The 6 Best Multi-Surface Vacuum Cleaners - Summer 2021 Reviews

The best vacuum for multiple surfaces with a corded design that we've tested is the Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine. This corded canister vacuum does a fantastic job of clearing various kinds of debris on bare floors, ranging from pet hair to cereal. It also offers great overall performance on low and high-pile carpet, where it clears most kinds of material without too much difficulty, though it may take an extra pass to clear finer material like baking soda.

This vacuum has a seven-level suction power adjustment feature to better suit different surface types. Suction performance doesn't drastically decrease as its large dirtbag fills up either, so it shouldn't need to be replaced very often. Build quality is excellent, with a high-grade plastic body, stainless steel telescopic wand, and dense rubber wheels that enable it to roll smoothly on uneven surfaces. It's also incredibly easy to maintain.

Unfortunately, this vacuum is heavy, which can make it a bit of a challenge to carry up or down flights of stairs. Its vacuum hose is also a little on the short side, which can make it tricky to clean high-mounted shelves. Otherwise, its amazing build quality, easy-to-maintain design, and excellent overall performance on different surface types make it one of the best bagged vacuums that we've tested.

The Dyson V15 Detect is the best cordless multi-surface vacuum that we've tested. This cordless stick vacuum delivers exceptional performance on bare floors, where it clears everything from pet hair to cereal without difficulty, and also has no trouble sucking up material like sand or baking soda on both low and high-pile carpet. Using it in its 'Auto' mode allows it to increase or decrease suction on different surface types automatically.

Its lightweight design makes it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, and it can be quickly reconfigured into a handheld vacuum for spot cleaning. It comes with a wide assortment of tools too, which include a cone-shaped turbo brush, a combination hard bristle brush/upholstery tool, as well as a secondary vacuum head with a soft brushroll and a built-in laser light to help you see fine debris. Battery performance is alright overall, as it can supply roughly anywhere between 10 to over 70 minutes of runtime depending on your choice of attachments and suction power level, though this can vary slightly in the real world.

Unfortunately, its strong suction force can make it a little difficult to push around on some carpets and can cause it to drag lighter rugs around. In addition, there are quite a few parts that need to be cleaned regularly, but thankfully its bagless design and washable pre-motor and HEPA filters result in a near-total lack of recurring costs. Overall, its broad assortment of tools and versatile performance make it one of the best cordless stick vacuums that we've tested.

The best multi-surface robot vacuum that we've tested is the iRobot Roomba S9. This robot vacuum has no trouble clearing debris on many surfaces, from laminate floors to high-pile carpet. Its performance remains fairly consistent overall as its relatively spacious dust bin fills, which is good for bigger cleaning tasks.

It feels amazingly well-made, with a high-grade plastic construction that looks and feels premium. Its battery performance is superb, and you can expect roughly anywhere between 50 minutes to over two and a half hours of continuous runtime on a single charge depending on the power mode it uses. Using its companion app, you can schedule cleaning times for individual rooms, check its current battery life, and even place virtual boundary markers to block off areas that you don't want it to enter.

However, like many robot vacuums, recurring costs are high due to the number of parts that need occasional replacing. Regular maintenance can also be quite demanding, as many components need to cleaning fairly frequently. Still, if you're looking for a robot vacuum that can handle messes on many surface types, this is a good option.

The best multi-surface vacuum that we've tested in the budget category is the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister. This corded canister model offers outstanding performance on bare floors. It also does an overall good job on carpeted surfaces and doesn't lose suction as its dirt compartment fills up.

It's relatively lightweight and easy to carry around. The main head has bristles that can extend or retract, depending on what surface you're cleaning. You can also detach the wand from the head to use it in a semi-handheld configuration, which is convenient if you're cleaning areas like shelves or the interior of a car. There's a soft bristle brush included as well, which can be used on more delicate objects like curtains and lampshades.

Unfortunately, it has a short power cord, so you may need to switch outlets fairly often if you're cleaning a big room or staircase. Also, while it has a decent build quality overall, it looks a little cheap, and its dirt compartment feels like it might break if dropped. Still, considering its budget-friendly price and versatile performance, it's worth considering if you're looking for an affordable multi-surface vacuum.