Miele is a German manufacturer specializing in high-end household appliances, including everything from refrigerators to washing machines, not to mention 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
- 07/22/2022 Miele Classic C1 updated
- 12/22/2020 Miele Triflex HX1 reviewed
- 09/11/2020 Miele Complete C3 reviewed
- 09/09/2020 Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine reviewed
Best Miele Vacuums
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Best Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor8.6Low-Pile Carpet8.2High-Pile Carpet8.3Pets8.2Stairs8.3Cars8.1Workshop6.2Vacuum TypeCanisterBaglessNoCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)YesWet CompatibleNoThe best Miele vacuum that we've tested is the Miele Complete C3. This high-end bagged vacuum delivers exceptional debris pickup, regardless of the variant you go for, thanks to its potent 1200W motor and variable suction control. Build quality is also fantastic across the board, and all C3 models have an allergen-sealed body. However, springing for the flagship C3 Brilliant model also nets you many convenience features, like an additional automatic suction adjustment setting, handle-mounted controls, a HEPA-rated post-motor filter, and additional sound insulation for its motor, which is already very quiet, to begin with.
The Miele also has a trio of floorheads: an extra wide parquet tool for easily-scratched floors, a universal pure suction floorhead with retractable bristles intended for hard floors and low-pile carpet, and Miele's SEB 236 height-adjustable powerhead, ensuring strong performance on a wide variety of surfaces. All of this comes at a very high cost, and if you don't mind missing out on the C3 Brilliant's additional convenience features and don't need the multi-surface pure suction floorhead, a cheaper C3 model like the C3 Kona will deliver very similar overall performance on most surfaces.
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Best Mid-Range Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor8.5Low-Pile Carpet8.0High-Pile Carpet8.1Pets8.0Stairs8.0Cars8.1Workshop6.0Vacuum TypeCanisterBaglessNoCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoWet CompatibleNoIf you aren't comfortable spending as much on a vacuum and want something with a marginally smaller footprint, the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine is a fantastic choice. This variant of the vacuum sits near the top of the C1 lineup, and that means it carries the same disadvantages as the pricier C3 lineup; inferior build quality, no integrated 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, resulting in similarly fantastic debris pickup performance.
This C1 Cat & Dog variant is very well-equipped in terms of attachments, as it comes with a parquet tool for hard floors as well as the SEB 228 height-adjustable powerhead for cleaning thick carpets - the latter isn't as sleek as the C3 Brilliant's SEB 236 head and lacks an LED headlight, but there's little to distinguish the two floorheads when it comes to actual performance. This variant also comes with a miniature turbo brush tool and a post-motor filter with activated charcoal to minimize unpleasant odors as you clean.
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Best Budget Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor8.5Low-Pile Carpet8.0High-Pile Carpet8.1Pets8.0Stairs8.0Cars8.1Workshop6.0Vacuum TypeCanisterBaglessNoCordlessNoAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoWet CompatibleNoThe best Miele vacuum cleaner we've tested at a budget-friendly price is the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction PowerLine. Of course, 'budget' is a relative term for Miele, whose offerings tend to be pretty pricey. The fact remains that this entry-level C1 variant is considerably less expensive than practically every other model the manufacturer offers. There's a compromise to be made, however; unlike the outwardly similar C1 Cat & Dog or C1 HomeCare, the C1 Pure Suction doesn't have an electrosocket at the base of its hose, meaning it's completely incompatible with powered floorheads. It won't be an issue if you only have bare floors or very low-pile carpeting in your home, but it does mean that you'll have to go for a pricier model 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. Its power cord and hose are short, so you might need to swap outlets when cleaning larger rooms. In addition, the C1 Pure Suction model doesn't have a HEPA-rated post-motor filter as standard, though air filtration performance is still superb thanks to its allergen-sealed body. Besides, you can always purchase a HEPA-rated filter from the manufacturer if you need that extra layer of filtration.
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Best Cordless Miele Vacuum
Bare Floor8.3Low-Pile Carpet8.0High-Pile Carpet7.7Pets7.4Stairs8.5Cars7.7Workshop5.6Vacuum TypeStick/HandheldBaglessYesCordlessYesAnti-Allergy Filter (HEPA)NoWet CompatibleNoThe best Miele vacuum cleaner with a cordless design that we've tested is the Miele Triflex HX1. It doesn't feel as robust as the brand's traditional canister models like the Miele Complete C3 Brilliant PowerLine and doesn't offer the same level of air filtration performance as a result of its bagless design, but it's much easier to grab and use for shorter cleanups in comparison. It delivers remarkable performance on bare surfaces and does a great job dealing with pet hair and solid debris on carpet. Its surface detection system lets it automatically select the optimal brush power for a given floor type or even stop the brushroll if something gets caught in the floorhead, making it very easy to maneuver on thick carpeting. You can use it as an upright, stick, or handheld vacuum by removing or rearranging the position of the motor unit, floorhead, and wand.
Unfortunately, this vacuum's maximum battery life of roughly half an hour isn't very long, so you need to work fast when cleaning larger rooms. Its dirt compartment is small, so it needs regular emptying. This basic variant only comes with a dusting brush, crevice tool, and upholstery tool; you need to upgrade to the more expensive 'Cat & Dog' variant if you want a turbo brush attachment as well as a filter with a HEPA designation. That said, the standard filter is rated as able to trap 99.98% of fine particulate matter, which will be sufficient for most people without allergies.
Compared to other brands
- Excellent build quality. Most Miele vacuums are made of high-end materials that make them feel far more durable than many of their peers.
- Good overall performance. Miele vacuums offer strong and consistent cleaning performance on a wide variety of surface types, including hardwood floors as well as low and high-pile carpet.
- Easy to maintain. Miele vacuums tend to have fewer parts that require regular maintenance than many other alternatives, which are also easy to access or replace.
- 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.
- Small number of attachments on some models. While you can purchase a wide variety of extra attachments and floorheads from the manufacturer, many Miele vacuums come with very few attachments in the box.
- Expensive. As befitting their premium status, Miele vacuums tend to be fairly pricey.
- 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 vacuums tend to occupy a similar premium price point, their offerings tend to target different kinds of 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. You can see our recommendations for the best Dyson vacuums here.
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 a lot 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 their 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 similarly strong performance on a variety of surfaces compared to alternatives from other high-end brands like Dyson and feel much better built, but their selection of included attachments tends to be a lot smaller.
You can also check out our recommendations for the best Shark, BISSELL, and Dyson vacuums separately.
Lineup
Miele has a diverse lineup of vacuums, and their naming convention can sometimes be a little 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.
Cordless Stick Models
- Triflex HX1 Lineup: Cordless vacuums that you can configure as a handheld, upright, or stick vacuum.
Robot Models
- Scout RX2: Premium robot vacuum cleaner.
Common Trim/Equipment Levels
- 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 dealing with pet hair and an 'Active Air' charcoal filter for reducing odor.
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.
Recent Updates
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Apr 24, 2023: Added Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine as the new 'Best Mid-Range Miele Vacuum' pick. Selected Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction PowerLine as 'Best Budget Miele Vacuum' and Miele Complete C3 Brilliant PowerLine as 'Best Miele Vacuum' pick.
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Jan 24, 2023: Ensured all main picks still represent the best option for user needs.
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Oct 26, 2022: Ensured all main picks still represent the best option for user needs and expectations.
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Apr 29, 2022: Ensured that all main picks are still in line with user needs and expectations.
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Jan 31, 2022: Ensured that all main picks are still available and represent the best option for their given category.
Conclusion
Miele specializes in manufacturing a wide range of high-end household appliances. Their range of vacuum cleaners mainly focuses 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.