We've Tested Over 350 Vacuums—I'm a Vacuum Expert and Swear By These 10 (2024)

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Our Top Picks

Upright vacuums offer the most suction power of any vacuum, making them a great option for cleaning your carpets and rugs of all piles. Before cordless stick vacuums came into the picture, the upright vacuum was the fan-favorite vacuum cleaner because of its effectiveness, even though its build was (and still is) bulky, heavy, and hard to navigate and store. Our favorite is the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum.It's the perfect example of what an upright vacuum is: powerful, carpet-oriented but effective on multiple surfaces, and bulky yet spacious.

I’ve owned this vacuum for four years, in addition to testing it in the lab, and it’s a cleaning powerhouse. It has two cleaning modes (one for hard floors and one for carpets), and is most satisfying to use on carpets. When you’re pushing it around, you have a lot of control and flexibility thanks to its swivel steering, but the vacuum also works for you by gently pulling forward as if to say, “Look! There’s a mess over there!” The vacuum is quite noisy, though—I wouldn’t use it while my daughter is napping. However, the noise level matches the power of the vacuum, combining the machine’s typical hum with the crackling of crumbs being picked up.

Notably, it's just as good with the debris and dust that you can't see, too. This vacuum has a HEPA filter, the same kind of filter that's found in air purifiers. It's able to capture 99.97 percent of particles with diameters of 0.3 microns or less, including pollen and dust mites.

On hardwood floors, you can switch the vacuum’s mode to its slower, softer mode. It’s equally as effective, however operating it doesn’t feel as smooth. I tend to reach for my cordless stick vacuum when cleaning my hardwood floors and stairs instead. While the Shark NV360 has never left a scratch or dent in my flooring, my stick vacuum is just more comfortable in this scenario—especially since it’s cordless. I’m a little over 5 feet tall and exercise a few times per week, and it’s a chore to lug the vacuum up and down the stairs.

That being said, the Shark NV360 can handle multiple cleaning sessions within a house, and it still won’t need to be emptied. In our testing, hair did get wrapped in the beater bar, a part of the brush roll at the head of the vacuum that agitates carpet to better remove debris. However, it was easy to cut it off with a pair of scissors. Shark tried to remedy the vacuum's bulky design with a lift-away pod, too. The pod is just the handle and dust bin detached from the rest of the vacuum, and does make stair cleaning easier.

Overall, Shark is a top vacuum and appliance brand that pairs quality with friendlier price points. You’ll find this pick and others in the Navigator line on sale during the holidays and Prime Day, but it’s worth the original price tag, too.

_{Weight: 16.96 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: Crevice tool, upholstery tool}

Stick vacuums are the most nimble, lightweight, and easy-to-use vacuums out there. In recent years, this style has become extremely competitive with upright models, because stick vacuums have begun to offer the same amount of suction power, in addition to helpful features like a battery pack and wall mount. The Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Stick Vacuum is our latest and greatest selection for a stick vacuum because it's just as good as (if not better than) more expensive and high-tech models from innovative brands such as Dyson or Tineco; it just lacks the smart features that you don't totally need.

My household vacuums daily—and sometimes multiple times per day, to pick up my toddler's snack leftovers—and every time I use this vacuum for a whole-house clean, the dust bin is packed full afterwards. It humbles me, a vacuum expert and avid cleaner, and wraps up each 30- to 45-minute clean with battery life to spare. I can usually clean my house completely twice before needing to plug it in to charge, which is also a quick and easy process since the battery pack pops right out; you don't need to plug in the entire vacuum.

A common complaint with stick vacuums is that they don't offer the same suction power, particularly on your carpets, as an upright or canister vacuum. The Levoit LVAC-200 leaves behind noticeable carpet lines when I clean, though—and all that dust in the dust bin really speaks for itself. Some hair will wrap around the filter, but you can easily pop the dust bin out of the cleaning machine when it's full, and twist the filter out to remove any tangles with your hands. (Or, I like to use a wooden appetizer skewer to help remove the tangles; the skewer is always strong enough for the job.)

I love how easy this vacuum is to navigate and lift, too. At 3.2 pounds, it's well within our limits for a lightweight vacuum (15 pounds or less)—and that weight includes the battery pack, which can add some noticeable heft to other vacuums. The vacuum is quiet; my toddler isn't scared of it. Plus, you don't have to hold the power button down continuously, and the light on the floor head nicely illuminates areas under kitchen carts or on stairs.

Honestly, this vacuum is a steal—and while fashion is not as important as functionality when it comes to your vacuum, I love that the Levoit LVAC-200 feels and looks nice. At $200, I can't recommend it enough, and only wish that the brand offered it with a self-emptying base, but that's if I'm being really picky.

_{Weight: 3.2 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 30 minutes (45 minutes in our experience) | Attachments: 2-in-1 crevice tool, 2-in-1 pet tool}

Robot vacuums offer a more hands-free cleaning experience, which is arguably the most intriguing and necessary feature any vacuum could offer. While robot vacuums may not be suitable for a house like mine with lots of stairs (since they can't climb them), through testing, we've found there is a time and place for a robot vacuum. We recommend the ECOVACS T9+ Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo, with a few caveats. This cleaning machine will work bestif your home has an open floor plan, if you’re not intimidated by smart features, if you’re looking for a vacuum that can maintain your floors in between larger cleans, and if moving obstacles and getting the vacuum unstuck occasionally doesn't bother you.

To start, setting up this vacuum isn’t as intimidating as it could be. You have to add the dust bag to the self-emptying station, attach the side brush to the vacuum, and insert the air freshener. Once these physical components are complete, you can begin setting up the app connection, which is simple thanks to a QR code located under the top lid.

The code quickly syncs your vacuum to the app. From there, you can begin the initial mapping process—your vacuum will clean while drawing a diagram of the space, so it knows exactly where to go in the future. In our experience, this process took two hours and the instruction manual was a very handy guide.

The ECOVACS T9+, once set up, leaves very little behind. We found it can (and will) vacuum up screws, zip ties, hair ties, bobby pins, and dog hair. You can schedule its cleaning so it can tidy up while you’re sleeping or at work, and it’s super quiet compared to others we’ve tried and owned. It’s not in the business of waking you (or your pup), especially thanks to its expert object avoidance skills. When it encounters a table, wall, or pet, we’ve seen it change course instead of going back to its base.

Like many other robot vacuums nowadays, this pick comes with a mop, too. While the mopping feature uses disposable pads instead of reusable ones, it’s a convenient addition for those with hard floors. You can activate it whenever someone tracks in mud or spills a drink, or to keep your house clean for a little one who loves to crawl. Just keep an eye out for any larger debris getting stuck in the vacuum, since strong suction power can lead to jams and clogs.

After over a year of use, we did notice that the dust bag fills up frequently, and we need to replace the brush and filter since they’ve expired (something to add to the cost). It’s also gotten a bit noisier. You can trust this vacuum to get the job done with very little interference from you, though—and that just can’t be said for every robot vacuum, even other ones at this price point.

_{Self-Emptying: Yes | Battery Life: 180 minutes | Smart Capabilities: Programmable schedule, object avoidance, flooring identification, 3D mapping, mobile fragrance}

When it comes to canister vacuums, we’ve historically been a fan of Miele products. After recent lab tests, we’re loving the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Bagless Canister Vacuum. Miele is a top brand we recommend given the quality and durability of its vacuums. They’re investment pieces, but you’re paying for what you get: a reliable workhorse.

There are essentially two parts to every canister vacuum: the canister and the handle. The canister is usually situated on wheels so you can roll it with you as you clean, and houses the dust bin or bag. The handle is then attached to the floor head, and connected to the vacuum via a hose, which transfers the debris from the floor head to a bin or bag. The design gives you more flexibility and portability when cleaning, and more space for dust, debris, and pet hair, making canister vacuums a good choice for households with pets. They are also a great pick for anyone who wants the navigation of a stick vacuum paired with the power of an upright vacuum—say, to clean up messes behind and under couches, or in a well-loved playroom.

The Miele CX1’s most notable feature is its self-clean function which cleans the canister of dust and keeps it in tip-top shape. The bagless design also means you won’t have to budget for replacement bags—a plus since this vacuum is what we’d call an investment.

Now, the cord doesn’t auto-pull as you vacuum farther away, so be sure to pull out how much cord you need for your cleaning session from the start. (It does automatically rewind later on.) There are several settings you can make use of and all will be effective at picking up messes on hard floors and carpeting. A HEPA filtration system and five attachments come in the box: a crevice tool, upholstery tool, parquet twister floor head, handheld mini turbo brush, and electro plus floor head. So each time you clean, you have a toolbox of sorts at your disposal.

Our only complaint after six months of using it is that emptying it isn’t easy or necessarily clean—there’s really no great way to empty the bin without causing a ruckus at the trash can. For that reason, this pick is not the best for those with allergies. (Though, we do have plenty of recommendations for vacuums for allergies, too.)

There are several versions of the CX1, but we tested and loved the cat and dog version. In our experience, it’s been the best option for those with animals—and any vacuum that’s suitable for picking up pet hair and kibble is suitable for households without pets (my hot take).

_{Weight: 19 pounds | Cord Length: 21 feet | Attachments: Crevice tool, upholstery tool, parquet twister floorhead, handheld mini turbo brush, electro plus floorhead}

I’d define a lightweight vacuum as anything weighing less than 15 pounds, ideally 10 pounds. Most upright and canister vacuums don’t meet this requirement, but stick vacuums and smaller iterations (like dustbusters and handheld vacuums) absolutely can—and provide other elements that make them easier to navigate on carpet, hard floors, and more. After several rounds of testing, the Kenmore Elite Cordless Stick Vacuum is our favorite in this category, and not just because it weighs about the same as my two MacBook Pros (just six pounds!). This vacuum operates so quietly, and can actually bend in half to reach under furniture, so you don’t have to.

Setting up the Kenmore Elite is easier with a friend. While you could do it by yourself, putting it together is a bit challenging since the vacuum needs to be upright the entire time. In comparison to other stick vacuums we’ve tested though, this model evenly distributes its weight once you’re up and running. Since it's cordless, you are also free to roam for up to 40 minutes—less if you use the vacuum on max mode versus its eco mode. (It does sometimes feel like the battery dies quicker than we'd like.)

In our experience, it’s best for everyday cleaning, but not deep cleaning or sprucing up a couch cushion. There is only one attachment in the box: a combination crevice and dusting tool. You’ll also find a wall mount, which makes the vacuum easy to store and reach for, but we’d love to see more tools included for tackling different tasks. Like other stick vacuums, Kenmore’s Elite Cordless Stick Vacuum can turn into a handheld version. We found that it picks up pet hair pretty well, too, which is a real, true signal of vacuum effectiveness, as we said above.

What drives this pick into the top spot for best lightweight vacuum is what it offers at its price. The under-$200 price tag is incredibly fair for a vacuum that covers the basics and then some, all while being light. It's a tough combination to get right, but it manages to do it.

_{Weight: 6 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Combination crevice and dusting tool}

Pets come with their own cleaning challenges, and not every vacuum is up to the task. Pet hair tends to stick to fabrics, can be fine, and can easily tangle in your rugs—not to mention, your vacuum’s brush roll. The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra is a corded upright vacuum that’s made for this sort of challenge, though. It gives you 35 feet of cord (longer than other picks we’ve tested and loved) to roam your house and four helpful attachments to truly tackle hair, kibble, or even non-pet-related messes.If you’re a pet-loving household that needs a machine that can find dirt you can’t see or don’t want to know is there, this is the vacuum for you. It’s a pro at deep cleaning rugs, hard floors, and more. Its effectiveness just happens to be wrapped up in a heavy package.

A turbine tool picks up hair, keeping it detangled so there’s no need to break out the scissors and get rid of the suction-killing tangles yourself. A stair tool helps you navigate inclines, a thoughtful addition since this upright vacuum is bulky and not going to sit nicely on the stairs with you while you clean, like our favorite stick vacs do. The combination tool is a brush tool and crevice tool in one, and you can attach it to a long wand to clean those tough-to-reach baseboards or corners. The pet groom tool is made for exactly that—grooming your pet—and Dyson claims it is best for medium to long-haired pets. This attachment is not a common one and certainly pushes this pick over the edge for this category.

Pets aside, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra lives up to Dyson’s stellar reputation and has great suction power. The vacuum has a slight tendency to spit out larger pieces of debris—you may find yourself chasing after an already-vacuumed popcorn kernel—but the dust bin is spacious (as we’d expect with an upright vacuum). You will want to take some time to learn how to use the pet-hair-friendly vacuum, too, since there are many pieces and the instructions aren’t straightforward.

_{Weight: 17.3 pounds | Cord Length: 35 feet | Attachments: Tangle-free turbine tool, stair tool, pet groom tool, combination tool}

Most of the time, handheld vacuums are an addition to your cleaning closet, rather than the star of the show. That’s because they’re designed for picking up small, concentrated messes, sometimes tucked away in hard-to-reach, tight places. With a true handheld vacuum at your disposal (opposed to one that’s made from the components of a larger stick or upright pick), you’re able to focus your cleaning efforts and save time, and tidy up your car, too. For this category, we love the Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner.

This vacuum brings the power of a much larger vacuum, and weighs just 3 pounds so you’re able to tidy up without feeling excess strain on your hand or wrist. The battery pack definitely adds weight, but also makes this pick extra portable and a good option for a heavy-duty car vacuum, too. The tapered nozzle (the opening where the debris enters it) is, notably, the perfect shape and size for sucking up crumbs in car cup holders or dust along a baseboard—so we’ve found. Plus, there’s a standard crevice tool located under the nozzle; you can attach it to the nozzle for even more concentrated cleaning.

Emptying the vacuum is also a really easy process compared to other handheld vacuums, or even full-sized vacuums. There’s a button to easily and quickly release the bin. In testing, it was also simple to remove and replace the filter whenever needed. Our one qualm? This vacuum is definitely loud. Compared to handheld vacuums and dustbusters we've tried, this pick also comes with a high, over-$100 price tag. However, rest assured: you don’t need to worry about angling the nozzle just right, which can and does happen with other picks.

_{Weight: 3 pounds | Battery Life: 14 minutes | Attachments: On-board crevice tool}

Vacuum-mop combos (also referred to as wet-dry vacuums) wrap two appliances into one convenient and upright-style package, saving you storage space, time, and money. While wet-dry vacuums can cost more than stick vacuums and upright vacuums (they tend to start at $250 and go up from there), you have to remember that you’re paying for two cleaning tools at once. Our top pick is Bissell’s Crosswave HydroSteam Plus, because it operates so smoothly no matter which setting or floor type it’s on.

On hard floors, the mop feature doesn’t leave behind any sticky or overly wet residues. You can enjoy a (mostly) streak-free, dry finish in just a few minutes post-mopping. There are three settings in total for hard floors, rugs, and steam cleaning. The steam clean function is a rare find and does the job of a steam mop, loosening stuck-on spills in your kitchen, bathroom, or anywhere with hard floors.

It may be surprising to hear the Bissell CrossWave comes with zero attachments. However, you will receive a few extras: three trial-size formulas, two washable filters, and an auto clean-out tray with spots for accessories like the extra filters. The cleaning formulas go into the water tank and mix with the contents to help mop your floors. Bissell has many different formulas available, such as ones for pet owners or sanitizing—and this wet-dry vacuum has two different tanks to keep your clean formula and water mix separate from the dirty contents it picks up. (Just keep in mind that cleaning formulas do add to the overall cost of this pick.)

In our experience, moving the vacuum-mop around is a breeze since the handle pivots in the direction you’d like it to go, making it easy to pick up crumbs next to table legs or heating vents. It's corded so you have to be plugged in while you're cleaning, and you’re absolutely going to disrupt your household when using it—it's loud. Vacuum-mop combos can also notoriously be difficult to maintain, since you need to clean the components to ensure they don't smell, ideally after every use. That said, if you use and maintain this vacuum-mop right, then it can easily become a cleaning tool you swear by.

_{Weight: 12.5 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: None}

Vacuuming carpets and rugs—whether they’re low, medium, or high-pile—can be a tough endeavor. Unlike hard floors, carpets and rugs can have debris and dust hidden in their fibers or ground into their intricate designs. Having a vacuum at your disposal that’s ready to agitate the fibers (massage them) and loosen the debris is essential. The Levoit Vortex IQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum is our go-to vacuum for everyday carpet cleaning. It can get into the tight corners and crevices under cabinets, and won’t spit out what it’s picked up. On carpets, it’s a menace for messes, working quickly and accurately.

We found this pick to be equally effective on hard floors; it's simply quicker in its carpet and rug cleaning, which is why we’ve named it the best vacuum for carpets and rugs. We barely noticed its weight when lifting it around from one surface to another. The Levoit Vortex IQ has a handheld iteration like many other stick vacuums—plus two attachments (a crevice tool and a dusting brush tool). However, you don't need the attachments to get the results you’re after.

We didn’t mind the 40-minute runtime on this vacuum because the smaller battery pack seems to make the appliance lighter. We could carry it up and down stairs freely, especially since it doesn’t have a cord—a true win for those who, like me, live in a split-level home. The lightweight design does include a dust bin that can require frequent emptying, but just how often will depend on your home and vacuuming habits.

You can easily store this pick on its charging dock and reach for it for everyday cleans, and it's ultimately quite similar to our best stick vacuum pick, the Levoit LVAC-200. The main difference? The Vortex IQ, at 7.1 pounds, is 4 pounds heavier. This pick also has an LED display at the top of the handle, and the power button is more of a trigger than a button on the handle. The LVAC-200 also has a five-stage filtration system, while the Vortex IQ is outfitted with a four-stage filtration system; so the LVAC-200 may be slightly better for those with allergies or pets.

_{Weight: 7.1 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Crevice tool, dusting brush tool}

After years of testing, the Tineco Pure One S11 Tango still stands out to us. It rivals any Dyson counterpart, and we really love its mix of basic functionality and futuristic features, including a digital readout of what you have captured from your carpet.

Tineco’s original claim to fame was its Floor One S3 wet-dry vacuum, which expertly handles wet spills and dry crumbs on any hard flooring, and it remains a favorite among influencers and our editors after testing and real-world use. This pick, the Pure One S11 Tango, is purely for dry messes, but offers expert-level cleaning on hard and soft surfaces. It only struggled with larger debris like cereal.

You don’t need to put in much elbow grease, even if you are transitioning from an area rug to a hardwood floor. You don't even have to bend over to see if the brush roll is tangled from your dog’s hair. The LED display at the top of the vacuum will read out the facts (battery level, suction power) and give you a heads up if something is malfunctioning. It may not feel necessary, but you can also connect the vacuum to a smartphone app via Wi-Fi for more details on your cleaning endeavors.

Notably, these features don’t seem to add much to the price tag, which can’t be said for other stick vacuums with smart features, such as Dyson's Gen5detect. While the Dyson is also a standout in our experience, it costs about $600 more than the Tineco, with many of the same features.

Intuitiveness aside, this vacuum covers all the basics and then some. For larger debris (like that cereal), you can use one of its four attachments, each more complex than the last: crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, mini power brush, and full-size LED multi-task power brush. You can also turn the vacuum into a handheld one by detaching the handle and using it with an attachment; this process was seamless for us.

Notably, the vacuum was quiet enough and light enough for us to use while holding a 20-pound baby, too, and it didn’t die out over the course of our testing. (The 40-minute battery life is about average, and may diminish quicker if you use the max mode.) In the box, you will find a pre-filter cleaning tool and an extra microfiber pre-filter for the four-stage HEPA filtration system, in addition to a hair cleaning tool to get tangles out of the brush roll. There’s a wall mount, too, for the vacuum and two of your favorite attachments.

_{Weight: 5.84 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, mini power brush, full-size LED multi-task power brush}

Final Verdict

Take it from me: there’s a vacuum for everyone and every home—you just have to find the style and features that best match your needs. Our overall best vacuum is the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum because, at a reasonable price, it offers standard attachments in addition to a lift-away pod, top-notch performance on carpet, and a spacious dust bin that’s perfect for weekly cleans. Our top pick for a stick vacuum is the Levoit LVAC-200 Cordless Stick Vacuum. There's a lot to love about it, including its super lightweight design, easy emptying process, and cleaning power on hardwood, carpet, tile, and stairs.

How Often to Deep Clean Your Vacuum

Bagless vs. Bagged Designs

Most vacuums nowadays (including all of the ones on our list) have a bagless design, meaning debris collects in a reusable dust bin rather than a disposable bag. This is more cost-effective, but often means that when you empty your dust bin, you're exposed to the dirt, dust, and debris you vacuumed up. Bagged vacuums don’t expose you to the debris, since it all stays contained.