A well-designed vacuum cleaner is essential for maintaining a clean home. Dirt, filth, dust, and debris wind up in your house every day thanks to you, your pets, and whatever else blows in from the outside world.
But choosing a vacuum cleaner is a tough decision. Which vacuum cleaner should you buy, a powerful pick or an easy-to-maneuver model? A robot that cleans on its own or a handheld cordless option? Make your search simple with the following vacuums perfect for every need.
The Best Vacuum Cleaners for the Whole Home
Dyson Ball MultiFloor 2, $299
Dyson¹ vacuums are highly rated, sophisticated machines that come with free tools to tackle different spaces and surfaces. This vacuum is easy to steer and offers extremely powerful suction. Its Radial Root Cyclone removes even the tiniest bits of dust, and it’s allergy and asthma friendly. This vacuum also works on a variety of flooring, including hardwood, vinyl, and tiles.
Hoover Sprint QuickVac Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner, $80
If affordability is your primary consideration, the Hoover Sprint QuickVac² is a steal. Lightweight and easy to control, this vacuum doesn’t require bags and makes cleanup a breeze. The power cord extends to 23 feet, and its cleaning wand and combined dusting brush and crevice tool let you reach remote corners.
Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum Cleaner NV105, $110
Shark³ is a strong competitor in the vacuum market, and it’s easy to see why with the Navigator vacuum. This reliable, well-designed device is easy to carry from one room to the next and glides effortlessly around your furniture. You can depend on it to thoroughly clean your carpets and handle bare floors, and its dust cup is large.
The Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute, $560
The Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute’s⁴ state-of-the-art motor provides phenomenal suction, and the use of 14 cyclones makes it impressively effective at removing pollen and other minuscule particles. Thanks to its powerful battery, you can enjoy up to 60 minutes of cleaning at a time on a single charge. It can also transform into a handheld vacuum for cleaning your car and other small spaces. There’s a reason this vacuum is pricey; it’s truly one of the most powerful cordless options available.
Bissell AirRam 1984, $200
You’ll enjoy up to 40 minutes of cleaning time when using this Bissell⁵ cordless model, which is easy to carry around and slide under furniture, and its suction works effectively on different surfaces from carpet to tile. Built-in lights also help to illuminate the accumulated dust in the darker corners of your home.
Hoover LiNX Bagless Cordless Stick Vacuum, $120
The Hoover LiNX⁶ is a bag-free vacuum model that weighs less than 10 pounds and performs well on a variety of flooring, including hardwood. Affordably priced, it’s best for people who want a vacuum cleaner that achieves results.
The Best Small Vacuum Cleaners
Dyson V7 Trigger, $170
As with other Dyson⁷ models, you’ll receive multiple free vacuuming tools with the V7 Trigger, including a crevice tool that helps you clean along the edges of walls and in small gaps. The powerful motor makes it rival larger vacuum cleaners, and the dust bin is easy to empty without getting your hands dirty.
ArmorAll AA255 Utility Wet/Dry Vacuum, $40
The main advantage of this small vacuum crafted by ArmorAll⁸ is the ease with which it handles liquid waste along with dry debris. That’s right – you can actually suction up liquid spills with this vacuum. It comes with a 10-foot cord and a hose that lets you easily reach tight spaces.
Dirt Devil Scorpion Quick Flip Corded Hand Vacuum, $30
Dirt Devil⁹ is one of the more affordable options available for those seeking small vacuums. It comes with a 16-foot cord, giving you room to maneuver. Sand, wood shavings, and pebbles are among the debris it can handle.
The Best Vacuum Cleaners for Pets
Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum NV752, $250
With a motorized brush and specialized tool, the Shark Rotator10 vacuum detaches pet hair from your upholstery or carpeting. It reliably traps allergens, and it’s easy to maneuver into tight spaces, helping you suction up food pellets that have found their way behind the couch.
Dyson Ball Animal 2, $400
The Dyson Ball Animal11 is one of the most highly rated and powerful vacuum cleaners for tackling embedded hair and stains from pets. It works with an extremely strong suction, and its turbine tool is superb at extracting hair from upholstery. It provides a deep clean that permeates carpet fibers.
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Upright Vacuum Cleaner, $200
Without getting your pet’s hair caught in its bristles, this Bissell12 vacuum, which is available for under $200, does an excellent job trapping allergens and containing odors. When emptying it, you won’t have to reach into the machine and extract trapped hair; the hair comes out easily.
The Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners
Roomba 890, $400
The Roomba 890 from iRobot13 can be controlled and monitored remotely by phone, and you can set a cleaning schedule for it. Its sophisticated sensors allow it to navigate your home without mishaps, and you don’t have to worry that it will miss corners or fail to do a meticulous job along walls. It’s small enough to travel beneath your furniture, and it does a decent job on pet hair.
Samsung Powerbot R7065, $600
This smart Samsung14 robotic vacuum model is equipped with various sophisticated features, including mapping technology, Wi-Fi connectivity, sensors that detect floor type, and powerful suction. It has a wide brush and the ability to thoroughly clean corners.
Neato Botvac D7 Connected, $800
Neato15 vacuums like this device are frontrunners in the robot vacuum market. The Botvac D7 can run up to 120 minutes before needing to be recharged, and it can be controlled by phone or through certain smart devices, including Amazon Alexa. With your phone, you can use a no-go feature that tells the device not to enter certain spaces. It performs well on different types of dirt, including pet hair, and will find the most efficient paths through your home.
Which Vacuum Is Best for You?
The size of your home, your budget, and your specific cleaning needs are key factors influencing your choice of vacuum cleaner. Although some vacuums are more sophisticated and powerful than others, even affordable options can receive good ratings and offer effective cleaning.
Like anything, it’s always a good idea to be aware of the latest research. We recommend comparing at least 3 or 4 options before making a final decision. Doing a search online is typically the quickest, most thorough way to discover all the pros and cons you need to keep in mind.