BISSELL is an American manufacturer of vacuum cleaners and floor care appliances. They offer a diverse selection of vacuum cleaners, ranging from compact handheld cordless vacuums to bulky corded uprights and everything in between. Most of their offerings are somewhat budget-friendly and use bagless designs, meaning that recurring costs tend to be pretty low. That said, quite a few of their more compact offerings struggle with clearing bulky debris, while their bigger corded uprights generally feel somewhat cheap.
Updates
- 05/09/2023 BISSELL CleanView/CleanView Swivel Pet Rewind updated
- 04/19/2023 BISSELL PowerForce Helix updated
- 04/14/2023 BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro updated
- 07/29/2022 BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max reviewed
- 12/21/2020 BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister reviewed
Best BISSELL Vacuums
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Best BISSELL Vacuum
Bare Floor6.8Low-Pile Carpet7.7High-Pile Carpet7.3Pets6.8Stairs5.7Cars6.2Workshop4.5Vacuum TypeUprightBaglessYesCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoWet CompatibleNoThe BISSELL PowerForce Helix is the best vacuum from BISSELL that we've tested. Its floorhead has five levels of height adjustment, so you can adjust the brushroll quickly and easily, which is helpful if you have a wide mix of floor types in your home. It offers excellent solid debris pickup on carpet and performs impressively well on bare floors. It can easily handle hair on a wide variety of surfaces, ranging from bare floors to carpets, making it the best BISSELL vacuum for pet hair we've tested. Its bagless design and washable pre-motor filter keep recurring costs low, while its spacious dirt compartment won't need emptying very often. It's fairly lightweight for an upright vacuum, allowing you to carry it up and down stairs without too much of a problem. You can also spot-clean small areas by using its wand and attaching either its soft-bristle dusting brush or its crevice tool.
However, this vacuum isn't very maneuverable because of its bulky design and lack of a rotating head. Build quality is mediocre, with its floorhead wheels, brushroll plate, and dustbin feeling fragile. It also lacks a brushroll on/off switch, so it can get stuck on obstructions like rug tassels if the head height isn't set high enough. If that's a feature you want, consider the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Turbo, which is much easier to maneuver on thick carpeting and feels better built. However, it's a lot more expensive and has quite a few maintenance requirements.
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Best Cheap BISSELL Vacuum
Bare Floor8.1Low-Pile Carpet7.8High-Pile Carpet6.7Pets6.9Stairs7.3Cars7.1Workshop4.6Vacuum TypeUpright/HandheldBaglessYesCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoWet CompatibleNoIf you're on a tighter budget, check out the BISSELL Featherweight Stick. This corded upright doesn't offer anywhere near the deep-cleaning performance of the pricier BISSELL PowerForce Helix or even the BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister. However, not only is it cheaper than either, its extremely compact, lightweight design makes it a lot easier to grab and use for short clean-ups. It's also remarkably easy to maintain, with the few parts requiring regular maintenance being very easy to access. While it struggles with clearing away heavy or bulky debris, especially as its dustbin fills up, it has no trouble dealing with pet hair and lighter household debris.
Unfortunately, like many other corded BISSELL vacuums, it has a very short power cord, so you'll have to swap outlets when cleaning larger rooms. Its range of attachments is very limited, as it only comes with a crevice tool that can be attached to the end of its canister body. Unsurprisingly given its very low purchase price, it also feels cheaply built, with a body made mainly from hollow-feeling plastic.
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Best BISSELL Canister Vacuum
Bare Floor7.3Low-Pile Carpet7.5High-Pile Carpet7.3Pets6.7Stairs7.5Cars7.7Workshop5.3Vacuum TypeCanisterBaglessNoCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoWet CompatibleNoIf you prefer using a canister vacuum to clean your home instead of an upright model, check out the BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister. Its straight-suction floorhead doesn't offer the same level of surface agitation as the BISSELL PowerForce Helix, but it's also smaller and far more maneuverable in cluttered environments. Its lightweight wand and body and easy-to-use design make it a great fit for elderly users. Since its filter and dirtbag are easy to access and replace, user maintenance is also simple. It does struggle somewhat when clearing away heavy debris like whole pieces of cereal, but it doesn't have too much trouble with pet hair or lighter material.
Unfortunately, its power cord is very short. As a result, you'll probably have to swap outlets when cleaning larger rooms. The cord rewinds with the press of a button, a convenience feature that's rare but very welcome for an entry-level vacuum. If you'd rather not buy new dirtbags periodically, the BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister delivers similar overall performance and incurs minimal recurring costs. However, its bagless design comes at the cost of inferior air filtration performance and a less hygienic means of debris disposal.
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Best Cordless BISSELL Vacuum
Bare Floor7.6Low-Pile Carpet6.7High-Pile Carpet4.2Pets5.5Stairs6.3Cars5.3Workshop6.2Vacuum TypeUprightBaglessYesCordlessYesAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoWet CompatibleCompatible without immersionIf you want to go cordless, the BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max is among the best BISSELL vacuum cleaners we've tested. This hybrid vacuum mop isn't nearly as maneuverable or portable as a canister model like the BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister and doesn't deliver the deep-cleaning performance of an upright like the BISSELL PowerForce Helix, especially on carpets, where the soft-roller floorhead provides little in the way of surface agitation. However, it's a fantastic option if you want something that can tackle dry and wet messes on bare floors, not to mention dried-on stains, thanks to its detergent-dispersal function. Its cordless design allows you to clean areas far from any power outlets, and its battery life of about 40 minutes isn't terrible by any means.
Unfortunately, this vacuum does have more parts that need regular cleaning. There's also no way of adjusting the speed of the brushroll or stopping its rotation, so you need to be careful when cleaning around loose obstructions like rug tassels, which can get stuck in its floorhead. If you only need a cordless vacuum for spot cleaning, the BISSELL AeroSlim is a highly compact option that will fit almost anywhere.
Compared to other brands
- Budget-friendly pricing. For the most part, BISSELL vacuums are usually quite affordable, with a wide variety of offerings that suit different needs for buyers on a budget.
- Low recurring costs. Most BISSELL vacuums use a bagless design that keeps recurring costs down, and a few of their products have washable filters that don't need replacing over time.
- Outstanding pet hair cleaning performance. BISSELL vacuums don't struggle too much with sucking up pet hair on most surfaces, and they make several models meant to deal with shed fur, which is great if you're the owner of a heavily shedding pet.
- Plasticky build quality. BISSELL vacuums use a lot of plastic in their construction, keeping their weight and price tag low but making them feel cheap and flimsy.
- Mediocre bare floor performance. Quite a few BISSELL vacuums we've tested struggle with debris on bare floors and especially have trouble tackling bulky material like cereal.
- Limited selection of tools and accessories. BISSELL vacuums generally don't come with a wide mix of specialized tools or brushes, somewhat limiting their overall versatility when dealing with messes on upholstery or shelves.
BISSELL vs Dyson
Dyson vacuums tend to occupy a much higher price point than BISSELL's offerings, which is reflected in generally superior performance and better build quality. That said, BISSELL's selection of corded models is far more extensive than what Dyson offers.
BISSELL vs Shark
Shark vacuums are generally better built than BISSELL's comparable offerings and deliver better overall performance. However, some BISSELL models are a little easier to maintain—many new Shark models use non-removable brushrolls that can be a hassle to clean properly.
BISSELL vs Eureka
Eureka and BISSELL vacuums occupy a similar budget-friendly niche, and offerings from each brand tend to have strengths. When comparing like-for-like models, BISSELLs usually have a wider array of convenience features, while Eurekas offer superior debris pickup performance.
BISSELL vacuums usually fall into a budget-friendly price range, though you may be sacrificing some measure of cleaning performance, build quality, or quality-of-life features in exchange for that affordability. They tend to perform worse on all surface types than Shark vacuums and struggle more with clearing large debris than most Eureka vacuums, though they tend to be similarly affordable.
Lineup
BISSELL has a diverse lineup of vacuums, and their naming convention can sometimes be confusing. In broad strokes, you can outline their model lineup as follows.
Upright Models
- AeroSwift: Entry-level upright vacuum series.
- CleanView: Bagless low to mid-range upright vacuum series. Available in a wide selection of trims with differing feature sets, some offering 'Lift-Off' capability, self-winding power cords, or pivoting floorheads.
- CleanView Bagged: Bagged low to mid-range vacuum series.
- Pet Hair Eraser: Mid-range upright vacuum with a lighter, more maneuverable design than other BISSELL Uprights.
- PowerGroom: Mid-range upright with a high-powered 8 amp motor.
- PowerGlide: Upper mid-range upright vacuum with a high-powered 9.5 amp motor.
- SurfaceSense: Flagship upright vacuum lineup with a surface detection system and automatic power adjustment capability.
- CrossWave: Hybrid mop/vacuum lineup with detergent-dispersal function.
Cordless/Corded Stick Models
- Featherweight: Entry-level corded stick model.
- Featherweight Turbo: Upgraded variant of the standard Featherweight with a powered floorhead for improved surface agitation.
- PowerClean: Entry-level cordless vacuum lineup.
- PowerSwift: Upgraded version of PowerClean model with superior battery performance.
- PowerGlide: Mid-range corded stick vacuum lineup.
- AirRam: High-powered cordless stick vacuum with a high-capacity dustbin.
- PowerEdge: Upper mid-range cordless stick vacuum with a specially-designed floorhead for cleaning along baseboards and corners.
- ICONPET: Flagship cordless stick model lineup.
Canister Models
- Zing II Bagged: Entry-level bagged canister vacuum lineup.
- Zing II Bagless: Entry-level bagless canister vacuum lineup.
- OptiClean: Mid-range bagless canister vacuum with upgraded Multi-Cyclonic motor unit.
- PowerClean Wet and Dry: Workshop-oriented vacuum that can clear liquid messes.
- MultiClean Wet and Dry: Upgraded version of PowerClean vacuum with a longer hose and more tools.
- Garage Pro: Flagship wet/dry-compatible shop vac with a more advanced filtration system and larger attachment set than the MultiClean or PowerClean models, not to mention a longer hose.
- Hard Floor Expert: Mid-range canister vacuum with a specialized turbine tool for sealed wooden floors.
- PowerClean: Upper mid-range bagless canister vacuum with a 9.2 amp motor.
- SmartClean: Flagship bagless canister vacuum with a powerful 11.6 amp motor.
Common Trims/Features
- Swivel: Refers to a vacuum with a pivoting floorhead for improved maneuverability.
- Rewind: Designation for a vacuum with automatic power cord retraction.
- Lift-Off: Designation for an upright vacuum that lets you separate its canister body from its floorhead, making it easier to clean tight spots with its wand.
- Turbo: Refers to a vacuum with a powered floorhead for improved surface agitation, most useful on carpeted floors.
- XRT: Designation given to cordless models with a higher-capacity battery.
- Slim: Lightweight version of existing vacuum.
Recent Updates
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Apr 21, 2023: Recategorized BISSELL Featherweight Stick as the 'Best Cheap BISSELL Vacuum' pick to maintain consistency with other recommendation articles. Verified that all picks still remain the best choice for user needs.
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Jan 23, 2023: Ensured all main picks are still available and represent the best option for user needs.
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Oct 25, 2022: Recategorized BISSELL PowerForce Helix as Best BISSELL Vacuum. Added BISSELL Zing Bagged Canister as 'Best BISSELL Canister Vacuum'. Added BISSELL CrossWave Cordless Max 2554 as 'Best Cordless BISSELL Vacuum'. Added BISSELL Featherweight Stick 2033 as the 'Best Budget BISSELL Vacuum' pick.
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Apr 27, 2022: Replaced BISSELL Featherweight Stick 2033 with BISSELL CrossWave Pet Pro as 'Best BISSELL Vacuum For Bare Floors' category pick.
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Jan 27, 2022: Ensured that all main picks are still available and represent the best option for their given category.
Conclusion
BISSELL builds a wide variety of vacuums to suit different needs, ranging from cordless handheld vacuums for spot-cleaning countertops and furniture to bulky corded upright vacuums that you can use to clean large carpeted areas. BISSELL vacuums tend to be affordably priced and use bagless designs that keep recurring costs down. Unfortunately, they aren't usually the best choice for all-out cleaning performance and can feel cheaply made.