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Best clothes steamer 2024: Handheld and upright garment steamers to banish creases

A trio of clothes steamers on a blue backdrop

De-crease your clothes without the hassle of an iron, with our pick of the best garment steamers to smooth your shirts and your furnishings

Ever wished you could wave a magic de-creasing wand over your wardrobe, without even having to take shirts and skirts off their hangers? The best clothes steamers grant that wish, almost literally. Wave a handheld steamer over a hanging garment and its jets of steam will smooth out creases without making contact with your precious fabric. There’s no risk of burning, no grappling with an ironing board, and no “did I leave the iron on?” when you’re half-way round the supermarket.

You can also buy upright garment steamers that look (and work) a bit like souped-up trousers presses. Hang your clothes on the steamer, and steam generated by a water tank in the unit’s base will straighten them out and freshen them up, potentially avoiding the need for pricey dry cleaning.

Skip to our pick of the best clothes steamers for sprucing up your threads, even while you’re travelling. Or read on for tips on choosing the ideal steamer for you and your clothes.


🡪 Top picks

🡪 Buying guide


Best rotary washing line: At a glance

Best clothes steamerPhilips Steam & Go Plus (~£75)Check price at John Lewis
Best-value clothes steamerSwan Handheld Garmet Steamer (~£24)Check price at Swan
Best all-in-one steamer, iron and boardTefal IXEO Power QT2020 (~£370)Check price at John Lewis

The best clothes steamers you can buy in 2024

1. Philips Steam and Go Plus: Best all-round clothes steamer

Price when reviewed: £75 | Check price at John Lewis Philips’ handheld steamer is more expensive than the other handheld steamers we’ve recommended and it’s short on fancy features, but its powerful steam jets get the job done supremely quickly and efficiently, without dripping or leaving your clothes damp. Unlike most handheld clothes steamers, which can only be used vertically (so you point it at a hanging garment, pistol-style), this nifty device can also work when held in a horizontal position, so you can use it to de-crease awkward spots or delicate fabrics when ironing – and smooth out your bed sheets after you’ve put them on.

It’s extremely good at removing odour and bacteria from clothes, too, so it’s brilliant for freshening up a suit or dress you’ve worn once and don’t want to dry-clean. There’s also a brush attachment that’s great for getting steam into thick fabrics, and can even help to remove some pet hair. The main downside is its small 70ml water tank, which can only steam one garment at a time.

Key specs – Type: Handheld; Weight: 950g; Tank capacity: 70ml; Heat-up time: 45secs; Continuous steam: Yes

Check price at John Lewis


2. Swan Handheld Garment Steamer: Best-value clothes steamer

Price when reviewed: £24 | Check price at Swan This new handheld steamer from Swan is a delight to use. The swivelling cable and curvy ergonomic design make it easy to reach every crease in your wardrobe without having to get all the clothes out. Like the more expensive Philips Steam & Go, Swan’s steamer works vertically or horizontally, so you can use its flat plate like an iron or hold it upright to de-crease and freshen up clothes with the steam (and optional extra fabric brush, which is great for jackets and curtains).

The device works very well as a steam cleaner for windows, splashbacks and tiles, too. The water tank is on the small side (250ml, enough for a couple of shirts), but you can detach it for easy refilling. A great price for a versatile steamer.

Key specs – Type: Handheld; Dimensions: 27 x 13.5 x 9.5cm; Tank capacity: 250ml; Heat-up time: 3mins; Continuous steam: Yes

Check price at Swan


3. Breville Elite Diamond Ceramic Clothes Steamer: Best handheld clothes steamer for travel

Price when reviewed: £60 | Check price at Amazon  Even if you’ll be steaming clothes in a cramped hotel room, you can do it in style with this handheld steamer from Breville. With its sleek black looks and ergonomic design, it can deliver up to 16 minutes of continuous steam – and it even comes with a heat-resistant travel bag.

Setup is straightforward and it’s easy to use: the steamer heats up in just 35 seconds and immediately sets to work with a surprisingly powerful jet of steam at its highest setting (there are three fabric modes to choose from). The steam plate’s ceramic coating can also easily withstand repeated use on buttons, zips and other features, which have a tendency to result in scratches.

Cable length is 3m, but some customers have said they needed an extension cable alongside it.

Key specs – Type: Handheld; Dimensions: 293 x 128 x 201mm (HWD); Tank capacity: 240ml; Heat-up time: 35secs; Continuous steam: Yes


4. Fridja f1000 Professional Vertical Garment/Steamer: Best vertical garment steamer

Price when reviewed: £90 | Check price at Amazon If you live with a family of shirt wearers or you have a wardrobe full of suits, dresses and jackets that always need to be pressed before you can wear them, then this vertical steamer could make your life much easier.

The f1000 heats cold water to steam level in just 35 seconds, but will allow you to continuously steam clothes for a whopping 65 minutes. Just pop them onto the folding hanger and remove all traces of crinkles.

There are lots of other lovely attachments to discover, too, including a heat-protecting glove, upholstery brush and crease attachment, just in case you’re lamenting the need to make a double crease in every pair of freshly washed trousers.

Key specs – Type: Upright; Dimensions: 80 x 32 x 25cm (HWD); Tank capacity: 2.2L; Heat-up time: 35secs; Continuous steam: Yes


5. Tefal IXEO Power QT2020: Best all-in-one clothes steamer, iron and board

Price when reviewed: £370 | Check price at John Lewis At around £300, this is not a purchase to be taken lightly. But an endless pile of family laundry isn’t to be taken lightly either, and this amazing all-in-one device from Tefal makes much easier and quicker work of straightening out clothes than a standard iron and board. It could genuinely change your life if you’re battling a large weekly pile of shirts, jackets and school uniforms.

The whole unit takes up only a little more space than a standard board and iron, but the iron itself is much lighter, so it’s really easy to manoeuvre. Its steam function is more powerful than on a standard steam iron, so you hardly feel you’re ironing at all, even when tackling stubborn creases. It sanitises your clothes, bedsheets and furnishings as well as smoothing your clothes, with the maker claiming the 200g/min maximum steam boost kills 99.9% of viruses and bacteria. It’s relatively simple to assemble and very easy to use, despite its plethora of functions, including an anti-scale system, continuous steam options and vertical pressing.

Key specs – Type: Iron and upright steamer; Dimensions: 168 x 40 x 40cm (HWD); Weight: 4kg; Tank capacity: 1.1L; Heat-up time: 70secs; Continuous steam: Yes

Check price at John Lewis


6. Beautural Clothes Steamer: Best handheld clothes steamer for hard-to-iron clothes

Price when reviewed: £30 | Check price at Amazon This affordable steamer’s large 260ml water tank and powerful jets are up to the challenge of tackling a pile of linen suits in one go, and its internal pump means it can be used horizontally or vertically. After taking just 30 seconds to get ready for use, it powerfully de-creases and refreshes clothes using a continuous stream for up to 15 minutes.

Other advanced features include multiple auto switch-off options; free fabric brush attachments; and a kettle-style 360 degrees swivel cord that helps you avoid getting tangled in the power cable. We also like the see-through tank design that reveals how much water is left.

Key specs – Type: Handheld; Weight: 700g; Tank capacity: 260ml; Heat-up time: 30secs; Continuous steam: Yes


7. Pro Breeze Garment Steamer: Best handheld garment steamer for furniture and curtains

Price when reviewed: £25 | Check price at Amazon

The Pro Breeze Garment Steamer only works in a vertical position, but its nozzle design makes it ideal for steaming all kinds of fabric around your house, including curtains, bedding and furnishings.

Its steam jets aren’t quite as powerful as the Philips or Beautural handheld steamers, but the steam is emitted very evenly, making it a great choice for steaming beaded, pleated and sequined clothes, which flat iron-style steamers are less adept at tackling.

Key specs – Type: Handheld; Dimensions: 21 x 8.5 x 15cm (HWD); Weight: 780g; Tank capacity: 200ml; Heat-up time: 50secs; Continuous steam: Yes


🡩 Jump to our favourite clothes steamers

How to choose the best clothes steamer for you

What type of clothes steamer is right for me?

Each of the main types of garment steamer has clear pros and cons.

Handheld garment steamers are inevitably smaller, lighter and more portable than upright models. They also tend to be cheaper, although powerful feature-packed hand steamers can cost more than £100. Most hand steamers weigh in at around 1kg before you fill them with water, but remember that a large water tank (1 litre or more) will weigh them down and can make them drip. On the other hand, a large water tank may have multiple benefits – one of our recommendations even doubles as a travel kettle.

Upright garment steamers often have posts on which to hang your clothes, or built-in “ironing” boards for steaming against a flat surface – without the risk of the burning and scorching that you get with an iron. Many upright steamers also have a built-in hanger for skirts and jackets while they de-crease and freshen up. Standalone steamers have bigger water tanks and generally come with advanced functions such as multiple steam levels and auto switch-off. But they do cost more and you can’t stick them in your luggage for weddings, work trips and other journeys where a handheld steamer could come in very handy indeed.

What other features should I look for in a garment steamer?

A light weight and portability are vital in a handheld steamer, especially if you’re hoping to stick it in your luggage. Most handheld clothes steamers are lighter than irons.

Continuous steam means the unit emits steam for several seconds at once, often up to 15 seconds in a handheld steamer, so you don’t have to keep pressing the button.

Variable steam settings let you take a gentler approach with delicate fabrics and pack more power with hard-to-iron fabrics such as linen and denim, or when steaming upholstery, bedding and curtains.

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