An ironing board is a padded, height-adjustable surface built to give a stable, heat-safe base for pressing fabric, and the best ironing boards in Australia balance surface size, stability and cover quality against the space available to store them. It is a simple product on paper, but the difference between a wobbly budget board and a well-built one shows up the moment you lean into a stubborn crease.
Ironing boards sold in Australia fall into three broad formats. A full-size standing board is the familiar four-legged design, sized for daily use and long ironing sessions. A tabletop board skips the legs and sits on a bench or table, trading surface height for a fraction of the storage footprint. An all-in-one system builds the iron itself into the board, usually with a built-in steam generator, as a combined purchase rather than two separate items.
The pressing surface across the boards in this guide ranges from 81cm (about 32 inches) on the smallest travel board up to 135cm (about 53 inches) on the largest standing model, and that width is the single biggest factor in how often you need to reposition fabric mid-iron. The criteria that separate a genuinely good board from a disappointing one are frame stability, cover quality under steam, how many height positions it offers, and how easily it folds away.
This guide compares eight ironing boards available in Australia, from a full-size standing board to a tabletop model and a mini travel board, so you can match the format to your space and how often you actually iron.
Quick Picks
Joseph Joseph Glide Plus Ironing Board
A genuine full-size board with a DripShield cover rated for steam generator irons.
CHECK ON AMAZON
Joseph Joseph Pocket Plus Tabletop Ironing Board
No legs needed, sits on any table or bench, with the iron storing inside it.
CHECK ON AMAZON
WULAR Ironing Board with Steam Iron Stand
The cheapest genuine full-size standing board in this list, with no compromise on the basics.
CHECK ON AMAZONThe 8 Best Ironing Boards in Australia Compared
| Product | Link | Type | Best For | Key Spec |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joseph Joseph Glide Plus Ironing Board | Check price | Full-size | Best Overall | 110 x 33cm, DripShield cover, 5 height positions |
| Joseph Joseph Pocket Plus Tabletop Ironing Board | Check price | Tabletop | Best Tabletop | Sits on a table or bench, integrated iron storage |
| Joseph Joseph Glide Plus Large Ironing Board | Check price | Full-size | Best for Large Loads | 135 x 45cm, extra-large steam iron rest |
| Joseph Joseph Glide Compact Ironing Board | Check price | Full-size | Best Value Standing Board | 6 height positions, heat-resistant silicone iron mat |
| Kitsure Full Size Folding Ironing Board | Check price | Full-size | Best for Stability | 109 x 33cm, reinforced cross-frame, rust-resistant metal |
| WULAR Ironing Board with Steam Iron Stand | Check price | Full-size | Best Budget Full-Size | 90 x 30cm, height adjustable 68 to 80cm |
| Philips All-in-One Ironing Solution 6000 Series | Check price | All-in-one system | Best Premium All-in-One System | 1800W built-in steam generator, multi-angle board |
| APEXCHASER Small Ironing Board | Check price | Mini | Best Mini for Travel | Folds to 30.7 x 7.1 x 40.6cm, hanging loop |
1. Joseph Joseph Glide Plus Ironing Board – Best Overall
Joseph Joseph’s Glide Plus is built around a 110 x 33cm surface, a genuine full size without tipping into the bulk of the largest boards in this list. The legs nest together when folded rather than splaying out, so it stores upright in a cupboard without catching on anything.
The DripShield cover is the standout detail: it is rated for heavy steam use and steam generator irons, which cheaper cotton covers tend to soak through and stain over time. Five height positions cover most ironing styles, from seated to standing, and the retractable steam iron rest keeps a hot iron off the fabric between passes.
This is the board most buyers should default to unless they have a specific reason to go larger, smaller or cheaper. It is the standard-size, standard-price option in a range that otherwise skews toward specialists.
Pros
- DripShield cover rated for steam generator irons
- Five height positions
- Legs nest together for tidy storage
Cons
- Costs more than a generic full-size board
- Not the largest surface if you iron bedding or curtains regularly
Key specs: 110 x 33cm surface, cotton DripShield cover, 5 height positions, retractable steam iron rest
CHECK ON AMAZON2. Joseph Joseph Pocket Plus Tabletop Ironing Board – Best Tabletop
The Pocket Plus skips legs entirely and sits directly on a table or bench, which suits anyone without a dedicated laundry space or the floor room for a full-size board. It folds flat enough to slide behind a door or under a bed.
An integrated compartment stores the iron itself once it has cooled, and a separate hanging hook doubles as wall storage if bench space is tight. The DripLock cover handles regular steam without the surface underneath getting damp.
The trade-off for the compact format is a smaller, lower surface than a standing board, so long items like trousers or sheets need more repositioning. Apartment dwellers and anyone ironing in small bursts get the most out of the format.
Pros
- No legs, sits on any table or bench
- Integrated iron storage compartment
- DripLock cover handles regular steam use
Cons
- Smaller, lower surface than a standing board
- Long items need more repositioning
Key specs: Tabletop design, plastic frame, 2.68kg, DripLock cover, integrated iron storage
CHECK ON AMAZON3. Joseph Joseph Glide Plus Large Ironing Board – Best for Large Loads
The Large steps the Glide Plus surface up to 135 x 45cm, noticeably wider than the standard version, which matters most for anyone regularly ironing sheets, tablecloths or wide shirts where every extra centimetre of width means fewer repositions.
It carries the same DripShield cover and five height positions as the standard Glide Plus, with a retractable steam iron rest sized up to match the bigger board. At 150cm tall when standing, it needs enough vertical clearance in the room it lives in.
This is the board to choose specifically for the extra surface area, not for any feature the smaller Glide Plus lacks. Buy the standard size unless width is a genuine, regular problem.
Pros
- 135 x 45cm surface, the widest board in this list
- Same DripShield cover as the standard Glide Plus
- Extra-large retractable steam iron rest
Cons
- Needs more floor and storage space than the standard size
- Costs noticeably more for the extra width
Key specs: 135 x 45cm surface, cotton DripShield cover, 5 height positions, 150cm standing height
CHECK ON AMAZON4. Joseph Joseph Glide Compact Ironing Board – Best Value Standing Board
The Glide Compact sits below the Glide Plus range on price while keeping the same slimline folded profile and easy-change cover system, swapping the DripShield fabric for a standard cover better suited to occasional rather than heavy steam use.
Six height positions, one more than the Plus models, give it slightly finer adjustment for shared households where more than one person irons at different heights. A removable heat-resistant silicone mat replaces the retractable rest, doing the same job at a lower cost to manufacture.
This suits a household that irons regularly but not with a steam generator iron, where the DripShield cover on the Plus range would be paying for capacity that never gets used.
Pros
- Six height positions, the most in this list
- Lower price than the Plus range
- Removable heat-resistant silicone iron mat
Cons
- Standard cover, not rated for steam generator irons like the Plus range
- Fewer premium materials than the DripShield boards
Key specs: 110cm surface, metal frame, 6 height positions, heat-resistant silicone mat
CHECK ON AMAZON5. Kitsure Full Size Folding Ironing Board – Best for Stability
Kitsure builds the frame around a reinforced cross structure specifically aimed at wobble, a common complaint on cheaper folding boards once an iron is pressed down with any real force. The rust-resistant metal frame is rated for regular use rather than occasional light ironing.
The cover is a multi-layer build, cotton over foam padding, giving a slightly softer press than a single-layer cover without needing a separate ironing sheet underneath. At 109 x 33cm the surface is close to the Glide Plus in size, just without the branded steam cover.
Two hundred or more buyers a month choose this one specifically for the stability, which is the detail worth checking on any budget board before assuming a lower price means a worse iron.
Pros
- Reinforced cross-frame specifically built against wobble
- Multi-layer cotton and foam cover
- Comparable surface size to the pricier Glide Plus
Cons
- No branded steam-rated cover
- Fewer height positions than the Joseph Joseph range
Key specs: 109 x 33 x 91cm, rust-resistant metal frame, multi-layer heat-resistant cover
CHECK ON AMAZON6. WULAR Ironing Board with Steam Iron Stand – Best Budget Full-Size
WULAR’s board is the cheapest genuine full-size, standing option in this list, with a 90 x 30cm surface and height adjustment between 68 and 80cm, a narrower range than the premium boards but enough to suit most standing heights.
A three-layer thick cover and a dedicated steam iron stand cover the basics without any of the extras the pricier boards add, and the heavy-duty steel frame folds flat for storage. It comes in three surface sizes, so check the listing carefully before ordering.
This is a genuine budget pick rather than a compromise: it does the core job of a standing ironing board and nothing more, which is exactly what a first board or a spare in a second laundry needs.
Pros
- Cheapest genuine full-size standing board here
- Three-layer thick cover
- Heavy-duty steel frame folds flat
Cons
- Narrower height adjustment range than premium boards
- Comes in multiple sizes, so check the listing before ordering
Key specs: 90 x 30cm surface, height adjustable 68 to 80cm, 3.2kg, steel frame
CHECK ON AMAZON7. Philips All-in-One Ironing Solution 6000 Series – Best Premium All-in-One System
Philips folds the iron itself into the board: an 1800W steam generator built into the base pushes up to 45 grams of steam a minute through a pointed head, and the whole board tilts from horizontal to vertical for steaming garments on a hanger.
OptimalTEMP technology is designed to iron safely across fabric types without a separate heat dial, and the company states the system kills 99.9 percent of bacteria and dust mites in the process, a genuine secondary benefit beyond wrinkle removal.
This is a different category of purchase to the rest of this list: a combined board-and-iron system rather than a board alone, and it suits someone replacing an ageing iron and board together rather than buying a board on its own.
Pros
- 1800W built-in steam generator, no separate iron needed
- Multi-angle board tilts for hanging-garment steaming
- OptimalTEMP technology guards against scorching
Cons
- Highest price in this list by a wide margin
- Review count is still low relative to how new the model is
Key specs: 1800W steam generator, up to 45g/min steam output, multi-angle board, OptimalTEMP
CHECK ON AMAZON8. APEXCHASER Small Ironing Board – Best Mini for Travel
At 81 x 30cm open and folding down to roughly 31 x 7 x 41cm, the APEXCHASER is built for a share house room, a caravan or a suitcase rather than a laundry. A hanging loop lets it store on a wall or the back of a door, taking up no floor space at all.
A safety latch locks the frame open, addressing the main complaint with mini boards this size: a leg folding unexpectedly mid-iron. The heat-resistant cover and non-slip feet are scaled down from full-size boards rather than simplified away.
This is not a replacement for a standing board in a household that irons regularly. It suits students, renters without laundry space, or anyone who wants a genuine second board for travel rather than pressing a shirt on a folded towel.
Pros
- Folds down small enough for a suitcase or wall storage
- Safety latch locks the frame open
- Non-slip feet and a heat-resistant cover despite the small size
Cons
- Not a substitute for a standing board with regular use
- Small surface means more repositioning for anything beyond a shirt
Key specs: 81 x 30cm open, folds to 30.7 x 7.1 x 40.6cm, 1.73kg, heat-resistant cover
CHECK ON AMAZONHow to Choose an Ironing Board in Australia
Match the surface size to how much you actually iron. A 110cm board handles shirts and trousers comfortably. Step up to a wider board only if sheets, tablecloths or bedding are a regular part of your ironing, since the extra size costs more and takes up more storage.
Check the cover is rated for how you actually iron. A standard cotton cover is fine for a dry or lightly misted iron, but a steam generator or a heavy steam setting will soak through and stain a basic cover over time. Look for a cover specifically marketed as steam or drip resistant if that applies to your steam iron.
Test for wobble before assuming a cheap board is a false economy. Frame stability varies more between budget boards than surface size or cover quality does. A reinforced or cross-braced frame is worth specifically checking for on lower-priced boards, since it is the detail that most separates a genuine budget pick from a poorly made one.
Consider a tabletop or mini board only if space is the real constraint. These formats trade ironing comfort, mainly height and surface size, for a much smaller storage footprint. They suit apartments, share houses and travel rather than being a cheaper version of a full-size board.
Height adjustment range matters more in shared households. More height positions, typically five to seven on the boards in this guide, make it easier for people of different heights to iron comfortably on the same board without straining their back.
Decide whether you are replacing the board alone or the board and the iron together. An all-in-one system only makes sense as a combined purchase. If your current iron still works well, buying a standalone board is the simpler and usually cheaper upgrade.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size ironing board should I buy?
A 110 to 120cm board suits most households and fits shirts and trousers without much repositioning. Go larger, up to 135cm, if you regularly iron sheets or tablecloths, and consider a tabletop or mini board only if floor space or storage is genuinely limited.
Is a tabletop ironing board worth it compared to a full-size one?
A tabletop board is worth it specifically for small spaces or infrequent ironing, since it needs no floor space and stores flat. For daily or regular ironing, a full-size standing board is more comfortable over a longer session.
Do I need a special ironing board cover for a steam generator iron?
Yes. Standard cotton covers can soak through and stain under the higher steam output of a steam generator iron. Look for a cover specifically rated for steam generator use, sometimes marketed as drip-resistant or steam-shield.
How long does a typical ironing board cover last?
Most covers wear out well before the frame does, usually showing scorch marks or thinning padding after a few years of regular use. Covers are generally sold as replacement parts, so the frame does not need replacing just because the cover has worn out.
What height should an ironing board be set to?
Set the board so your forearm rests roughly level with the surface when ironing, which is usually a few centimetres below hip height. Most adjustable boards offer between five and seven height positions to fit different users in the same household.
Is an all-in-one ironing system worth the extra cost over a separate board and iron?
It is worth it mainly for someone replacing both a worn-out iron and board at the same time, since buying them combined can cost less than two good-quality items separately. If your current iron still works well, a standalone board is the simpler upgrade.
Verdict
For most households, the Joseph Joseph Glide Plus is the strongest all-round pick, with a genuine full-size surface and a cover that handles steam generator irons without extra cost for space it will not use. Anyone short on floor space should look at the Pocket Plus tabletop board first, and the WULAR is the pick for a genuinely no-frills budget board rather than a compromise. The Philips all-in-one system only earns its higher price if you are replacing an ageing iron at the same time, not as an upgrade to a board alone.
