The Best Soldering Irons of 2023

Dec 06, 2023

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Whether you’re getting into DIY repairs or stepping up your soldering, one of these will work.

A soldering iron is like a power tool in the sense that you can accomplish things with it that you couldn't otherwise. The tool is used to melt solder that, when cooled, will join electrical contacts. There's often a need to do this when repairing consumer electronics, and it performs the same function for the electronics in musical instruments, appliances, power tools, and sometimes even power equipment. And after a little soldering practice, you might combine your skills with some woodworking. For example, you can build a classic electric guitar (like the beauty we made for our September 1990 issue) or a charming bluetooth speaker. And if woodworking isn't your thing but drones are, you’ll find a soldering iron especially helpful for repair work.

Take a look at quick info on the best soldering irons, then scroll down for info to keep in mind when buying your own and our in-depth reviews of these models.

A soldering iron should have a feel and a grip that makes it easy to hold in your hand, as if it were a large pen. For electronics, you want a slim, needle-like tip to aid in getting the heat (and solder) right where you need it. It's icing on the cake if you can get an iron with a small selection of tips or have tips available as accessories. If you’re moving into advanced electronics soldering, you’ll want to see your temperature readout, both for the fact of applying solder and to prevent you from unsoldering nearby electronics. That is, you don't want to apply any more heat than you need to predictably melt the solder. For long sessions at the soldering bench, look for an electrical lead from the iron that is soft and supple. A stiff cord is an unnecessary drag on your work.

If, however, all you do is the occasional repair job on some basic electronics, nearly any soldering iron will do. So long as the iron has a long enough cord to allow you to get where you need to work, boasts a sensible temperature dial, and will maintain a reasonably stable temperature for a few minutes, that's all you need.

In deciding which soldering irons to test, we looked at a broad price range that would seem attractive to non-professionals. Aside from cost, we looked for the features we like to see in a reasonably priced iron, enough wattage to handle a broad range of work, and a simplicity that makes the iron accessible to someone who doesn't do this work every day.

We got in two cordless models and one corded. In our evaluation, we soldered delicate drone electronics and for a more rugged test, applied melted solder onto 14-gauge solid and 14-gauge stranded wire. We also used the process known as tinning, where you spread a thin layer of melted solder. You "tin" the tip of the iron to prepare it for soldering, or you "tin" two pieces of electrical components that you want to join by melting the tinned surface of the two. It can be both a robust test of a soldering iron's capability and a way to gauge its ability to do this work more delicately, the iron's capacity for high heat, and whether it can maintain a steady temperature. Our tests are also intended to help us find whether an iron has the ability to maintain much higher heat than you would normally need in repair work. We also cycled the machines on and off, soldered, cleaned and re-tinned them, and soldered some more until we were satisfied that the machines performed well.

All of the tools tested here will perform the basic soldering you need for homeowner-grade repairs. We were particularly impressed with the portability of the cordless models. If you may need to perform an electronics repair while on the road, pack these tools and a battery.

We also included a few other promising soldering irons—the Weller WE1010NA, Hakko FX888D-23BY, and Chicago Electric 64056—that we haven't had the chance to test yet. We selected them based on the reliability and track record of their manufacturers. We also looked for good value in these irons, particularly if you’re someone who is stepping up from basic soldering to more advanced work, either in school, as a hobby, or on the job.

This Schneider coasted to the top in our test owing to three factors: It solders very well, it's fully outfitted with a nicely designed stand that has a temperature readout, and it comes with three tips. In the realm of soldering tools from reputable brands, you won't find a better value out there. Sure, you can buy something at this price (or even less), but this comes from Harbor Freight, a known quantity in the tool business. We also liked the three temperature presets (392, 572, and 752 degrees F). All three of them are adjustable in 5-degree instruments with the Up and Down buttons to the right of the preset switch panel. The digital readout on the control unit is crystal clear. A small but nice feature on this tool is the small sponge tray at the front of the stand for the iron. A small sponge also comes in the kit, along with three tips (one on the tool and two spares). Overall, this Schneider is a great value and perfect for DIYers and tech students.

If you’re looking for an entry-pro level soldering iron and maybe trying to save a little money compared to the Weller above, this Hakko is a great choice. The company is reliable, having offered industrial and hobbyist soldering irons in the U.S. market for the last 35 years. The FX888D has five preset temperature levels and the broadest temperature range (from 120 to 899 degrees F) of any soldering iron that we know of at this price. Also, if you get serious about your soldering and work your way up to more advanced jobs, there are ten accessory tips available, far more than the typical two or three that you will find for comparably priced soldering irons.

The CMCE040 solders very well, tinning large-gauge wire flawlessly and forming connections on delicate electronics. Also, it travels well. It's easy to break down into its constituent pieces that fit in a tool box. The soldering iron stand easily detaches from the control unit. Pop the two pieces apart, slide the battery off the control unit, and stash the parts in the tool kit you take on the road. To set up wherever you are, pop the stand back onto the control unit, slide on the battery and allow the iron to warm up for 10-15 minutes (depending on your temperature setting).

The CMCE040 was the simplest of the three irons we tested. Really, there's not much to it besides the On/Off button in the center of the temperature dial control. Press the button, then rotate the knob clockwise to increase the heat. When the iron reaches the preset temperature of the knob setting, a green LED on the control unit will light. There's no temperature indicator of any kind on this little tool, but we think that with a little practice, you’ll get the hang of soldering and desoldering. Crank the dial all the way to the right, and you’ve got tip temperature somewhere in the vicinity of 900 degrees. We loved the portability for in-the-field drone repairs, preferring its needle-like tip to the slightly broader tip on the Ryobi (below).

Weller is about as experienced a soldering-equipment manufacturer as you can find (company founder Carl Weller patented his first electrical soldering iron in 1941). And the company's products have enjoyed a solid reputation to this day. We think the WE1010NA is a good fit for either the serious hobbyist or professional. For your money, you get a soldering iron designed for the long haul, with the electrical lead from the iron to the control unit protected with durable and flexible silicone rubber. Unlike inexpensive irons, the iron's heating element is replaceable. It's unlikely that an amateur would ever manage to wear out its heating element, but you might be able to do it after several years of full-time hard use. We also like the Weller's large digital readout. The company claims that the tool has 40 percent more power than the two comparable irons it's replacing inWeller's lineup. The company says that the new iron's operating temperature is extremely stable, within plus or minus 4 degrees F of the temperature setting as the heating element cycles on and off.

You’d be hard-pressed to find a more cost-effective soldering tool than this Chicago Electric tool. Its operating temperature of approximately 1,175 degrees F is hot enough to melt some low-temperature brazing rods and some high-heat forms of solder. We wouldn't say this old-school pistol grip soldering tool is the ticket for precise work. But for basic soldering, especially where you’re more interested in tinning heavy electrical cables and the like, it's a good choice owing to its robust construction and simplicity.

The PCL946B's strong suits are that it solders well and its easy-to-read dial face makes it handy to get your temperature exactly right. At the farthest left of the dial, 400 F is printed on the face of the control unit; farthest right is the setting for 900 F. Dial stops along the way between those two are spaced in 100-degree increments. This tool may not have a digital readout, but you should be able to dial in your heat to match the parts that you’re soldering along with the type of solder and its diameter.

The overall design is good, too, but we think the iron's holder is too close to the control unit. We found the base of our hand rubbing on the control dial as we slipped the iron in and out of its holder. A big deal? No, not exactly. You could take a pair of pliers and put a slightly steeper bend in the slender steel bar that sets the holder's angle. We’d also like a bit more electrical cord leading from the iron to the control unit. This Ryobi's 26 inches was the shortest of the three irons. The Craftsman has 44, and the Schneider 55. Complaints aside, this soldering iron has a well-shaped handle that slips into your grip very easily, and its tri-lobe design allows you to set it down on a surface and keep the hot tip from making contact. If you’re already on the Ryobi 18-volt platform, this soldering iron should work well for you.

Roy Berendsohn has worked for more than 25 years at Popular Mechanics, where he has written on carpentry, masonry, painting, plumbing, electrical, woodworking, blacksmithing, welding, lawn care, chainsaw use, and outdoor power equipment. When he's not working on his own house, he volunteers with Sovereign Grace Church doing home repair for families in rural, suburban and urban locations throughout central and southern New Jersey.

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