The best vacuum cleaners for home come in all shapes and sizes these days with types to suit varying needs – but which is the best vacuum for you? This guide lays out the best of each type so you can decide what it is you need to get the cleanest home with the greatest of ease.
First up, do you want a battery-powered or wired appliance? While wired means no charging it does mean cable effort, plugging in and out, and moving as you work. Battery powered vacuums are now better than ever with most offering close to an hour on a charge, which should suit the average home just fine.
Second, what type do you need? There are upright vacuums, stick models, cylinder and that's not even taking robots into consideration. Essentially, you'll want to think about how portable you need your unit to be. Do you zip about quickly regularly meaning you won't need a huge amount of dust storage space? Or perhaps you prefer to do one big clean more rarely and don't want to be emptying too often as you go, making an upright model more for you.
Then there are robot vacuums, which are worth looking at specifically in our best robot vacuum (opens in new tab) guide. These automatically zip about your home cleaning where you specify before going back to base to charge, and just require you to empty occasionally – but these are pricier.
So you might want the best deep clean vacuum cleaners (opens in new tab) for big jobs or the best handheld vacuums (opens in new tab) for lighter tasks. Whatever your need, there should be one for you to choose from below.
Best vacuum cleaners
The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is Dyson’s most powerful lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner. It features up to 60 minutes of suction power, an illuminating head that highlights particles you normally can’t see, and a sensor that tracks and shows what the vacuum cleaner has picked up.
Our at-home testing revealed the Dyson V12 Detect Slim was the top of the crop for collecting dirt, debris, and dust. It seems there is nothing this vacuum cleaner cannot handle quickly and effortlessly.
It also comes with a suite of accessories to add to the base unit, such as a laser-illuminated cleaner head, for detecting particles invisible to the naked eye, and a hair screw tool, for picking up human and pet hairs.
A yearly service can keep your vacuum cleaner in top condition and extend the life of the motor, or at the very least, help prevent early failure.
Karen Barrigan, cleaning expert
Packaging is 100% recyclable and features zero plastic. The warranty lasts for two years and includes repair or replacement, plus ongoing support of any Dyson machine.
If you have a big enough budget, you won’t find a cordless vacuum cleaner that’s more efficient, easier to use, and packed full of useful features, than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute.
Cleaning expert for Housetastic (opens in new tab) and cleaning business owner Karen Barrigan also recommends the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute for cleaning. “With a specialized angled beam, this vacuum can make invisible dust on hard floors visible for an even deeper and more thorough clean.
- Read our Dyson V12 Detect Slim review (opens in new tab)
This impressive canister vacuum comes loaded up with all the smarts and cleaning innovations we’ve come to expect from Shark. It’s got two brushrolls in the floorhead which makes it a great choice for deeper cleans, plus the no hair wrap design means you can say goodbye to fishing tangled hairs out from around the brushroll.
On test it proved to be a winner for giving carpets a thorough clean and it tackles hard floors with ease. It maneuvers effortlessly across all floors but controlling it can be tricky when vacuuming with the flexible wand bent.
Despite being quite pricey for a canister vacuum, it’s only supplied with two cleaning tools; a crevice tool and upholstery tool. Both can be stored on the wand so they’re always to hand and are useful for cleaning hard to reach spots and upholstery. But if you want more tools for different tasks, you’ll have to purchase them separately.
The washable filters are easy to maintain and Shark claims it’ll trap over 99.9% of dust, dander, and pollen, which is an important consideration if there are allergy sufferers in the home. According to Mallory Micetich, Home Expert at Angi (opens in new tab), canister vacuums can be “harder to store due to their round shape” but with plenty of configurations for storage, this model will fit into most closets.
It comes with a reassuring five year warranty, plus you can buy spare parts direct from Shark, so although it’s expensive, you should be able to keep it running for a number of years with proper care and maintenance.
- Read our Shark Vertex Bagless Corded Canister Vacuum review (opens in new tab)
The Dyson V15 Detect doesn’t just deliver on suction power, this stick vacuum is also tech-smart, meaning that you’ll be able to outsmart those pesky particles with extra precision from laser detect technology and an LCD screen where you can tally up the size and number of dust particles you’ve sucked up.
While this kind of technology comes with a pretty weighty price tag, just under $700 to be precise, the vacuum is super sturdy and provides three different cleaning settings. As a battery-powered vacuum with 60 minutes’ worth of running time, it’s a little on the heavy side at 6.8 lbs when you use it high up as a handheld vacuum. However, the device does truly get down to business with three different modes and easy click-into-place attachments that can get into the tricky holes and corners around the house.
This vacuum performed exceptionally well in our tests and even after a carpet had just been vacuumed with another model, we used the V15 Detect on its Boost mode to pull up embedded dirt that filled the dust cup after vacuuming just one room.
- Read our full Dyson V15 Detect review (opens in new tab).
The Aspiron Cordless is an affordable handheld stick vacuum that manages to rival much more expensive options on suction power. Featuring a motorized brush, long crevice nozzle, and a 3-in-1 nozzle for dust and upholstery, it's been created with everyday cleaning in mind. LED lights on the vacuum head allow you to identify dust and debris that might be hard to spot, and helps with vacuuming under low furniture too.
The Aspiron performed well in our at-home tests, vacuuming up cookie crumbs, oats, flour, and pet hair with no trouble at all. The fact that it's so light (at just 4.9 lbs) makes it the perfect option for vacuuming stairwells, cars, and soft furnishings. We were astonished at how much pet hair it pulled up in just one pass.
Cleaning expert for Housetastic (opens in new tab) and cleaning business owner, Karen Barrigan agrees: “This is an ideal vacuum for dealing with pet hair as the half-inch rotating brushes should do a great job of collecting stray hairs from carpets and furniture.”
Some of the accessories that come with the Aspiron are a little flimsy, and the unit lacks a removable battery, or a flexible hose, which you might find with other models at this price point. It can also get pretty loud on its highest speed setting.
However, if you're after a lightweight vacuum cleaner that would work as a complementary cleaner to your usual cylinder or upright vacuum cleaner, it's a good solid buy.
- Read our full Aspiron Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review (opens in new tab).
The Dyson Omni-glide gets it when it comes to maneuverability. With a slinky, lightweight design, this vacuum quite literally lifts the weight off your shoulders, as it’s super slim and weighs a tiny 4.18 lb. Its main downfall is that the battery only has 20 minutes of power, but this could be explained by its fierce suction power and omnidirectional roller cleaner head that gets into the little crevices.
It should be noted that the Dyson Omni-glide isn’t designed with carpets in mind though. While it handles dirt on hardwood floors like a real pro, carpets are a greater stumbling block, meaning that this device is best served as a vacuum for apartments or compact spaces with hard floors.
- Read our Dyson Omni-glide review (opens in new tab)
The Miele Boost CX1 is a bagless canister vacuum that offers plenty of bang for your buck. Lightweight, and with an integrated handle, it’s made for being picked up and moved between rooms. It’s also compact, and according to Laurie Billson, Floorcare Manager at Miele GB, “is well suited for smaller homes, as it has a footprint smaller than an open magazine”.
The wheels are positioned on the side of the canister rather than at the back as they are on other canister vacuums, which during testing meant the floor cleaner adhered to the direction we were maneuvering it in, rather than veering off course crashing into our furniture.
When it comes to dust pick-up, the Miele Boost CX1 coped well with fine dirt and dust on both carpets and hard floors, although we were a little disappointed it wasn’t as efficient at collecting larger debris, as we found the floor head pushed the debris (in this case oats) around the floor rather than sucking it all up in one pass. It was also one of the quiet vacuums we’ve tested too.
Considering the hefty price tag of the Miele Boost CX1, you may be left wondering why it doesn’t come with an arsenal of tools like competitor canister vacuums. However, we found that the tools it does ship with were enough for most homes to tackle their cleaning jobs with, and the 6-ft long hose meant we were able to clean 8 stairs without having to pick up the canister vacuum, making this a vacuum worth the investment.
- Read our Miele Boost CX1 review (opens in new tab)
The Yeedi vac 2 pro is the ideal entry-level robot vacuum cleaner and mop, with a long run time of 240 minutes and a mapping function that is able to identify and swerve objects in its path.
Not only does this particular model pick up all the pesky bits of debris hanging around your home, it also works as a mop for your hard floors, removing stains and cleaning as it goes. There is nothing more convenient than a robot vacuum. Take all the work out of vacuuming and mopping and just let the machine do its thing.
Karen Barrigan, cleaning expert
The white design is flawless, and makes a welcome change from black or gray, while an accompanying app lets you set cleaning schedules, create 'no-mop' zones, and dial the power up or down. Users praise the robot’s ability to get rid of pet hair, the convenience of scheduling cleaning when out of the house, and the Yeedi’s minimalist design.
The oscillating mop cartridge is easy to fit, while the mopping pattern simulates a manual mop, but five times faster. Simply peel off the mop head and throw it in the laundry when you're done.
According to cleaning expert for Housetastic (opens in new tab) and cleaning business owner Karen Barrigan, the Yeedi vac 2 pro is the ideal choice if convenience and ease of use is important to you.
- Read our full Yeedi vac 2 pro review (opens in new tab).
The Bissell CleanView OnePass vacuum has all the extra power you need to tackle those everyday cleaning jobs in less time. Featuring its OnePass Technology, this worked consistently well on hard flooring, carpets, stairs, and upholstery. Pet owners will benefit from the good suction power on this model too.
This vacuum cleaner also offers fantastic value for money and is a great budget vacuum if you don’t want to spend too much money. The brush roll on the Bissell CleanView has been designed to sweep up all dirt and dust in its path and it does a decent job of this.
Another feature we loved about the Bissell CleanView is its Scatter-Free Technology, which works particularly well on hardwood floors. While it’s not the most powerful vacuum we reviewed, you certainly get a good value vacuum with the Bissell CleanView OnePass.
- Read our Bissell CleanView OnePass review (opens in new tab)
Dyson is known for its cutting edge technology and super suction, and the V11 Torque Drive Cordless Stick Vacuum is no exception.
Designed with high-performance in mind, it comes with a battery that lasts up to 60 minutes. It is also equipped with a smart display that reports on real time system performance, keeping you updated on any maintenance issues. However, if you live in a busy household or need to frequently deep clean, waiting for it to charge may take a while.
More impressively, the Dyson V11 has a Dynamic Load Sensor that automatically adjusts the power to the type of floor surface you are cleaning. With three settings - Eco, Auto, and Boost - this ensures you have the right amount of power and battery life needed for a thorough clean.
With an attractive sleek look, it’s convenient to carry, and also transforms into a handy portable cleaner for those quick clean-ups. Equipped with a quick-slide, ‘point and shoot’ empty mechanism, this ejects debris directly into the bin without fuss.
- Read our Dyson V11 Torque Drive review (opens in new tab)
If you want a powerful and hassle-free portable to tackle mess quickly, the Black + Decker Dustbuster CHV1410L does the job. Saving you from carting out a full-sized vacuum, it features a lithium-ion battery designed to last longer and allowing a more thorough clean. Equipped with a Smart Charge Technology, this enables a quick charging time of around two to four hours.
The Dustbuster has sufficient power for those daily clean-ups and can remove nuisance crumbs or pet hair in no time. It’s user-friendly and convenient, with handy attachments like the Crevice and Brush Tool to help get into those awkward nooks and crannies.
It also has an easy-empty, dirt cup that has a Max Fill line so you’ll know when it has reached full capacity.
- Read our review Black + Decker Dustbuster CHV1410L review
How to choose the best vacuum cleaner for home use
Aside from selecting the brand of vacuum cleaner you’re wanting to buy, which would depend on your budget, there are a few factors to consider when you purchase a vacuum cleaner for your home.
Type: Depending on how big your house is, the space you have to store your vacuum and the accessibility you require, you’ll need to think about what type of vacuum is best for you. Would you prefer an upright, cylinder or cordless cleaner? Upright options will do the job best for a bigger home, and a stick or cylinder design is better if you have hard floors and a smaller space. Plus they’re more lightweight and easier to store. Cordless options are effortless to maneuver as they don’t come with cables that trail behind you.
Bag or bagless: Once you’ve decided on a type, you should choose between a bagged or bagless vacuum. For the allergy-sufferers, we’d suggest a bag to keep the dust and dander enclosed, and exposure to allergens reduced. Though remember, replacing the bags is an added cost you’ll need to factor in. Not forgetting the faff it is to change them. Either way, consider the capacity to gauge how long it will take to fill up.
Suction: The stronger the suction, the more spotless the finish. If you've recently replaced your carpets, or frankly are prone to making a mess, you’ll want to invest in a good vacuum with a great amount of suction power. But a more powerful vacuum can often mean a weightier model. If mobility is a problem, make sure you can carry your vac to where you need to clean. Lightweight models are better if you’re going up stairs or spanning large surface areas.
Noise levels: Equally, a vacuum cleaner with strong suction may be louder, so don’t overlook the noise level if you want to avoid waking up family members.
