No matter how carefully you pack, some clothes seem determined to come out of your suitcase wrinkled. This is especially frustrating when you have family pictures planned, need to dress for a nice dinner, or discover that your child shoved an important shirt into the bottom of the suitcase.
I don’t worry about perfectly pressed clothes every day of a trip, but there are times when hanging something in a steamy hotel bathroom simply isn’t enough. A small travel iron can smooth stubborn wrinkles, sharpen collars and make linen, cotton and dress clothes look much more presentable.
The best travel irons are compact enough to fit inside a carry-on bag without taking up valuable space. They should also heat quickly and be easy to use in a hotel room. If you travel internationally, choosing a dual-voltage travel iron is particularly important.
Below, I’ve compared the best travel irons based on their size, weight, wattage, voltage and most useful features so you can find the right one for your travels.
Best Travel Irons at a Glance
Five compact options for different packing styles, budgets and destinations.
Best Overall
Rowenta First Class
A powerful dual-voltage steam iron with a folding handle and adjustable fabric settings.
Best Budget Option
BEAUTURAL Mini Travel Iron
A compact dual-voltage iron with steam, adjustable heat and a nonstick soleplate.
My personal choice for quick clothing touch-ups when luggage space and weight are limited.
Best Dry Iron for International Travel
Newbealer NB301
An exceptionally thin, lightweight dry iron with automatic worldwide voltage compatibility.
Do You Really Need a Travel Iron?
Honestly, you probably don’t need a travel iron for every trip. Most hotels have an iron somewhere, and hanging a dress in the bathroom while you take a hot shower can take care of a few light wrinkles.
But there are times when that just isn’t enough. I have carefully packed clothes for a trip only to discover that one of my boys shoved the shirt he needed into the bottom of his suitcase. If you have family pictures, a wedding, a business meeting or a nice dinner planned, you may want something that can handle more than a few small wrinkles.
That is when a travel iron is worth the luggage space. The smallest ones barely take up more room than a pair of socks, and you don’t have to track down a hotel iron when everyone is trying to get ready at the same time. They are also much better than steam alone when you want a crisp collar or need to tackle stubborn wrinkles in cotton or linen.
Travel Iron vs. Travel Steamer: Which Is Better?
Travel irons and travel steamers both get wrinkles out of clothes, but they don’t give you quite the same result.
A steamer is quick and easy when you want to freshen up a dress, blouse or delicate fabric. You can leave the clothing on a hanger, and you don’t need to find a flat surface. The downside is that a small steamer may struggle with deep suitcase wrinkles, especially in cotton or linen.
A travel iron takes a little more effort, but it gives clothes a crisper finish. I prefer an iron when I need to smooth a collar, press a hem or make a shirt look properly finished instead of just less wrinkled.
Some travel irons include a steam function, which gives you a little of both. Just don’t expect the steam from a tiny iron to be as powerful as what you would get from a full-size garment steamer.
If most of your travel clothes are dresses and lightweight fabrics, a steamer may be enough. If you pack button-down shirts, linen or clothes that need to look polished, a travel iron is usually the better choice.
What to Look for in a Travel Iron
Travel irons can look very similar online, but there are a few important differences. Before choosing one, think about where you plan to use it, what kinds of clothes you normally pack and how much suitcase space you are willing to give up.
Size and Weight
A travel iron should be noticeably smaller than the iron you use at home. Some weigh less than a pound and are easy to tuck into a carry-on, while others weigh closer to two pounds but provide more heat and steam.
If you are an ultralight packer, choose the smallest iron that will handle occasional touch-ups. If you regularly travel for weddings or business, a slightly larger and more powerful model may be worth the extra weight.
Dual Voltage
Dual voltage is one of the most important features if you travel internationally. The United States uses a different voltage than many destinations in Europe and elsewhere.
Some travel irons adjust to the local voltage automatically, while others have a small switch that must be changed before plugging them in. Always check the voltage at your destination and set the iron correctly before using it.
Remember that dual voltage does not mean the plug will fit every outlet. You may still need a plug adapter, but you should not need a separate voltage converter.
Steam or Dry Heat
Steam helps loosen stubborn wrinkles, but it also requires a water tank that adds size and can occasionally leak. A dry travel iron is usually lighter, simpler and easier to pack.
I like steam for cotton, linen and clothes that have been tightly packed. For quick touch-ups on collars, hems or lightweight fabrics, a small dry iron may be all you need.
Temperature Settings
Adjustable temperature settings give you more control when ironing different fabrics. Lower heat is better for synthetics and delicate materials, while cotton and linen usually need more heat.
Some very small travel irons use one fixed temperature. These are convenient, but you need to be more careful and check the garment’s care label before using them.
Wattage
Higher wattage generally means an iron heats faster and maintains its temperature more effectively. The tradeoff is that higher-powered irons are often larger and heavier.
A lower-wattage model can work well for occasional touch-ups. If you want something closer to the performance of a full-size iron, look for a travel model with approximately 800 to 1,000 watts.
Automatic Shutoff
Automatic shutoff is not included on every travel iron. It is a useful safety feature, especially when several people are getting ready and it is easy to become distracted.
If your iron does not have automatic shutoff, unplug it as soon as you finish and allow it to cool completely before returning it to your luggage.
The 5 Best Travel Irons
1. Rowenta First Class Travel Iron: Best Overall
The Rowenta First Class is the travel iron I would choose if I wanted something that felt more like the iron I use at home. It has 1,000 watts of power, adjustable heat and enough steam to handle more than a few light wrinkles.
It is particularly useful for cotton shirts, linen clothing and anything that needs a crisp finish. The stainless-steel soleplate has 200 steam holes, and you can also hold the iron vertically to steam clothing on a hanger. The handle folds down when you are finished, making it easier to fit into a suitcase.
The Rowenta is dual voltage, so it can be used in the United States and internationally. You will still need the correct plug adapter for your destination, and you must set the voltage switch correctly before plugging it in.
At approximately 1.5 pounds, this is not the lightest iron on the list. It is also missing an automatic shutoff feature. However, the added weight and power are part of what make it more effective on stubborn wrinkles.
Best for: Travelers who want strong steam and performance that comes close to a regular iron.
Pros:
1,000 watts of power
Dual voltage
Folding handle
Adjustable fabric settings
Steam burst and vertical steaming
Stainless-steel soleplate
Cons:
Heavier than the smallest travel irons
No automatic shutoff
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2. BEAUTURAL Mini Travel Steam Iron: Best Budget Option
The BEAUTURAL Mini Travel Steam Iron is a good choice if you want a traditional steam iron without spending much money or giving up too much suitcase space. It measures approximately 5.5 by 3.1 inches, making it considerably smaller than a regular iron.
Despite its size, it can be used for either steam or dry ironing. It also has adjustable temperature controls, so you can lower the heat for synthetic fabrics or increase it for sturdier clothing. The nonstick soleplate is designed to glide smoothly over fabric, while the built-in cord storage makes it a little easier to pack.
This model is dual voltage, but it does not adjust automatically. You will need to select the correct voltage for your destination before plugging it in. A plug adapter may also be required outside the United States.
At 420 watts, the BEAUTURAL is less powerful than the Rowenta. It should work well for everyday suitcase wrinkles, but it may take longer to smooth heavy cotton or badly creased linen. I would choose this one for occasional vacation use rather than frequent business travel.
Best for: Travelers who want an affordable, compact iron with both steam and adjustable heat.
Pros:
Affordable
Compact design
Dual voltage
Steam and dry ironing
Adjustable temperature
Nonstick soleplate
Built-in cord storage
Cons:
Lower wattage than larger travel irons
Voltage must be changed manually
No automatic shutoff listed
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3. Oliso M3Pro: Best Premium Travel Iron
The Oliso M3Pro is technically called a project iron because it is popular with people who sew and quilt, but it also has nearly everything I would want in a powerful travel iron.
It has 1,000 watts of power, adjustable settings for different fabrics and two steam zones that can be used separately or together. The pointed tip is especially helpful for pressing collars, cuffs, pockets and other small areas that can be awkward with a full-size iron.
One of its best travel features is automatic universal voltage. It works with both 120V and 220V power without requiring you to move a tiny voltage switch. You will still need the correct plug adapter when traveling internationally.
The Oliso also has safety features that are missing from many travel irons. It shuts off after 10 minutes when left flat, after 30 minutes when resting on its heel and within 30 seconds if it tips over. It also includes an LED light and a heat-resistant silicone rest.
The biggest disadvantages are its price and weight. At approximately two pounds, it is the heaviest option on this list. I wouldn’t bring it on a trip where every ounce mattered, but it is a great choice when performance and safety are more important than packing as lightly as possible.
Best for: Frequent travelers who want full-size power, automatic voltage and better safety features.
Pros:
1,000 watts of power
Automatic universal voltage
Adjustable fabric settings
Dual-zone steam burst
Automatic shutoff
Built-in LED light
Silicone rest included
Two-year warranty
Cons:
More expensive than most travel irons
Weighs approximately two pounds
Larger than ultralight models
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4. Cricut EasyPress Mini: Best Ultralight Travel Iron
This is the oddball on the list, but it is also the one I can recommend from personal experience. Cricut sells the EasyPress Mini as a small heat press for craft projects, but I used mine all the time to get wrinkles out of clothes. It works surprisingly well, especially when you only need to touch up a shirt, dress, collar, or sleeve.
At just 13.44 ounces, it is one of the lightest options on this list. It is also small enough to tuck into a corner of your suitcase without taking up much room. Because it doesn’t use water, there is no tank to empty and nothing to leak inside your luggage.
The ceramic-coated plate has a pointed tip that makes it easy to reach around buttons and into smaller areas. It also has three heat settings, so you can adjust the temperature depending on what you are ironing.
The downside is that the ironing surface is tiny. I wouldn’t choose it for pressing an entire pile of clothes, but it is incredibly handy for quick touch-ups. It also doesn’t produce steam and isn’t advertised as dual voltage, so it is a better option for trips within the United States unless you have confirmed that it will work with the voltage at your destination.
Best for: Travelers who want the smallest and lightest possible iron for quick clothing touch-ups.
Pros:
Weighs less than one pound
Extremely compact
Three heat settings
Precision tip works well around buttons and collars
No water tank that can leak
Personally used and tested on clothing
Cons:
Very small ironing surface
No steam
Not advertised as dual voltage
Requires a heat-safe surface
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5. Newbealer Travel Iron: Best for International Travel
If you are traveling overseas, the Newbealer is one of the easiest irons to pack. It works with 100–240V power and adjusts to the voltage automatically, so there is no tiny switch to remember to change when you arrive. You will still need the correct plug adapter for your destination, but you should not need a separate voltage converter.
It weighs just half a pound and measures approximately 6 by 3 inches, making it even lighter than the Cricut EasyPress Mini. The 300-watt iron heats up in about 60 seconds, and its ceramic soleplate reaches 302°F.
This is a dry iron, so it does not produce steam. However, it comes with a small spray bottle that you can use to dampen stubborn wrinkles before ironing. The set also includes a silicone resting pad and a travel pouch, which are helpful when you are packing it in a suitcase.
The Newbealer has one fixed temperature rather than several fabric settings. That keeps it simple, but you will need to be careful with delicate fabrics and check the clothing label before using it.
Best for: International travelers who want an extremely lightweight, dual-voltage dry iron.
Pros:
Weighs only half a pound
Automatically adjusts between 100 and 240 volts
Heats in approximately 60 seconds
Compact ceramic soleplate
Includes a spray bottle, silicone pad, and travel pouch
No water tank to leak in your suitcase
Cons:
Does not produce steam
Only one temperature setting
Small soleplate takes longer on larger garments
You will still need a plug adapter outside the United States
I also wouldn’t try bringing the Cricut EasyPress Mini simply because it is technically a heat press. It still contains a heating element and could be confiscated during security screening.
Instead, pack wrinkle-release spray, hang your clothes in the bathroom while you shower, or use the ship’s laundry and pressing service. Always check your specific cruise line’s prohibited-items list before packing because the rules can change.
Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Irons
Can you take a travel iron in your carry-on?
A standard corded travel iron is generally allowed in carry-on and checked luggage in the United States. Make sure it is completely cool before packing it, and remember that the final decision always rests with airport security. Cruise ships have different rules and usually prohibit travel irons.
Do I need a voltage converter for a travel iron?
It depends on the iron. A dual-voltage or universal-voltage iron can work in countries with different electrical systems, although you will still need a plug adapter. A single-voltage iron may require a voltage converter. Always check the label on the iron before plugging it in overseas.
What is the lightest travel iron?
Of the irons on this list, the Newbealer is the lightest at approximately half a pound. The Cricut EasyPress Mini is also extremely lightweight at just over 13 ounces.
Is a travel iron better than a travel steamer?
A travel iron is usually better for collars, cuffs, dress shirts, and clothes that need a crisp finish. A steamer is faster for dresses, flowing fabrics, and general wrinkle removal. If you regularly travel with both types of clothing, a combination iron and steamer may be the most useful option.
Are travel irons worth packing?
They are worth packing when you are traveling for a wedding, business meeting, family pictures, or any trip where you want your clothes to look especially nice. For a casual weekend away, you can probably leave the iron at home and use the one provided by your hotel.
Which Travel Iron Is Best?
For most travelers, the Rowenta First Class is the best overall choice. It has enough power for regular ironing, produces steam, and has dual voltage for international trips.
If keeping your suitcase as light as possible is the priority, choose the Newbealer. It weighs only half a pound and automatically adjusts to different voltages. The Cricut EasyPress Mini is another good option for quick touch-ups, and it is the one I have personally used most often on clothing.
The right travel iron really depends on how you travel. You may not need one for every weekend getaway, but when you are attending a wedding, taking family pictures, or traveling for work, having a compact iron in your suitcase can make getting ready much easier.
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