The Best Vacuums For All Types of Floors and Homes
- 1/11
The Best Vacuums For All Types of Floors and Homes
Vacuums can be a big investment and often lead to disappointment if they turn out to be too heavy and cumbersome or not powerful enough. As always, a little research can go a long way to helping you find one that works for your household needs; for that, keep reading just below about the types of vacuums. Or scroll down to our reviews of the best models—from the inexpensive to the high-end, the lightweight to the heavy-duty—which we evaluated and recommend you consider.
Types of Vacuums to Consider
Upright: Upright models are likely what you imagine when you think of a vacuum cleaner. All with a tilt-and-push design, they come in bagged or bagless models. They’re traditionally best for deep-cleaning carpets, but if you want one that’s good for hardwood floors, you should look for options that allow you to turn the brush roll off. They’re also known for being heavy and less versatile than canister vacs, but there are plenty of lightweight and multi-functional uprights for you to consider.
Canister: With a tank and hose, these vacuums are designed to accommodate a ton of different attachments, so you can use them to clean just about anything, like reaching ceiling corners or up the stairs. However, some models may also be heavy to carry around the house.
Stick: Though similar to upright vacuums, stick vacuums are much slimmer and more lightweight. They similarly use a rotating brush to pull up dirt and debris, though they generally have lower suction power. However, they’re great for quick cleanup around the house, and some even convert to a removable handheld vac.
Handheld: These lightweight and portable vacuums make it easy to clean around the couch, car, and tight corners. We especially recommend cordless models for extra portable convenience, and if you want something powerful enough to pick up debris in the shop, look for a 20-volt machine.
Robot: These smart, cordless machines are controllable via remote and programmable to certain schedules to clean even when you aren’t home. Like many stick and handheld vacs, their power won’t replace an upright or canister vacuum, but they can be great options for daily cleaning to save time. They come with a wide range of technologies, like bump-and-go or LIDAR floor mapping, and prices range from $200 to over $1,000, so if you want more robot vacuums to consider, read our reviews of four of the best robot vacs.
Corded or Cordless?
A cordless vacuum can be a game changer if you hate tripping over the vacuum cord or always find that it doesn’t reach certain corners in your home. If cordless models afford you the convenience of cleaning better and more regularly than they may be worth it; however, there are some disadvantages to keep in mind. Cordless stick vacuum technology is improving, but they’re going to cost a lot more to get the same power as their corded counterparts, and their batteries tend to be less reliable in the long-term. According to Wirecutter’s findings, a cordless vacuum might only last half as long as a comparable corded model, and you should expect to pay up to three times the cost for a cordless design to get similar power to a plug-in version.
How We Selected and Rated Them
We researched eight expert sources, as well as relied on our own previous testing of handheld and robot vacuums and recommendations from the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Cleaning Lab, which are based on the ASTM standard test methods used to evaluate vacuum models. Our Consumer Score represents the percentage of customers who rated the product at least four out of five stars on retail sites like Amazon and Walmart.
- 2/11
Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum
Shark
amazon.com
$149.99
Consumer Score: 91% give it 4 stars or higher
The Shark Navigator Liftaway has been known to outperform models that cost a lot more. And it’s been Wirecutter’s top pick for an upright vacuum for six years now. We like that it has a bagless, two-in-one design that makes it more versatile than some upright models. The main pod detaches to use like a canister vacuum, and it comes with extendable accessories to access hard-to-reach areas. Its brush roll can also be shut off for cleaning hard surfaces. Despite its relatively low cost under $200, Shark also offers a generous five-year warranty.
- 3/11
BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
Bissell
amazon.com
$99.99
Consumer Score: 93% give it 4 stars or higher
If you want to stick to a $100 budget while still getting a fullsize vacuum, consider this Bissell Cleanview. It boasts an impressive 4.7 star rating from over 25,000 reviewers on Amazon. With powerful suction and its brush roll design, it can handle tons of pet hair. Plus, scatter-free technology allows it to clean hardwood floor well too. It has a bagless design, but a washable filter that helps trap dust. Though it doesn’t have a removable canister like the Shark vacuum, but it does include a six-foot hose and other tools to help reach stairs and ceiling corners.
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- 4/11
Dyson Ball Multi Floor Upright Vacuum
Dyson
amazon.com
$279.00
Consumer Score: 85% give it 4 stars or higher
Dyson is one of the top names you’ll want to consider when vacuum shopping, but not all of their models may be out of reach for your budget. This upright, corded vacuum is a great investment at under $300 for those who have a variety of floor types in their homes. The cleaner head will self-adjust when you switch from carpet to hardwood floor, and the wand and hose allow you to clean off the floor as well. Dyson’s ball technology makes steering easier than ever, and it comes with a five-year warranty.
- 5/11
Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor Canister HEPA Vacuum Cleaner Bundle - Includes Miele Performance Pack 16 Type GN AirClean FilterBags + HEPA Filter
- 6/11
Eureka WhirlWind Bagless Canister Vacuum
EUREKA
amazon.com
$69.99
Consumer Score: 84% give it 4 stars or higher
At just $70, the Eureka WhirlWind is a promising option that won’t break the bank if you’re looking for a canister model. At only eight pounds, it’s easy to pick up and carry around the house, and the 16-foot cord is generous enough and won’t get in the way thanks to the automatic cord rewind. The dust container is only about two liters, but its bagless design and one press button makes it easy to empty. All of the components and filters are also easy to remove and wash.
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- 7/11
Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum
Dyson
amazon.com
$489.50
Consumer Score: 93% give it 4 stars or higher
Both Good Housekeeping and Wirecutter recommend Dyson’s V11 series when it comes to a cordless stick vacuum that won’t disappoint in terms of suction power. The V11 Animal isn’t quite as high priced as some, but it still has a high torque cleaning head with stiff nylon bristles for deep cleaning, as well as an LED screen to switch between auto, eco, and boost cleaning modes. The eco mode even allows for an impressive 60 minutes of battery run time, which should be more than enough even for cleaning large homes. The charging dock even allows you to mount it to the wall for easy storage and charging between uses. Plus, this Dyson includes its Dynamic Load Sensor that can automatically switch between motor speeds for different surfaces. While it may be one of the pricier options on this list, you won’t be able to say that all these added features weren’t worth the cost.
- 8/11
Hoover Linx Signature Stick Cordless Vacuum
Hoover
amazon.com
$142.87
Consumer Score: 85% give it 4 stars or higher
If you want a more affordable cordless model, the Hoover Linx has a long reputation for reliability. It’s sleek and lightweight at ten pounds and can transition to multiple surface types with easy fingertip controls. Though it doesn’t convert into a handheld like some models, it does stand up on its own like uprights can. It may not have the best battery life, but it is equipped with a battery gauge that lets you know when it’s time to recharge.
- 9/11
Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Vacuum
Bissell
amazon.com
$19.86
Consumer Score: 84% give it 4 stars or higher
The cheapest option here, the Bissell Featherweight is for people looking for a versatile hand vacuum on a budget. While you shouldn’t expect any more power than your standard hand vac, this model does have three functions as a stick vacuum, handheld with an extendible crevice tool, and stair vacuum. The cord is 15 feet long and it’s only three pounds.
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- 10/11
Black+Decker Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum HHVK515J00FF
BLACK+DECKER
amazon.com
$79.99
Consumer Score: 86% give it 4 stars or higher
At under three pounds, this 20-volt battery-powered Dustbuster provided plenty of power in our testing to suck up dust and debris for your home, workshop, and car. We especially like that it has a nozzle that extends an extra 7.5 inches for greater reach. Plus, it’s easy to empty and has both high and low settings.
- 11/11
Roborock S6 MaxV Robot Vacuum
roborock
amazon.com
$749.99
Consumer Score: 87% give it 4 stars or higher
The Roborock S6 MaxV is equipped with an impressive combination of technology, including a Reactive AI obstacle avoidance system, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging), and vSLAM (visual Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), which all work together to locate and work around objects in your home and create sophisticated maps. In addition to vacuuming in efficient routes, this Roborock can also mop, and it even knows to avoid poop, which can be a major plus for pet owners.
Whether you need something upright, cordless, lightweight, or even robotic, one of these options has your cleaning needs covered.
