We’ve Tested Over 300 Vacuums—Here Are The Best Ones (2024)

What We Tested

Strong power and a sophisticated design combine to make the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum the best vacuum on our list. It performed expertly on hard surfaces and carpet, suctioning up everything from pet hair to cereal—usually in just one pass. That’s partially because the rotating brush roll pulls debris up from carpet, but it also can be shut off for more efficient hard surface cleaning.

Its performance didn’t falter while transitioning between flooring types or along edges and corners. In fact, we were impressed with how well the vacuum did at tackling edges and corners in its normal mode, without needing to use the crevice tool. It worked on stairs, too, though we found it a bit heavy and awkward.

Initially, we found the 15.96-pound Shark could be difficult to push on higher pile carpets. After using the model for a while, we learned to use the adjustable suction release collar according to the surface type, making it much more maneuverable. We also noticed hair tangled easily in the roller brush when used on carpet, but switching to the upholstery tool for vacuuming hair made the process much smoother.

The lift-away pod feature allows the canister and nozzle to release from the vacuum body, so you can more conveniently clean non-floor areas, like upholstery. It’s corded so you won’t run out of power, and the generous 0.9-quart dust bin capacity means you won’t be stopping to empty the canister too often, either.

The clear dustbin made it easy to tell when it needed to be emptied or cleaned—and it’s easy to do. Undo the latches on either side of the dust cup to remove it, and just a click of a button will have collected debris smoothly emptying out into a wastecan.

All that performance does come at a slight cost, however. We recorded 103.9 decibel rating on the high setting, and 97.1 on the low setting, making this the loudest vacuum on our list.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Upright | Weight: 15.96 pounds | Battery Life: Not applicable | Accessories: Upholstery and crevice tools

Low, medium, and high suction control settings helped the Kenmore Pet-Friendly Pop-N-Go canister vacuum succeed in pulling kibble, long and short pet hair, and everyday debris from carpets, hard floors, and even furniture.

With a motorized brush and multiple power settings, it effortlessly removed hair from low- and high-pile carpets. Wood and tile floors posed a bit more of a challenge—hair tended to get pushed around with the bare floor attachment, but lifting and setting the vacuum head on top of fur worked to capture it.

Other attachments include a crevice tool, dusting brush, and the motorized pet hair attachment which suctioned pet hair off upholstery without a hitch. Not only are the attachments easy to switch between, they are all conveniently stored on the body of the vacuum.

It registered only 46 decibels, making it the quietest model on our list—an ideal feature for skittish pets or those who are sensitive to noise. It is easy to maneuver despite being the heaviest model on our list at 22.64 pounds.

However, the canister type vacuum took some getting used to for those who were more familiar with an upright or stick vacuum. With this vacuum, you’ll need two hands to operate it: one for the wheeled canister and another to push the vacuum head.

We found this detached design especially convenient for cleaning stairs and getting underneath furniture—and the long cord helped, too. During six months of at-home testing, the flexibility of the vacuum and its telescoping wand helped us get under large, low furniture, like a king-sized bed.

This is a bagged model, and although the price of replacement bags may add up, we were impressed with their capacity and how easily they could be replaced. A bagged model provides secure capture of allergens, dander, and other small particles, and while this isn’t a requirement, it is a valuable trait for vacuums in pet-friendly homes.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Canister | Weight: 22.64 pounds | Battery Life: Not applicable | Accessories: Dusting brush, powered pet attachment, crevice tool, and bare floor brush

The Levoit Vortex IQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum is deceptively lightweight considering its incredible suction power. Weighting about 6.6 pounds, it’s easy to maneuver up and down stairs and between flooring types. It worked equally well on all surfaces we tested (hardwood and medium- and high-pile carpet), gathering every trace of debris in less than 60 seconds.

If you want a cordless vacuum that rivals the suction of a corded model, this is the one. We were blown away by how quickly and easily it sucked up all the debris during the testing period. It seamlessly slipped under the overhangs on each stair and into the corners to get every last bit of hair, coffee grounds, and cereal.

Though we were highly impressed by the performance on hardwood, the vacuum worked even better on carpeted areas, picking everything up with very little effort. The suction was so strong we actually needed to switch out of high power mode on the high-pile carpet because it was making it difficult to maneuver. Most of the time, the automatic setting was more than enough to get everything.

The vacuum comes with several attachments, like a telescoping crevice tool and a dust brush, but during testing we found the vacuum head to be adequate on its own. It also converts into a handheld model for upholstery or harder-to-reach areas.

While not self-emptying, it was easy to empty the dust cup, and we found that very little hair was tangled in the brush roller. The vacuum’s suction stayed at full power even as the cup filled with hair and debris over the course of the testing period.

It’s tough to find a downside to the Levoit Vortex IQ 40, but, if there is one, it’s that the battery life isn’t very long—about 39 minutes on low power, just under 8 minutes on high power. But we’d gladly make that trade given how user-friendly and powerful and device is.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Stick | Weight: 6.66 pounds | Battery Life: 39 minutes | Accessories: Telescoping crevice tool, 2-in-1 dusting brush, charging dock

Though it lacks some of the bells and whistles of other robot vacuums we tested, the basics—strong suction and a plentiful run time—make the iRobot Roomba 694 our favorite.

Sand, cereal, and hair were no match for the powerful suction on wood and tile floors, and it performed equally well on carpets and rugs, too. It transitioned smoothly between these flooring types during our test, though we saw it had a little trouble picking up debris along the edge of a rug.

Strong sensors help the model avoid falling down stairs and navigate around large obstacles like furniture—though smaller items, like socks, fell victim to its suction power during testing. We also like how quickly it moved and the agility it showed maneuvering around small chair legs.

The Roomba 694 connects to WiFi, so you can partially control it through an app on your phone (though you don’t have to connect to the app to run the machine). It lacks some of the fancier features found on more expensive models, like object detection, smart mapping, or automatic self-cleaning. However, it still has some fairly modern functions—you can schedule cleanings and start/end a session in the app—even when you’re not home.

This model had extra use outside of our testing lab, and after six months of in-home use, we found it to be an indispensable part of regular housekeeping—an almost effortless supplement to deeper vacuum cleanings. The model itself was easy to clean once we consulted the directions about how to release the dust bin, and with weekly use, we did find ourselves having to cut tangles from the brush roll every few months.

It’s a hands-free option that works reliably on multiple floor types and runs for 90 minutes so you can cover maximum surface area. One of the quietest on our list at 77 decibels, it shouldn’t interrupt your work day, TV watching, or conversations in the house.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Robot | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Battery Life: 90 minutes | Accessories: None

We deem the Baseus A2 Pro as the best vacuum for cars as it’s cordless, easy to set up, and lightweight. You could get away with never taking this handheld vacuum out of your car—the charging cable is compatible with USB ports, and the device is so compact you can store it under seats or in the glove box until its next use.

While a full charge takes 3.5 hours, we were pleasantly surprised that we were able to clean an entire minivan with a single charge. That said, we cleaned out the dustbin three times while cleaning, so it may be better suited for quick spot cleanings rather than a deep clean. Despite the small bin, we found it effectively picked up small debris and filtered particles out with its HEPA filter.

The vacuum comes with two attachments: a two-in-one brush and crevice nozzle and a smaller blow nozzle. We also liked that it wasn’t overly loud when in use.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Handheld | Weight: 1.65 pounds pounds | Battery Life: Up to 25 minutes | Accessories: Two-in-one nozzle and blow nozzle

As far as handheld vacuums go, we loved the Shark UltraCyclone Pro Cordless Handheld Vacuum. From the moment we received the vacuum to when we began using it, we were impressed by how easy and intuitive the setup process was—it took us less than 30 seconds to set up. The devices comes with two attachments (a crevice tool and a scrubbing brush) and a charger.

Although this vacuum only offers one section level, it was functional, especially when it came to suctioning the debris and hair from the carpet. We were pleasantly surprised that it suctioned the hairs that were further into our carpet. When we used it to clean a high chair and a car seat, it was able to reach small spaces. And, it’s equipped with a large bin that didn’t require as much emptying as other handheld models.

Considering we compared its suction power to that of an upright vacuum, we appreciated that it was loud but not to the point where it was distracting. We were able to hold normal conversations while using it.

The downsides we noticed during our initial testing included some of the debris spilling out when we tipped the vacuum forward, and the dustbin containing a fan-like structure in which some food got caught. Besides these small hiccups, we were still impressed with its performance overall.

During our six-month testing session, its battery required six hours of charge for 18 minutes of runtime. It continued to do a thorough job of cleaning up crumbs and debris as it maintained its strong suction power. It remained easy to clean and we continued to like how compact it was and how it did not get in the way when not in use.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Handheld | Weight: 2 pounds| Battery Life: 18 minutes | Accessories: Crevice tool and scrubbing brush

Perhaps the easiest to maneuver model on the list, the Dyson Omni-Glide+ effortlessly glides over flooring, like wood and tile. In fact, the model was designed for hard flooring exclusively.

Just 4.19 pounds, this lightweight model has a swivel floor cleaning head that easily maneuvered around tight turns, like vacuuming around a table leg. It picked up hair, cereal, coffee grounds, and even cotton balls without issue. Larger, heavier debris like popcorn kernels, however, were more of a challenge for the vacuum and its attachments—they occasionally slid across the floor during testing.

Unlike the other vacuums on our list, we found the dustbin on the Omni Glide+ a bit unintuitive to empty—consulting the manual was necessary, because pulling down on the canister was not obvious. The vacuum has a small dustbin, just 0.2 liters, that filled quickly during the testing and required frequent emptying.

However, we did repeatedly fill the canister beyond the max fill line, without losing suction, which prolonged periods between emptying. While emptying the canister, some lighter debris, like hair and cotton ball fibers, stuck to the inside and had to be pulled out by hand.

Because of its thin size and light weight, we found this stick vacuum to be comfortable for vacuuming stairs. Though the normal floor attachment didn’t remove debris from dust-trapping stair crevices, switching to one of the two crevice attachments even got the finer things, like coffee grounds, out from the corners. The light weight also meant this model requires little effort to clean higher surfaces, and we could easily lift it to reach above bookshelves and windows.

We tested the length of the battery on both the high and low settings. On the high setting, the battery lasted for eight and a half minutes, and on the low setting it lasted for 21 minutes. Though we found this vacuum to be highly effective for spot cleaning and refreshing small spaces with hard floors, we do have to point out that the high price tag may not be accessible to everyone.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Stick | Weight: 4.19 pounds | Battery Life: 21 minutes on low, 8 minutes on high | Accessories: Combination crevice tool, mini motorized tool, light pipe crevice tool, docking station and charger

If you’re looking for a canister vacuum, consider the Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team PowerLine SBAN0. When it comes to its noise level, it sounded similarly to a quiet fan when on its low, though it did get significantly louder on its higher settings. That said, we don’t deem the noise level loud enough to be too distracting. We also appreciated that the appliance remained relatively quiet when being moved between rooms.

We were thoroughly impressed by how well this vacuum was able to be maneuvered on a variety of flooring surfaces. We noticed that it performed especially well on rugs and hardwood when we used the correct attachment.

In addition to the floors, we also found this vacuum easy to use on stairs. And when it came to cleaning debris from the upholstery, we were able to do so in 46 seconds.

We can’t forget to mention that this is a corded vacuum, which doesn’t allow for as much portability as others. That said, we didn’t encounter any issues when it came to its length and did not have to constantly alternate outlets when cleaning each room. Its cord was easy to retract via a foot pedal which was convenient and didn’t require much effort. Since this vacuum comes with several attachments, it was helpful that they could be clipped onto the handle for easy retrieval.

It is easy to tell when this vacuum needs to be emptied as its indicator light flashes. When we had to clean the vacuum, some hair did get stuck on the roller, which may be a bigger concern for those long hair or pets.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Canister | Weight: 17 pounds | Battery Life: Not applicable | Accessories: Turbo brush floorhead, parquet floorhead, dusting brush, upholstery tool, crevice tool

Carpets can be difficult to vacuum, but not when using the Bissell CleanView Rewind Upright Bagless Vacuum. Although we did find this vacuum effective on tile and other kinds of flooring, it shined when used on carpet. Even when placed on top of a thick carpet, it was still successful in picking up a variety of debris including dust, crumbs, lint, and hair.

We also found it easy to maneuver around and practically glided over every kind of flooring that we tested it on. Furthermore, we didn't find a need to empty it very often. We only needed to empty the bin after cleaning our whole house. That said, it is important to note that we did have to stick our hand in the bin to ensure that all the debris were removed.

While this is a corded model, the cord didn't get in our way. We tested it in every room inside our house, and there was only one room large enough that we needed to plug the cord into a new outlet to reach from corner to corner.

Keep in mind, one of the first things we noticed was how loud this vacuum was in use. However, it didn’t disrupt us from engaging in conversations while vacuuming. Considering its modest price tag, we thought that it offered good value overall.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Upright | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Battery Life: Not applicable | Accessories: Crevice tool, dusting brush, and pet turbo brush tool

If you have a lot of tile flooring in your home, consider the Shark Wandvac Cordless Stick Vacuum. This vacuum’s self-emptying feature made it stand out; it was nice to not have to manually empty the collection bin after each use.

We appreciated how small this vacuum was and we found its lightweight base perfect for day-to-day cleaning. Considering this vacuum doesn't take up a lot of space, it can make a great addition to an apartment. However, when testing the vacuum long-term, we found that its battery life at around 15 minutes wasn’t strong enough for vacuuming an entire large home.

This vacuum wasn't as good as picking up smaller pieces of debris, but it was very successful in picking up things like cat litter. It comes with two attachments, although there's only room for one to hang on to the vacuum at a time.

Product Details: Vacuum Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 13.5 pounds | Battery Life: 15 minutes | Accessories: Duster crevice tool and pet multi-tool

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