Best Vacuum Cleaner Reviews – Consumer Reports

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What's behind our vacuum cleaner Ratings?

Experts at our National Testing and Research Center tested 184 models in vacuum cleaners to see which ones perform best.

We look for:

Overall score
Based mainly on cleaning performance and ease of use. The displayed score is out of a total of 100 points.
Carpet
Indicates how much embedded talc and sand a vacuum lifted from a medium-pile carpet.
Bare floors
Shows how well a vacuum picked up sand without dispersing it on bare floors.
Tool airflow
Indicates the strength of airflow through the hose.
Noise
Based on measurements in decibels.
Emissions
Our measurement of the quantity of wood-flour particles a vacuum released under two conditions: first, when only the motor was turned on, and second, while vacuuming.
Handling
Reflects how easy it is to push, pull, and carry a vacuum.
Pet hair
Reflects how well a vacuum picks up pet hair from medium-pile carpet.

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Recommended vacuum cleaners

Recommended vacuum cleaners are standout choices with high scores. They include CR Best Buys, which offer exceptional value. When narrowing your choices, weigh features, price, and attributes that matter to you.

Recommended vacuum cleaners

Vacuum cleaner buying guide

To find the vacuum cleaner that is right for you, read our expert advice on which features to consider and how to find the best value.

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Consider your cleaning needs when choosing between a canister and an upright vacuum cleaner. Try it before you buy it to make sure you can maneuver the vacuum cleaner comfortably and that it is not too noisy. If you're looking for information about vacuum cleaners, Consumer Reports is your best resource. Consumer Reports’ vacuum cleaner reviews will give you honest buying advice that you can trust. Use our vacuum cleaner buying guide to discover which features are most important to consider. We also provide unbiased ratings and vacuum cleaner reviews to help you choose the best vacuum cleaner for your needs.

Ratings & recommended vacuum cleaners

Upright vacuums (89)

Nearly all full-sized uprights cleaned bare floors quickly and neatly, but carpets remain the toughest challenge for most machines. Top-scoring models deep-cleaned impressively while providing strong airflow through the hose for use with tools.

Pay particular attention to our noise ratings if you have bare floors, which echo sound. Many readers also view ease of handling (how easy a vacuum is to carry and the push/pull force required to use it) as important. Choose a model you've tried out in the store and find suitable to carry and use.

Considering an upright vacuum that’s not in our Ratings? Our brand-performance data can tell you how a variety of manufacturers have done in our tests over time. That can give you some idea of how well an untested model from that brand is likely to perform. You can also compare overall performance between brands.

We've analyzed our entire vacuum Ratings over the past several years. Miele and LG have consistently been among the top upright brands we've tested. Hoover, Panasonic, Kenmore, Riccar, and Shark have been solid performers over time, though a notch below the top-scoring brands. Other tested brands have scored lower. And for some, performance varied too widely for an overall judgment, or we lacked the test data needed for an accurate assessment.

Remember that models may vary and brands can change over the years. Before buying, also check our survey-based Brand Reliability information, since even a top-performing brand can have a high repair rate.

The Ratings rank uprights by overall performance.

Canister vacuums (38)

Nearly all canisters do a fine job of cleaning bare floors and on stairs, but carpets remain their toughest challenge. Top-scoring models combine impressive deep-cleaning with strong airflow through the hose for use with tools for cleaning upholstery and drapes. Most full-sized canisters tend to be heavier, bulkier and more expensive than uprights. Pay particular attention to our noise ratings if you have bare floors, which echo sound.

Considering a canister vacuum that's not in our Ratings? Our brand-performance data can tell you how a variety of manufacturers have done in our tests over time. That can give you some idea of how well an untested model from that brand is likely to perform. You can also compare overall performance between brands.

We've analyzed our entire vacuum Ratings over the past several years. Kenmore has consistently been among the top canister brands we've tested. Miele, Electrolux, Hoover, Aerus, and Sebo have been solid performers over time, though a notch below the top-scoring brand. Other tested brands have scored lower. And for some, performance varied too widely for an overall judgment, or we lacked the test data needed for an accurate assessment.

Remember that models may vary and brands can change over the years. Before buying, also check our survey-based Brand Reliability information, since even a top-performing brand can have a high repair rate.

The Ratings rank canisters by overall performance.

Stick vacuums (33)

The best small vacuums tend to be suitable for cleaning carpets, the toughest and most common task, along with bare floors. But none can deep-clean carpets like their larger cousins, so consider them as backup vacs.

The Ratings rank small vacuums by overall performance.
Recommended stick vacuums
Stick vacuum Ratings

Handheld vacuums (8)

The Ratings rank small vacuums by overall performance.
Recommended handheld vacuums
Handheld vacuum Ratings

Robotic vacuums (16)

While you can't count on them for deep-cleaning carpets, recommended robotic vacuums did best at cleaning surface litter off carpets and bare floors, while operating with as little required human intervention as possible. They were also the easiest to set up, program, and clean.

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Bissell Bolt 1954

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Vacuum cleaner buying guide

Sleek shapes and trendy colors such as sienna, taupe, and goldenrod are turning some of the latest vacuums into fashion statements. Our tough tests of more than 100 models show that when it comes to cleaning, beauty can be more than skin-deep.

Our tests using more than 16 miles of carpet and floors also show that some pricey vacuums deliver less than their price tag suggests, and some of the lightest models are light on performance or features.