some irons come with self-cleaning features that can make regular upkeep a little easier.
✓ Design:Is the iron comfortable to hold? Is the water tank easy to fill? Are the temperature gauges easy to see and understand? An iron that's thoughtfully designed can make the chore more pleasant.
✓ Price:Clothing irons can range from around $20 to over $100. Bells and whistles tend to come with a higher price tag. Think about the features that are important to you (or not) and keep an eye on sales.
How we test clothing irons
I tried seven of the best steam irons over two weeks, using them on the same Brabantia ironing board , with a variety of clothing made from different fabrics, including silk and linen. I judged each iron on the following factors:
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Time to heat up:I timed how long each iron took to reach a medium heat setting. All our top picks took less than a minute, except the CHI iron, which took 1 minute and 40 seconds.
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Steam output:I used the steam burst button on each iron to see how much steam was released and how powerful the burst was. I also noted the amount of steam released while ironing at high temperatures. Though an iron certainly can't replace a handheld steam cleaner, it can do double duty as a clothing steamer if it's powerful enough.
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Performance:I tested each clothing iron on silk shirts, using a dry low heat setting, evaluating how well each iron released wrinkles and taking note of any issues like drips or if the soleplate caught on the fabric. I used the same criteria to evaluate the irons on a high-heat steam setting while ironing linen dresses and pants.
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Design:I evaluated each iron on how comfortable the handle was, how easy it was to see and understand the temperature display, and noted whether or not the cord was retractable. I also factored in the cord length and how easy and comfortable the iron was to maneuver overall.
The CHI iron quickly banished wrinkles from linen.
(Beth Roehrig)Other clothing irons we tested
Black+Decker Allure Professional Steam Iron :This model was a very close runner-up for the best budget clothing iron. It gave off powerful puffs of steam and performed well in both the low- and high-heat setting tests, though it didn't release wrinkles as quickly as the winning iron on the low-heat setting. The Allure was a bit slow to heat up and made a sound like a whistling tea kettle when the steam function was turned on. The design is very basic, but that also made it easy to use.
Hamilton Beach Durathon Nonstick Soleplate Iron :This iron didn't glide as smoothly over fabrics as some others did. The Durathon also felt a little less substantial and took a couple of extra passes to release wrinkles, but it had no drips during testing. It's a solid basic iron at under $50.
Black+Decker Vitessa Advanced Steam Iron :The Vitessa dripped slightly when turned to the high-heat setting with steam and didn't remove wrinkles on the low-heat setting as well as other irons did. I did like how the temperature settings were at the top of the handle on this model, making it easier to see and adjust the temperature while you're ironing, compared to irons with the gauge placed behind the handle.
A side-by-side look at different soleplate materials and designs on the (from left) Black+Decker Allure, CHI Lava and Hamilton Beach Durathon steam irons.
(Beth Roehrig)Clothing iron FAQs
How do you use an iron for sewing and quilting?
A clothing iron is essential for hobbies like sewing and quilting to get fabrics wrinkle-free and to press seams. Start by ironing any large pieces of fabric to remove any wrinkles. After you've cut fabric into pieces for a sewing or quilting project, press the fabric rather than ironing it to avoid distorting it. (Pressing is when you place an iron on the fabric and lift it repeatedly — you're not moving the iron back and forth, but allowing the heat and weight of the iron to work.) You can also use a clothing iron to press seams for sewing and quilting projects.
How do you clean an iron?
To clean the soleplate and exterior of a clothing iron, unplug the iron and let it cool before wiping it with a damp cloth. If needed, you can use a bit of mild detergent like dish soap on most irons, but check the manual for your model. To remove stubborn residue from the soleplate, preheat the iron to high heat and then iron over a damp cotton cloth. This creates steam that transfers any dirt or residue from the soleplate onto the cloth. Remember to empty the water well before storing a steam iron to prevent mineral buildup. Some clothing irons also have a self-cleaning function to remove any residue from the steam holes in the soleplate.
What surfaces can you iron on other than an ironing board?
If you don't have an ironing board, you can iron on any firm, flat, heat-resistant surface, like kitchen counters, a table or even a hard surface floor. (Avoid ironing on plastic or glass surfaces.) Place a thick white towel or an ironing blanket down on the surface as a buffer to protect it from the heat and steam.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.
