10 Best Vacuums for Cleaning Your Home of 2023

Vacuuming is essential if you want a clean house. Your carpet can be embedded with pet hair and dust. These can easily get tossed up into the air that you breathe and isn’t visible to the naked eye.

Which vacuum is best for your clean-up? There are many types and different models and brands to choose from. But in general, you want a vacuum with strong suction and good filtration.

Starting with those two features can make you find the right vacuum for you. But if you need help, we’ve gathered the top 10 best vacuums for you to review and for you to see what’s out there. Even if you don’t purchase a vacuum on our list, at least it will inspire you to whittle down your selection.

The Best Vacuums for Cleaning Your Home

• Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum: Best Overall Upright Vacuum
• Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2: Best Design Upright Vacuum Cleaner
• Bissel Zing Bagless Canister: Best for Budget Canister
• Dyson V15 Detect: Best Cordless/Stick Vacuum
• Black+decker 20v Max Handheld: Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum
• Shark Navigator NV352: Best for Sealed HEPA Filter
• Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus: Best for Pet Hair Cleaner 
• Oreck Commercial Upright Bagged Vacuum: Best for an Extra-Long Cord
• Robot Roomba s9+ 9550: Best Intuitive Mapping Robot Vacuum
• Miele Complete C3 Brilliant Vacuum: Best Splurge Vacuum

Shark Stratos AZ3002: Best Overall Upright Vacuum

The Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum is the best overall vacuum on our list because of its powerful suction and its versatility in cleaning different surfaces. While this model is not Shark's most affordable one, it is still around $100 lower than Dyson's top models.

The Stratos features the same lift-away canister that the other models have. You can use it in upright mode or with the canister detached if you need to get into hard-to-reach spaces. All you need to do is push a button and the vacuum’s “Lift-Away” technology allows you to lift the canister away. The more advanced brush roll which has PowerFins Hair Pro, specifically designed to lift pet hair effortless is also self-cleaning.

While Dyson is a strong contender, Shark generally tends to be a better bang for the buck. Like similar models, the vacuum traps up to 99.9% of dust and allergens, perfect for people who want their house entirely clean or for those who suffer from allergies.

As an added bonus, the Stratos also neutralizes odors and includes a number of accessories and wands that make reaching under and over very easy.

Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2: Best Design Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Dyson, like Shark, is one of the most trusted names in vacuum cleaners. Dyson vacuums are prized for their Dyson Ball technology, a unique pivoting ball design that makes it easier to steer into different places with a simple turn of a wrist. The design is incredibly intuitive and is easy to use. This is why we chose the Multi-Floor as best in design.

The Multi Floor, as the name suggests, means that the cleaner head self-adjusts to floor and carpet height with ease and aplomb. Since this is a Dyson, the Multi-Floor offers 245 air watts of powerful suction. For better maneuverability, the Multi-Floor comes with a wand and extension hose to reach hard-to-get places and under and around furniture.

Bissel Zing Bagless Canister: Best Budget Canister Vacuum Cleaner

The Bissell Zing packs a powerful punch with its multi-surface head for cleaning floors, and yet it’s one of the best budget bagless canister vacuums out there and costs just sixty bucks. An extension wand gets into areas beyond your reach, and a2-liter dirt cup is large enough to trap dirt and debris in a two-or-three bedroom house without having you have to clean it out on your day’s go-around.

The Zing weighs only 10 pounds, which is surprisingly light for this price point. Its compact design allows it easily maneuver around corners and under crevices just like more expensive models. The carrying handle allows you to lighten your load rather than having to drag the canister behind you. However, if you use the Zing on stairs, you have to lug it up and down, but then again, that’s what you get with most canister vacuums.

A flip of a switch allows you to move from carpet mode to hard floor mode. However, you need a lot of muscle to make the Zing clean carpets thoroughly, and you can forget about it vacuuming high-pile carpets.

Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum: Best Cordless/Stick Vacuum

One of the best cordless vacuums on the market is the Dyson V15. The V15 is cordless like its predecessors, the V8 V12, V10, and the retired V11. This means it runs on batteries, which does away with a cord that may trip you up or get tangled on something you’re cleaning. Cordless is a major plus when considering how inconvenient and irritating it can be to coordinate with moving your cord out of the way when vacuuming, not to mention unplugging and plugging from area to area.

The V15 is a power upgrade from the popular V10 and V12 but now with more advanced features that can aid in getting a more thorough clean. The V15 has an LCD screen that displays an analysis of your cleaning, so you know exactly what types of particles and how much was picked up.

The V15 Detect also has an angled laser light that shines on hard surfaces that make virtually invisible particles and dust, clearly visible. It also comes with all the bells and whistles to clean multiple surfaces, furniture, and pet hair. Just remember that stick vacuums are kind of like handheld vacuums. They are designed mainly for touch up and not for a deep clean that a traditional vacuum can do.

For more options, the V15 also comes in smaller and larger sizes, respectively called "Slim" and "Outsize".

Black+Decker 20v Max Handheld: Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum

The B+D 20 V is distinctive for its pivoting nozzle that allows you to adjust the position to clean hard-to- reach places like chairs underneath a dining room table or the top of high drapes. We chose this model because it’s an all-purpose handheld with a 20V Max lithium-ion battery and an impressive strong suction that rivals more expensive handhelds.

If your suction is petering out, for a more thorough cleaning, you can simply remove the entire bowl from the handheld and wash it. This will loosen embedded debris from the filter and will make your suction capability strong.

The lithium-ion battery offers deep suction throughout its use compared to other batteries that lose suction while you’re in the middle of a cleaning.

Shark Navigator NV352: Best Upright Vacuum with Sealed HEPA Filter

The Shark NV352 is designed for those who struggle with allergies that are airborne or embedded on surfaces or carpets in their home. It has a HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Arrestance) filter, which allows the vacuum to remove 99.7% of fine dust and airborne particles. This is an expensive feature to have, but just because a vacuum has a HEPA filter doesn’t mean it won’t release allergens back into the air while cleaning.

What you are looking for is a certified “sealed” HEPA vacuum, and this model has that. Cleaning with a sealed HEPA vacuum drastically boosts the air quality in your home, thereby eliminating airborne allergens and dust.

If the HEPA filter isn’t sealed, it will release those allergens, making your home more contaminated than before. Your air should be cleaner rather than more polluted after using the Shark NV352.

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus: Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus Lightweight Upright Vacuum Cleaner Model 24613 designed to pick up stubborn pet hair, this lightweight vacuum is equipped with many features to keep your home free of dander. The tangle-free brush roll gets rid of hair wrap. You can look at the brush roll and see that the hair is not caught on it but instead is properly suctioned up into the dust bin.

The “Cyclonic Pet Hair Spooling System” enables you to remove the canister bowl hands-free, which means you no longer have to touch any debris. The “Smart Seal Allergen System” removes pet hair, dust, and allergens while eliminating odors. You can really get rid of stubborn pet hair ingrained and stuck on your couch with specialized pet tools such as the “LED Crevice Tool” and the “Pet Turbo Eraser Tool.”

The included extension wand quickly releases so that it is always ready to clean and is always on. The wand means you never have to worry about leaving behind pet hair.

Oreck Commercial Upright Bagged Vacuum: Best Vacuum Cleaner with an Extra-Long Cord

Cords can be a nuisance when vacuuming. Cords on vacuums get tangled, and often they're not long enough. So, you're forced to keep stopping during the vacuuming process to unplug and plug back in closer to your locale That’s why we chose this lightweight Oreck U2000R1 commercial upright bagged vacuum cleaner, which has a very long 40-foot cord. Other vacuums we looked at have cords ranging from 25 to 30 feet. You don’t have to keep looking for an electric plug, which slows down your cleaning time.

The Orek, despite being commercial grade, is also noted for being very lightweight, weighing only 8 pounds, which makes it easier for people to vacuum stairs.

In addition, you don’t need a manual switch to move between hard floor surfaces and carpets. The vacuum easily moves between both and doesn’t lose suction.

Robot Roomba s9+ 9550: Best Intuitive Mapping Robot Vacuum

Robot Roomba s9+ 9550 Wi-Fi® Connected robot vacuum with automatic dirt disposal robot vacuum is on our top list because it's the smartest robot vacuum currently available, incredible for mapping multiple rooms. The robot vacuum maps out the entire floor of your home to clean it efficiently.

Your robot will know your kitchen from your living room, and you can choose when it should clean and where. In addition, it also has a faster recognition to avoid objects and obstacles on the floor such as pet bowls or play areas with toys on the floor. This means it will run into and over objects less often.

For ease of use, the Roomba is Wi-Fi enabled, which means you can set the time you want it to vacuum, for example, by using your smartphone. The Roomba also has Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support, so you can control the robot vacuum with just the sound of your voice.

The Roomba is like a real robot because it knows what to do. When its canister is full, the vacuum will empty it, return to its base, and know if it needs a charge. If the robot needs to be charged while in the middle of cleaning, it will automatically charge itself and then pick up where it left off. Also, having the vacuum empty itself saves you time from having interrupted cycles while it waits for you to empty it.

Miele Complete C3 Brilliant Vacuum: Best Splurge Vacuum

When you invest in a Miele vacuum you know you are getting quality and a product that will last. The C3 is no exception and has been called the Rolls Royce of vacuum cleaners. Part of the reason is the design.

The switch is on the handle and allows you to switch off brushes with easiness. The C3 can seamlessly move from hard floor surfaces to carpets without effort. But its five-level height adjustment is the big plus here, as it adjusts for a variety of rug densities, ensuring that every type of carpet or rug will be cleaned thoroughly. The C3 is recommended for medium-to-high-pile carpets and area rugs. The C3 also has a handy “auto mode” that automatically adjusts the power based on what floor type you're cleaning, which means the vacuum has control over the degree of suction without you doing a thing.

This is a commercial-grade vacuum, which means you are getting one that professionals use. Hence, the commercial style extra-wide (13 ½ ) electronic brush head has its own motor for intense suction and deep cleaning.

The brush head also has a built-in LED light, as does the canister. The LED light is bright, which is great for seeing under beds and tables. The included “Parquet Floor Brush” is for smooth surfaces and has a 90-degree rotation for reaching tight spaces and under furniture.

If you are looking to invest in a long-lasting and powerful vacuum, the C3 should be your top pick. But if you suffer from sticker shock, there are less expensive Mieles on the market but not without all the bells and whistles that the C3 has.

How We Decided

With hundreds of vacuum brands and models to choose from, it can be hard to differentiate which is best. In making our selection, we took many factors into account, from customer reviews to features offered.

The following criteria had the biggest impact on our decision.

Customer Reviews

The best way to gauge the effectiveness of a vacuum outside of rigorous testing is to look at the comments of those who know best: customers who have used a certain vacuum.

We considered customer reviews when pulling together our list of the best vacuums and chose those with the best and most relevant customer feedback.

We found customer reviews on Amazon, Best Buy, CNET, and Consumer Reports to be our ultimate source for finding the best vacuums by category.

We also looked at which came highly recommended by experts in the home and tech spaces. We turned to New York magazine, The New York Times, NBC News, Good Housekeeping, Tech Radar, The Spruce, and FindReviews.com.

Vacuum Pricing

Vacuums are fairly expensive and an investment for your home that’s equivalent to a mid-priced washing machine or a low-priced refrigerator.

The lower the cost of a vacuum, the less suction it will produce and the more chance it will have to completely break down in a few months or a year after purchasing the unit.

A mid-to-high range price will do a better job of not only cleaning floors but also other surface areas like couches, toys, pillows, and comforters.

As such, a higher-priced model can be better justified if the features and effectiveness set it apart from more affordable competitors.

In the end, we chose vacuums that we felt were a fair balance between price and highly-coveted features.

Vacuum Type

We looked at all five types of vacuum models to find the best ones suited to cleaning different surfaces and even objects.

Features Offered

With offerings varying greatly from one vacuum to the next, we chose the ones that had the best features specific to their category, from the best to tackle pet hair to the best for those with allergies.

The Different Types of Vacuums

Once you decide on purchasing a new vacuum, you need to choose the style that will fit your needs. The five types of vacuums that exist on the market are the following:

Canister Vacuums

A separate canister that holds the motor and receptacle is a canister vacuum.

Because it has a long hose that you can attach different brushes to, you can vacuum without having to keep lugging around the canister. All canisters have hoses, but the length is what you’re looking for if you don’t want to clean in fits and starts.

Canisters also come with attachments. It depends on the model, but usually, the attachments are for practical reasons and for cleaning more efficiently. Attachments are for dusting, cleaning upholstery, getting rid of crevices, vacuuming different floor types as well as doing a super job on your car’s interior.

Since the canister that holds the motor stays behind you as you vacuum, the canister vacuum is easy to move, even in tight spaces and corners. In relation to upright vacuums, canisters are hard to store and empty. Look for a canister with a power nozzle that has a rotating brush that is similar to an upright. This nozzle is important to customers on the search for a new vacuum because it will help you clean deep pile carpets.

Upright Vacuums

Upright vacuums are those that stand upright due to the powerhead or power nozzle that provides the suction. The nozzle, dirt cup, and handle are integrated into the vacuum.

In contrast, a canister vacuum separates the motor and dirt container from the handle. People who have carpets choose an upright vacuum cleaner. The upright is best at removing embedded debris from carpets because they are usually heavier than other styles. Its weight starts at 10 pounds and can go up to over 20 pounds.

It’s advised that if you have wall-to-wall carpeting, choose an upright. But since the vacuum is heavy, it’s hard to carry up and down stairs. And not only that, an upright has winding cords that make for a disaster and can’t easily adjust to different floor types.

But the upright is less clunky than a canister because it moves with you while you vacuum. Unlike a canister, an upright is easier to store because it stands up on its own. Like other vacuums, the upright comes with onboard hoses, cleaning wands, brushes, and other tools to use while vacuuming upholstery and hard-to-reach places, like the base of a chandelier or its crystals.

The Stick Vacuum

The stick vacuum resembles an upright, except it is thinner, lightweight, and battery-powered. It’s great to have around for a quick clean-up, such as cleaning up food bits in your kitchen or picking up pet dander. Thus, it resembles a cordless or hand-held vacuum. This is why it’s not recommended to clean medium to high-pile carpets. But it does work well on low-pile rugs.

The stick vacuum comes corded or cordless. The cordless model is rechargeable and usually runs for one hour or shorter. To keep it ready to go, most stick vacuum makers suggest keeping the vacuum plugged in when you’re not using it. It’s best to look for stick vacuums with a rotating brush because that will allow for more powerful pick-up cleaning. As for features, sticks have charging stands, dust brushes, and crevice tools.

However, a stick vacuum, like a hand-held, is an addition to your full-size vacuum. It should never be thought of as a substitution, as it comes with less suction power and fewer features. It’s for on-the-go cleaning. Unlike a canister, the stick is thin enough to stash in a pantry, in a closet, and in washer and dryer rooms.

Cordless/Corded Handheld

The handheld comes in a cordless or a corded model. It is like the stick vacuum, but smaller and lighter to carry around. Think of a Dustbuster from days of yore. That’s what a cordless handheld vacuum looks like. Since this is a handheld, you’ll be doing a lot of bending to clean. And like the stick, there are limitations on what it can pick up, as the suction is less powerful than a traditional vacuum.

You should buy a cordless handheld if you need to do some spot cleaning or quick cleaning and is recommended to be used to vacuum the interior of your car. We don’t understand the concept of a corded handheld, as do many customer reviews on Amazon. Why would you want the convenience of a handheld if it will hold you back because of its cord? Like the stick vacuum, the handheld is meant to be used as a secondary resource for dry spills and grab-and-go cleaning.

The Robot Vacuum

Robot vacuums, small and low vacuums that clean your floors without you having to lift a finger, are no longer niche gadgets. They are now a necessity in homes for those who don’t have the time or energy to vacuum. The reason to invest in a robot vacuum is that it’s designed to save you time and is convenient. In this way, you can spend more time with your family and friends and less time cleaning.

A robot vacuum is usually “smart” because it can be programmed to vacuum your home even when you’re not home, and then it will return to its home base for a recharge and then go back to cleaning wherever it left off. For ease of use, look for a model that has Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant support, so you can control the robot vacuum with just the sound of your voice. A robot can also be controlled with an app on your smartphone.

Robot vacuums can easily go under furniture like beds and sofas to clean those parts you can’t reach when using a traditional vacuum.

Choose a robot with mapping. Using onboard cameras or lasers, mapping allows the robot to create an accurate layout of your house. As a result, the robot can create a map of your space and locate itself within your room, creating the most efficient path to clean your home. Mapping can also make the robot move around obstacles on the floor such as toys or pets.

Here Are the Key Features for a Vacuum That You Should Pay Attention To

Many features come with a vacuum. Some have controls to vacuum different types of carpets while others are designed to pick up pet hair.

Cordless Vacuum

A cordless vacuum runs on batteries and thus eliminates the cord that often gets tangled around you or the legs of a chair. You can often find cordless in stick vacuums and handhelds.

Bag

You can find the bag on upright and canister vacuums. This is where the dirt goes after being suctioned up. Having a bag means that removing what you’ve vacuumed is easier and neater. A bagged vacuum is often chosen because it does a great job of filtering particles. The downside of the bag is that you have to keep buying and changing out bags.

Bagless Vaccum

The bagless is often chosen to avoid buying and changing out bags. A bagless vacuum collects dirt to the inside of a container or a dust cup. The container saves you time, but you do have to empty it when you see buildup. The downside of a bagless is that emptying your container may cause dirt and debris to be released back into the air. This happens when you empty a container into your garbage can. The dirt will eventually settle on the floor.

Which Should You Choose: Bag or Bagless?

It comes down to your preferences. Bagged vacuums are low maintenance. They require less emptying and cleaning. If you don’t mind buying replacement bags, then a bagged may be just right for you. Choose a bagged if you suffer from dander and allergies. Less debris will go airborne when changing the bag,

Bagless vacuums don’t require bags as they contain a dust cup and container. A bagless vacuum saves time since all you have to do is empty the dust cup when it’s almost to the top. The major con of a bagless is that it’s messy when emptying the dust cup, and there is high maintenance. You need to routinely clean the filter and dust cup to keep the vacuum working in proper order. Choose a bagless if you keep forgetting to buy bags.

Vacuum Size in Relation to Body Size

These days we buy almost everything online. But that’s a shame when it comes to buying a new vacuum. For a vacuum to work efficiently, it should fit your body type and you should be at ease and comfortable while vacuuming. But since most buy vacuums online, you can’t tell how it feels.

If you do choose to buy a vacuum online that will fit your body, use your size, weight, and age to determine the size of the vacuum you need.

Also, keep in mind how many pounds the vacuum weighs.

• If you are petite, thin, and are not used to carrying something heavy around, buy a lightweight vacuum like a stick vacuum.
• If you are old and fragile, you should invest in a handheld or a robot.
• If you are strong and sturdy, buy an upright because the weight of it can go up to 20 pounds.
• If you are tall, find an upright or canister that is tall enough for the person to vacuum without him or her having to bend over too much, which can cause back pain.
• Floor Settings
• If your home has different types of flooring—most of us do—you should consider buying a vacuum that can clean all.

The floor settings matter when you are vacuuming carpets. Carpets can be low, middle or high pile. Say you’re vacuuming hardwood floors and then enter your carpeted area, which is thick. The best vacuum will allow you to move from the hardwood floor to the thick rug seamlessly and with little effort. These vacuums have cleaner heads that self-adjust to different floor surfaces.

Some floor settings are on the handle of the vacuum and a flick of a switch can adjust to the floor type. The best—and most expensive—vacuums have four or five adjustments that adjust to floor styles using different suction powers. This means the vacuum can be used on all floor surfaces,

Pet-Friendly Enhancements

The New York Times argues that the best vacuum for cleaning up pet hair is the robot vacuum. But robots can’t climb up a couch to clean it and they can suction up upholstery. If you are serious about getting a pet hair removal vacuum, make sure it comes with a ton of add-on features like special brushes so that it sucks up all the pet hair around you and especially when it is embedded in thick carpet or in hard-to-reach places.

An example is a tangle-free brush roll that prevents pet hair from clogging the bristles. A HEPA filter or allergen system that’s sealed to trap fine particles is a must. A 2-in-1 dusting brush can also prove a great benefit.

A specialized pet hair vacuum is ideal for those who have a lot of shedding pets. But really, any vacuum on the market that has a strong suction will do. And even a vacuum designed to get rid of dust out of carpets will do.

HEPA Filter

A HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filter vacuum takes vacuuming to a whole new level. It can remove 99.7% of fine dust and airborne particles that can cause those with allergies to suffer. You want a vacuum that won’t release airborne particles like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites back into the air of the space you just cleaned.

Generally, the vacuum itself doesn’t matter; whether it’s an upright or canister, the most important thing to look for is filtration. A vacuum with a HEPA filter can clean more than floors. With an attachment, it can clean almost anything, such as your children’s toys and stuffed animals, furniture, ceilings, lighting, and the interior of a car.

Certified Sealed HEPA Filter

A vacuum with a sealed HEPA filter is better than one that is unsealed. HEPA filters that aren’t sealed don’t trap airborne germs as well as certified sealed HEPA filters. As such, for the best defense against airborne particles, a vacuum with a HEPA filter should also be “sealed.” This means that everything that comes out of the vacuum should pass through the HEPA filter to contain airborne contaminants.

If air seeps out from cracks and crevices such as around the body of the vacuum or around the hose connections and bypasses the HEPA, then it’s like you just hadn’t vacuumed and you have to breathe in air that is full of harmful particles. A sealed filter means the vacuum is truly air-tight, which is to say that all air coming into the vacuum passes through the sealed HEPA and no contaminants escape out of the vacuum, even when you empty it. But a sealed HEPA vacuum is not just for those who suffer from allergies. Since air quality is improved after vacuuming, you get to live in a healthier home.