If you are a beginning seamstress, tailor, or DIY person, you might not know this, but steam irons are pretty essential when it comes to sewing. Of course, there are hundreds of steam irons out there, so choosing the right one can be a real challenge.
In this article, we will discuss some of the best available steam irons for sewing.
Best Overall: Shark Steam Iron
- 8.5" premium stainless steel soleplate with holes for even distribution of steam
- 1500 watts provide powerful steam
- Water tank with a 260 millilitre capacity and easy fill door
- Button fit tip with smooth glide maneuverability
- Multi position auto steam shut off
If it is a very basic, simple, and affordable steam iron for sewing that you want, something like the Shark Steam Iron makes for an ideal choice. It may not cost that much, and it is not the fanciest option around, but for basic steam ironing press seams and finished garments, it will do just fine.
Review
The Shark Steam Iron’s ironing surface, the bottom of it, is made with premium stainless steel. The soleplate is made with high-quality materials, and it is not going to rust, crack, or break in any other way anytime soon.
The soleplate comes with fairly large and evenly spaced holes for even steam distribution, which is important when it comes to ironing anything.
What you might also like about the Shark Steam Iron is the fact that it comes with a powerful 1500-watt system that will quickly provide you with a lot of steam for optimal results. The Shark Steam Iron features a multiple position steam on-and-off function, and of course, you can easily control how much steam it puts out.
This steam iron has a 260 ml water tank, and it should be more than enough to last you for all of your sewing needs, at least for a couple of hours. The button fit tip and the smooth design of the soleplate make the Shark Steam Iron easy to maneuver, plus the handle is fairly comfortable to hold as well.
Pros
- Affordable
- Can put out a lot of steam
- Easy to control
Cons
- Upper has limited durability
- 8.5" premium stainless steel soleplate with holes for even distribution of steam
- 1500 watts provide powerful steam
- Water tank with a 260 millilitre capacity and easy fill door
- Button fit tip with smooth glide maneuverability
- Multi position auto steam shut off
Highest Quality: Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron
- Stainless-steel soleplate with precision tip- Easy gliding across different garments, smoothing hard-to-reach areas, and 1700-Watts of Power
- 400 Plus Steam holes with 35 g/min of steam – provide excellent steam distribution
- Easy control thermostat knob – Easily select the ideal steam output based on fabric
- Use tap water to iron – Easily fill the iron with easy fill hole, anti-drip lid, and translucent water tank window
- Safety comes first with rowenta – Automatic 3-way shut off system to prevent accidents
The Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron is a high-quality option to keep in mind. Now it does come at about 3 times the price of the model we previously looked at, but it also has a high level of durability and fantastic features, making it a perfect option for stream ironing fabrics and clothes.
Review
The Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron is a 1700 watt model, so it does put out a lot of steam, and it does not take long for the water to turn onto steam; if it is a lot of steam you need and you don’t have the patience to wait for it, the Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron is the way to go.
The Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron comes with a stainless steel soleplate that is about as durable as can be. It won’t rust anytime soon, plus it also comes with 400+ steam holes for really even steaming and good distribution.
The Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron also comes with an easy-to-control thermostat so you can select the temperature, plus you can select just how much steam to use at any given time. It also comes with an automatic 3-way shut-off for safety, and let’s not forget that it is made in Germany, and we all know that the Germans make some really high-quality products.
All in all, while the Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron is not exactly cheap, it is one of the higher-quality options.
Pros
- Very durable
- Even steam distribution
- Overall excellent quality
Cons
- May be a bit pricey
- Stainless-steel soleplate with precision tip- Easy gliding across different garments, smoothing hard-to-reach areas, and 1700-Watts of Power
- 400 Plus Steam holes with 35 g/min of steam – provide excellent steam distribution
- Easy control thermostat knob – Easily select the ideal steam output based on fabric
- Use tap water to iron – Easily fill the iron with easy fill hole, anti-drip lid, and translucent water tank window
- Safety comes first with rowenta – Automatic 3-way shut off system to prevent accidents
Best Value for Money: Maytag M400 Speed Heat Steam Iron
- HEATS FASTER: Maytag’s M400 Iron reaches max temperature in less than a minute, much faster than traditional irons Plus, it only takes 3 seconds for steam to regenerate - the anti-wrinkle spray, removes wrinkles faster and the stainless steel sole plate smooths effortlessly
- VERTICAL STEAM: The Maytag M400 is not JUST for ironing, now you can steam out wrinkles on your hanging garments too, with the vertical steam function - ergonomic soft touch grip provides the perfect balance and comfort for upright use
- PRECISION THERMOSTAT: Iron specialty fabrics - Linen, Cotton, Silk, Wool, Nylon, or Synthetic; simply turn the dial for a precise temperature and ironing becomes quick and effortless for ALL your fabrics
- SELF-CLEANING: The best part, this iron will self-clean! With an anti-calc and anti-scale function, your iron will remain in pristine condition use after use
- INCLUDES: 1500w; 81oz tank capacity, 360-degree swivel 8ft cord, and backed by a manufacturer’s 2-year warranty
Here we have a nice steam iron that falls somewhere in the middle of the previous 2, which is true in terms of price, functionality, and overall quality. When it comes down to it, the Maytag M400 Speed Heat Steam Iron is a fairly affordable option, one that still comes with a decent level of durability and overall functionality.
Review
What is pretty neat about the Maytag M400 Speed Heat Steam Iron is that it can be used for both vertical and horizontal steaming; you can steam iron your clothes while they are hanging up with it. As you might be able to tell from the name of it, the Maytag M400 Speed Heat Steam Iron heats up quickly.
You can easily adjust the amount of steam which the Maytag M400 Speed Heat Steam Iron lets out, and you can easily control the temperature. Something else you may appreciate about the Maytag M400 Speed Heat Steam Iron is that it performs quite well in terms of providing you with even and constant steam.
It also comes with a fairly large water tank, so there should be no need to refill it during the middle of a project. The Maytag M400 Speed Heat Steam Iron is even a self-cleaning model.
Pros
- Self-cleaning
- Heats up very fast
- Precise control
Cons
- Not the most durable steam iron
- HEATS FASTER: Maytag’s M400 Iron reaches max temperature in less than a minute, much faster than traditional irons Plus, it only takes 3 seconds for steam to regenerate - the anti-wrinkle spray, removes wrinkles faster and the stainless steel sole plate smooths effortlessly
- VERTICAL STEAM: The Maytag M400 is not JUST for ironing, now you can steam out wrinkles on your hanging garments too, with the vertical steam function - ergonomic soft touch grip provides the perfect balance and comfort for upright use
- PRECISION THERMOSTAT: Iron specialty fabrics - Linen, Cotton, Silk, Wool, Nylon, or Synthetic; simply turn the dial for a precise temperature and ironing becomes quick and effortless for ALL your fabrics
- SELF-CLEANING: The best part, this iron will self-clean! With an anti-calc and anti-scale function, your iron will remain in pristine condition use after use
- INCLUDES: 1500w; 81oz tank capacity, 360-degree swivel 8ft cord, and backed by a manufacturer’s 2-year warranty
Best on a Budget: BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron
- STEAM OR DRY IRONING - Switch on the steam setting to help iron out tough wrinkles, or turn it off when dry ironing delicate fabrics
- ANTI-DRIP DESIGN - The iron is engineered to prevent dripping by closely regulating water temperatures.
- AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF - For added peace of mind, the iron shuts off when left unattended for 30 seconds on its side or soleplate, and after 8 minutes on the heel rest. Plus, a power indicator light tells you when the iron is plugged in
- EASY GLIDE - The aluminum soleplate is built to last, with a smooth, nonstick finish that glides over all fabric types to quickly remove wrinkles. A special groove near the tip of the soleplate lets you navigate easily around buttons and collars. Plus, a pivoting cord allows for easy maneuverability
- 8 TEMPERATURE SETTINGS - The intuitive temperature dial and fabric guide make it easy to get the perfect heat setting based on fabric type. Suitable for linen/cotton/cotton blends/wool/rayon/polyester/silk/nylon/acetate acrylic. Plus, the dedicated “OFF” button provides convenient peace of mind.
This might be a kind of a funky looking steam iron, one that looks as though it was built before the turn of the last century, but nonetheless, the BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron is very affordable, easy to use, small and compact, and it gets the job done just fine.
Review
Something that stands out about the BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron is that it comes with a really high-quality easy-glide soleplate. This is very beneficial because it allows for constant movement and it won’t stick on anything.
Moreover, the BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron’s soleplate is made out of aluminum, which is not as durable as stainless steel, so we do have to say that this iron has somewhat limited durability, but if you use it for basic tasks, it should endure.
The BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron can do both steam and dry ironing, and when it comes to steam ironing, we like that it comes with an anti-drip feature. Although water drips are not the end of the world, they are inconvenient.
The BLACK+DECKER Classic Steam Iron comes with 7 temperature settings for precise steam control, although it appears that it has slight problems with even steam distribution.
Pros
- Very user-friendly
- Compact and portable
- Affordable
Cons
- Limited durability
- Not the best with even steam production
- STEAM OR DRY IRONING - Switch on the steam setting to help iron out tough wrinkles, or turn it off when dry ironing delicate fabrics
- ANTI-DRIP DESIGN - The iron is engineered to prevent dripping by closely regulating water temperatures.
- AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF - For added peace of mind, the iron shuts off when left unattended for 30 seconds on its side or soleplate, and after 8 minutes on the heel rest. Plus, a power indicator light tells you when the iron is plugged in
- EASY GLIDE - The aluminum soleplate is built to last, with a smooth, nonstick finish that glides over all fabric types to quickly remove wrinkles. A special groove near the tip of the soleplate lets you navigate easily around buttons and collars. Plus, a pivoting cord allows for easy maneuverability
- 8 TEMPERATURE SETTINGS - The intuitive temperature dial and fabric guide make it easy to get the perfect heat setting based on fabric type. Suitable for linen/cotton/cotton blends/wool/rayon/polyester/silk/nylon/acetate acrylic. Plus, the dedicated “OFF” button provides convenient peace of mind.
Conclusion
There you have what I think are the 5 best steam irons of sewing around right now. When it comes down to it, the option that I would most highly recommend is the Rowenta DW5080 1700-Watt Micro Steam Iron.
It is more expensive, more than any other option here today, but there is no denying that it is a high-quality item.
Now, if you want to spend a little less, but still get something good enough for the job at hand, either the ZOYER 1200-Watt Steam Iron or the Shark Steam Iron are also fine options.
Want to see my favorite steam irons for sewing one more time before you go? Here they are!
