Purchasing an ironing board comes with many different considerations, with the most significant being what size board to buy. In the UK, the way that ironing board sizes are displayed is different from most countries.
What Are The Different Ironing Board Sizes?
- Size A: 110 x 30 cm
- Size B: 124 x 38 cm
- Size C: 124 x 45 cm
- Size D: 135 x 45 cm
- Size E: 135 x 49 cm
Something to keep in mind is the fact that some manufacturers will have tiny variations in these sizes, but most don’t and the biggest differences will only be 1 or 2 cms.
The dimensions you see above reflect the size of the entire ironing board surface, not the iron rest or legs. Additionally, the first number you see next to the size ID letter represents the length of the board, and the second, (smaller number) is the width.
Size A represents the smallest standard ironing board in the UK, and size E represents the largest standard ironing board available in the UK.
The smaller ironing board sizes like size A and size B are undoubtedly more suitable for lighter and regular ironing sessions and suffice for most households. The large ironing board (size E) is perfect for large, heavy loads of ironing where you need a bigger surface area to work on and space is not an issue.
For example, ironing board size E would be ideal for ironing bed sheets or curtains and will require less moving around of these items as more of the surface area can be ironed or steamed at once. Ironing board size A would be a great board for ironing t-shirts, trousers, shorts, shirts, and blouses, or similar-sized items.
Different Ironing Board Sizes – How To Choose The Right Board
Now that you have familiarised yourself with the different board sizes and what the letters signify, it makes sense to now find out which board size is best for you and your ironing requirements.
So, let’s look at how you can choose the right ironing board.
What Do You Plan On Ironing?
When you consider what ironing board is best for you, the first thing to consider is what you usually tend to iron in a session. This information is important as you may only iron small clothes, meaning you won’t need a large ironing board. If this is you, then you probably only need a size A or B board, and at the most, a C-sized ironing board, but nothing bigger.
Another advantage of having one of the smaller ironing boards is that it will save you space around your home. Having a lighter board also means less strain when carrying it, not as much space needed to set it up and iron from, and let’s not forget, you’ll likely be saving money as small ironing boards typically cost less than their larger counterparts.
However, if you do large ironing sessions, where you frequently iron bed sheets, duvet covers, curtains, or similarly-sized items, then you probably want to get yourself a large ironing board to be able to iron quickly and effectively.
Even so, for these types of items (and smaller clothes) a size C ironing board should suffice. The difference between a size C ironing board and a size D is negligible. In fact, a D is the same width as a C, both being 45 cm wide, and the D is just 11 cm longer.
Ironing Board Storage
Finding the right place to store your ironing board is important, you do not want it lying around the house, so, finding a place to store it should certainly be a priority. Fortunately, there are many different ways you can store your ironing board.
Depending on how frequently you iron should depend on where you store your ironing board. For example, if you iron twice a week, you should look around your home for an easy and accessible place to store your board for quick access.
On the contrary, if you only iron once every few weeks then your board does not need to be stored in the most accessible place. Another suggestion would be to store your ironing board near where you do your ironing to alleviate any long trips with a potentially heavy board. You don’t want to be knocking things over or damaging furniture.
Do You Have The Right Space?
Next, you will need to figure out where in your home you will be ironing, and once you have come to that conclusion, you then need to work out which ironing board size best fits the space or lack of space you have.
Many people tend to iron in the kitchen, living room, or laundry room. Living rooms tend to be the most spacious, but kitchens and laundry rooms can be more restrictive to the size of ironing board you can use. We would advise you to pick somewhere in your home with a lot of open space so you can move all the way around your board.
However, not everybody has a lot of space. For example, you may live in a small flat or perhaps even a shared house where you share occupancy of the rooms mentioned previously. In a house share scenario, you may need to do your ironing in your bedroom.
If ample space is not available then you should consider a small ironing board. Also, it isn’t just about whether or not you have the space to fit your iron and ironing board, it is about whether you have the space to fit them and move around the board yourself when you are ironing.
Measuring out your intended ironing space is also something you need to do before purchasing your board. If there is plenty of space after measuring out your ironing board dimensions then you have found the ideal place to iron. In a lot of cases, you can iron up or near a wall or the width or length of your bed.
Is It Close To Plug Sockets?
After you have decided on your proposed ironing area, the last thing you must consider and look out for is plug sockets. Yes, this is fairly self-explanatory, but you would be surprised at how many people find the perfect ironing area only to then find out that they are too far from an electrical wall socket.
Sure, if you have a cordless steam iron then you have a bit more flexibility between the wall plug, the base, and the iron itself, but the majority of people who own corded irons will need to be less than 1 metre away from an electrical plug. To give you more flexibility, you can just buy yourself a lightweight extension cord to give you more freedom of where you can iron.
Extra Features To Consider
A good ironing board often has many good features that make it reliable and last the course of time. Bad ironing boards, however, may not have these features, which is why you need to consider all of them before you purchase your ironing board.
Size
Ironing board sizes are not only about the length, the width of your board is also incredibly important. A narrow board will certainly make ironing take longer, whilst a wide board makes things go that much quicker.
Additionally, if you use a heavy steam generator iron, then using an extra-large ironing board is a good idea as the smaller-sized boards will be more flimsy and potentially won’t hold the weight well. Also, you should look for a board with a good iron rest that suits the size and shape of your iron.
Surface
A sturdy, heat-resistant, and safe ironing surface is what you need from your ironing board. Having a board made with high-quality material is important for longevity too, cotton ironing boards with protective thick padding are what you should be looking for.
Height
Due to ironing being a physical activity that requires a lot of standing, having an ironing board with adjustable height really is a no-brainer.
If your ironing board is not adjustable then depending on your height, you could be in for an uncomfortable session.
Weight
What you ideally want from your ironing board is something lightweight, yet sturdy and strong. You will likely be carrying your board from its storage space to your ironing area, and if you have a really heavy board it can be pretty uncomfortable.
Alternatively, if you purchase a board that is super light you run the risk of having a flimsy and unstable ironing surface. You want a board that is strong and sturdy and relatively lightweight.
Covers
Always remember, when you are purchasing a replacement ironing board cover make sure that the dimensions and size match the ironing board you have. Most ironing board covers are not sized using the same lettering as the ironing board, they will tell you the dimensions though, so make sure the dimensions of the cover match your board before buying.
Final Thoughts
In the UK, ironing boards come in 5 different sizes. There are many things you must consider before making the purchase, your ironing habits, space, and storage are just a few considerations.
If you follow these instructions, you should be able to easily identify the perfect ironing board size for you and your needs. What is it going to be – A, B, C, D, or E?
I am a content strategist and the administrator of this website. Professionally, I am an assistant Electronics professor at the University of Chester. I love to read about my profession and have a lot of interest in various home electronics appliances. Freely contact us if you have any queries regarding steam irons and other electronic devices.
