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If ironing is the sort of chore you always hit snooze on, we get it. It isn’t exactly the definition of a good time. But there are some clothes that just need it – especially as we sashay back into work in our best new looks – irons are a bit of a must-have.
But for something we only turn to in desperate times, there’s no need to splash the cash. So we put budget irons from leading brands to the test, to find the best models for your home.
What iron should I buy?
If you're ready to get pressy with it, these are our top irons to buy on a budget:
- Best budget steam iron: Russell Hobbs One Temperature 25090
- Best budget steam generator iron: Beldray Platinum Edition Steam Station Steam Generator Iron
- Best for speed: Tower Ceraglide T22018GLD Steam Iron
- Best for style: Russell Hobbs Pearl Glide
- Best for tank capacity: Beko SIM6124B Steam Iron
- Best for fiddly clothes: Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630A
- Best for cotton and silk: Braun TexStyle 3 TS 355A
- Best cordless steam iron: Morphy Richards Easy Charge Cordless Iron 303250
How do I choose an iron?
It’s not the most glam of purchases, but there's no point making said glam purchases if they're all crinkled, so it’s worth getting it right. There are two types of iron you can choose between: a steam iron, which is your more traditional style with a built-in water tank, or a supersized steam generator iron, which has a big water tank base for extra oomf. Most of the irons on this list are steam irons because they're cheaper and are powerful enough for the majority of clothes.
If, however, you iron literally everything you own, firstly, we’re impressed. Secondly, it might be worth considering splashing out on a steam generator iron, as the larger water tank makes things a whole lot speedier. You do need a decent amount of space to store them though.
In terms of other features to consider, a higher wattage often results in a quick-heating iron while a larger water tank will allow you to iron for longer between refills, and can equate to a more powerful steam shot, which will help with those particularly stubborn creases when the standard steam flow isn’t cutting it.
A long cord length can be helpful for moving around the ironing board, an auto switch-off function means your iron will turn itself off after a while (making it a safer buy) and a smooth, tapered soleplate will help your iron glide across your clothes and reach even the most awkward of spaces.
Lastly, if you live in an area with hard water, think about going for a model with a self-cleaning system to minimise the build-up of limescale.
If you’re still not convinced, it might be worth thinking about a garment steamer instead – they are easy to whip out for freshening up the odd dress and crucially, don’t require an ironing board.
How we test irons
We gave our clothes a good going over with more than 80 irons, testing how well they say sayonara to creases, how hot they get, and how easy they are to use. We also considered their design, instructions, how well they clean up, their weight when full and whether they are comfortable to use.
Set yourself up in front of Virgin River and get your garms pressed with these top irons…
Russell Hobbs One Temperature 25090
If this iron was a person, it’d be the sort that’s annoyingly good at everything. Luckily it’s just an impressive iron and an affordable one, too. It boasts a large inlet hole for easy refilling, didn’t drip and was quick to heat up on test.
Our clothes were fabulously flat after a quick once-over and it was especially effective on lighter fabrics. Our testers rated the three-metre cable and only had a couple of complaints: the cable stuck up slightly at the back of the handle catching their arms occasionally, and they only managed 10 minutes of ironing when they frequently used the steam boost function. Overall though, it’s a real all-rounder.
Key specs
Weight: 1.41kg
Tank capacity: 350ml
Steam rate: 50g
Steam shot: 210g
Wattage: 2600w
Beldray Platinum Edition Steam Station Steam Generator Iron
If freshly pressed bedding is what does it for you, we’d suggest splashing out a little more on a steam generator iron, and this one is about as affordable as they get, coming in at just under £60. It’s fairly streamlined (although not in comparison to a steam iron) so may still work if storage is tight, too. It made light work of our laundry pile in testing and heated up rapidly.
It doesn't have a steam shot and some of the controls were stiff, meaning we sometimes ended up with extra steam even when we didn’t need it. We’d have liked clearer instructions, too. For its price though, it’s pretty good.
Key specs
Weight: 3.9kg
Tank capacity: 1.5l
Steam rate: 35-40g/minute
Steam shot: n/a
Wattage: 2600w
Tower Ceraglide T22018GLD Steam Iron
Ironing can be a bit of a drag at the best of times, but there’s no faffing about with this steamy speed demon. In fact, our testers said they thought it performed as well as some much spennier irons they tried.
Creases vanished well and it was fairly lightweight, even when full. Testers noted that the casing felt a bit budget, but well… it is. And it looks cute with a black and rose gold finish. Testers with bigger hands did find that there wasn’t enough room to hold the iron comfortably though, so scroll on if that could be you too.
Key specs
Weight: 1.21kg
Tank capacity: 265ml
Steam rate: 40g
Steam shot: 150g
Wattage: 3100w
Russell Hobbs Pearl Glide
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again, there’s nothing wrong with wanting appliances that look cute, and this one does that in spades. But it’s not just pretty in pink; it scored top marks for accurate temperatures in our tests and removed creases with ease.
We found it slid across linen and silk with no problems but there was some resistance on satin. The two-metre cord is great for moving around the ironing board and the 315ml tank was big enough for 22 minutes’ worth of ironing, which should be plenty of time to make a dent in that pile, if not complete it.
Key specs
Weight: 1.46kg
Tank capacity: 315ml
Steam rate: 40g
Steam shot: 150g
Wattage: 2600w
If you’ve decided now’s the time to start ironing your whole wardrobe, down to your underwear, then may we recommend this iron to you? In testing, it lasted for 26 minutes before our testers needed to refill it, thanks to its substantial 400ml tank capacity.
The auto shut-off feature was a nice addition too, but the iron struggled on some of the more stubborn creases it came across. It also leaked occasionally from the refill lid, but the basic model largely did a good job.
Key specs
Weight: 1.82kg
Tank capacity: 400ml
Steam rate: 40g
Steam shot: 150g
Wattage: 2400w
Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630A
Buttons and pleats are no match for this iron – its well-shaped soleplate has a point that’s made for getting into intricate corners, and with a three-metre cable, you can move around the ironing board easily too.
Its non-drip feature worked well in testing, it has an auto switch-off function and a powerful steam boost. This counteracted the fact that sometimes the temperatures were low. Testers also found it was on the heavy side and not the smoothest of movers across the fabric, but on balance this wouldn’t put us off.
Key specs
Weight: 1.6kg
Tank capacity: 350ml
Steam rate: 45g
Steam shot: 210g
Wattage: 3100w
If you wear a lot of cotton or silk shirts and dresses (or are partial to a luxe bedding set), then this iron will suit your wardrobe just nicely as its crease removal particularly impressed on these fabrics. It’s easy to use too, heating up quickly and moving well across all fabrics.
Its auto shut-off function means you can shut down that nagging question about whether you’ve left the iron on ASAP and its temperature control was accurate in testing. A couple of things our testers picked up on were that the water level was hard to see and the dial fiddly to adjust. The tank capacity also only lasted 13 minutes. It didn’t drip though, so there’ll be no unwelcome wet patches if you’re doing a spot of last-minute freshening.
Key specs
Weight: 1.2kg
Tank capacity: 300ml
Steam rate: 25g
Steam shot: 100g
Wattage: 2000w
Morphy Richards Easy Charge Cordless Iron 303250
If you often get in a twist, this cordless iron might be the solution. It’s lightweight and quick to heat up. It’s not one to go for if you’re after something speedy though, as our testers found they regularly needed to recharge the iron after every few sweeps to keep the temperature high.
Its steam output wasn’t too high either but crease removal was solid on the higher settings. The soleplate did drag a bit but it comes with an auto switch-off feature, which kicks in if you leave it charging on the base for 8 minutes without use. If you only iron the occasional top and want something flexible, this is a good choice.
Key specs
Weight: 1.7kg
Tank capacity: 350ml
Steam rate: 30g
Steam shot: 130g
Wattage: 2400w
Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.
Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.
Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.
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