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The best clothing irons

The best clothing irons

Kyle Schurman

Most people don't like to iron clothes, but just because you don't like the chore doesn't mean you shouldn't have the best iron for the job.
The Rowenta DW5080 Focus 1700-Watt iron is our top pick because it has 400 steam holes in the sole plate, which results in the precise delivery of steam that will destroy any wrinkles.

No one likes to do laundry. But think about how hard doing laundry was several decades ago, and you'll feel pretty silly complaining about throwing laundry into a machine, pressing a button, and returning to clean clothes.

Most people don't like to iron, either. But unfortunately, there's no magic machine to take care of wrinkled clothing. However, that doesn't mean irons aren't modern. In fact, many offer features that simplify the process and make it safer and easier.

We've picked out the best irons you can buy based on design, features, and price points. These are several types of irons with a wide range of features on the market. If you'd like a full breakdown of features we considered, you'll find it at the end of this guide.

Here are the best irons:

Best overall: Rowenta Focus 1700-Watt Iron
Best cordless: Panasonic NI-WL600 Iron
Best for travel: Ivation Small Mini Iron
Best smart features: Oliso TG1600 Smart Iron

Updated on 7/16/2020 to edit the prices, titles, links, and remove references and ratings from third-party sites, because we've found them to be unreliable in the past.

The best overall

Rowenta

Rowenta's Focus 1700-Watt iron is well-built and its ability to deliver consistent steam is unparalleled.

Rowenta irons are extremely popular for good reason. These irons have the latest features, all of which command an above-average price point.

The best of the best in the Rowenta family is the DW5080 Focus 1700-Watt iron. Its sleek look is great, and while you may not think it's all that important to have a beautiful iron, you might as well look good while doing your chores, right?

The build quality of the DW5080 is also strong, which is made in Germany. The steam delivery is precise, with an incredible 400 steam holes in the sole plate, which allows for a smooth glide over any fabric.

Pros: Excellent steam delivery capability, heats up quickly, great looking, built in Germany, sole plate provides a smooth glide over fabrics, precision tip is great for ironing around buttons

Cons: Above average price, heavy iron

The best cordless

Panasonic

If you're worried about a kid, a dog, or you tripping over the electrical cord on your steam iron, try the safer cordless Panasonic NI-WL600 Iron.

Many tools and appliances work better when you are able to remove the electrical cord from the equation. Power drills, phones, and Wi-Fi Internet service are all preferred cordless. An iron can be too, and the best one is the Panasonic NI-WL600 Cordless Iron.

When you're ironing, you've probably become frustrated at some point with having to work around the electrical cord, as it always seems to be in the way. And then there's the chance of tripping over the cord while the iron is hot, knocking it over and causing scorch marks, or potentially a fire. Having a cordless iron is a great benefit.

The Panasonic dominates the cordless iron market because the company has a lot of experience developing this type of iron. Panasonic gave the WL600 points on both ends of the sole plate – it almost looks like a flat football – which makes it easier to iron. You can move the unit back and forth without placing new creases in the garment.

The docking station to charge the iron is small, so you can store it on a countertop or even place it on the end of an ironing board.

One downside to cordless irons, however, is that they don't reach as high temperatures as corded irons.

Pros: Removal of cord makes ironing easier and safer, charging dock is small, heats up quickly, sole plate has points on both ends for easier ironing, offers both steam and dry ironing

Cons: Struggles to match corded irons in terms of high temperatures, above average price point

The best for travel

Ivation

If you don't have room for a full-size iron in your travel bag, but you need pressed clothes when you arrive, the Ivation Small Mini Iron will do the job.

For travelers, packing clothing properly is a challenge. You want to carry as few bags as possible, which usually means cramming clothing until the bags are full, and producing unwanted wrinkles. Next time, save room for the Ivation Small Mini Iron, too, and you'll easily remove those wrinkles while on the road.

The ceramic-coated sole plate also gives it the ability to glide freely across all garments. Despite its small size, the iron heats up quickly, and it comes with nice features such as steam control and three heat levels. Though, it won't offer as much heat or steam as a full-size option.

Pros: Small iron that will fit easily in a travel bag, low price point, nice to find three temperature options in such a small iron, offers steam capability, iron heats up quickly, sole plate doesn't stick to garments

Cons: Doesn't offer as much heat or steam as a full-size iron, too small for deep wrinkles

The best smart features

Oliso

The Oliso TG1600 Smart Iron is smart enough to know when you've released the iron's handle and lifts itself off the ironing board to prevent scorching.

While the Oliso TG1600 Smart Iron isn't going to connect to your local Wi-Fi network and let you know when it needs more water added for steam, the TG1600 does have one smart feature that is pretty cool.

The smart aspect of the Oliso TG1600 occurs when you let go of the iron, such as when you go to grab another piece of clothing. The iron will automatically lift itself off the ironing board whenever you are no longer holding the handle, so as to prevent scorching. Pretty smart indeed.

There is also a long 12-foot electrical cord included with this iron, allowing you to set up several feet from an electrical outlet if needed.

But despite the smart features, keep a close eye on it. This model has the potential to leak water, leaving damp spots on garments.

Pros: Automatically lifts sole plate off the ironing board once you release the handle, long electrical cord, large water tank, good build quality, works well for ironing heavy fabrics and quilts

Cons: Expensive, seems to drip and leak water while in use

The best for fast-heating

Black & Decker

You'll be able to start working on your pile of ironing more quickly with the Black & Decker D2030 Professional Steam Iron, which heats up in a jiffy.

Perhaps the best way to speed up ironing is to purchase one that reaches the desired heat setting as fast as possible. One of the best models for heating up quickly is the Black & Decker D2030 Professional Steam Iron.

The B&D D2030 impressively produces and maintains precise temperatures over long periods of time, with an average price tag to boot. It also comes with a digital display, which provides handy information about the iron's settings at a glance.

There are seven different steam settings, too, and you may hold this iron vertically and use it as a garment steamer for hanging clothing.

However, a few customer reviews say the B&D iron tends to leak water, leaving damp spots on garments.

Pros: Reaches desired heating temperature setting quickly, offers seven different steam settings, nice price point considering the features, digital display provides valuable information on settings

Cons: Iron tends to leak water onto garments as you're using it, some questions on longevity

Key features to consider when choosing an iron

Many newer irons are loaded with great features newer irons that improve safety and quality. These features will help you finish the chore faster.

Automatic shut-off: This is a nice safety feature because the iron turns off whenever it sits motionless for a certain period of time. The auto shut-off feature can help prevent a fire if the iron happens to tip over when you step away.
Self-cleaning: Removing any scale deposits with a self-cleaning feature is important to the overall longevity of the iron. Scaling can cause the steam holes to become plugged, leaving them inoperable.
Steam burst button: The steam button provides a quick burst of steam for stubborn wrinkles. It's a common feature on newer irons that works especially well on thicker fabrics.
Steam dial: Having the ability to adjust the amount of steam the iron provides at any time can help you achieve more success with ironing.
Temperature control: Precise temperature control is important in an iron because different garments require different temperatures.
Transparent water tank: Being able to see the water level in the tank ensures you can fill it if needed before starting to iron, rather than unknowingly running out of water in the middle of an ironing job because you couldn't see the water level.
Vertical steaming: Some irons will allow you to blast steam as you're holding the iron in a vertical position, which allows you to remove wrinkles from clothing that's hanging, almost like a garment steamer.
Weight: Some people prefer an iron that doesn't carry much weight, as it's easier for them to lift and carry. Others like a heavier iron that can help them really press down on clothes.

Common types of irons

A variety of iron designs will allow you to have success with removing wrinkles from garments. However, the different designs do cause individual irons to have their own strengths and weaknesses:

Conventional: The conventional iron has a teardrop shape with a flat edge. The bottom of the iron's sole plate has small holes where the iron can release steam. This steam system allows the iron to remove wrinkles faster than an iron without steam capabilities. Whereas older conventional irons required distilled water to avoid problems with calcium buildup, newer irons feature anti-calcium valves and self-cleaning settings, so they can use tap water.
Cordless: A cordless iron runs from a battery, rather than making use of a power cord plugged into an electrical outlet. However, the performance level of cordless irons has been inconsistent, as they typically don't have enough power to generate the kind of heat and steam corded irons create.
Mini: A small iron works great as a travel iron, but it definitely is not meant for heavy-duty work. If you know someone who has trouble lifting a full-size iron, perhaps a lightweight mini travel iron will be a better option for them.
Sole plate options: Different iron designs will feature different materials in the sole plate. Ceramic is probably the most popular, as it won't stick to clothing, but longevity is a bit of a question mark. Stainless steel sole plates are less expensive than ceramic and distribute heat well, but they could stick. Aluminum sole plates are cheap, but they don't tend to heat as evenly as other options.
Steam or no steam: Most modern irons are steam irons, meaning they heat water stored in an onboard tank, then release the steam through holes in the sole plate. Look for an iron that also allows you to shut off the steam function whenever desired to provide more versatility.

Check out our guides to the best ironing boards and steamers

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The best ironing boards

We can't guarantee that buying a good ironing board will make you feel happy about ironing, but you'll be able to do this chore more effectively these versatile and stable boards.

The best clothes steamers

Remove wrinkles from your clothes much easier with a great steamer. All of our research points to these steamers as the best options to keep your clothing wrinkle free.