The 8 Best Clothes Steamers of 2024, Tested by PEOPLE

Best Overall

CHI Handheld Garment Steamer

$54 at Amazon $55 at Target $54 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5

The Chi Handheld Garment Steamer was the best-performing machine in our tests. Even without the instruction manual, we found it quite intuitive and easy to use, but the operating instructions provided tips to make the garments we tried it on look even more smooth. Plus, the steamer comes with a fabric brush attachment that makes steaming clothes even more effective.

This steamer heated up in just 20 seconds and took less than four minutes to steam all of the clothes we tested. The handheld unit had a good capacity, so we didn’t need to refill it frequently. It also produced enough steam to work effectively. 

Filling the tank was easy with a simple twist top, and water poured into it easily without any spilling. At full capacity, it was a bit uncomfortable to hold, but the 10-foot-long cord gave us freedom to move around easily. While the low and high steam settings help provide versatility, there’s also a lock function to keep the steam on or off, so you don’t have to keep your finger pressed down the whole time.

Efficiency is where this Chi shines — it makes the experience of smoothing wrinkles easy, quick, and convenient with top-notch results. We were surprised by the low cost considering the value it delivered. Since it’s handheld, it’ll work nicely for people with smaller spaces and for traveling.

Tank Capacity: 300 ml | Weight: 1.7 lbs. | Steam Settings: 2 | Attachments: Fabric brush | Cord Length: 10 feet

Best Budget

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

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

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.2/5
• Design
  4.3/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Value
  5/5

This no-frills device had one of the most comfortable handles on this list and even came with its own brush attachment, which we found helped prevent burns on clothing. We especially liked using this on silk and felt it worked better than a traditional iron. It took just one minute to heat up, less than some of the pricier options we tested. 

After testing on multiple fabrics, we found it could steam a silk shirt in less than five minutes and a cotton shirt in about 15 minutes. In fact, we felt it smoothed out the silk right on contact. However, despite its intense heat, this steamer didn’t effectively smooth out wrinkles on linen, so this is a better option for people who don’t wear much of that fabric. 

The 10-foot cord allowed us to maneuver freely around the garment, and the long handle featured a single button that didn’t need to be held down while the steamer was in use. And don’t be fooled by the low price — this packs a serious punch with a lot of heat. To help with that, we like using the fabric brush attachment that acts as a one-inch separator between the head and fabric.

Tank Capacity: 120 ml | Weight: 1.6 lbs. | Steam Settings: 1 | Attachments: Fabric brush | Cord Length: 10 feet

Best for Travel

Brookline Steamer

$27 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.2/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

For those who are frequently on the go, the Brookline steamer is worth considering, especially given its fairly low price. The no-frills device is made for a seamless steaming experience, with one simple on/off toggle switch and a tank that fills easily. 

Made to be portable, this clothes steamer is super compact and easy to tote around for quick touch-ups on lightly wrinkled cotton or linen items, though it worked most effectively on silk. In fact, despite its tiny size, this still features a nine-foot-long cord for easy maneuverability, and we found the device to be even more effective at smoothing out wrinkles than some larger steamers we tried.

Tank Capacity: 180 ml | Weight: 1.5 lbs. | Steam Settings: 1 | Attachments: None | Cord Length: 9 feet

Best Handheld

Conair ExtremeSteam Hand-Held Fabric Steamer

$59 at Amazon $50 at Target $60 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.7/5
• Design
  4.3/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  5/5
• Heat Time
  5/5

The Conair Turbo Extreme Steam Handheld Fabric Steamer is a worthwhile investment for those who have a lot of clothing that wrinkles easily because it works on any fabric. It comes with three attachments to pull fabric taut, protect finer fabrics, and loosen fibers for faster steam penetration. But what makes this steamer special are the five different steam settings that make it ultra versatile.

Our tips to make this even more convenient? We used a funnel to fill the water tank more easily and found that less water dripped when we held the steamer perpendicular. While it took us a bit of time to get the hang of the creaser, we found it worked pretty well. To add to the unique features this one packs in, you’ll want to take advantage of the handy clamp feature to help stabilize hanging garments.

Tank Capacity: 215 ml | Weight: 3.6 lbs. | Steam Settings: 5 | Attachments: Silicone band, delicate fabric spacer, bristle brush | Cord Length: 9.3 feet

Best Multipurpose

Electrolux Garment Steamer

$60 at Amazon $60 at Target $62 at Wayfair

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Design
  4.8/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Heat Time
  5/5

The Electrolux Garment Steamer offers a lot of bang for your buck with its portability, attachments, and efficacy. The do-it-all device has one of the largest capacities on this list, with 300 milliliters of tank space, and comes with a heat-protective carrying case. 

In testing, we found this clothes steamer heated up immediately, with steam being produced as soon as we turned the device on. It then steamed all the garments we tested it on in around eight minutes or less. While it wasn’t the fastest at steaming, this didn’t pose much of a problem for us, as the grip was quite comfortable to hold.

Though there are only two settings on the unit, it’s extremely versatile and multifunctional thanks to the additional lint remover and fabric brush attachments. Plus, we found this much faster and easier to use than an iron. It even has one of the longest cord lengths on this list, so it’s easy to maneuver around big spaces if you decide to use it on curtains or furniture.

Tank Capacity: 300 ml | Weight: 4 lbs. | Steam Settings: 2 | Attachments: Lint remover, fabric brush | Cord Length: 12 feet

Best for Creases

Conair Handheld Garment Steamer

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

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.4/5
• Design
  4.5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  4.5/5

In the debate of steamers versus irons, one point often goes to irons for giving shirts a crisp, clean crease. Fear not, because creases are actually where Conair’s Handheld Garment Steamer thrives. In addition to that creaser, it comes with three more attachments: a silicone band, a bristle brush, and a delicate fabric spacer. 

One of the most versatile options on this list, it’s especially helpful to use with dress shirts to achieve that perfect line along the side of a shirt or collar. Then, use the delicate fabric spacer to protect trims and more fine fabrics. While a more powerful steam would have helped us smooth out wrinkles more quickly, it was still able to work effectively on any fabric type in about 10 minutes, and we didn’t have to replace the water tank often.

Tank Capacity: 215 ml | Weight: 3.5 lbs. | Steam Settings: 2 | Attachments: Silicone band, delicate fabric spacer, bristle brush | Cord Length: 9.3 feet

Best Standing

Pure Enrichment Upright Clothes Steamer

$100 at Amazon $100 at Target $100 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.7/5
• Design
  5/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Value
  4.5/5
• Heat Time
  4/5

Some standing steamers get a bad rep for taking up too much room, but Pure Enrichment’s PureSteam Pro Upright Clothes Steamer features a slim design that can easily be wheeled into a closet. If you’ve traditionally found yourself hunched over a board ironing for a long amount of time, a standing option may be much better for you (and your wardrobe). 

The tank has a large capacity, and this steamer has more of an ability to adjust temperature than the pricier options we tested, thanks to an easy-twist knob. There’s even a convenient hands-free foot power pedal, so you never have to bend over to turn the device on or off. 

The machine produced consistently good results during testing, responding well to heat adjustments so long as we gave it time for water to spit a bit after we made a temperature change. The device isn’t as mobile as we think it could be if it had four wheels instead of just two in the back, but overall, we found the convenience and ease of operation to be great.

Tank Capacity: 2 Liters | Weight: 9.6 lbs. | Steam Settings: Rotating knob | Attachments: Fabric brush | Cord Length: 6.5 feet

Best Investment

Jiffy Fabric Steamer

$238 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Design
  4.8/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Value
  4/5

Simply prop your garment up on the included hook and use the large opening on the device to steam your clothes with the press of just one button. The priciest item on this list, it’s a great investment for people who find themselves spending too much money on dry cleaning. 

The standing format is a joy to use, with an ultra-large tank that doesn’t need to be refilled often. It was able to smooth out wrinkles on every fabric we tested. There were a few little drops of water spitting out at the beginning, and though that didn’t leave any stains, we suggest leaving the device on for an extra minute or two after it has heated up to be on the safe side.

The Jiffy J-2000 Floor Standing Fabric Steamer proved its worth in how easy it was to use. The tank had a large mouth that was easy to fill, and the large spout provided a wider range of heat distribution, making it work quickly. It also sits on rotating wheels that glide with control, making it easy to move around the garment with stability. The large tank that’ll steam clothes for over an hour straight, combined with the comfortable handle, makes it essential for anyone who has a lot of items that wrinkle easily.

Tank Capacity: 2.8 liters | Weight: 15.8 lbs. | Steam Settings: 1 | Attachments: None | Cord Length: 6.5 feet