The Best Clothing Steamers for 2026: Handheld, Travel and Upright Picks
By Claire Whitmore. Last updated October 2026.
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A good clothing steamer gets wrinkles out of shirts, dresses, curtains and suits in a few minutes, with no ironing board and much less risk of scorching delicate fabrics. It also freshens clothes between cleanings. Steamers won’t give you the crisp creases of an iron, but for everyday wrinkles they’re faster and easier.
Our picks come from Wirecutter’s guide to clothing steamers, which has tested dozens of handheld and upright models on cotton, linen, silk and polyester, measuring heat-up times, run times and how well each removes wrinkles. We haven’t tested these ourselves, and prices change often.
Quick answer: the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam GS59X is the handheld steamer most people should get. The Beautural Portable Steamer is the best small travel pick, and the Reliable Vivio 500GC is the upright to buy if you steam a lot of clothes at once.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Type | Power | Heat-up | Tank / run time | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam GS59X | Handheld | 1,875 W | About 40 seconds | 7.3 oz / 15 to 20 min | 1 year |
| Beautural Portable Steamer | Compact travel | 1,000 W | About 30 seconds | 5 oz / about 9 min | 2 years |
| Reliable Vivio 500GC | Upright | See product page | About 90 seconds | 1 gallon / about 2 hours | 3 years |
The best clothing steamers
1. Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam GS59X: best overall
Best for: most people who steam a few garments at a time.
The GS59X is powerful for a handheld. Its 1,875-watt heater is ready in about 40 seconds and produces strong, steady steam that removed wrinkles from cotton and linen faster than most rivals in Wirecutter’s tests. Five steam settings let you turn it down for delicates, and its 7.3-ounce tank runs for about 15 to 20 minutes, enough for several shirts.
It weighs about 2.75 pounds, so your arm may tire during a long session, and like most handhelds it can spit a little water if you tilt it too far. It typically sells for about $70 and has a one-year warranty. If it’s unavailable, Wirecutter suggests the similar Conair GS38R.
Pros
- Strong, steady steam
- Fast heat-up
- Five settings for different fabrics
- Good run time for a handheld
Cons
- A bit heavy for long sessions
- Can spit if tilted
2. Beautural Portable Steamer: best for travel
Best for: travelers and small closets.
The Beautural is small enough for a carry-on and heats in about 30 seconds. Its 1,000 watts and 5-ounce tank give about nine minutes of steam, enough to touch up an outfit or two in a hotel room. It’s less powerful than the Conair, so heavy cotton takes more passes.
Note that it works on 120 volts only, so it isn’t suitable for international travel without a dual-voltage alternative. It has a two-year warranty.
Pros
- Compact and light
- Very fast heat-up
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Short run time
- Less powerful
- 120 V only
3. Reliable Vivio 500GC: best upright steamer
Best for: people who steam a week’s worth of clothes, drapes or bedding at once.
Upright steamers have a big floor tank and a hose-mounted head. The Vivio 500GC’s 1-gallon tank runs for about two hours, so you can work through a whole closet without refilling. It heats up in about 90 seconds and delivers consistent steam with less spitting than handhelds.
It weighs about 22 pounds and needs floor space and storage, so it’s overkill for occasional use. It has a three-year warranty, the longest of our picks.
Pros
- Huge tank, long run time
- Consistent steam
- Three-year warranty
Cons
- Bulky and heavy
- Pricier than handhelds
Steamer or iron?
Steamers are better for delicate fabrics like silk and chiffon, structured garments like blazers, and anything awkward to lay flat, such as dresses and curtains. They’re quick and kind to fabrics. Irons are better for crisp creases and collars, heavy cotton and very wrinkled linen. Many households use both: a steamer for daily touch-ups and an iron for dress shirts.
Who should skip a steamer?
If you mostly wear crisp dress shirts or pressed trousers, a good iron will serve you better, since steamers can’t create sharp creases. If you rarely deal with wrinkles, the steam from a hot shower or a dryer’s steam cycle may be enough. And if you only travel occasionally, many hotels lend irons on request.
For everyone else, especially people with lots of knits, dresses, blouses, suits or linen, a steamer can make getting dressed faster and help clothes last longer, because it applies less heat and pressure than an iron and you don’t need to set up a board.
What to look for
- Heat-up time: under a minute is ideal for a handheld.
- Steam power and consistency: higher wattage generally means stronger steam, but steady output matters as much.
- Tank size: bigger tanks mean fewer refills but more weight in your hand.
- Spitting: water droplets can spot fabric; look for models that resist leaking.
- Voltage: check before traveling abroad.
- Warranty: steamers are prone to mineral buildup, so a longer warranty is valuable.
How to steam clothes
Hang the garment on a sturdy hanger, ideally from a door frame or shower rod. Hold the fabric taut from the bottom with one hand and move the steamer head slowly downward from the top with the other. Keep the head upright to prevent spitting, and don’t press so hard on delicates that you leave water marks. Test an inconspicuous spot on sensitive fabrics.
Use distilled water if you have hard water, which reduces mineral buildup, and empty the tank after each use. Never point steam at your hand or a person; it can burn. For freshening fabrics with odors, steam also helps, though it isn’t a substitute for washing. For more fabric care, see our guide to whether silk pillowcases are worth it.
FAQ
Can a steamer sanitize clothes?
Steam can freshen fabric and reduce odors, but a handheld steamer isn’t a reliable way to disinfect clothing.
Is a steamer safe for silk and wool?
Generally yes, and gentler than an iron. Keep the head moving and follow the care label.
Why does my steamer spit water?
Usually because it isn’t fully heated, is tilted too far or has mineral buildup. Let it heat completely and descale per the manual.
Handheld or upright?
Handhelds suit most people and small spaces. Uprights make sense if you steam a lot at once.
The bottom line
The Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam GS59X is the clothing steamer we’d buy for most people: powerful, quick and reasonably priced. Pack the Beautural for trips, and choose the Reliable Vivio 500GC upright if you steam a lot.
