The Best Baby Bottle Steriliser (UK, 2026): UV vs Steam
Updated 13 October 2026 · 5 products compared · live prices · how we pick
If you want the simplest, most reliable way to sterilise bottles, buy an electric steam steriliser, and the Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser is the one to get. Steam fills the chamber and penetrates every surface, including the inside of each bottle, which is the bit that matters, it kills 99.9% of germs in about five minutes, it holds the contents sterile for around 24 hours if you leave the lid shut, and it costs a fraction of a UV unit. For the overwhelming majority of families, especially anyone using glass bottles, this is all the steriliser you need.
UV sterilisers are not a gimmick, but they answer a narrower need. They use light rather than heat, so they are gentle on plastics and teats, dry everything at the end, run silently and will sterilise soothers, teethers and toys you cannot boil. Their catch is that UV only works where the light reaches, so shadowed surfaces and bottle interiors are less certain than steam, and they cost a lot more. Below we lay out exactly when each one makes sense, and cover the cheap microwave and cold-water options too.
The winner · Best Overall
Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser
Fast, cheap and thorough: steam that reaches every surface in about five minutes, from the brand whose bottles are in every UK kitchen.
Price checked live · updated 13 October 2026 · we may earn a commission
In this guide ＋
- The winner
- The top picks, ranked
- Compare the specs
- Do you need to sterilise, and for how long?
- UV vs steam: the honest comparison
- Which method is right for you?
- Our picks in detail
- Why glass bottles and steam are the easy pairing
- Descaling, drying and keeping it working
- Common myths, corrected
- What we’d skip
- FAQs
The top 5, ranked
Compare the specs
| # | Product | Best for | Method | Cycle | Capacity | Dries? | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser | Best Overall | Electric steam | ~5 min | Up to ~6 bottles | No | Out of stock | |
| 2 | Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser | Best Budget | Microwave steam | ~4 min | ~4 bottles | No | Out of stock |
| 3 | Philips Avent Premium Steriliser and Dryer | Best Steam with Drying | Steam + dry | ~10 min + dry | Up to ~6 bottles | Yes | Out of stock |
| 4 | Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Steriliser and Dryer | Best UV | UV-C light | ~10 to 60 min | Varies, multi-item | Yes | Out of stock |
| 5 | Milton Cold Water Steriliser | Best for Travel | Cold water (tablets) | ~15 min | Several bottles | No | Out of stock |
Prices are live from Amazon and refresh through the day; last page update 13 October 2026.
Do you need to sterilise, and for how long?
Yes, for the first year. The NHS advises sterilising all baby feeding equipment until your baby is 12 months old, because their immune system is still developing and milk residue is a breeding ground for bacteria. After 12 months you can usually stop sterilising and simply wash thoroughly in hot soapy water or the dishwasher, though many parents keep sterilising dummies a while longer.
Two rules apply whatever method you choose:
- Clean first, then sterilise. Sterilising does not clean. Wash everything in hot soapy water (or the dishwasher) to remove milk residue first, then sterilise.
- Sterile means sealed. Equipment stays sterile for around 24 hours only if left inside the closed steriliser. Open it and start handling bottles and the clock effectively resets, so assemble them with clean hands and fill or store promptly.
UV vs steam: the honest comparison
This is the question everyone asks, so here is the straight answer. Steam is more thorough; UV is more convenient for certain things.
| Steam | UV | |
|---|---|---|
| How it kills germs | Hot steam, ~99.9% | UV-C light, surface only |
| Reaches bottle interiors? | Yes, steam fills every cavity | Only where light reaches; interiors less certain |
| Heat | Yes (fine for glass, less kind to plastic over time) | None (gentle on plastic, silicone, teats) |
| Dries? | No (unless a dryer model) | Usually yes |
| Other items (toys, soothers) | Heat-safe items only | Good for non-boilable items |
| Upkeep | Descaling | None, but bulb degrades over time |
| Price | Low | High |
The deciding factor is coverage. Steam fills the chamber and penetrates every surface, so the inside of a bottle, the part that holds the milk, is reliably sterilised. UV works by line of sight, so you must arrange items for the light to reach them, and cavities are harder to guarantee. For the core job of sterilising bottles, steam wins. UV earns its higher price when you are using plastic or silicone and want to avoid heat, or you want to sterilise soothers, teethers and toys and have them dried.
Which method is right for you?
- Glass bottles, want simple and cheap? Electric or microwave steam. Glass loves heat, steam reaches everything, job done for little money. This is most people.
- Small kitchen or tight budget? Microwave steam. Same steam, no counter space, lowest price.
- Hate wet bottles? A steam-and-dryer unit, or UV, both of which dry.
- Plastic or silicone bottles and want to avoid heat? UV makes more sense here, because heat is what ages plastic and drives microplastic shedding.
- Want to sterilise soothers, teethers and toys too? UV, which handles non-boilable items.
- Travelling, or no reliable power? Cold-water (Milton). No plug, no microwave, just a tub and a tablet.
If you took our advice in the glass baby bottle guide, a steam steriliser is the natural partner: glass is unbothered by heat and steam sterilises it completely, for a fraction of a UV unit’s price.
Our picks in detail
Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser
Fast, cheap and thorough: steam that reaches every surface in about five minutes, from the brand whose bottles are in every UK kitchen.
One of the most-reviewed sterilisers on Amazon UK.
This is the default for good reason. It kills 99.9% of germs with steam in around a five-minute cycle, and because steam fills the whole chamber it sterilises every surface it touches, including the inside of each bottle, which is precisely where UV struggles. It holds several bottles plus teats and accessories, and once the cycle ends the contents stay sterile for around 24 hours as long as you keep the lid closed, so one run first thing can cover a day.
It is also cheap to buy and cheap to run, using only a few watt-hours of electricity per cycle. The one maintenance job is descaling, because it boils water and limescale builds up, especially in hard-water areas, but that is a ten-minute task every few weeks with citric acid or the maker’s tablets. Pair it with glass bottles and you have the simplest, most foolproof feeding setup there is: glass does not care about the heat, and steam cleans it completely.
What we like
- Steam reaches every surface, including bottle interiors
- Kills 99.9% of germs in about five minutes
- Contents stay sterile around 24 hours with the lid shut
- Cheap to buy and negligible to run
What we'd change
- Needs periodic descaling, more often in hard-water areas
- Uses heat, so less ideal for heat-sensitive plastics over time
Buy this if: you want the simplest, most reliable steriliser, especially with glass bottles.
Tommee Tippee Microwave Steam Steriliser
The same steam sterilising for a fraction of the price and no counter space, if you have a microwave.
Thousands of Amazon reviews at our last count.
A microwave steam steriliser is a simple vented tub: add water, load bottles, microwave for a few minutes and the steam does the same job as an electric unit. This Tommee Tippee version sterilises in about four minutes, costs a fraction of the electric or UV options, and stores away in a cupboard rather than occupying the worktop, which is a real advantage in a small kitchen. The contents stay sterile inside the closed unit for around 24 hours.
The compromises are that you need a free microwave each time, capacity is smaller than a big electric unit, and the tub is hot and full of steam when it finishes, so you handle it carefully. But as a cheap primary steriliser for a small kitchen, or a second one to keep at the grandparents’, it is hard to beat on value. It is pure steam, so like the electric unit it reaches every surface.
What we like
- Very cheap and stores away when not in use
- Fast, about four minutes plus cooling
- Full steam coverage, reaches bottle interiors
What we'd change
- Needs a free microwave each time
- Smaller capacity than a big electric unit
- Hot and steamy to handle at the end
Buy this if: you want cheap, space-saving steam sterilising and have a microwave.
Philips Avent Premium Steriliser and Dryer
Steam’s thoroughness plus a drying cycle, so bottles come out ready to use rather than wet.
The one genuine thing steam lacks against UV is drying: bottles come out wet. This Philips Avent unit answers that by adding a dry cycle after sterilising, so you get steam’s complete surface coverage and bottles that are ready to fill, without air-drying on a rack where they can pick up dust. It removes 99.9% of germs and takes a larger load, which suits families doing a full day’s bottles in one go.
It costs more than a plain steam unit, and the dryer lengthens the total cycle, so it is a convenience buy rather than a necessity: letting bottles air-dry briefly on a clean rack costs nothing. But if you dislike damp bottles or want everything done in one appliance, this is the steam unit to get, and it still beats UV on the thing that matters most, reaching every surface. It needs descaling like any steam unit.
What we like
- Full steam coverage plus a proper drying cycle
- Bottles come out dry and ready to use
- Large capacity for a full day’s bottles
What we'd change
- Dearer than a plain steam steriliser
- Longer total cycle with drying; needs descaling
Buy this if: you want steam’s thoroughness but hate wet bottles and want them dried automatically.
Tommee Tippee Ultra UV Steriliser and Dryer
The UV option done properly: no heat, dries everything, silent, and sterilises the soothers and toys you cannot boil, if you understand its limits.
If you want UV, buy it from a brand that builds it properly, and this Tommee Tippee is the sensible choice. UV-C light sterilises with no heat, water or chemicals, which means it is gentle on plastics and teats (no heat to drive microplastic shedding or perish silicone), it dries as it finishes, it runs silently, and it needs no descaling. Its real party trick is sterilising things steam handles awkwardly: dummies, teething toys, and small items you would never boil.
The honest catch is physics. UV only sterilises surfaces its light directly reaches, so you have to arrange items so the light hits them, and the inside of a bottle is harder to guarantee than with steam that fills every cavity. It also costs considerably more than a steam unit, and UV bulbs lose output over time. So buy UV if you are using plastic or silicone bottles and want to avoid heat, or you specifically want to sterilise non-boilable items and have everything dried. For glass bottles, steam is both cheaper and more certain.
What we like
- No heat, so gentle on plastics, silicone and teats
- Dries items and runs silently, no descaling
- Sterilises soothers, teethers and toys you cannot boil
What we'd change
- Only sterilises surfaces the light reaches; interiors less certain
- Much pricier than steam, and the UV bulb degrades over time
Buy this if: you use plastic or silicone bottles, want no heat, and value drying plus sterilising toys and soothers.
Milton Cold Water Steriliser
No electricity, no microwave, just a tub and a tablet: the proven travel and backup method UK parents have used for generations.
A long-standing UK staple with thousands of reviews.
Milton is the method your parents probably used, and it still earns its place. You dissolve a sterilising tablet in cold water, submerge the bottles for about fifteen minutes, and they stay sterile in the solution for 24 hours, topping up as you remove items. It needs no power and no microwave, which makes it the obvious choice for holidays, caravans, power cuts and anywhere a plug is not guaranteed, and the tub doubles as storage.
The trade-offs are small and known: you buy tablets as a consumable, the solution has a faint chlorine smell that a rinse with cooled boiled water removes, and you remake the solution every 24 hours. It is slower and more hands-on than pressing a button on a steam unit, so most families keep it as the travel and backup option rather than the everyday one. As that, it is cheap, foolproof and genuinely reliable.
What we like
- No electricity or microwave needed
- Ideal for travel, caravans and power cuts
- Tub doubles as sterile storage; very cheap to buy
What we'd change
- Ongoing tablet cost and a faint chlorine smell
- Slower and more hands-on; remake solution every 24 hours
Buy this if: you need a no-power method for travel, or a cheap backup to your main steriliser.
Why glass bottles and steam are the easy pairing
There is a neat logic that makes the whole feeding setup simpler. The reason to choose glass bottles is that plastic sheds microplastics when heated. The reason steam sterilising is so effective is precisely that it uses heat and fills every cavity. Put those together and glass plus steam is the setup with no downside: the heat that would be a problem for plastic is no problem at all for glass, and you get the most thorough sterilising for the least money.
UV exists largely to let plastic and silicone avoid heat. If you have removed plastic from the equation by going glass, you have also removed most of the reason to pay extra for UV. That is not a knock on UV, it is just that its main advantage does not apply to your bottles. Keep UV in mind if you later want to sterilise toys and soothers, or switch to silicone bottles for travel.
Descaling, drying and keeping it working
- Descale steam units regularly. They boil water, so limescale builds up, faster in hard-water areas. Use citric acid or the maker’s tablets every few weeks; a scaled-up unit takes longer and sterilises less effectively.
- Use the right water if advised. Some units recommend filtered or cooled boiled water to slow scaling. Check the manual.
- Air-dry on a clean rack if your unit does not dry. Steam-sterilised bottles come out wet; a dedicated clean drying rack beats a tea towel, which can recontaminate.
- Replace a UV bulb per the maker’s guidance. UV-C output falls over time, and a tired bulb sterilises less, which you cannot see. Follow the replacement interval.
- Keep the lid shut. Sterile only lasts while sealed, around 24 hours. Rummaging in an open steriliser is how bottles stop being sterile.
Common myths, corrected
- "UV is more advanced, so it must sterilise better." Newer, not better for this job. UV only treats surfaces the light reaches, while steam penetrates every cavity including bottle interiors. For bottles, steam is the more thorough method.
- "The dishwasher sterilises bottles." It cleans, it does not sterilise. You still need to sterilise separately until 12 months, even after a hot dishwasher cycle.
- "Sterilisers are expensive to run." An electric steam cycle uses only a few watt-hours, pennies at most. The cost is the unit, not the electricity.
- "You must keep sterilising for years." The NHS guidance is until 12 months. After that, thorough washing is generally enough for bottles.
- "Boiling is just as good and free." It works, but repeated boiling ages teats faster, and for plastic bottles the heat is what drives microplastic shedding. A steam unit is gentler on teats and more convenient.
What we’d skip
- Cheap no-name UV boxes with vague specs. UV only works at the right UV-C dose and wavelength, and bargain units with unverified bulbs can under-sterilise invisibly. If you want UV, buy a recognised brand that states its performance.
- Expecting any UV unit to reliably sterilise the inside of a bottle. UV is line-of-sight; sealed cavities are its weakness. Use UV for surfaces, soothers and toys, and steam for the inside of bottles.
- A large counter-hogging electric unit if your kitchen is small and you have a microwave. A microwave steam steriliser does the same job, stores in a cupboard and costs far less.
- Sterilising everything well past 12 months. Once the NHS window passes, thorough washing is generally enough for bottles, and you can stop running daily cycles.
- Relying on a tea towel to dry sterilised bottles. It can recontaminate them. Air-dry on a clean dedicated rack, or buy a steam-and-dryer or UV unit that dries.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to sterilise baby bottles, and until when?
Yes. The NHS advises sterilising all feeding equipment until your baby is 12 months old, because their immune system is still developing. Always wash equipment in hot soapy water first to clean it, then sterilise, because sterilising does not remove milk residue on its own.
UV or steam steriliser: which is better?
Steam for thoroughness, UV for convenience. Steam fills the chamber and reaches every surface including bottle interiors, is cheaper and faster, and is our overall pick. UV uses no heat, dries items and sterilises non-boilable toys and soothers, but only treats surfaces the light reaches, so bottle interiors are less certain, and it costs more.
Does UV actually sterilise the inside of a bottle?
Less reliably than steam. UV-C kills germs only on surfaces its light directly reaches, so you must arrange items for exposure, and the inside of a bottle is a shadowed cavity. Steam, by contrast, fills every cavity. For the inside of bottles specifically, steam is the more certain method.
How long do bottles stay sterile after a cycle?
Around 24 hours, but only if you leave them inside the closed steriliser. Once you open it and start handling bottles, they begin to pick up germs again, so assemble them with clean hands and either fill them or store them sealed promptly.
Do I need a steriliser that dries, or is air-drying fine?
Air-drying on a clean dedicated rack is fine and free; steam-sterilised bottles simply come out wet. A steam-and-dryer or a UV unit dries automatically, which is convenient and avoids dust, but it is a comfort feature rather than a hygiene necessity. Never dry with a tea towel, which can recontaminate.
Is the cold-water Milton method any good?
Yes, as a travel or backup method. You dissolve a tablet in cold water and submerge bottles for about 15 minutes, and they stay sterile in solution for 24 hours. It needs no power or microwave, which is ideal away from home. The downsides are ongoing tablet cost and a faint chlorine smell a rinse removes.
Can I just use the dishwasher instead of a steriliser?
No. A dishwasher cleans but does not sterilise, even on a hot cycle, so until your baby is 12 months old you still need to sterilise separately. A dishwasher is a good way to do the cleaning step first, after which you sterilise by steam, UV or cold water.
Do sterilisers cost a lot to run?
No. An electric steam steriliser uses only a few watt-hours per cycle, so the running cost is pennies. The real cost is buying the unit and, for steam, occasional descaling; for cold water, the tablets; for UV, eventually a replacement bulb.
Ready to choose?
Our one clear winner is the Tommee Tippee Electric Steam Steriliser.