If you’re in the market for a new vacuum cleaner, you know trying to find the right one can be a dizzying experience. With so many different brands, models, and designs on the market, it’s hard to know which will be by your side for years. There are bagless options that promise convenience and eco-friendliness, while others boast superior hygiene and allergen control. The latest cordless models offer freedom from a power cord, but you may wonder if they can truly replace the raw power of their corded counterparts. We’ve all heard of the big brands like Shark, Bissell, and Dyson, but where do they fall in the lineup of the best vacuums? We’ve researched for you.

Taking out the vacuum isn’t something most of us do daily. A recent study found the most popular time to clean is Saturday morning. Sunday nights and early Monday mornings rank as the worst time. Of those surveyed, the majority prefer to vacuum during the day, while they like to perform more relaxing chores such as laundry folding at night.

The List: Best Vacuum Cleaners, According to Experts

 

1. Shark Stratos Cordless IQ

This is the fan-favorite from the popular Shark brand, which often prides itself on offering versatile, multifunctional vacuums at a competitive price point. Rated the number one best vacuum cleaner, by Real Homes, the website says, “It’s clever enough to automatically detect how clean or dirty your floors are and it adjusts its suction for you. It bends to reach under furniture and to store, and it works with scent pods to emit a lovely smell as you clean your floors.”

Tear Gear Lab writes, “Shark has continuously improved its duo clean technology, equipping the Stratos with a dual brush roll system that effectively eliminates dirt and debris from various surfaces, including hard floors and carpets. In the last product update, they upgraded this roll to self-cleaning. No matter the type of flooring, you can expect beautifully cleaned surfaces. The lift-away feature enhances usability by enabling easy cleaning of stairs, accessing tight spaces under furniture, and reaching challenging spots.”

“This is reasonably priced for a high-performance cordless,” according to Tech Radar. “It’s more affordable than some models with similar dust-detection technology like the Dyson V15 Detect.”

2. Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum

If you want the most suction power for your dollar, invest in an upright vacuum like this one. The Spruce says, “Before cordless stick vacuums came into the picture, the upright vacuum was the 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 is the perfect example of what an upright vacuum is: powerful, carpet-oriented but effective on multiple surfaces, and bulky yet spacious.”

“After days of testing, this vacuum was a clear standout, picking up top scores in nearly every category,” according to People. “Shark has made a product that’s easy to use and powerful enough to effortlessly suck up stubborn particles like pet hair and cereal in one pass. We found that the Shark Navigator was incredibly straightforward to put together out of the box, with everything sliding together in just three minutes. No matter what surface we ran the vacuum over — including hardwood floors and low-, medium-, and high-pile carpets — it was a breeze to maneuver, effortlessly gliding across even the thickest of rugs.”

If you have a lot of pet hair to pick you up, no worries. Forbes writes, “Many vacuum heads will get tangled or clogged with pet fur, or simply not lift enough of it up during a first pass, leading you to have to vacuum the same area multiple times. But the Shark NV352 Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum was one of the best upright vacuums. It excelled at removing even the most stubborn patches of shed pet hair.”

3. Dyson V15 Detect

Dyson is known for high-end products that don’t disappoint and RTINGS.com can’t say enough great things about this one. “The best vacuum cleaner we’ve tested is the Dyson V15 Detect, especially if you want something cordless. This high-end stick vacuum is remarkably potent, delivering similar debris pickup performance to many corded models. However, it has the advantage of being remarkably easy to deploy and maneuver. It’s capable of automatically modulating its suction power depending on the surface that it’s on and features a dirt sensor to count and measure the size of particles sucked into the vacuum.”

“This is Dyson’s best yet,” according to Tech Radar. “It’s more powerful and cleans even better on all surfaces, yet still lasts up to 60 minutes between charges. It’s worth the money if you can afford it.”

Real Homes says this vacuum costs a pretty penny, but “can get your floors cleaner than you’d ever thought possible — and with proof.” The website writes, “It has a clever laser to illuminate hidden dirt, and its sensor detects allergens and more as it cleans. It works well with pet hair, too. The downside is that it has a short battery life, and you need to continuously hold the trigger while in use. If you have the budget though, it’s worth considering.”

4. Miele Complete C3 Complete Powerline

If you prefer a canister vacuum, Forbes says this one is the best. “First, there’s no limit to the motor’s capacity, since it’s separate from the suction nozzle. Second, because the nozzles, motor, and debris bin are separate, it’s much easier to deal with dirt that isn’t at the floor level…It performed excellently on bare floors and low-pile carpet, but I was particularly impressed at how much scattered debris it got out of a high-pile rug—a test that tripped up the Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum and the Tineco Pure One S11 cordless models— thanks to a manual adjustment setting that allows you to choose what kind of carpet the machine is cleaning, rather than the automated controls on upright models.”

RTINGS.com states, “If you don’t mind exchanging the portability and convenience of a cordless model like the Dyson V15 Detect for better raw cleaning performance, sturdier build quality, and greater versatility over a range of surfaces, the Miele Complete C3 should be on your shopping list. The Brilliant variant sits at the top of the C3 lineup and includes many convenience features. There are additional handle-mounted controls and an extra ‘Auto’ setting that allows the vacuum to automatically adjust suction power depending on the surface it’s on. There’s additional sound insulation for its already quiet motor.”

Good Housekeeping gave this vac its “GH seal of approval” because it cleans every type of flooring so well. “In Lab tests, Miele vacuums tend to do the best job of picking up and trapping dust and dirt of all vacuum brands. This canister vacuum comes equipped with a parquet floor brush and a brush roll with five different settings that clean everything from hard flooring to plush, high-pile carpets. Allergy sufferers will love the high-filtration bag and HEPA AirClean filter that prevents dust from being released back into the air.”

5. Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction PowerLine

If you’re looking for a cheaper corded Miele that still performs well, RTINGS.com loves this model. “The entry-level Pure Suction model is much cheaper than even entry-level variants of the Miele Complete C3 but still has the same 1200W suction motor as all C3s. As such, it delivers similarly superb cleaning performance on bare floors. That said, this version of the C1 doesn’t have an electrosocket at the base of its hose, so it’s totally incompatible with powered floorheads and, thus, isn’t really recommended for cleaning super-thick shag-style carpeting.”

“This vacuum gobbled up hair on hardwood floors and picked up everything in one go over low-pile carpets,” according to People. “Even on thicker carpets, it only needed a few passes to successfully suction popcorn and hair.”

Epicurious likes the CX1 model of this vacuum. “This rolling workhorse is good for more than just floors; you can use it to clean couches, curtains, and even your car.”

6. Bissel Cleanview Swivel Pet Vacuum

“This affordable upright vacuum from Bissell is a fan favorite on Amazon with a 4.6-star rating,” according to Good Housekeeping. “We haven’t tested this exact model, but we’ve tested many others from Bissell, including older models with the same OnePass technology. We also included this pick in our list of the best vacuums from Bissell thanks to its powerful suction and features that make it great for cleaning hard floors and carpets.”

“Bissell’s Cleanview Swivel Pet Vacuum is your classic corded upright vacuum,” according to Insider. “As restrictive as the cords are on these vacuums, Bissell builds in many thoughtful design features to compensate for the inconvenience. The large, square cleaner head has a brush roll that effectively lifts and removes small and large debris, passing all of our cleaning tests with flying colors. From whole Cheerios to fine flour, the vacuum sucked up the particles cleanly and quickly and worked well with pet hair.”

If you have a lot of carpeting, an expert says an upright vacuum is best. New York Magazine writes, “With a specialized roller head covered in heavy-duty bristles, the CleanView loosens, lifts, and sucks up deeply embedded debris from carpets.” Cleaning Expert Sarah McAlister says, “Even after running other vacuums over carpeting first, the CleanView still manages to scrounge up a good amount of additional dirt, providing a truly thorough cleaning.”

7. Tineco Pure One S11

Epicurious says “The Pure One S11 is a smart vacuum, and the dust sensor built into the multi-surface swivel floorhead automatically adjusts the suction power as needed when cleaning in auto mode. Beyond the dust sensor and auto-adjusting suction, an LED display on the main body tells you if there’s a clog or other malfunction in the vacuum, and shows how much battery is left. There’s also a clever little lever you can flip to keep the vacuum powered on without keeping a finger on the trigger the whole time you clean.”

According to The Spruce, “We used this vacuum for six months at home after formal lab testing, and are happy to report that it’s a family favorite. We don’t feel like it disturbs kids and reach for it over a Dyson, which was previously the family favorite. Regular charging and emptying is definitely required, but it’s a household staple for sure.”

Real Homes tested the S12 model and says, “This vacuum cleaner is recommended for smaller spaces, thanks to its sleek design and easy-to-use controls. It has a shorter battery life and smaller dust cup than our first pick, but it offers superior suction and it’s so easy to use. Its light guides you to dirty spots, and it auto-adjusts the suction level on its own. It comes with a full range of tools and is lightweight.”

You may also be interested in:

• Best Carpet Cleaners
• Best Handheld Vacuums
• Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaners
• Best Robot Vacuums

Sources:

• Epicurious
• RTINGS
• Insider
• Good Housekeeping
• People
• The Spruce
• Forbes
• CNN
• Tech Radar
• Tech Gear Lab
• New York Magazine
• Real Homes

Note: This article was not paid for nor sponsored. StudyFinds is not connected to nor partnered with any of the brands mentioned and receives no compensation for its recommendations.