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The 7 Best Travel Steamers of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Wrinkles? We don't know them thanks to these tiny, yet powerful steamers

Group of travel steamers displayed side-by-side on a wood table

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

There's nothing worse than realizing that you so carefully (or not-so carefully) packed clothes only to have them become a wrinkled mess during transit. While some hotels provide steam irons, Airbnbs or other vacation rental homes don't always supply that household tool. In such situations, especially if you're dealing with delicate fabrics, a travel steamer becomes an essential. These compact units are light enough to pack into a carry-on or duffel bag, yet they deliver powerful steam that eradicates all wrinkles from your clothes in just a few up-and-down motions.

While we haven't had the chance to test travel steamers in The Lab, we did conduct an at-home test with 29 clothes steamers of all kinds—travel steamers included. During this test, we measured each steamer's heat time, considered the water tank capacity, and evaluated the steamer's effectiveness against deep-set wrinkles. After all our testing, we can say: don't let a travel steamer's compact size fool you. Whether you're looking for crease-creating attachments or pocket-size devices, the models below are the best options to reach for when you're in a pinch—or should we say wrinkle?

Our Top Picks

Best Overall

True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer

True & Tidy TS-10 Handheld Garment Steamer

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    4/5
  • Design
    5/5
  • Portability
    4/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Affordable

  • Very lightweight

  • Large stainless steel soleplate

  • See-through water tank

What We Don't Like
  • Tricky to fill water reservoir

Of all the travel steamers we tested, the True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer stood out the most and is the one to undeniably add to your suitcase. This colorful unit weighs just 1.5 pounds, and it breaks down into two pieces, making it extremely easy to stash in a bag of any size. We loved that its water reservoir is completely see-through, which allowed us to monitor exactly how much water was left. And it excelled in our testing, removing tough wrinkles with just a few passes, thanks to its powerful steam and stainless steel soleplate.

This travel steamer comes with a brush attachment that can help smooth fabric as you work, and it was ready to use in around two minutes. The handle stayed cool and comfortable for the duration of our testing, and the on-off rocker switch made the steamer simple and straightforward to operate. Our only woe when it comes to this travel steamer is that the water tank is a bit tricky to fill. You have to pour water in slowly. Otherwise, it backs up and overflows. However, beyond that one quirk, the product exceeded our expectations, earning perfect scores for design and value.

Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.13 x 8.62 inches | Weight: 1.43 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 4.6 ounces | Power Level: 600 watts | Heat Time: 80 seconds | Steam Time: 10 minutes

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Pure Enrichment Portable Garment Steamer

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    3/5
  • Design
    4.5/5
  • Portability
    5/5
  • Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Long power cord

  • Easy to fill water tank

  • Very lightweight

What We Don't Like
  • Not best for deep-set wrinkles

  • Need to refill tank when steaming multiple garments

A close runner-up is the Pure Enrichment PureSteam Portable Steamer. During testing, we found it was easy to twist off the top nozzle and fill the water tank—a process that wasn't so easy when using our "best overall" pick. Although, this steamer's compact size does mean you'll have to refill it if you have multiple garments to steam. But, we think it offers just enough steam time to finish at least one or two garments. Plus, the power cord is 8 feet long, making it easy to maneuver around your garment and navigate outlets in your hotel room or Airbnb.

This steamer is one of the lightest models we tested at just over 1 pound. It would easily fit into a suitcase or carry-on bag without making your bag overweight or taking up too much space. As is to be expected with smaller clothes steamers, this model isn't the best for eliminating deep wrinkles, but it did efficiently eliminate most wrinkles with just a few passes. All in all, if you're torn between our top recommendations, know that both models are easy to hold and operate, and quick to heat up.

Dimensions: 8 x 5.5 x 3.2 inches | Weight: 1.13 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 4.4 ounces | Power Level: 800 watts | Heat Time: 2 minutes | Steam Time: 10 minutes | Steam Settings: 1

Best Budget

Black+Decker Easy Garment Steamer

Black+Decker Easy Garment Steamer

Walmart

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    4.5/5
  • Design
    4/5
  • Portability
    4/5
  • Value
    5/5
What We Like
  • Slit in nozzle gives off impressive steam

  • Large, easy-to-fill water tank

  • Extremely effective at removing wrinkles

What We Don't Like
  • Somewhat bulky design

The great thing about travel steamers is they're typically quite budget-friendly, and one of the best values we found was the Black+Decker Easy Garment Steamer. Despite its low price, this steamer worked extremely well in our tests, removing wrinkles in just one or two passes. We loved that its nozzle has a slit-shaped opening, which allowed more steam to come out and helped deliver faster results.

This travel steamer takes about a minute to heat up, and there's a large window that lets you see into the water tank to monitor how much is left. The top of the unit twists off when you need more water, and we had no issues filling the water tank from the faucet. The steamer is slightly bulkier than other models we tested, but it's still compact enough to fit in a carry-on or another suitcase.

Dimensions: 8.15 x 3.7 inches | Weight: 1.9 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 7.4 ounces | Power Level: 900 watts | Heat Time: 80 seconds | Steam Time: 8 minutes

Best Splurge

BEAUTURAL Steamer for Clothes

BEAUTURAL Steamer for Clothes

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    4/5
  • Design
    4/5
  • Portability
    4/5
  • Value
    3.5/5
What We Like
  • Includes several handy accessories

  • Great for creating creases

  • Longer steam time than average

What We Don't Like
  • Somewhat bulky design

Accessories allow you to do more with your travel steamer, and the Beautural Steamer comes with three handy attachments: a brush, a lint brush, and a crease clip. This steamer is on the larger side, making it slightly bulky to travel with, but in testing, we liked that it's able to remove most wrinkles within a few passes. We were also impressed with the crease clip, which made crisp, clean creases with just one pass.

The Beautural Steamer only takes a minute or so to heat up, and its water tank delivers up to 15 minutes of steam. We liked that it has a locking trigger for continuous steaming—the only thing we didn't like is that the water tank opening is tiny and awkwardly placed, making it tricky to fill without spilling.

Dimensions: 10.7 x 4.3 x 6 inches | Weight: 2 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 8.8 ounces | Power Level: 1200 watts | Heat Time: 30 seconds | Steam Time: 15 minutes

Hands steaming a white button down with the BEAUTURAL Steamer for Clothes

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Best Compact

iSteam Steamer for Clothes

iSteam Steamer for Clothes

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    4.5/5
  • Design
    4.5/5
  • Portability
    5/5
  • Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Release button for water tank

  • Can be used both horizontally and vertically

  • High-quality brush attachment

What We Don't Like
  • Not as effective in horizontal position

If you don't want to sacrifice any more suitcase space than is absolutely necessary, it's worth splurging on the iSteam Steamer. This sleek little device is one of the smallest we tested, yet it blew us away, heating up in less than a minute and delivering enough steam to remove wrinkles in just a few quick passes.

This steamer has a water tank mounted to the front, and an easy-to-press button releases the tank for filling. All of its pieces are made from thick, durable plastic, and we were even impressed with the quality of its brush attachment, which had significantly more bristles than other options. You can even use this steamer at an angle thanks to its no-drip design—though, we found it was less effective in a horizontal position, as the steam tends to taper off a bit.

Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.4 x 4.4 inches | Weight: 1.55 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 4.1 ounces | Power Level: 900 watts | Heat Time: 25 seconds | Steam Time: 10 minutes

Hand steaming a white button down with the iSteam Steamer for Clothes

The Spruce / Camryn Rabideau

Best for Heavy Materials

MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer

Amazon MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    4.3/5
  • Design
    3.8/5
  • Portability
    5/5
  • Value
    4.5/5
What We Like
  • Strong steam production

  • Easy-to-operate trigger

  • Sturdy, durable form

What We Don't Like
  • Can be bulky in suitcase or bag

It generally holds true that the larger the steamer, the more power it packs. The MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer is an unbeatable model in terms of steam output, making it ideal for heavy fabrics like wool or denim. But, the major downside is that it's fairly bulky and takes up quite a bit of space in your suitcase. Still, we were wowed by this steamer, which has a water reservoir attached to the front of its sturdy, durable body. It was able to remove wrinkles in one to two passes, working significantly better than similarly-sized models and earning a perfect score for effectiveness.

The MagicPro Steamer has a trigger-style button that turns the steam off and on, and it automatically locks in, saving you from having to hold it down the whole time. It's ready to use after just one minute of heating—impressive for its size—and it comes with a brush attachment, as well as a lint brush.

Dimensions: 12.8 x 7.09 x 5.35 inches | Weight: 2.81 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 10.1 ounces | Power Level: 120 watts | Heat Time: 25 seconds | Steam Time: 15 minutes

MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer displayed on wooden table

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Best for Wedding Dresses and Delicate Items

Conair 2-in-1 Garment Steamer

Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam 2-in-1 Garment Steamer

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    4/5
  • Design
    4/5
  • Portability
    4/5
  • Value
    4/5
What We Like
  • Heats up extremely fast

  • Four steam settings

  • Includes a variety of attachments

What We Don't Like
  • Oversized and bulky design

  • Doesn't work well horizontally

The last thing you want on your wedding day is to accidentally scorch your wedding dress—which is why we recommend the Conair Turbo Extreme Steam for delicate items. This steamer comes with a unique "delicates bonnet" attachment that helps to diffuse the steam, yet it doesn't hamper the unit's effectiveness. It was able to remove wrinkles from fabric in just a few passes in our testing, and we were impressed that it heated up in less than a minute, as well.

There's one major downside to this steamer, and that's its size. The unit is about 1 foot tall and weighs over 3 pounds, making it one of the largest options on this list. It wouldn't be good for frequent fliers who only travel with a carry-on, but we think it would come in handy at weddings or other special events, in particular.

Dimensions: 11.61 x 11.61 x 6.02 inches | Weight: 3.5 pounds | Water Tank Capacity: 8.5 ounces | Power Level: 1875 watts | Heat Time: < 1 minute | Steam Time: 10 minutes

Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam 2-in-1 Garment Steamer displayed on wooden table

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Compare

Effectiveness Design Portability Value
True &amp; Tidy TS-10 Handheld Garment Steamer
Best Overall:
True & Tidy Handheld Garment Steamer
4 5 4 5
Best Overall, Runner-Up:
Pure Enrichment Portable Garment Steamer
3 4.5 5 4
Black+Decker Easy Garment Steamer
Best Budget:
Black+Decker Easy Garment Steamer
4.5 4 4 5
BEAUTURAL Steamer for Clothes
Best Splurge:
BEAUTURAL Steamer for Clothes
4 4 4 3.5
iSteam Steamer for Clothes
Best Compact:
iSteam Steamer for Clothes
4.5 4.5 5 4
Amazon MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer
Best for Heavy Materials:
MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer
4.3 3.8 5 4.5
Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam 2-in-1 Garment Steamer
Best for Wedding Dresses and Delicate Items:
Conair 2-in-1 Garment Steamer
4 4 4 4
Final Verdict

To keep your clothes looking fresh on the road, we recommend the True & Tidy TS-10 Handheld Garment Steamer. This compact unit is extremely lightweight and easy to operate, and it delivers an impressive blast of steam that removes wrinkles fast. For a more budget-friendly option, we also like the Black+Decker HGS011F Easy Garment Steamer. While slightly larger, its unique slit opening gives off ample steam for tackling wrinkles in fabrics.

Group of travel steamers displayed on a wood table

The Spruce / Leticia Almeida

Another Option We Like

Bear Portable Handheld Clothes Steamer: We have not had a chance to formally test this steamer, but one of our editors, Mia Ingui, says she loves this steamer as a travel option because it's not too cumbersome in her luggage and it effectively removes wrinkles without requiring refills. Plus, it can double as a steam iron in a pinch! While she wishes this model had a power switch, it's still a solid steamer that's also well-designed.

How We Tested the Travel Steamers

We purchased and tested 29 clothes and travel steamers in one of our homes for several hours over the course of two months. To start, we unboxed and set up each steamer, noting how clear the instructions were and how intuitive the design of the steamer is. We noted whether it was durable and practical, and if the buttons were placed well. We also considered whether each model could be described as a stylish option, and if the steamer came with accessories like a case or a brush attachment.

Next, we evaluated the heat time of each steamer by timing with a phone stopwatch how long the water took to heat up. We then used wrinkled linen napkins to test the effectiveness of each steamer and try out all the settings. Throughout our use of the steamers, we asked ourselves the following questions: How quickly did the steamer remove the wrinkles? Did it take one pass, three passes, or five passes to remove them? Did the napkin feel damp afterward? We answered all of these questions before also rating the portability of the product, and noting how easy it was to hold or carry around. We put the travel steamer in a packed carry-on bag to see if it would be practical to pack it in a suitcase and if it drastically altered the weight of the bag.

Lastly, we applied our hands-on experience to rate the overall value of the product and decide if it's worth the money you'd spend on it. All of these insights were boiled down to this list of what we believe are the very best travel steamers.

What to Look for in a Travel Steamer

Heat and Steam Time

When comparing different steamers, you'll want to look at their heat and steam times. The former indicates how long the unit takes to heat up and be ready for use, while the latter indicates how long the steamer runs when the tank is full. The longer the steam time, and the larger the water tank capacity, the more garments you can often de-wrinkle in one steaming session, without having to run to the sink to refill the tank.

"I like [a steamer] that has a decent amount of continuous run time—10 minutes, at least—so that you don't have to stop and refill several times," says Melissa Maker of Clean My Space. Our "best for heavy materials," the MagicPro Portable Garment Steamer, has a 15-minute steam time, which could allow you to easily steam a longer dress or multiple T-shirts. While travel steamers sometimes sacrifice steam time due to their small sizes and thus smaller water tanks, all of the models in our roundup have steam times just under or slightly over 10 minutes.

Size and Weight

A steamer's size not only impacts its steam time, but it also determines how packable it is in luggage. If you're going to be packing a steamer in your suitcase, it should ideally be compact and lightweight—otherwise, it will prevent you from packing other necessities. The unit's weight will also impact its usability. "A steamer should be a manageable weight, comfortable to hold, and nicely balanced, so it's not too top or bottom-heavy," says Maker. Our "best overall" pick, the True & Tidy TS-10 Handheld Garment Steamer, is very lightweight at just 1.5 pounds, and it can be separated into two pieces for even more packability.

Design Features

There are multiple design elements to keep in mind when picking out your travel steamer. Although a slimmer travel steamer is great to easily slip into a suitcase, it may be top-heavy and lack a handle, causing a greater risk of accidental burns and complicating the cool down process. For that reason, you want to look for a steamer that has a well-distributed design. Additionally, you should look for a steamer that has an easy-to-access water tank. Some options can be tricky to refill, while others may feature an easy-release button, such as our "best compact" pick, the iSteam Steamer. Our "best for wedding dresses and delicate items" pick, the Conair Turbo ExtremeSteam 2-in-1 Garment Steamer, may be one of the bulkiest handheld steamers in this roundup, but it has a comfortable handle and larger water tank.

FAQ
  • Which steamers are easy to pack?

    Most travel streamers are lightweight and portable when you compare them with traditional clothes steamers. Most weigh less than 2 pounds, and some of the more compact varieties are no larger than a travel mug. This makes them easy to slot into even the smallest of suitcases. We particularly love the iSteam Steamer for its compact size. It was the smallest one we tested, but didn't sacrifice effectiveness or features.

  • What steamers are easiest to use?

    Some travel steamers are lighter and more ergonomic than others, making them easier to use. While what's easiest for you ultimately comes down to personal preference, selecting one that you can hold at any angle without the water spilling out is helpful. Those with a larger water tank will save you the inconvenience of refilling them so often, as well. Our "best overall" pick, the True & Tidy TS-10 Handheld Garment Steamer, can be tricky to refill, but is very lightweight and comfortable. Notably, the handle stayed cool for the duration of our testing.

  • Do travel steamers work?

    Travel steamers absolutely work! Standard-size clothes steamers are more powerful and carry more water, so they are much better for steaming multiple garments and heavy fabrics, such as wool and denim. However, a quality travel steamer will still effectively lift creases out of the clothes you are taking on vacation or a business trip.

  • How hot do travel steamers get?

    To produce steam, travel steamers need to generate water temperatures of more than 200 degrees Fahrenheit. That means you need to use any clothes steamer with care, to avoid accidental burns and spills. For use with heavier fabrics, temperatures can reach as high as 395 degrees Fahrenheit on many standard clothes steamers, but the less powerful travel varieties don't often reach these temperatures.

  • Is a steamer better than an iron?

    While they may seem similar, steamers and irons serve different purposes in the laundry room. Steamers use hot steam to relax fibers within a fabric, while irons are used to press and smooth fabric and create creases. Further, steamers are typically used vertically on hanging garments, while irons require a horizontal surface, such as an ironing board.

  • Can you bring a steamer on a plane?

    Yes, travel steamers can be packed in a carry-on or checked bag. Just make sure they don't contain any liquid. 

  • Does a steamer clean clothes?

    Steamers are effective at sanitizing clothing due to the hot temperature of their steam, but they don’t necessarily clean your garments. The hot air kills bacteria, but it doesn’t get rid of dirt, grime, odors, or sweat that may be on your clothing.

Why Trust The Spruce?

This article was written by Camryn Rabideau, a freelance writer and product tester for The Spruce. As she started her research into travel steamers, she spoke with experts for insights on the benefits of steaming, what to look for in a travel steamer, as well as how to steam clothes properly. Rabideau personally tested 29 different clothing steamers, including a wide range of handheld models, evaluating each one on its design, portability, heat time, effectiveness, and value. She took these scores, as well as her overall experience with each steamer, into consideration as she put together this list of the best travel steamers.

Our Experts:

  • Wayne Edelman, CEO of Meurice Garment Care
  • Melissa Maker, cleaning expert and founder of Clean My Space
  • Emma Phelps, an associate editor for The Spruce, updated this roundup with additional information from Rabideau's original testing.
Updated by
Gemma Johnstone
gemma johnstone
Gemma Johnstone is a gardening expert who has written 120-plus articles for The Spruce covering how to care for a large variety of plants from all over the world. She's traveled all over Europe, living now in Italy.
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