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.
The next step is to avoid the duds & choose the right model
What is a Steam Generator Iron?
A steam generator iron works differently from a conventional iron. Water is heated in a tank that sits on the end of your ironing board. This enables huge volumes of steam to be pumped, under pressure, to a lightweight handset.
There are three standout benefits to this technology…
- Every crease is flattened quickly & easily with two to three times more steam
- Save the faff of continual refills with a large water tank.
- Lightweight handset. Choose the right model and the handset is half the weight. This is much better for your wrist. What’s important is that the steam does the work, not the actual weight of the iron.
Best Steam Generator Irons 2023
At Verum, 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.
Trying to identify the best steam generator iron can feel overwhelming – it’s certainly time-consuming. Worry not, to help find the right model for you, we’ve compared 78 steam generator irons to recommend the UK Top 5 Best Buys…
Russell Hobbs Power Station – Budget Choice
With double the steam volume of a conventional iron, this Russell Hobbs model will help you speed through the ironing pile in record time.
All good. But what really makes this model really 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 (around 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 to keep 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 our top budget choice for under £100.
Russell Hobbs 24420 | Verdict Price £61.58
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Philips PerfectCare Compact – Best Seller
Lightweight and less bulky than most models, the Philips PerfectCare Compact performs brilliantly & it’s super easy to use.
A steam generator iron is all about powering through the laundry pile. However, most are heavy to move and bulky to store. What’s great about this model is that it’s lighter and smaller than the alternatives, but importantly, it still delivers on performance.
Read our Philips PerfectCare Review for more details
Speed and superior results are made possible by delivering huge volumes of steam to a lightweight handset.
Delivering 6.5 bar of pressure, this Philips pumps out three times more steam than a standard iron – this makes 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.
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
Don’t be put off by the compact design, this model is big on performance, easy to store and affordable – It’s the best Philips steam generator iron for value & speedy ironing.
Philips Compact | RRP £220 | Verdict Price £115.00
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Morphy Richards Power Steam Elite – Good for Large Ironing Piles
The Morphy Richards Power Steam Elite is built to handle oversize ironing piles. Crease-busting steam coupled with an excellent specification will help demolish the biggest ironing pile in record time.
With 6.5 bar pressure and decent steam volumes, this Morphy Richards outperforms most models in its class. However, there are numerous other features that 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/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 model stands out for the power and steam volume. It costs more than our budget recommendations and 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.
Morphy Richards | Verdict Price £229.00
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Tefal GV9220 Pro Express – Best Steam Generator Iron
For performance and price, this Tefal model is the best steam generator iron you can buy in the UK, right now. It pumps out 3 to 4 times more steam than a conventional iron. Plus, it’s well-built with top-notch limescale protection.
The average UK household spends around £250 on a steam gen iron. Clearly, this is no small investment. What’s important here is that this model from Tefal truly stands out within this price class, making it our overall Best Buy.
Not only will this Tefal help you get through the ironing quickly, it makes the job easier too.
Six Reasons to buy the Tefal Pro Express
Along with the high 7.5 bar pressure & lightweight handset, 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.
SPECIFICATION: PRESSURE 7.5 bar | CONSTANT STEAM: 135g/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
Compared to other models at a similar price (& a good number costing significantly more), the Tefal Pro Express is the best steam generator iron in the UK – it truly stands out, winning our overall best buy for performance & value.
Tefal Pro Express | RRP £290 | Verdict Price £199.00
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Philips PerfectCare Elite – Ultimate Steam Generator Iron
If you’re serious about super fast ironing this Philips steam generator iron is for you.
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 help remove creases (the heat & steam do this). And of greater importance, 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, if you’re powering through a huge laundry basket, the removable tank makes topping up easy. 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 really 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 model from Philips 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 this is the best steam generator iron money can buy.
Philips PerfectCare Elite | RRP £590 | Verdict Price £399.99
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Looking After Your New Steam Generator Iron
The best steam generator iron should last for years – assuming 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, detailed above, has easy-to-follow instructions on dealing with limescale. Generally, it’s much easier to avoid limescale build-up than to deal 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.
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UK VERDICT 2023
If you like the idea of making the ironing easier & quicker in 2023, dump your conventional iron & buy the best steam generator iron today.
For a little more than a top-end standard iron, our best seller the Philips Compact will cut your ironing time, give you better results & won’t break the bank.
Getting the perfect balance of price, performance and features, the Tefal Pro Express is our overall Best Buy. 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 Elite. With more steam, robust build quality and clever technology, this is as good as ironing gets!
If you’re prepared to spend big for super quick perfect results, choose this model from Philips – you won’t regret it!
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