Adam holds a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Linguistics, and creative writing has always been his greatest passion. For more than 25 years he's been working for several well-known automobile and travel magazines as an editor and expert consultant, but when Adam started his writing path here, at WisePick, it turned out that he's capable of writing practically anything about everything.
Initially being an engineering specialist, Tom has never stopped learning and acquiring other knowledge and skills. Now he’s involved in technical support for a well-known household appliances manufacturer, so no wonder he knows everything about almost everything you buy for your home.
Last updated: May 31, 2021
Wise Pick is reader-supported. We may earn a commission through products purchased using links on this page. Learn more about our process here
Do you want a brilliant steam iron without breaking the bank? If so, you’re in luck. We’re here to find the best steam irons under $50. Thankfully, you’re not going to be short on options as we’ve included 10 top-rated models here. Choosing the best steam iron under $50 comes down to your own needs and what features you’re looking for.
What makes the best steam iron under $50? Well, a lot of factors go into it. The appliance needs to have enough power for effective ironing, a large water tank so you won’t have to refill it frequently, and various steam settings to get rid of those wrinkles effectively. We also looked at important specifications such as the dimensions and weight so that it is convenient to use and store and warranty to make sure your investments are protected. Are you ready to learn more? Stick with us, and by the end of this article, you will be able to make an informed decision!
"A fantastic option that boasts adjustable steam output, self-cleaning function, and 3-way auto shut-off.1700W of power.14 oz. water tank.Stainless steel soleplate with chromium finish."
"For those on a budget, we have this model with vertical and burst steam functionality.1200W of power.Automatic temperature adjustment for different types of fabric.TrueGlide non-stick soleplate."
"For easier navigation through the menu, this model has a built-in LCD screen.1800W of power.11.5 oz. water tank.Ceramic soleplate with double-layer design."
"In terms of adjustability, it’s hard to beat this model with variable temperature and steam controls.1500W of power.12 oz. water tank.Stainless steel soleplate."
"Do you want a lighter model? Check this compact iron that takes 3 seconds to regenerate steam.1500W of power.8.1 oz. water tank.Stainless steel soleplate."
"This ergonomic model features a long cord, large water inlet, and anti-drip and self-cleaning systems.1700W of power.9.1 oz. water tank.Soleplate with aluminum layer, enamel layer, precision point tip."
"A powerful option that can handle any task. The anti-calcification ensures its durability.1800W of power.10.1 oz. water tank.Stainless steel soleplate."
"A powerful option that can handle any task. The anti-calcification ensures its durability.1800W of power.10.1 oz. water tank.Stainless steel soleplate."
"With the ceramic soleplate and anti-drip feature, this steam iron ensures optimal results.1500W of power.9 oz. water tank.Ceramic soleplate with high-precision tip."
In our opinion, this is the best steam iron under $50 because it has all the features that you’d want and works perfectly in a wide range of different settings. The large 14oz tank is able to produce a powerful blast of steam.
It gets to work straight away and can produce excellent results. It comes with a 2-year warranty, which shows the level of build quality it has. Also, the controls are very easy to use, and you’ll find ironing very simple with this model.
What are its best features? We loved everything about this iron. It heats up in a matter of seconds, has a high level of usability, and great functionality. Additionally, it has great safety features, such as the 3-way auto turn-off.
What could be improved? The dial control is a little stiff and needs a little too much pressure to turn it, but that’s only a minor issue.
There is no need to pay a lot since you can get the same performance with this affordable model! We introduce to you the best steam iron under $25! At that price, you’d be forgiven for thinking it would be a terrible iron. In truth, we were very impressed with how easy it is to use and how many functions you get.
It’s one of the lightest irons available today at just 1.7lbs and has a retractable cord, which is a feature many people love. It has an anti-drip design and glides very well across any surface. Thus, the iron works very well and looks quite stylish too.
What are our favorite features? Aside from the price, we loved how easy it is to use. The ergonomic design allows it to feel comfortable in your hand, with all the buttons being in easy reach. The adjustments are simple and allow you to get impressive results.
What could be better? It isn’t quite as powerful as some other models we looked at here, and it can also be a little difficult to see the waterline.
Here, we see another exceptional steam iron under $50. It has an impressive level of power, and the water tank of 11.5oz is going to produce a lot of steam. It comes with a ceramic soleplate and is backed by a 2-year warranty.
There are 9 various preset modes that allow you to get precise settings for whatever fabric you need to iron, and a brilliant LCD screen helps to navigate through the menu. It’s another iron that has an auto shut-off, which is always a useful feature to have.
What are our favorite features? The first thing you notice is how well balanced the iron feels in your hand. It’s light enough to prevent arm ache but heavy enough for effective pressing. Overall, it’s easy to handle and with all the various settings, allowing you to get creaseless results.
What could be better? It would be useful if this iron came with a funnel as the refilling hole is quite small, making it easy to spill water.
Sunbeam has also made a great stream iron. It’s able to deliver 1400W of power and can give bursts of effective steam. On top of that, it comes on a stainless steel soleplate and has a weight on the slightly higher side of 3lbs.
It’s another one that features a retractable cord to make putting it away very easy. It also has some other great features, such as being anti-drip and having a self-clean system. All of this quality is backed up by having a 3-year warranty.
Why is it special? The controls on this iron are well placed and easy to use. Also, there is a wide range of useful steam settings. It’s simple to iron with, which is shown by the rapid heating time along with that retractable cord.
What are the flaws? The downside of that cord is that the iron does feel a little bulky and unbalanced at times.
BLACK+DECKER has made this iron that has a great range of specifications. It has a power output level of 1500W, which is on the higher end of the scale, and a water tank capacity of 12oz, which is also on the higher side.
The adjustability you get here is fantastic, as it has variable temperature along with steam controls. It has a weight of 3.2lbs, which is ideal for those who like heavier irons. Moreover, it will cope with all fabric types easily.
What are its best features? The build quality on this model is excellent, and this is shown by the highly effective steam output and also the fact it doesn’t leak at all. All the controls are intuitively placed, which means making those adjustments is very easy.
What could be improved? The steam wheel is a good feature on this iron, but it is a little bit loose. It means it can be a little too easy to knock it out of position accidentally.
If you were looking for a smaller and more portable iron, then this is going to be perfect. Despite its size, it still can deliver 1500W of power, so you won’t be making any sacrifices in terms of its steam capability.
The steam can be used vertically or as an anti-wrinkle spray. It’s very comfortable to use with the soft-grip handle, and the controls are all well placed. Also, it has plenty of other great features, such as the self-cleaning function and rapid heating.
What makes it special? This is perfect for anyone who finds that most irons feel a little bulky and uncomfortable. On top of that, it’s exceptionally easy to use and slides smoothly over any fabric. The functionality is great, and it’s backed by a 2-year warranty.
What cons did we find? It needs to be filled slightly on its side, which can be a little awkward. It can lead to a few spillages, but you quickly get used to it.
If you tend to be holding an iron for long periods, you need it to be as comfortable as possible. That’s what you get here with its ergonomic design that allows you to easily apply all of its power and the high burst of steam.
It has plenty of enjoyable features such as the anti-drip system, large inlet, and self-cleaning system. The build quality is high here, with a mix of aluminum and enamel used on the soleplate. In addition, the appliance comes with a 1-year warranty.
What are its best features? For those frustrated by short cords, you’ll be happy with the length here. This iron is simple to use, and that’s shown by the range of controls, the weight balance, and how easy it is to fill.
What could be improved? The temperature dial can be a little awkward to use. It’s a little hard to see, which means you have to stop ironing and take your hand away to see it.
Shark has been able to make a steam iron that can deliver a very high level of power. The burst of steam is excellent and works to take wrinkles out of any type of fabric. It has a decent water tank at 10.1oz that is fairly easy to fill.
It has a stainless steel soleplate, and the weight is a little over 3lbs. The iron offers plenty of stability, and that’s ideal for those who are scared about their iron falling to the floor. While the build quality is very high here, that’s also backed by a one-year warranty.
What are its best features? The design of this iron is excellent. It’s very easy to hold and has a tapered needle tip, which is ideal for getting in-between seams and creases. Thus, it has a very good feel and a wide range of settings that allow you to iron any type of fabric.
What could be improved? Some people like to have a weighted iron, whereas others don’t. You may find that this iron is a little too heavy, and it can cause arm ache after a while.
This is another steam iron that has a fairly compact design. It has a power rating of 1,200W and a water tank 7.1oz in size. While it may be a little smaller, it’s still highly effective and can get the job done easily.
It features a curved stainless steel soleplate and only weighs 2lbs. There are some great features here, and that includes a retractable cord. Apart from that, there are auto shut-off, precision heat control, and spray mist functions.
Why are we impressed? This iron looks great and works very quickly. Despite having less power, it can still produce results comparable with much bigger irons. It’s simple to use and has a good range of settings.
What negatives must you be aware of? This iron does have a fairly small water tank, and that power may not be suitable for some people.
Eureka has made this iron that looks brilliant and performs very well too. It has a power rating of 1500W and can produce both burst and vertical steam. Additionally, it delivers that without any dripping issues.
The ceramic soleplate glides effortlessly, and it has a good weight of 2.65lbs. Apart from those great specifications, you’ll see some useful features such as the auto shut-off, self-cleaning, LED indicator, and the high-grip handle.
What are its best features? For those looking for a powerful steam blast, this would be a great option. Despite the high power, it’s very easy to use, and you’ll get through that pile of ironing very quickly.
What could be improved? Unfortunately, there have been some quality control issues with some receiving an iron that breaks down quickly. Thankfully, this appears to be a rare issue.
Things to Consider
It’s important to get the right steam iron for you, which is why we’ve developed this buying guide to give you all the information that you need. Here, we’ll go through all of the key features and see why they’re important. We’ll also look at some FAQs, which should hopefully clear up any doubts that you have. By the end, you should be able to develop a clear picture of what steam iron you should buy.
Steam irons under $50 – what to expect?
When buying a budget product, there’s always a worry that you’ll be getting something that isn’t up to your standards. It makes it even more important to look carefully at reviews and choose a model that is highly rated and has all the features you want.
The biggest difference between affordable irons and pricier options is usually the base, which works as a large water tank. This allows you to go a lot longer before refills. Also, the expensive models tend to be on the higher end of the power scale.
While that is true, you can still find fantastic irons under $50. The models we’ve looked at don’t lack power, functionality, or steam production. You shouldn’t be worried about not getting value for money as all the irons here are fantastic and produce excellent results.
How to pick the best steam iron under $50?
As with any product, you need to assess your own needs. Do you need vertical steam? Is auto shut-off important? How long do you iron for? These are all types of questions that can ultimately affect your buying decision. As we go through this buying guide, it’s a good idea to make a note of features and see how it relates to you. By the end, you should build up a clear picture of exactly what you need.
Power
What are the downsides to low power? The iron won’t heat up as quickly, and also the steam won’t be quite as powerful. The Panasonic NI-E660SR Dry and Steam Iron only have 1200W of power but compensates for this very well with its exceptional functionality and still produces great results.
You can still get a high level of power with an iron under $50, and we see this with the 1800W of the BEAUTURAL 1800-Watt Steam Iron. This has the equivalent power of many more expensive models and can generate great heat for effective ironing.
Water tank
The water tank is perhaps the biggest advantage of high-end steam irons. This, however, only really becomes a big advantage for those who are ironing for long periods. For example, iron such as the BLACK+DECKER Digital Advantage Professional Steam Iron D2530 is able to hold 12oz, which can still provide a lot of steam.
Along with capacity, it’s also worth considering how easy it is to fill up the water reservoir. A large inlet makes it very easy, and you can fill up directly from the tap, whereas smaller ones will work best with a funnel.
Steam
It’s important to get the steam functionality that you want. Most will have various settings available that are suitable for different fabric types. This includes having a temperature adjustment that gives you the versatility you need.
There are different types of steam output too. The T-fal Ultraglide Iron is fantastic at providing both burst steam and also vertical steam. This allows you to use it in a wide range of different settings and makes it easy to use.
Soleplate
Soleplates are generally made from either ceramic or stainless steel. Ceramic is popular as it allows you to iron at a higher temperature without burning clothes. It’s also better at preventing statics.
Stainless steel is more durable as ceramic can feel off after a while. It’s also easy to clean but can’t be used at high as high temperatures.
Both of them are excellent conductors and distribute heat evenly, and both of them glide very well across any surface.
Dimensions and weight
A lot of people don’t care too much about dimensions as most irons are roughly the same size. If you want a little more portability, look for one that is a little more compact.
Weight is an interesting specification with irons as most people like an iron that is light enough to be easy to hold but heavy enough to press down firmly on your fabrics. We thought that the Eureka Razor Powerful Steam Iron is one that finds a great balance at 2.65lbs.
Ease of use
Your iron has to be easy to use, and we made sure that all models we looked at here are able to pass that test.
One thing to look out for is the position of the controls, as they should be easy to reach and adjust while you’re using the steam iron.
The handle also plays an important role, and most of them are contoured to feel comfortable and secure in your hand. The Eureka Razor Powerful Steam Iron takes that a step further with a rubberized handle that gives you a very secure grip.
Safety features
The most common safety feature that we see here is the auto shut off, as shown on the BLACK+DECKER Digital Advantage Professional Steam Iron D2530. This will cut the power after a specified amount of time, which is great for those who worry about whether or not they’ve left it on.
Stability can also be an important issue as you want to place your iron down without fear of it falling over. The Shark STEAM PRO Iron excels in this respect and is ideal for those who can be a little clumsy.
Cord
Do you get annoyed by a short cord? Or perhaps you don’t like having a loose cord after you use it? If so, there are solutions out there. The BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Iron ICR2020 is an example of iron with a retractable cord to make your life easier.
If you wanted to have a long cord, the T-fal Ultraglide Iron 1700W would be a great option, and this can give you a little more flexibility in terms of where you can use it.
Warranty
It’s always good to have a warranty, and all the irons here at least have a 1-year option. The Sunbeam Steammaster Steam Iron has an excellent 3-year warranty that will give you plenty of confidence in its build quality.
The BEAUTURAL 1800-Watt Steam Iron is a little less at 2 years, but it also comes with a 90-day return period, which is perfect if you’re not immediately happy. Always have a look at what protection you have.
Most irons are well set up to use tap water, and it’s not going to cause any long-term issues. There may be a little mineral build-up, but this is usually easy to clean. That being said, it’s commonly said that using 50% tap water and 50% distilled water can be a better solution to have more pure water. While using distilled water is great, it’s also expensive. Don’t worry if you’re only going to use tap water as this will be fine.
Firstly, it’s always a good idea to consult the manual in terms of maintenance as you don’t want to do something that may invalidate your warranty. For cleaning and maintenance, white vinegar is your friend. This can, when in a solution with water, break down mineral deposits. You can apply this to the soleplate and use a Q-tip for the holes. For deep cleaning, you can run this same solution through the iron before refilling it with normal water.
As we’ve already mentioned, these models all come with at least a one-year warranty. We’ve also only chosen irons here that have a high level of build quality and are highly rated. Some steam irons are poorly made and can break easily, but all the appliances mentioned here should last for a good number of years. $50 can still buy you a high-quality iron, with some of these being well under that figure but still having durable construction and build quality.
Our Verdict
We were very impressed with all irons that we’ve reviewed here. If we had to pick a favorite, then it would be the PurSteam 1700W Steam Iron. It offers a lot of power along with various features and excellent steam output.
If $50 is still a bit too much for you, then the BLACK+DECKER Vitessa Iron ICR2020 would be perfect as it’s priced around half of that. Alternatively, if you still wanted a powerful iron for under $50, then BEAUTURAL 1800-Watt Steam Iron could be the perfect model for you.
While we loved these three, we could have highlighted any of the products we reviewed. They all have excellent features and build quality. As soon as you find the best steam iron under $50, you’ll enjoy its functionality and fast results!
