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The 6 Best Clothes Steamers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Release wrinkles with these tester-approved steamers

Best clothes steamers displayed on a table and rug next to a plant

The Spruce / Letí­cia Almeida

It’s an age-old question: clothes steamer or iron? If you’re looking to quickly eliminate wrinkles in delicate or thin materials, to clear up creases in upholstery or curtains, or to disinfect garments, a steamer is a great choice.

To help determine which clothes steamers are the best at freshening up wardrobe staples, we tested 28 options in The Lab, clocking 16 hours of hands-on testing. Each steamer used on a silk top, dress shirt, and pair of linen pants, and evaluated on its overall design, wrinkle-fighting powers, portability, and value.

Closeup Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Hand-Held Fabric Steamer

The Spruce / Henry Wortock

Some of our testing takeaways? A higher price doesn’t always equal higher quality. It’s not unheard of for clothes steamers to spit out a few extra droplets of water, too, as they’re warming up. Water tank capacity can also really affect how much time you have to steam (in general, more water means more time for steaming).

Clothes steamers also come in handheld and upright models, giving you the flexibility to keep one standing at the ready in your laundry room, or another tucked in a cabinet (or even in your suitcase, in the case of our favorite travel steamers) for quick touch-ups. We’re fans of either, depending on your steaming needs.

Editor's Note: This review was revised in April 2024 with updated buying considerations and new testing data.

What We Like
  • Trigger lock provides continuous steam

  • Long, 12-foot power cord

  • Heats up instantly

What We Don't Like
  • Occasionally spits water

  • Funnel recommended to fill reservoir

We are charmed by the Electrolux Garment Steamer’s slim and sleek appearance, comfortable grip, and overall efficiency—we found that it heats up immediately, which can’t be said about any of our other picks. We could work quickly and easily to release wrinkles in the silk, cotton, and linen garments we used during our tests. While it took between six and nine minutes to freshen up each item (which was about average among the 28 steamers we tested), the process was smooth and straightforward, and felt like it took little effort from us. 

While a few water droplets sputtered out early in the steaming, we were comfortably able to work through it. This is somewhat common with steamers, and occurred with most of our favorites, so we're not judging too harshly. We also found that working with this steamer more at home mitigated a lot of these issues; we were able to get to know it a little better and avoid the small amount of dribbling.

At home, we also really enjoyed the lint brush and fabric brush attachments. The lint brush, in particular, took care of wrinkles and collected pet fur from clothes worn around a shedding dog, making this a great pick for a pet owner who wants a neat shirt.

In general, handheld steamers like this one are more compact than upright units. They’re a great choice if you have less space for storage or intend to travel with your steamer. This steamer is a perfect example; it’s only four pounds, but it feels sturdy while it’s in use. The 10-ounce water tank was also big enough to last through most of our testing and only required one refill in more than 20 minutes of usage, so you can expect to steam a full outfit or long dress in one go.

We also want to shout out the sliding trigger lock that provides continuous steam, so you don’t have to hold the button down for the entire time you’re steaming. We appreciate that this model features a 12-foot long power cord, too; it’s ideal in rooms with awkward outlet placement, or for when you’re caring for curtains in your living room. 

During testing we found that the water tank has a pretty small opening. We recommend using a funnel to help fill it. If you're using distilled water, we had success pouring it over the sink, so any extra drops that splattered didn't make a mess. Still, the steamer packs a lot of power into a small and convenient package, and we think it’ll work well for most household steaming needs. 

Weight: 4 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10 ounces | Heat Time: Immediate | Steam Time: 18 minutes | Power Level: 1,500 watts

How to Steam Your Clothes

To steam effectively, Melissa Maker of Clean My Space has some key recommendations. "Hang the garment up, and pull taut, section by section. Use short strokes to saturate the area with steam and release wrinkles, pulling as you go," she says. "Keep your body away from the steamer, [as] the blasts of steam are very hot." For more, you can also check out our guide on how to use a steamer on clothes.

What We Like
  • Five steam settings

  • Heats in under a minute

  • Includes silicone band, bristle brush, and delicate fabric spacer

What We Don’t Like
  • Funnel recommended to fill reservoir

  • Some water spitting

Another great choice is the Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Handheld Fabric Steamer. During testing, we found that it efficiently removed all the wrinkles in all the garments we tried. The steamer also has five different steam settings so you can adjust accordingly for delicates all the way up to heavier sweaters, clothes, and other household items you can surprisingly clean with a steamer. It also comes with a plethora of attachments: a silicone band for tight fabric placement while steaming, bristle brush, and delicate fabric spacer that gives you extra help achieving smooth lines and getting the steam to penetrate your materials. 

With a cord just over 9 feet, you also have room to stand, bend, and reach the different areas of your garments. This isn’t quite as long as the cord on our best overall pick (that comes in at 12 feet), but it’s still plenty long to go from the collars to the cuffs of your clothing.

Now, we did notice a bit of water spitting as we started using this steamer (just like with our best overall pick), and there was some minor leaking when this steamer wasn’t fully upright. But, also like our best overall, the water sputters weren't an issue after we got to know the steamer and gave it an extra minute or so to heat up.

This practice of waiting a bit longer before usage is also consistent with the advice we received from Melissa Brooks, Senior Director of Marketing, Garment Care at Conair, who says, "We recommend using the steamer for a few minutes on lower settings before switching to the highest or turbo settings. This allows the unit to heat up properly and reduce any chance for water droplets while in use."

Another similarity to our best overall pick is that you’ll probably want to use a funnel to fill the water tank since the water opening is pretty small. However, there are a few subtle differences to keep in mind, too. This steamer took a bit longer when it came to releasing wrinkles from the dress shirts in our lab, and also has both a smaller water tank (meaning a shorter amount of time you can steam) and shorter cord, as we mentioned above. Still, this is an overall great choice that’s right on the heels of our top pick.

Weight: 2 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7.3 ounces | Heat Time: 38 seconds | Steam Time: 15 minutes | Power Level: 1,875 watts

Maintaining Your Steamer

To keep your steamer in top-top shape, Brooks advises "running a vinegar and water mixture in a 1:3 solution to loosen any hard water mineral buildup inside the steamer's water tank." She notes to do this after every 10 uses or so.

What We Like
  • Easy to fill tank, held enough water to steam three garments

  • Fabric brush attachment

  • Locking mechanism to keep steam on or off

  • Comfortable grip while in use

What We Don’t Like
  • A bit of sputtering at the start of use

  • Awkward button placement

The CHI Handheld Garment Steamer for Clothes is one of the few steamers, out of 28 total that we’ve tested, that made it through the entirety of our testing without needing a tank refill, and it’s the only handheld steamer that managed this feat. In other words, you can expect to steam your shirt, pants, and blazer without needing to stop and add more water.

The 10.1-ounce water tank is the largest among our favorite handheld picks (although not among uprights), but it doesn’t feel overly bulky or heavy. It has a 10-foot cord which comes in right in the middle of our favorites, and is plenty long enough to go from the collars all the way to the cuffs of your garments.

Another small detail we appreciate is that the manufacturer takes care to include tips and tricks in the manual, so even beginners can be sure that they’re steaming efficiently (like, it can be easier to steam pants when they’re hanging upside down by the cuffs). We were also pleased to see that a fabric brush attachment was included in the box (even though it’s not part of the online listing). The fabric brush, which helps steam pass through material, made a big difference in the end results, and made it easier and faster to get our clothes looking fresh and crisp.

As with our best overall and runner-up picks, one of the downsides to this steamer is you might experience a bit of water sputtering, so just take care while it’s in use to keep your hands away from the spout. The button that controls the steam settings is placed a bit awkwardly, too, so while the grip on this machine is overall comfortable, the setting could be accidentally bumped and switched while it’s in use. Though, once you get used to this machine’s (minor!) quirks, we think there’s plenty to love about it. 

Weight: 1.71 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10.1 ounces | Heat Time: 20 seconds | Steam Time: 18 minutes | Power Level: 1,600 watts

Filling Up Your Steamer

We recommend using distilled water in your steamer, so you’re not sending any minerals that might be in your tap water through your machine. This is what we used during testing, too.

What We Like
  • Sleek design with foot-operated power button

  • Four steam settings

  • Cord wrap for easy storage

  • Detachable tank

What We Don't Like
  • Small amount of water sputtering

  • Some minor design quirks

The sleek, versatile, full-sized Pure Enrichment PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer is a great choice if you have a bit more room in your home. The upright design features a pole, hanger, and clips that allow you to hang the garments you’re steaming, making for an easy, all-in-one steaming station. The base of the unit is also clever; it has a triangular shape that features a foot pedal to turn it on and off, keeping your hands free to steam or make adjustments. 

A dial on the front allows you to set the steam level to one of its four levels (level one is the gentlest, and it goes all the way up to four—specifically for suits). Our garments (a silk blouse, dress shirt, and linen pants) were steamed and looked fresh in under five minutes each, making this one of the fastest of all 28 machines we tested.

This steamer also has a detachable, 2-liter water tank (the largest among our picks!), which contributes to a whopping 60 minutes of steam time, which means you can get through multiple outfits and garments, or even an entire load of laundry. We especially like how easy it is to remove and fill the tank (there was no struggling with a funnel, as with some of the smaller picks we tried). We did notice a bit of water sputtering at first when we changed the temperature from low to medium, but as mentioned above, this is common. We suspect that we didn’t wait long enough in between settings originally; this issue stopped once we started using it at home more frequently.

One set of wheels are on the back of the base, so you can tip the pole to roll it around as needed (although, one or two additional wheels would have made movement even easier). We gave it a try on curtains and were also pleased with its range and versatility.

A small note is that we would have also preferred some sort of indication for its readiness when turning the machine on or adjusting the setting. There is one power light, but no other indication for settings or modes. All in all, though, we think the speed at which this machine operates and its user-friendliness make it a worthy addition to your laundry room if you have the space for it. 

Weight: 9.6 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 67.6 ounces | Heat Time: 2 minutes | Steam Time: 60 minutes | Power Level: 1,500 watts

Best Large-Capacity

Jiffy Fabric Steamer

Jiffy J-2000 Floor Standing Fabric Steamer
PHOTO:

Amazon

What We Like
  • Can steam for up to 90 minutes

  • Wheels for extra mobility

  • 6-inch wide nozzle

What We Don’t Like
  • A few water droplets released at start of steaming

  • One steam setting

The Jiffy J-2000 Floor Standing Fabric Steamer is our choice for households that do lots of steaming. It has the largest water tank of any of our picks, with a 96-ounce capacity, or three quarters of a gallon. This volume of water allows you to steam for up to 90 minutes at a time (or until your arm gets tired, whichever comes first), and the speed at which you can steam is impressive, too. The 6-inch wide nozzle is the widest of our list, so you can reach a wider swath of material with each stroke, and you don't need to go over each spot more than once for the steam to remove wrinkles.

While it’s standard for upright steamers to be hardier than handheld ones, it’s worth noting that the water tank and nozzle are both larger than the other standing steamer on our list, the Pure Enrichment PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer. The Jiffy J-2000 is another pick that is easy to fill without the added step of a funnel, too, and the included rod set allows you to hang garments while you steam.

The 7-foot power cord might sound short compared to our other picks, but you have 5 feet of hose for easier maneuverability (just keep an eye out for the hose when this machine is on, because it does get hot to the touch). Since it’s on wheels, the steamer is also easy to rotate as necessary—but, not too easy! It stayed in place for us when we were using it.

After switching this machine on, it takes about a minute and 30 seconds to heat up; and we did notice that a few extra droplets of water were released as we were getting started with it, but not so much that we were concerned, since this is a common occurrence. The one other critique we have is that there’s only one steam setting, so you’re not able to make adjustments for different fabric types. Still, it’s an otherwise reliable pick with the longest steam time and the widest nozzle of our picks, giving you the ability to steam more, and for longer, than any of the others on this list. 

Weight: 15.87 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 96 ounces | Heat Time: 1.5 minutes | Steam Time: 90 minutes | Power Level: 1,300 watts

Best Travel Steamer

Brookline Steamer

Brookline Handheld Garment Steamer
PHOTO:

Amazon

What We Like
  • Reservoir is easy to fill

  • Compact design

What We Don’t Like
  • Less effective as water level decreased

  • One steam setting

For a steamer that you can rely on for quick, on-the-go touch-ups, we like the Brookline Steamer for Clothes. Its compact size (the smallest of our picks!) and straightforward design are great for packing and travel—and for light home use, too. We especially like that the wide-mouth reservoir can be easily filled from the tap, so you don’t have to fuss with a funnel at your hotel sink.

The tank can hold up to 6.1 ounces of water (roughly half of a can of soda). This is the smallest water capacity of our picks, but that’s to be expected for a travel-friendly clothes steamer. On the subject of the tank, we did notice that the steam power lessened as the water level depleted, and that we needed to be careful to keep the steamer upright to avoid sloshes—but, we were still pleased with the steamer's overall performance.

During testing, we saw the steamer take about two and a half minutes to heat up, so it’s not as quick as some of the other handheld choices. There’s just one setting, but it proved effective since the actual time it took to steam our garments was right on par with other models we have tested (from 5.5 minutes to over 8 minutes, depending on the material thickness). The 9-foot cord is also lengthy enough that you should be fine using it in most hotels, but just remember that you’ll need to account for the extra space in your suitcase when packing this steamer, for both the machine and the cord.

Our expectations for a travel steamer are a straightforward and compact design paired with efficient steaming, and this steamer definitely meets the mark (and did we mention it comes in black or pink?). 

Weight: 1.57 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 6.1 ounces | Heat Time: 2.5 minutes | Steam Time: 10 minutes | Power Level: 800 watts

Final Verdict

The best clothes steamer is the Electrolux Garment Steamer, which heats up immediately, boasts effective steaming power, and has a convenient 12-foot cord. The Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Handheld Fabric Steamer is another great choice that can power through wrinkles in just a few passes with its five steam settings, and comes with multiple attachments to help you get your clothes looking crisp and wrinkle-free. 

How We Tested the Clothes Steamers

We purchased 28 clothes steamers—both upright and handheld—and tested them in The Lab for 16 hours, assessing each machine on a variety of factors, including how well they did (or didn’t!) do at getting our clothes to look fresh and crisp. High-performing clothes steamers also went home with some of our testers for additional long-term assessments.

When testing, no matter where we're testing, we consider a few notable attributes and compare the steamers to each other to see how they rank against their competition.

  • To start, we set up each steamer, noting how clear the instructions are and whether the design is intuitive or not. This means we look at details such as button placement, cord attachment, and accessories.
  • Next, we use a stopwatch to time how long each steamer takes to heat up. Once the steamer is ready to go, we use it on a silk shirt, dress shirt, and pair of linen pants for a precise look at its performance. We time how long it takes us to get wrinkles out of each material, as well.
  • We also consider each steamer’s portability. For handheld and travel steamers, this means how comfortably it can be carried around a home or packed in a suitcase. For standing or upright steamers, we look at how easily and smoothly they can be moved or rolled. 
  • The value of each steamer is also determined by overall performance and price. In other words, we decide whether or not we’d be comfortable paying our own money for it, once we’ve seen and used it in person.
A person assembles the Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer

The Spruce Home / Henry Wortock

What to Look for in a Clothes Steamer

Type: Standing or Handheld?

“Home steamers basically come in two varieties: base-mounted steamers and handheld steamers,” says Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care. “Handheld steamers are good to use for a quick touch-up or to travel with. Base tank steamers are used in retail environments, because they have larger water reservoirs and therefore will run longer without refilling with water," he adds. In home environments, they’re a good idea when you do lots of regular steaming, such as to maintain a very professional wardrobe that includes a lot of suits. 

On one hand (pun intended), handheld steamers are more compact and heat up more quickly, but upright steamers (which Edelman refers to as base tank steamers, and can also be called standing steamers) usually have a built-in hanger or clips for clothing and are more powerful, getting wrinkles out more quickly.

We included a mix of both styles on this list, but only two of our top picks are standing (the Pure Enrichment PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer, our best standing pick, and the Jiffy J-2000 Floor Standing Fabric Steamer, our best large-capacity pick).

person assembling the Brookline Handheld Garment Steamer

The Spruce / Henry Wortock

The Power Level and Steam Settings

Most home steamers have a wattage between 500 and 1,500 watts, and steamers with a higher wattage produce more steam at once. This allows them to work more effectively and get wrinkles out faster.

Some machines also allow you to use different modes and levels to control the amount of steam you’re using, too. However, keep in mind that you can only use so much steam on fabric before it gets overly saturated, and a powerful burst of hot steam can harm certain fabrics. 

Velvet, velour, suede, waxed jackets, and anything plastic can be melted or warped by steaming—this also holds true for decorative elements like plastic buttons or beads. Katie Berry, a member of The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board, additionally notes that "some metal embellishments will rust after repeated steaming, so try to avoid getting the device near them."

The majority of steamers release steam that’s somewhere between 212 and 400 degrees, which is why it’s important to keep your hands away from the nozzle during operation, too, and also handle the steamer carefully to avoid drips or spurts of hot water falling on your hands. As we noted in our testing, it's not uncommon to experience drips, especially as you're getting started with your steam session.

If you're not sure when to steam and when to use a steam iron, consider the advice of Eleanor Lofte, seamstress at Something Blue Bridal. She says that an iron is more appropriate when you’re working with a very thick fabric, or if the fabric has stubborn wrinkles or creases. Steamers can be a better choice when working with fragile fabrics, like polyester or nylon, that could easily be damaged by heat—or when you don’t have a good surface to iron on.

The water reservoir on the Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer

The Spruce Home / Henry Wortock

The Heat Time and Steam Time

While it may seem obvious that handheld picks will have smaller capacities, and uprights will tend to hold more, there's variation across different models, too. Of the models on this list, the water tanks of handheld options range from 6.1 ounces (our best travel pick, the Brookline Steamer for Clothes) to 10 ounces (our best value pick, the CHI Handheld Garment Steamer for Clothes), and offer 10 to 18 minutes of steam time. On the other hand, the largest machine on our list, the Jiffy J-2000 Floor Standing Fabric Steamer, offers 90 minutes of steam time. 

While deciding what sort of machine or capacity is right for you, consider how many garments you have for steaming, and how often you intend to tackle them. If you only have a few pieces you’ll be freshening up one at a time for special occasions, then a smaller capacity will likely suit you just fine. But if you want to do multiple pieces in one go—or your wardrobe is full of silks, linen, and business attire that need regular freshening—then you might prefer a larger machine.

Additionally, keep in mind that higher steam settings may go through more steam at once. In this case, you’ll really want a machine with a large water tank capacity so you don’t need to refill the tank often while steaming your clothes.

Attachments

A steamer might come with attachments like a fabric brush, silicone band, or a fabric spacer (or in the case of our best overall, runner-up, the Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Handheld Fabric Steamer, all three!). Each tool serves a different purpose. A fabric brush is designed to help steam penetrate clothes, a silicone band helps secure creases, and a fabric spacer protects fragile materials. A lint brush may be included with some machines (like our best overall, the Electrolux Garment Steamer) to help you remove lint and fuzz. 

Person using the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Hand-Held Fabric Steamer on a shirt

The Spruce / Henry Wortock

The Checkout Counter

Before you check out, consider these products you may also need.

  1. Norpro Plastic Funnel, Set of Three: During our testing, a funnel was necessary to fill a steamer with a small water tank opening—this set will get the job done.
  2. Amazon Basics Velvet Clothes Hangers, Pack of 30: If your steamer doesn't come with a place to hang up clothes, having hangers on hand is essential so you can reach your wrinkles at the right angle.
  3. Tinfol Velvet Hanger Clips, Pack of 24: You can turn any hanger into a pants hanger with these clips. Plus, they're handy for hanging your pants by the cuff while steaming.
  4. iDesign Orbinni Steel Over-the-Door Storage Hook: The back of your bedroom or bathroom door can be a go-to spot to steam clothes, and this hook has four slots for an entire steaming session.
A person uses the Conair GS38R Handheld Garment Steamer for Clothes Turbo ExtremeSteam to steam a shirt

The Spruce Home / Henry Wortock

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Dena Ogden, an associate editor at The Spruce focusing on home tech, appliances, cleaning, and organization. Ogden has firsthand testing experience with products from top appliance brands, testing robot vacuums, upholstery cleaners, and more in her own home.

For this piece, she considered testing insights from The Lab and our home testing to inform our selections, looking at the overall effectiveness, ease of use, and features of each clothes steamer.

Our Experts: