The 7 Best Vacuums for Allergies of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  2.5/5

Upright vacuums are a great model to turn to for completely enclosed dustbins and motorheads that lock allergens inside. The Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum, which has a completely sealed HEPA filter to capture over 99.9 percent of dust and allergens, impressed us during testing with an easy-to-maneuver and effective design that makes cleaning anything from high-pile carpet to hard flooring a breeze. This vacuum took just five minutes to complete thanks to three easy-to-connect pieces. The floor head easily picked up hair and larger debris on both tile and hardwood floors, and we were especially impressed with its edge-cleaning capabilities. This specific design has a feature that allows you to turn off the brush bar when cleaning slick flooring surfaces, which helps reduce scratches and minimize debris spread.

It performed just as well on carpet, but we noted that the suction is so strong that we struggled to maneuver the vacuum on high-pile carpet. The owner's manual makes a point of this. You can adjust the suction release collar to make it easier to move on carpets. Hair did become tangled on this vacuum's brush bar, which was slightly annoying and could be bothersome to users with especially high allergies, but it was easy to cut off with a pair of scissors. When testing this model on stairs, we opted to clean with the hose, rather than the motor head and found this to be easier than struggling with the entire vacuum's weight up a flight of steps. It was also easy to use the crevice tool and upholstery tool to clean an armchair. We found that placing the removable pod on the floor is best when navigating stairs or other tight areas, rather than carrying it, but we still enjoy this feature for its added portability.

We found the emptying process just as smooth as operating this vacuum. Simply press two hooks to release the dust bin from the main unit and then another hook at the bottom of the dustbin releases the contents into a trash can. Overall, we were very pleased with how efficient and effective this upright vacuum is and it's HEPA filter will help keep allergies at bay in your home.

Price at time of publish: $220

_{Weight: 15.96 pounds | Bin Volume: 0.9 quarts | Battery Life: Not applicable | Cord Length: 25 feet | Cleaning Path Width: 11 inches | Filter Type: HEPA filter | Included Accessories: Upholstery tool and crevice tool}

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

Ranked one of the best vacuum cleaners, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra not only easily picked up every type of debris during our lab tests, but it also boasts powerful filtration and unique attachments designed with allergy sufferers and pet owners in mind. This upright vacuum is on the expensive side, which made it just shy of our best overall title. However, if you're wanting to splurge on a vacuum that truly delivers on cleaning power, consider the Animal 3 Extra an excellent candidate.

After struggling a bit through the vacuum setup—Dyson doesn't provide written instructions for assembly, only images—this upright vacuum was ready to tackle any surface and mess we threw its way. The vacuum's adjustable floor head has three modes so you can change the suction and roller bar height depending on the surface you're cleaning. Dyson's Motorbar cleaner head is equipped with stiff nylon bristles to reach into thick carpet. It effectively picks up hair, and it has de-tangling vanes to prevent hair from wrapping around it. In our tests, we noticed that this vacuum head has a tendency to spit out larger debris before sucking it up, which is slightly frustrating. But setting the vacuum to the high-pile carpet cleaning mode can help it tackle larger debris.

Along with the peace of mind that comes from a clean home, you can also feel confident about the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra's filtration abilities. The washable post-motor filter can trap up to 99.97 percent of particles as small as 0.3 micron (standard in HEPA filters). We found that there's a learning curve for emptying this vacuum properly. The instructions were not clear for removing the dust bin, which resulted in a spill in the lab. However, once we figured out how to properly remove the bin, it was easy to empty. We did have to remove hair from the dust bin by hand because of static cling.

We appreciate the suite of attachments that come with this upright vacuum, making it an excellent all-around cleaning tool. Whether you want to detail tight corners, rid upholstery of pet hair, or efficiently clean your home's stairs, this vacuum has an attachment for it. The attachments are also key to counteracting this vacuum's rather heavy build. When it comes to cleaning stairs, we think it might be easier to pair the stair tool with the 15-foot extension hose, rather than lug the whole vacuum up and down. Overall, this vacuum may be a more expensive choice, but its suction power, filtration system, and attachments make it a competitive choice for busy households—and certainly worthy of the top spot on our list of the best Dyson vacuums.

Price at time of publish: $410

_{Weight: 17.3 pounds | Bin Volume: 1.8 quarts | Battery Life: Not applicable | Cord Length: 35 feet | Cleaning Path Width: 11.02 inches | Filter Type: Whole-machine filtration | Included Accessories: Combination brush and crevice tool, stair tool, pet groom tool, tangle-free turbine tool}

Best Budget

Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister Vacuum Cleaner

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.9/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  3/5

Can't afford to spend a mint on a new machine? This affordable and bagless model from Eureka proves that you can clear your home of allergens at any price point. It sucks up dust, debris, and pet dander, thanks to its 2.5-liter dust cup and cyclone filtration system. We noted that the washable cup made hair removal easy, without spending effort and time snipping away at a tangled mess. When you wash out the cup, we suggest following the manufacturer's advice and waiting 24 hours to let it fully air dry.

With just a tap of a button, this vacuum adjusts to accommodate and clean various surfaces, including hardwood floors, low-pile carpets, and even upholstery. Plus, this machine has a convenient retractable cord, which makes putting away this vac so quick and easy.

The accompanying tools may be limited, but the crevice tool and brush make sure your whole house gets the same thorough cleaning as your floors. The handheld hose can tackle corners and nooks, including baseboards and window ledges. This lightweight model is one of our favorite canister vacuums—at just 8 pounds it's a breeze to carry up the stairs and throughout the home.

Price at time of publish: $90

_{Weight: 8.15 pounds | Bin Volume: 1.2 liters | Battery Life: Not applicable | Cord Length:  16 feet | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Filter Type: Washable | Included Accessories: Crevice tool, brush}

Best Handheld

Nicebay Handheld Cordless Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Ease of Emptying
  3.8/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5
• Setup
  5/5

It's not common to find a handheld vacuum equipped with a HEPA filter, so we were excited to test this vacuum in The Lab, and it did not disappoint. It required minimal setup—just twist the motor onto the dust bin and it's ready to go. This tiny vacuum excelled in all of our tests removing hair and crumbs from carpet, a high chair table, a car seat, and an upholstered chair—securing it a spot on our list of the best dustbusters. We found the only debris it really struggled with was raisins, which became sticky and made a mess on the suction nozzle. It sucked up hair with no issues, but when it came time to empty the dust bin, we noticed that the hair had become tangled around the filter. While this may be a better alternative to cleaning hair out of a roller brush, we still think it's an unpleasant task, especially for any user with sensitive allergies.

As should be expected with such a slim design, this vacuum required frequent emptying during our tests, which could also be frustrating, if you're cleaning up a larger mess. However, we recommend using this vacuum as a quick alternative to a larger upright or stick model for smaller messes throughout the week, rather than your go-to for a deep cleaning session. We also noted that the price is much higher than we'd typically consider for a handheld vacuum, but the HEPA filtration paired with the slim design makes this vacuum model worth the splurge in our book.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Weight: 1.24 pounds | Bin Volume: Not listed | Battery Life: 26 minutes | Cord Length: Not applicable | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Filter Type: HEPA filter | Included Accessories: Charging dock, crevice tool, and brush tool}

Best Cordless

Tineco Pure One S11 Smart Stick/Handheld Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5
• Portability
  5/5

The Tineco Pure One S11 TANGO not only comes with all of the brand's beloved features—an LED display, iLoop dust sensor, and wall-mounted charging dock—but it's also equipped with a four-stage, sealed filter system, which includes HEPA filtration to trap particles as small as 0.3 microns. Like the brand's other vacuum models, this vacuum's LED display provides constant information about the battery power, suction power, malfunction alerts, and dust sensing.

When used in iLoop mode, this vacuum automatically adjusts its suction power when it senses dust, and the LED screen also lights up red when suction is increased. This vacuum breezed through all of our surface tests, and it was very easy to maneuver. We did find that the power brush struggled to pick up scattered Cheerios on hardwood flooring—for such a task, you might need to use one of the attachments. Even so, we gave this model a perfect score for effectiveness. On the plus side, very little hair wrapped around the power brush during our testing.

When it comes time to empty this stick vacuum, we recommend using two hands, as the lever to open the dust cup is slightly tricky to use. If any hair does happen to get caught on the brush roll, you can easily remove the power brush to rinse it clean. Tineco also provides a hair-cleaning tool with your purchase.

Overall, we found a lot to appreciate in this lightweight stick vacuum, from its easy assembly to its adjustable suction power. One member of our testing team noted that she would consider purchasing this vacuum for herself and would even pay more for its effectiveness, compared to other expensive models.

Price at time of publish: $340

_{Weight: 5.84 pounds | Bin Volume: 0.63 quarts | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Cord Length: Not applicable | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Filter Type: HEPA filter | Included Accessories: Multi-tasker power brush, soft roller power brush, mini power brush, 2-in-1 dusting brush, crevice tool, pre-filter cleaning tool, extra microfiber pre-filter, hair cleaning tool, wall mount}

Best Bagged

Kenmore Floor Care Elite Bagged Upright Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  3.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.5/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

Many modern vacuum cleaners are bagless, but if you prefer a bagged vacuum to keep dust and allergens trapped even as you empty it, the Kenmore Elite Pet & Allergy Friendly Upright Vacuum is a great option. This model is certified by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, so you know it’s a strong choice for allergy season and everyday life. Although this upright model doesn't have the swivel joint that our top picks have, we think the bagged dust bin and other suction control features still make this a worthy pick. Plus, the bagged feature makes it a great vacuum for pet hair to keep allergens trapped inside.

This vacuum’s motor system has more power than the average upright, and the brush head has five height adjustments so you can efficiently clean both hard floors and thick carpets. It even switches off the rotating head when cleaning bare floors to avoid spitting larger debris, while still maintaining full suction. This vacuum also has a HEPA filter to capture microscopic particles, plus an infrared dirt sensor that detects dust and dirt you might not be able to see. We noted that this model is on the heavier side, weighing in at 20 pounds, which might make it difficult to clean stairs in your home. However, we appreciate its pet-friendly tool, the Pet HandiMate, which makes cleaning pet hair off upholstery much easier, and could easily be used to tackle stairs with the addition of the extension wand. This vacuum is more expensive than other options in our roundup and buying replacement bags adds to the cost, but we think it's worth the splurge, especially for users who have severe reactions during allergy season.

Price at time of publish: $370

_{Weight: 21 pounds | Bin Volume: 3.48 quarts | Battery Life: Not applicable | Cord Length: 30 feet | Cleaning Path Width: 12.75 inches | Filter Type: HEPA filter | Included Accessories: Pet HandiMate tool, extension wand, crevice tool, brush dusting tool}