Which steam iron brand is the most reliable?

We investigated the performance and reliability of some of the most popular steam iron brands, including Morphy Richards, Philips and Russell Hobbs.

In our unique small-appliance survey, we asked more than 5,800 steam iron owners – Which? members and members of the public – if they were happy with their steam iron, and to tell us about any problems they've experienced. The data we collected shows which brands come recommended by owners and which brands are not worth buying.

Find out more about the best steam irons we've tested

Only logged-in Which? members can see the full results of our steam irons brand reliability survey. If you're not yet a member, join Which? to get instant access.

Which steam iron brands develop the fewest faults?

This table summarises what we found about how quickly steam iron brands develop faults, based on steam irons bought in the past seven years.

Go to our steam iron reviews to compare all of the steam iron brands and models we've tested 

Which steam iron brands do owners recommend?

As well as faults, our survey also revealed which steam iron brands owners feel happy with – and which they'd recommend to a friend.

The table below summarises this year’s results. Brands are ranked by their customer score, which relates to whether customers would recommend the brand to a friend.

These results  are based on steam irons bought in the past seven years.

Want to get the best results when ironing? Read our guide on how to iron your clothes

The three most common steam iron faults

While the average steam iron might last you over a decade, our survey revealed recurring faults that can cause them to stop working sooner than expected.

1. Leaking/spitting water (35% of all faults)

Over a third of reported issues involved steam irons leaking or spitting water.

If your iron is leaking, there could be a hole in the water tank. This might be caused by filling the tank with a corrosive formula, such as vinegar (for cleaning) or scented disinfectant (to make your clothes smell nice), which eats away at the iron's internal parts. To avoid this, never fill the tank with anything other than water, unless the instruction manual states otherwise.

2. Element stopped working (26% of all faults)

Just over a quarter of reported faults related to the heating element. Over time, a steam iron may lose its electrical properties or no longer respond.

As the heating element is responsible for heating the water and converting it into steam, this is a pretty catastrophic fault for a steam iron. 

In such cases we advise seeking professional help unless you're a qualified electrician, as attempting to tinker with the iron's workings could be dangerous.

3. Inconsistent performance (21% of all faults)

Inconsistent performance was the third most common steam iron problem reported in our survey.

This could be caused by a range of problems, but the most likely cause is limescale build-up. 

If limescale builds up, it can clog the iron's steam ducts, which stops it producing as much steam – so you might find yourself putting more effort into tackling creases, but getting worse results.

For further information, read 3 common steam iron faults – and what to do about them

Can a broken steam iron be repaired?

Luckily, limescale problems can often be easily rectified without needing to call in the experts. Regular maintenance can often prevent problems before they occur, yet only 46% of survey respondents performed maintenance tasks on their steam irons.

If you're in any doubt, check your appliance's instruction manual for a troubleshooting guide.

For more serious faults, such as a broken heating element, you may need to make a call on whether it's worth even attempting a repair. If your iron is pretty basic, you may be better off buying a new one. Consider a repairable brand, if possible.

For advice on tackling limescale, read how to clean an iron. Or if your iron is beyond repair, read how to recycle electrical items

Which steam iron brands offer the best guarantees?

Most steam iron brands offer product guarantees of two years as standard, but there are a handful of brands that offer longer cover, including:

• Lakeland – three-year guarantee as standard.
• Morphy Richards – two-year guarantee as standard, but you can get an extra year by registering your iron on the Morphy Richards website.
• Russell Hobbs – two-year guarantee as standard, but you can get an extra year by registering your iron on the Russell Hobbs website.

Faulty product? Here's how to get a refund, repair or replacement

How we discover the most reliable steam iron brands

Which? has a wealth of information on Britain's favourite brands. 

Every year, we ask Which? members to tell us about the home appliances they own – from how likely they would be to recommend a brand, to how reliable the products are once they get them home. 

This year, 6,448 Which? members and 6,414 members of the public told us about more than 26,852 individual products. 

We calculate each brand's customer score, fault rate and reliability rating using the results of our annual survey. 

Our surveys, combined with our extensive lab tests, mean we can recommend the best steam irons to buy.

To watch a video on the lengths we go to find the best steam irons, visit How we test steam irons