There's nothing worse than finally unpacking to find that all your clothes for the trip have become creased in your suitcase! Since not all hotels will have an iron or dry cleaning services available, packing a travel iron in your hand luggage is the perfect solution to keep you looking sharp on the road.
This article will help you understand all the key elements of a great mini iron, such as the ideal wattage, temperature range and water tank capacity for steaming garments. Plus, we've compiled a list of the 10 best lightweight travel irons currently available from UK retailers such as Amazon, Argos and John Lewis.
Quick List - Top Travel Irons
Duronic
A 2-In-1 Flat Iron and Steamer With a High Wattage and Wide Range of Temperatures
Steamworks
A Reliable Travel Iron With Variable Temperature and Humidity Controls
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
For more power and faster heating, you should look for a device with as high a wattage as possible. A standard household iron is around 1100 watts, so this is a good number to aim for if you want a travel iron that works as effectively as a full-sized one.
In general, though, most travel irons are much smaller and less powerful. While this is fine for temporary use, we recommend selecting one with a wattage of at least 400 W to ensure that you can keep your clothes crumple-free on your trip.
Cut down on chores while you travel with one of these non-iron shirts.
Much like wattage, the maximum temperature on a travel iron won't necessarily need to be as high as a full-sized model. Since your clothes should only be prone to minor creases from packing, aiming for a maximum temperature of around 140°C should be enough to cover most of your travel needs.
However, with such a wide range of fabrics on the market, one heat setting won't always be suitable for all garments. For particularly tough creases in clothes made from cotton, linen or rayon, your iron will need to reach 190-230°C.
If you prefer an iron with a steaming setting, you will need to look out for a product with a water tank. The water tank on a full-sized iron tends to be around 300 ml, but travel-sized options can't normally accommodate such large tanks.
To steam iron a few garments at a time, a water tank of around 80 ml should be sufficient. However, if you plan to use the steam setting a lot, look for a larger tank that can hold 100-150 ml as this will save you repeated trips to the sink to fill up!
Try a clothes steamer for low-maintenance crease management.
If you're only using carry-on luggage or you have limited space in your suitcase, you should check the dimensions and weight of the iron before purchasing. Anything up to 700 g won't be too cumbersome and will be sturdy as well as lightweight. Irons in the 1-2 kg range tend to be tougher and less prone to damage but may cause you to go over your baggage limit.
One aspect you won't want to cut back on is the cord length — in fact, the cord should be as long as possible if you want to make ironing on the go convenient and avoid having to sit right by the plug socket. Cords measuring at least 1 metre will be suitable for most environments but 2 metres will be even handier.
Keep your favourite garments looking presentable with a fabric shaver!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Duronic 2-in-1 Vertical Travel Steam Iron | ![]() | A 2-In-1 Flat Iron and Steamer With a High Wattage and Wide Range of Temperatures | |
2 | ANSIO Travel Iron | ![]() | Reaches 230°C to Tackle Tough Creases on Various Fabrics | |
3 | Steamworks Travel Iron|ES143 | ![]() | A Reliable Travel Iron With Variable Temperature and Humidity Controls | |
4 | Shoze Household Travel Iron | ![]() | Allows You to Brush Fabrics While You Iron | |
5 | Russell Hobbs Steam Glide Travel Iron | ![]() | Offers Impressive Functions at a Bargain Price | |
6 | Swan Compact Steam Travel Iron|SI3070N | ![]() | Steam Multiple Garments With a 100 ml Tank | |
7 | Cosicosy Travel Iron Handheld Garment Steamer | ![]() | Steam for up to 10 Minutes With a 150 ml Water Tank | |
8 | Prym Mini Steam Iron | ![]() | The Smallest Option on Our List, Weighing Just 280 g | |
9 | Go Travel Mini Garment Iron | ![]() | Features a Dual Voltage Cord for Use in the UK and Abroad | |
10 | Quest Travel Steam Iron | ![]() | A 750W Device That Will Power Up Quickly While Conserving Energy |
With two different steam settings, a 90-180°C temperature range and a dual corner soleplate, it'll be sure to tackle any garment regardless of the size, shape or material. Plus, the 2-metre power cable will make ironing easy no matter where you are.
The cord features a dual voltage plug, so you will be able to use the iron in the UK or abroad. With a ceramic soleplate and anti-drip steamers too, you can be sure your clothes will be looking pristine in no time.
With a powerful steam flow and adjustable humidity, this 1000 W iron is ideal for keeping all manner of fabrics perfectly pressed. It heats up to full temperature in under a minute and has a water tank with a respectable capacity of 70 ml.
The lightweight compact design is convenient for travel, while the 1.91-metre power cord is comparable to many full-sized household models. Plus, all these features are covered by a 2-year guarantee!
At 1000 W, this device heats up as fast as a standard household iron. The 160°C heat will be high enough to smooth out most fabrics but gentle enough that it won't cause burns.
The 80 ml water tank is more than sufficient for steaming a handful of garments at once, and the wattage of 760 W will make powering up fast and efficient. It's lightweight enough for your hand luggage too, coming in at 780 g.
This 900 W iron will power up quickly and the variable temperature control means you can pick the right heat for any fabric. Swan even provides a 2-year guarantee so you'll be covered in the event of breakages, and the 100 ml water tank is large enough for steaming multiple garments.
Unfortunately, the shipping time from Amazon is significantly longer than many of the other products on the market, so if you have a trip coming up soon then you may prefer to go for something with a faster delivery time.
With a maximum temperature of 140°C, it won't reach as high a heat as some of the other devices on this list. Luckily, a lower heat should still suffice for most fabrics, since steaming generally doesn't require the same temperature as flat ironing.
This is the most compact iron on our list, weighing just 280 g. Size is no concern when it comes to the cord, though! The 2-metre cable will allow increased movement and the ergonomic handle will ensure you're comfortable too.
There is no water tank on this iron so it sadly won't be a suitable choice if you like to steam your clothes. Still, if size and weight are your main concerns, there's no better option on the market.
This 85 ml water tank on this iron will allow you to steam multiple garments in one sitting, with standard and rapid steam functions available. Plus, the 1.8 m cord is equipped with dual voltage technology for safe use in the UK and abroad.
Unfortunately, the manufacturer doesn't specify the dimensions or weight of this device. However, many customers on the John Lewis website praise the compact design so we're sure that it'll fit comfortably in a standard suitcase.
The cord length isn't specified though, so you may find that this iron isn't as easy to manoeuvre as some of the others on our list, especially as you won't know the layout of a room until you arrive at your destination.
No. 1: Duronic|2-in-1 Vertical Travel Steam Iron
No. 2: ANSIO|Travel Iron
No. 3: Steamworks|Travel Iron|ES143
No. 4: Shoze|Household Travel Iron
No. 5: Russell Hobbs|Steam Glide Travel Iron
View Full RankingThe descriptions of each product are referenced from content available on manufacturer, brand, and e-commerce sites.
Automotive
Baby Products
Beauty
Books
Business, Industry & Science
Computers & Accessories
DIY, Garden & Tools
Electronics & Photo
Fashion
Grocery
Health & Personal Care
Home & Kitchen
Large Appliances
Musical Instruments & DJ
PC & Video Games
Pet Supplies
Sports & Outdoors
Stationery & Office Products
Toys & Games