Vacuum Shopping Guide

Congratulations! You’ve graduated from the Swiffer and broom era of your first apartment days and you’re upgrading to a top-rated vacuum cleaner that will clean every surface of your home. Or, maybe you’re just looking to see what new vacuums have entered the market since you bought your trusty commercial-grade vacuum back in the 70s. Either way, searching for the best vacuum cleaner is an important task, and we’re here to help you do just that. We’ve compared the best vacuums based on features, capabilities, weight, and suction performance so you can get the right vacuum for your home.

Our Considerations

Features - When you’re of shorter stature, avoid the step stool and instead look for the vacuum that has the extendable wand, such as the Dyson Small Ball. On that especially difficult staircase, you might need the TurboBrush tool of the Bissell 9595A CleanView. Have you just been itching to clean out the area under your fridge? You might want to eye the under-appliance extendable wand of the Shark DuoClean. We’ve highlighted the features of each vacuum to show you which model will get your unique job done.

Flooring Capabilities - From cordless to multi-surface, each vacuum is designed for a specific purpose. Some cleaners are capable of tackling hardwood floors while others are suited for the thicker plush carpets.

The most optimal vacuum cleaner for you will depend heavily on your home’s flooring. Keep an eye out on each vacuum’s flooring specialty — like the Dyson V8 which can easily tackle fine dust particles on the hardwood.

Weight - Carrying a vacuum cleaner from floor to floor can be a task in and of itself. Lighter weight vacuums can be portable and will fly through the job while heavier vacuums may have heavy-duty suction power and unmatched cleaning abilities. If a vacuum has a notably lighter or heavier weight, then you’ll see this in our breakdown.

Suction Performance - What good is a vacuum without suction? The higher the suction power the more particles a vacuum can pull from your carpet. When choosing your next vacuum cleaner, consider which models have built a system designed around increased suction. With difficult pet hair, you may want to find a vacuum that is outstanding in the suction field.

Make Sure it Sucks, But Doesn’t Suck

Cleaning your floors does not have to be a dreadful task when you have the right tools at hand. In order to make the right decision, you’ll need to break down the options that will best suit the surfaces of your home: Do you mostly have hardwood floors? Look at the softer brushes that pick up finer dust. Does your dog have a favorite nap spot in the house? Choose the vacuum that gets that deeper clean to make all that dog hair disappear. Have a three-story home? Grab the lightweight pick. When it comes to vacuum cleaners, not all products are created equal. Luckily, you have our help to differentiate exactly what qualities stand behind each vacuum. Compare our top picks to find the perfect vacuum cleaner for your needs!