The 5 Best Vacuums For Stairs - Summer 2024 Reviews

The best vacuum for stairs we've tested is the Dyson V12 Detect Slim. At under 5.5 pounds, this cordless stick vacuum is lighter than most full-size stick vacuums, making it a cinch to carry up and down long flights of stairs, and you can quickly convert it into a handheld configuration to better clean tight spots. It's well-suited to cleaning various floor types since it includes a soft roller for better debris pickup on bare surfaces like vinyl or hardwood. It also comes with a multi-surface floorhead you can use on carpeted stairs. Like the pricier, heavier Dyson V15 Detect, its soft roller has a built-in laser light to help you see fine debris on hard surfaces, and the vacuum can automatically increase its suction power on carpets or when it detects a heavy concentration of debris.

However, the flip side of this vacuum's compact design is its tiny dustbin, which needs regular emptying. If that's a concern, the Samsung Jet 90 Complete is a great comparably priced alternative that delivers broadly similar debris pickup performance and has a dustbin with roughly three times the overall debris capacity. Unfortunately, it's heavier than the Dyson and lacks an automatic power adjustment system.

If you want to spend less on a vacuum for cleaning stairs, the LG CordZero A9 Kompressor (A925KSM) is a fantastic option. At just under six pounds, it's heavier than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, but it's still light enough to carry up and down long flights of stairs without causing much fatigue. This A925KSM variant comes with a handy assortment of tools, including a 2-in-1 combination tool and a crevice tool for tackling messes in tight corners on stair steps. It also comes with a second battery, which is great for longer cleaning sessions. This variant also uses LG's unique 'Kompressor' feature, which allows you to press down on debris inside the dirt compartment using an external lever to make room for more debris as you clean.

Unfortunately, unlike the V12, it doesn't have an automatic power adjustment system that would allow it to automatically adapt to different floor types or an onboard particle sensor. There's also no onboard wand clip for storing its tools, so you'll need to carry around whatever tools you need to clean your stairs by hand.

If you're on a budget, the Samsung Jet 60 is among the best we've tested. While it has a shorter battery life than the LG CordZero A9 and doesn't perform quite as well on bare surfaces, like hardwood, it still has plenty to offer. For one, at just a little over five pounds, it's even lighter than the LG, so you won't have much difficulty carrying it up and down long flights of stairs. Its top-mounted dustbin has a larger capacity than the LG's dirt compartment.

However, unlike the LG, this vacuum doesn't have a telescopic wand, so you might have trouble finding a height that works for you. If you want a similarly priced vacuum with a telescopic wand and a longer battery life, the Tineco PURE ONE X is a solid choice that can run for about 70 minutes. However, unlike the Samsung model, its battery isn't removable or replaceable, and this vacuum feels slightly more cheaply built.

If you don't need a full-size cordless vacuum like the Samsung Jet 60, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is the top handheld vacuum for stairs we've tested. It's very lightweight, making it a cinch to carry up and down stairs, and is small enough to be stowed away under a shelf or in a closet when not in use. However, it's only meant for short clean-ups, as its battery lasts only a bit over 10 minutes, which is on the shorter end of the scale, even for a handheld model. It comes with a crevice tool to help better clean debris stuck in cracks and a miniature motorized turbo brush, though this tool has difficulty clearing away shorter strands of pet hair.

Unfortunately, this vacuum also does a terrible job of sealing fine particles, so it isn't a good option if you suffer from allergies. Consider the Shark WANDVAC if that's a priority, although the WANDVAC also has a short battery life. Its dirt compartment is much smaller than the UltraCyclone's, so you'll empty it often.

If you clean larger areas besides your stairs and want a corded canister model, the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium is among the best vacuum cleaners for stairs we've tested. You can get it directly from the manufacturer's website or specialized vacuum retailers. It has a long operating range of roughly 50 feet, allowing you to clean long staircases without swapping power outlets and easily clean hard-to-reach spots. Plus, since it's a corded model, you won't have to worry about running out of charge while cleaning.

Its build quality is fantastic. The canister body is dense plastic, with a cloth bumper running along the outside to prevent your walls from getting scuffed up. At the back of the canister body, there's an onboard storage compartment for its three included tools, so you can grab or stow them away without interrupting your cleaning session. However, they're inaccessible when the vacuum canister is upright.

Performance on flat surfaces like hardwood or linoleum is exceptional, and the vacuum is quite effective in dealing with debris on carpeted stairs, even with a fairly basic straight-suction floorhead. You can easily change its suction power via a handle-mounted rocker switch, allowing you to adapt to different surfaces. The main downside is that it's heavy and bulky. Want something smaller, lighter, and cheaper? The Miele Classic C1 is worth a look, even if it has a much shorter power cord.