Best irons and pressing tools for sewing UK
Eight irons and pressing tools, from £16.50 to £159 at Sew Essential and John Lewis on 1 November 2026.
Sewing-room iron: Oliso TG1600. Household all-rounder: Philips Azur 8000. By the machine: Prym Mini. Curves: Prym Tailor's Ham.
The picks
Oliso TG1600 Pro Plus (Kaffe Fassett)
Oliso's iTouch system lifts and lowers the iron at a touch, so you can leave it flat. It has a Diamond Ceramic Flow soleplate, a 2in detailer tip and extended auto shut-off.
- Lift system: iTouch
- Soleplate: Diamond Ceramic Flow
- Tip: 2in detailer
- Safety: Extended auto shut-off
Skip it if: you want a budget iron.
£159at Sew Essential, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
Philips Azur 8000 DST8020/26
3000W, a 300ml tank, 55g/min steam and a 240g steam shot, with OptimalTEMP so you do not need to pick a temperature. Rated 4.2/5 from 581 John Lewis reviews on 1 Nov 2026.
- Power: 3000W
- Tank: 300ml
- Steam: 55g/min, 240g shot
Skip it if: you want a fine tip for tiny seams.
£79.99at John Lewis, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
Braun TexStyle 9
3.2kW, a 330ml tank and a 260g steam shot, at 1.7kg, with a 2-year guarantee.
- Power: 3.2kW
- Tank: 330ml
- Steam: 60g/min, 260g shot
- Weight: 1.7kg
Skip it if: your wrists prefer a lighter iron.
£119.99at John Lewis, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
Tefal Easygliss Eco FV5781
2800W and a 270ml tank at 1.2kg, with a 2-year guarantee. Rated 4.3/5 on John Lewis on 1 Nov 2026.
- Power: 2800W
- Tank: 270ml
- Weight: 1.2kg
- Guarantee: 2 years
Skip it if: you want automatic temperature control.
£74.99at John Lewis, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
Prym Mini Steam Iron
Non-stick soleplate, shot of steam, variable temperature and dual voltage, so it doubles as a travel iron.
- Type: Mini steam iron
- Voltage: 110V/220V
- Soleplate: Non-stick
Skip it if: you need to press large pieces.
£45at Sew Essential, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
Clover Mini Iron II
A very small soleplate on a wand, with an iron rest and screwdriver. Made for fusible bias tape, appliqué and collars.
- Type: Mini wand iron
- Includes: Iron rest, screwdriver
Skip it if: you want steam.
£45at Sew Essential, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
Prym Tailor's Ham
Cotton side for hotter settings and smooth fabrics, wool side for lower heat and bulkier materials.
- Sides: Cotton and wool check
Skip it if: you only sew straight seams.
£16.50at Sew Essential, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
Milward Point Presser and Clapper
The narrow top presses lapels, collar points and cuffs; the base is a clapper that holds steam in to flatten bulky seams and set creases.
- Material: Beech
- Functions: Point presser, clapper
Skip it if: you only make simple projects.
£19at Sew Essential, inc VAT, checked 1 Nov 2026
How we chose
Researched, not tested: we read each retailer and maker listing loaded on 1 November 2026, compared the specs that matter for this job, and gave each pick a provisional score out of 10 (core performance 3, ease 2, value 2, reliability 1.5, UK support 1.5). Prices are inc VAT from one named UK retailer on 1 November 2026 and will change.
Scores are provisional and come from cited sources, not from testing. How we score.
Questions people ask
Do I need a special iron?
No. A good household steam iron works; pressing tools make more difference to curves.
Sources
All checked 1 November 2026. We read these; we did not test the products ourselves.
- Sew Essential: Oliso TG1600 Pro Plus (Kaffe Fassett) product page
- John Lewis: Philips Azur 8000 DST8020/26 product page
- John Lewis: Braun TexStyle 9 product page
- John Lewis: Tefal Easygliss Eco FV5781 product page
- Sew Essential: Prym Mini Steam Iron product page
- Sew Essential: Clover Mini Iron II product page
- Sew Essential: Prym Tailor's Ham product page
- Sew Essential: Tailors Pressing Ham (£12.50)
- Sew Essential: Milward Point Presser and Clapper product page