Like washers and dryers, a reliable iron is a laundry room essential. Designed to tackle wrinkles in everything from bed linens to dress shirts, the best clothing irons warm up quickly and distribute heat evenly, making the task of ironing less dreaded. Following careful consideration, our top pick for 2024 is the CHI Professional Clothing Iron, which has 300-plus steam holes and a titanium-infused ceramic soleplate that together tackle wrinkles with ease.
Two of our favorite clothes irons come from Black+Decker and Chi.
Illustration: Forbes / Image: Retailers
But if that model doesn’t meet your needs, we consulted with Patric Richardson, the author of Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore, who provided insight into other top-notch clothing irons currently on the market. Whichever one on the list below appeals to you, take confidence that these appliances will make laundry time a little more efficient and enjoyable. Below are our favorite clothes irons you can buy right now.
A Mid-Range Option That Rivals High-End Competitors
Amazon
CHI Professional Clothing Iron
Power: 1,700 watts | Special features: Adjustable steam control, auto clean system | Weight: 2.9 pounds | Water tank capacity: 300 milliliters | Auto shut-off: Yes
Pros:
Even steam distribution
Heats quickly
Multiple fabric settings
Cons:
Some reviewers complain of durability
Budget-friendly and highly effective, the CHI has more than 300 steam holes, resulting in even steam distribution. These traits—along with multiple fabric settings—make it a good pick for a variety of uses (and users). The titanium-infused ceramic soleplate heats up quickly and glides effortlessly over materials; plus, the soleplate’s pointed tip fits easily into tight corners. This model is also user-friendly, thanks to the handy fabric guide on the temperature settings.
Best Budget Clothing Iron
An Affordable Model With All The Essential Features
Amazon
Sunbeam Steammaster Steam Iron
Power: 1,400 watts | Special features: Spray mist | Weight: 2 pounds | Water tank capacity: 8.5 ounces | Auto shut-off: Yes
Pros:
Affordable
Easy-to-clean soleplate
Heats quickly
Cons:
Lower wattage
Might be too heavy for some users
Don’t be fooled by the budget-friendly price: The Sunbeam Steammaster is beloved by reviewers and customers alike. This steam iron has a stainless soleplate, plus 1400 watts of pressing power and variable steam control that make it easy to effectively remove wrinkles from any material. According to customers, it heats fast and it’s just as heavy as more expensive options. It also has a retractable cord for added convenience.
Best Upgrade Clothing Iron
A Powerful Steam Iron With Professional-Level Results
Amazon
Rowenta SteamForce Pro Steam Iron
Power: 1,850 watts | Special features: Digital display,continuous steam | Weight: 4.8 pounds | Water tank capacity: 11.8 ounces | Auto shut-off: Yes
Pros:
Automatic shut-off
Generous water tank
LED display
Cons:
Some users may find the extra features unnecessary
If you’re tired of dealing with stubborn wrinkles that your regular dry iron can’t tackle, consider this model from Rowenta. With its powerful steam output, the Rowenta is a pro at smoothing out wrinkles on all sorts of garments, thick sweaters and pants included. Its stainless soleplate is easy to move over any material, plus it distributes steam evenly as you glide thanks to 400 microsteam holes and a continuous steam option. For added safety, it turns off automatically if left untouched for eight minutes vertically (or 30 seconds face-down or on its side).
Best Travel Clothing Iron
A Dual-Plated Iron That Makes Things Easy
Nori Press
The Nori Press
Power: 450 watts | Special features: Lightweight, six settings | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Water tank capacity: 1 ounce | Auto shut-off: Yes
Pros:
Compact and lightweight
Dual-sided for low-effort pressing
Six heat settings
Cons:
Small water reservoir
If you’re on-the-go and don’t have time to whip out an ironing board, The Nori Press is for you. This dual-sided iron is designed to press and steam clothes with minimal effort required. It has six heat settings—poly, silk, wool, cotton, denim and linen—and a water reservoir that generates steam without any leakage. The aluminum plates glide easily over any garment, smoothing out the front and back at the same time. Plus, it weighs in at just 1.4 pounds, making it an excellent option for packing in your suitcase or carry-on.
Best Quick-Heating Clothing Iron
A Budget-Friendly Pick That Heats Up In Less Than A Minute
Amazon
ConAir ExtremeSteam Pro Steam Iron
Power: 1,875 watts | Special features: Corrosion resistant plate, vertical steam | Weight: 4.2 pounds| Water tank capacity: N/A | Auto shut-off: Yes
Pros:
Heats up quickly
Two wattage choices
Heavy enough to press clothes
Cons:
No bells and whistles
Looking for a fast-heating iron that uses the power of steam to press out wrinkles? This cost-effective option features a corrosion-resistant Titanium soleplate, plus a self-cleaning feature to ensure you don’t transfer stains to your clothes. Even better news: It heats up within 60 seconds, even when you’re using the highest heat setting.
Best Lightweight Clothing Iron
A Compact, Easy-To-Maneuver Steam Iron
Amazon
Black+Decker Light ‘N Easy Compact Steam Iron
Power: 1,200 watts | Special features: Steam control and easy to fill water tank | Weight: 2.4 pounds | Water tank capacity: N/A | Auto shut-off: Yes
Pros:
Works well on deep wrinkles
Anti-drip design
Automatic shut-off feature
Cons:
May not provide desired steam needed for heavier fabrics
Easy to handle and maneuver, this lightweight option automatically optimizes the amount of steam based on the temperature you select. Consumer also vouch for its anti-drip design, which prevents dripping by closely regulating water temperatures. A spray mist function also helps smooth away deep wrinkles, but may require a bit more application for heavier fabrics like denim and linen. Thankfully, it’s designed to glide smoothly across all types of fabrics. Additionally, it features an automatic shut-off function where the iron shuts off when left unattended for 30 seconds on its side or soleplate, and after 8 minutes on the heel rest. This is great peace of mind for anyone that’s multi-tasking through chores.
Best Cordless Clothing Iron
A Rechargeable Iron With No Annoying Cord
Amazon
Panasonic Contoured Cordless Iron
Power: 1,500 watts | Special features: Cordless, vertical steam | Weight: 4.4 pounds | Water tank capacity: 4.7 ounces | Auto shut-off: Yes
Pros:
No cord to fuss with
Vertical steamer feature
Variable temperatures
Cons:
Small water reservoir
The Panasonic makes everyday ironing hassle-free—simply charge it, select your temp and wait a minute for it to heat up. The cordless feature prevents snags, but to keep the iron at your desired temperature, you have to reheat it on the base. You can also use the Panasonic as a vertical steamer and it comes with its own carrying case for storage or travel.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
The Forbes Vetted editors, like all consumers, want appliances that work efficiently, hold up and help make daily chores a little bit easier. In addition to authoring articles on how to tackle laundry efficiently, our home and kitchen team also writes, researches and in some cases, tests, a slew of laundry-related content. This includes the best stackable washers and dryers, the best carpet cleaners for pets and a wrinkle-curbing steamer that one of our writers finds quite handy.
The author of this article, Ashley Abramson, has over a decade of experience writing and testing the latest home products. For Forbes Vetted, she’s tested and reviewed the best Dyson vacuums and toasters.
We consulted laundry expert and author of Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore, Patric Richardson, on the main factors to keep in mind when shopping for the best clothes iron.
We regularly refresh this story to ensure all products are priced correctly and in stock. This story was last updated in August 2024 to replace out of stock products with equally worthy picks, and to add more information to our shopping guide and frequently asked questions.
How We Chose The Best Clothes Irons
When curating a list of the best clothes irons, we took our own daily laundry tasks into consideration.
We made sure to include options for a variety of purposes. For example, a compact option like The Nori Press is great for travel, while the Sunbeam Steammaster is a wallet-friendly pick ideal for readers on a budget.
We considered each model’s wattage, weight, water tank capacity and special features like continuous steam and auto shut-off.
We combed through dozens of customer reviews, ensuring each pick earned no less than a 4-star rating.
What To Consider When Buying A Handheld Clothes Iron
Like any appliance, clothing irons are somewhat of an investment, so you don’t necessarily want to pick up the first model you come across. At minimum, you want a model that comes with adjustable temperature and steam settings to target wrinkles on all kinds of fabrics. According to Richardson, here’s what else you should consider before buying one for your home.
Materials
When it comes to soleplates, Richardson recommends ones made of stainless steel or ceramic, as these surfaces are durable and easy to clean. While non-stick materials may seem convenient, the coating can peel off over time, meaning you might end up having to replace your iron sooner than later.
Weight
Another factor to consider is the iron’s weight. Heavier models are better at pressing materials, but could be tiresome for wrists. Generally speaking, Richardson prefers heavier models over lighter ones. “Something with a little heft always helps press out the wrinkles,” he says. If you’re looking for a handheld iron you can tote around, a lighter, more portable model may be a better fit.
Steam Output
Steam is critical to tackling wrinkles. However, according to Richardson, many affordable irons don’t produce enough steam to make a difference in the appearance of your clothes. If you’d rather not drop $100-plus on a powerful steam iron, you have an alternative: Buy a heavy model and use a spray bottle filled with water to moisten the fabric as you go.
Fabric Settings
If you’re going to be ironing a wide variety of fa
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