While the runtime of cordless vacuums has greatly improved in recent years, corded vacuums are still the best option for thoroughly cleaning large spaces since you don't have to worry about the battery running out midway through your cleaning session. The best corded vacuum cleaners should offer strong performance on a variety of surface types and thoughtful quality-of-life features that make vacuuming a little bit easier, like a variety of attachments for different surfaces or a high-quality exhaust filter to trap fine particles.
We've tested over 105 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best corded vacuums to buy. We made our choices based on their overall performance on different surface types, as well as their feature set, design, and price. For more options, look at our lists of the best vacuums, the best upright vacuums, the best canister vacuums, and the best vacuums with good suction.
Quick Look
We've independently bought and tested over 105 vacuums with no cherry-picked manufacturer samples. We run each vacuum through a gauntlet of tests whose results are validated by multiple teams to ensure you get an accurate picture of how each model will perform and can easily compare them. We keep the products in our lab so we can periodically go back and see how they stack up to the newest competition.
Want to learn more about our testing and review pipeline? Check out our How We Test Vacuums article for insight into our lab and writing processes.
-
Best Corded Vacuum
Bare Floor8.1Low-Pile Carpet7.7High-Pile Carpet7.4Pets7.9Stairs8.3Cars7.8Workshop5.8Vacuum TypeCanisterBaglessNoSee all our test resultsAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesThe best corded vacuum we've tested is the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium. This high-end canister vacuum, usually only available from specialized vacuum retailers or SEBO's website, has a powerful 1250W motor, enabling it to easily suck up heavy debris or lift away material embedded within carpet fibers or deeper cracks. This Premium model comes bundled with a pair of floorheads: one is a parquet tool for hard floors, and the other is a powerhead with four levels of height adjustment, allowing it to adapt to a variety of carpet pile lengths on the fly. This vacuum also feels incredibly well-built and has an easy-to-maintain design, which makes swapping out a dirt bag and installing new filters a breeze. Its S-Class filtration system also does an excellent job of trapping fine particles, which is particularly helpful if you suffer from severe allergies.
While this vacuum's four-caster-mounted wheels allow the canister to be pulled in virtually any direction and make it relatively maneuverable, there's still no getting around the fact that this is a heavy, bulky appliance that you'll need to muscle around a bit. Its stiff hose can also make it a bit of a hassle to use in really tight spots. If that's an issue, the Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog is a good alternative, though it's worth noting that its parquet tool struggles more with bulky debris than the SEBO's does.
-
Best Upper Mid-Range Corded Vacuum
Bare Floor7.6Low-Pile Carpet6.6High-Pile Carpet6.0Pets6.8Stairs7.5Cars7.9Workshop5.3Vacuum TypeCanisterBaglessNoSee all our test resultsAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoThe Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine is worth a look if you're shopping at an upper mid-range price point. Miele's Classic C1 vacuums don't feel as well-built as any variant of the higher-end SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium. C1 models also have shorter power cables and lack an onboard tool storage compartment. However, all C1 models utilize a powerful 1200W motor, which results in strong airflow and suction performance. Plus, they're lighter and easier to maneuver. The high-end Cat & Dog variant of the C1 also comes bundled with Miele's SEB 228 powerhead, which offers five levels of height adjustment for deep cleaning different lengths of carpet, along with a parquet tool and a mini turbo brush for cleaning upholstered furniture.
This model uses Miele's Active AirClean filter, which incorporates activated charcoal to trap odors as you clean. However, you can always swap it out with Miele's top-of-the-line HEPA AirClean filter if you have serious allergies. Unfortunately, the C1 uses 2.5L dirtbags that are a bit on the small side for a bagged vacuum, so you'll need to replace them frequently if you vacuum regularly or have large quantities of debris to pick up.
-
Best Mid-Range Corded Vacuum
Bare Floor7.6Low-Pile Carpet7.0High-Pile Carpet6.9Pets7.4Stairs5.7Cars5.6Workshop4.8Vacuum TypeUprightBaglessNoSee all our test resultsAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesIf you prefer the all-in-one design of an upright vacuum, the SEBO FELIX is a good option. This bagged upright vacuum comes with the same ET-1 powerhead as the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium, not to mention a parquet twister floorhead for hard floors. That said, it does use a less powerful 1000W motor than its pricier stablemate or the Miele Classic C1, which means you'll need to work a little harder in clearing more stubborn messes. On the upside, its upright form factor makes it a little easier to stow away when not in use compared to those canister models. The vacuum's unique pivoting floorhead can rotate through 180 degrees or lie almost completely flat, making it easier to clean under tables and chairs. You can also detach its floorhead and clean tight spots with its wand, though it's worth noting the vacuum is somewhat cumbersome to use in this configuration. If you're having trouble finding this model, it can also be purchased directly from SEBO's website.
This vacuum incurs relatively low recurring costs for a bagged model, due to its use of high-capacity dustbags and long-lasting filters. Still, if you'd prefer to avoid replacing filters and dirtbags completely, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is worth a look. Build quality lags far behind the SEBO, and it's more of a hassle to clean out, but its bagless design keeps normal operating costs low. It's also a strong performer in terms of debris pickup.
-
Best Lower Mid-Range Corded Vacuum
Bare Floor7.3Low-Pile Carpet7.1High-Pile Carpet7.5Pets7.1Stairs6.0Cars6.4Workshop5.1Vacuum TypeUprightBaglessNoSee all our test resultsAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesThe best lower mid-range corded vacuum we've tested is the Kenmore Intuition Bagged. This bagged upright doesn't feel as well-built as the SEBO FELIX, with more fragile-feeling internal components, and its upright configuration isn't as easy to maneuver in tight spaces as the Miele's canister design. That said, it offers a pretty decent feature set at a relatively affordable price. It uses HEPA-rated bags and has a HEPA exhaust filter, resulting in very good air filtration performance. You can also release its dirtbag from the compartment with the press of a single latch, so you don't need to dirty your hands or worry about generating a plume of dust when taking it out. Its 'Lift-Up' design lets you pick up and carry its canister body separately from the floorhead, which makes it easier to clean hard-to-reach areas.
The Kenmore's deep-cleaning performance falls a little short of the pricier SEBO, but it's still quite effective on bare floors and carpets. Unfortunately, there's no floorhead height adjustment, so the vacuum can sometimes get stuck on thick shag-pile rugs. Thankfully, you can turn off the brushroll to prevent it from scattering around lightweight debris on hard floors.
-
Best Budget Corded Vacuum
Bare Floor7.3Low-Pile Carpet7.1High-Pile Carpet7.1Pets6.4Stairs7.7Cars7.9Workshop5.1Vacuum TypeCanisterBaglessNoSee all our test resultsAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoIf you want a budget-friendly corded vacuum, consider the Eureka Mighty Mite. Unlike the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, with its powered floorhead, the Eureka comes bundled with only a basic straight-suction floorhead, so it'll struggle with thicker high-pile or shag-pile carpeting. Thankfully, this model does a decent job of cleaning pet hair and solid debris from bare floors, especially for a model at this price point. It remains quite effective on low- and medium-pile carpets with the floorhead's bristles retracted. Its lightweight canister body also makes it easier to maneuver than the Kenmore, even in tight spots.
As this is a budget model, there are a few compromises to be made. Its build quality is the least impressive of our picks, even in comparison to a mid-range model like the SEBO FELIX. It also lacks many convenience features, like a telescopic wand, a tool storage clip, and a self-winding power cord. Lastly, some newer versions of the Mighty Mite lack the necessary mounting clips for attaching an aftermarket HEPA filter, which is a shame if you were looking for a budget-friendly way to upgrade the vacuum's filtration performance.
If you'd rather not deal with the hassle of swapping out dirtbags, look at the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister; it performs similarly to the Mighty Mite, but it has an even shorter range and only comes with a soft-bristle dusting brush. With no crevice tool for tackling messes in tight corners or a dedicated upholstery tool for easier cleaning of fabric-lined furniture, it's not quite as versatile as the Mighty Mite.
-
Best Corded Stick Vacuum
Bare Floor7.3Low-Pile Carpet6.8High-Pile Carpet6.3Pets7.3Stairs7.8Cars7.2Workshop4.6Vacuum TypeStick/HandheldBaglessYesSee all our test resultsAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesThe best corded stick vacuum we've tested is the Shark Stratos UltraLight. Compared to a high-end canister vacuum like the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium, its performance is less impressive, and it doesn't feel nearly as well-built. However, it's a much better fit for quick cleaning sessions, thanks to its smaller and lighter form factor. Its headlining feature is a replaceable cartridge in its floorhead that emits a pleasant detergent-like scent as you clean. It also utilizes the latest iteration of Shark's DuoClean PowerFins floorhead brushroll design, which features angled fins on its main roller to prevent hair from becoming tangled in the mechanism.
However, the design isn't perfect: you can't remove the primary brushroll, making it difficult to clear away any hair that gets stuck. Another drawback is that, unlike the similarly named Shark Stratos Cordless, it doesn't have a MultiFlex folding wand, so cleaning under most tables and chairs is much harder.
Notable Mentions
-
Shark Stratos Upright AZ3002:
The Shark Stratos Upright is Shark's current flagship bagless vacuum. It delivers superb performance on bare floors and does quite well on carpets, though it has a less sophisticated floorhead than the SEBO FELIX.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 12, 2025:
We checked to make sure all our picks are in stock and made small edits for clarity.
May 09, 2025:
We removed the unavailable Airsign HEPA Vacuum, Shark Performance Plus Lift-Away and Shark Navigator Lift-Away Pet from the Notable Mentions. We also removed the unavailable alternate Shark APEX UpLight from the text.
Feb 12, 2025:
Pick restructuring to better align with other rec articles and reflect current product availability. Replaced the Miele Complete C3 Brilliant with the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium as the 'Best Corded Vacuum' pick. Replaced the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction with the SEBO FELIX as the 'Best Mid-Range Corded Vacuum.' Removed the 'Best Corded Upright Vacuum' category.
Nov 12, 2024:
We've verified that our recommendations are available and represent the best choices. We've also made edits for clarity.
Aug 13, 2024: We've updated this article for clarity and verified that our recommendations are available and represent the best choices.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best vacuums with a power cord to buy. We don't just base our results on overall performance but also on factors like availability, price, and reader feedback.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our corded vacuum reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While there's no single vacuum cleaner that's perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.