The 8 Best Clothes Steamers, Tested for Effortless Wrinkle Removal

Best Overall

Conair ExtremeSteam Fabric Steamer

$67 at Amazon $67 at Wayfair $70 at Target

Compared to our steam iron, this Conair ExtremeSteam Fabric Steamer works much better. It’s easier and faster to use, there are fewer things to set up, and it heats up quickly. We’re so impressed by the number of settings (and its overall effectiveness) that we expected it to be in the $100 price range—but it actually costs about half that.

We like the wide nozzle with two slots for steam, and the clamp for creasing is convenient. This clothes steamer did a great job creasing our shirt and works especially well on cotton, but we wouldn’t recommend using that feature for thicker fabric, like denim.

There are five steam settings in total, and we thought it did an amazing job at removing every wrinkle from all types of fabrics. It did take a little longer than expected for a men’s cotton shirt, but it still removed the wrinkles in a reasonable amount of time. We found the highest setting to be the most effective, and the steamer worked best when held close to the fabric and moved slowly over the garment.

The reservoir opening for the water is a bit small, but with a water funnel, we find it’s manageable. We recommend filling it over the sink to avoid making a mess. Also, keep in mind that you have to hold the steamer completely straight up and down, or you run the risk of dripping water, as it sputters a bit at different angles. (We found this a bit annoying on items like sleeves.)

Our only other caveat is we wish the steamer was a little lighter so we could use it for a longer period of time without needing a break (it’s almost 4 pounds). While the shape of the handle is comfortable to hold, our arm began to feel tired after 10 minutes of consecutive use. By 15 minutes, it was time for a break.

However, we've been using it at least once a week for six months now, and it’s still going strong. We haven’t picked up the iron since.

Heating Time: 40 seconds | Steam Duration: 15 minutes | Weight: 4 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7 ounces | Wattage: 1875 watts | Cord Length: N/A |  Refill Time: 40 seconds

Best Budget

Proctor Silex Compact 2-in-1 Garment Steamer/Iron

$32 at Amazon $34 at Wayfair $32 at Target

When we put this steamer to the test, it removed wrinkles from silk almost instantly. It also got wrinkles out of our cotton shirt effectively, although it took longer to relax than the silk did (about 15 minutes total).

However, it performed poorly with the linen pants; it merely eased the wrinkles rather than eliminated them. The steamer does get plenty hot, though, so there wasn't any problem with the steam temperature that prevented it from smoothing the linen. We could feel the warmth of the steamer creep into the handle as we steamed, but it was never uncomfortable.

We think the just-under-$25 price point is fair for this product. It does have a small reservoir; the steamer could run for about 10 minutes continuously before it ran dry. It fills very easily, although without a funnel, it's trickier and would likely spill (though we did notice this is common across clothes steamers). 

The lightweight, compact steamer is easy to hold, though our wrists did get fatigued after 10 minutes. The head of the steamer extends only 2 inches or so past the handle, so we also find it pretty easy to burn ourselves with steam if we press it too close to the fabric. However, when we kept the steamer about 1 inch away from the fabric (as suggested by the manufacturer), we never got burned. 

This budget-friendly steamer did sputter a bit during testing and left water drop stains behind, but it never clogged and worked consistently. It only has one steam setting, so we recommend it for simple wrinkles or travel when you need to freshen up your clothes from the suitcase.

The cord is long, too, which is a plus. We were able to steam from any angle without restriction.This steamer has a single setting (the "produce steam" setting) and comes with a fabric brush attachment that can be fitted onto the head of the steamer. The brush actually acts like a nice 1-inch spacer to keep the head the proper distance from the fabric. Otherwise, it doesn't do much to aid in the steaming. 

We also love that it doubles as an iron if you remove the brush head and push it directly on your clothing. Overall, we would definitely recommend it for someone who wants a simple steam machine that will work on most fabrics.

Heating Time: 45 seconds | Steam Duration: 7 minutes | Weight: 2 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 4 ounces | Wattage: 1200 watts | Cord Length: 10 feet |  Refill Time: 45 seconds

Best Portable

BEAUTURAL Steamer for Clothes

$37 $26 at Amazon

We love the portability of this steamer, which folds down to fit in a suitcase or carry-on bag. It’s comparable to a small travel hair dryer or 20-ounce water bottle and weighs less than 1.5 pounds.

During testing, this clothes steamer proved easy to use, whether steaming on a flat surface or with a hanging garment. The cord is long enough for flat surfaces, but slightly short for garments on a rack but the shorter cord length is preferred when packing it in a suitcase. 

The steamer has just one setting, so it’s quick and easy to use. While it was able to take out deep wrinkles to make our garments acceptable for a casual outfit, there were a few grooves and soft wrinkles left behind. We had to go over some areas multiple times to really get the wrinkles out. It did not get too hot and cooled down quickly, another great perk for a travel gadget.

We were able to steam continuously for 15 minutes before needing a refill, which was enough time to get through one cotton button-down shirt for a relatively wrinkle-free look. Releasing wrinkles from silk was even faster, taking just a few minutes. 

The reservoir was easy to take off, fill, and put back on. While the hole to pour water into it isn't the largest, a general faucet can fit, which makes this steamer easier to fill than others we tested. 

The steamer did have some issues with sputtering and left behind around quarter-size drops on the shirts, but they dried off fairly quickly after going over them with the hot side of the steamer when the steamer was off.

While we would still opt for a standard iron for special occasions and business settings, the steamer is much more convenient for travel.

Heating Time: 30 seconds | Steam Duration: 15 minutes | Weight: 1.5 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 5 ounces | Wattage: 1000 watts | Cord Length: N/A |  Refill Time: 30 seconds

Best Upright

Pure Enrichment Upright Clothes Steamer

$120 $100 at Amazon $100 at Wayfair $100 at Target

This Pure Enrichment Upright Clothes Steamer stands out over other models we’ve used in the past for two reasons: its sturdy floor design and its temperature control that you can adjust as needed. The tank is also large enough that you can steam multiple pieces of clothing without having to refill it—in fact, the steam lasts for an hour. We haven’t had to break out our iron once in the last six months of testing this steamer, and we continue to use it weekly for different laundry projects.

At $100, we felt the price point is justified for all its features and options. The adjustable arm is great for comfort while steaming, and the hanger on the garment pole allows you to hang clothes while you’re working. There are even clips that allow you to hang pants. 

The steamer worked well to remove all wrinkles from all types of garments, working the fastest on silk and the longest on linen (which is to be expected). While there is an indicator light on the unit that shows “power,” we wish there was also an indicator for "ready" or a beep to let us know when it’s OK to start steaming—especially when starting up or modifying temperature mid-steam.

Even though upright models are meant to be stationary, there are wheels on both the back side and the front side. It’s also light enough to lift the garment pole and relocate as necessary. The steamer has a detachable tank that is easy to remove, too; simply lift the tank from the steamer and fill with water.

Heating Time: 45 seconds | Steam Duration: 1 hour | Weight: 10 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 68 ounces | Wattage: 1500 watts  | Cord Length: 7 feet |  Refill Time: 45 seconds

Best Iron Steamer

Steamery Cirrus 3 Iron Steamer

$180 at Amazon View on Williams-Sonoma View on Crate & Barrel

If you’re looking for an iron that’ll steam effectively, this one fits the bill. We tried it on cotton button-downs and T-shirts left in the dryer for too long and were impressed that it took just 30 seconds to remove all the wrinkles. 

While there’s only one steam setting, it was enough to remove wrinkles from everything we tested it on. It also never clogged, sputtered, or changed in effectiveness throughout testing.

The steamer is also aesthetically pleasing and comfortable to hold, as it has an indent near the top to rest your thumb while you're gripping it. It never became taxing, and we were able to comfortably hold it throughout the time it took to steam multiple garments. Despite the small tank, it never ran out of water while we were steaming. Filling the reservoir is easy, too, although the opening is a bit small and water can be easily spilled. 

We especially love the large, flat surface that allows you to use the steamer like an iron. Plus, it comes with a steam foam pad so you can put more pressure on your clothing, especially acting as an iron and an ironing board. 

While the steamer is quite compact and weighs just 2 pounds, it doesn't fold or condense. It would still be easy to travel with, however, as it’s the size of a small hair dryer and has a silicone cover to shield the hot surface.

Heating Time: 25 seconds | Steam Duration: 22 minutes | Weight: 2 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 2.9 ounces | Wattage: 1200 watts | Cord Length: 7.5 feet  |  Refill Time: 25 seconds

Best for Quick Tasks

Neakasa Magic 1 Vacuum Steamer

$100 $90 at Amazon View on Neakasa.com

We love how quickly the Neakasa Magic 1 steamer eliminates wrinkles from cotton, linen, and silk. There was no difference in the steamer's effectiveness based on the fabrics, and it released all wrinkles efficiently. It also heats up quickly, letting us steam clothing items during hectic mornings instead of having to plan ahead the night before.

We experienced very little clogging or sputtering with the steamer during testing, and it hardly released water, which is great if you're steaming silk. At two pounds, it is also easy to hold, and we were able to steam for quite a while with no discomfort. 

While the water reservoir is quite small, we only had to refill it when steaming multiple garments in a row. We also love that the handle never got too hot to touch.

The steamer could benefit from a swiveling cord, as it did get in the way a bit, although it was plenty long for us to reach every area we were steaming. While it’s our pick for quick tasks—like that morning rush before work—it’s not very compact, so we wouldn’t recommend it for travel.

Heating Time: 30 seconds | Steam Duration: N/A | Weight: 2 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 3.2 ounces | Wattage: 1000 watts | Cord Length: 6.6 feet | Refill Time: 30 seconds

Best Large Capacity

Bear Steamer

$40 at Amazon

The Bear Steamer has one of the largest water tanks out of all the steamers we tested, easily making it our pick for best large capacity steamer. The steamer quickly and easily removed wrinkles for all materials we put it to work on, including a polyester blend, a linen blend, a cotton blend, and a velvet curtain blend.

Wrinkles were removed from a cotton dress in five minutes and a linen suit jacket in around eight minutes. We even used it on an eight-foot polyester blend tablecloth and it was able to remove all wrinkles in just 20 minutes. We were able to steam around 75 percent of the tablecloth without needing a refill. There is only one steam setting, which makes it easy to use by pressing a button on the handle. 

While the steamer did sputter occasionally, we didn’t experience any clogs during testing. It was also comfortable to hold for long periods, though the 7-ounce water tank does make it a bit heavy when full. The tank is easy to fill with your sink faucet or a pitcher of water, and we loved that the base of the steamer did not get too hot or burn us. 

The steamer is fairly compact, but it doesn’t fold down or condense, so we wouldn’t recommend it for taking on the go. It would also be helpful to have a spot for the cord instead of just wrapping it around the steamer. The cord, however, is long enough to steam garments and the entire length of the tablecloth.

The Bear Steamer also includes a unique touch: an essential oil port. This is a fun addition, as it makes your garments smell great after being steamed. It also includes a brush attachment, which can aid in the removal of wrinkles.

Heating Time: 25 seconds | Steam Duration: 10-20 minutes | Weight: 3 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7 ounces Wattage: 1300 watts | Cord Length: 9 feet  |  Refill Time: 25 seconds

Best With Attachments

Conair Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam Garment Steamer

$60 $56 at Walmart View on Conair.com View on Maxwarehouse.com

We liked everything about this steamer, and for $55, we think it offers a lot of value. It functions just like we want it to, with no sputtering onto our clothes or floor. It's a foolproof steamer that works wonders.

The built-in creasing tool was easy to use and worked well too, leaving us with a good crease. It also came with three other attachments: a silicone band that pulls fabric taut for easier steaming, a bristle brush that loosens fibers to let the steam reach deeper, and a fabric spacer to protect fabric and trims.

After six months of testing, we wish it had a little extra steam power, but the ease of use is off the charts. We like that this steamer can stand up while we’re not using it; we don’t have to worry about the water pouring out accidentally, and we like how it comes with multiple attachments depending on the clothing and how wrinkly it is. 

It’s an easy process to fill the tank, but keep in mind if you overfill it, it won't produce steam. Once it’s filled, there are two settings you can choose from—steam and turbo steam—which are labeled and easy to understand.

Heating Time: 40 seconds | Steam Duration: 15 minutes | Weight: 4 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7 ounces | Wattage: 1500 watts  | Cord Length: N/A |  Refill Time: 40 seconds