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

The best vacuum for multiple surfaces with a corded design that we've tested is the Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine. This canister model 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 Shark Rocket Pet Pro is the best cordless multi-surface vacuum that we've tested. This versatile stick/handheld model delivers outstanding performance on bare floors, as it easily clears pet hair as well as debris like sand and cereal. It also does a very good job on low and high-pile carpets, where it picks up pet hair with no issue.

It can be reconfigured into a handheld mode, which is useful if you're clearing awkward areas like stairs or your car. It has excellent maneuverability, with a rotating head to help it move around obstacles and a flexible wand that makes it easier to clean under low furniture. You can easily switch between two different surface type settings, and it comes with a few different tools and brushes to help with different cleaning jobs, like a hard bristle brush for scrubbing away stubborn messes.

Unfortunately, its battery only provides roughly 10 minutes of continuous runtime if you use the most powerful suction mode, but that can be extended to just over 40 minutes in its handheld mode. It also has a fairly small dirt compartment, so you may need to empty it often if you're cleaning a big space. That said, its versatile performance makes it a great choice if you have both carpets and bare floors in your home. It's also one of the best cordless vacuums 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 a variety of 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 quite high due to the number of parts that need to be replaced periodically. Regular maintenance can also be quite demanding, as many components need to be cleaned fairly frequently. Still, if you're looking for a robot vacuum that can handle messes on a variety of 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 the vacuum 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.