The 6 Best Multi-Surface Vacuum Cleaners - Fall 2020
Reviews

The best vacuum for multiple surfaces with a corded design that we've tested is the Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine. This canister vacuum delivers outstanding performance on bare floors and does a great job on both low and high-pile carpet. It clears everything from pet hair to coarse debris, such as sand and cereal, without issue. It even manages to clear finer material like baking soda spills on carpeted surfaces with relatively few passes.

This appliance is amazingly well-built, with a high-grade plastic body, aluminum wand, and dense rubber-like wheels that roll very smoothly on most kinds of surfaces. Thanks to a bright LED light in the head, you shouldn't have too much trouble seeing what you're cleaning, even in darker areas. Another helpful addition is the seven-level power control feature for adjusting suction power to the surface you're cleaning. It's also exceptionally easy to maintain, with the few parts that need to be serviced or replaced over time being quite simple to access. The included HEPA filter traps allergens as you clean, which is great for owners of heavily-shedding pets.

However, since it has a dirtbag and uses disposable filters, recurring costs can add up over time. Its power cord is also a little short, which might require you to switch outlets when cleaning an especially large room or tall staircase. Small issues aside, its remarkably versatile cleaning performance makes it not only one of the best multi-surface vacuums we've tested, but also places it among the best vacuums we've tested.

The best cordless multi-surface vacuum that we've tested is the Shark Rocket Pet Pro. While this cordless stick/handheld model performs best on bare floors, it still does a great job on low-pile carpet and can clear quite a bit of debris on shaggier surfaces. To adapt to different surface types, it has two different floor settings to change the rotational speed of the brushroll as well as a 'MAX' mode that can be used to increase suction power.

This vacuum has a lightweight, maneuverable design that can be easily reconfigured into a handheld to clean around furniture or on top of shelves. Thanks to its included HEPA filter, you won't have to worry too much about the spread of allergens as you clean. It's also decently well-built and employs a bagless design with reusable filters, so recurring costs are practically nonexistent. The head has a self-cleaning brushroll that detangles hair wraps by itself, which can make maintenance a little easier.

That said, there are still quite a few parts that need to be cleaned or serviced regularly, though accessing them is fairly simple for the most part. While it's possible to drain the vacuum's body in a little over 10 minutes if you run it continuously in 'MAX' mode, you can extend its battery life to over 40 minutes if you're careful. With its excellent maneuverability and overall versatility, this is among the best vacuums for multiple surfaces that we've tested.

The best multi-surface robot vacuum we've tested is the Neato Botvac D7. It can maneuver on shaggy carpeted surfaces without getting stuck, which is quite rare among robot vacuums, though it performs best on bare floors. It has superb battery life since it can provide just under 100 minutes of continuous runtime, even when used continuously on its highest power setting.

You can change its suction mode on-the-fly through its companion app, which allows you to either extend its battery life or speed up its brushroll to deal with particularly stubborn messes. The app also features options for setting virtual boundary lines, remote piloting, and checking cleaning history as well as cleaning area coverage. The vacuum itself is very well-built and decently easy to maintain, with relatively few parts that need regular servicing.

However, it has quite a few recurring costs that can add up over time in the form of its disposable filter, brushroll, and battery. It can also get stuck when trying to maneuver around low-lying obstructions like electrical cords and rugs, though it will notify you when situations like this occur through its app. Regardless, with its sturdy build quality and rich feature set, this is not only one of the best multi-surface vacuums we've tested but is also among the best robot vacuums for carpet.

The best budget multi-surface vacuum is the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister. This corded canister model delivers remarkable cleaning versatility given its budget-friendly price. While it performs best on bare floors, it does a great job of clearing everything from pet hair to sand on low-pile carpet, though it may struggle a little more on shaggier surfaces. Thankfully, its performance remains consistent as its decently large dirt compartment fills, which is great if you're cleaning a big mess.

This vacuum has a relatively lightweight plastic construction that can be carried from room to room quite easily. It employs a bagless design with reusable filters, so recurring costs shouldn't be a concern. It's also simple to maintain, with the few parts that need to be serviced regularly being quite accessible. If you need to deal with a mess on tables or furniture, you can detach its head and fit a soft bristle brush in its place.

Unfortunately, its power cord is quite short, meaning that you'll probably need to switch outlets frequently if you're cleaning a particularly large or cluttered room. Its dirt compartment also feels somewhat flimsy and could break if dropped. Still, considering its mix of all-around versatility and budget-friendly pricing, it's one of the best vacuums for multiple surfaces that we've tested.