The 5 Best Vacuums For High-Pile Carpet - Fall 2024

The SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium is the best vacuum for high-pile carpet we've tested. The top-trim Premium variant comes bundled with SEBO's ET-1 powerhead, which is the most effective carpet-cleaning floorhead on the market, with four levels of height adjustment, an automatic shutoff switch, and an indicator light that'll let you know if the brushroll isn't making contact with the ground. If you're having trouble maneuvering the vacuum on thicker carpets, you can adjust its suction power via the handle-mounted controls. The vacuum also incurs low ownership costs since it uses high-capacity dirtbags and filters with a long service life. Its three-stage filtration system does a great job trapping fine particles, and its allergen-sealed body feels remarkably robust, if somewhat heavy and bulky.

If you're looking for a lighter, more maneuverable canister vacuum that still performs very well on high-pile carpets, you could consider a variant of the Miele Complete C3 with a powerhead, like the C3 Kona, C3 Marin, or top-tier C3 Brilliant. However, regardless of the C3 variant you go for, it'll have a shorter power cord and higher ownership costs due to its use of smaller dirtbags and less long-lasting filters.

Consider the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine if you want something slightly cheaper. The C1 incurs higher recurring costs than the SEBO since it uses smaller dirtbags that you'll need to dispose of more frequently and filters that don't last as long. If you don't mind those higher ownership costs, it's a wonderful option for cleaning carpets. Its 1200W suction motor puts it in a similar ballpark to the SEBO in raw power, but it's packaged in a slightly smaller, noticeably lighter package. The Cat & Dog variant of the C1 comes bundled with Miele's SEB 228 powerhead, which offers five levels of height adjustment, so you can quickly raise its roller height when cleaning thicker carpeting, as well as a lightweight parquet brush for cleaning hard floors. This model also comes with a miniature turbo brush for cleaning pet hair from upholstered surfaces. This model variant also comes with a post-motor filter that contains activated charcoal to trap odors as you clean.

Unfortunately, its maximum range of a little over 27 feet is only slightly more than half the SEBO's cleaning range, so you'll need to swap outlets when cleaning faraway areas. In addition, while the build quality is pretty solid overall, it still feels noticeably less sturdy than the SEBO, not to mention the more upmarket Miele Complete C3. There's no built-in storage compartment either, though you can mount the included upholstery tool, dusting brush, and crevice tool on the rather flimsy feeling clip that can be attached to the base of its hose.

If you're looking for a mid-range vacuum that can handle debris on high-pile carpet, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is a great choice. This bagless upright vacuum's floorhead offers three levels of surface adjustment, making it significantly easier to push along on dense carpeting when compared to its predecessor, the Dyson Ball Animal 2, which had a habit of tearing up carpet fibers. Combined with its powerful suction motor, this vacuum has no trouble clearing debris embedded deeply within low and high-pile carpet fibers. The floorhead also features built-in plastic vanes that are remarkably effective in capturing pet hair and preventing it from getting tangled around the vacuum's brushroll. That said, while it's great for use on medium to high-pile carpet, it isn't a great fit for shag carpeting since its brushroll can get tangled on very long carpet fibers.

Furthermore, the Dyson vacuum's build quality isn't nearly as robust as the Miele Classic C1's, as it creaks and flexes while in use. The lack of a self-winding power cord is also disappointing for a vacuum in this price range. Its bagless design isn't as easy to maintain either; the Miele's disposable, self-sealing dirtbags make disposing of debris very easy, whereas you'll need to shake out the Dyson vacuum's dirt compartment and occasionally wash it to make sure there isn't any leftover debris left within.

Check out the Kenmore Intuition Bagged if you're shopping for something a little less expensive. This bagged upright vacuum doesn't have a height-adjustable floorhead like the Dyson Ball Animal 3 and comes with a smaller assortment of tools, but crucially, it's highly effective when it comes to dealing with debris on high-pile carpet, easily clearing away a wide variety of debris types on this surface type. It has a brushroll off switch, which can help you free the vacuum if it gets stuck on any thicker carpet too. The Kenmore's 'Lift-Up' design lets you detach the motor unit/dirtbag compartment from its floorhead, making it a lot easier to clean any tight spots. In spite of its relatively affordable price point, it offers HEPA filtration as well; combined with its HEPA-rated dustbag, it's a very good option for those who suffer from allergies.

On the downside, this is a somewhat bulky vacuum, and even with its swiveling head, it can be a bit of a hassle to maneuver, especially in tighter spaces.

If you're on a budget, the best vacuum for thick carpet we've tested is the BISSELL PowerForce Helix. This basic upright has a cheap-feeling plastic chassis, even compared to mid-range models like the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, and its fixed-angle floorhead makes it trickier to maneuver in cluttered areas or around tables and chairs. That said, if all you're concerned about is carpet-cleaning capability, it's certainly worth a look. It performs impressively well when clearing away debris on high-pile carpets. Its floorhead has five levels of height adjustment, a rare feature for something in this price range that makes it easier to push around on uneven surfaces. However, there's no brushroll off switch, so it can sometimes get stuck on rug tassels and bogged down on really thick carpeting.

This vacuum has a few parts that need periodic cleaning; not all are easy to access. This includes its brushroll, which requires you to remove six screws to take it out. It's also far from the best option for allergy sufferers, as fine allergens can easily escape from gaps around its dustbin.

If you'd rather not deal with the hassle of a power cord when cleaning high-pile carpets, the Dyson V15 Detect is worth a look. While it doesn't have the raw performance of a more powerful corded machine like the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium or Dyson Ball Animal 3, it does offer a lot of power for a corded model. The V15's stick vacuum form factor makes it much easier to grab and use for smaller messes. The automatic power adjustment feature allows the vacuum to adjust its suction power automatically when passing over areas with a large concentration of debris, and the onboard particle sensor can give you a rough idea of allergen quantities within your home. Using the vacuum in its most energy-efficient configuration yields a long max runtime of over 70 minutes, but it'll drain its battery much faster if you use the high-power 'Boost' mode.

The V15 excels when dealing with debris on medium to high-pile carpet, but its multi-surface floorhead isn't height adjustable, so it can get bogged down on thick shag-pile carpeting and drag around lighter rugs. If you don't mind exchanging some level of suction power for much-improved maneuverability on super thick or shag-pile carpets, the Miele Triflex HX1 is a solid alternative, even with its shorter max battery life of about half an hour and considerably smaller dustbin.