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The Spruce / Crea Taylor
Vacuums are an essential cleaning tool for homes of all sizes. “It’s important to have a quality vacuum to ensure your home is cleaned well, especially if you have high-traffic areas with kids or pets,” says Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids. “Vacuums can make grabbing all that debris, hair, dust, and dirt a breeze and, when included in your weekly cleaning regimen, your home will be cleaner, less dusty, and more hygienic.”
Finding a vacuum that’ll actually do its job—suck up all the dirt, crumbs, and pesky pet hair—is trickier than it sounds. But knowing what brands to look for can make your shopping much easier.
We researched the top vacuum brands, evaluating their quality, available features, warranty details, and overall value, to help find a small appliance you’ll rely on for your toughest cleaning tasks. Our favorites include names known for affordability and variety, such as Hoover and Bissell, and more design- and tech-oriented options, like Dyson and iRobot.
Here are the best vacuum brands to suit your needs.
Shark
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Amazon
Wide range of options
Sleek and lightweight designs
Relatively affordable
Widely available
Not as heavy-duty as some other brands
Shark is a subsidiary of SharkNinja, a brand that produces all kinds of small appliances, from blenders to vacuums. Over the years, Shark has become one of the most ubiquitous brands in nearly every category, largely thanks to its appliances' power, reliability, and overall value.
Shark vacuums are no different. You can find these reliable appliances in almost any store selling vacuums. (Of course, you can also find the full suite of options online.) These popular vacuums are not the priciest, but they are highly maneuverable, thanks to their sleek and lightweight designs. They're also highly functional. In our lab testing, the Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum earned a near-perfect 5 out of 5 stars in all testing categories, including maneuverability and effectiveness. Our tester noted that this lightweight stick vacuum required minimal effort to maneuver and sucked up everything (Cheerios, hair, and more).
In addition to minimalist but mighty cordless options, the company sells upright, handheld, canister, and robot vacuums at a wide range of price points. Our testing team also praised one of the brand's most popular, budget-friendly models—the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352, a bagless upright vacuum—for its easy setup and effective steering. While Shark models may not be as hardy as offerings from other brands, many have desirable extras like a self-cleaning brush roll to detangle hair that gets stuck.
Dyson
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Innovative designs
Sleek and lightweight models
Easy to maintain
Expensive
Not as heavy-duty as some other brands
If you’re shopping for a vacuum, you’ve probably heard of Dyson. The brand is largely considered the gold standard for effectiveness and design, with a reputation for offering easy-to-maintain and innovative machines with substantial suction and fully-sealed systems complete with washable filters for easy maintenance.
The majority of the brand’s machines are cordless and stick or handheld, but Dyson makes canister and upright models, too. In our lab tests, we were most impressed with the Dyson v8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner. It was extremely easy to store and assemble, is equipped with two powerful suction modes, and even has a motorized cleaning head for deep cleaning carpets and rugs. If you love all things tech, you might also want to check out the Dyson V15 Detect cordless vacuum, which uses laser technology to help reveal hidden dust, so you can get a deeper clean.
The one big downside to Dyson? Even though their machines are plastic like other more affordable brands, Dyson has a pervasive reputation for being very expensive overall.
Bissell
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Bissell
Highly reputable
Powerful machines
Budget-friendly
Not as heavy-duty as some other brands
Models don’t generally have HEPA filters
Bissell produces highly affordable vacuums for every type of household. It also holds authority in the commercial vacuum space, making some of the most powerful models available.
In our hands-on testing of several top vacuums, Bissell canister and handheld models earned high marks. Our tester gave the Bissell Bagless Hard Floor Expert Deluxe Canister Vacuum a perfect 5 out of 5 stars for effectiveness, maneuverability, set up, and noise level. Most notably, it was incredibly powerful but whisper-quiet on a range of hard and carpeted surfaces.
A signature feature of the brand is that its vacuums tend to be some of the most inexpensive on the market. While this is a huge bonus for many—especially considering the functionality—it’s worth noting that the sacrifice comes at the expense of the build. Though lightweight and portable, the plastic design can feel a bit flimsy for heavy-duty cleaning tasks. Overall, the value is there, though, making Bissel an appealing choice for the average household’s cleaning needs.
Miele
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Miele
Highly durable
Powerful machines
Highly reputable
Not as wide of a range of products
Very expensive
Miele is a manufacturer with a solid reputation across a wide range of products, including dishwashers, coffee makers, and vacuum cleaners. Though it may not be the most pervasive brand of vacuums in the United States, the company makes quality products. Its lineup mainly consists of canister vacuums (bagged or bagless), though you can find some stick alternatives and even two smart robot vacuums—the Miele Scout RX3 and the Scout RX3 Home Vision.
Like other appliances in Miele's suite of products, its vacuums have the reputation of being exceptionally durable, well-performing, and long-lasting (with proper care). They are expensive, though. In tests for the best vacuum, we chose the Miele Compact C1 Turbo Team Bagged Canister Vacuum as our Best Splurge pick because it's such an investment. However, this model is worth the extra cost; the machine easily gobbled up just about everything, plus it was great in tight nooks and crannies. Our tester adored this model, noting that it operated so quietly that "it's ridiculous."
Most Miele vacuums also come with a two-year warranty—a nice bonus, particularly given the price point.
Hoover
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Hoover
Affordable
Wide range of products
Not as heavy-duty as other options
You've probably heard of Hoover—and even if you haven't, you've likely spotted the brand's products in old movies at one point or another. That's because the vacuum brand has been around for just about as long as vacuums have existed. The brand began in the early 20th century when Henry Hoover bought the patent from James Spangler, the creator of the first portable electric vacuum. Now part of the Whirlpool family, Hoover vacuums are manufactured by TTI Floor Care North America, the same family of companies that produce other well-known vacuum brands like Oreck and Dirt Devil.
The machines aren't the most durable models on the market, but they are all relatively affordable and well-received. The Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner was our favorite handheld vacuum in our lab testing. It excelled at picking up cereal, pet hair, popcorn kernels, and flour from hardwood floors and various area rugs. It also scored high for maneuverability, thanks to its tapered nozzle that slips right under couches—which you could also use in a car cup holder and along baseboards.
Since it's a long-standing name in the vacuum space, you can easily find Hoover models online. Canister, upright, stick, handheld, bagged, bagless, you name it, and the company makes it.
Samsung
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Samsung
Great tech features
Very powerful
Expensive
Can be difficult to set up
Samsung may be better known for its larger appliances, like refrigerators, but it also makes smaller appliances like vacuums. Like other Samsung products, the brand's vacuums focus on technological features that make them easier to use and maneuver. The vast majority of models in the line are sleek and lightweight—they don't make large, bulky canisters. Instead, you'll find plenty of stick and handheld options, plus ultra-smart robot vacuums that do the hard work for you.
In our testing, the Samsung Jet 90 Complete Cordless Stick Vacuum was a home-tester favorite. It was extremely powerful, leaving fresh lines on carpet and sucking up cheerios off both carpet and hardwood in one back and forth swipe. Samsung also has one of the prettiest vacuums we've ever seen—the Bespoke Jet, an all-in-one cordless stick vacuum that's both light and powerful. Though it weighs 24 percent less than previous Samsung stick vacuum models, it delivers 210 air watts of suction power.
In general, these smarter vacuums are great options, but it's worth noting that the excess of features can make them a bit difficult to set up. Not to mention, the suite of vacuums skews on the more expensive side.
Tineco
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Walmart
Sleek and innovative products
Come with a wide range of attachments
Not many product offerings
The Tineco brand isn’t as well known and has a much smaller suite of vacuums, but the company has positioned its product line to be a great competitor of the very ubiquitous Dyson brand. Like Dyson, their machines are sleek and innovative. No matter which vacuum in the line you select, you’ll find a wide array of attachments to help you accomplish just about any task, big or small.
In our lab tests, the Tineco Floor One S3 Smart Wet/Dry Vacuum excelled, especially on hardwood floors. It performs smoothly and efficiently on smooth surfaces and can even thoroughly mop your floor if you make use of the dual tanks. It’s also very quiet and a breeze to set up, adding to the convenience.
No matter which vacuum you choose, Tineco offers a two-year warranty to give you more confidence in your purchase.
iRobot
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Best Buy
High-tech
Largely autonomous
Require regular maintenance
Can’t hold as much
Expensive
Compared to some others on the market, iRobot is a relatively new-to-market brand. Developed in 1990 by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through a program focused on creating robots for scientific and medical use, vacuums from this brand are tech-focused and, in a way, are just as much tech gadgets as they are appliances.
You won't find all of the traditional types of vacuums, but you will find the original robot vacuum and several robot mops with smart features such as floor mapping and voice control. Though they are generally on the pricier side, the machines come at various price points to help you find the right one for your budget.
If you're interested in robot vacuums and have pets, the iRobot Roomba 694 might be one to consider. Our lab and real-world testers appreciated its effectiveness at capturing pet hair without tangling and its hands-free operation. If there's any downside to these machines' autonomy, it's that they require charging and regular maintenance. Not to mention, they typically can't hold as much dirt and debris as other models can.
Roborock
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The Home Depot
Innovative products
Largely autonomous
Require regular maintenance
Can’t hold as much
Another relatively new vacuum manufacturer, Roborock is becoming more widely known for its robot vacuums, mops, and hybrids. The brand's reputation is growing, because the small smart appliances tend to be well-built and maneuver well with full autonomy, taking the work largely out of your hands.
One of the brand’s latest models is also the most powerful—the Roborock S7 MaxV Ultra. This hybrid model vacuums and mops. And, unlike other robot vacuums that don’t fit as much dirt and debris inside, this model has a dust bag that holds up to seven weeks of dust. It’s also better equipped to navigate obstacles in its path, thanks to an RGB camera, 3D structured light, and an all-new neural processing unit that recognizes objects in its path more accurately, regardless of lighting conditions.
At the end of the day, this is definitely a brand to keep an eye on as it continues to innovate in a very in-demand space.
eufy by Anker
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Walmart
Innovative products
Largely autonomous
More budget-friendly than other robot brands
Require regular maintenance
Can’t hold as much
An electronics company at heart, eufy manufacturers a wide range of smart home devices, from baby monitors and security cameras to video doorbells and smart vacuums. The big draw to its robot vacuums is the relative affordability. In general, eufy's offerings are priced more competitively than other brands like iRobot and Roborock—perhaps due to the brand's more extensive lineup of products.
The vacuums are very compact and autonomous—great for small spaces occupied by busy professionals. But despite their compact size, they're high functioning. Users largely report that these robot vacuums perform well on bare surfaces like hardwood and tile. The eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 30C MAX is a prime example. Our lab and home testers confirmed this effectiveness and appreciated the unique BoostIQ feature—that automatically changes the suction power mode depending on the surface. Just don't rely on these machines for carpeted floors—the technology is lacking in this department. And, like other autonomous vacuums, you'll need to budget for regular maintenance to keep it in tip-top shape.
This brand doesn't just have robot vacuums, though. The company also recently launched the HomeVac H30, an all-in-one stick vacuum that's small and lightweight enough to reach all the nooks and crannies of the car but is also powerful enough to deep clean any room in your house. Another bonus: Although eufy is generally a more affordable tech-savvy option, the company offers warranties on all its vacuums, ranging from 12 to 24 months.
What to Look for in a Vacuum Brand
Types of Vacuums Offered
While brand recognition is a consideration and a higher price tends to represent quality, the number one criterion is choosing the correct functionality for your home, says Jamie Sandford of Home Flooring Pros. Do you need a hard floor vacuum, a carpet vacuum, or a mix of the two? Is your home on multiple levels? If so, consider a lightweight vacuum, like a stick or a handheld instead of a heavier canister.
If you only vacuum weekly, then great suction takes precedence—so look for something more heavy-duty, like a reliable Miele canister you won’t mind lugging out from time to time. And, of course, if you’re very short on time, you might consider a robot vacuum from iRobot or eufy, even if it does require a little maintenance after routine vacuuming.
Cost
Vacuum prices range greatly. You can get a machine for as little as $100 from a brand like Hoover, but you can also spend as much as upwards of $1,000 for a name like Dyson or Miele. And while higher prices tend to indicate quality (better motor and suction power, etc.), it is highly possible to get a quality vacuum at a lower price point. If you want a cheaper vacuum, look for a handheld, like a dust buster, or a cordless stick vacuum from brands such as Bissell or Hoover. Just note you probably won’t get as much suction power. If you really need a deep clean—say, you have kids or pets—you may want to invest in more expensive canister or upright vacuums.
Where You Can Shop
You can buy vacuums from a number of retailers, both brick-and-mortar and online. If you want to shop in person, check out electronics, appliance, and hardware stores in particular—just note that not all retailers will offer all brands or even the full suite of products from one particular brand. Online retailers like Amazon, plus the websites of traditional stores like Target, Walmart, Best Buy, and Home Depot will also offer a very wide range of vacuums from well-known names such as Shark and Dyson. The tradeoff? You won’t get to see a floor model in person. Ultimately, how you shop is just a matter of personal preference.
Specialty Attachments and Features
Most vacuums come with a few different attachments and nozzles to help you get the appropriate clean. Some brands, such as Shark and Tineco, offer different attachments for different floor types, plus a few specialty attachments for getting into corners or vacuuming upholstery. Be sure to check the spec sheet to find out exactly which vacuum features you’ll get. Other vacuums also have enhanced features like HEPA air filters or modes that switch automatically.
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How long should a vacuum last?
The longevity of a vacuum generally depends on the upfront investment made, says Sandford. “Under $100, the durability of your vacuum is limited—unless you are very gentle with the equipment.” For basic machines, two years is a relatively expected lifespan. But, if you’re willing to make a larger initial investment and take care of your machine, you can expect it to perform well for closer to three to five years.
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What are the best places to buy a vacuum?
The best place to shop for a vacuum is based mainly on personal preference. Do you prefer to shop online or in person? If you ask Sandford, “The best place to buy a vacuum is the cheapest place to buy it. Gone are the days when the retailer you buy the vacuum from is also the place that will repair it for you, so you might as well get the best price.”
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Is a bagged or bagless vacuum better?
Experts say bagless is inherently more convenient and, therefore, the better option. "I want the most practicality that I can get from my vacuum, so bagless has to be the way to go," says Sandford. "The cost of vacuum bags, remembering to order them, constantly checking if it's time to change the bag, changing the bags...life is too short!"
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How do you choose a vacuum?
Focus on functionality, says Sandford. Do you need a hard floor vacuum, a carpet vacuum, or a hybrid? If you need something lightweight and convenient to pull out at any time, consider a vacuum like a stick or a handheld instead of a heavier canister. If you only vacuum weekly, opt for a heavier-duty model with a powerful suctioning canister you won’t mind lugging out here and there. And, of course, if convenience is key, consider a robot vacuum since they’re largely autonomous.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Brigitt Earley, a freelance writer who has spent nearly 15 years writing about consumer products like home appliances, both large and small. Brigitt has four kids, and a large lab that sheds excessively, so as you can imagine, having a great vacuum is of utmost importance. While she used to focus largely on price, looking for the most inexpensive option available, she quickly realized suction power is key—regardless of price. As such, she’s since invested in a Dyson canister vacuum. While it’s a little heavier, it’s incredibly effective and well worth the price.
To curate this list, Brigitt relied on her personal experience, plus dove deep into the results of tests conducted by The Spruce, scoured bestseller lists and online reviews, and consulted cleaning professionals like Jamie Sandford of Home Flooring Pros and Kathy Cohoon, operations manager at Two Maids.
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