These are the best steam generator irons you can buy, according to the GHI
Is that to-iron pile becoming a teetering mountain? It may be time to invest in a steam generator iron.
You’ll need plenty of room to store one, but these nifty models can make your life so much easier thanks to their higher steam output, which results in better crease removal than standard steam irons. In fact, the best steam generator irons can produce up to three times more steam than their smaller counterparts.
So, the GHI has rigorously tested the best the market has to offer, to find the ones worth buying.
The best steam generator irons can be expensive, but if you shop now, you should be able to find a decent bargain thanks to the Black Friday sales. Find our recommendations below, and save between now and 2 December when most sales end.
What steam generator iron should I buy?
If you’re ready to speed through your ironing pile, here are our top picks, but keep scrolling for our experts' full reviews.
If you’re replacing an existing steam generator iron, there are plenty of places for you to safely recycle your old one. Find your nearest electrical recycling point, or read our guide on how to donate or dispose of your appliances and tech for extra guidance.
Are steam generator irons better than standard irons?
If you iron your bed sheets or larger items of clothing regularly, or regularly have large piles of laundry, a steam generator iron may suit your needs better than a traditional steam iron. They expel steam at a higher pressure to remove deep creases from both sides of a garment at the same time, helping to speed things up.
There are two types of steam generator iron: non-pressurised and pressurised. Non-pressurised models work in a similar way to regular steam irons, but their steam output is much higher. Pressurised models are ideal for the most stubborn of creases, as they have boilers that force steam out more powerfully and can penetrate fabric more deeply. The pressure level is measured in bars and generally ranges from 5 to 8.
In order to expel more steam, steam generator irons have a separate water tank, which can make them bulky and harder to store compared to traditional steam irons. They also tend to cost more, with the models on our list ranging from a reasonable £55 to a super-charged £599.
What should I look for in a steam generator iron?
Knowing what features are available will help make shopping for a steam generator iron easier. Here are the main ones to consider.
Continuous steam pressure: Measured in grams, anything over 50g per minute would be considered a high steam output on a standard steam iron. The more powerful steam generator models in our top recommendations push out 100g to 180g of continuous steam per minute, making them very effective at removing creases.
Steam shot: Sometimes you need an extra burst of steam to tackle those creases that just won’t budge or ones in hard-to-reach spots. The models in our roundup boast steam shot outputs ranging from 210g to 750g per minute.
Tank capacity: The bigger the tank, the fewer times you’ll have to refill your iron mid-use. Our recommended steam generator irons have tank capacities varying from 1.2 to 2.2 litres. There’s no ideal capacity, though – your choice will largely depend on the size of your ironing pile.
Anti-scale: Most modern steam and steam generator irons come with both anti-scale and anti-calcium functions, helping to limit the formation of limescale over time, which can clog the steam vents. These are particularly important if you live in a hard water area.
Wattage: If you’re after an iron that will get the job done on the double, look for a higher wattage, as this usually equates to a faster heat-up time. The quickest steam generator irons can be ready in just over a minute.
Auto switch-off: Does the thought of accidentally leaving your iron on send shivers down your spine? Look for this safety feature that automatically turns the appliance off after a set period of inactivity.
On a practical level, consider whether the cord length is long enough for your set-up and whether weight, size and display type are deal-breakers for you. It’s also worth picking an iron with a large opening for easy refilling, and where you can see the water level through the tank.
How we test steam generator irons
To find the trustiest steam generator irons, our experts at the GHI start by measuring how quickly each model heats up to its different temperatures, and how consistently they maintain them. Then they look at its all-important crease-removal abilities. To do this, they use each iron on a nylon slip dress, linen trousers and cotton and polycotton shirts, scoring how smooth it leaves each item.
They assess its steam output, both in continuous mode and via its steam burst, monitoring how long its tank lasts. And they look at whether the iron drips during use. Throughout the test, they track what the iron is like to use too, including how heavy it is to hold and whether its handle is comfortable.
Taking all this into account, these are the steam generator irons we think are worthy of your investment.
Morphy Richards Speed SteamPro 1.6L Steam Generator 332102
Score: 89/100
An impressive gadget for achieving crease-free clothes, our experts praised the sleek design of this steam generator iron, as well as its reliable, drip-free steam function, complete with a trigger lock so you can keep the steam on without adding any pressure on your hands. Plus, on test it proved economical with water, producing lots of steam without using up its tank quickly.
If we're being picky, it could have heated up faster (although you’ll only have to wait a minute) and its tank could be easier to detach and refit. But we found it worked well on all our clothes making it a reliable pick, especially if our winner is out of budget.
Philips PerfectCare 6000 Series Steam Generator Iron PSG6064/86
Score: 88/100
This iron has Philips’ unique one temperature technology, meaning it irons at an optimal temperature for the fabric it’s tackling – making it well suited to the likes of silk and lace, which may be too delicate for most irons.
Our experts found it efficient and effective, removing creases well from all their clothes. It’s also easy to see when you need to refill the water tank – just take care doing this as it did spill on occasion for us. It takes a couple of minutes to start steaming, but it didn’t spit during use. It's a versatile and easy to use investment.
Polti Vaporella VS20.20
Score: 85/100
Have a lot of linen in your wardrobe? Then you may want to consider this wonder worker, as our expert de-creased one linen trouser leg in a mere 35 seconds! It also proved speedy on cotton and was so clearly labelled and simple to use that our testers didn’t need to refer to the instructions at all.
The water tank requires some force to remove as there’s no eject button, and it wasn’t the fastest to heat up, but we’d say the results were worth the wait. Overall, it’s pleasing to use; the soleplate glides over fabrics, there’s a storage space for its cable and it feels premium despite its lower price tag.
Morphy Richards Power SteamElite 332014
Score: 84/100
Tank refills will be scarce with this Morphy Richards, as it has room for over two litres of water – saving precious seconds if you’re tackling a load that feels never-ending! The tank itself is also easy to detach and fill, and our experts found its steam output was consistent, although a tad drippy on lower settings. This shouldn’t prove too much of a bother though if you’re not planning on wearing your clothes straight away.
It’s speedy too – creases vanished in under 30 seconds – and it worked well across all our fabrics. It feels less premium than some we tested but it’s straightforward to operate and had a good temperature accuracy across each of its dot settings. If you have tall piles of ironing to conquer, it’s a good value buy.
Beldray Mega Steam Pro BEL01483-150
Score: 83/100
Most steam generator irons take up some serious space, but thanks to its vertical design, this offering from Beldray should even tuck away nicely in smaller homes. There’s still room for ample water, and it’s the fastest-heating iron we tested – reaching its lowest setting in just 16 seconds.
If you do opt for this, we’d avoid using on nylon and silk (and turn to a clothes steamer instead) – even on the one dot setting the iron caught on the fabric. It also needed to reheat fairly frequently to maintain its steam output and required a little more muscle than some to press out stubborn creases. But it’s undoubtedly a bargain, and if you want more power than a standard steam iron but are tight on space, it’s a no-brainer.
Breville PressXpress VIN410
Score: 82/100
For less than £100, this is a well-made and stable offering that’s simple to use. It steams well with no annoying drips, and it moved across all our garments smoothly on test, banishing even the most set in creases.
While most of the irons we tested weighed under one kilogram (excluding the base), this one is slightly over that, making it heavy if you’re ironing for an extended period. It took a while to heat up for each of its settings too, and it doesn’t produce steam on its one dot setting. But its water tank detaches easily for refilling, and it has a well-considered design with cable storage and an anti-calc feature, giving you a lot for less.
Tefal Pro Express Vision GV9820 Anti-Scale Steam Generator Iron
Score: 78/100
Ideal for wardrobes made up of exclusively creasy fabrics, this steam generator has the highest continuous steam and steam burst on test. Despite its powerful steam output, it didn’t drip at all, and integrated LED lights highlight creases as you iron. Plus, a smart steam feature automatically engages the burst function if the iron encounters wrinkles. In short, it performed excellently across all fabrics.
Testers found it heavy though and thought the 1.5 metre flex cable was on the short side – meaning you’ll need well situated plug sockets. It also struggled to reach the temperatures we’d expect for each setting, proving notably low on the one dot setting. But its steam output counteracts this, so it still achieves pleasingly neat results.
Tefal Express Essential SV6116 Steam Generator Iron
Score: 75/100
This is an affordable steam generator iron that performs well beyond its price tag, producing the quickest crease removal on test; our nylon slip was done in 24 seconds, while our linen trousers and both our polycotton and cotton shirts were pristine in under 30 seconds.
It struggled to reach a high heat on its lowest setting though and needed time to reheat to keep up its steam output, making it better suited to ironing smaller batches of clothes. There was no dripping, and our experts praised its compact yet robust design, clear instructions and selection of three steam settings for more tailored ironing.
How to descale a steam generator iron
Steam generator irons use water, which contains limescale that can build up and block the holes in the iron's soleplate over time (especially if you live somewhere with hard water). This could result in brown staining on your clothes and bed sheets.
Most modern steam generator irons have anti-scale and anti-calcium functions to deal with this, so simply follow the manufacturer's care instructions. For more tips on how to clean your steam generator iron, head to our guide.
The verdict on steam generator irons
If you often have large piles of laundry, we recommend investing in the Morphy Richards Speed SteamPro, which breezed through our ironing with ease on test.
And look to the Beldray Mega Steam Pro if you want something compact and budget-friendly. Just avoid using it on your delicates.
Why should you trust the Good Housekeeping Institute?
We've been testing home appliances at the GHI for over 100 years, so we know a thing or two about what makes a reliable product. For every test, we develop a a strict set of protocols, which we measure every single product against.
Blossom Boothroyd, our homes testing manager, has analysed thousands of products in the lab, so knows exactly what to look for when she's reviewing the newest releases, while Hannah Mendelsohn, the GHI's homes editor, has written hundreds of reviews in her quest to find the best products for your home.
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