Having the right vacuum for your home's specific needs is invaluable. With so many vacuum options, shopping for a new one can feel overwhelming; thankfully, the best vacuums share some common traits.
We've tested over 110 vacuums, and below are our recommendations for the best vacuums you can buy. Our recommendations are based on lab test results for cleaning performance, air quality, and portability. Here's a quick rundown of what to keep in mind as you shop:
- Corded vs. Cordless: Corded vacuums offer unlimited runtime and more consistent cleaning power, while cordless models are easier to grab for quick cleanups and simpler to carry up stairs.
- Bagged vs. Bagless: Bagged models trap dust much more effectively when you empty them, which matters if anyone in your home has allergies. Bagless models let you avoid the cost of replacement bags.
- Form Factor: Canister vacuums are the most versatile across floor types, upright vacuums are particularly strong on carpet, and stick vacuums are the lightest and most convenient for quick cleanups.
- Air Quality: Look for a Particle Filtration score of 8 or higher to keep fine dust from escaping while you clean.
- Roller Type: Choose between a bristled brushroll for carpet and pet hair, a soft roller for bare floors, or a dual roller for multi-surface homes.
Check out our buyer's guide at the bottom of the article for more details. If you're looking for other options, check out our recommendations for the best lightweight vacuums, the best cordless vacuums, and the best bagged vacuums.
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Best Vacuum
House8.9Small Apartment8.2Air Quality7.7Bare Floor Pickup8.2Carpet Pickup6.3Pet Hair Pickup9.0Vacuum TypeCanisterCordlessNoSee all our test resultsBaglessNoThe SEBO Airbelt D4 is the best vacuum we've tested for most people. Right off the bat, know that this high-end canister vacuum is only available from specialized vacuum retailers or directly from SEBO's website. Don't let that deter you, though; it offers performance and accessories to suit almost any living situation. The Premium variant comes with a parquet floorhead that excels on bare floors, and the ET-1 bristled powerhead easily clears everything from sand to pet hair on low and high-pile carpets alike. Another nice touch is its use of high-capacity dirt bags and long-lasting filters, which keep ownership costs relatively low. And if you have a particularly large house, you'll welcome the convenience the SEBO brings, as it features a nearly 40 ft (12.2 m) cord.
This vacuum offers a robust, premium-feeling build quality that matches its price tag. The inevitable flip side of this tough build quality is that it's heavy at 21.72 lbs, so portability on stairs isn't great. It's also quite large, so if you live in a small apartment and are low on space, you may want to consider our next recommendation, the Dyson V15 Detect. In terms of air quality, particle filtration is strong but not chart-topping, and the dust bags don't seal fully, releasing a bit of dust back into the air when you dispose of them. If air quality is your top priority, then check out the Miele Guard S1 Electro instead. Its AirClean Plus filter is exceptionally effective at trapping dust and allergens right out of the box, and its dustbag seals more effectively. On the downside, it just can't match the Airbelt D4 for raw performance, and its cord is much shorter.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Vacuum
House7.4Small Apartment8.7Air Quality8.1Bare Floor Pickup8.0Carpet Pickup7.8Pet Hair Pickup9.0Vacuum TypeStick/HandheldCordlessYesSee all our test resultsBaglessYesIf you want a high-end vacuum cleaner but don't like the thought of being tethered to a cord, then check out the Dyson V15 Detect. While it isn't the newest flagship Dyson has to offer, this high-end cordless bagless vacuum is remarkably powerful, with debris pickup performance on bare floors and carpet that rivals our corded top pick, the SEBO Airbelt D4. While you can get 75 minutes of runtime in Eco mode, there are limitations to having a cordless vacuum with such a powerful motor. Its battery life drops dramatically to just 8 minutes in Boost mode, so don't expect to clean a large or particularly dirty house on a single charge. If portability is your priority, the V15 is sure to satisfy. It's remarkably lightweight at 6.46 lbs, making cleaning stairs or simply getting started relatively easy. Apartment dwellers can also rejoice thanks to the included wall-mount with built-in storage for the many tools and accessories.
It also comes with a surface detection system that automatically adjusts suction power based on the surface it's on, and an air quality sensor that measures debris sucked into the vacuum, allowing you to monitor allergen levels inside your home as you clean. Also, while the V15's filter is almost perfect at keeping dust out of the air while you vacuum, emptying it releases a cloud of dust, like almost all bagless vacuums. You should empty this vacuum outdoors or away from any living area. Finally, the plastic and overall build quality feel cheap for the price tag. Still, for anyone looking for a cordless model, it's the best vacuum we've tested that meets the brief.
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Best Mid-Range Vacuum
House7.5Small Apartment8.2Air Quality8.1Bare Floor Pickup8.0Carpet Pickup7.0Pet Hair Pickup7.3Vacuum TypeStick/HandheldCordlessYesSee all our test resultsBaglessYesGet the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H if you want a cordless vacuum, and the Dyson V15 Detect's build quality gives you pause. This mid-range model also uses a lot of plastic on its housing, but it feels sturdier by comparison. There's an inevitable downside, though: this model weighs more than the V15, making it slightly less convenient to use. It also has a shorter Max Battery life of 63 minutes, which drops down to 12 minutes in Boost mode. Otherwise, the Stratos offers a ton of features. Like the much more expensive Dyson, it automatically adjusts suction based on floor type, and an on-board HEPA filter keeps allergens and dust out of the air as you vacuum. There's also an odor-neutralization system in its floorhead that emits a detergent-like smell as you vacuum. If you're sensitive to smells, though, it can get overwhelming.
Debris pick-up takes a notable step back here compared to our top picks, like the SEBO Airbelt D4. It can handle a lot of debris on most surfaces, except for thick-pile rugs, where the floorhead can get stuck in the long fibers. Battery life is also quite good for a vacuum at its price point. But again, if you have a large home that you are looking to clean in one go, then you'll need a corded model instead. If this is your situation, then check out our budget option, the Kenmore Intuition Bagged.
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Best Budget Vacuum
House8.6Small Apartment8.6Air Quality9.3Bare Floor Pickup7.9Carpet Pickup8.0Pet Hair Pickup7.9Vacuum TypeUpright/HandheldCordlessNoSee all our test resultsBaglessNoThe Kenmore Intuition Bagged is a corded upright vacuum that punches far above its budget price point, making it one of the best vacuum cleaners we've tested. It doesn't have the runtime issues of cordless options like the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H, and thanks to its relatively compact design, it's an excellent choice for a house or an apartment alike. It performs well on every surface and does a good job picking up pet hair from carpet and furniture, making it a smart choice for pet owners. Air filtration actually surpasses our top pick, the SEBO Airbelt D4, and since this is a bagged vacuum, you don't need to worry about making a mess while discarding the dustbag.
Another nice addition at its price point is the option to turn the brushroll off, so you won't scatter debris while cleaning on bare floors. Unfortunately, build quality is a major complaint from users, with many reporting failures over time due to fragile internal components. You'll also find this vacuum is hard to maneuver and can be a bit of a pain to bring up and down stairs because it weighs 14.95 lbs. You can detach the canister from the vacuum and use it in handheld mode, but the weight of the canister hanging from your arm, along with the short hose, makes using the vacuum this way quite difficult. For other upright recommendations, check out our article on the best upright vacuums.
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Best Cheap Vacuum
House7.6Small Apartment6.5Air Quality4.9Bare Floor Pickup7.0Carpet Pickup6.8Pet Hair Pickup5.4Vacuum TypeCanisterCordlessNoSee all our test resultsBaglessNoThe Eureka Mighty Mite is a no-frills model for anyone looking for a cheap yet powerful vacuum. It's fairly compact and delivers strong performance across various surfaces, thanks to its relatively powerful 12-amp motor. It performs very well on bare floors with its basic floorhead, and you can retract the head's bristles to clean low-pile carpets. That said, pet owners should consider our budget choice, the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, instead, because the Eureka struggles to deal with pet hair. The vacuum itself feels reasonably sturdy, if a little cheap, and its remarkably simple design makes it easy to maintain. It's small enough to easily store in a closet or a nook between furniture.
Its chief drawback is its terrible filtration; dust and dander pass right through its bag and out of the exhaust, which is sure to irritate anyone sensitive to allergens. Overall, despite the many trade-offs, it's worth considering as a cheap vacuum for homes and small apartments. For other wallet-friendly picks, check out our recommendations for the best budget and cheap vacuums.
Notable Mentions
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Miele Guard L1 Electro:
The Miele Guard L1 Electro is a high-end canister vacuum with better air filtration than the SEBO Airbelt D4. It also features automatic suction adjustment based on floor type and a sleek LCD screen, but lags behind the SEBO in terms of raw performance.
See our review -
SEBO FELIX:
The SEBO FELIX is an upright vacuum that has a lot in common with the SEBO Airbelt D4, like robust build quality and a powered floorhead. While it's smaller and more maneuverable, it's ultimately less powerful and performs worse on carpets.
See our review -
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine:
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is Dyson's latest flagship cordless vacuum. It offers superior runtime to the Dyson V15 Detect, but delivers worse overall performance than its older stablemate.
See our review -
Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra:
If you want a bagless, cordless vacuum but don't want to worry about negatively impacting your air quality, get the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra. It comes with a dock like a robot vacuum for emptying its dustbin, but lags behind the Dyson V15 Detect for pick-up performance and runtime.
See our review -
Wyze Cordless Vacuum S:
The Wyze Cordless Vacuum S is a good cordless alternative to the Eureka Mighty Mite, if you can find it on sale. It's far lighter and more maneuverable, and it offers HEPA filtration. But like all bagless vacuums, emptying it creates a dust cloud, and its battery life is too short for large spaces.
See our review
Recent Updates
May 13, 2026:
We checked that all our picks were still available and added a buying guide to the article to help readers choose the best vacuum for them.
Mar 09, 2026:
We swapped the Dyson V8 with the Shark Stratos Cordless as the 'Best Mid-Range Vacuum' due to price changes, and added the Miele Guard S1 Electro as an alternative with better air filtration than the SEBO Airbelt D4. We also added Notable Mentions to give users more options.
Jan 20, 2026:
Replaced the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H with the Dyson V8. Replaced all Notable Mentions with the SEBO FELIX and the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S.
Nov 05, 2025:
We replaced the Notable Mention Samsung Jet 90 Complete with the Dyson V11, and the NaceCare HVR 200 Henry with the Shark Stratos Upright AX3002 based on availability. Verified our other picks are available and represent the best choices.
May 06, 2025:
We've replaced the Wyze Cordless Vacuum with the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S as the former has been discontinued. We also added a link to the SEBO website, since the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium can be hard to find, and made small edits to the text for clarity.
What to Consider When Choosing a Vacuum
A few factors determine which vacuum is best for you. Here are some things to keep in mind as you shop:
Corded vs. Cordless
The first thing to consider is whether you want a corded or cordless vacuum. Each format has a clear trade-off:
- Corded vacuums offer unlimited runtime, but you're limited by the cord length and where your outlets are. They typically come with higher power capabilities, however, and offer stronger cleaning performance. If you need a vacuum with a longer range, look for a cord length of 30 feet or longer.
- Cordless vacuums are easier to grab for quick cleanups, simpler to take up and down stairs, and convenient for apartments or homes with lots of furniture to navigate around. However, the battery life limits how much you can clean in a single session, and the battery itself wears down over time and eventually needs to be replaced. Look for a Max Runtime of 60 minutes or longer to clean your home on a single charge.
Bagged vs. Bagless
This decision mainly comes down to air quality and recurring costs:
- Bagged vacuums collect dust inside a sealed bag that you swap out when it's full. They score much higher on our Air Quality During Emptying test than bagless vacuums, and models with self-sealing dirtbags do even better. The trade-off is that you need to keep buying replacement bags.
- Bagless vacuums collect dust in a reusable bin you empty into the trash. While this means that you don't have to worry about replacing bags, emptying the bin releases a cloud of fine dust, even on models with otherwise excellent filtration. If anyone in your home has allergies, it's best to empty the bin outdoors.
For a more in-depth comparison, read our article on bagged vs. bagless air quality.
Form Factor
A vacuum's form factor has a major impact on how easy it is to maneuver and store when it's not being used.
- Canister vacuums are always corded and have a wheeled body that rolls behind you, which is connected by a hose to a detachable wand and floorhead. They're easy to take into corners and along baseboards, and since the canister rolls on its own wheels, you don't have to bear the full weight as you clean. However, they're on the heavy side at 20 lbs or more, which makes them harder to carry between floors.
- Upright vacuums feature a one-piece design that you push back and forth in front of you. They're strong on carpet, simple to use, and easy to grab and go. However, an average weight of 10 to 15 lbs adds up when you carry them up stairs, and they're harder to fit into tight spots than a canister or stick. Most are corded, though some cordless options exist.
- Stick vacuums have a slim, wand-and-floorhead design that's almost always cordless. They're lightweight, easy to use on stairs, and convenient in small spaces. However, most are bagless, and battery life limits how much you can clean in a single session. Look for a model that weighs 5 lbs or less if portability is a priority.
Air Quality
We measure air quality using two separate tests:
- Particle Filtration measures how well the vacuum traps fine particles during cleaning. Many premium vacuums use HEPA-rated filters within a sealed system, which keeps dust from leaking back into the air as you clean. Look for a Particle Filtration score of 8.0 or higher, especially if anyone in your home suffers from allergies.
- Air Quality During Emptying is a separate test that measures how much dust escapes when you empty the dirtbag or dustbin. Bagless models score poorly across the board, since dumping the bin inevitably releases a cloud of fine particles.
Roller Type
There are three main roller types to choose from:
- Bristled brushroll: Handles carpet and pet hair more aggressively, but can struggle to pick up larger debris on bare floors.
- Soft roller: Gentler on bare floors and excellent at picking up fine debris and pet hair, but less effective on carpet.
- Dual roller: Combines both into a single floorhead, offering the most versatility on multi-surface homes.
To learn more, check out our article on the importance of vacuum floorhead design.
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our vacuum reviews.