The 9 Best Clothes Steamers
Updated by · How we research
Upright, handheld and travel clothes steamers compared on steam time, heat-up, warranty and recalls. The U.S.-made Jiffy J-2S leads for weekly shirts. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
A steamer won't put a sharp crease in a cotton shirt, but it relaxes wrinkles in dresses, suits, knits and drapes without an ironing board. Tank size matters more than wattage: a handheld steams for 10 to 20 minutes per fill, an upright for an hour or more. Handhelds suit touch-ups and travel; uprights suit a household's weekly shirts.
Editor's Notes
October 23, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Editors:
The Jiffy J-2S now leads the list. Three independent roundups named the Jiffy J-2000 line their favorite upright, and it's still made in the U.S. with a three-year warranty.
Seven earlier picks are gone from sale: the Sunbeam Handheld, Rowenta Master Valet, PurSteam Professional, Jiffy Steamer J-4000M, Conair Upright Deluxe, Rowenta Perfect Steam Station and Pure Enrichment XL. We dropped the Electrolux Portable over reports that it quits after a dozen or so uses, and the Hilife Mini because it was slow and weak on cotton in two independent tests. The Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam stays in a newer, stronger version.
New picks match what readers search for: the Beautural 722NA-0001 for value, the Jack & Rose K1 for travel, and uprights from Rowenta, SALAV and Steamfast. This category had better outside evidence than most, with real wrinkle trials from Domino, Your Best Digs, Reviewed and Packhacker, and a long federal recall record that shows where steamers go wrong: hot water spitting from the head.
Earlier notes
December 14, 2020, by Melissa Harr:
Whether you are looking for an at-home or portable choice, you'll find an option here, as we've included both large stand-up units and small handheld models. When it comes to the former, we've kept the popular Rowenta Master Valet as the choice to beat, since it is powerful and comes with a range of accessories. Not only that, but the vertical screen makes your work much easier, as does the built-in hanger.
If you're looking to spend a little less, the Conair Upright Deluxe or the PurSteam Professional might be your go-to, but we've removed the Salav Professional over concerns about its long-term durability. There's also the Pure Enrichment XL, although interestingly, despite the name, it has a smaller tank than does the Professional model. But both will operate for a long time continuously, so if you have a big job to tackle, they'll help you get it done.
As for handheld models, we selected a couple of new choices, since the Shark Press and Refresh is unavailable and the Urpower Compact is smaller and less powerful than many current offerings. Perhaps the most impressive of these new additions is the Sunbeam Handheld, which is more durable than many and has a wide-press bar for removing really stubborn wrinkles. The Conair Turbo Extreme remains as a strong choice, too.
Finally, we added one hybrid model, the Rowenta Perfect Steam Station. It functions as a robust steam iron and vertical steamer.
April 26, 2019, by Tina Morna Freitas:
The Rowenta Master Valet took the top spot because it has a sturdier pole than most upright models, and the unique vertical support that can be pulled down for quickly pressing out deep creases. Plus the option to pause it quickly by taking your foot off the pedal saves water and is essential for helping to prevent accidental burns when adjusting a garment.
We ranked the Conair Turbo Extreme as the top travel option because of its impressive heat output and the versatile accessories, including the built-in crease tool on the head.
While the Pur Steam Elite doesn't feel as robust as the other larger home models, we included it because the pole is detachable and collapsible, making it possible to take this lighterweight option with you, if you need to steam a bunch of costumes at a theater.
Special Honors
Jiffy ESTEAM Travel Steamer Jiffy's own handheld travel steamer comes from the same company that makes the J-2000 uprights and is sold mainly through the maker's site. Your Best Digs found it slower to heat than most handhelds but leak-free, with close to 20 minutes of steam per fill. jiffysteamer.com
Handheld, Upright Or Travel
A handheld heats in 30 seconds to about two minutes and holds enough water for 10 to 20 minutes, which covers a shirt or two before work.
Pick the type by how much you steam at once. A handheld heats in 30 seconds to about two minutes and holds enough water for 10 to 20 minutes, which covers a shirt or two before work. An upright sits on the floor with a tank of half a gallon or more, a pole, a hose and often a hanger, and runs an hour or longer per fill. Your Best Digs timed the Jiffy J-2000 at about 90 minutes per tank and four to five minutes per dress shirt.
Don't shop by wattage or steam rate. Which? found no clear link between a steamer's steam output and how well it removed creases. Tank size, heat-up time, a trigger lock, and a hanger and pole for uprights make more difference day to day.
Travel steamers trade tank size for weight. Check the label for 100-240 volt support before you go abroad; a U.S.-only model can burn out on a converter. Packhacker counted passes per shirt and found big differences between small models, from one or two passes to about 20.
Getting Good Results, And What Steam Can't Do
Hang the garment freely rather than against a wall, pull the fabric taut with your free hand, and move the head slowly from top to bottom. Which? recommends this approach and notes that steam works best on lighter fabrics and creased dresses or suits.
A steamer won't give you a knife-edge trouser crease or a stiff collar. For those, keep an iron, or use a steamer with a creaser clip or a press panel. Steam does freshen up clothes between washes, but treat germ-killing claims on packaging as marketing.
Water matters. Minerals in hard tap water build up on the heater and can cause spitting and weaker steam. Use filtered or distilled water if your water is hard, descale as the manual directs, and never add scented water or oils. Reviewed found that even a well-regarded upright can sputter at start-up, so aim the first burst away from delicate fabric.
Safety: Hot Water Is The Real Hazard
Burns from spitting or leaking hot water are the pattern behind nearly every steamer recall. In 2024, Vornado recalled about two million Steamfast, Vornado and Sharper Image handhelds after 122 reports of hot water spraying and 23 burn injuries (CPSC). HSN's My Little Steamer, a Black+Decker handheld and two PurSteam travel models have also been recalled. None of the picks above is covered by a recall, but check any steamer's brand and model on the CPSC recalls site before buying a used or unfamiliar one.
Point the head away from your body, never steam clothes while someone is wearing them, and let a handheld cool before you open the tank to refill it. Stand an upright on a level floor so the hose drains back. Empty the tank before airport security, and check your cruise line's rules, since some ban steamers and irons in cabins.
How we researched this
We compared about 25 clothes steamers, including every model on the previous version of this page, read Jiffy's spec and warranty pages and the published specifications for the nine picks, weighed hands-on reviews from Domino, Your Best Digs, Reviewed and Packhacker plus the Which? buying guide, studied patterns in owner feedback, and checked every brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records.
Sources (10)
- Jiffy Steamer: J-2000 clothing steamer
- Jiffy Steamer: warranty and return policy
- Jiffy Steamer: ESTEAM travel steamer
- Your Best Digs: best clothes steamer
- Domino: best clothes steamers
- Reviewed: best garment steamers
- Packhacker: best travel steamer
- Which?: how to buy the best clothes steamer
- CPSC: Vornado recalls two million handheld garment steamers
- CPSC: recalls
Frequently asked questions
Do clothes steamers really work?
Yes, on most fabrics. Steam relaxes the fibers so wrinkles fall out of hanging dresses, suits, knits and drapes. It's slower than an iron on heavy cotton and won't make sharp creases or stiff collars.
Is a steamer better than an iron?
It's quicker for touch-ups and needs no board. An iron still wins for crisp shirts and trouser creases, so many households keep both.
Should I get a handheld or an upright steamer?
Get a handheld for a shirt or two at a time or for travel. Get an upright if you steam several garments in one session, since its tank lasts an hour or more.
Can I travel with a clothes steamer?
Yes. Empty the tank before airport security, and check that it supports 100-240 volts before using it abroad. Some cruise lines ban steamers and irons in cabins.
Do I need distilled water in a steamer?
Not every maker requires it, but in hard-water areas filtered or distilled water slows mineral buildup that can cause spitting and weak steam. Never add scented water or oils.
Does a clothes steamer use a lot of electricity?
No. A 1,500-watt steamer running for 15 minutes uses about 0.4 kilowatt-hours, which costs well under a dime at typical U.S. home rates.
