If you’ve used only cheap, rickety ironing boards, you’re probably working too hard. A solid board with a smooth cover and the right amount of give will make the job easier.
Since 2015 we’ve spent 54 hours researching and testing 22 boards and mats, and our two-time winner, the Brabantia Ironing Board B, is still our favorite. It’s the best we’ve tried for the price—it’s durable, wobble-free, and just the right size.
Our pick
This board is incredibly stable, and it weighs (and costs) less than other high-end boards we’ve tried. It’s the right size for most needs but not a pain to store.
The Brabantia Ironing Board B is the best board I’ve used—it’s steadier and lighter than more expensive boards I’ve tested, but it costs a fraction of the price. The Brabantia B opens noiselessly and folds compactly, so it’s pleasant to use and easy to stow in a small apartment or laundry room. We also like that it comes with a 10-year warranty, which indicates that Brabantia believes its ironing board will last. I’ve been using this board regularly since early 2017—even moving it across the country—and it looks as good as new. The iron rest is permanently attached, which is not ideal if you like to use the squared-off end of the board. But the Brabantia B is one of the few stands I’ve tried that truly keep an iron still, and cords don’t get tangled between the iron rest and the board (a problem with several other models I’ve tested).
Budget pick
If you don’t want to pull out a full-size board, or you prefer the extra height you can get from working on a counter, this tabletop board is stable, easy to use, affordable, and compact.
Tabletop ironing boards can be chintzy and unstable, but the Honey-Can-Do Tabletop Ironing Board with Iron Rest is sturdy and useful, and it’s a strong choice if you don’t need (or don’t have space for) a full-size ironing board. I tested it in 2015 and again in 2019, and it’s still the best small board I’ve tried. It’s also a fraction of the price of our full-size recommendations. Whether it lives on top of your washer or gets stowed in your closet, the Honey-Can-Do easily handles button-down shirts and linens. But it isn’t long enough to iron a pair of pants on, unless you work in sections. It comes with a limited lifetime warranty (the longest of any of our picks).
Also great
This cheap, convenient, and easy-to-store mat is a great option for infrequent pressing, but it’s a little trickier to use than a full-size ironing board.
The Above Edge Magnetic Ironing Mat is the most convenient of our picks to store, and it’s the only one that can turn any tabletop, counter, or washer into an instant ironing surface. It’s a little fussier to use, though, because you often have to keep one hand on the mat to steady it on a slick surface (it does have magnets to help secure it to metal). It’s not as effective for pressing dresses, button-down shirts, or other highly detailed clothing, but it works for small, quick jobs, when pulling out an ironing board is too much of a hassle. The Above Edge is also great to keep on a sewing table, for when you want to easily press seams.
