We updated this guide in November 2022 to ensure all products tested and vetted by the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Appliances and Cleaning Products Lab were in stock and reflected current pricing.
A clothing steamer is a handy tool for quickly getting rid of wrinkles or refreshing fabrics. It's a great addition to your ironing arsenal along with a traditional steam iron and ironing board. It's also an effortless alternative to conventional ironing for items that are hard to press iron or delicate fabrics like flowing skirts, silky blouses and suit jackets. Beyond clothing, they can spruce up many items around the house such as bed skirts, draperies and window treatments, pillow shams and more.
Here at the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab we've tested hundreds of laundry-related items such as irons, ironing boards, washers, dryers and more, including clothes steamers. When we test garment steamers, we evaluate their efficiency, heat-up time and ease of use. Our experts also look at other factors like balance, comfort when holding the steamers and water tank capacity, just to name a few. During testing, our experts use a variety of fabrics, including natural and synthetic fibers. These are our best garment steamers based on categorical Lab tests, industry expertise and picks that have high consumer ratings.
Our top picks:
Read more about how we test clothes steamers, how to choose the best garment steamer and commonly asked questions at the end of this guide. If your clothes need some cleaning before steaming, take a look at the best laundry detergents and best stain removers.