Love or hate ironing? Upgrade to the best steam generator iron, and you’ll whizz through the ironing pile in record time. Perfect results are quick and easy.
However, there’s a big difference between the good & bad models. Here’s what you need to know…
What is a Steam Generator Iron?
A steam generator iron works differently from a conventional iron. Water is heated in a tank at the end of your ironing board. This enables large volumes of steam to be pumped, under pressure, to a wonderfully lightweight handset.
There are three standout benefits to this technology…
- Speed – Flatten every crease easily& quickly with 3x more steam than a standard iron
- Less faff – The large water tank means no continual refills
- Lightweight handset – Better for your back and wrist. Importantly, the steam does the work, not the weight of the iron or physical pressure
How We Test: Best Steam Generator Irons 2026
We use 12 key factors to define the best steam generator iron: pressure, continuous steam volume, steam shot, fabric temperature technology, water tank capacity, soleplate glide, limescale control, storage, overall weight, handset weight, ease of use & reliability.
Choosing the best steam generator iron can feel overwhelming – it’s certainly time-consuming.
To help you buy the right model, we’ve compared 78 steam generator irons. But rather than read about each & every model, here are the UK’s top 5 steam generator irons (with a winner in each price category) …
Best under £100
Russell Hobbs Power Station
RRP: £90 | Get Best Price Today on Amazon
With double the steam volume of a conventional iron, this Russell Hobbs model will help you speed through the ironing pile in record time.
- Affordable
- 2x More steam than a standard iron
- Spend more for a ceramic soleplate
What makes this model stand out is the rock-bottom price.
Pumping out 90g of steam through the stainless steel, non-stick, soleplate, this model makes ironing quick & easy. It flattens the toughest creases without fuss.
Small details, such as the quick heat-up (about 1 minute) & the removable water tank, help make this model hassle-free. Also of note is the cleaning system, which filters the water before it reaches the tank. This helps reduce limescale build-up, keeping your iron working like new.
Spend more (see models below) for additional steam, automatic temperature control & a ceramic soleplate.
SPECIFICATION: PRESSURE: 4.5 bar | CONSTANT STEAM: 90g/min | POWER: 2400w | AUTO SHUT OFF: No | SOLEPATE: Stainless Steel | HOSE LENGTH: 1.65m | HANDSET WEIGHT 0.9kg | TOTAL WEIGHT: 4.5kg | FOOTPRINT: 38cm x 25cm | HEIGHT: 26cm | TANK SIZE: 1.3l | WARRANTY: 2 Years
This Russell Hobbs steam generator iron is a decent budget choice.
Best Buy under £200
Philips PerfectCare Compact
RRP: £200 | Get Best Price Today on Amazon
Lightweight and less bulky than most models, the Philips PerfectCare Compact performs brilliantly & it’s super easy to use.
- 3x More steam
- Lightweight & Compact
- Ceramic Soleplate
- Sells out quickly when discounted
A steam generator iron is all about speeding through the laundry pile. However, most are heavy to move and bulky to store. What’s great about this model is that it’s small & light, but importantly, it still delivers on performance.
Read our Philips PerfectCare Review for more details
Delivering large volumes of steam to a lightweight handset enables high speed and superior results.
Delivering 6.5 bar of pressure, this Philips pump delivers three times more steam than a standard iron, making a big difference.
Also important is the ceramic soleplate. This glides over all fabrics. And to make life easier, clever technology automatically adjusts the temperature to suit all fabrics. Go from denim to silk, without a worry. Philips offer a no-burns guarantee with this iron.
Don’t be put off by the compact design, this model is big on performance & easy to store.
SPECIFICATION: PRESSURE 6.5 bar | CONSTANT STEAM: 120g/min | STEAM SHOT: 400g | POWER: 2400w | AUTO SHUT OFF: YES | SOLEPATE: Ceramic | TANK SIZE: 1.5l | HOSE LENGTH: 1.6m | HANDSET WEIGHT 1.2kg | TOTAL WEIGHT: 2.95kg | FOOTPRINT: 37cm x 19cm | HEIGHT 22cm | WARRANTY: 2 Years
Enjoy perfect results (fast) without breaking the bank…
Best for XL Ironing Piles
Morphy Richards Power Steam Elite
RRP: £229 | Get Best Price Today on Amazon
The Morphy Richards Power Steam Elite is built to handle oversize ironing piles. Crease-busting steam helps demolish the biggest ironing pile in record time.
- Powerful
- Large tank
- Long cord & hose
- Bulky
With 6.5 bar pressure and decent steam volumes, this Morphy Richards outperforms most models in its class. However, three features make it stand out. A long power cord and hose make life a little easier. Plus, a huge water tank means it’ll keep going for longer. This iron will work best if you use half tap water and half distilled water (essential in hard-water areas).
SPECIFICATION: PRESSURE 6.5 bar | CONSTANT STEAM: 200g/min | STEAM SHOT: 310g | POWER: 2400w | AUTO SHUT OFF: YES | SOLEPATE: Ceramic | TANK SIZE: 2.2l | HOSE LENGTH: 1.8m | HANDSET WEIGHT 1kg | TOTAL WEIGHT: 5.2kg | FOOTPRINT: 38cm x 22cm | HEIGHT 30cm | WARRANTY: 2 Years
This Morphy Richards can’t be described as compact, but if you plan to blitz a large ironing pile in one go, this steam generator iron is a great choice
Best under £400
Tefal Pro Express Protect
RRP: £339 | Get Best Price Today on Amazon
Expensive – but worth every penny. This Tefal steam generator iron is truly game-changing!
- Outstanding performance
- Robust build quality & limescale control
- Excellent soleplate
- Easy to use – lightweight handset
- None
It pumps out 3 to 4 times as much steam as a conventional iron. Plus, it’s well-built with top-notch limescale protection.
Once you’ve used a decent steam generator, there’s no reverting back to a standard iron. And for those who have previously made the switch, this model is worth the investment.
Folk who have upgraded from a traditional iron, spend around £250 & £300 on a steam generator iron. Why? It makes this household chore easier & quicker. Much quicker. This Tefal model truly stands out in this price class.
Not only will this Tefal help you get through the ironing quickly, but it also delivers better results as standard. And it’s super easy to use.
Six Reasons to Buy the Tefal Pro Express
Along with loads of steam & a lightweight handset (weighing less than a bag of sugar), the Durilium soleplate glides & flattens all fabric, with ease. And making everything easier, clever technology continually adjusts the temperature. This means you can go from denim to silk with the same setting. No burns, no checking labels, no fiddly settings & no worries!
Adding to the high steam output, top-notch handset, and clever temperature control technology, the Tefal has a removable 1.8-litre tank, making it easy to refill. And for longevity, the Tefal uses its patented limescale collector to keep the ironing working like new, year after year.
SPECIFICATION: PRESSURE 7.5 bar | CONSTANT STEAM: 140g/min | STEAM SHOT: 540g | POWER: 2600w | AUTO SHUT OFF: YES | SOLEPATE: Ceramic | TANK SIZE: 1.8l | HOSE LENGTH: 1.6m | HANDSET WEIGHT 0.9kg | TOTAL WEIGHT: 4.2kg | FOOTPRINT: 40cm x 25cm | HEIGHT: 30cm | WARRANTY: 2 Years
Outperforming all other steam generator irons at a similar price (& numerous models costing significantly more), the Tefal Pro Express is the Verum Ultimate Buy.
Best under £600
Philips PerfectCare 8000
RRP: £549 | Get Best Price Today on Amazon
Super quick, easy to use & perfect results – when only the very best will do…
- Super powerful
- No burn guarantee
- Ultra-light handset
- Expensive
With 8 Bar pressure, it glides over everything & anything – professional results are quick & easy.
Every detail on this Philips model shines. It’s lightweight, heats up quickly and has a large water tank.
The handset weighs only 800g. This is around half that of a conventional iron. To be clear, a heavy iron doesn’t remove creases (heat & steam do). And, more importantly, a heavy iron is bad for your wrist & back.
Once you’ve tried this lightweight handset a couple of times & you’ll never use a standard iron again!
The 1.8-litre tank means there’s no need for regular refills. However, the removable tank makes topping up easy if you’re powering through a huge laundry basket. Plus, heating up only takes a couple of minutes.
Never Think About Ironing Again…
From denim to silk, there’s no need to adjust the temperature or steam output. This clever technology does work. Plus, it’s backed up by a ‘no burn’ guarantee from Philips. So if you’d rather watch TV or think your own thoughts while ironing, this Philips model is for you.
SPECIFICATION: PRESSURE: 8 bar | CONSTANT STEAM: 165g/min | STEAM SHOT: 600g | POWER: 2700w | AUTO SHUT OFF: YES | SOLEPATE: Ceramic | TANK SIZE: 1.8l | HOSE LENGTH: 1.9m | TOTAL WEIGHT: 5.1kg | HANDSET WEIGHT: 0.8kg | FOOTPRINT: 45cm x 23cm | HEIGHT: 29cm | WARRANTY: 2 Years
This Philips steam generator does everything brilliantly. It’s not cheap, but you won’t be disappointed. Think super quick ironing with perfect results.
Look After Your New Steam Generator Iron
The best steam generator iron should last for years, provided you keep it limescale-free. Once it’s clogged up with limescale, it’s usually too late & time for a replacement.
Limescale Removal
Each model, as detailed above, includes easy-to-follow instructions for dealing with limescale. Avoiding limescale build-up is much easier than dealing with it afterwards. It only takes a moment.
Plus, do register your purchase with the manufacturer. This may seem like an additional hassle, but in most cases, it will double the length of your warranty.
Best Steam Generator Iron 2026
If you like the idea of making ironing easier & quicker in 2026, dump your conventional iron & buy the best steam generator iron today.
For a little more than a top-end standard iron, our best buy, the Philips Compact, will cut your ironing time, give you better results & won’t break the bank.
For a few quid more, the Tefal Pro Express is superb. Lots of steam, a great handset, temperature control & a removable tank with good limescale control make this Tefal the best steam generator iron you can buy, right now.
Aside from the price, we can’t fault the Philips PerfectCare 8000. With more steam, robust build quality, and clever technology, this is as good as ironing gets — super quick, easy to use, and perfect results.
Yes, it’s expensive, but if you want the best steam generator iron, buy this model from Philips – you won’t regret it.
