Whether you begrudgingly iron your clothes to maintain a crisp professional look or find it to be a zen-like task, there are many ways to make your ironing experience more convenient.
We’re going to look at many different options beyond simple fold-up ironing board that make ironing your clothes easier, faster, and might even have features you didn’t know you needed!
Types of Ironing Boards
At our current count, we have 8 different categories of ironing boards with a variety of subcategories in each, so rest assured you’ll find what you’re looking for here. Click a link below to skip to the section that interests you. There you’ll find specifications, reviews, and comparison tables for each category.
There is some overlap with products in a few of the categories as they meet the criteria, but there are unique options that do things differently in most categories.
Wall-mount Ironing Boards
In addition to the above style, there are wall-mount cabinets that give you some storage space for your iron and spray bottles.
Fold-up Ironing Boards
Perhaps the most common ironing board type, there are a few additions to a fold-up ironing board that make them more convenient.
Hidden Ironing Boards
There are quite a few options for keeping your ironing board out of sight and out of the way. Ironing boards in drawers, closets, and cabinets are what you’ll find here.
Over-the-door Ironing Boards
A popular option, taking advantage of unused space behind your door is a great way to keep your ironing board out of the way and accessible.
Small Ironing Boards
One of the most compact ironing boards isn’t even a board at all! Ironing mats can be placed on any solid, flat surface. We also look at small fold-up ironing boards and small wall-mount ironing boards in this section.
Ironing Carts
Carts give you some extra storage space while also being mobile.
Extra-wide Ironing Boards
Need more space to work? These boards are around 7 inches wider than a typical 12-inch ironing board and come in a variety of styles.
Sleeve Ironing Board
Designed specifically for ironing sleeves, these ironing boards are the best way to get your sleeves as crisp as possible.
Wall-Mount Ironing Boards
Mounting your ironing board on the wall is possibly the most convenient option here since it easily folds away and occupies space that otherwise would be unused.
There are a few different types of wall-mounted ironing boards to choose from.
- Cabinets – these conceal your ironing board and give you space to store your iron and spray bottles.
- Board Only – this style has no cabinet or extra storage, just a board that folds up and some models swivel. Some of these are more compact than others, so you’ll find a variety of sizes listed below.
- Ironing Centers – these are like cabinets but with some extra features such as power shut-off timers and adjustable lighting.
Compact
Lifestyle OSUM-01 Compact Wall Mounted Ironing Center
This compact wall-mounted ironing board is extremely sturdy and is concealed by a fabric cover when not in use.
- Ironing Surface: 34.5″ L x 12″ W
- Fold away dimensions: 12.25″ W x 26.25″ L x 4.25″ D
The Lifestyle board above is relatively smaller than some of the other options available, so it’s a good choice if you don’t have much space to work with. The freedom of rotation of the board is convenient and isn’t something available in all wall-mounted ironing boards, especially those inside a cabinet.
Versatile
Hide-Away Ironing Board Supreme
This compact wall-mounted ironing board is extremely sturdy and is concealed by a fabric cover when not in use.
- Ironing Surface: 34.5″ L x 12″ W
- Fold away dimensions: 12.25″ W x 26.25″ L x 4.25″ D
- 180 Degree swivel
- Sleeve ironing board included
- Unfinished maple cabinet
This is one of the only wall-mount ironing boards we’ve seen that also includes a sleeve board. Sleeves are tricky to iron on a standard ironing board since you have to get two layers of fabric wrinkle free. The other option is to buy a standalone sleeve board if you’re trying to get a perfectly ironed shirt.
The Hide-Away model is customizable since it’s made from untreated maple wood. You can add any color or stain you’d like to match your home. That means you don’t necessarily have to hide away an ugly cabinet ironing board in an inconvenient location.
Ironing Center
Iron-A-Way E-46 Electric Ironing Center
This ironing center has an electrical raceway with a 60-minute timer, work light, receptacle, and auto-disconnect switch.
- 46″ length ironing board
- Weighs 65 lbs
- Dimensions: 15″ W x 60-5/8″ H x 7.8″ D
Fold-Up Ironing Boards
This is the most common ironing board style, but we’ve picked out some boards with significant improvements over the flimsy, wobbly ironing boards you’re used to.
Here are our categories.
- Boards with a Shelf and Iron Holder – a shelf below the board can help with stability and an iron holder on the back keeps the iron out of the way as you make adjustments.
- Extra-wide Ironing Boards – these boards are several inches wider than a typical board and give you a ton of extra space and allows you to iron more fabric at once.
- Ironing Board Holders and Caddies – we’ve also put together a list of some of the best ironing board caddies that can either be mounted on the wall or over a door.
Top Pick
Reliable The Board 300LB
The Board by Reliable is a 2-in-1 pressing table and ironing board with 2 covers.
- 18.9″ x 47.25″ pressing surface (55″ length with extension piece)
- Height adjustment from 30 to 38 inches
- Double wishbone legs give this board incredible stability
- Support tray for your iron
- Built-in laundry rack underneath
- Swap between the narrow or rectangular ironing surface. Great ironing board for quilters.
The swappable tops and covers for that come with the 300LB are super handy if you are a quilter and the narrow ended boards are frustrating to use.
Reliable Ironing Boards
The Reliable 300LB style is popular with quilters that don’t like the narrow, pointy end on most ironing boards. If you don’t need the rectangular ironing surface, then consider the 200IB, which is a traditional-style ironing board that’s just like the 300LB.
The leg design on the Reliable board is the most stable that we’ve seen on carpet. As long as the floor surface itself is flat, you shouldn’t notice any rocking. Tile floors typically have minor height gradients that aren’t usually noticeable, but for ironing board legs it can have a significant effect on stability.
The Homz DX1500 handles uneven flooring well since you can adjust the separation of the front legs to get it to just the right position. Most ironing boards don’t let you adjust the legs in any way, so the Homz is a good option if you know you’ll be ironing on an uneven surface.
Most Adjustable
Homz Durabilt DX1500 Steel Top Ironing Board
The Homz DX1500 puts an emphasis on stability, which is one of the most frustrating issues with many cheap ironing boards.
- Dimensions: 54″ L x 14.88″ W
- Height adjusts up to 39.5″
- Removable iron holder
- 25″ wide legs for extra stability
Reliable has some very impressive ironing boards with a variety of premium features that may or may not interest the average consumer, but professional tailors and dry cleaners use their products.
For example, Reliable’s The Board 500VB model has a vacuum and up-air pressing table that can either create suction across the board or blow air so you can press delicate fabrics. The suction helps hold the fabric in place and improve the penetration of the steam.
If you’re looking for a simple, reliable fold-up ironing board then consider our Value option below. The Board 300LB certainly has a stockier frame, but the Brabantia is a more affordable option with overwhelmingly positive reviews for its stability.
Good Value
Brabantia Ironing Board (Size C)
A steam iron rest is very handy and many cheap ironing boards don’t include one. The Brabantia ironing board is a great size and has all the basic features you need.
- 18.9″ x 49″ pressing surface
- Height adjustment from 30 to 38 inches
- Non-slip leg caps
- Child safety lock to prevent accidental collapsing
- Weighs 12 lbs
The Brabantia receives very positive marks for its stability. Additionally, it is quiet to open and close and doesn’t produce the metal-on-metal screech like some ironing boards.
The iron holder cannot be removed as it’s welded to the frame, but if you’ve never had an iron rest on your ironing board, you will likely find that you prefer it. Larger garments take up more space on the board and being able to keep the iron out of the way while you adjust clothing can help you avoid burns or accidentally knocking it over.
Brabantia Ironing Boards Comparison Table
Brabantia is a popular brand for a variety of household products and they have a large selection of ironing boards to choose from. Here’s a summary table of some of their popular models.
Brabantia Size D Ironing Board
The largest style, size D, is 4 inches longer than the size C models shown in the table, but it does not include the same Steam Iron Rest on the back of the board. Instead there is a heat-resistant parking zone for the iron on the back of the ironing board.
If you find you don’t like iron rests, then the Size D model with the heat-resistant zone is your next best option. You don’t have to worry about placing the iron just right in the holder or it getting in your way. However, the Size D is not suitable for a steam generator.
Another change with the Size D is the height adjustability. You get a wider range from 27″ to 40″.
Brabantia offers a wide range of affordable ironing board options that are a good choice if the price tag on our top picks is too high.
Hidden Ironing Boards
Cabinets are one way to keep your ironing board out of view, so you could also check out that section above if that’s what you have in mind. There are some more options, however, and the choices we’re going to look at below can be mounted on a closet shelf or in a drawer.
Wall-mounted cabinets are probably the simplest option for keeping your ironing board out of sight and out of the way, but if you’ve got spare closet space or an unused drawer, then these might be for you.
Retractable
Homebasix Closet Pull-out Retractable Ironing Board
This board is designed to fit inside a wardrobe or closet. It can be folded and retracted.
- Weighs 17.5 lbs
- Cover fabric is thick, anti-heat canvas that can be removed.
- Rotate to any angle and you can use the adjustment nut to hold it in place.
- Board dimensions: 32″ x 13″
Not everyone has the type of space available to install an ironing board of this type, but if you do have a wardrobe or closet shelf that it can be mounted to, then it’s a super convenient option.
You’ll need at least 18 inches of depth on your shelf to house this board. The mounting holes are about 15 inches apart.
You can get creative with this ironing board and install it anywhere you have the space to mount it. So you’re not restricted to just a closet. If you have an empty drawer space in your laundry room then consider doing a little DIY project and making a mounting point there. You can see an installation example below.
Drawer Mount
Rev-A-Shelf Pullout Ironing Board in a Drawer
This ironing board can be mounted between panels in a closet or inside a drawer with a width between 14.25 inches and 21 inches.
- Weighs 15 lbs
- Assembled dimensions: 14.25″ W x 16″ D x 4″ H
The most important thing to keep in mind for drawer installations is the width and depth of the drawer. You have to make sure the drawer is within the range we listed above for the Rev-A-Shelf model. If you have a built-in cabinet and drawer setup in your laundry room, then you can usually find a spot for a pull-out ironing board.
If these types of installations just aren’t possible for you, then consider a wall-mounted cabinet ironing board. As long as you have the wall space you can mount the cabinet exactly where you need it. You can read more about cabinet ironing boards in the section above.
Over-the-door Ironing Boards
An over-the-door ironing board is perhaps the easiest way to keep your ironing board out of the way and doesn’t involve putting holes in your wall. However, depending on the layout of your laundry room, or whichever room you intend to put it, it may be an inconvenient location to try to iron clothes. Just keep in mind you’ll need clearance for the board and enough space to move around as you adjust the clothes on the board.
Top Pick
Homz Over-the-Door Ironing Board
- Fits standard 1-3/8″ doors
- Slim profile while in locked position, 2-inch depth
- Dimensions: 49″ x 14.25″
- Weighs 8 lbs
Over-the-door ironing boards stay out of the way and are usually less shaky than a cheap fold-up ironing board. But be sure to think about the layout of the room you’ll be using it in and whether or it’s convenient to iron around the door. Laundry rooms are sometimes cramped, and this type of board simply may not work, so you might have to consider using a different door in your home.
Small Ironing Boards
If you’ve got a small apartment or space to work with, then hands down the easiest (and cheapest) option for ironing is a magnetic ironing mat. You can set the mat on top of your dryer, table, countertop, or any other solid flat space that it will fit. It’s much easier to store away than an ironing board.
Now, ironing mats aren’t convenient for everyone and there are a ton more options in the small and compact category to choose from.
Small Tabletop
Honey-Can-Do Tabletop Ironing Board
This small tabletop ironing board has a retractable iron rest and is great for small dorms, apartments, or RV’s.
- Metal iron rest
- Collapsible; stores easy in a closet
- Dimensions in use: 12″ W x 32″ L x 6″ H
- Weighs 4.8 lbs
A small tabletop ironing board is a great option in small apartments or recreational vehicles since a full-size ironing board takes up a lot of closet space and you usually have a dining table available for use.
Next, we’re going to look at the most portable ironing solution: the ironing mat.
Ironing Mat
Handy Laundry Magnetic Ironing Mat
Ironing mats are the most compact and portable ironing solution.
- Dimensions: 19.5″ W x 32.5″ L (including iron rest)
- Simply fold up to store away
- Iron rest is slip resistant textured silicone
Ironing mats are best used on top of a clothes dryer since the surface is metal and many pads are magnetic. That means the mat will stay fixed in place as you iron.
If you’re in a small apartment that lacks a clothes washer and dryer, then a magnetic ironing mat won’t help you much. The next best thing is an ironing pad with anti-slip backing.
Ironing Carts
Ironing carts are a standalone solution that gives you a lot of additional storage and can be rolled around. There are quite a few options to choose from when it comes to the storage available on a laundry ironing cart.
- Shelves or Drawers
- Clothes Bags
- Shirt Hangers
- Iron Rest
Versatile
Honey-Can-Do Rolling Laundry Cart with Ironing Board
The Honey-Can-Do cart has a nice selection of features, especially the clothes hanger. It’s a great all-in-one solution if you also need some extra storage space for clean or dirty clothes.
The canvas bags are easily removed and washable.
Dimensions: 51.2″ L x 14″ W x 69″ H
The top of the ironing board is 32″ from the floor.
With ironing carts, you do lose some flexibility. For example, you can’t adjust the height of the board to be in a more comfortable position. Also, some carts have rectangular boards instead of the rectangle that tapers to a narrow point. Some people prefer the rectangle, but that’s up to you.
If you don’t need the clothes hanging bar, then there are other options. This Whitmor 3-section laundry cart has a heavy-duty metal frame and 3 laundry bags.
Extra-wide Ironing Boards
More room to work is never a bad thing. Here we’ve collected some of the best rated extra-wide ironing boards of various types.
Top Pick
Mabel Home Extra-Wide Ironing Board
This ironing board by Mabel Home has folding wings to help with ironing shoulders on shirts.
- 100% cotton surface cover with extra cover included
- Iron tray and hanger
- Height Adjust: 27.5″ to 36″
- Weight: 19.7 lbs
- Ironing Surface: 58″ x 18″
The iron tray is capable of holding 25 lbs so this board can handle a steam generator (iron station).
The fold-up wings are somewhat helpful for ironing around shoulders, but they are not level with the board and if you’re not careful this can cause a crease.
The relatively low height setting (27.5″) makes this a good option if you require a wheelchair.
There are some other options out there in the extra-wide category, such as the Bartnelli Luxury Ironing Board. It has a height adjustment range between 30 and 38 inches, which is 2 inches taller than the Mabel Homes model above. Additionally, it’s slightly wider at 19″.
Sleeve Ironing Boards
Standard ironing boards make it tricky to get sleeves perfectly ironed. You always have to iron two layers of fabric and getting both sides of the sleeve positioned just right without a crease is very difficult.
That’s where sleeve ironing boards come to the rescue. They work just as you might expect and you simply slide the board inside the sleeve and rotate as needed. You’re only ironing a single layer at a time, which is much less frustrating.
Top Pick
Jacobson Products Padded Sleeve Ironing Board
This sleeve ironing board is made of durable flannel with an aluminum frame, so rust will never be an issue.
Top ironing board: 24″ x 4.5″ with a 3-inch nose
Bottom: 24″ x 4.5″ with a 4-inch nose
Weighs 2.25 lbs