The SEBO Airbelt D4 is a premium canister vacuum. It feels amazingly well-built, is remarkably easy to maintain, and has a powerful suction motor. It features a wide variety of convenience features, including a rocker switch that allows you to fine-tune its suction power, an onboard tool storage compartment, and an operating range of over fifty feet. Its three-level filtration system also makes it a good option if you suffer from serious allergies. It's somewhat heavy, and its stiff hose can make it a little tricky to maneuver in cluttered areas.
Our Verdict
The SEBO D4 is good for bare floors. Its Kombi straight-suction head sits too close to the ground to clean medium and bulky debris like rice or cereal on this surface type, though it's more than powerful enough to suck up finer debris. It also does an amazing job of clearing messes in cracks and doesn't make much noise. Build quality is excellent, and the vacuum itself is remarkably easy to maintain. The long replacement intervals for its dirtbag and filters mean that recurring costs are low, especially for a bagged vacuum. It also has a very long range and is easy to maneuver, though its stiff hose can make it hard to maneuver in tight spots.
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Exceptional performance on bare floors.
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Three-stage filtration system.
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Excellent build quality.
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Remarkably easy to maintain.
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Low recurring costs.
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Stiff vacuum hose.
The SEBO D4 is a good option for low-pile carpet when used with its ET-1 powerhead. It's highly effective at sucking up larger debris like cereal and medium-sized debris like rice, but you'll need to make an extra pass to clear away every last bit of finer debris that's been worked deep into carpet fibers. The attachment's bulky size also means that a small amount of material might be stuck along walls and in corners. Its power rocker switch allows you to fine-tune its suction power to a wide variety of surface types. It feels well-built, is exceptionally easy to maintain, and incurs low recurring costs. However, it is heavy, and its stiff wand can make it a little awkward to maneuver in tight areas.
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Great performance on low-pile carpet.
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Three-stage filtration system.
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Excellent build quality.
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Remarkably easy to maintain.
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Low recurring costs.
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Stiff vacuum hose.
The SEBO D4 is a great option for cleaning high-pile carpet when used with the ET-1 powerhead. It does a great job of clearing away bulky and medium-sized debris on this surface type, though you'll need to make an extra pass to clear away finer material that's been pressed deeply into carpet fibers. Its highly adjustable suction power lets you fine-tune its suction force if you're having trouble pushing it around on denser carpets. That said, its stiff hose hinders maneuvering in tighter spots.
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Three-stage filtration system.
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Excellent build quality.
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Remarkably easy to maintain.
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Low recurring costs.
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Stiff vacuum hose.
The SEBO is well-suited to dealing with pet hair. Its ET-1 powerhead does a great job of dealing with pet hair on carpets. It does a great job sucking up pet hair on furniture with its upholstery tool attached. However, since the tool has bristles instead of the more traditional lint strips, it can be tricky to move around. Its three-step filtration system is highly effective at trapping fine particles, making it a great option if you're concerned about allergens. It's quieter than most other vacuums, which is good if your pet is sensitive to especially loud noises. Unsurprisingly, since this vacuum doesn't have a floorhead with a brushroll and lacks any mopping capability, it isn't suitable for cleaning dried-on stains.
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Superb pet hair cleaning capability.
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Three-stage filtration system.
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Remarkably easy to maintain.
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Low recurring costs.
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No turbo brush.
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Terrible stain-cleaning performance.
The SEBO D4 is great for vacuuming stairs. It's heavy, which can make it a bit of a hassle to carry up and down stairs, but its built-in carrying handle does help make this process a little less fatiguing. Its long power cord also ensures you don't need to swap outlets when vacuuming larger staircases. It performs very well across a wide range of surface types, and you can use it in a semi-handheld configuration by detaching its wand, which is good for cleaning tighter areas.
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Exceptional performance on bare floors.
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Excellent build quality.
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Long operating range.
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Heavy canister body.
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Stiff vacuum hose.
The SEBO D4 is a very good choice for vacuuming the inside of your car. Its power cord is very long, so you don't need to park too close to an outlet for you to clean every part of your car's interior. It comes with a couple of helpful attachments; you can use its crevice tool for clearing debris in tight corners, attach its upholstery tool for cleaning messes on seats and mats, or use its dusting brush to clean plastic surfaces that could scratch easily. The onboard storage compartment places all these attachments within easy reach while cleaning. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a miniature turbo brush, which would make it even easier to vacuum upholstered surfaces.
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Great performance on low-pile carpet.
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Excellent build quality.
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Long operating range.
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Onboard tool storage.
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Heavy canister body.
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Stiff vacuum hose.
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No turbo brush.
The SEBO D4 is a fairly solid option for workshop cleaning, though this isn't what it's for. Its strong suction force allows it to clear debris in fairly deep cracks and crevices, and it performs superbly on bare, even surfaces. It also does a great job of cleaning debris on low-pile rugs. It feels amazingly well-built, too. Unfortunately, it does a terrible job of cleaning stains and can't deal with liquid spills.
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Exceptional performance on bare floors.
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Great performance on low-pile carpet.
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Terrible stain-cleaning performance.
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Not wet-compatible.
- 7.6 Bare Floor
- 7.9 Low-Pile Carpet
- 8.0 High-Pile Carpet
- 7.9 Pets
- 8.2 Stairs
- 7.9 Cars
- 5.5 Workshop
- Updated Apr 09, 2024: This vacuum has been retested with the ET-1 Powerhead on low and high-pile carpet. We've also added text to this review for the new tests added in Test Bench 1.2 and Test Bench 1.3.
- Updated Apr 09, 2024: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.3. We've overhauled our floor performance tests and added new 'Hard Floor Pick-Up,' 'High-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' 'Low-Pile Carpet Pick-Up,' and 'Pet-Hair Pick-Up' tests. You can see the full changelog here.
- Updated Nov 07, 2023: We've converted this review to Test Bench 1.2. This update builds on our previous 'Suction' test with a new 'Airflow' test that more accurately measures a vacuum's ability to generate air movement. If you'd like to see an in-depth look at the reasoning and methodology behind this change, you can see our full changelog here..
- Updated Aug 31, 2023: We've fixed a broken link in the 'Recurring Cost' section of the review and added more information regarding where you can find replacement parts.
- Updated Nov 03, 2022: This vacuum's suction force has been retested with a more accurate manometer. The test results for the 'Maximum Suction' and 'Normal Suction' fields have been updated. All relevant scores and text have been updated.
- Updated Jul 28, 2022: Converted to Test Bench 1.1.
- Updated Apr 01, 2022: Review published.
- Updated Mar 25, 2022: Early access published.
- Updated Mar 17, 2022: Our testers have started testing this product.
- Updated Feb 24, 2022: The product has arrived in our lab, and our testers will start evaluating it soon.
- Updated Jan 16, 2022: We've purchased the product and are waiting for it to arrive in our lab.
- Updated Dec 08, 2021: The product has won our suggestion poll, so we'll buy and test it soon.
Differences Between Sizes And Variants
The SEBO D4 is part of the manufacturer's D-Series lineup. You can see the label for our test unit here. The differences in product variants are listed in the table below.
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Model Name |
Vacuum Head | Attachments Included | Available Canister Colors | Notes |
| Airbelt D1 Kombi |
Kombi Nozzle |
Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Upholstery Nozzle | Black Cherry Lava |
Not compatible with SEBO ET-1 or ET-2 powered floorheads |
| Airbelt D4 | Premium Parquet Brush | Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Upholstery Nozzle | Red | Is fully compatible with SEBO ET-1 and ET-2 powered floorheads, Canadian-market exclusive |
| Airbelt D4 Premium |
ET-1 Power Head, Premium Parquet Brush |
Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Upholstery Nozzle | Onyx, Red, White | Also fully compatible with SEBO ET-2 powered floorheads |
If you come across another variant of the SEBO D4, let us know in the discussions.
Compared To Other Vacuums
The SEBO D4 is a premium canister vacuum. Compared to alternatives like the Miele Complete C3, it uses larger dirtbags, incurs lower recurring costs, and has a much longer operating range. However, it isn't quite as maneuverable, mostly in part due to its stiff vacuum hose.
If you're looking for alternatives, you can take a look at our list of recommendations for the best canister vacuums, the best HEPA vacuums, and the best vacuums for hardwood floors.
The Miele Complete C3 and SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium each have their advantages, meaning one might suit you better than the other, depending on your needs. The Miele weighs less, is easier to maneuver, makes less noise, and delivers slightly better crack-cleaning performance. Meanwhile, the SEBO incurs much lower recurring costs, thanks to its larger dirtbag and longer-lasting filters, has a much longer cleaning range, and gives you a wider range of adjustability in terms of changing its suction power level.
The SEBO Airbelt D4 is better than the NaceCare HVR 200 Henry. The SEBO is easier to store, has a longer operating range, has a more advanced three-stage filtration system, weighs a little less, and delivers better performance on bare floors and carpets. Meanwhile, the NaceCare uses even larger dirtbags that don't need to be replaced as often, and this model is a little more maneuverable.
The SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium is better than the Miele Classic C1 for most uses. The SEBO is better built, incurs lower recurring costs, uses much larger dirtbags, and has a significantly longer operating range. Its power rocker switch also gives you a more precise level of control in adjusting suction power compared to the Miele vacuum's power level presets. Unlike the Miele, the SEBO also features a three-stage filtration system that includes a HEPA filter. Conversely, the Miele is smaller, lighter, and more maneuverable.
The SEBO Airbelt D4 is better than the Airsign HEPA Vacuum. The SEBO is a better option for cleaning large houses. It feels better-built, uses larger dirtbags that don't need replacing as often, has longer-lasting filters, has a much longer range, and makes less noise. Meanwhile, the smaller Airsign is lighter and easier to maneuver, making it a better fit for smaller living spaces.
Test Results
The SEBO D4 feels amazingly well-built. The canister body is dense, high-grade plastic, encircled by a cloth-covered air cushion to help protect your walls and furniture if you ever bump into them. Its durable rubber wheels are mounted on casters and roll very smoothly. Its telescopic wand is mainly polished aluminum and features a handle with a rubberized grip. There is one notable area of concern, as the hinge for the bag compartment door makes a noticeable cracking noise when opened.
The vacuum is very easy to take apart and reassemble for routine maintenance, and swapping tools and attachments is fairly simple. The hose can be very hard to remove from the body.
The SEBO D4 is outstandingly easy to maintain.
- Dirtbag: The dirtbag is located under the top cover of the vacuum and can be simply pulled free of its slot. The dirtbag has a cap to keep in dust when disposing of it. You should replace the dirtbag once it's full.
- Parquet Brush Floorhead: This variant of the vacuum uses a non-motorized floorhead with no moving components, which makes it easier to clean. The lint strips at either end of the suction inlet are there to collect most smaller debris, and you can easily replace them. You can change the brush strips by removing the yellow cap on the side of the floorhead with a screwdriver and then pulling it free, allowing you to insert a replacement.
- Filters: The pre-motor microfilter is under the lid of the dirtbag compartment, while the exhaust filter wraps around a frame underneath the canister body, seen here. These filters don't need washing, and you should replace them after 10 to 20 dirtbag replacements.
The SEBO D4 incurs low recurring costs.
- Dirtbag: The dirtbag should be replaced once it's filled, which the manufacturer estimates should be every six to 12 months, depending on how frequently the vacuum is used.
- Filters: The pre-motor microfilter and post-motor exhaust filter should be replaced after you've swapped out 10 to 20 dirtbags.
New filters and bags can be bought here, and you can find replacement parts in case of repair here.
The SEBO D4 is very easy to store. It's a little taller and wider than the Miele Complete C3, but its wand does fit flat in a slot on the underside of its body. Its power cord also retracts with the press of a button. There's an integrated storage compartment at the back of the canister body for its crevice tool, mini brush, and upholstery tool.
The SEBO D4 uses impressively large dirtbags. While their actual capacity is smaller than the advertised 6 L, they're still much bigger than the 2.50 L bags used by the Miele Complete C3. According to the manufacturer, you only need to swap in a new dirtbag every six to 12 months. The small indicator window, located just behind the hose connection port, turns orange when the bag is filled or if there's a blockage.
- SEBO D4 canister body
- Hose w/ handle
- Telescopic wand
- Parquet Brush floorhead
- Crevice tool
- Upholstery tool
- Soft-bristle brush
- 1x Dirtbag
- 1x Exhaust microfilter
- 1x Pre-motor filter
- Exhaust microfilter frame
- Warranty information card
- User guide
The SEBO D4 has exceptional cleaning range. Its power cord is very long, enabling you to clean large areas without swapping electrical outlets. Its telescopic wand also has a reasonably wide adjustment range, so you can find a height that suits your preferences.
The SEBO D4 is decently portable. Its body is quite heavy, especially compared to smaller canister vacuums like the Miele Classic C1. However, it does have a built-in carrying handle that makes it easier to pick up and move from room to room. Its wand also feels very lightweight in your hand, so it isn't too fatiguing to use for extended periods.
The SEBO D4 has quite a few convenience options. The "+" and "-" suction control buttons adjust suction power in minor increments instead of corresponding to a small number of preset settings. This wide range of adjustability allows you to fine-tune suction power to various surfaces. Unlike the Miele Complete C3, the suction control buttons are on the handle instead of the canister body, making it easier to change settings on the fly. A mechanical indicator behind the hose attachment port turns orange if the dirtbag is full or if the vacuum is clogged. There's also a thermal cut-out switch that turns off the motor if the vacuum is overheating due to a blockage or some other mechanical issue.
The SEBO D4 comes with a few tools. There's a crevice tool for tackling debris in tight corners, a soft-bristle dusting brush for cleaning delicate surfaces, and an upholstery tool for sucking up debris on furniture.
You can use the SEBO D4 in a semi-handheld configuration by removing the telescopic wand and connecting another tool to its handle, which is handy for cleaning inside your car or hard-to-reach places.
This vacuum struggles with medium and large debris on hard floors when used with its Kombi floor brush. Much like the Miele Complete C3 with its SBD 285-3 floorhead, this attachment sits too close to the ground and has bristles that are too close together to allow it to pass over large and medium-sized material like cereal or rice, causing it to 'snowplow' this type of material. As with the Miele, you'll need to lift the vacuum head up so that the vacuum can suck everything up. Alternatively, you could also consider purchasing SEBO's Premium Parquet Brush, which has bristles that can be removed at the front so that it can pass over larger debris.
This vacuum delivers decent performance on high-pile carpet when used with the ET-1 powerhead. The attachment's bulky size means that some large and medium-sized material, like rice or cereal, might be left near corners and along walls. You'll need to make a second pass to fully clear away finer material that's been worked deep into carpet fibers. It's also worth noting that a small amount of debris can get stuck in the floorhead and fall out once the vacuum is shut off.
This vacuum offers satisfactory performance on low-pile carpet with the ET-1 powerhead. It easily clears away fine debris like sand that’s been worked into this surface type, and a single back-and-forth pass will clear the majority of larger debris like rice or cereal.
This vacuum does an exceptional job of dealing with pet hair on low-pile carpet. A single back-and-forth pass with the ET-1 powerhead will clear all but the most stubbornly-embedded strands of hair on carpet, to the point where anything remaining is virtually unnoticeable.
The SEBO D4 has very good suction power at its floorhead, making it easier to clear debris in cracks or stubborn messes. You can adjust its suction power using the rocker switch on its handle, but it's worth noting that it defaults to the strongest suction setting on startup.
The SEBO D4 has fantastic airflow performance. Its motor has an advertised output of 1250 watts, which makes it one of the most powerful household vacuums we've tested. It won't have any trouble lifting away even the heaviest of household debris.
The SEBO D4 is impressively quiet. It makes less noise than conventional uprights like the Shark Rotator Lift-Away ADV, allowing you to vacuum without being too disruptive to people in other rooms. The Miele Complete C3 makes even less noise if quiet operation is a major concern.
The SEBO D4 has good maneuverability. The floorhead is very easy to maneuver on bare floors thanks to its smoothly rolling wheels, wide range of articulation, and low-profile design, making it easy to clean under tables and chairs. However, the grippy wheels on the floorhead can make pushing the vacuum around on shag-pile carpeting hard, even when it's set to its lowest suction power level. The canister body isn't too hard to pull around. Unfortunately, its hose is very stiff, making it hard to maneuver in cluttered areas, especially compared to alternatives like the Miele Complete C3. Swapping out attachments is quick and simple, and the onboard storage compartment places the included tools within easy reach.
Using its upholstery tool, the SEBO D4 does a great job dealing with pet hair on furniture. Unlike many comparable upholstery tools, this attachment has small bristled brushes instead of lint strips to help collect debris, making it harder to push around on fabric surfaces.
The SEBO D4 is highly effective when it comes to trapping small allergens. Its filtration system combines a three-layer dirtbag, a pre-motor filter, and an exhaust microfilter that the manufacturer advertises can trap 99.9% of particles as small as 0.3 microns in diameter.
The SEBO D4 is excellent at cleaning debris from cracks. When using its floorhead, it easily cleans debris in shallow and medium-depth cracks, though debris wedged in especially deep crevices can get left behind. You should use its crevice tool if you want to completely clear all debris in deeper cracks.
The SEBO D4 does a terrible job of removing stains. It doesn't have a brushroll to provide some level of surface agitation or any mopping capability.
You can't use this vacuum to clean liquid spills.