Having the right vacuum for your home's specific needs is invaluable. With so many vacuum options, shopping for a new one can feel overwhelming; thankfully, the best vacuums share some common traits. You'll want to look for models with sufficient cord length or battery life, so you can clean without constantly searching for an outlet or having to recharge. Effective air filtration is also crucial, as no one wants to blow dust right back into the air while cleaning. As far as air quality goes, you just can't beat a bagged vacuum; read more in our article about air quality testing on bagged and bagless vacuums. Finally, finding a model with the right accessories to clean your furniture or deal with the never-ending flow of pet hair is key.
We've tested over 105 vacuums, and below are our recommendations for the best vacuums you can buy. If you're looking for other options, check out our recommendations for the best lightweight vacuums, the best cordless vacuums, and the best bagged vacuums.
-
Best Vacuum
HouseSmall ApartmentAir QualityBare Floor PickupCarpet PickupPet Hair PickupBuild QualityRecurring CostSee all our test resultsVacuum TypeCanisterThe SEBO Airbelt D4 is the best vacuum we've tested for most people. Right off the bat, know that this high-end canister vacuum is only available from specialized vacuum retailers or directly from SEBO's website. Don't let that deter you; overall, it offers performance and accessories that suit almost any living situation. The Premium trim comes with a parquet floorhead that excels on bare floors, and the ET-1 powerhead easily clears everything from sand to pet hair on low and high-pile carpets alike. Another nice touch is its use of high-capacity dirt bags and long-lasting filters, which keep ownership costs relatively low. And if you have a particularly large house, you'll welcome the convenience the SEBO brings, as it features a nearly 40 ft (12.2 m) cord.
This vacuum offers a robust, premium-feeling build quality that matches its price tag. The inevitable flip side of this tough build quality is heaviness, so portability on stairs isn't great. It's also quite large, so if you live in a small apartment and are low on space, you may want to consider our next recommendation, the Dyson V15 Detect. In terms of air quality, particle filtration is strong but not chart-topping, and the dust bags don't seal fully, releasing a bit of dust back into the air when you dispose of them. If air quality is your top priority, then check out the Miele Guard S1 Electro instead. Its AirClean Plus filter is exceptionally effective at trapping dust and allergens right out of the box, and its dustbag seals more effectively. On the downside, it just can't match the Airbelt D4 for raw performance, and its cord is much shorter.
-
Best Upper Mid-Range Vacuum
HouseSmall ApartmentAir QualityBare Floor PickupCarpet PickupPet Hair PickupBuild QualityRecurring CostSee all our test resultsVacuum TypeStick/HandheldIf you want a high-end vacuum cleaner but baulk at the thought of being tethered to a cord, then check out the Dyson V15 Detect. While this isn't the newest flagship Dyson has to offer, this high-end cordless bagless vacuum is remarkably powerful, with debris pickup performance on bare floors and carpet that rivals our corded top pick, the SEBO Airbelt D4. It also comes with a surface detection system that automatically adjusts suction power based on the surface it's on, and an air quality sensor that measures debris sucked into the vacuum, allowing you to monitor allergen levels inside your home as you clean. Apartment dwellers can also rejoice thanks to the included wall-mount with built-in storage for the many tools and accessories.
If portability is your priority, the V15 is sure to satisfy. It's remarkably lightweight, making cleaning stairs or simply getting started relatively easy. There are some inherent limitations to having such a powerful motor while cutting the cord, though; don't expect to clean a large or particularly dirty house on a single charge. Also, while the V15's filter is almost perfect at keeping dust out of the air while you vacuum, emptying it releases a cloud of dust, like almost all bagless vacuums. You should empty this vacuum outdoors or away from any living area. Finally, the plastic and overall build quality feel cheap for the price tag. Still, for anyone looking for a cordless model, it's the best vacuum we've tested that meets the brief.
-
Best Mid-Range Vacuum
Get the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H if you want a cordless vacuum, and the Dyson V15 Detect's build quality gives you pause. This mid-range model also uses a lot of plastic on its housing, but it feels hefty by comparison. There's an inevitable downside, though, as this model weighs more than the V15, making it slightly less convenient to use. Otherwise, the Stratos offers a ton of features. Like the much more expensive Dyson, it automatically adjusts suction based on floor type, and an on-board HEPA filter keeps allergens and dust out of the air as you vacuum. There's also an odor-neutralization system in its floorhead that emits a detergent-like smell as you vacuum. If you're sensitive to smells, though, it can get overwhelming.
Debris pick-up takes a notable step back here compared to our top picks, like the SEBO Airbelt D4. It can handle a lot of debris on most surfaces, except for thick-pile rugs, where the floorhead can get stuck in the long fibers. Battery life is also quite good for a vacuum at its price point. But again, if you have a large home that you are looking to clean in one go, then you'll need a corded model instead. If this is your situation, then check out our budget option, the Kenmore Intuition Bagged.
-
Best Budget Vacuum
HouseSmall ApartmentAir QualityBare Floor PickupCarpet PickupPet Hair PickupBuild QualityRecurring CostSee all our test resultsVacuum TypeUpright/HandheldThe Kenmore Intuition Bagged is a corded upright vacuum that punches far above its budget price point, making it one of the best vacuum cleaners we've tested. It easily overcomes the runtime issues of cordless options like the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H we recommend above, and thanks to its relatively compact design, it's an excellent choice for a house or an apartment alike. It performs well on every surface and does a good job picking up pet hair from carpet and furniture, making it a smart choice for pet owners. Air filtration actually surpasses our top pick, the SEBO Airbelt D4, and since this is a bagged vacuum, you don't need to worry about making a mess while discarding the dustbag.
Another nice addition at its price point is the option to turn the brushroll off, so you won't scatter debris while cleaning on bare floors. Unfortunately, build quality is a major complaint from users, with many reporting failures over time due to fragile internal components. You'll also find this vacuum is hard to maneuver and can be a bit of a pain to bring up and down stairs due to its weight. You can detach the canister from the vacuum and use it in handheld mode, but the weight of the canister hanging from your arm, along with the short hose, makes using the vacuum this way quite difficult. For other upright recommendations, check out our article on the best upright vacuums.
-
Best Cheap Vacuum
HouseSmall ApartmentAir QualityBare Floor PickupCarpet PickupPet Hair PickupBuild QualityRecurring CostSee all our test resultsVacuum TypeCanisterThe Eureka Mighty Mite is a no-frills model for anyone looking for a cheap yet powerful vacuum. It's fairly compact and delivers strong performance across various surfaces, thanks to its relatively potent 12-amp motor. It performs very well on bare floors with its basic floorhead, and you can retract the head's bristles to clean low-pile carpets. That said, pet owners should consider our budget choice, the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, instead, as the Eureka struggles to deal with pet hair. Also, dust and dander pass right through its bag and out of the exhaust, which is sure to irritate anyone sensitive to allergens.
The vacuum itself feels reasonably sturdy, if a little cheap, and its remarkably simple design makes it easy to maintain. It's small enough to easily store in a closet or a nook between furniture. Its chief drawback is its terrible filtration. Overall, despite the many trade-offs, it's worth considering as a cheap vacuum for homes and small apartments. For other wallet-friendly picks, check out our recommendations for the best budget and cheap vacuums.
Notable Mentions
-
Miele Guard L1 Electro:
The Miele Guard L1 Electro is a high-end canister vacuum with better air filtration than the SEBO Airbelt D4. It also features automatic suction adjustment based on floor type and a sleek LCD screen, but lags behind the SEBO in terms of raw performance.
See our review -
SEBO FELIX:
The SEBO FELIX is an upright vacuum that has a lot in common with the SEBO Airbelt D4, like robust build quality and a powered floorhead. While it's smaller and more maneuverable, it's ultimately less powerful and performs worse on carpets.
See our review -
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine:
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is Dyson's latest flagship cordless vacuum. It offers superior runtime to the Dyson V15 Detect, but delivers worse overall performance than its older stablemate.
See our review -
Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra:
If you want a bagless, cordless vacuum but don't want to worry about negatively impacting your air quality, get the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra. It comes with a dock like a robot vacuum for emptying its dustbin, but lags behind the Dyson V15 Detect for pick-up performance and runtime.
See our review -
Wyze Cordless Vacuum S:
The Wyze Cordless Vacuum S is a good cordless alternative to the Eureka Mighty Mite, if you can find it on sale. It's far lighter and more maneuverable, and it offers HEPA filtration. But like all bagless vacuums, emptying it creates a dust cloud, and its battery life is too short for large spaces.
See our review
Recent Updates
Mar 09, 2026:
We swapped the Dyson V8 with the Shark Stratos Cordless as the 'Best Mid-Range Vacuum' due to price changes, and added the Miele Guard S1 Electro as an alternative with better air filtration than the SEBO Airbelt D4. We also added Notable Mentions to give users more options.
Jan 20, 2026:
Replaced the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H with the Dyson V8. Replaced all Notable Mentions with the SEBO FELIX and the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S.
Nov 05, 2025:
We replaced the Notable Mention Samsung Jet 90 Complete with the Dyson V11, and the NaceCare HVR 200 Henry with the Shark Stratos Upright AX3002 based on availability. Verified our other picks are available and represent the best choices.
May 06, 2025:
We've replaced the Wyze Cordless Vacuum with the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S as the former has been discontinued. We also added a link to the SEBO website, since the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium can be hard to find, and made small edits to the text for clarity.
Feb 10, 2025:
Replaced the Miele Complete C3 Brilliant with the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium as the 'Best Corded Vacuum' pick and replaced the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction with the SEBO FELIX as the 'Best Mid-Range Corded Vacuum' pick due to current product availability and to better align with other recommendation articles.
All Reviews
Our recommendations above are the best vacuum cleaners for most people. We factor in price, visitor feedback, and availability. If you're trying to decide between a bagged and a bagless vacuum, be sure to check out our article discussing the differences, particularly around air quality, so you know what to expect.
If you'd like to choose for yourself, here is the list of all our vacuum reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While there's no single best vacuum for every conceivable use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.