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Quick answer: buy a steam generator if you iron for more than about an hour a week, or iron a lot of bedding, linen or shirts. It produces two to four times more steam under pressure and can roughly halve ironing time. Buy a steam iron if you iron occasionally, have little storage space or want something cheaper and quicker to heat up.
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 70g/min
- Steam shot: 210g/min
- Continuous steam: 180g/min
- Tank: 1.2L
- Pressure: 9 bar
- Continuous steam: 90g/min
- Tank: 1.3L
- Pressure: 4.5 bar
| Steam iron | Steam generator | |
|---|---|---|
| Continuous steam | 25–85g/min | 90–250g/min |
| Pressure | None (gravity-fed) | 4.5–9 bar |
| Water tank | 200–450ml | 1.2–2L, often removable |
| Heat-up | 25–60 seconds | 1–2 minutes |
| Iron weight | 0.9–1.8kg | Often lighter iron (0.5–1.2kg) plus a 2.5–6kg base |
| Storage | Small | Needs cupboard space and a sturdy board |
| Price tier | £–££ | ££–££££ |
| Best for | Occasional ironing, small homes | Families, bedding, big weekly piles |
Our top pick of each type
- Best steam iron Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 (£). Check price
- Best steam generator Tefal Pro Express Vision GV9820 (£££). Check price
- Cheapest step up Russell Hobbs Steam Power 24420 (£). 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 | Continuous steam | Tank | Price tier |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630 | 70g/min | 350ml | £ |
| Tefal Pro Express Vision GV9820 | 180g/min | 1.2L | £££ |
| Russell Hobbs Steam Power 24420 | 90g/min | 1.3L | £ |
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.
Recommended models
Best steam iron
Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra 20630
- Power: 3100W
- Continuous steam: 70g/min
- Steam shot: 210g/min
- Tank: 350ml
The steam iron we recommend for most people.
Best steam generator
Tefal Pro Express Vision GV9820
- Continuous steam: 180g/min
- Tank: 1.2L
- Pressure: 9 bar
- Boost: 750g
What a top steam generator does: 9 bar and enough steam to iron one side only.
Full review, pros and cons in our best steam generator irons guide
Cheapest step up
Russell Hobbs Steam Power 24420
- Continuous steam: 90g/min
- Tank: 1.3L
- Pressure: 4.5 bar
- Heat-up: About 1 minute
The cheapest way to try a steam generator. It heats in about a minute.
Full review, pros and cons in our best steam generator irons guide
How they work
A steam iron drips water from a small tank onto the hot soleplate, where it turns to steam. A steam generator has a separate base with a boiler or pump that creates pressurised steam and sends it down a hose to the iron. Pressure pushes steam through thick fabric, so you often only iron one side.
When a steam iron is the better choice
- You iron a few items a week.
- You have limited storage or a small board.
- You want to iron quickly without waiting two minutes for heat-up.
- Budget matters: a good steam iron costs a fraction of a good steam generator.
See our best steam irons UK.
When a steam generator is worth it
- You iron for a family, or iron bedding and tablecloths.
- You want fewer refills: tanks hold 1.2–2L.
- You have wrist problems, because many generator irons are lighter as the water sits in the base.
- You want no-settings ironing, such as Philips OptimalTEMP or Tefal presets.
See our best steam generator irons.
Frequently asked questions
Is a steam generator better than a steam iron?
For large amounts of ironing, yes. It delivers far more steam under pressure and irons faster. For occasional ironing a steam iron is cheaper, smaller and heats faster.
Do steam generators use more electricity?
They draw similar power (2400–3100W) but iron faster, so a session can use a similar amount of energy or less. Many have eco modes.
Are steam generators heavy?
The base weighs 2.5–6kg and stays on the board, but the iron itself is often lighter than a normal steam iron because it carries no water.
Can a steam generator damage clothes?
Not if used correctly. Models with no-settings technology, such as Philips OptimalTEMP, are guaranteed safe on all ironable fabrics.
Related guides
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 Tefal, Philips, Russell Hobbs, Morphy Richards and Braun; Which? steam iron advice. Prices change often, so check the latest price before you buy. How we research.