We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Shopping Home Reviews Laundry Reviews The 9 Best Clothes Steamers of 2024, According to Testing We tested the best options for different lifestyles and materials. By Barbara Bellesi Zito Barbara Bellesi Zito Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer with nearly two decades of experience covering various home and lifestyle topics, including real estate and home improvement trends, home and garden products, personal finance, and shopping trends. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on February 13, 2024 In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews The Bottom Line Our Testing Process What to Know Before Shopping Others We Tested Your Questions, Answered Who We Are What Is BHG Recommends? Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock If you’ve ever left an iron-shaped scorch mark on the back of a favorite shirt or have given up completely on ever wearing linen or silk in public, then a clothes steamer is the tool you and your wrinkled wardrobe desperately need. But with so many options available, how do you figure out which one is best for you and your garments? For starters, consider the size of the water tank, says Dara Senders, designer and founder of Dara Senders. “If you plan on steaming a lot of clothes at once or have a garment that has a lot of wrinkles that might take more time, having a steamer with a larger water tank will allow you to steam more in between fillings,” she explains. To find the best clothes steamers, we tried 28 options at our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa. We examined how easy it was to fill the water reservoirs (we used distilled water) and how quickly it took each steamer to heat up. We tried out each steamer on a woman’s silk shirt, a men’s cotton dress shirt, and a pair of linen pants, noting how long it took to get optimal, wrinkle free results. We also consulted Senders for additional insight on what to look for when shopping for a clothes steamer. What We Tested Effectiveness: We took note of how well the steamer could remove wrinkles, as well as which fabrics it worked best on and which ones it didn’t. Design: As we filled the steamer’s tank with water, we considered how easy it was to do and if water spilled to the side. Portability: If the model had a creaser, we used it on a men’s shirt to test how well we could get a crisp crease on the shirt. Value: Value was based on what we liked about the steamer, what we would change, and if we thought it was a fair price given our overall experience. Our Top Picks Best Overall: CHI Handheld Garment Steamer at Amazon ($44) Jump to Review Best Budget: Proctor Silex Compact 2-in-1 Garment Steamer/Iron at Amazon ($25) Jump to Review Best Splurge: Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer at Amazon ($179) Jump to Review Best for Linen: BLACK+DECKER HGS200 Advanced Handheld Steamer at Amazon ($53) Jump to Review Best for Travel: Brookline Steamer at Amazon ($27) Jump to Review Best Attachments: Conair Handheld Garment Steamer at Walmart ($55) Jump to Review Best Handheld: Conair ExtremeSteam Hand-Held Fabric Steamer at Amazon ($60) Jump to Review Best for Silk: Electrolux Garment Steamer at Amazon ($60) Jump to Review Best Upright: Pure Enrichment Upright Clothes Steamer at Amazon ($100) Jump to Review Best Overall CHI Handheld Garment Steamer Amazon View On Amazon $44 View On Target $54 View On Wayfair $54 Our Ratings Effectiveness 5/5 Design 4.5/5 Portability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why You Should Get It It has two steam settings and comes with a fabric brush that's quite effective. Keep in Mind The steam setting button placement can lead to unintentional adjustment. Steamers are effective, but if you plan to use them on a variety of fabrics, the ability to adjust the flow of steam is key. That’s why we were so impressed with the performance of the CHI Handheld Garment Steamer. Not only are there two adjustable steam settings, but there’s also a locking mechanism to keep the steam in the on position, so you won’t have to worry about hand fatigue. The only drawback is that the button to adjust the steam is poorly placed. There were a couple of times when we changed the setting unintentionally, but we anticipated getting in a better groove with continued use. We found the steamer removed wrinkles well, though it was most effective when used with the helpful fabric brush attachment that’s included. The steamer offers a comfortable grip, which also helps in avoiding hand cramping and fatigue. The 10-foot cord is rather lengthy, but it didn't get in the way of our steaming. We also liked that it was very easy to refill the tank without spilling. There was some sputtering when we first started steaming on the highest setting, but it disappeared as the test went on. For its price, ease of use, and overall performance, we think the CHI is an excellent value. Product Details: Dimensions: 4.72 x 11.42 x 6.06 inches | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10.1 ounces | Cord Length: 10 feet Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Budget Proctor Silex Compact 2-in-1 Garment Steamer/Iron Proctor Silex View On Amazon $25 View On Target $25 View On Proctorsilex.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.2/5 Design 4.3/5 Portability 4.8/5 Value 5/5 Why You Should Get It It worked very well on silk and cotton. Keep in Mind It’s not as effective on linen, plus the small water tank makes for frequent refills. If you’re new to using a clothing steamer and you don’t want to invest much, we recommend the Proctor Silex Compact 2-in1 Garment Steamer/Iron. The steamer seemed to instantly unwrinkle silk, and we were also impressed with its ability to smooth out cotton, though it did take longer to do so. With linen, it didn’t perform as effectively; it eased the wrinkles rather than completely eliminate them. We found that the steamer does sputter a bit when the small water reservoir is first filled, but it stops as you get going. We liked how easy it was to refill the reservoir, thanks to a twist-off design. The long handle on the steamer offers a comfortable grip, and though you do have to keep a finger on the button to produce steam, it didn’t feel awkward. There’s just one steam setting, but given that this is a less expensive model, we were expecting a more no-frills steaming experience. We did like the included fabric brush attachment, which serves as a guide for how close to put the steamer head to delicate fabrics. The cord is also quite long, but it’s not unwieldy during use. Product Details: Dimensions: 4 x 8.8 x 8 inches | Weight: 1.63 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 4 ounces | Cord Length: 10 feet Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Splurge Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer Amazon View On Amazon $179 View On Williams-Sonoma $180 View On Steamery.us Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.5/5 Design 4.5/5 Portability 5/5 Value 3/5 Why You Should Get It It works great on silk and has some useful accessories, like an iron glove. Keep in Mind It’s got a small water tank, and there’s no lock button for the steam. We were impressed by the Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer’s ability to produce a low, consistent stream of steam without any sputtering or spitting. Filling the water tank was a bit of a hassle without the funnel, though detaching and reinserting it was easy to do. The steamer has a nice comfortable grip despite it being quite wide at the base. We would have preferred not to have to keep a finger on the steam button the entire time, but it didn’t feel uncomfortable to do so. We were surprised that this steamer only had one setting given the price point, but it does perform effectively despite not having the ability to adjust the power or temperature. We appreciated the variety of attachments it comes with, especially the ironing glove, which helped create smooth creases on pants during testing. The 8-foot cord is shorter than others on this list, but it’s still plenty long for you to steam freely. It would have been even nicer if the cord rotated, but it wasn’t a deal breaker for it to stay in place. Product Details: Dimensions: 9.7 x 5.5 x 3.1 inches| Weight: 1.9 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 3 ounces | Cord Length: 7.5 feet Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best for Linen BLACK+DECKER HGS200 Advanced Handheld Steamer Amazon View On Amazon $53 Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.5/5 Design 4/5 Portability 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Why You Should Get It It’s lightweight so it won’t cause hand fatigue, plus it comes with useful attachments. Keep in Mind The water tank is hard to refill, plus you have to hold the button continuously to steam. Wrinkles are par for the course with linen, but you don’t have to banish this fabric from your wardrobe if you have this Black+Decker Advanced Handheld Steamer around. We found the temperature and steam production to be consistent during use, so this steamer is effective on a variety of fabrics even with just one setting. It took longer to smooth out linen than it did silk, as expected; we would have liked there to be a hold button for the steam for convenience. Still, we found it lightweight and comfortable to hold. The steamer also has a 15-foot cord, which is more than ample for steaming without it hindering your work. This steamer also comes with a few helpful attachments. We discovered that the delicate fabric attachment was effective in preventing water droplets from forming on silk during steaming. The water tank is easy to remove and replace, but it is a bit difficult to fill if you don’t have a funnel. Product Details: Dimensions: 4.75 x 11 x 5.75 inches | Weight: 3.6 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 6.7 ounces | Cord Length: 15 feet Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best for Travel Brookline Steamer Amazon View On Amazon $27 Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.2/5 Design 4.5/5 Portability 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Why You Should Get It It’s got a comfortable design and works well on silk. Keep in Mind It struggles with cotton and linen, plus it’s not good for steaming multiple garments at a time. Whether you have weddings often or frequent business trips, the Brookline Steamer is the best clothes steamer to consider for travel. During testing, we found this pick easy to use and the lightweight style is easy to pack up. This steamer worked well on silk and cotton, but you might have to settle for wrinkled linen if you don’t have the patience to stand there steaming for a long time. We were impressed that it didn’t sputter any water, though we did notice the steam decreased once the water tank went lower than the halfway mark. The tank is small so refilling often is necessary, though the wide mouth makes it easy to do so. It’s quite basic and very simple to use if you’re a beginner; it has just an on/off switch and there are no attachments or accessories. It’s not particularly ergonomic, but because it’s lightweight, we didn’t experience any hand fatigue. The cord is lengthy, but it doesn’t rotate. We like that the steamer is compact enough for travel, but it’s also a cinch to store in your laundry space or closet. If you plan to steam multiple outfits at a time, you may want a steamer with more bells and whistles. But if you’re only going to steam clothes occasionally, this is a good, less expensive device to have on hand. Product Details: Dimensions: 5.63x 6.42 x 5.83 inches | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 6 ounces | Cord Length: 9 feet Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Attachments Conair Handheld Garment Steamer Walmart View On Walmart $55 View On Brandsmartusa.com View On Conair.com Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.4/5 Design 4.5/5 Portability 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Why You Should Get It It’s got multiple settings and useful attachments and accessories that are effective on various fabrics. Keep in Mind Steam production does decrease during use; you must fill the water tank precisely for optimal steam production. Adjustable steam and multiple attachments are what makes the Conair Handheld Garment Steamer effective. We like that you can easily switch between the regular and turbo steam settings depending on whether you’re steaming silk, cotton, or linen. The steam output seemed to work best right at the beginning of a steam session; we noticed it decreases over time, even on the turbo setting. It’s easy to refill the tank, but you have to be careful not to overfill it or it will affect steam production. This pick comes with three attachments, including a bristle brush, delicate fabric spacer, and a silicone band, as well as a creasing tool, so you’ve got a lot of options for achieving a wrinkle-free wardrobe. The steamer is lightweight and the handle has a comfortable grip, so there’s no worry about hand fatigue when using it. The lengthy cord didn’t get in the way; in fact, we barely noticed it was there. Overall, for its performance, features, and attachments, we thought this steamer is a great value for the price. Product Details: Dimensions: 8.50 x 13.62 x 5.75 inches | Weight: Not listed | Water Tank Capacity: 7.3 ounces | Cord Length: Not listed Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Handheld Conair ExtremeSteam Hand-Held Fabric Steamer Amazon View On Amazon $60 View On Target $60 View On Wayfair $60 Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.7/5 Design 4.3/5 Portability 5/5 Value 5/5 Heat Time 5/5 Why You Should Get It It heated up quickly and has five steam settings for various fabrics. Keep in Mind It felt quite heavy after a while, plus the water tank was challenging to fill. We were impressed with how well the Conair Turbo Extreme Handheld Fabric Steamer worked on silk, cotton, and linen. It did sputter a bit while on the turbo (high) setting, but it stopped once the steamer warmed up fully. During testing, we found that it helped to have a funnel when you’re filling the reservoir, but be careful not to overfill. There are five settings on this steamer—more than any of the others on this list—but we had to look to the manual to see which ones were best depending on the fabric. We found the cord length was ample and made it easy to move around while steaming the garments. Although the steamer was comfortable to grip, it was a bit heavy; we felt like we were getting an arm workout after about 15 minutes of use. Overall, we were impressed by the steamer’s performance, especially the variety of settings and the speed with which it heats up. It would be even better if it were a bit lighter, but for its ease of use and effectiveness, it’s a good value for the money. Product Details: Dimensions: 5.6 x 13.6 x 8 inches | Weight: Not listed | Water Tank Capacity: 7.3 ounces | Cord Length: Not listed Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best for Silk Electrolux Garment Steamer Amazon View On Amazon $60 View On Target $60 View On Wayfair $61 Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.8/5 Design 4.8/5 Portability 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Heat Time 5/5 Why You Should Get It It produces steam instantly and works great, especially on silk. Keep in Mind There was some sputtering when first filled the unit. The Electrolux Garment Steamer heated up immediately, and we were impressed with how well it removed wrinkles with little effort, particularly when used on silk. It took just around six minutes on the lower steam setting to smooth out the silk shirt. The linen required the higher of the two settings, and we were satisfied with the results around the eight-minute mark. We refilled the tank after finishing the two garments. The tank was easy to remove, but you may want to keep a funnel handy to pour water into the small mouth. There are two steam setting buttons that aren’t clearly marked; we found the instruction manual didn’t offer much clarity, so we figured out which was which through trial and error. The cord is quite long and gives us plenty of room to work. The handle felt comfortable to grip and we appreciated that there was a lock button for the steam, so we didn’t have to worry about finger cramps or hand fatigue. The steamer comes with a fabric brush and a lint brush, though we found the steamer to be quite effective even when they weren’t attached. Overall, for its effective performance during testing, we think the Electrolux offers great value. Product Details: Dimensions: 5 x 10 x 6 inches | Weight: 3.98 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10 ounces | Cord Length: 12 feet Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Best Upright Pure Enrichment Upright Clothes Steamer Amazon View On Amazon $100 View On Target $100 View On Walmart $100 Our Ratings Effectiveness 4.7/5 Design 5/5 Portability 4.5/5 Value 4.5/5 Heat Time 4/5 Why You Should Get It It has temperature control to efficiently remove wrinkles from silk, cotton, and linen. Keep in Mind There is no “ready” light to indicate when it’s optimized for steaming. The Pure Enrichment PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer is a professional-style steamer with a temperature control, so you can adjust output depending on the fabric. We were impressed with how well this upright steamer worked on removing wrinkles—silk was the easiest, but with a little patience, the linen also came out smooth. The cord is lengthy, but what’s even better is that you can hang the garment on the steamer arm—there are pant clips, too—while you work. The detachable water tank was easy to remove for filling; we love that it’s large enough to get through multiple garments without needing a refill. An indicator light shows when the unit is powered on, but we’d prefer there to be a “ready” light to know when it’s actually primed for steaming. The base has wheels, but only on the back, so you do have to tip the steamer back to move it to a new location. However, the steamer is lightweight enough so it’s not an issue. For its performance and features, this is a great value. It also comes with a fabric brush, though we found steaming to be effective enough without using it. Product Details: Dimensions: 8.9 x 54 x 13.7 inches | Weight: 9.56 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 67.6 ounces | Cord Length: Not listed Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock The Bottom Line The CHI Handheld Garment Steamer for Clothes topped our list of best clothes steamers. Its adjustable steam setting was effective in removing wrinkles from silk, cotton, and linen, and the included fabric brush enhances performance. We also liked that there is a button to lock the steam in the on position, which helps greatly in avoiding hand fatigue. Our Testing Process To find the best clothes steamers, we put 28 styles to the test at our Des Moines, Iowa testing lab. During the testing period, we evaluated each style based on effectiveness, design, portability, and value. Before we started steaming any products, we examined each clothes steamer, noting the size of the steam nozzle and length of the power cord. For folding steamers, we folded and unfolded them to observe how easy or challenging the process was; for stand-up steamers, we practiced rolling them around the space to test their portability. We tested each of the steamers without any attachments at first to determine how well they could remove wrinkles from three different garments: a woman’s silk shirt, a men’s cotton dress shirt, and a pair of linen pants. First, we filled the reservoirs with distilled water, using a funnel for those tanks with small mouths. Next, we started a timer to see how quickly the steamer heated up. Then we started steaming the test garments, using the highest setting where applicable and marking the time when we achieved optimal results, though we had a hard stop of eight minutes per garment. (Note that we stopped the timer whenever we had to pause steaming to refill the water reservoir.) After steaming the men’s shirt, we added on the crease attachment (where applicable) to see how, if at all, it enhanced results. We made our final selections for the best clothes steamers based on performance, features, size and design, and overall value. Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock What to Know About Clothes Steamers Before Shopping Dimensions There’s no recommended size for steamers, but the right size for you depends on your steaming needs. Handheld steamers are fine for occasional use at home, though they should be compact enough so that you can maneuver them with one hand. If you want to stow in a suitcase or carry-on, look for one that’s even smaller. However, if you plan to use your steamer more frequently and don’t mind taking up space in a closet or behind a door, it’s fine to opt for a taller stand-up steamer with a garment pole, like the Pure Enrichment PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer, our best upright pick. Weight Using a clothes steamer can already be a bit of an arm workout, so you don’t want to make it an advanced one with a steamer that’s too heavy. Aim for one that’s lightweight so your arm doesn’t tire out before the wrinkles get out of your clothing. We found that the Black+Decker Advanced Handheld Steamer and the Brookline Steamer were particularly lightweight during testing. Water Tank Capacity As Senders says, the size of the water tank correlates to how often you’ll be refilling it. If you only steam the occasional garment, then you can get by with a steamer that has a more compact water tank. But if you plan to steam outfits at a time, look for a larger tank so you won’t have to stop to refill so often. The Pure Enrichment PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer has a 67-ounce water tank capacity, which is the largest on our list. If you’re looking for a smaller unit, however, consider the Electrolux Garment Steamer or the CHI Handheld Garment Steamer, which water capacities of about 10 ounces. Cord Length What many of these clothes steamers lack in size they more than make up for in cord length. Look for a steamer that has a long enough cord to give you room to work, but not so long that it gets in the way. We found all of the products on our best clothes steamers list to have more than adequate cords, though you may wish to look for a model with a rotating cord for even better maneuverability. During testing, we found that the Black+Decker Advanced Handheld Steamer has a 15-foot cord, which was longer than many other options on this list. Included Attachments While steaming capability is the obvious priority when shopping for a steamer, some models come with helpful attachments that make it even easier to banish wrinkles. For example, if you plan to steam silk or other delicate fabrics, you might wish to get a steamer that has a delicate fabric attachment. For those who like to have a neat crease in their pants, a crease tool might be in order. You’ll likely have to pay a bit more for a steamer that has multiple attachments, so consider carefully whether you might actually use them before committing to a purchase. Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Other Clothes Steamers We Tested Beautural Foldable Handheld Steamer We liked the compact, travel-friendly Beautural Foldable Handheld Steamer that was easy to fill. It performed well on silk, but it had limited abilities on linen and other heavily wrinkled fabric. The small water reservoir made for frequent refills, plus our fingers got a bit tired having to hold the steam button during use. PurSteam Standing Garment Steamer We were quite impressed by how the PurSteam Standing Garment Steamer smoothed wrinkled linen, though it struggled to get cotton crisp. We also liked features like the easy-to-fill tank, the telescopic handle, and the wheeled base that made it portable. However, the steamer head sputtered and we found the steaming capability to be less efficient than using an iron or steam dryer. Nori Press While testing the Nori Press, we loved the multiple settings optimized for different fabrics and were impressed with its creasing ability, but found that it struggled with actual wrinkles, especially on silk. Though the design looks portable, we found it awkward to use and sputtered frequently, creating water stains on the garments. Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock Your Questions, Answered How much should you expect to spend on a clothes steamer? As you can see from our list of best clothes steamers, there’s a rather wide-ranging budget for this handy tool. “I have found some really great hand-held and travel steamers for $40 that I've been using for the last 15 years,” Senders says. But if you’re looking to steam clothing often and want a professional-level steamer, that price tag will jump to around $200, she says. If you’re new to using a steamer or don’t think you’ll use it often, we highly recommend the Proctor Silex Compact 2-in1 Garment Steamer/Iron, our best budget pick. Though it’s less expensive than other styles, we found that it worked well on silk and cotton. What are the benefits of a clothes steamer? Using a clothes steamer is a convenient alternative to an iron, but that’s not the only benefit of this gadget. “Steaming is the easiest and safest way to get rid of the wrinkles in your clothes,” says Senders. “Steam disinfects, so not only will you be straightening out each wrinkle, but you’ll also be killing off any unwanted germs that may have settled in the fabric.” This can help revive clothes in between uses, particularly dry-clean-only garments. “Steaming your clothes can also save you several trips to the dry cleaner in between wears, which can save lots of time and money,” she says. Are clothes steamers easy to use? “Steaming is the best form of unwrinkling,” says Senders, who notes that steamers are much easier to use than iron; in fact, you have a greater chance of damaging clothes with an iron if you don’t have it on the right setting. Senders’ tip for steaming clothes quickly is to put the steamer underneath the garment. Position the head of the steamer inside the garment so it’s facing you, then press the steamer against the fabric in a downward motion. “In my experience, this is a faster technique than steaming with the head of the steamer facing the fabric on the outside,” Senders says. Who We Are Barbara Bellesi Zito is a freelance writer from Staten Island, New York, covering all things home and lifestyle for Better Homes & Gardens. To compile this list of the best clothes steamers, Barbara analyzed lab insights from our testing site in Des Moines, Iowa. She also consulted Dara Senders, designer and founder of Dara Senders. What Is BHG Recommends? Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit