The 7 Best Corded Vacuums - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best corded vacuum we've tested is the Miele Complete C3. The C3 Brilliant variant sits at the top of the C3 lineup and is correspondingly loaded with convenience features, with a handle-mounted power adjustment switch, an automatic motor shutoff when docking the floorhead against the body, and plenty of attachments. It comes with an extra wide parquet tool, a universal pure suction floorhead with retractable bristles that are intended for use on hard floors and low-pile carpet, and Miele's SEB 236 height-adjustable powerhead, ensuring strong performance on a wide variety of surfaces. This model also features a dedicated HEPA post-motor filter to complement its allergen-sealed construction, making it a great fit if you suffer from allergies.

It has an onboard storage compartment for its three included attachments, makes little noise while running, and has a set of smoothly rolling caster-mounted wheels that make it easy to pull around in almost any direction. It also feels amazingly well-built and is very easy to maintain. Of course, it's worth noting that this is a very expensive vacuum. The Kona variant of the C3 is a great alternative if you're willing to forego some of the Brilliant's convenience features like the handle-mounted power-adjustment controls, as it'll deliver almost-identical performance on most surfaces.

Unfortunately, all C3s incur somewhat high recurring costs. If you're looking for a similarly high-performing vacuum that incurs lower ownership costs, the SEBO Airbelt D4 is worth a look, as it uses bigger dirtbags and much longer-lasting filters. However, it's bulkier and heavier than the Miele, making maneuvering in tight spots more of a hassle.

The best corded stick vacuum we've tested is the Shark Stratos UltraLight. Compared to a high-end canister vacuum like the Miele Complete C3, it's lacking in terms of debris pickup performance and doesn't feel nearly as robust in terms of build quality. However, it's significantly easier to grab and use as a result of its smaller, lighter form factor. This vacuum sits at the top of Shark's current lineup of corded stick vacuums and is correspondingly loaded with a variety of convenience features. A replaceable cartridge in its floorhead emits a fairly pleasant detergent-like scent as you clean. Its floorhead uses the newest iteration of the brand's PowerFins brushroll design, which uses angled fins on its main roller to prevent hair from getting tangled in the mechanism. However, you can't remove this primary brushroll, making it hard to clear away any hair that does get stuck.

Unfortunately, unlike the similarly-named Shark Stratos Cordless, it doesn't have a MultiFlex folding wand, which makes it easier to clean under most tables and chairs. If you're willing to forego the Stratos' odor-neutralization feature and don't mind a bulkier design in exchange for greater debris capacity, the Shark APEX UpLight is a good substitute.

If you're shopping at an upper mid-range price point, the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine is worth a look. This C1 variant, like all C1 variants, has inferior build quality compared to the Miele Complete C3 along with a shorter power cable. There's also no onboard tool storage compartment. That said, this vacuum still has plenty to offer. It uses the same 1200 W motor as the C3, resulting in fantastic suction performance. This variant also comes bundled with a 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 C1 variant is also bundled with an Active AirClean filter, which uses activated charcoal to trap odors as you clean, though you can always swap it out with Miele's top-of-the-line HEPA AirClean filter if you have allergies. Unfortunately, like the C3, the C1 uses 2.5L dirtbags that are a little small for a bagged vacuum, so you'll need to swap in a new one if you vacuum a lot.

Searching for a corded vacuum at a slightly more affordable price point? The Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction is worth looking at. Outwardly speaking, this entry-level C1 model looks very similar to the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine, but there's one key difference between the two model variants aside from price. The Cat & Dog features a power socket at the base of its hose, whereas the Pure Suction doesn't, meaning that Pure Suction is incompatible with powered floorheads. This isn't an issue if you have a home with mostly bare floors and low-pile rugs, but you'll want to go for the more expensive model if you need to clean high-pile or shag carpeting regularly. Otherwise, the C1 Pure Suction delivers great overall performance with its included straight suction floorhead, which features bristles that can be retracted on rugs to improve surface contact.

This model comes with an AirClean filter which, despite being the most basic of post-motor filters for Miele's canister lineup, is still highly effective for capturing allergens. However, you can always swap in a HEPA AirClean or Active AirClean filter if you want even better air filtration performance. For a similarly-priced canister vacuum that uses larger dirtbags and has a longer power cord, the NaceCare HVR 200 Henry is worth a look, though it lags in terms of deep cleaning performance due to its less powerful suction motor.

The best lower mid-range corded vacuum we've tested is the Kenmore Intuition Bagged. This bagged upright isn't as well-built as the Miele Classic C1, and its upright configuration isn't as maneuverable as the Miele's canister design. That said, it does offer a compelling set of features at a relatively affordable price. It uses HEPA-rated bags and has a dedicated HEPA filter, resulting in good air filtration performance. You can also release its dirtbag from the compartment with the press of a latch, so you don't need to worry about creating a plume of dust. Its 'Lift-Up' design lets you pick up and carry its canister body separately from the floorhead so you can clean hard-to-reach areas a little more easily.

The Kenmore's deep-cleaning performance does fall a little short of the pricier Miele and pricier uprights like the Dyson Ball Animal 3, but it's still quite effective on a range of surfaces. Unfortunately, there's no floorhead height adjustment, so the vacuum can sometimes get stuck on shag-pile rugs. Thankfully, you can turn off the brushroll.

If you want a budget-friendly corded vacuum, consider the Eureka Mighty Mite. Compared to a pricier canister vacuum, even a mid-range model like the Pure Suction variant of the Miele Classic C1, it isn't nearly as well-built and lacks many of the same convenience features, like a telescopic wand, a tool storage clip, and a self-winding power cord. Despite those downsides, the Eureka is highly effective at cleaning pet hair and solid debris from bare floors, especially for a model at this price point. Unlike the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, with its powered floorhead, the Eureka comes bundled with only a basic straight-suction floorhead. Thankfully, it's still quite effective on low and medium-pile carpets with its bristles retracted. Meanwhile, its lightweight canister body makes it easier to maneuver, even in tight spots.

If you'd rather not deal with the hassle of swapping out a dirtbag, you could also look at the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister, which performs similarly to the Mighty Mite. Unfortunately, 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 and no dedicated upholstery tool for easier cleaning of fabric-lined furniture.

If you prefer the all-in-one design of an upright vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 is worth a look. This premium upright vacuum doesn't feel as well-built as the Miele Complete C3 and isn't as easy to maintain. However, it does have a few advantages. Its floorhead features three levels of surface adjustment, so you can quickly adapt to several surface types on the fly. It also has a set of built-in plastic vanes that are highly effective in trapping pet hair so that it doesn't jam the mechanism. Combined with the vacuum's powerful suction motor, it has no trouble clearing messes on a variety of surface types.

This vacuum's power cord is quite long, so you won't have to swap outlets very often, but unlike the pricier Miele, you'll need to wind it up manually, which can be tedious. Build quality is also unimpressive for a vacuum at this price point, with a mainly plastic construction that creaks and flexes while in use.