The 7 Best Vacuums For High-Pile Carpet - Summer 2021 Reviews

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is the best upright vacuum for high-pile carpet that we've tested. This vacuum easily cleans pet hair and debris from high-pile carpets without losing suction as its dirt compartment fills up. It rolls on one big ball-like wheel, making it easier to maneuver in tight or cluttered areas.

It has an automatic surface type adjustment feature, which helps it deliver fantastic performance on other surface types, too. You can use it in a semi-handheld configuration with its wand and hose, helping clean areas like stairs or your car. It also comes with several tools and brushes, like a turbo brush for cleaning fabric-covered furniture and a soft bristle brush for use on delicate objects like lampshades. Thanks to its bagless design and washable filters, it incurs virtually no recurring costs.

Unfortunately, while it's not too heavy in your hand, it's a fairly heavy vacuum overall, so it's not the most portable. It also doesn't have easy-clip mechanisms for its tools, making it harder to assemble than some other Dyson models. Otherwise, it's a great choice for anyone looking for a vacuum for high-pile carpets. It's even one of the best vacuums with good suction that we've tested.

The best vacuum for high-pile carpet with a stick/handheld design that we've tested is the Dyson V15 Detect. This cordless stick vacuum delivers exceptional overall performance on both low and high-pile carpets, where it sucks up pet hair as well as fine and large debris like baking soda or sand. It features three different suction power modes and has a gate on its motorized head that you can rotate to clean on different surface types.

Its lightweight, compact design makes it easy to pick up and carry, and reconfiguring it into a handheld vacuum is a simple process. Its onboard tool storage allows you to carry around two of its included accessories as you clean. It also comes with a slim vacuum head with a laser light that makes it easier to see small debris. Battery performance is acceptable overall, with a runtime of roughly anywhere between 10 to 75 minutes depending on the power setting and usage habits, but this can vary in the real world.

Unfortunately, its high suction force can cause it to drag around some lighter rugs or even make it hard to push around on some carpets. There are a few parts that need regular cleaning, though it doesn't have many recurring costs thanks to its washable filters and bagless design. Still, this vacuum's versatility and broad selection of tools and accessories make it one of the best cordless vacuums that we've tested.

The Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine is the best canister vacuum for high-pile carpet that we've tested. This corded canister model does a great job of sucking up most kinds of debris on this kind of surface, ranging from pet hair to material like sand or baking soda, with very little drop in performance as its dirtbag fills up. Its seven-level suction adjustment feature should allow you to quickly adjust to changing surface types.

It has excellent build quality and feels quite premium. User maintenance is remarkably easy, as the few parts that need regular maintenance are readily accessible. Its allergen-trapping HEPA filter should be helpful for owners of heavily shedding pets too. Its handle is equipped with a built-in LED light to illuminate dark spots, which is helpful if you're using it in its semi-handheld configuration to clean under a couch or a bed.

Unfortunately, there are quite a few parts that need to be routinely replaced, like its dirtbag and filters, so recurring costs can add up over time. Its hose is quite short, which can make cleaning high-placed shelves a little tricky. Otherwise, its blend of performance, ease of maintenance, and premium build quality also make it one of the best multi-surface vacuums that we've tested.

The best robot vacuum for high-pile carpet that we've tested is the Neato D8. This robot vacuum easily cleans debris like pet hair or sand on high-pile carpets, though it struggles a little more when with finer material like baking soda. Its dense rubber wheels allow it to roll quite smoothly on carpets, and its LIDAR navigation system lets it develop fairly efficient cleaning routes.

Its compact design makes it easier to store and allows it to maneuver under tables and couches. You can use its companion app to change its suction power mode, see a map of its coverage area, check cleaning session history, or set up boundary lines to prevent it from entering certain areas. The vacuum feels impressively well-built and isn't too demanding in terms of regular maintenance. Depending on your usage habits and choice of power mode, it supplies roughly anywhere between 40 to over 70 minutes of runtime, which should be enough to clean most spaces.

That said, its battery has roughly half the capacity of the older Neato Botvac D7, so the D8 doesn't last as long on a single charge. It has quite a few parts that need regular replacing, so recurring costs are high, but this is normal for robot vacuums. Also, it can struggle to negotiate around low-lying obstructions like electrical cords and rug tassels. Otherwise, if you're looking for a hands-free way of keeping your carpets clean, this is a good option.

The best vacuum for high-pile carpet that we've tested in the budget category is the BISSELL PowerForce Helix. This affordable upright model delivers a great performance on high-pile carpets, where it easily picks up pet hair and most debris. It has five different surface-type settings, including one for high-pile carpets, so you can adapt as you clean your home.

Despite its bulkier size, it feels light in your hand. It has a good-sized dirt compartment, and it doesn't lose suction as it fills up, so it's suitable for longer cleaning sessions. You can change it to a semi-handheld configuration, which helps clean your car or stairs. There are also some accessories included, like an extension wand for hard-to-reach spots and a soft-bristle brush for delicate objects like curtains. Only the pre-motor filter needs regular replacing, so recurring costs are low.

However, it has a short hose that some may find limiting when using it in its semi-handheld configuration. Also, it lacks a rotating head and isn't very maneuverable, so it may not be ideal if you need to vacuum under low furniture like a couch or coffee table. That said, if you want an affordable option that can tackle high-pile carpets, it's a solid choice.