Start by determining the best vacuum for the type of cleaning you do. If you have wall-to-wall carpet, or just lots of rugs, uprights, especially with a bag, do best overall. But if you have lots of stairs—or hardwood, laminate, or tile floors—canisters can be easier to maneuver. Stick and hand-held vacuums are great for lighter tasks that need quick attention; a robotic device is an option for the set-it-and-go crowd. And central vacuums could be an option if you're ready for that installation commitment. (But we don't test that type.) For the best vacuums in all categories at a price that's right for you, go to our Vacuum Cleaner Ratings. Pros: Uprights tend to cost less than canister vacuums and offer a wider cleaning swath. They are generally better at deep-cleaning carpets—particularly the bagged models. Most are easy to store. Cons: Pushing and pulling the weight of the machine. Some top performers weigh 20 pounds or more, although lighter models can still do the job.

Uprights tend to be noisier than canisters. Upright Vacuum Cleaner Ratings Pros: Canisters are better than uprights for cleaning bare floors, stairs, drapes, and upholstery, and under furniture – and some are as good as uprights at cleaning carpets. Most are quieter, and the separate power head makes them seem lighter as well. Cons: Overall, these vacuums are bulkier than their upright brethren. The hose and wand make a canister harder to squeeze into a closet. Canister Vacuum Cleaner Ratings Pros: Like uprights, they have tall bodies and handles, and a powerhead. They're lightweight and convenient when you need to quickly clean up a mess. They also eliminate having to bend over to clean a dirty floor. Cons: Most don't perform as well on carpet as full-size vacuums. They are mainly suited for picking up surface litter and aren't a replacement for a conventional vacuum. The capacity of their dirt bin is typically small. Most are fairly noisy. Stick Vacuum Cleaner Ratings

Pros: These miniature electric models come corded or cordless. They're handy for light, quick surface cleaning on short-pile carpets and bare floors; some can handle pet hair on upholstery. They're also useful for cleaning up your car's interior. Cons: They lack the power and capacity of full-sized upright or canister models. Hand-Held Vacuum Cleaner Ratings Pros: Robotic vacuums do the grunge work while you relax. heavy duty vacuum cleaner ukIn uncluttered rooms, a robotic can touch up between regular, manual vacuuming sessions. delonghi steam vacuum cleanerThe better models can find their way out of tight spots and around extension cords. vacuum cleaner in 1869A few of the newest models can even be controlled by an app on your smartphone.

Cons: No robotic vacuum can match the deep cleaning you'll get from the best uprights and canisters. Not the ideal choice if you have shag carpeting or area rugs. Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Ratings Pros: They're easier to use than a canister. With no vacuum body to pull along, you carry only the hose and powerhead. Central vacuums tend to be relatively quiet, and their dirt chambers need to be emptied infrequently. Cons: Central vacuums are pricey and can require professional installation. Their 30-foot hoses can be cumbersome and take up storage space. And there's no in-unit place to store cleaning tools while you work. We don't currently test central vacuum cleaners. Interactive Video Buying Guide Watch our interactive video below. You can skip to different chapters on types, features, robotic vacuums, and stick vacuums. What to Consider While Shopping Modern vacuums come in a range of designs, sleek shapes, and cool colors. But what matters most is how well they clean.

Remember that one type of vacuum might have features that appeal to you, but it should also fit your cleaning needs. Pet owners, take note: Upright and canister vacuum cleaners that excel at regular jobs tested best in show for picking up pet hair. A vacuum cleaner with a motorized brush cleans carpets better than one powered only by suction. A switch that can deactivate the brush will help protect the finish of bare floors and avoid scattering debris. Consider models with a manual carpet pile-height adjustment control, along with suction control for cleaning draperies and other delicate fabrics. Bagless vacuum cleaners save on the cost of purchasing bags but they also require more filters that need periodic cleaning or—for HEPA filters—replacing. The dust and mess of emptying their bins can be a concern if you have asthma or allergies. Even if you order online, go to a store first. Push, pull, turn, and lift the vacuum cleaners you're considering. Check out the controls and features.

If an online price is low, see if the store will match it. Keep an Ear Out for Noise No vacuum cleaner reached the level at which we recommend hearing protection, but any vacuum will seem louder in a room with a lot of echo, such as a tiled bathroom. Canister vacuums tend to be quieter. Discounts of 20 to 30 percent off are increasingly available, especially during the holiday season. For mass-market brands, you don't have to wait until Black Friday. Check store circulars or sign up on manufacturer or retailer email lists to receive coupons and news of upcoming promotions. Some vacuum cleaner features improve performance or take some of the drudgery out of cleaning. But don't be dazzled by gadgets. Here are the more useful vacuum features to consider.NerdWallet Shopping’s scoring of the best vacuums for pet owners are based on our analysis of the opinions of experts and shoppers like you. Picking a vacuum isn’t easy. And when you have a specific need, like expert pet cleanup, searching through all those reviews can feel like a real chore.

We researched some of the most popular models on the market to make your decision less confusing. To narrow down the field, we looked at expert opinions from review sites such as The Sweethome, CNET and Good Housekeeping. Next, we analyzed user reviews to see what shoppers were saying about the various attributes of each vacuum. We recognize that consumers look for different qualities in vacuums, so we scored users’ observations on multiple features of top models, including their performance on carpet and hard surfaces. Our scores range from a low of 1 to a high of 10. Here’s how we devised them: Overall score: The overall score reflects reviewers’ satisfaction with each vacuum in 10 categories, including how well it cleans across various surfaces, ease of use, durability and noise. How well it cleans: This score reflects reviewers’ satisfaction with the vacuum’s performance on carpet and hard floors, including hardwood, bare, tile and vinyl. It also considers their satisfaction with the vacuum’s ability to clean up pet hair and debris.

Ease of use: This score reflects reviewers’ satisfaction with the vacuum’s ability to maneuver, including its weight and cord length; the process of emptying or cleaning it out; and whether it was considered easy to operate. Here are our top 10, ranked in order of overall score. 1. Shark Rotator NV752 The Shark Rotator NV752 is an upright vacuum that features power-lift-away technology that allows it to deep-clean even the tightest corners. But the feature pet owners really love is the TruePet mini motorized attachment, which powers deep into carpets and upholstery, extracting dirt, dust and allergens. Thoroughly picks up all pet hair Its performance on stairs 2. Miele S8590 Alize The Miele S8590 Alize was a winner across the board, maneuvering deftly across a variety of surfaces, with the canister vacuum’s headlight illuminating the way as it eliminates dust, debris and all pet hair. Its ability to pick up pet hair Its performance on bare floors and stairs

Its performance on carpets and rugs 3. Dyson V6 Motorhead Users of the Dyson V6 Motorhead could not say enough about this powerful, cordless stick vac’s cleaning power — especially the way its mini motorized tool worked its magic on wayward pet fur. Adaptable cleaning power on carpets, hard flooring and stairs Small dust cup can be messy to empty Handle-motor combination is awkward for some 4. Hoover Platinum UH30010COM The ultra-light upright Hoover Platinum comes with a removable canister to clean those off-the-floor jobs, illuminated fingertip controls, two speed settings, a self-sealing HEPA bag, and the ability to extract pet hair from the deepest carpets. Expertly picks up pet hair, even out of deep-pile carpets Effective and easy to use on stairs Not as effective on hard flooring A light but powerful stick vacuum, the Dyson V6 has a detachable wand that makes it easy to reach difficult spaces, features a mess-free push-button bin emptying and offers a max power mode that will make you forget that Fido even sheds.

The way it makes cat or dog hair disappear Fantastic on hard floors and stairs 6. Miele S7260 Cat and Dog This powerful upright transitions from carpets to hard floors and back again with just the flick of a switch. And the Miele S7260 Cat and Dog’s turbo brush attachment makes cleaning up pet hair from upholstery and stairs a breeze. Thoroughly sweeps up pet hair Cleans carpeting and hard floors equally well Attachment hose could be longer 7. Miele Jazz S7280 Its SwivelNeck technology makes the Miele Jazz S7280 easy to maneuver, its electrobrush means the vacuum adjusts automatically to different types of flooring, and it unfolds flat to the floor for cleaning those awkward areas where pet hair tends to gather. Powerful suction makes pet hair disappear Excels on all types of flooring Falls short on stairs — especially if they’re carpeted Its heavy weight can be a problem 8. Hoover WindTunnel Pet UH70935 This powerful upright vacuum features a 10-inch stretch hose, a foot-long telescopic extension wand, easy-to-use carpet height adjusters, and a suction-only mode.

But what dog and cat owners really love are its air-powered, rubber-bladed pet hand tool, crevice tool and pet upholstery brush. Four different ways to remove pet hair Hand-vac works well on stairs Heavy weight impedes maneuverability 9. Neato Botvac BV85 The first robot vacuum to make our list, the Neato Botvac BV85 comes equipped with a combo brush designed specifically to pick up pet hair, laser-guided technology to keep it on track, and an extra-large dust bin. Quiet and efficient pet-hair pickup Fantastic on hard flooring Can become lodged under furniture Not great on plush rugs The Shark NV356’s Turbo Brush attachment was specifically designed for users with shedding pets, but even those without animals found the upright’s powerful suction and lift-away technology an effective way to clean hard floors and carpeting. Pet hair Turbo Brush Great on carpets and rugs Difficult to maneuver into tight spaces Dust canister can be messy to empty