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You don’t have spend a lot to get a top-class iron. Below, we round up five of the best, cheap steam irons that have aced our tests.
Rebecca Duff
In this article
The most expensive steam irons aren’t necessarily the best. Our exhaustive lab tests have uncovered big differences in quality between the best and worst models across all price ranges.
If you’re on a budget but don’t want to compromise on quality, check our table below where we’ve rounded up the top five steam irons that won’t break the bank. These top-class irons all glide smoothly over clothes. Each model has overall percentage score of 70 or more, and scores at least four out of five stars for ironing performance - that means they'll leave your clothes flawlessly smooth. What's more, they all typically cost less than £40 to buy.
Only logged-in Which? members can view our cheap iron recommendations in the table below. If you’re not yet a member, join Which? for instant access.
Best cheap steam irons
81%
£34.99
Reviewed
This iron is tough on deep creases, and makes ironing quick and easy. It’s quick to heat and won't clog up with limescale over time. The ceramic soleplate glides well and is very difficult to scratch too.
Not only is this iron quick, easy and effective to use, but it's also very resistant to limescale, so it will keep pumping out the steam even if you use hard water in the tank. With so many plus points it’s a worthy Best Buy. The only major downside is it’s a little on the heavy side.
The manufacturer of this Best Buy iron says that it will make your ironing ‘less of a chore’. In our tests, we check how easily the soleplate will glide over crumpled cotton and whether it can get in tightly under buttons.
This iron has a large water tank, which provides plenty of steam for easy ironing and means you’ll be able to iron for longer without having to refill it.. It’s quick to heat up and will also let you know when it’s cool enough to put back in your cupboard.
The manufacturer of this iron claims that it will deliver ‘powerful, precise ironing’. Our tests discovered that, while it scored well for steam production, there was one area where it lost points, which meant it just missed out on becoming a Best Buy.
While there are some great value steam irons around, don’t go for the first cheap model you see. Some budget models make ironing so difficult you might end up buying another one in a couple of months’ time. Here are three budget steam irons that we recommend you avoid.
Steam irons to avoid
45%
£14.99
Reviewed
This is one of the worst irons we've ever tested. The handle is slippery to grip and the buttons are hard to reach. There's no self-cleaning function either, so it doesn't take long for limescale to build.
Don’t waste your money on this disappointing steam iron. The soleplate drags, rather than glides, it doesn’t produce much steam and you have to go over each area several times to eliminate creases.
You’ll struggle to smooth out creases with this budget steam iron, especially on thicker fabrics. It's heavy with a big chunky handle too, so your arm will get tired even if your ironing basket is only half-full.
Not found the iron for you? Go straight to oursteam iron reviewsfor more recommendations.
Why Which? iron reviews are better
Each of the steam irons that we rate and review undergoes rigorous tests to see just how well it smoothes out creases, how well it resists limescale build-up, how easy it is to fill, empty and clean, and how robust the soleplate is. All the steam irons we recommend steam powerfully and levels won’t tail off with prolonged use. So you can be sure you won’t end up buying a dud that you’ll need to replace six months down the line.
