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Quick answer: Tefal and Philips are the best steam iron brands in the UK. Tefal has the easiest descaling and excellent soleplates, and Philips has the most steam and OptimalTEMP, which means one setting for every fabric. Russell Hobbs and Morphy Richards are the best value brands. Braun is the most comfortable to use, and Swan and Tower are fine for light, occasional ironing.
- Power: 2800W
- Continuous steam: 50g/min
- Steam shot: 260g/min
- Power: 3000W
- Continuous steam: 85g/min
- Steam shot: 260g/min
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 70g/min
- Steam shot: 210g/min
Most irons sold in the UK come from a handful of companies, and some brands are sister labels: Tefal and Rowenta both belong to Groupe SEB, and Braun irons are made under licence by De’Longhi. Knowing who makes what helps you compare like with like.
| Brand | Best at | Weak spot | Price range | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tefal | Descaling (removable scale collector), soleplate glide | Heavier irons | £ to ££££ | Tefal irons |
| Philips | Steam output, OptimalTEMP no-burn tech | Premium models cost more | £ to ££££ | Philips irons |
| Russell Hobbs | Value: lots of steam for the money | Fewer smart features | £ to ££ | RH vs Morphy |
| Morphy Richards | Value, self-cleaning steam generators | Build quality varies | £ to £££ | Morphy generators |
| Braun | Comfort, FreeGlide 3D soleplate | Less continuous steam | £ to £££ | Braun irons |
| Rowenta | Precision tips, German-engineered soleplates | Thin UK range | ££ to £££ | Rowenta irons |
| Swan | Cheap, powerful basic irons | Basic features, little steam data | £ to ££ | Swan irons |
| Tower | Budget and cordless irons | Shorter track record on durability | £ | Cordless irons |
The best iron from each brand
- Best Tefal Tefal Ultragliss Anti-Calc Plus FV6848 (££). Check price
- Best Philips Philips Azur 8000 DST8050 (£££). Check price
- Best Russell Hobbs Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 (£). Check price
- Best Morphy Richards Morphy Richards Turbo Glide 302000 (££). Check price
- Best Braun Braun TexStyle 7 Pro SI7181 (££). Check price
- Best Rowenta Rowenta Focus Excel DW5325 (£££). Check price
- Best Swan Swan SI12055AQ ProSteam 3000W (£). Check price
- Best Tower Tower Ceraglide Ultra T22013 (£). Check price
Price tiers compare models within this guide: £ budget, ££ mid-range, £££ premium, ££££ top of the range. We do not list exact prices because they change daily. Tap “Check price” to see the current price on Amazon UK.
Comparison table
| Model | Power | Continuous steam | Steam shot | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tefal Ultragliss Anti-Calc Plus FV6848 | 2800W | 50g/min | 260g/min | ££ |
| Philips Azur 8000 DST8050 | 3000W | 85g/min | 260g/min | £££ |
| Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 | 3100W | 70g/min | 210g/min | £ |
| Morphy Richards Turbo Glide 302000 | 2800W | 40g/min | 150g/min | ££ |
| Braun TexStyle 7 Pro SI7181 | 3100W | 50g/min | 230g/min | ££ |
| Rowenta Focus Excel DW5325 | 2700W | 45g/min | 180g/min | £££ |
| Swan SI12055AQ ProSteam 3000W | 3000W | 50g/min | 225g/min | £ |
| Tower Ceraglide Ultra T22013 | 3100W | 40g/min | 180g/min | £ |
Price tiers compare models within this guide: £ budget, ££ mid-range, £££ premium, ££££ top of the range. We do not list exact prices because they change daily. Tap “Check price” to see the current price on Amazon UK.
Our pick from each brand
Best Tefal
Tefal Ultragliss Anti-Calc Plus FV6848
- Power: 2800W
- Continuous steam: 50g/min
- Steam shot: 260g/min
- Tank: 270ml
Tefal at its best: strong steam, great glide and a scale collector you rinse under the tap.
Best Philips
Philips Azur 8000 DST8050
- Power: 3000W
- Continuous steam: 85g/min
- Steam shot: 260g/min
- Tank: 350ml
The most steam of any iron we compare, and OptimalTEMP means no temperature dial at all.
Best Russell Hobbs
Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 70g/min
- Steam shot: 210g/min
- Tank: 350ml
Why Russell Hobbs is the value brand: flagship-level steam and a 3m cord at a mid-range price.
Best Morphy Richards
Morphy Richards Turbo Glide 302000
- Power: 2800W
- Continuous steam: 40g/min
- Steam shot: 150g/min
- Tank: 400ml
Morphy Richards' best steam iron, with a big shot for stubborn creases.
Best Braun
Braun TexStyle 7 Pro SI7181
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 50g/min
- Steam shot: 230g/min
- Tank: 300ml
Braun's comfort-first design: FreeGlide 3D glides in every direction, even over buttons.
Full review, pros and cons in our best braun steam irons 2026 guide
Best Rowenta
Rowenta Focus Excel DW5325
- Power: 2700W
- Continuous steam: 45g/min
- Steam shot: 180g/min
- Soleplate: Microsteam Laser 400
Rowenta's precision tip makes it the best of the brand for collars, seams and pleats.
Full review, pros and cons in our best rowenta steam irons 2026 guide
Best Swan
Swan SI12055AQ ProSteam 3000W
- Power: 3000W
- Continuous steam: 50g/min
- Steam shot: 225g/min
- Tank: 360ml
Swan's most powerful iron, and a lot of power for very little money.
Full review, pros and cons in our best swan irons 2026 guide
Best Tower
Tower Ceraglide Ultra T22013
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 40g/min
- Steam shot: 180g/min
- Tank: 360ml
Tower's best corded iron, a sensible budget all-rounder.
How to choose between brands
- Hard water? Tefal’s removable scale collector (and Philips’ Easy De-Calc on steam generators) makes limescale easy to deal with. See the best iron for hard water.
- Lots of delicates or mixed fabrics? Philips OptimalTEMP means one safe setting for silk to denim, so you never scorch anything.
- On a budget? Russell Hobbs gives the most steam per pound. Swan and Tower are cheaper still but more basic. See cheap vs expensive steam irons.
- Big weekly piles? Look at steam generators rather than irons: Tefal Pro Express and Philips PerfectCare lead, with Morphy Richards and Russell Hobbs as value picks. See the best steam generators.
- Wrist or hand pain? Braun’s handles and a lighter iron make the biggest difference.
Brands you may see but we don't recommend right now
Bosch has stopped selling irons and steam generators in the UK, so any Bosch iron you find is old stock. See Bosch steam generators: alternatives. We also avoid unbranded marketplace irons with no UK service network, because spare parts and warranty claims are hard to get.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best iron brand in the UK?
Tefal and Philips are the strongest all-round brands. Tefal is best for easy descaling and glide, and Philips for steam output and no-burn OptimalTEMP.
Is Tefal or Philips better?
Both are excellent. Choose Tefal for descaling in hard-water areas and Philips if you want one setting for every fabric. See our Tefal vs Philips comparison.
Which iron brands last the longest?
Owner reviews suggest Tefal, Philips and Braun irons tend to outlast budget brands, especially when descaled regularly. Limescale is the most common reason any iron fails.
Are Tefal and Rowenta the same company?
Yes. Both belong to Groupe SEB. Rowenta is positioned as the premium, precision-focused label, while Tefal has the wider UK range.
Who makes Braun irons?
Braun household appliances, including irons, are made under licence by De’Longhi Group.
Related guides
- Best steam irons UK (all brands)
- Tefal vs Philips
- Russell Hobbs vs Morphy Richards
- Steam iron buying guide
- Best steam generator irons
How we chose: we compared manufacturer specifications, independent UK reviews and verified owner feedback, and checked every product was on sale in the UK when we last updated this guide. Sources include manufacturer specifications from each brand; Which? and Mumsnet steam iron guides (2026); owner reviews at Amazon UK, John Lewis and Argos. Prices change often, so check the latest price before you buy. How we research.
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