A steam iron (10) comprises a steam generator (15) having a main body portion (15a) including an electrical heating element (16) to heat the steam generator (15), and an ironing plate (13) coupled to the steam generator (15) via a thermal coupling and configured to be passively heated by conduction of heat from the steam generator (15) via the thermal coupling. The thermal coupling between the steam generator (15) and the ironing plate (13) comprises an indirect thermal path formed by a flange (22) of the steam generator (15), the flange (22) being in contact with the ironing plate (13) and being spaced from the main body portion (15a) of the steam generator (15), the flange (22) also being configured to space the main body portion (15a) of the steam generator (15) from the ironing plate (13) to restrict the conduction of heat from the main body portion (15a) of the steam generator (15) to the ironing plate (13).