Garment steamers, also known as clothes steamers, are a helpful multi-purpose appliance. They work as an alternative to an iron and ironing board as a faster method of removing wrinkles from clothing and the like. The best garment steamers are easy to use, quick to set up (no ironing board required), and lightweight — you simply de-wrinkle garments right on the hanger. Besides just getting wrinkles out of clothes, many people will use steamers for other tasks like refreshing drapes, sanitizing furniture and carpets, or assisting with wallpaper removal.
After researching all the available options, we came up with our list of the top 10 steamers. At the number one spot on our list is the Rowenta Prostyle Garment Steamer. Not only is this one of the best-rated garment steamers on the market, but it’s also from one of the more reliable brands and its price tag is half that of comparable models. This steamer is an adjustable height standing unit that creates steam powerful enough to knock wrinkles out of most material types. It also comes with plenty of accessories for hanging your clothes, creating creases, and removing lint. However, if you’re interested in something a bit more robust or need a steamer small enough to tuck into your suitcase, our list will have something to suit your needs.
Top Picks
If you’re looking to compare garment steamers quickly, here’s a brief breakdown of our favorites.
 | Best Overall: Rowenta Prostyle Garment Steamer. It’s doubtful that you could find a better quality standing model in this price range. And, it comes with lots of useful accessories. |
  | Best Eco-Friendly: Rowenta Pro Precision Steam Station. This premium model is designed for professional use and will stand up over time. Plus, it’s easier on the environment and your electric bill. |
  | Best Budget Handheld: Pure Enrichment PureSteam Fabric Steamer. This option is affordable and portable. It’s perfect for quick touch-ups on your way out the door or as a backup you can keep at the office. |
 | Best Budget Standing: Steamfast Steamer – Model SF-407. This is a no-frills standing unit that’s well-rated and well designed. |
  | Best for Travel: Conair Travel Smart Garment Steamer. This steamer is super tiny and has dual voltage capabilities so you can use it on international trips. |
  | Best Handheld: Jiffy ESTEAM Personal Hand Held Steamer. This is one of the best-rated, most powerful handheld steamers available. It’s slightly larger than some of the more compact options, but it produces the steam equivalent to many units twice its size. |
 | Best Standing: Jiffy Garment Steamer – Model J-2000. This standing unit has all the bells and whistles from one of the best brands in the business. It might be more expensive than some of the other options, but it’s built to last a long time. |
  | Best All-In-One: Rowenta IXEO All-In-One. When it comes to steaming and ironing, if you want a machine that offers you the best of both worlds, this is the one to get. You can leave this steamer in its base to use with the adjustable ironing board or detach it to use the steam independently. |
  | Best for Personal Use: isteam Handheld Clothes Steamer. This is a handheld steamer that’s an excellent portable option for quickly tackling wrinkles in lightweight materials. |
 | Best Accessories: Heavy Duty Garment Steamer by PurSteam. This is a high-quality standing steamer that comes with all the accessories you’ll need to remove wrinkles — it even has attachments that will help you create creases. |
Best Garment Steamers: A Closer Look
Here, we take a more detailed look at the top picks above.
1. Rowenta Prostyle Garment Steamer
The best garment steamer overall
Brand: Rowenta | Type: Standing | Steam Time: 45 Minutes | Heat Time: 45 Second | Tank Size: 51 Ounces | Price: 💰💰
Rowenta is a big name in laundry care, and they make some exceptional products. The Rowenta Prostyle Full Size Garment Steamer is arguably the best of the best. It is mobile, easy to use, and has holders for a variety of garments. We think it’s the best steamer on the market for the price — most steamers of this quality are far more expensive.
The Prostyle is an attractive-looking model with a top-notch build quality. The water tank holds 51 fluid ounces of water. This enables you to run the Rowenta garment steamer for almost an hour straight without refilling the tank.
On top of that, there are multiple attachment accessories to make this machine even more versatile. When using the pad that comes with it, the final results are nearly as crisp as using a traditional steam iron.
You’d think this model would run about $200-$300, but at around $100, this machine is a steal.
Reviewers Like
- It can get wrinkles out of most fabrics
- This steamer has a great price, powerful steam, and sturdy construction
- Turning the power on and off is easy and convenient — you just operate it with your foot
Reviewers Dislike
- The pole doesn’t get very tall
- The hose is too short for tall curtains or other similar items
2. Rowenta Pro Precision Steam Station
The best eco-friendly garment steamer
Brand: Rowenta | Type: Handheld | Steam Time: 1.5 Hours | Heat Time: 3 Minutes | Tank Size: 47 Ounces | Price: 💰💰💰💰💰
This Rowenta garment steamer is the ultimate solution for steam cleaning clothes. This is the most recent upgrade to their Steam Station model, and we are a fan of the improvements. It’s easily one of the best garment steamers and, of course, the most expensive too. However, you can throw out your old steam iron that is 20 years old after you buy this and trust that it will last just as long. And, it has an eco-mode setting that reduces power consumption by 20 percent to help save on energy costs.
The DG8520 will get out the toughest wrinkles and give you the sharpest looking creases without breaking a sweat. With 1800 watts of raw power, this Rowenta steamer can handle commercial-like workloads. Stainless steel soleplate, precision tip, large water tank, and a handle trigger to release steam on demand rounds this product out nicely. If you want the best upright steamer for professionals, this model won’t disappoint. Also, this steamer has an eco-mode setting that reduces
Reviewers Like
- The actual iron part is lightweight and easy to use
- This steamer has adjustable temperature options and auto-off safety features
- This steamer can keep steaming for long periods, which makes it great for anyone who likes to do their steaming/ironing in batches
Reviewers Dislike
- The unit works well, but it’s expensive
- The steamer can be awkward to move around because it’s heavy and large
3. Pure Enrichment PureSteam Fabric Steamer
The best budget handheld garment steamer
Brand: Pure Enrichment | Type: Handheld | Steam Time: 10 Minutes | Heat Time: 2 Minutes | Tank Size: 4.3 Ounces | Price: 💰
This portable handheld garment steamer has one of the highest consumer ratings among the competition. It’s perfect for getting those few pesky wrinkles out when you’re on the road or heading out the door. The price makes it easy to consider buying two, one for home and one for the office in case of an emergency!
Reviewers Like
- This company has excellent customer service
- It works well for traveling and heats up quickly
- When it’s out of water, the steamer stops automatically
Reviewers Dislike
- This unit doesn’t produce super-strong steam
- Several reviewers had issues with this unit boiling over
4. Steamfast Steamer (Model SF-407)
The best budget standing garment steamer
Brand: Steamfast | Type: Standing | Steam Time: 45 Minutes | Heat Time: 45 Seconds | Tank Size: 40 Ounces | Price: 💰💰
Another popular unit is the SteamFast SF-407 Fabric Steamer. SteamFast makes some affordable, quality fabric steam products, and this model is no exception. This fabric steamer is powered by 1500 watts and has a warm-up time of under a minute — that’s about as good as it gets for around the 50 dollar price range.
The unit is slightly bulky, but the four wheels on the bottom and long 4.3-foot hose make it easy to operate. It comes with a fabric brush, clothing hook, and telescopic pole.
Reviewers Like
- This steamer generates a lot of steam
- For a standing unit, this item is relatively easy to store
- The steamer heats up very quickly and lasts for a long time
Reviewers Dislike
- The hose gets very hot, so you need to be careful not to burn yourself
- The wheels don’t have a locking option on them, making it hard to keep the steamer from moving around
5. Conair Travel Smart Garment Steamer
The best travel garment steamer
Brand: Conair | Type: Handheld | Steam Time: 10 Minutes | Heat Time: 30 Seconds | Tank Size: 3 Ounces | Price: 💰
If you’re looking for an inexpensive option, this is the best cheap steamer designed especially for travel. The Travel Smart Garment Steamer, from the trusted brand Conair, weighs just about one pound making it ideal for traveling. It won’t take up much room in a suitcase, it heats up fast, and it lasts 10 minutes on a tank.
It may not get a super wrinkle out of a suit jacket, but it will de-wrinkle dress shirts just fine. This product comes with a handy storage pouch and dual voltage capability allowing you to use it on international trips as well. The Conair fabric steamer isn’t a bad option, especially when considering the price, and may just be the best travel garment steamer for under 30 dollars.
Reviewers Like
- It has a decently long cord
- Unlike many other steamers, this unit doesn’t have issues with spitting water
- This steamer can detect the voltage type you’re using and will switch automatically
Reviewers Dislike
- This steamer doesn’t work well for heavier material
- When you run out of water, you have to wait for it to cool off before you add more
6. Jiffy ESTEAM Personal Hand Held Steamer
The best handheld garment steamer
Brand: Jiffy Steamer Company | Type: Handheld | Steam Time: 15 Minutes | Heat Time: 1 Minute | Tank Size: 8 Ounces | Price: 💰
Arguably the best handheld garment steamer, the Jiffy Esteam is a lightweight, simple solution. This is a great portable steamer for use at home, on the road, or at the office. It easily stows away in a drawer or closet. A 600-watt heating element puts it at one of the most powerful handheld steamers available with a quick one-minute heat-up time.
Some homeowners and professionals use it as a replacement for their iron. It lasts about 15 minutes on one tank fill. The only downside is that there is no on/off switch, so once you plug this baby in you better be ready for action.
Reviewers Like
- It has a nice, long cord
- The steamer is compact and easy to use
- It heats up quickly, and the steam lasts longer than many other handheld steamers
Reviewers Dislike
- It’s a bit heavier than some of the more compact handheld options
- This steamer works well for small jobs, but it’s not the best option for steaming larger batches of clothes
7. Jiffy Garment Steamer (Model J-2000)
The best standing garment steamer
Brand: Jiffy Steamer Company | Type: Standing | Steam Time: 1.5 Hours | Heat Time: 2 Minutes | Tank Size: 96 Ounces | Price: 💰💰💰💰
The number one choice for standing steamers based on our standards is the J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer. This is also the best-rated garment steamer on our list. For the individual who hates ironing but hates wrinkles even more, the Jiffy Steamer is an able companion. Jiffy Steamer Company was founded in 1940 in the United States and has since grown to be the world’s largest steam technology manufacturer.
This is the best garment steamer you can find at this price point. It isn’t beautiful looking (it sports more of a commercial look), but you’re probably not too worried about winning style points with your new garment steamer. It is available in pink, which is unique. Some people have even used it to remove wallpaper and clean carpets. It makes short work of most tasks, heating up in about 60 seconds, and can put out steam for one and a half hours on a single tank. By the way, this bad boy comes stocked with a massive 96-ounce tank.
Jiffy Steamer Company charges more for their steamers, but they are the gold standard in quality. The only thing they manufacture is steamers, and they do it well. Their heating elements, durability, and anti-leak hoses are all top-notch. Garment steamers aren’t known for being extremely durable, but the J-2000 will stand the test of time.
The J-2000 Jiffy Garment Steamer is ideal for both homeowners and light commercial use.
Reviewers Like
- It’s not a bulky unit, so it’s pretty easy to move around and store
- The steamer is well built, durable, and works on wrinkles for most types of materials
- If you opt for the model with the metal head, you can also use this unit to create creases
Reviewers Dislike
- The handle is a bit large and heavy
- The hose isn’t insulated to protect you from the heat
8. Rowenta IXEO All-In-One
The best all-in-one garment steamer and iron
Brand: Rowenta | Type: Standing | Steam Time: 40 Minutes | Heat Time: 45 Seconds | Tank Size: 33 Ounces | Price: 💰💰💰💰
This Rowenta steamer is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a steamer and iron combination with a small footprint. Even though this combination steamer has several more uses than a standard steamer, it doesn’t take up much more room because of its unique design. This steamer generates a powerful steam level that will get wrinkles out of your clothing and kill up to 99.9 percent of the bacteria trapped in your fabrics.
One of this unit’s best features is that you can detach the ironing head and water tank from the base and board to make it more convenient to carry around the house for other jobs like sanitizing your furniture or steaming your curtains. However, when you use the base and board, it offers an adjustable height board that can move between three different positions: flat, vertical, and angled.
Reviewers Like
- The steamer can separate from base for cleaning jobs around the house
- It produces lots of steam and is good at getting wrinkles out of all kinds of fabrics
- The steamer head and base are lightweight, and it doesn’t take up too much room
Reviewers Dislike
- The steamer’s base has some hard plastic parts that can break easily
- The board takes some getting used to as it’s smaller than a standard ironing board
9. isteam Handheld Fabric Steamer
The best personal garment steamer
Brand: isteam | Type: Handheld | Steam Time: 10 Minutes | Heat Time: 1 Minute | Tank Size: 5 Ounces | Price: 💰
The isteam handheld steamer rounds out our top 10 list with quick and convenient steaming. It heats up in under one minute and finishes steaming your shirts in less than 10 minutes. It’s compact and lightweight, making travel worry-free.
Reviewers Like
- It’s a good size for travel
- This unit gives off a lot of steam
- It gets wrinkles out of clothes pretty quickly
Reviewers Dislike
- Some reviewers had issues with this steamer overheating
- This steamer needs frequent refilling because it goes through the water in the tank quickly
10. Heavy Duty Garment Steamer by PurSteam (Model PS-910)
The best garment steamer
Brand: PurSteam | Type: Standing | Steam Time: 1 Hour | Heat Time: 1 Minute | Tank Size: 61 Ounces | Price: 💰💰
The PurSteam Garment Steamer has a maximum temperature of 248 degrees Fahrenheit. If you leave your hand in front of it, you better watch out, or you’ll feel the burn. That is hot enough to penetrate even the thickest of fabrics for instant wrinkle elimination. Also, that’s hot enough to kill 99.9 percent of germs, so you’re also getting your cleaning work done at the same time.
The heating element is constructed of a cast aluminum material, making it heavy-duty and durable enough to withstand such high heat. This unit also comes with a great warranty and a reputation for exceptional customer service. The bottom line? The PurSteam Elite Garment Steamer is a mean, steam, wrinkling killing machine.
Reviewers Like
- It comes with lots of useful accessories
- This steamer has a terrific warranty and excellent customer service
- The unit heats up quickly, lasts a long time, and the steam is strong
Reviewers Dislike
- Several reviewers complained about leaking problems
- The telescoping pole doesn’t extend to be tall enough to keep taller items from touching the floor
What to Look for in the Best Garment Steamers
If you’ve never owned a steamer before, it’s probably a good idea to make sure you understand the differences between traditional irons and garment steamers so you can be sure to find something that will best suit your needs. Before purchasing one of the top 10 clothes steamers, here are some things you should keep an eye on before hitting that buy button.
1
Type
If you ask a laundry professional there are technically two main types of garment steamers: standing models (also known as full-size models or floor models) and handheld models (sometimes called travel models if they’re small enough). Along with the steamer itself, many models (especially the heavy-duty steamers) offer various steamer accessory tools that can help with different jobs.
For frequent travelers or those low on space, a handheld steamer is a no-brainer because it’s lightweight and has a small footprint. Be careful when shopping for a handheld steamer because many of them are cheap, under-powered, and sometimes spit water all over the place.
Those looking for a garment steamer for home use are probably best off with a floor model that features a few holders for clothing and other items to hang from as you operate the steamer.
If you are on the market for a heavy-duty steam cleaner for steam cleaning floors and whatnot, you may want to skip a standalone garment steamer and find a heavy-duty unit that comes with a steam cleaning accessory.
2
Performance
One of the key differentiating characteristics of garment and clothing steamers is the warm-up duration. Some garment steamers take up to 15 minutes or even longer to heat up and be ready for de-wrinkling action. It is like waiting for a pot to boil, it can be pretty dull, so if you are a person who puts a high value of efficiency you may want to pay a bit more for a model that heats up fast.
A decent-sized water tank is another consideration. Those with smaller water capacities will need frequent refilling, so if you plan on doing some bulk steaming sessions, you’ll want one with a big tank. Another performance characteristic you’ll want to consider is the hose’s reach, a longer hose and longer power cord makes for a lot more flexibility when it’s steam cleaning time.
3
Wattage and Maximum Temperature
A lot of the time, higher wattage results in a higher max temp, but that is not always the case. Always check the unit’s maximum temperature and don’t just assume because it has a high wattage specification that it has a super high max temp. Suppose you find a model with high wattage that only has a mediocre max temperature. In that case, it’s likely an inefficient model that will waste more electricity than an efficient, higher-quality model.
Another general rule of thumb is that the higher the temperature, the greater the ability to remove the most difficult wrinkles and creases. Furthermore, in the upper ranges of steam temp, you gain the ability to kill germs too.
4
Accessories and Extras
Last but not least are the extra bells and whistles that come with each model. Some of the most expensive steamers come with a whole kit of goodies, or the manufacturer will sell add-on accessories you can purchase separately. Interchangeable nozzles, attachable brushes, multiple hangers/hooks/holders, clips, long hoses, and wheels on the bottom of the unit are just a few of the extras to look out for. Many units even come with lint removal accessories to keep your clothes looking their best.
Automatic shut-off is another smart feature to look for just in case you accidentally leave it on.
It’s always a good idea to read the clothes steamer reviews/garment steamer reviews section carefully to know what capabilities your future steamer will have.
Our Process
For this guide on the best garment steamers, our team spent 6 hours researching the most popular options from over 13 brands and manufacturers, big and small. We then read about one hundred user reviews (both positive and negative) to discover what shoppers thought about each unit. After comparing this data, we narrowed our list down to the top 10 garment steamers on the market. You can count on this research to guide you to a mindful purchasing decision.
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Further Reading
