The 6 Best Vacuum Cleaners With Good Suction - Fall 2021 Reviews

The best vacuum with good suction that we've tested is the Miele Complete C3 Alize PowerLine. This canister vacuum is exceptionally good at cleaning bare floors, where it easily sucks up pet hair and debris like rice and cereal. Its performance stays consistent even as its dirtbag fills up, which is convenient for long cleaning sessions.

There are seven different surface-type settings to allow you to adjust its suction power depending on what you're cleaning. This includes a 'Bare Floor' setting, some for carpets and rugs, and even a low-suction setting for curtains. It's very maneuverable, and you can use it in a semi-handheld configuration, which is helpful when you're cleaning areas like staircases. The dirtbag is a good size, meaning it should last a while before you need to dispose of it, and it's a very easy vacuum to assemble and maintain.

Unfortunately, it has recurring costs since its dirtbag and filters need regular replacing. Also, while it has a fairly long power cord, its hose is on the short side, which you may find limits your reach when you use it in its semi-handheld configuration. That said, it's a very versatile option with exceptional performance on bare floors and is one of the best vacuums we've tested.

The Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away Upright is the best vacuum cleaner with good suction for carpet that we've tested. This corded upright does a fantastic job clearing debris like pet hair or large material like sand from low and high-pile carpet. It also clears a good amount of fine debris like baking soda from this surface type, though you still might need to make an extra pass to clean it all.

This vacuum features a three-level surface type adjustment feature that changes the height of its head and the speed of the brushroll. This vacuum's lack of a dirtbag and washable, reusable pre-motor and allergen-trapping HEPA filters mean that you shouldn't have to worry about recurring costs either. Its 'Lift-Away' design allows you to pick up and carry the canister while maneuvering its wand with your other hand, which helps clean hard-to-reach areas. However, its hose is short, which can be a bit of a nuisance.

Unfortunately, this is a bulky, somewhat heavy vacuum. Despite its pivoting vacuum head and more maneuverable alternative configuration, its large top-mounted dirt compartment can get in the way when trying to clean under tables and chairs. Its brushroll can also sometimes get caught on rug tassels. Still, this vacuum's strong performance on carpets also makes it one of the best upright vacuums we've tested.

The best vacuum with good suction that we've tested in the budget category is the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister. This canister model is impressively lightweight and highly maneuverable, making it easy to pick up and carry or navigate through a cluttered room. You can detach its extension wand to use it in a semi-handheld configuration to clean on top of furniture or shelves.

This vacuum offers exceptional performance on bare floors, as it clears debris like pet hair, rice, or cereal without too much difficulty. It does a great job overall when dealing with messes on both low and high-pile carpets, where it cleans both fine and large debris, like baking soda or sand, quite effectively. Its suction performance remains consistent as its dirt compartment fills up too, which is good for dealing with bigger messes.

Unfortunately, it doesn't feel especially sturdily built. Its power cord and vacuum hose are both also short, which means that you may need to swap outlets when cleaning a larger space. Still, this vacuum's mix of affordability and versatile performance help make it one of the best vacuums under $100 that we've tested.