Choosing the right vacuum cleaner can be tough with so many available options. Cordless, upright and even robot vacuums are being released frequently throughout the year, with countless features and specs to consider.
Finding the best vacuum cleaner involves understanding what your home needs. Bigger homes might need a sturdy upright model, while homes with pets might benefit from an anti-tangle cordless vac. Open-plan apartments would benefit from a robot vacuum cleaner, while wet/dry vacuums are great for multi-use cleaning.
As H&G's home tech editor, I've spent a lot of time testing, reviewing and writing about vacuum cleaners. I know how they work and what makes a vacuum a good one. There's lots to consider, so I've listed everything you need to know when choosing your next vacuum cleaner.
How to choose a vacuum cleaner
I also caught up with cleaning and appliance experts to get into the specifics of what to consider and why it's important to do so.
Vacuum type
Before getting into the finer details, you'll first need to know which vacuum type your home needs.
- Cordless: Typically stick vacuums that are lightweight with rechargeable batteries, freeing yourself of the power cord while vacuuming
- Upright: Larger and (usually) corded vacuums, often offering more suction power, dustbin capacity and floor head width, as well as not being limited by battery life
- Robot: Small, automated devices that do the cleaning for you, but generally don't clean as well as cordless or upright vacuums
- Wet/dry: Durable vacs that can suck both dry and wet messes, occasionally with separate containers for debris and liquids
- Canister: Maneuverable vacuums where the motor, filer and dustbin are housed in a separate canister, with a hose connecting to the floor head
These are the most common vacuum cleaner types, but there are still variations within this list. For example: you can buy corded stick vacuums (like the Shark Stratos Corded Stick), and there are cordless uprights (like the Hoover ONEPWR Evolve Pet Elite at Amazon).
But the types listed above are the most common for a reason. The light build of stick vacuums pairs well with the freedom of cordless movement, just as upright vacuums' larger dustbins, floorheads and suction power require a consistent, corded power source.
Cordless sticks are the popular choice these days. The best cordless vacuums rival the suction power of upright vacuums, and often come with useful features like automatically adjusting suction power based on your floors' dust volume. They're easier to store, easier to use, and easier to carry, and come with attachments that can transform into a handheld vac, a crevice cleaner, a pet hair tool, and much more. They're also (in my view) more aesthetically pleasing, and usually come with wall mounts, making them an easy choice for quick, regular cleans.
But the right vacuum cleaner type really depends on your cleaning needs. The best upright vacuums aren't limited by battery life, and their bigger dustbins mean you won't be emptying them as often. They're often the preferred choice for homes with pets or carpets thanks to their powerful suction and strong floor heads, but modern cordless models are now catching up to them (their cordless counterparts do tend to cost more, though).
Wet/dry vacuums are traditionally used more by contractors and professional cleaners, but they're becoming a more common type found in homes. This is because there are more things you can clean with a wet/dry vacuum, thanks to the ability to clean spills and wet messes. You can take them outdoors, use them on furniture, and clean up after your pets.
The best robot vacuums can clean your home for you, and some of them even double up as a mop. They do this by building maps of your home and usually live in a charging station that can also self-empty the robot. They're very expensive, however, and even the best ones will need a regular vacuum to occasionally clean up after them.
Filter
The best vacuum cleaners use HEPA filters. HEPA filters are capable of trapping 99.97% of small particles down to 0.3 microns in size, and the filters have very fine fibers to be able to do so. This includes many allergens like dust and pollen, so they're a necessity for anybody with allergies.
'Don't underestimate the value of a good HEPA filter,' says Nick Valentino, VP of Market Operations of Bellhop. 'Its ability to deal with smells and allergens can do a lot to make a space feel much cleaner to be in, even if a vacuum with a lesser filter would pick up just as much dirt.'
A vacuum cleaner could have super powerful suction, but if the filter isn't fine enough then many of these particles will recirculate back into the room, often becoming airborne which can trigger allergies after vacuuming.
Trapping odors is important when you're not using your vacuum. Modern vacuums, particularly cordless models with self-empty stations, will be out in the open, and not having a HEPA filter will release these smells and allergy triggers back into your home.
Suction power
'Suction power is what dictates how well a vacuum can lift dirt and other particles off surfaces,' says Brian Davis, cleaning expert and a waste management specialist at HandyRubbish.
'The deeper the suction power, the better the cleaning of carpets. Adjustable settings should work optimally on other floor types,' he adds. This is true for homes with both carpets and hard floors, as you'll need to change suction power for different floors. Look out for vacuums that detect floor type and adjust automatically.
'Suction power is super important, especially if you have high-traffic areas in your home or lots of thick, plush carpeting,' says Anh Nguyen, product analyst and founder of Print My Rugs. 'Too much suction can actually make it difficult to control the vacuum on more delicate surfaces, like hardwood floors or area rugs.'
Suction power is measured in air watts (AW) which signifies the amount of power needed to move air through the vacuum cleaner. 100 to 200 AW is generally a good range to aim for, and it's influenced by the vacuum's motor and design.
The best vacuum cleaner we've ever tested is the Dyson Gen5detect, which has a suction power of 280 AW. This is in part thanks to Dyson's cyclone motor technology, which can make sure that the power is efficiently being used to clean.
Size
Finding the right size vacuum cleaner depends on the size of your home and how much storage you have.
'A lightweight and compact design makes a vacuum easier to handle, more so when using it on stairs or cleaning tight spaces,' Brian explains, while larger models provide more capacity.
Cordless stick vacuums are the smaller, lighter option, ideal for frequent cleaning and smaller homes. But with smaller size comes smaller dustbins and, as they're limited by battery life, they're not always the best at tackling whole, large homes. You can usually buy extra batteries for cordless vacuums so that you can swap them out midway through the clean.
But extra batteries come at a cost, and upright vacuums are the better value choice for larger homes. They usually have bigger dustbins and wider floor heads too, so can handle your home more efficiently. They do take up more space, though, so be mindful of your storage space when deciding.
Pet hair
The best vacuums for pet hair will be able to keep up with the endless shedding of your pets' fur, as well as be able to trap odors and allergenic particles and be easy to clean.
An anti-tangle brush roll is essential. Without it, you'll be spending a lot of time manually removing wrapped hair from the floor head and the dustbin/motor. Strong suction and a HEPA filter are also non-negotiable, to make sure you're capturing and trapping all particles.
You can look for models that have dedicated pet tools, like the Tineco Pure One Station FurFree which comes with a 'ZeroTangle' brush and a FurFree Kit for pet grooming.
On the test, the best option was the Dyson V15 Detect. Its excellent suction, anti-hair wrap, and super-fine HEPA filter make it the perfect choice. Another strong choice is the Shark CarpetXpert as it has its own separate attachment for pet accidents.
Cost
And finally, consider how much you're willing to spend. Your budget will dictate what models and features are available to you. Generally, the more you spend, the better the vacuum. But, if you're not keen to spend $600+ (how much the best ones cost), you can still get more-than-capable vacuums at a reasonable price.
For value for money, we recommend Shark's vacuums. They're not quite as good as Dyson's bests, but they're still great on all floor types, and come with thoughtful features that make them easy to use.
As Brett Bennett, director of operations at PURCOR Pest, puts it: 'I do recommend taking cost into account, since with vacuums you do tend to "get what you pay for." It's good to see this type of high-use appliance as an investment.' Spending that little bit more to get a good vacuum cleaner will make a huge difference at home for years.
To further help your vacuum decision, we spend hours testing all of the best and latest vacuum cleaners, putting them through rigorous conditions to determine how powerful, useful, and cost-effective they are.
