How many watts does an iron use?
By Tom Calder · Figures checked 4 November 2026 · Costs at 26.32p per kWh (Ofgem cap, 1 October to 31 December 2026)
A steam iron is rated at about 2,800W to 3,100W, as much as a kettle. Half an hour at full power would use 1.4 to 1.55 kWh, about 37p to 41p at 26.32p per kWh; the thermostat cycles the element, so real use is lower.
The numbers
- Running watts
- 2,800W to 3,100W
- Amps at 230V (most)
- 12.4A
- From the 240V rating: at 230V the same appliance draws a little less.
- Energy for 30 minutes at most
- 1.4 to 1.55 kWh
- Rated watts for 30 minutes, an example length. The thermostat cycles the element, so real use is lower.
- Cost for 30 minutes at most
- 37p to 41p
- Cost per hour at full power
- 74p to 82p
- On a 1kWh power station
- Too much for the units around 1kWh we list (1,500W to 2,000W output)
- On a 2kWh power station
- Too much for the units around 2kWh we list (2,200W to 3,000W output)
Costs use 26.32p per kWh, the Ofgem price cap's average Direct Debit electricity unit rate for 1 October to 31 December 2026. Your own rate is on your bill; on a fixed or time-of-use tariff it will differ.
How it’s used, and what that costs
Russell Hobbs rates its Powersteam Ultra irons at 3,100W, and Tefal’s Ultragliss Anti-Calc Plus FV6842E0 is listed at 2,800W. Once the soleplate is hot, the element switches on and off to hold the temperature you set, so an hour of ironing does not use the full rating every minute.
An iron is among the first things to leave off a power station: its draw is beyond most units.
In a power cut: how long a power station would run it
A 1kWh power station: too much for the units around 1kWh we list (1,500W to 2,000W output). A 2kWh power station: too much for the units around 2kWh we list (2,200W to 3,000W output). These use the same planning method as our power station pages: capacity × 90% usable depth × 85% inverter efficiency, divided by the load plus about 10W the unit uses itself (BLUETTI’s UK formula). Counts of uses leave out the unit’s own draw, so treat them as a little generous.
Output matters as much as capacity. The 7 units around 1kWh we list supply 1,500W to 2,000W continuously, and the 6 around 2kWh supply 2,200W to 3,000W, so check a unit’s rated output covers 3,100W before you rely on it.
To size one for everything you’d want to keep running, use the sizer on our power stations comparison.
Common questions
How many amps does an iron draw?
Amps are watts divided by volts. Steam iron ratings are given at 240V; at the UK’s nominal 230 volts the same appliance draws a little less power, about 11.2 to 12.4 amps at full power.
Compare: Kettle · Heated airer
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Start free →Sources (8)
- Russell Hobbs Powersteam Ultra Pro iron 28630: wattage 3100
- Russell Hobbs 3100W Powersteam Ultra iron 20630
- Tefal Ultragliss Anti-Calc Plus FV6842E0: steam iron 2800 W (retailer listing)
- Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges, 1 October to 31 December 2026electricity 26.32p per kWh, Direct Debit; no VAT on electricity from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027
- BLUETTI UK — Elite 200 V2 (runtime formula: DoD 90%, η 85%, self-consumption about 10W)
- BLUETTI UK — Elite 100 V2 (self-consumption about 10W)
- Jackery UK — runtime formula (capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts)
- EcoFlow — test runtime before an emergency0.80–0.90 for AC; DC ports for routers and phones
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