The Best Irons for Sewing in 2026 + Our Pressing Setup

It's a sewing truth: no matter how much time you spend cutting and assembling a garment, the finished product succeeds or fails based on your pressing. You can sew the most gorgeous French seams ever, but if you aren't properly pressing at each stage in the game, your project will inevitably look homemade. Pressing IS sewing, and choosing the right tools will make this stage much less of a chore. We receive A LOT of questions about our ironing/pressing set-up. I get it... it took me YEARS to figure out the best iron for sewing. I cannot tell you how often I've shaken yet another broken iron at the sky, asking why the sewing gods have forsaken me. That said, I think I've cracked the iron code, so today I'm going to tell you about our favourite irons and some of the pros and cons so you can assess what your best set up might be too!

Y'all... over the years, we have tried ALL THE IRONS. It's the most important tool after your sewing machine, and it's also the one most likely to fall, break, and/or spit discoloured water on your precious project. I've personally used almost every iron on the market at some point, and most of them will give up the ghost after a year or two, especially if (like me) you are constantly putting it down in a haphazard way so it falls repeatedly. I have broken so many irons. So so many.

Enter Reliable. It's in the name, folks! We have been lucky enough to have a variety of Reliable models sent to us over the last few years, and they are all standing the test of time. Definitely on the higher end, I think they're worth every darn penny. Here are the models we use (and love) in the studio.

Best Handheld Iron: Reliable Velocity

We LOVE the Reliable Velocity. It's heavier (and more expensive) than a cheapo iron, but it's so sturdy and durable and makes more steam than a tea kettle! Hands down the best handheld iron I've ever used – both of ours are going strong after two years. And best of all? It has a shut-off override! It's so frustrating when your iron turns off when you're in the middle of a project, and while I understand the safety reasons behind that, I want a hot iron when I want it damn it! This guy stays on as long as you need. We have the Reliable 270IR, bit the Reliable 240IR seems to have most of the same features at a lower price of $199.

The most important thing to do to keep your iron in good shape for a long time: use filtered water! A regular Brita filter will help remove minerals from your tap water and prevent buildup inside the iron (which is what causes spitting). I highly downvote using regular, unfiltered tapwater in your iron; you can also try distilled water if you feel like paying for it.

Reliable Steam Generator Irons

If you want to step up your ironing game and are ready to invest, a steam generator is a real game-changer. The water is housed in a separate tank, which means a) you have to fill it less and b) the iron itself is lighter since it's not filled with water. We turn it on in the morning and have a hot iron all day long. The quantity of steam it produces is unbelievable – we could host a full spa session over here. It is far and away the best iron we've used to tackle REALLY wrinkled fabric due to the amount of steam generated.

A few things to note: The iron is meant to lie flat on a heatproof silicone mat rather than standing upright. It is also attached to the tank with a flexible pipe, so you need to have space to house the tank on a sturdy surface, with room on your ironing surface for the silicone mat. We have our tank resting in our mobile pressing station caddy (more on that below), with the mat lying on our pressing surface.

In terms of models, we have a Reliable 3000is, but the 4000is has a bigger tank (note that these start around $800 USD, so its definitely an investment!) Our sample maker, Judith, has the smaller and less expensive Maven model (Currently $239 USD) which I'd say is somewhere between a normal handheld and one of the more heavy-duty steam generators. For the 3000 or 4000 models, be sure you get a Teflon foot for it, and again, only use filtered water (like what you get from a Brita pitcher!) to prevent mineral buildup and spitting.

Gravity Feed Irons

Another great ironing option is a gravity feed iron, which is what we used before switching to Reliable. These are generally what you'll find in any professional atelier or tailoring shop. They are sturdy and durable (they will survive multiple falls), provide massive amounts of steam, and have no auto shut-off. The water is housed in a separate tank that needs to be hung above your pressing station. I also like that they can be repaired, although the last time I had one fixed, it was nearly as expensive as the iron itself.

We've used the Silver Star model before and liked it (this one comes with all the equipment you need to get set up). Most gravity feed irons come with a heat-proof silicone mat for it to rest on (they are meant to rest face down, not on their side), so even if you do forget to turn it off, it won't start a fire unless you have some kind of electrical issue. On that note, it is VERY important that you plug your gravity feed directly into a socket. If you have to use an extension cord (like we do), make sure you use a heavy duty 10 gauge extension cord. Anything less is a serious fire hazard. Other notes:

• Gravity feed irons are quite heavy (around 4 pounds). They use a combination of weight and steam to get the wrinkles out (whereas a steam generator produces so much steam, the iron itself doesn't need to be as heavy). If you have wrist issues, it might not be the best choice.
• The water tank is attached to the iron with a long, clear hose and is quite large (4 liters!), which means lots of steam without having to refill it all the time. The tank must be suspended a few feet above your workstation (the water enters by... you got it... gravity) to work properly. You'll need a sturdy ceiling hook at home. Alternatively, you can use an IV stand if you don't want to make a hole in your ceiling. If it's suspended from the ceiling, I suggest attaching it to a thin rope secured to a wall hook with a figure 8 knot - that way, you can easily raise and lower the tank without climbing on a stool to fill it up.
• To get the most life out of your iron, ensure you use demineralizer beads in the tank and change them regularly (every 3-4 months or so, depending on use). Alternatively, you can also use filtered water -- just make sure you're not using water directly from the tap, since the minerals will clog up the gullyworks.
• Use a Teflon foot on your iron if it doesn't come with your iron. It helps moderate heat and protect your fabric.

Budget Irons

We know not everyone has the budget to spend big bucks on an iron. We've done some research and these models all come in under $100 and are very well reviewed:

• This Chi Iron has a long auto shutoff period of 30 minutes, which means it won't turn off as fast as most models. It also has a retractable cord which is handy, and makes lots of steam.
• This Hamilton Beach iron is under $40, has a ton of 5 star reviews, and also features a retractable cord.

Last But Not Least: the Steam Press Iron

As an extra special bonus, try adding a steam press iron to your iron collection. I've wanted one for a while and don't for a moment regret the investment (about $270 on Amazon). I would file this item as "lovely to add if you have the space and cash". The steam press is essentially one giant iron; to use it, you lay your fabric on the board and close the press with the handle. You can then optionally hit it with a LOT of steam, making it basically the best tool ever for steam shrinking a few yards of wool, pressing a large piece of fabric, or applying interfacing. While we don't use it every day, having it there when we need it is a huge time saver. The same rules apply for a power source: directly into the wall or use with a heavy-duty 10-gauge extension cord. This model does have an auto-off and also has a ten-second timer, very handy for applying interfacing so you don't have to count in your head!

Our Pressing Station

After we moved to our old studio space, I abandoned a traditional ironing board. They are so narrow and awkward to work on, and I wanted a big, wide surface that would make it easy to press long lengths of fabric. Our current ironing board is actually an old worktable I found in the garbage years ago. For its second life, I made a top for it following our DIY ironing board tutorial. We also love this Ikea rolling caddy to store all our supplies in.

This pressing station has been a total game changer in the studio. It's nice and big, making it easy to press large pieces of fabric, while also doubling as another work surface when we need it. The extra storage shelf is also handy for storing larger pressing tools. If you'd like to ditch your ironing board for a stand-alone pressing station like ours, this IKEA workstation would be perfect. 

We have lots more resources for pressing hacks and tips, including this video on Heather's tips for tricky areas, this post on our favourite pressing tools and this post on how to clean your iron. Tell us in the comments your favourite tips, and happy sewing!