The 5 Best Vacuums For Shag Carpet of 2024

The best vacuum for shag carpet we've tested is the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium. This variant of this vacuum comes bundled with SEBO's ET-1 powerhead, one of the most effective carpet-cleaning attachments on the market. This attachment has four levels of height adjustment and an automatic brushroll cutoff to prevent damage to the motor if something gets tangled in the mechanism. If you want a slightly wider cleaning head, you can buy the ET-2 powerhead separately. It's worth noting that this vacuum can be hard to find at most conventional storefronts, and you're better off ordering directly from the manufacturer or buying it from a specialized vacuum store.

As expected for a premium model like this, the SEBO is jam-packed with features. It has a three-stage S-Class filtration system to help trap fine allergens, onboard storage for its three included attachments, and a long operating range of about fifty feet, allowing you to clean far from most outlets. You can also quickly adjust the vacuum's suction power using the rocker switch on the handle so you don't get stuck on thick carpets. It's also remarkably well-built, easy to maintain, and incurs low ownership costs since it uses high-capacity dirtbags and long-lasting filters.

If you're looking for something lighter and a little easier to maneuver, the Miele Complete C3 is a good option; however, it incurs higher recurring costs since it uses smaller dirtbags and filters that don't last as long. Like the SEBO, you'll need to purchase a higher-end C3 variant that comes bundled with a powerhead for cleaning shag carpeting, like the C3 Kona, C3 Marin, or C3 Brilliant. You can also just purchase a powerhead separately.

The best vacuum for shag carpet in the upper mid-range price bracket is the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine. This canister vacuum doesn't feel as well-built as the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium and incurs higher ownership costs since it uses smaller-capacity dirtbags and filters with a shorter service life. That said, it's still a great fit for cleaning thick carpeting, with this variant of the C1 coming bundled with Miele's SEB 228 floorhead, which offers five levels of height adjustment to clean thicker rugs. Like all other C1 models, it has a powerful 1200W suction motor with enough power to help draw out any debris embedded deeply within carpet fibers. However, you can always turn the power down using the rotary dial at the back of the body if you're having trouble pushing it on carpets or are worried about tearing up any carpet fibers and damaging any rugs.

Unfortunately, the C1's range is short, so you might have to swap outlets if you have a larger area to clean. Unlike the SEBO, there also isn't an onboard storage compartment for its attachments, though you can attach the upholstery nozzle, dusting brush, and crevice tool to a storage clip that you can mount to the base of the vacuum's wand.

Look at the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Rewind if you're shopping on a tighter budget. It's obviously a much different proposition than pricier bagged canister models like the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium or the Miele Classic C1, with a bulkier upright form factor, considerably less robust build quality, and inferior overall performance. That said, it's a solid option if you're looking for a more affordable option that can still handle messes on long-pile shag carpeting. While you can't change the height of its brushroll, it's set high enough not to get bogged down on most types of carpeting. If you're having trouble moving it around, you can lower its suction power using a slider switch. There's also a brushroll off switch, so you can easily push the vacuum free if its floorhead gets tangled in carpet fibers. The Rewind variant of this vacuum is nearly identical to other Pet Hair Eraser Turbo models but features an automatic cord retraction system, so you won't have to wind its cord back manually, which is a nice touch.

Unfortunately, while this vacuum's bagless design keeps recurring costs to a minimum, there are still quite a few parts that need regular cleaning, and they aren't always easy to access; just removing the brushroll requires you to loosen ten screws, so it's a hassle to clear out any tangled hair. Its allergen-sealing performance isn't particularly impressive, either, with fine dust particles being able to escape from gaps around its dustbin.

Consider the BISSELL PowerForce Helix for a budget-friendly vacuum to clean shag carpeting. Compared to the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo, it has an even cheaper-feeling chassis, and it's considerably trickier to maneuver in tight spots due to the fixed-angle floorhead. However, it's also very affordable and still offers a few handy features for cleaning shag carpeting, most importantly its height-adjustable floorhead, which allows it to pass over thick rugs, though you still need to be careful when cleaning plush carpeting.

Unfortunately, and despite its mainly plastic construction, this is still a bulky vacuum and a nuisance to store when not in use. Unlike the Rewind variant of the Pet Hair Eraser, you must manually wind up the PowerForce Helix's cord after cleaning. Unsurprisingly given its very low price, particle filtration performance is also terrible, with allergens like fine dust and pet dander easily escaping from the exhaust.

If you don't want to deal with the hassle of a power cord, check out the Miele Triflex HX1. Generally speaking, cordless vacuums are rarely the best option for cleaning shag carpeting, as they tend to have smaller, less powerful motors than corded models like the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium and fairly rudimentary powerheads that can get tangled in thick carpeting. However, this high-end cordless vacuum has a fairly sophisticated surface detection system that lets it automatically change its suction power setting when cleaning carpets or even stop its brushroll if something gets tangled in the mechanism, like long carpet fibers or rug tassels. While it also has enough power to clear away debris embedded in carpet fibers, it doesn't form too tight a seal with the floor, so it won't get stuck on shag-pile rugs.

Unfortunately, its battery performance is unimpressive, as its life can vary roughly between 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your power setting and attachments, so it's best to keep a second charged pack on standby. It also has a small dustbin that'll need emptying often. If these are deal-breakers for you, the Dyson V15 Detect is a solid option with better battery life and a larger dirt compartment. However, its floorhead tends to get stuck on thick carpeting, an issue exacerbated by its higher-powered motor.