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Compare our favorite vacuum cleaners
Honorable mentions
BISSELL PowerClean FurFinder for $200: This was our previous top pick for the best cordless vacuum, and it’s still a great, affordable vacuum. But normal Bissell Power Clean ($150) They’re a little cheaper because they don’t come with the FurFinder upholstery attachment, while Dyson and Ryobi vacuums have more suction power for pet hair.
Black & Decker Dustbuster Flex, $110: This is another great portable vacuum cleaner for cars or even for indoor areas like stairs. It has a 4-foot hose, which is longer than most compact vacuums, and a handy little charging dock into which the accessories attach. Thank God for the charging base, the battery only lasts 15 minutes.
Dyson Gen5 Detect Cordless Device for $800: This is the best Dyson vacuum right now, and it’s great, especially for homes with a lot of pet hair. But they’re expensive and rarely go on sale, making them a difficult upgrade while you’ll still have a great experience with the Dyson V15 Detect. This vacuum cleaner has a HEPA filter, while the V15 Detect does not.
Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones for $450: This is a unique vacuuming experience. It’s an impressive feat with the motor and dustbin built into the slim handle. There’s the Fluffycones version, which I tested, which has four cone-shaped rollers in the head, and a cheaper Fluffy version. I was impressed with the PencilVac Fluffycones’ maneuverability and often found myself grabbing them between runs of my robot vacuum to keep debris and cat litter under control. It’s also lightweight, easy to push, and has a self-contained charging dock. But they are a bit expensive because they are only intended for hardwood floors.
Ecofax Deebot X11 Omnicyclone for $999: If you want a newer robot vacuum, the Ecovacs Deebot X11 Omnicyclone has a unique dust bagless design. Instead, it has a round canister like a Dyson or vacuum cleaner, that rotates around debris to keep it from getting tangled. It’s a good design, and overall it’s a great robot vacuum, especially if you don’t want to buy dust bags over and over again.
Eufy X10 Pro Omni for $480: This was our previous top pick for a robot vacuum. It’s still a great, well-priced option for a robot vacuum that can vacuum and mop, and has 8,000 Pa of suction power. But Eufy has a newer model you can get for a little more if you want a self-cleaning spin mop instead of the spin pads, with almost double the suction power.
Roborock Saros 20 for $1,600: Roborock’s newest robot vacuum is generally very good, but WIRED reviewer Adrienne So noticed that it left debris on her hardwood floors, specifically on the divider when she transitioned from her carpet to hardwood floors. This may be a fault with the super suction, which reaches 36,000 Pa. There are some other features you hope will work better as well, including the AdaptiLift feature and the experimental spot detection feature. We’ve been in contact with Roborock about these issues, but overall, it’s a solid robot vacuum.
Tineco Pure One 5 Station for $459: If you want a cordless vacuum but don’t want to deal with emptying it all the time, This is a Tinico vacuum Comes with a self-discharging docking station. You’ll eventually have to empty the station, but it’s a nice added feature and keeps the vacuum from falling around your house since it’s safely stored in the docking station.
Frequently asked questions
Which style of vacuum is right for you?
To help you choose which one to buy, here’s what makes each style of vacuum great.
- Cordless or vacuum cleaners: These vacuums look like the last name suggests, with a long stick-like arm that connects the vacuum head to the canister and controls. You’ll need to keep this in a way that you don’t have to with an upright vacuum, but it’s powerful and very easy to move. It makes a great main vacuum, and is especially great if you have multiple floors that need to be vacuumed as it’s easy to carry up and down stairs.
- Robot vacuums: Robotic vacuums are great for cleaning for you and are controlled through the app. There are many models that work as a mop as well. You’ll have to spend some time moving the furniture around to get the best cleaning possible, and you’ll usually still want to use a regular vacuum cleaner of some sort. But they are great for frequent cleaning in homes with children and pets.
- Portable vacuums: Portable vacuum cleaners are great for targeted cleaning or for cleaning specific areas like stairs and cars. Most manual vacuums can convert to a handheld vacuum, but true handhelds are much lighter and have a more compact design (but they also sacrifice battery power and trash capacity).
What about upright vacuum cleaners?
The upright vacuum is the original classic upright vacuum that stands upright on its own, is much heavier than a cordless vacuum, and requires a connection to an outlet to operate. We don’t have an upright vacuum to recommend, since cordless vacuums have become the main focus for most shoppers (and like frequent vacuums, we usually resort to cordless and robot vacuums anyway). We’re considering upright vacuums to test in the future, so feel free to comment on this guide with models we should consider.
Do you need a stick vacuum and a handheld vacuum?
Do you need a handheld vacuum if you already have a cordless vacuum? Probably not, because most sticky vacuums can convert into a handheld vacuum. A stick or cordless vacuum usually allows you to remove the stick portion from between the vacuum head and the canister base and instead connect these two pieces directly, making it a handheld vacuum. They will be much heavier than a hand-only vacuum and may be annoying in some use cases, but you don’t need both unless there is a specific reason. A handheld device is a good addition if you already have an upright vacuum that you love and don’t need to replace.
How often should you replace your vacuum cleaner?
Vacuum cleaners last about five years, depending on frequency of use and build quality. Some cheap vacuums may only last a year or two, so it’s worth investing in a better vacuum rather than a cheap gimmick. If you’re interested in learning about the signs that your vacuum cleaner may need to be replaced, check out our website A guide to how long vacuum cleaners can last.
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