If you have thick rugs or fluffy, high-pile carpet in your home, you probably know how difficult it can be to get debris out. Some vacuums don't provide enough suction to pick up small debris. Others may have heads that are too tall, so they end up gliding over taller debris. An ideal vacuum for cleaning high-pile carpet should have a brushroll and a turbo brush for agitating carpet fiber and dislodging debris. It should also have a surface-type adjustment feature that lets it adapt to better suit your carpet.
We've tested over 105 vacuums, and below are our recommendations for the best vacuums for thick carpets you can buy. These picks were selected based on their performance on both low and high-pile carpet and their design, feature set, and price. For more buying recommendations, look at our lists of the best vacuums for carpets, the best cordless vacuums, and the best vacuums for shag carpets.
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.
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Best Vacuum For High-Pile Carpet
High-Pile Carpet7.4Vacuum TypeCanisterBuild Quality8.5User Maintenance9.5Recurring Cost6.0Portability7.0Cord Length39.99 ft (12.2 m)See all our test resultsSuction7.8The 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.
This vacuum can be tricky to find from major retailers; thankfully, you can always get it directly from SEBO's website. 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. While this model has been discontinued, you can still find some variant like like the C3 Marin. However, it'll have a shorter power cord and higher ownership costs due to its use of smaller dirtbags and less long-lasting filters.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Vacuum For High-Pile Carpet
High-Pile Carpet6.0Vacuum TypeCanisterBuild Quality7.5User Maintenance9.5Recurring Cost5.5Portability7.7Cord Length17.88 ft (5.5 m)See all our test resultsSuction8.3Consider the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine if you want something slightly cheaper. The C1 incurs higher recurring costs than the SEBO, as it uses smaller dirtbags that need to be disposed of more frequently and filters that don't last as long. If you don't mind those higher ownership costs, it's a good 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, allowing you to quickly raise the roller height when cleaning thicker carpeting. Additionally, it includes a lightweight parquet brush for cleaning hard floors. This model also comes with a miniature turbo brush for cleaning pet hair from upholstered surfaces. Additionally, this model variant features 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.
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Best Mid-Range Vacuum For High-Pile Carpet
High-Pile Carpet7.7Vacuum TypeUprightBuild Quality6.5User Maintenance7.5Recurring Cost10Portability6.7Cord Length35.10 ft (10.7 m)See all our test resultsSuction8.2If you're looking for a mid-range vacuum that can handle debris on high-pile carpet, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete 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.
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Best Lower Mid-Range Vacuum For High-Pile Carpet
High-Pile Carpet7.5Vacuum TypeUprightBuild Quality6.5User Maintenance6.5Recurring Cost6.5Portability6.8Cord Length30.02 ft (9.2 m)See all our test resultsSuction4.7Check 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 Extra/Complete 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. 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. Despite 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.
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Best Budget Vacuum For High-Pile Carpet
High-Pile Carpet6.2Vacuum TypeUprightBuild Quality6.0User Maintenance5.5Recurring Cost7.5Portability8.0Cord Length22.97 ft (7.0 m)See all our test resultsSuction3.3If you're on a budget, the best vacuum for thick carpets we've tested is the BISSELL PowerForce Helix. This basic upright has a plastic chassis that feels cheap, even compared to mid-range models like the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, and its fixed-angle floorhead makes it more challenging 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, which 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 require periodic cleaning; not all are easily accessible. This includes its brushroll, which requires you to remove six screws to disassemble it. It's also far from the best option for allergy sufferers, as fine allergens can easily escape from gaps around its dustbin.
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Best Cordless Vacuum For High-Pile Carpet
High-Pile Carpet8.0Vacuum TypeStick/HandheldBuild Quality6.5User Maintenance7.0Recurring Cost10Portability8.0Cord LengthN/ASee all our test resultsSuction7.7If 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 Extra/Complete, it does offer a lot of power for a cordless model. The V15's stick vacuum form factor makes it much easier to grab and use for smaller messes. The automatic power adjustment feature enables the vacuum to adjust its suction power automatically when passing over areas with a high concentration of debris. Additionally, the onboard particle sensor provides a rough estimate 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.
Notable Mentions
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Dyson Gen5detect:
The Dyson Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute is a flagship Dyson stick vacuum. It offers minor quality-of-life differences over the Dyson V15 Detect, including a more ergonomic control scheme. Still, overall performance is all but identical, and it does little to justify the substantial price hike over its predecessor.
See our review - Dyson Gen5outsize: The Dyson Gen5outsize/Gen5outsize Absolute is mechanically related to the Gen5detect/Gen5detect Absolute but features an enlarged dustbin and wider floorhead. It delivers a similarly fantastic performance, but it does little to justify the substantial price hike over the Dyson V15 Detect, and its larger form factor makes it more of a hassle to maneuver in tight spots. See our review
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Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra:
The Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra is a high-end cordless stick vacuum with an incredibly powerful 400 AW motor that delivers good debris-pickup performance on high-pile carpets. It comes with a combo charging rack/self-emptying base station. However, its bulkier design makes it less maneuverable than the Dyson V15 Detect, and its extreme power at maximum settings can drain the battery in mere minutes.
See our review -
Miele Duoflex HX1:
The Miele Duoflex HX1 is a high-end cordless stick vacuum that feels better built than the Dyson V15 Detect, is cheaper, and still has a surface-sensitive automatic power adjustment system. However, it can't quite keep up with the Dyson in terms of performance, has a much smaller dustbin, and shares the common downside of getting stuck on shag-pile carpeting.
See our review -
Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV:
The Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV performs well on high-pile carpet, has a decent assortment of tools, and has nice features, including a 'lift away' feature that allows you to detach the dirt compartment and motor unit from the wand to use it as a handheld. But it can't match the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete's features, tool assortment, or performance.
See our review -
Eureka Mighty Mite:
The budget Eureka Mighty Mite performs well on high-pile carpet because it's surprisingly powerful. However, it's equipped with a straight-suction floorhead, and it's not possible to add a floorhead with a powered agitator. Meanwhile, the BISSELL PowerForce Helix has a powered floorhead with five-position height adjustment.
See our review
Recent Updates
Nov 19, 2025:
We replaced the discontinued Notable Mention Samsung Bespoke Jet with the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra. We also verified that our recommendations remain available and continue to represent the best choices.
Jul 03, 2025:
We made a few minor text changes. We checked all recommendations and Notable Mentions for accuracy and availability.
Mar 12, 2025:
We replaced the Notable Mention BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Plus with the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV, which performs much better overall. Due to current availability, we removed the Hoover WindTunnel Tempo Bagged from the Notable Mentions and replaced it with the Eureka Mighty Mite. We updated the text for clarity.
Dec 04, 2024:
We've replaced the Miele Triflex HX2 with the Miele Duoflex HX1 in the Notable Mentions, as it performs better, is better built, and is cheaper. Otherwise, we've made small edits for clarity.
Aug 27, 2024: Added the Kenmore Intuition Bagged as the new 'Best Lower Mid-Range Vacuum For High-Pile Carpet' category pick. Removed less relevant Notable Mentions picks.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are what we think are currently the best vacuum cleaners for high-pile carpet for most people. We factor in the price, feedback from our visitors, and availability.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our vacuum reviews ranked by their performance on high-pile carpet. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is 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.