Thanks for taking the time to read our reviews on the best steam irons that are currently available on the UK market. There are certainly plenty of irons to choose from, and these are made by the most popular brands such as Morphy Richards, Russel Hobbs and Tefal.
We also know that very few people enjoy doing the ironing. It therefore makes sense that if you have a good iron, then at least you can get through the pile of ironing a great deal quicker.
Ideally what you want is a good quality steam iron that will quickly remove creases and wrinkles with very little effort. Most people iron for around 30 minutes to an hour at any one time. You therefore need your iron to be lightweight, comfortable to hold, and have a decent length of power cord. You also need the iron to heat up quickly, generate steam quickly, and have a steam shot. That type of iron along with a good ironing board will help most people out.
To save your time we have done this research for you and have included the information just below.
Pushed for time?
This is a very long article with lots of really useful detail. We also know that some buyers just want a quick answer as they don't have the time to read through all of this information. If that is you then,
The best steam iron on the UK market right now is the Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra. It heats up quickly, has great steam output and a high quality soleplate for smooth easy ironing. This is backed up with a very good guarantee.
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For those who like to know the detail, then please read on to find out more.
Steam Iron Feature Comparison Table
In the comparison table below, we have included those important features. The weight impacts on arm fatigue but most irons do weigh just under 2 kg. The watts refers to how quickly the iron will heat up - 2400 watts takes about 30 seconds.
The tank size is the amount of water an iron holds and around 350 ml is enough for a good batch of ironing. The steam output is the constant level of steam an iron produces and 50 grams per minute is a good average. Finally there is the steam shot, and this is where you get a quick blast of high powered steam that helps remove stubborn creases in fabrics like jeans and linen. 150-200 grams of steam per minute is ideal for that job.
There are also cordless irons available. This type of cordless iron is starting to become more popular.
Product Name | Watts | Tank Size | Steam Output | Steam Shot |
---|---|---|---|---|
Philips Azur Steam Iron (Highest satisfaction) | 2600 | 300 ml | 50 grams | 250 grams |
Beautural Steam Iron (Most popular Online) | 2400 | 340 ml | 35 grams | None |
Tower T22008 CeraGlide (Best Cordless) | 2400 | 360 ml | 120 grams | 150 grams |
Russell Hobbs 23791 (Best iron with flex storage) | 2400 | 320 ml | 50 grams | 150 grams |
Morphy Richards 303123 (Fastest Heat up) | 2800 | 400 ml | 50 grams | 170 grams |
Russell Hobbs 20630 (Best Seller) | 3100 | 200 ml | 45 grams | 210 grams |
Morphy Richards 303118 (Best temperature control) | 2800 | 400 ml | 55 grams | 190 grams |
Russell Hobbs 25760 (Cheapest iron) | 2400 | 240 ml | 30 grams | 90 grams |
Russell Hobbs 23060 (Lightest iron & best seller) | 2400 | 300 ml | 40 grams | 110 grams |
Breville VIN401 (large tank) | 3100 | 400 ml | 55 grams | 200 grams |
There is quite a wide range of steam iron options available on the UK market. Generally speaking there are not huge differences between them when it comes to the buyer ratings. The percentage differences are really quite small across the range of irons.
The price however does vary quite a bit with some as low as £15-25 and others upwards of £60+. The usual well known UK brands are all represented, and Beautural is probably the only one that is not a household name.
Quick Tips for Buying a Steam Iron
The secret to fast ironing is down to one thing - STEAM. If the steam is powerful enough then it makes removing creases a great deal simpler. There are of course other important things to consider when it comes to buying a steam iron. These include:
- No snagging of the clothes caused by a rough sole plate
- No spouting water and associated rust spots caused by a poor steam mechanism and dirty water in the iron
- The iron should be light and easy to use
- The electric lead should be tangle free and easy to put away
- It should heat up quickly and be energy efficient (wattage)
- You should also check if it has vertical steam for ironing curtains, dresses etc.
- Ideally you want powerful steam or pressurised steam to speed up the ironing process.
10 Best Steam Irons in the UK to buy
Best Seller Online - Russell Hobbs 20630 Review
- This is one of the biggest selling irons in the UK market with thousands of sales and over 24,000 buyer reviews
- It uses 3100 watts of power with a constant steam output of 45 grams per minute, and a steam shot of 210 grams
- It has a 350 ml water tank capacity
- Ceramic soleplate
- Has a clever tapered tip with button groove lets you get into those awkward bits of fabric around buttons
- Vertical steam function
Pros
Cons
Lightest Steam Iron - Russell Hobbs 23060 Review
- This model has a 300 ml easy to fill water tank capacity
- It uses 2400 watts to quickly heat up the iron
- Has 40 grams per minute of continuous steam and a 110 gram steam boost
- It can be used for vertical steaming which is handy for curtains etc
- Has a soft touch handle and dial
- Also comes with a self cleaning function
Pros
Cons
Beautural Steam Iron Review - Most Popular Online
- This is not a well known brand but that is certainly not putting buyers off trying this and they certainly rate it very highly
- It is right up there in the power stakes with 2400 Watts
- It has a consistent 35 gram per minute steam output
- This iron has a dual ceramic coated sole-plate which is mainly what buyers talk about as they say it id excellent at quickly removing creases
- The water tank capacity is 340 mls
- It uses an LCD display so as you can easily select from 9 preset modes for ideal temperatures and steam, including for nylon, silk, wool, cotton, jeans, and linen
- Has automatic cut off and an 8 feet power cord
- Comes with a 2 Year Warranty
Pros
Cons
Best Cordless Steam Iron - Tower T22008 CeraGlide
- This is ideal if you like the idea of a cordless iron - so no trailing electric cord
- It produces a very high 120 grams of constant steam which is double what most steam irons produce
- It also has a 190 gram steam boost for the tougher creases in materials like jeans and linen
- The sole plate is a multi layered ceramic soleplate for an easier glide
- Anti-drip, anti-calc and self-cleaning functions offer a longer lifespan for your iron
- Powerful enough at 2400 Watts and helps it heat up quickly in about 30 seconds
- It comes with a 360 ml water tank capacity
- Comes with a 1 year warranty
Pros
Cons
Philips Azur Steam Iron Review - Highest Rated
- This iron weighs 1.56 kg
- It uses 2,600 watts of power for quick heating
- It has 250 grams of steam boost and 50 grams per minute of continuous steam
- It has a 300 ml water tank capacity
- The quick calc release allows easy cleaning for long-lasting steam performance.
- Drip stop system keeps garments spotless while ironing
- Has automatic shut off
Pros
Cons
Russell Hobbs 23791 Review (Flex Storage)
- This iron measures 12.19 x 31.59 x 15.89 cm and weighs 1.68 kg
- Has a 320 ml water tank capacity which you can fill in just 5 seconds
- Has 50 grams of continuous steam
- Has a 150 gram steam shot for tougher creases
- Also has an anti-drip feature
- Has and Anti-calc feature to prevent the build-up of limescale, ideal for hard water areas in the UK
- Has a ceramic soleplate
Pros
Cons
Morphy Richards 303118 Review
- This model uses a Tri-zone soleplate technology for crease removal
- Has a 55 gram per minute constant steam and a 190 gram steam boost
- This model has a pearl ceramic soleplate
- Has very precise temperature control
- Has one of the highest power settings at 2,800 watts for fast heat up
- Has a large 400 ml water tank capacity
90% buyer satisfaction based on 2,500+ online buyer reviews
Pros
Cons
Cheapest Steam Iron - Russell Hobbs 25760 Review
- This model is available in a rose colour, aqua or sapphire
- It has a 2400 watt boiler so heats up fairly quickly
- It has 30 grams per minute of continuous steam and a 90 gram steam shot for more difficult creases and wrinkles
- Has a ceramic infused soleplate for a smooth ironing experience
- The water tank capacity is smaller than most at 240 mls but this does keep the iron as one of the lightest to use
- It can also be used for vertical steaming
90% buyer satisfaction based on 1,000+ online buyer reviews
Pros
Cons
Breville VIN401 Review (Largest Tank)
- Has a wide ceramic soleplate
- It has a 400 easy fill water tank capacity
- 55 grams of continuous steam and a 200 gram steam boost when required
- With 3100 watts of power this is one of the fastest steam irons to heat up
- Comes in a white/rose gold colour
- Also has automatic shut off, anti scale, anti-drip and self cleaning functions
- Has a 3 metre cord
- Can be used for vertical steaming
92% buyer satisfaction based on 5,000+ online buyer reviews
Pros
Cons
How We Researched the Best Steam Iron?
If you don't know a lot about a steam iron, then below we are going to cover off everything you will ever need to know about a steam iron. Some features are far more important than others, so we will place our buying advice in order of importance.
This is a summary guide that includes all of the key features. If you prefer to read our full steam iron buying guide then click here.
Steam Irons Buying Guide & Buyer's Tips
Best Steam Irons Brands
Many home owners just like to buy a good brand when it comes to steam irons. The very popular brands in the UK include:
- Morphy Richards
- Tefal
- Philips
- Russell Hobbs
- Breville
- Bosch
Most of these brands will offer either a 2 or 3 year warranty on their steam irons. Any steam iron works well with a standard sized ironing board.
Understand what Wattage Really Means for an Iron
You will usually see this referred to as something like 3000W. This refers to 3,000 watts and is what determines two things with regards to your steam iron:
- How quickly does the iron heat up
- How much steam can it create
Inside your iron is a small boiler that heats the water up and then turns that water into steam. A good rule of thumb is the higher the number of watts, the faster the iron will heat up. Steam irons range from 2,000 to 3,100 watts.
Constant Steam Flow and Steam Shot
The steam flow is usually referred to as something like 25g/m. This means that when the steam is produced by the boiler, then this is the rate that which the steam is delivered to the sole plate and the vents on your steam iron. The more steam coming out there the easier it makes the removal of lighter creases and wrinkles.
Most steam irons also have a powerful steam boost or steam shot as it is sometimes called. This is usually shown as something like 200g pressurised steam shot. That simply means that when you push the steam boost (steam burst) button on your iron, a shot is released of higher pressured steam. In this example that would be 200 grams per minute.
That shot is really useful for releasing a large burst of steam to remove very tough creases in jeans or a similar material.
Types of Soleplates
Manufacturers use a variety of very descriptive language to describe the soleplate of the iron. Almost all of these will be made from some type of metal, and that is usually steel with steam holes in the soleplate. The slightly better quality steam irons will have a ceramic soleplate which is also better for tough creases.
The soleplate is of course the part of the iron that comes into contact with your clothes. It is very important that this does not snag or splash water or rust on to your clothes or the ironing board cover.
Temperature Control
When you iron different garments you will realise that more delicate fabrics need to be ironed at a much lower temperature than say a normal shirt or a pair of jeans. It is very important to be able to adjust the temperature of the soleplate on your iron.
Make sure any iron that you buy has this adjustable feature. The good news is that almost every iron does have this but some have a wider range of choices than others. That allows you control depending on the fabric you are ironing
Water Tank Capacity
The water tank is where you can pour water into your iron to then create the necessary steam. The average size of a water tank in a normal steam iron is around 350-380 millilitres. Some of the better ones will have 400 ml. water tank capacity.
A 400 ml tank will let you iron between 45-60 minutes before you need to fill it again.
Most irons will come with a filling jug that allows you to pour the water into the iron through a pretty small hole. Some of the better designs now have a wider hole so you can fill straight from the tap which is faster and cleaner.
Limescale Filters
This is probably the main feature where you will see the biggest difference in the price points of irons. Most people will use tap water to fill their steam irons up. Tap water does contain minerals and those minerals do react with the metal parts of your iron.
When that happens over time then a limescale can build up in the boiler, the small steam pipes and eventually to the soleplate on your iron. That is when you start to notice spluttering, water spots, rust spots and leaks starting to happen.
Most steam irons do not have a filter that helps reduce this limescale. So over time the iron will eventually start to clog up. If you live in what is a hard water area in the UK, then this will happen faster.
One way of preventing this happening is to either filter the water used or use distilled water. Some manufacturers do make irons where a filter is included and these will usually be more expensive.
Best Steam Generator Iron
All of the above information relates to the typical and very popular steam irons. These range in price from around £20-£60 depending on which brand you prefer and what features you want to have. There are however other irons known as steam generator irons. These steam generator irons have more pressure and sit on top of a larger water tank, and they can get ironing clothes done 2-3 times faster. That's ideal for a larger ironing pile of clothes.
They are more expensive ranging in price from around £50 up to £300 depending on which brand you prefer and the range of features. They are certainly worth a closer look. They are a better choice for larger families or for anyone with a lot of laundry or clothes to do. We have completed an article on the best steam generator iron which you can read by clicking here.