Best Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide

Cleaner Living—Shopping for Vacuums

Visible vacuum lines on a carpet make a clean house feel cleaner. What if you could have them all the time, plus gleaming, dust-free floors?

Whether you are passionate about pile, a fanatic for flooring, or perhaps a little bit of both, you’ve come to right place to find your dream vacuum machine. We tested more than 120 models—motoring across 16 miles of carpet and flooring—all in the quest to help you select the right vacuum.

Shopping by Type

Start by determining the best vacuum for the type of cleaning you do. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, or just lots of rugs, uprights, especially with a bag, do best overall. But if you have lots of stairs—or hardwood, laminate, or tile floors—canisters can be easier to maneuver. Stick and hand-held vacuums are great for lighter tasks that need quick attention; a robotic device is an option for the set-it-and-go crowd. And central vacuums could be an option if you're ready for that installation commitment. (But we don't test that type.) For the best vacuums in all categories at a price that's right for you, go to our Vacuum Cleaner Ratings.

Upright Vacuum Cleaners

Pros: Uprights tend to cost less than canister vacuums and offer a wider cleaning swath. They are generally better at deep-cleaning carpets—particularly the bagged models. Most are easy to store.

Cons: Pushing and pulling the weight of the machine. Some top performers weigh 20 pounds or more, although lighter models can still do the job. Uprights tend to be noisier than canisters.

Upright Vacuum Cleaner Ratings

Canister Vacuum Cleaners

Pros: Canisters are better than uprights for cleaning bare floors, stairs, drapes, and upholstery, and under furniture – and some are as good as uprights at cleaning carpets. Most are quieter, and the separate power head makes them seem lighter as well.

Cons: Overall, these vacuums are bulkier than their upright brethren. The hose and wand make a canister harder to squeeze into a closet.

Canister Vacuum Cleaner Ratings

Stick Vacuum Cleaners

Pros: Like uprights, they have tall bodies and handles, and a powerhead. Many are battery-powered. They're lightweight and convenient when you need to quickly clean up a mess. They also eliminate having to bend over to clean a dirty floor.

Cons: Most don't perform as well on carpet as full-size vacuums. They are mainly suited for picking up surface litter and aren't a replacement for a conventional vacuum. The capacity of their dirt bin is typically small. Most are fairly noisy.

Stick Vacuum Cleaner Ratings

Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaners

Pros: These miniature electric models come corded or cordless. They're handy for light, quick surface cleaning on short-pile carpets and bare floors; some can handle pet hair on upholstery. They're also useful for cleaning up your car's interior.

Cons: They lack the power and capacity of full-sized upright or canister models.

Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaner Ratings

Robotic Vacuum Cleaners

Pros: Robotic vacuums do the grunge work while you relax. In uncluttered rooms, a robotic can touch up between regular, manual vacuuming sessions. The better models can find their way out of tight spots and around extension cords. A few of the newest models can even be controlled by an app on your smartphone.

Cons: No robotic vacuum can match the deep cleaning you'll get from the best uprights and canisters. Not the ideal choice if you have shag carpeting or area rugs.

Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Ratings

Central Vacuum Cleaners

Pros: They're easier to use than a canister. With no vacuum body to pull along, you carry only the hose and powerhead. Central vacuums tend to be relatively quiet, and their dirt chambers need to be emptied infrequently.

Cons: Central vacuums are pricey and can require professional installation. Their 30-foot hoses can be cumbersome and take up storage space. And there's no in-unit place to store cleaning tools while you work.

We don't currently test central vacuum cleaners.

What to Consider While Shopping

Modern vacuums come in a range of designs, sleek shapes, and cool colors. But what matters most is how well they clean. Remember that one type of vacuum might have features that appeal to you, but it should also fit your cleaning needs.

Pet owners, take note: Upright and canister vacuum cleaners that excel at regular jobs tested best in show for picking up pet hair.

• Check Features
A vacuum cleaner with a motorized brush cleans carpets better than one powered only by suction. A switch that can deactivate the brush will help protect the finish of bare floors and avoid scattering debris. Consider models with a manual carpet pile-height adjustment control, along with suction control for cleaning draperies and other delicate fabrics.

• Bagged or Bagless
Bagless vacuum cleaners save on the cost of purchasing bags but they also require more filters that need periodic cleaning or—for HEPA filters—replacing. The dust and mess of emptying their bins can be a concern if you have asthma or allergies.

• Try It Out
Even if you order online, go to a store first. Push, pull, turn, and lift the vacuum cleaners you're considering. Check out the controls and features. If an online price is low, see if the store will match it.

• Keep an Ear Out for Noise
No vacuum cleaner reached the level at which we recommend hearing protection, but any vacuum will seem louder in a room with a lot of echo, such as a tiled bathroom. Canister vacuums tend to be quieter.

• Watch for Sales
Discounts of 20 to 30 percent off are increasingly available, especially during the holiday season. For mass-market brands, you don't have to wait until Black Friday. Check store circulars or sign up on manufacturer or retailer email lists to receive coupons and news of upcoming promotions.

For Top Vacs at Great Prices Check Our Vacuum Cleaner Ratings

Feature Fundamentals

Some vacuum cleaner features improve performance or take some of the drudgery out of cleaning. But don't be dazzled by gadgets. Here are the more useful vacuum features to consider.

Picture of the add-on tools that typically come with most vacuums.

Add-On Cleaning Tools

Most vacuums come with basic tools (pictured above) that should suffice for most cleaning jobs: A narrow tool for crevices, a small upholstery brush, and a round brush for dusting. On canister vacuums, a powered intake cleans carpets more thoroughly than a simple suction intake. Edge cleaners are an optional tool and can pick up debris under the entire area of the cleaning head. That's useful when cleaning wall-to-wall carpeting; the vacuum cleans right up to where the carpet meets the wall.

Bagged vs. Bagless

Some upright vacuums and canisters use bags; some collect dirt in a bin. Bagged-type vacuums tend to hold more dirt, and emptying them releases less dust into the air. An indicator tells you when the bag or bin is full. With bagless vacuums you can save money by not having to buy bags, but these use more filters (such as HEPA filters) that need to be periodically cleaned or replaced. Replacement filters tend to be significantly more expensive than bags. Another caveat: Emptying the dustbin and cleaning a filter can be messy, and handling them can expose you to dust and other allergens.

Picture of a hard-floor setting on a vacuum's dial.

Bare-Floor Options

These include equipment and features that help when cleaning hardwood, vinyl, and other uncarpeted floor surfaces. Most common are an on/off switch for the vacuum's brush; other options include a bare-floor setting.

Brush Agitator

Also known as the roller brush, it is found underneath the machine. This roller has bristles attached to it and spans the width of the base. It dislodges dirt, dust, and grit from the carpet so that the intake can pick it up more easily. Some models have a switch to turn the roller brush off for cleaning bare floors; a rotating brush on a bare floor can move dirt and debris around before it can be sucked up. The switch also makes it less likely for throw rugs, bedspreads, and the like to become tangled in the roller.

Picture of a height adjustment setting on a vacuum. Setting is at medium.

Carpet Pile-Height Adjustment and Suction Control

This feature adjusts the height of the machine's brush roll to a carpet's pile height to allow for easy movement and thorough cleaning. Adjustments are automatic on some models, but manual control is more precise. A switch for suction control lets you reduce the flow of air through the hose, which can be helpful when cleaning upholstery and curtains.

Filter

A growing number of vacuums claim to filter the fine particles that could pass through the machine and escape into the air through the exhaust. Micron filters can provide a higher level of filtration than standard models either through the bag or a separate filter, but possibly not as high as high-efficiency particulate-air (HEPA) filtration. HEPA filtration might benefit someone with asthma. In our tests, models with a HEPA filter have been very effective at reducing emissions. Some models that don't have HEPA filters, however, have performed just as well in our tests, and such vacuums may cost less.

Cord Control

More common in canisters, it lets you rewind the cord with a slight tug or the push of a button. Most machines have an electrical cord of at least 20 feet; some cords are longer than 30 feet. A cord-release clip, found mostly on upright models, lets you free the entire cord at once, rather than one wrap at a time.

Picture of a self-propell setting on a vacuum.

Self-Propelled

This feature typically uses a transmission and drive system to assist the pushing and pulling of the vacuum, thereby requiring little effort by the user. The downside: It adds weight that can make some vacuums difficult to carry.

Bissell Dirt Devil Dyson Eureka Hoover Kenmore Miele Shark Samsung Roomba

Bissell vacuums are available at a variety of mass merchants, including Target and Walmart. Upright models tend to be moderately priced, typically ranging from about $60 to $250. Bissell also makes hand and stick vacuums, canisters, steam mops, deep carpet cleaners, and even entered the robotic vacuum market recently.

Dirt Devil floor-care products focus on affordability and convenience. Part of TTI Floor Care, the Dirt Devil brand is available at a variety of mass merchants, including Target and Walmart. Upright models typically range from $40 to $200. Some of the brand's upright vacuums are among the lightest models sold. Dirt Devil also makes canister vacuums, and hand and stick models.

Colorful styling, innovative features, and well-known national advertising featuring its namesake owner and designer helped Dyson become a major player in the U.S. Ranging in price from about $300 to $600, Dyson vacuums have helped increase the average price paid for uprights. Canisters have joined that lineup, as have hand and stick vacuums. The brand is available nationwide through major mass merchants such as Bed Bath & Beyond, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target.

Eureka sells a wide array of models marketed to address different needs, including pesky pet hair. Uprights typically range from $50 to $200. You'll find this national brand in a variety of mass merchants, including Target and Walmart. Eureka also makes hand and stick vacuums, and canisters.

Hoover introduced its first vacuum in 1907 and established itself as one of the most recognizable consumer brands in America. Part of TTI Floor Care, along with Dirt Devil and Oreck, Hoover sells a variety of uprights at mass-market retailers, with models ranging from as little as $50 to $300. It also makes hand and stick vacuums, canister models (about $80 to $300), bare-floor cleaners, and deep carpet cleaners.

Introduced in 1927, Kenmore has earned a solid reputation with consumers. This midlevel, mass-market brand sells floor care appliances priced from $150 to 500. Once exclusive to Sears, Kenmore uprights are also available in Kmart stores. Kenmore uprights typically range in price from about $150 to $400. Kenmore is the best-selling canister brand, with models ranging from $150 to $400.

This German appliance manufacturer is family-owned and run, and it has been making vacuum cleaners since the late 1920s. In the U.S., Miele vacuums are primarily sold through small, independent vacuum retailers, though the brand's retail distribution now includes Amazon.com and Bed Bath & Beyond. Miele focuses on high-end upright and canister models, with prices typically ranging from about $300 to $1,000.

Once known for being the “infomercial” brand, Shark has leveraged its promotional advantage to gain placement in national retailers, including Walmart, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Kohl’s becoming one of the top-selling brands. Upright vacuum cleaners are their focus, with models priced from $150 to $300. Shark also has hand vacuums, stick vacuums, and steam mops in their line.

The well-known electronics and technology brand recently entered the floor care market, and sells upright, canister, and robotic vacuum cleaners priced between $100 and $200.

iRobot, which was created by MIT roboticists back in 1990, manufactures the Roomba brand of robotic vacuum cleaners.

Vacuum Buying Guide