Our top pick is the Brabantia Ironing Board because it’s adjustable, has a child lock, and comes with a 10-year warranty. It also comes in a variety of colors. Here, the best ironing boards on the market. If you do a lot of ironing, you want a board built to last and handle repeated use. Enter the Brabantia Ironing Board. This board has everything you need to make the chore a little bit easier: The steel legs are reinforced with protective non-slip caps to keep your board from wobbling as you work your way through the laundry, and there’s a built-in resting spot for your iron so you can safely take breaks between clothing items. Additionally, the board includes a child-proof lock that prevents the table from accidentally closing. These practical, clever features are what make this board our top pick. The Brabantia Ironing Board is also one of the most adjustable ironing boards on the market. The height can be adjusted anywhere from 27 to 38 inches, and you can move the metal steam iron rest to accommodate left- or right-handed use. With so many ways to customize the board, no one in your house has an excuse to avoid ironing their clothes. This is a traditional folding-down ironing board, so it will need dedicated storage space in your home if you don’t have room to leave it out permanently. This ironing board is also on the more expensive side, but it comes with a limited 10-year manufactured warranty, so you’ll have wrinkle-free clothes for years to come. Price at time of publish: $168 This ironing board has two main features that help keep wrinkles at bay. First, the steel mesh top allows steam to move through both sides of the garment for perfect—and faster—ironing. Second, the built-in hook makes it easy to hang garments right away to help maintain the smoothness. When you’re done ironing, fold and use the built-in hook to hang the board in your closet alongside your clothes. This is a perfect space-saving solution for tiny homes or anyone who doesn’t have permanent space dedicated for storing an ironing board. Price at time of publish: $15 Speaking of storage, the sturdy tabletop design folds flat so you can store it in a closet, under the bed, or on top of the washer and dryer when it’s not in use. If you’re a true ironing enthusiast, you can even store it in your car so you can have wrinkle-free clothes when you travel. You may need to hold one side of the board to keep it steady while ironing, but that’s a small trade-off for such a versatile ironing board. Inside the cabinet, you’ll find garment hooks to hang your freshly ironed clothes as well as three shelves to store all your laundry needs, such as spray bottles, clothespins, and other laundry room supplies. Depending on their size and cord length, some irons may not fit on the shelf, so check the dimensions before ordering. While it’s great that this workstation saves so much space, it does require installation. Katie Berry, The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board member, who has tried this pick herself, notes, “You need to know how to locate and drill into studs to install this yourself, and you’ll also need the tools to do so.” She stresses to make sure you have the appropriate amount of space and clearance for the ironing board and cabinet doors. When installed, note that the bottom of the cabinet should be 31 inches from the floor to accommodate the board’s leg. Price at time of publish: $230 When you’re done, press a lever to fold the board back into its vertical position. Before purchasing, make sure your door is no more than 1.5 inches thick because the hanger is not adjustable. If you like the design but don’t want an over-the-door ironing board, you can also mount this to the wall and get the same space-saving benefits. Price at time of publish: $45 The board’s friction-free cotton cover allows your iron to glide over any fabric without getting stuck or needing to lift away. The real standout feature of this board, however, is the patented retractable wings. This unique feature makes it possible to iron shirt shoulders and pillowcases without all the flipping and rotating. The wings also lend themselves to folding clothes, resulting in perfectly folded, wrinkle-free clothes that are ready to be put away immediately. Due to its size and price, this ironing board is best suited for those who do a large amount of ironing or those who frequently iron oversized fabrics. Price at time of publish: $170 Because of its small size, it may be flimsier than traditional standing boards. Still, customers rave that it gets the job done every time, and the foldable feature makes it an excellent choice for tiny apartments, dorm rooms, or anyone short on space. Price at time of publish: $20 You can easily adjust the Reliable Home Ironing Board for height and length. All you have to do is swap out the traditional board cover (47 x 19 inches) with the larger, rectangular version (55 x 19 inches). However, some customers have noted that the extension doesn’t fit perfectly in line at times. The extra coverage takes away the ergonomic iron rest, but the cover’s Conex Heat Resistant Zone allows you to rest your iron safely on the board. And you don’t have to worry about the board caving or wobbling under the weight. The ironing board can hold up to 320 pounds of material thanks to steel tube framing and double-wishbone legs. The price is significantly higher than most ironing boards, but it is worth the investment if you frequently de-wrinkle more oversized items or work in the quilting profession. Price at time of publish: $319 The J-2 Jiffy Garment Steamer is our top choice for an iron alternative. It heats up within a minute, allowing you to “iron” anything at a moment’s notice. Its water tank also holds enough water to keep the machine going for two hours, should you need to smooth out several garments. When you’re done, unplug and roll your steamer into the corner of your closet until you need it again. Although steamers don’t deliver the same detail as irons, Camille Bettinger, a representative for Bed, Bath, and Beyond, says they are a good option for people who deal with many delicate fabrics or want something a little more versatile. Price at time of publish: $219
Durability
It’s essential that your ironing board doesn’t collapse or fall inward while you’re ironing. Ironing boards should have a sturdy metal frame to rest on, and they shouldn’t rock back and forth. They also need to have a breathable mesh fabric on top to allow steam to pass through the garments and evaporate. “With ironing, the steam is supposed to pass through the garment, which loosens the fibers and allows wrinkles to go away,” says Camille Bettinger, a representative for Bed, Bath, and Beyond. “If you simply iron on a table surface, the steam stays on the garment or the counter under the garment.”
Storage
Whether you’re buying a large or small ironing board, you’ll want to find a place in your home to store it. Built-in ironing boards are great for keeping your board hidden and saving space. However, not everyone has the means to mount an ironing board in a closet or laundry room. An easier solution is to find a storage hook to hang your ironing board on the back of your closet or laundry room door.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Leah Rocketto, a lifestyle writer and editor for The Spruce. She has been covering home decor for a decade. To select the best picks for this list, she sorted through dozens of customer and third-party website reviews, compiled a range of sizes and prices to fit many different household budgets, and consulted Camille Bettinger, a representative for Bed, Bath, and Beyond. Bettinger is an expert on cleaning supplies, including ironing accessories. Katie Berry, The Spruce’s Cleaning Review Board member, notes that some ironing boards require pressing up on the lever instead. She finds it easiest to just put the ironing board on its back and then close it as the product requires.
