Miele is a German manufacturer specializing in high-end household appliances, including refrigerators, washing machines, cooktop ranges, and coffee machines. Miele vacuums are well-renowned for their premium build quality, strong performance on a wide variety of surfaces, and general ease of maintenance.
Updates
- 05/26/2025Miele Boost CX1 reviewed
- 02/05/2025Miele Complete C3 Alize updated
- 12/02/2024Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog reviewed
- 11/15/2024Miele Duoflex HX1 reviewed
- 03/06/2024Miele Triflex HX2 Pro/Cat & Dog reviewed
Quick Look
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Best Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor7.7Low-Pile Carpet6.6High-Pile Carpet6.0Build Quality8.5User Maintenance9.5Recurring Cost4.5See all our test resultsVacuum TypeCanisterThe best Miele vacuum that we've tested is the Miele Complete C3. Regardless of the model variant you go for, all Miele C3 models offer good performance on bare floors and carpets, thanks to a potent 1200 W motor and variable suction control. The build quality is impressive; all C3 models have an allergen-sealed body made of sturdy, high-grade plastic and a stainless steel wand. However, opting for the premium C3 Marin model also provides extra convenience features, such as a HEPA-rated post-motor filter and additional sound insulation for its motor, which is already very quiet to begin with.
The Marin also comes with two floorheads: a parquet tool for bare floors and Miele's SEB 236 height-adjustable powerhead, so you can clean everything from hardwood to plush carpeting with ease. Unfortunately, all of this comes at a very high cost. If you don't mind sacrificing some performance on carpet or the C3 Marin's additional convenience features, a more affordable C3 model, such as the C3 Calima, will deliver identical performance on bare floors using the same parquet tool as the Marin. The Calima doesn't come with the Marin's powerhead, but if you don't have much carpeting, it includes the STB 305-3 turbohead, which should still work well for you.
Note that the Complete C3 is being replaced with Miele's new Guard series. The Complete C3 is replaced by the Guard M1. The Guard S1 is the new entry-level version, and the Guard L1 is Miele's new flagship. We'll be testing all three of these vacuums in the near future, so check back soon for their reviews!
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Best Mid-Range Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor7.6Low-Pile Carpet6.6High-Pile Carpet6.0Build Quality7.5User Maintenance9.5Recurring Cost5.5See all our test resultsVacuum TypeCanisterIf you aren't comfortable spending as much on a vacuum and want a marginally smaller footprint, the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine is a fantastic choice. Right off the bat, it's important to note that there are a few sacrifices that come with the C1's cheaper price point compared to the Miele Complete C3, including inferior build quality, no built-in tool storage compartment, and a shorter power cord. It also doesn't have the C3 Brilliant's handle-mounted controls or automatic power adjustment settings. However, all C1s have the same 1200W suction motor as the C3, producing similar debris pickup performance.
This C1 Cat & Dog variant sits near the top of the C1 lineup and is very well-equipped, as it comes with a parquet tool for hard floors as well as the SEB 228 height-adjustable powerhead for cleaning thick carpets. However, the latter isn't as sleek as the C3 Brilliant's SEB 236 head and lacks an LED headlight. Still, there's little to distinguish the two floorheads in terms of actual performance. This Cat & Dog variant also comes with a miniature turbo brush tool and a post-motor filter containing activated charcoal to minimize unpleasant odors as you clean.
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Best Budget Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor7.6Low-Pile Carpet6.6High-Pile Carpet6.0Build Quality7.5User Maintenance9.5Recurring Cost5.5See all our test resultsVacuum TypeCanister"Budget" isn't exactly a term that people associate with Miele's premium product stack; nevertheless, if there ever was a budget model, it would be the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction PowerLine. This entry-level C1 variant is considerably less expensive than almost every other model the manufacturer offers. There's a compromise to be made, however; unlike the outwardly similar C1 Cat & Dog, the C1 Pure Suction doesn't have a power socket at the base of its hose, meaning it's completely incompatible with powered floorheads. This won't be an issue if your home only has bare floors or very low-pile carpeting. Still, it does mean that you'll have to go for the pricier model variants if you have a lot of thick rugs to clean and need the surface agitation that only a powerhead can provide.
Like most Miele vacuums, it's also remarkably easy to maintain, and maneuverability is great. Unfortunately, the C1 Pure Suction model doesn't come with a HEPA-rated post-motor filter as standard. However, air filtration performance is still decent thanks to its allergen-sealed body and thick cloth dirtbags. Besides, you can always purchase a HEPA-rated filter from the manufacturer if you need that additional level of air filtration performance.
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Best Cordless Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor7.5Low-Pile Carpet7.5High-Pile Carpet6.9Build Quality8.0User Maintenance7.5Recurring Cost8.0See all our test resultsVacuum TypeStick/HandheldOur pick for the best Miele cordless vacuum is the Miele Duoflex HX1. Although this is the smallest sibling in Miele's cordless vacuum line-up, it's the best choice. Compact and lightweight, it features superior build quality compared to Miele's other cordless offerings, thanks to more premium-feeling plastic on the power unit and a metal wand that increases rigidity. Moreover, this bagless handheld vacuum is extremely versatile, as many variants include an extension hose and a flexible, extendable crevice tool for cleaning hard-to-reach places. Like the older Miele Triflex HX1, this model has a surface detection system, allowing it to automatically adjust the brushroll speed and suction power based on the surface you're cleaning.
Performance is good overall, delivering exceptional pet hair pick-up and solid performance regardless of the surface type. As for battery life, you can expect it to last a little over an hour when used in its Low setting; this is very good performance for a cordless option. Unfortunately, the dirt compartment is small, meaning you'll have to empty it often. The accessories included vary depending on the variant, though they all come with a MultiFloor electrobrush, dust brush, upholstery nozzle, and crevice nozzle. The recurring cost is very low, as you only have to replace the fine dust filter, which is typically good for three years of regular use.
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Best Bagless Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor7.3Low-Pile Carpet7.1High-Pile Carpet6.8Build Quality8.0User Maintenance6.0Recurring Cost7.0See all our test resultsVacuum TypeCanisterIf you're interested in a bagless Miele vacuum, the Miele Boost CX1 is the best bagless Miele vacuum we've tested. It's essentially a bagless version of the Miele Complete C3 and uses the same 1200W motor as the C3 and the Miele Classic C1. It also comes with the same floorheads as the Miele canister vacuums. The floorhead determines performance more than the vacuum design, so it performs similarly to a bagged Miele vacuum when you use it with the same floorhead. Recurring costs are lower because you don't have a dirtbag to replace, though you do need to replace the post-motor HEPA filter annually.
However, its dirt compartment is a lot smaller than the dirt compartment on the bagged Miele vacuums, and emptying isn't as clean and hygienic as a bagged vacuum with a self-sealing dirtbag. Also, its complex bagless filter has more parts to clean, and the cyclonic filter takes energy to run, slightly reducing airflow and suction versus a bagged model.
Compared To Other Brands
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Excellent build quality.Most Miele vacuums are made of high-end materials that make them feel far more durable than many of their competitors.
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Good overall performance.Miele vacuums offer strong and consistent cleaning on various surfaces, including hardwood floors and low and high-pile carpet.
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Easy to maintain.Miele vacuums tend to have fewer parts that require regular maintenance, and they are easy to access and replace.
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Thoughtful quality of life features.Even basic Miele vacuums have features that help simplify vacuuming, like multi-level suction power adjustment, automatic power cord retraction, and onboard storage for tools and accessories.
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Small number of attachments on some models.While there's a wide variety of extra attachments and floorheads available to purchase, many Miele vacuums come with very few attachments in the box.
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Expensive.As befitting their premium status, Miele vacuums tend to be fairly pricey.
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High recurring costs for some models.Many Miele vacuums use bagged designs. They have dirtbags and filters that need regular replacing, usually at a higher cost than other bagged vacuums.
Miele vs Dyson
While Miele and Dyson's vacuums tend to occupy a similar premium price point, their offerings target different uses. Dyson specializes in lightweight cordless vacuums with a broad attachment set, while Miele focuses mainly on better-built canister models that are a superior option for longer cleaning sessions. Check out our recommendations for the best Dyson vacuums.
Miele vs SEBO
SEBO and Miele are both high-end German marques specializing in durable, high-performance vacuums. SEBO's offerings focus more on ease of maintenance and lower ownership costs, while Miele vacuums are usually sleeker in design and tend to be a little easier to use. Availability is a point in Miele's favor, with many of their models being available at most big-box retailers, while a lot of SEBOs can only be purchased directly from the manufacturer or specialized vacuum stores.
Miele offers a wide range of vacuum cleaners, though its canister lineup is the broadest. Miele vacuums are usually easier to maintain and have far more quality-of-life features than most Shark or BISSELL vacuums. They also deliver a similarly strong performance on a variety of surfaces compared to alternatives from other high-end brands like Dyson, and feel much better built. However, their selection of included attachments tends to be much smaller.
You can also check out our recommendations for the best Shark and BISSELL vacuums separately.
Lineup
Miele has a diverse lineup of vacuums, and their naming convention can sometimes be confusing.
Canister Models
- Miele Classic C1 Lineup: Entry to mid-level bagged canister vacuums.
- Miele Compact C1 Lineup: Smaller entry to mid-level bagged canister vacuums.
- Miele Boost CX1 Lineup: Compact mid-range bagless canister vacuums.
- Miele Blizzard CX1 Lineup: Mid to high-end bagless canister vacuums.
- Miele Complete C3 Lineup: High-end bagged canister vacuums. Phasing out, replaced by the Guard series.
- Miele Guard S1 Lineup: Entry-level replacements for the Miele Complete C3 Lineup.
- Miele Guard M1 Lineup: Replacements for the Miele Complete C3 Lineup.
- Miele Guard L1 Lineup: Flagship-level replacements for the Miele Complete C3 Lineup.
Cordless Stick Models
- Triflex HX1 Lineup: Cordless vacuums that you can configure as a handheld, upright, or stick vacuum.
- Triflex HX2 Lineup: Upgraded successor to the Triflex HX1 series and uses the same overall design.
Robot Models
- Scout RX2: Premium robot vacuum cleaner.
Common Trim/Equipment Levels
Some of these trims are only available on some models or have slightly differing accessories bundled in the box, while others have specific designations that aren't noted here.
- Pure Suction: Vacuums with floorheads that use straight suction to suck up debris, rather than air or motor-driven brushrolls, mainly for use on bare floors.
- Turbo Team: Vacuums with air-driven brushroll floorheads for use on carpets.
- HomeCare: Mid-level vacuum variants, usually bundled with both a straight suction floorhead and a floorhead with an air-driven brushroll. They usually come with an electrobrush socket that allows for a motorized floorhead if you purchase one and a couple of additional handheld brushes. Usually only available for purchase from specialized vacuum retailers.
- Cat & Dog: Mid-level vacuum variants are usually bundled with a handheld turbo brush for handling pet hair and an 'Active Air' filter containing activated charcoal to reduce odor.
Recent Updates
Jul 10, 2025:
We added the Miele Boost CX1 as the best Miele bagless vacuum we've tested, and verified our other recommendations are available and represent the best choices.
Apr 16, 2025:
As the Miele Complete C3 Brilliant has been discontinued, we've changed our recommendation for the 'Best Miele Vacuum' to the Miele Complete C3 Marin variant and also added the Miele Complete C3 Calima as a cheaper variant. We also made some minor text changes.
Jan 08, 2025:
We've replaced the Miele Triflex HX2 Pro/Cat & Dog with the Miele Duoflex HX1 as it's better built, more versatile, and performs better overall. We also made small edits throughout for clarity.
Sep 19, 2024: We've reviewed the article to ensure our picks represent the best products available and made minor edits for clarity.
Jun 05, 2024: Small text edits for conciseness and clarity. Replaced the Miele Triflex HX1 with the Miele Triflex HX 2 Pro/Cat & Dog because the HX2 has a higher-capacity battery and a more powerful motor.
Conclusion
Miele specializes in manufacturing a wide range of high-end household appliances. Their vacuum cleaners mainly focus on canister models of both the bagged and bagless variety, but they've recently branched out into building cordless stick and robot vacuums. Generally, Miele vacuums are pricier than alternatives but offer a wide range of thoughtful quality-of-life features, strong cleaning performance, and premium build quality.