The Best Clothes Steamers You Can Buy Online

Best Overall

Conair ExtremeSteam Hand-Held Fabric Steamer

Orig. $70 $53 at Amazon $59 at Wayfair $53 at Target

Of all the clothes steamers we tested in our lab, this device from Conair earned our top spot, thanks to its smart design, efficient heating process, and overall effectiveness. The compact yet powerful steamer removed wrinkles in all types of fabric (including cotton and silk) and took just 40 seconds to fully heat up, making it one of our Very Best Products of 2024. When used on lighter fabrics, like cotton and linen, we found that the steamer worked far quicker than a standard iron. Thicker items like jeans and sweaters did require a few more passes, but no more than an iron would. Even after six months of use, the steamer is still working perfectly.

This steamer comes with five steam settings (ranging from low to supercharged) for use with different fabrics, along with a helpful three-in-one attachment that consists of a silicone band to pull fabric tauter, a fabric spacer to keep trims safe, and a bristle brush for use on heavier materials. It also has a built-in clamp to create even pleats and folds, and it can be used for up to 15 minutes continuously thanks to its large, 7.3-ounce water tank.

While the steamer’s opening is pretty tiny, the water tank is detachable, and the device comes with a water funnel to help avoid spilling. Additionally, we appreciate its lengthy cord, comfortable grip, and reasonable price. Plus, it comes in five fun colors. Take note that it isn’t the most lightweight steamer, so you might get a sore arm after several minutes of use.

Heating Time: 40 seconds | Steam Duration: 15 minutes | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7.3 ounces

Best Budget

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

$25 at Amazon $30 at Wayfair $25 at Target

If you’re looking for an inexpensive clothes steamer that still packs a punch, make sure to consider this model from Proctor Silex. The small and lightweight steamer boasts a low price tag, but that’s just one of several perks it offers.

When we tested out this steamer, we found that it heats up very quickly and is simple to use, with only one button to press and a single setting. It’s not the best on linen (it eases wrinkles, but doesn’t fully remove them), but it is highly effective on silk and cotton and performs especially well on our lightweight garments. It’s comfortable to hold, too, thanks to a long handle, and it has a lengthy 10-foot cord for added convenience. Additionally, the steamer comes with a fabric brush attachment for use on upholstery.  After six months of use, the steamer is still going strong, with no changes in quality whatsoever.

The fabric brush can double as a spacer to keep a necessary 1-inch buffer between the steamer’s head and the handle; otherwise, you might risk getting burned, as we found during our tests. We also didn’t love that the water reservoir is pretty small and requires frequent refilling, although it is easy to fill up with a funnel. Note that you can only use the steamer for up to seven minutes in one go, making it less suitable for those steaming a large load of clothes at once. Still, for a simple, no-frills device, it’s worth its low cost.

Heating Time: 45 seconds | Steam Duration: 7 minutes | Weight: Not listed | Water Tank Capacity: 4 ounces

Best Upright

Pure Enrichment Upright Clothes Steamer

Orig. $120 $100 at Amazon $100 at Target Orig. $120 $100 at Walmart

If you want a steamer that can provide a serious amount of power for a long period of time, opt for an upright model like this option from Pure Enrichment. The device has a massive 2-liter water tank to provide an hour’s worth of steaming, which is far greater than many others.

During our tests, we discovered that this steamer works quickly and effectively on all fabrics, especially silk. It heats up quickly and has four steam levels to choose from as well as adjustable temperature controls, which we found to be extremely helpful. To use this device, you just need to step on the pedal at the base; the water tank is detachable and easy to take in and out without spilling.

The adjustable garment pole conveniently comes with hangers and clips, saving you the hassle of bending over to steam clothes and deal with the cord. Additionally, the steamer features a fabric brush and has a comfortable arm. After six months of weekly use, this steamer has continued to exceed our expectations. We've noticed no sputtering, and every material we've steamed has retained a wrinkle-free appearance after hanging and cooling.

Although the steamer has wheels on the back for portability, it isn't very portable—its upright design makes it a bit bulky, and we wish it had more wheels on the front for better stability. There also isn’t an indicator light to say when it’s ready to use or at the proper temperature. That said, it’s a very high-quality steamer that offers plenty of significant, time-saving benefits.

Heating Time: 45 seconds | Steam Duration: 1 hour | Weight: 9.6 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 67.6 ounces

Best for Upholstery

BLACK+DECKER HGS200 Advanced Handheld Steamer

Orig. $60 $54 at Amazon

Getting wrinkles out of upholstery can be tricky, but this top-rated steamer from Black+Decker is more than up to the challenge. During our tests, we found that the lightweight, easy-to-use device completely removed wrinkles from all fabrics (especially silk and cotton), and it comes with a special upholstery attachment that makes it even more effective. It only took us one pass to steam our tablecloth, and we didn't even have to go over it.

Some more great features include a lint-remover attachment as well as one for use with delicate fabric that helps prevent water from dripping onto the material. It was comfortable to hold, too, with a long 15-foot cord for extra portability. While the steamer only has one setting, its steam and temperature were powerful and consistent in our testing, and the water tank is fairly large (and easy to take on and off). Despite its easy attachment, we did encounter some difficulty filling the tank—the chamber's hole has a middle section to mark the maximum fill line, which restricted entry and prevented us from adding a funnel. The pour lip did allow us to add water without spilling, but a funnel would have simplified the process.

It's worth noting that you do have to press the power button the entire time you use the steamer, and there’s also no fabric creaser attachment included like with some other options. We also observed some sputtering when the water reservoir was overfilled, so we recommend letting it heat up before activating the steam. Still, it’s a reliable and efficient steamer we wholeheartedly recommend for upholstery and more. And, after six months of use, it still works as good as new.

Heating Time: 45 seconds | Steam Duration: 15 minutes | Weight: 3.6 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7.4 ounces

Best Portable

Polardo Hand Held Portable Travel Garment Steamer

Orig. $40 $36 at Amazon View on Polardo.com

For anyone seeking a clothes steamer that they can easily take on the go, this option from Polardo is an excellent choice. The highly compact and lightweight steamer stands under 8 inches tall and weighs just over 1 pound, making it small enough to throw in a bag for travel. The 6-foot cord takes up minimal space, though you can plug it into an extension cord for added flexibility.

We were amazed by how quickly this steamer heated up—within just 20 seconds, it was already producing a strong stream of steam. This steamer proved particularly effective on cotton, linen, and polyester fabrics, which are lightweight yet robust enough for direct contact with the nozzle. Our silk proved to be a bit more challenging, requiring us to maintain our distance to avoid damaging the material. On delicate fabrics, we found the brush attachment to be especially effective.

The steamer emitted a fairly loud clicking noise while in operation, which the manual said occurs only if the steamer needs more water. Luckily, once the steam was steady, we could hardly notice the noise. After six months of use, it's still working well.

The tradeoff for this steamer's compact size is its small water capacity. With a tank capacity of just 4 ounces, the device requires fairly frequent refills and isn't large enough to tackle curtains and other garments with a large surface area. We also found the water tank opening to be a bit small. Still, the filling process was a breeze—simply click the release button to remove the water tank and pour through the opening. We appreciate that the device has a small rubbery plug that helps prevent spills as you snap the tank back into place.

Heating Time: 25 seconds | Steam Duration: 10 minutes | Weight: 1.2 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 4 ounces

Best Large Capacity

CHI Handheld Garment Steamer

$54 at Amazon $54 at Wayfair $54 at Target

Having to constantly refill a clothes steamer’s water tank can be a hassle, which is why a large-capacity steamer like this model from CHI is so desirable. The device boasts a 10-ounce capacity tank that’s not only larger than average but also easy to fill due to its large opening, saving you serious time and effort.

This steamer heats up quicker than most (in just 20 seconds!) and comes with two mode options (low and high). It’s comfortable to hold, has a long 10-foot cord, and features a locking mechanism to keep the steam on or off. It also comes with a fabric brush that we found to be very effective during our testing, especially on linen. After six months of use, the steamer is in the same condition as it was on day one.

In terms of negatives, they’re pretty minor: The main button is inconveniently located, which can lead to accidental setting changes, and we noticed that there can also be some slight water sputtering when the steamer is first turned on. We also wish it was a bit lighter, as our arm tends to hurt after steaming for longer durations. But those are small qualms that certainly don’t overpower the steamer’s many benefits (including its fairly low price and stylish red color).

Heating Time: 20 seconds | Steam Duration: Not listed | Weight: 1.7 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10.1 ounces

Best Clothes Steamer/Iron Combo

Electrolux Garment Steamer

Orig. $80 $60 at Amazon $62 at Wayfair $60 at Target

Why shell out the money for a clothes steamer and an iron when you can have a device capable of doing both jobs? This steamer from Electrolux can be used vertically or horizontally like an iron, powerfully removing wrinkles from fabric regardless of its position.

The compact steamer (which is available in either black or blue) has two settings and comes with a sizable 10-ounce water tank that requires minimal effort to fill and remove. The device also stands out for how quickly it heats up (only 30 seconds) and for how long it can be used continuously (nearly 20 minutes). It has a comfortable grip, too, and comes with a handy locking mechanism that keeps the steam going without you having to continuously press the button.

It also includes a fabric brush and lint brush, both of which we found to be effective. The fabric brush excelled at minimizing water droplets on our garments, and the lint brush was a real showstopper, removing both pet hair and wrinkles from our skirt. This device works incredibly fast on lighter wrinkles, and though it does sometimes struggle to completely remove deeper ones, we've found that every garment looks better after steaming than it did before.

After six months of use, the quality of this steamer is exactly the same as when we first received it. As for price, it's slightly above average, and you’d hope that for that amount, it’d come with instructions on how to decipher the otherwise unclear icons for each setting. That annoyance aside, this is a very solid device that does both of its jobs quite well.

Heating Time: 30 seconds | Steam Duration: 18 minutes | Weight: 3.9 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10 ounces

Best With Attachments

Conair Handheld Garment Steamer

Orig. $60 $55 at Walmart View on Brandsmartusa.com View on Conair.com

If you want a clothes steamer that comes with multiple extra tools designed to enhance the steaming process, take a look at this great pick from Conair. The small, lightweight steamer features three highly useful attachments: a silicone band to pull the fabric taut, a bristle brush to get through heavier fabrics, and a delicate fabric spacer to keep trims and finer fabrics safe from harm. But that’s not all—the steamer also comes with a built-in creaser tool that we found very effective and easy to use during our tests. 

Filling this steamer’s water tank is simple, but you do need to be careful of overfilling, or else it won’t work. You can choose between two settings (regular and turbo), both of which are labeled clearly and have instructions. While we found it to be a bit larger than other steamers on our list, its comfortable grip ensures that your arm won’t get tired, even if you go for all 15 minutes of the continuous use it promises.

After using the steamer for six months, we've noticed no changes in quality. It removes wrinkles seamlessly from our clothes—especially the softer, thinner garments like button-downs and linen pants—with no sputtering whatsoever. Plus, it has a long cord and reasonable price tag. It may not be the most powerful steamer on the market, and frustratingly, it does wane in power as it works, even on turbo mode. But there’s still a lot to like, especially those helpful accessories.

Heating Time: 40 seconds | Steam Duration: 15 minutes | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7.3 ounces

Best Professional

Jiffy Fabric Steamer

$239 at Amazon

Compact clothes steamers may be convenient, but if you want a device that can handle heavy-duty use and don’t mind the large size, a professional-grade option like this model from Jiffy is the way to go. The steamer can last for an hour and a half of continuous use, with a huge 96-ounce water tank that can go through at least a half-dozen items before needing a refill.

We were amazed by this steamer's sheer speed and effectiveness—it removed wrinkles in a matter of seconds, so we never had to run it over the same spot multiple times. It worked well on all materials in our testing—especially silk—maintaining its performance throughout six months of use. It helpfully comes with a rod to hang up clothes as you work, as well as two sets of wheels that glide smoothly and provide extra stability. We found it comfortable to hold and appreciated the long cord. As a bonus, the tank is easy to fill without spilling. Just keep in mind that the hose does get pretty hot, and since it's long and floppy, you'll want to make sure it doesn't hit your legs as you work.

Despite its power, this fairly simple steamer has only one setting, so you can’t vary the steam level or temperature depending on the fabric. It may leave the occasional water mark on clothing, and its large size makes it difficult to store.

Heating Time: 2 minutes | Steam Duration: 1.5 hours | Weight: 15.9 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 96 ounces