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11 best clothes steamers for getting creases out of your clothes
Get that crumpled pile of laundry looking office- or party-ready in a flash.
Irons may be a household staple, but their hot metal plates risk burning delicate materials like silk and lace. Garment steamers, meanwhile, relax the creased fibres of your clothes to leave them looking pristine.
The best clothes steamers preheat in seconds and banish creases in minutes. There are models available to suit all budgets, including both upright and handheld steamers.
Which are the best clothes steamers?
Our testers tried 21 garment steamers to find the best on the market right now. These are their top 11 buys:
- Best handheld clothes steamer: Tefal Access Steam+ DT8150 Hand Steamer
- Runner-up handheld clothes steamer: Fridja F10 Raf Handheld Travel Clothes Steamer
- Best for dry results: Philips Steam & Go Plus GC362/86 Handheld Clothes Steamer
- Best for travel: Tefal Access DT7050 Hand Steamer
- Best for beginners: Tefal Pure Tex DT9530
- Best for attachments: Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma 28040
- Fastest clothes steamer: Tefal DT3030 Access Steam Pocket Garment Steamer
- Best budget clothes steamer: Steamworks Handheld Garment Steamer
- Best value clothes steamer: Beldray Handi Steam Max Pro BEL0932RG
- Best for large items: Morphy Richards Express Steam Handheld Garment Steamer
- Best for linen: Tefal DT9100 Access Steam Care Handheld Garment Steamer
Is a clothes steamer worth it?
For both ease and effectiveness, it's easy to justify buying a clothes steamer. They are helpfully versatile to use, including on curtains and sheets, and require minimal tech know-how. The power can usually be adjusted to suit your fabric, avoiding damage, and there's no need to set up a heavy ironing board when you’re already in a hurry.
How do I choose a clothes steamer?
Firstly, consider your personal needs before deciding which type of clothes steamer to buy. Upright clothes steamers tend to be bigger and more powerful, making them ideal for ploughing through large piles of laundry, but they're also bulky and expensive. Compact handheld models are our go-to for space-saving storage and speedy touch-ups on the move, which is why you’ll find them in our roundup.
Check how long your chosen clothes steamer takes to heat up (under a minute is respectable), how far its cord stretches (particularly if you're short on plug sockets) and how many settings it offers (especially if you have a wardrobe full of floaty chiffon dresses).
Transparent casing is useful for knowing when the water tank needs refilling, especially if it's small, and a trigger lock lets you steam continuously without having to hold your finger down (it'll start aching quickly without one, trust us).
Frequent flyers may appreciate included accessories such as folding hangers and travel bags.
How we test
Our expert testers put 21 clothes steamers through their paces to find the best you can buy. They timed how long each model took to preheat, before assessing its ability to steam a silk evening dress, linen suit, viscose top and cotton and polycotton shirts to crisp perfection.
They noted how easy it was to operate and how comfortable it felt to use, keeping a beady eye on any spitting or dripping. They considered its controls, manoeuvrability and overall design before awarding a final score.
Tefal Access Steam+ DT8150 Hand Steamer
If you're looking for a neat and nimble steamer to cram into your suitcase, try this treat of a Tefal. It was raring to go in a decent 40 seconds and offers a choice of three settings – normal, delicate and turbo – to suit all materials. Not one of our testers reported any spitting (a remarkable feat) and all their clothes were left dry enough to throw on immediately.
It made all creases disappear from silk and viscose and removed the majority from linen and cotton too. Its large head struggled to reach into nooks and crannies (namely armpits on shirts) and its trigger lock had a tendency to loosen, but those were our only niggles.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.2L
Dimensions (cm): H27.5 x W14.5 x D11.5
Cord length: 3m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: Yes
Included accessories: Door hook, fabric brush, steam bonnet, crease attachment, travel bag
Fridja F10 Raf Handheld Travel Clothes Steamer
Should you wish to jolly up your chores, this stylish little steamer is also available in candy floss pink. It excelled in all our tests, be it de-wrinkling hardy linen or freshening up fragile silk, but its flex is short at under two metres, so bear this in mind when hanging up your clothes.
It didn't take long to heat up, and its smartly designed triangular head made accessing awkward areas a breeze. Its included collar press is a notable bonus if you're always steaming shirts for meetings, as is the adaptor that lets you use your regular water bottle as a tank when you're away from home.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.26L
Dimensions (cm): H22 x W12 x D15
Cord length: 1.95m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: Yes
Included accessories: Travel bag, collar press, fabric guard, water bottle adaptor, portable hanger
Philips Steam & Go Plus GC362/86 Handheld Clothes Steamer
Despite its small tank, this sleek steamer didn't run out of water during testing. It glided beautifully over every material, from cotton to viscose, and made light, fast work of almost all creases. It took a rapid 29 seconds to preheat and all our garments were left fully dry after steaming, with no damp patches requiring emergency use of the hairdryer.
It's a shame the casing isn't see-through, but what really annoyed us was the inability to lock the trigger, which gave us an achy finger. That said, if you'll mainly be using it for pre-party touch-ups, it's a pretty and practical choice.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.07L
Dimensions (cm): H38 x W12.8 x D15
Cord length: 2.5m
Transparent casing: No
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Fabric brush, protective glove
Jetsetters, listen up. This travel-friendly steamer is equipped with dual voltage – 120V and 240V – for use abroad, and it also comes with a door hook for hotel use. It performed best on silk and viscose but could be relied upon to rid all your crumpled clothing of creases.
Our only real word of warning is to avoid using it minutes before an appointment – it left our cotton shirt smooth yet slightly wet, but the rest of our garments were dry. It spat a fair bit, too, so be careful not to burn your fingers.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.15L
Dimensions (cm): H24.5 x W12 x D10
Cord length: 2m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: Yes
Included accessories: Door hook, fabric brush, steam bonnet, travel bag
Tefal Pure Tex DT9530G0 Garment Steamer
We love a hardworking gadget and this steamer fits the bill. Not only did it reach temperature in 34 seconds, but it was equally speedy removing deep creases from delicate fabrics like viscose and silk. Our tester found that heavier materials – including cotton and linen – required a second sweep to be 100% crease-free. Each garment was left dry and free of watermarks, making it reliable for last-minute touch-ups.
The controls are reassuringly simple to use (even if it's your first time using a steamer), though the water tank was stiff to remove. Another big plus is the sheer range of attachments – from fragrance boosters to lint removers – which attach easily via magnetic pads. For portability, simplicity and versatility, this handheld is a savvy buy.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.2L
Dimensions (cm): H28.2 x W18 x D12
Cord length: 2.5m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Clean pad, dewrinkle pad, steam bonnet, fragrance
Russell Hobbs Steam Genie Aroma 28040
After a steamer that'll give your curtains a refresh as well as your wardrobe? Then this is it thanks to its included accessories: a scent infuser, a lint brush, an upholstery brush and a delicates brush. The 360° swivel cord lets you reach every awkward crease, while the trigger lock ensures comfort throughout the entire steaming process.
Our tester found it excelled on viscose and silk, though it took longer to remove creases in resistant materials like linen, cotton and polycotton. The water tank is quick to refill, fit and heat and it offers plenty of steam to work through multiple garments at once.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.2L
Dimensions (cm): H28 x W12 x D14
Cord length: 3m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Delicate attachment, scent infuser, upholstery attachment and lint brush
Tefal DT3030 Access Steam Pocket Garment Steamer
Here's another top pick for travellers, complete with a foldable head to take up less precious luggage space. It boasted the fastest preheat time on test – a lightning 15 seconds – and tackled notoriously crease-prone linen with aplomb. Though equally brilliant on silk and polycotton, it failed to remove deep-set crinkles from cotton and viscose.
Its head is shorter than average, meaning our tester sometimes scalded their hand, but everything was left bone dry after steaming. Unfortunately, once again, it's plagued by the lack of a trigger lock – probably our biggest bugbear.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.12L
Dimensions (cm): H22 x W10.5 x D12.7
Cord length: 2.6m
Transparent casing: No
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Fabric brush, travel bag, refill cup
Steamworks Handheld Garment Steamer
Let's face it, there are more exciting things to spend your money on than clothes steamers. This purse-friendly Steamworks model did such a solid job of smoothing our polycotton shirt that it looked as crisp as if ironed. It took wrinkly linen in its stride and steamed silk gently and effectively, but left it damp in places.
It wasn't powerful enough to budge the most stubborn creases from cotton, our arm felt strained after about two minutes of steaming, and it spat a bit, but it's hard to fault for under £30.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.23L
Dimensions (cm): H25.8 x W14.6 x D11
Cord length: 3m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Steam brush
Beldray Handi Steam Max Pro BEL0932RG
Only costing a couple of pounds more than our budget pick, this is another great value buy. Don't be fooled by its stripped-back appearance, it offers everything you need, including two heat settings, vertical steaming capabilities, and a brush attachment for finer fabrics. What's more, the compact model is perfect for packing in your suitcase (without worrying about those pesky weight restrictions).
The device made quick work of creased viscose, linen, silk, cotton and polycotton – though heavy creases or clothing fresh out the wash may require a bit of extra attention, which left some garments a little damp. Crucially, the water tank was easy to fill and the trigger switch ensured comfort throughout (no hand cramps, here).
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.27L
Dimensions (cm): H29.2 x W11.9 x D18.7
Cord length: 1.9m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Measuring cup, fabric brush
Morphy Richards Express Steam Handheld Garment Steamer
For coats and curtains, you need a steamer that can cover large areas of fabric at pace. This model's wide head helped it do just that, but it did make detailed use, such as along seams and shirt sleeves, slightly trickier. It ticked our testers' boxes by lifting creases from our polycotton, silk and viscose garms and leaving them completely dry.
It gave linen a good go too, but steaming took longer than expected and our suit felt a touch damp afterwards. Still, for an accessible, family-friendly buy that doesn't demand much cupboard space, it's a hit.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.26L
Dimensions (cm): H31 x W13 x D16
Cord length: 3m
Transparent casing: Yes
Hanging equipment: No
Included accessories: Lint brush, creaser
Tefal DT9100 Access Steam Care Handheld Garment Steamer
Our linen suit looked suave enough to earn a place in The Great Gatsby once this black and copper steamer had finished with it. Though relatively slow to achieve our desired results, it removed every crease.
Its three modes allow for fabric-specific steaming, but it lacked the power to smooth silk sufficiently and left it soggy. It spat a bit too, but it only took 33 seconds to heat up, should your favourite outfit require a last minute touch-up.
Key specs
Tank capacity: 0.2L
Dimensions (cm): H30.3 x W12.7 x D13.2
Cord length: 3m
Transparent casing: No
Hanging equipment: Yes
Included accessories: Fabric brush, door hook, steam bonnet
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