A good steam iron is the difference between a shirt that looks pressed and one that looks slept in. We are a cleaning company, not a laundry, but our teams hand back a lot of freshly ironed linen, so we know which irons glide and which ones spit. These are the five steam irons we rate on UK shelves in 2026, from a cracking-value Russell Hobbs to a Philips steam generator for the people who iron a whole week’s washing in one go.
One thing to clear up first, because the names confuse people. A steam iron is for clothes: you press a hot, flat soleplate onto the fabric and steam relaxes the creases. That is a different machine from a handheld steam cleaner, which blasts steam at grout and ovens, and different again from an upright garment steamer, which freshens hanging clothes without a soleplate. This guide is about irons. If you want a hot day’s worth of detail cleaning instead, our steam cleaner picks are the page you want.
Best steam irons: quick comparison
| Product | Type | Power | Continuous steam | Steam shot | Tank | Approx UK price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Philips Azur 8000 (DST8050/26) | Steam iron | 3,000W | 85 g/min | 260 g | 350ml | About £100 (RRP £150) |
| Tefal Ultimate Pure FV9845 | Steam iron | 3,100W | 60 g/min | 260 g/min | 350ml | About £112 |
| Philips PerfectCare 7000 (PSG7130) | Steam generator | 2,100W | 120 g/min | 600 g | 1.8L | About £299 |
| Russell Hobbs Colour Control Pro | Steam iron | 2,400W | 45 g/min | 185 g | 380ml | About £38 |
| Morphy Richards TurboGlide | Steam iron | 2,800W | 40 g/min | 150 g | 400ml | About £33 (RRP £49.99) |
Philips Azur 8000 Series (DST8050/26)
A fast, powerful iron that glides over anything and never scorches.
| Type | Corded steam iron |
|---|---|
| Power | 3,000W |
| Steam output | 85 g/min continuous (up to 100 g/min) |
| Shot of steam | 260 g boost |
| Soleplate | SteamGlide Elite ceramic |
| Tank | 350ml |
| Anti-scale | Quick Calc Release, self-clean |
| Weight | 1.78kg |
| Price | About £100 (RRP £150) |
Reasons to buy
- 3,000W and 85 g/min steam shifts creases in one pass
- OptimalTEMP means no temperature dial and no risk of scorching
- The SteamGlide Elite soleplate is one of the slipperiest going
- A steam sensor releases steam only as you move it, saving water
Reasons to avoid
- At 1.78kg it is heavier than the budget irons
- Full RRP is steep for a single iron
- No fabric dial annoys people who like to set it themselves
This is the iron we point most people at. The 3,000W element and 85 g/min of continuous steam mean a cotton shirt is done in a couple of passes, and the OptimalTEMP system takes the temperature guesswork away entirely, you go from delicates to denim without changing a setting and without a single scorch mark. The SteamGlide Elite soleplate is the other reason it wins: it slides over collars and seams with barely any push.
It is on the heavy side and the full list price is high, though it sells nearer £100 most of the year, which makes it far easier to justify. If you iron regularly and want one iron that does everything without fuss, this is the safe pick. For the odd shirt only, the cheaper irons further down will do.
Where to buy
Sold at Argos, John Lewis, Currys and Amazon. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Tefal Ultimate Pure FV9845
The most powerful here, with a calc filter that stops scale marks on clothes.
| Type | Corded steam iron |
|---|---|
| Power | 3,100W |
| Steam output | 60 g/min continuous |
| Shot of steam | 260 g/min boost |
| Soleplate | Durilium Airglide Autoclean |
| Tank | 350ml |
| Anti-scale | MicroScale 2-in-1 anti-calc filter |
| Cord | 3m |
| Price | About £112 |
Reasons to buy
- The MicroScale filter traps limescale, so no white flecks on dark clothes
- 3,100W is the most power of any iron on this list
- The Durilium Autoclean soleplate scours itself as it heats
- Long 3m cord and a generous 350ml tank
Reasons to avoid
- Dearer than the Philips Azur for less continuous steam
- The filter cartridge needs replacing over time
- Heavier than the budget options
If you live somewhere with hard water, most of southern and eastern England, this is the iron to look at. Tefal’s MicroScale filter is built to catch limescale particles before they reach the soleplate, which stops the white spitting and scale stains that ruin a dark shirt and eventually clog a cheaper iron. The 3,100W element is the strongest here, and the Durilium Airglide Autoclean plate cleans itself each time it heats.
It costs a touch more than our top pick and pushes slightly less continuous steam, so the Azur still edges it overall. But for a hard-water household that is fed up replacing furred-up irons, the FV9845 is the smart long-term buy. It is the one our teams favour when an iron is going to live in a limescale-heavy flat.
Where to buy
Sold at Currys, John Lewis, Costco and Amazon. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Philips PerfectCare 7000 Series (PSG7130/20)
A steam generator that powers through a full basket without stopping.
| Type | Steam generator (iron plus separate boiler) |
|---|---|
| Power | 2,100W |
| Pressure | Up to 8 bar |
| Steam output | 120 g/min continuous |
| Shot of steam | 600 g boost |
| Soleplate | SteamGlide Elite |
| Tank | 1.8L removable |
| Anti-scale | Easy de-calc, removable tank |
| Price | About £299 |
Reasons to buy
- 8 bar pressure drives steam through thick fabric and several layers
- The 1.8-litre tank irons a whole week’s washing without a refill
- The iron itself is light because the water sits in the base
- OptimalTEMP again, so no scorching and no temperature dial
Reasons to avoid
- Expensive, and overkill if you only iron a few shirts
- The base unit is bulky to store and to lug out
- Takes a couple of minutes longer to heat than a plain iron
A steam generator is a different animal from a normal iron. The water lives in a big base unit that pumps pressurised steam up to a light iron, so you get far more steam, here up to 8 bar and 120 g/min, and the iron in your hand stays easy to move. The 1.8-litre tank means you can iron a full basket, bedding included, without stopping to refill. For a busy household or anyone who irons in one big weekly session, it changes the job.
The cost is the obvious downside, and the base is a lump to find cupboard space for. If you only ever press a couple of shirts, it is far more machine than you need and the Azur 8000 above will serve you better. But for sheer steam and stamina on a big pile, nothing else here comes close.
Where to buy
Sold at John Lewis, Currys and Amazon. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Russell Hobbs Colour Control Pro 27280
A proper 2400W iron with a clever colour temperature guide, for under forty quid.
| Type | Corded steam iron |
|---|---|
| Power | 2,400W |
| Steam output | 45 g/min continuous |
| Shot of steam | 185 g boost |
| Soleplate | Non-stick ceramic |
| Tank | 380ml |
| Anti-scale | Self-clean, anti-drip |
| Heat-up | Under 30 seconds |
| Price | About £38 |
Reasons to buy
- 2,400W and a 185 g steam shot for well under £40
- The colour display on the handle shows the right heat for each fabric
- Heats up in under 30 seconds
- Three-year guarantee, which is rare at this price
Reasons to avoid
- Less continuous steam than the premium irons
- No built-in anti-calc filter, so descale it yourself
- Plastic body feels less solid than the Philips or Tefal
This is the iron we recommend when someone wants a good result without spending much. For under £40 you get a genuine 2,400W of power, a 185 g steam shot for stubborn creases, and a neat colour display on the handle that tells you the right temperature for the fabric, blue for delicates through to red for denim. It heats in under 30 seconds and comes with a three-year guarantee, which most cheap irons do not.
It pushes less continuous steam than the Philips and Tefal, and there is no calc filter, so in a hard-water area you will need to descale it now and then. For the money, though, it irons cleanly and lasts, which is exactly what most people want from a value pick.
Where to buy
Sold at Argos, Amazon and direct from Russell Hobbs. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Morphy Richards TurboGlide 302000
Light, cheap and quick, with the biggest tank on the list.
| Type | Corded steam iron |
|---|---|
| Power | 2,800W |
| Steam output | 40 g/min continuous |
| Shot of steam | 150 g boost |
| Soleplate | Precision-tip ceramic |
| Tank | 400ml |
| Anti-scale | Anti-scale, anti-drip, self-clean |
| Weight | 1.67kg |
| Price | About £33 (RRP £49.99) |
Reasons to buy
- 2,800W for quick heat-up at a budget price, often nearer £33
- The 400ml tank is the largest of the plain irons here
- Precision-tip soleplate gets in around buttons and collars
- Anti-scale, anti-drip and self-clean all built in
Reasons to avoid
- 40 g/min is the lowest continuous steam on the list
- Build quality is fine, not premium
- No fancy temperature guide like the Russell Hobbs
For the smallest budget, the TurboGlide is a lot of iron for the money. It draws 2,800W so it is ready in under 45 seconds, the precision-tip ceramic soleplate noses in around buttons and pleats, and the 400ml tank is the biggest of the standard irons here, so fewer trips to the tap. It also has anti-scale, anti-drip and a self-clean cycle, which you do not always get this cheap.
Its continuous steam is the lowest on the list, so for a mountain of heavy cotton the irons above will be faster. As a light, cheap, no-nonsense iron for everyday shirts and the odd bedsheet, it does the job and barely dents your wallet.
Where to buy
Sold at Argos, Robert Dyas, The Range and Amazon. Affiliate links coming soon — price last checked May 2026.
Steam iron, steam generator or garment steamer?
People mix these three up all the time, so here is the plain version. A steam iron is the classic: a heated soleplate you press onto fabric on a board, with steam to relax the creases. It is the right tool for shirts, school uniforms and anything you want crisp.
A steam generator, like the Philips above, splits the water into a separate base that pumps far more steam to a lighter iron. You still iron on a board, but you get more steam and a bigger tank, which pays off on big loads and heavy fabric. It costs more and takes up more room.
A garment steamer is the odd one out. It has no soleplate; you hang the clothes up and run a steam head down them to drop the creases. It is quick for freshening a dress or a suit jacket between wears, but it will not give you the sharp finish an iron does on a collar or a crease. And none of these is a handheld steam cleaner, which is for grout and ovens, not clothes.
Limescale: the thing that kills irons
Most steam irons die of limescale, not wear. The iron boils water, and in a hard-water area, which covers most of southern and eastern England, the minerals in tap water fur up the steam vents over time. That weakens the steam, then it starts spitting white flecks onto your clothes, and eventually the iron gives up. It is the single most common reason an iron stops working.
Two things keep yours going. Use whatever anti-scale system it came with, the Tefal MicroScale filter or the self-clean cycle on the others, and run that cycle on the schedule in the manual. And mind your water, which brings us to the question everyone asks.
Distilled or tap water?
Honest answer: read your manual first, because it varies by brand. Philips and Tefal generally say tap water is fine and even prefer it, because their irons are tuned for it and pure distilled water can cause spitting in some models. In a very hard-water area, the usual advice is to mix tap water about half and half with distilled or filtered water to cut the mineral load without going fully pure. Never use ironing water with added perfume or scent, it gums up the vents. When in doubt, follow the maker, not a tip off the internet.
How to choose a steam iron
Four things decide which of these suits you. Run through them before you spend.
How much do you iron?
For a few shirts a week, any of these irons is plenty, so buy on price and weight. If you iron a full basket every weekend, bedding and all, the steam generator’s big tank and high steam output save real time. Matching the machine to the size of your pile is the main decision.
Power and steam
Wattage drives how fast it heats and recovers; steam output drives how fast creases drop. More of both means quicker ironing. The 3,000W Philips and 3,100W Tefal are the strongest plain irons here; the steam generator beats them all on steam because it runs at pressure.
Soleplate
The soleplate is what touches your clothes, so it matters. Ceramic and the coated plates here, SteamGlide Elite and Durilium, glide easily and resist sticking. A precision tip helps you get in around buttons and between pleats. A draggy plate makes ironing harder than it needs to be.
Water hardness and upkeep
- Hard-water area: lean towards a built-in calc filter, like the Tefal, and descale on schedule.
- Soft-water area: any of these is fine, and a cheaper iron will last longer than it would in hard water.
- Either way: empty the tank after each session so water does not sit and scale inside.
A note from the cleaning side
We are a cleaning company, so ironing is not our headline job, but it comes up. On a regular domestic clean we will often press the laundry a client has left out, and a fast, well-behaved iron makes that part of the visit quicker and the finish better. A spitting, furred-up iron does the opposite, which is why the limescale advice above is not an afterthought for us.
If ironing is the chore you would happily never do again, that is fair enough. Our teams can fold it into a regular clean so it is one less thing on your list. Ask us for a quote or call 0333 555 2076 and we will sort it.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best steam iron in 2026?
For most homes we recommend the Philips Azur 8000, because it pairs 3,000W and 85 g/min of steam with a soleplate that glides beautifully and an OptimalTEMP system that never scorches. If you live in a hard-water area, the Tefal Ultimate Pure FV9845 is the smarter buy thanks to its built-in calc filter. For under £40, the Russell Hobbs Colour Control Pro is the value pick.
What is the difference between a steam iron and a steam generator?
A steam iron has the water tank built into the iron itself, which keeps the unit compact but limits how much steam it can make. A steam generator splits the water into a separate base that pumps pressurised steam up to a lighter iron, so you get far more steam and a much bigger tank. Generators cost more and take up more space, but they are quicker on big loads and heavy fabric.
Is a steam iron the same as a handheld steam cleaner?
No, they are different tools for different jobs. A steam iron presses a heated soleplate onto clothes to remove creases, while a handheld steam cleaner blasts steam through a nozzle to loosen grime on grout, tiles and ovens. You would not iron a shirt with a steam cleaner, or clean an oven with an iron. We cover steam cleaners in a separate guide.
Should I use distilled or tap water in my steam iron?
Check the manual first, because it depends on the brand. Philips and Tefal generally say tap water is fine and some models prefer it, since pure distilled water can cause spitting. In a very hard-water area, mixing tap water roughly half and half with distilled or filtered water cuts the limescale without going fully pure. Avoid scented ironing waters, which clog the steam vents.
How do I stop my iron leaking limescale onto my clothes?
White flecks and brown marks are limescale working loose from the steam vents. Run the self-clean or anti-calc cycle on the schedule in the manual, use an anti-scale filter if your iron has one, and empty the tank after every session so water does not sit and scale inside. In a hard-water area, part-filling with distilled or filtered water slows the build-up right down.
How much should I spend on a steam iron?
You can get a capable iron for under £40, like the Russell Hobbs Colour Control Pro or the Morphy Richards TurboGlide, and for occasional shirts that is all you need. Around £100 to £115 buys a premium iron like the Philips Azur 8000 or Tefal Ultimate Pure, with more steam and better soleplates. A steam generator runs to £250 or more and only earns its keep if you iron large loads regularly.
What soleplate is best on a steam iron?
The soleplate is the part that touches your clothes, so a slippery, durable one makes ironing far easier. Coated and ceramic plates, such as Philips SteamGlide Elite and Tefal Durilium, glide well and resist sticking and scratching. A precision tip helps you press in around buttons and between pleats. Cheaper non-stick plates are fine but tend to drag a little more over time.
Are steam generators worth it for a small household?
Usually not. A steam generator shines when you iron large or frequent loads, because the big tank and high steam output get through a basket fast. For a single person or a couple who press a few shirts a week, the cost, the bulk and the slightly longer heat-up are hard to justify, and a good standard iron like the Philips Azur 8000 will serve you better for less.
Last updated 30 May 2026. Written by the team at Monster Cleaning, professional cleaners working in UK homes since 2014. Specifications and prices were checked against manufacturer pages and UK retailers at the time of writing and do change.