Welcome to Best Vacuum For The Home! We have been helping families find the perfect vacuum since 2015.
You are about to embark on a journey to find a high quality vacuum. It can be confusing wading through the thousands of options available but don’t worry, I’m here to help. I’ve tested and reviewed the top vacuums on the market to determine the best vacuum cleaners to buy.
My top model for [year] is the Shark ZU503AMZ Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum. I’ll go into more detail later on about why I choose this vacuum as the overall best vacuum for the home on a variety of factors and tests I’ve run.
Table of Contents
Why purchase a new vacuum?
The average person spends 3 months of their lives vacuuming. That is why it’s important to choose one that is comfortable to use and has all of the features you will need for both now and in the future. If you are interested in the best vacuum for the money, check out our article here and you’ll be able to read reviews for vacuums in all price ranges.
Technology has never been better so now is a great time to find the most high tech vacuums available. We at BestVacuumForTheHome.com want to help you find a vacuum that will keep your home clean and your family healthy!
Top Rated Upright Vacuums
Upright vacuum cleaners are what most people buy to vacuum their homes. The first vacuum cleaner ever invented was an upright. These vacuum cleaners are an all-in-one unit that can be pushed around with a handle. They can stand upright on their own which makes them very convenient. Most upright vacuums are corded and they come in either bagless or bagged. My top 5 upright vacuum cleaners are:
- Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Pet Plus
- Shark NV356E 31 Navigator Lift-Away
- Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away
- Oreck XL Commercial Upright Vacuum
- Eureka NEU182B PowerSpeed
#1 Upright Vacuum: Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Pet Plus
The reason the Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Pet Plus is my number 1 choice for upright vacuum is that it comes with specialized attachments that will do pretty much any cleaning task – and they do these tasks well. It comes with a Pet TurboEraser, an upholstery tool and a wand.
The Pet TubroEraser did great in our tests at picking up pet hair on a variety of surfaces including polyester, velvet, shag carpet, laminate flooring, tile and hardwood.
I loved how easy it was to empty the dust cup in this vacuum. It opens at the bottom with a push of a button. I emptied it when it was full to the top and it made very little mess. It was very impressive and could easily be considered the best vacuum cleaner for the home.
Things I Like
- Swivel Steering allowed me to maneuver around furniture with ease.
- A triple action brush roll gets deep into the carpet and loosens dirt and debris.
- This vacuum uses scatter free technology to prevent dirt from flying while vacuuming. This technology worked very well in our tests and better than many of the other vacuums in my tests.
Things I Don’t Like
- The triple action brush roll didn’t perform well on shag rugs in our test.
- I noticed fur getting clogged inside the vacuum which could cause a problem if not cleaned out regularly.
Out of all the upright vacuums I tested, the Bissell 2252 CleanView Swivel Pet Plus claimed the top spot. It did the best on our scatter free technology tests and the Pet TurboEraser was excellent at removing fur from many different surfaces. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed if you purchase this vacuum. It is certainly a contender for the best vacuum for the home.
Click here to buy the Bissell 2252 CleanView on Amazon.
Top Rated Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
One of the most popular types of vacuum cleaners in the past ten years are cordless vacuum cleaners. Cordless vacuums are vacuums that run on battery power and don’t have an electrical cord. There are many advantages to using a cordless vacuum. The biggest advantage is that you don’t have to find a power outlet when you need to vacuum. My top 5 cordless vacuum cleaners, according to my tests, are:
- Shark IX141 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
- Dyson V8 Animal Cordless HEPA Vacuum Cleaner
- Shark SV1106 Navigator Freestyle
- Hoover ONEPWR Evolve
- BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES+ 16V MAX Cordless Stick Vacuum
#1 Cordless Vacuum: Shark IX141 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
If you are looking to buy an impressive cordless vacuum, then the Shark IX141 is it. This vacuum aced all of the tests I threw at it. The battery gave me a run time close to 40 minutes – 37 minutes and 54 seconds to be precise. That is plenty of time to vacuum a medium sized apartment or small home.
I also really liked how much the extra-large dust cup can hold. It ranked at the top of my test for dirt cup capacity for a cordless stick vacuum. The dust cup is also easy to empty with the CleanTouch Dirt Ejector feature.
Another feature that really impressed me is the Hypervelocity Suction. The high speed brushless motor creates a suction that can clean almost any mess.
Things I Like
- The long-lasting battery allows you to vacuum for up to 40 minutes at a time.
- Hypervelocity Suction is a powerful feature that will clean up your biggest mess.
- A low-profile and versatile design makes this cordless Shark vacuum easy to use. It can turn into a hand vac by pulling off the handle.
Things I Don’t Like
- The price is on the higher end for cordless vacuums. While it’s worth the money, it is something you need to consider, especially if you are on a budget.
- It is made from cheap plastic that could break if you aren’t careful with it. The vacuum itself feels to be high quality but the attachments are a bit flimsy.
Click here to buy the Shark IX141 on Amazon.
Top Rated Canister Vacuums
Like upright vacuums, canister vacuums are a popular choice among homeowners. The body of the vacuum is on four caster wheels that can move 360 degrees. This body is attached to a hose which is then attached to a handle and head. When you are vacuuming, you pull the body of the vacuum, also known as the canister, behind you around the room. Here are my top 5 picks for best canister vacuums:
- Bissell Zing
- Eureka WhirlWind
- Kenmore 81214 200 Series
- Miele Classic C1
- Kenmore BC3005
#1 Canister Vacuum: Bissell Zing
You’ll be surprised at the vacuum I’ve chosen as the #1 canister vacuum. The Bissell Zing is one of the cheapest canister vacuums available but it outperforms the most expensive models. It blew our suction test out of the water. The powerful 9 amp motor provides a cyclonic action that will pick up the finest dirt. There are two filters that will remove this fine dirt from the air.
The 15 feet of cord length can be stored inside the machine with the push of a button. One of the most impressive features about the Bissell Zing is that it only weighs eight pounds. You can easily move it up and down stairs without breaking your back. It is by far the lightest canister vacuum I tested and could be considered the best vacuum for the home.
Things I Like
- A super affordable price. This vacuum is one of the least expensive vacuums on the market, yet you get all the features of a $500 machine.
- Three stages of filtration. There are 3 stages of filtration starting with the dirt tank and then the post motor. All filters are removable and washable.
- This vacuum works well on both carpet and hardwoods. It passed our multi-surface test with ease.
Things I Don’t Like
- There is no dirt sensor to tell you when the dirt cup is full. It’s not a huge deal since the dirt cup is clear. Just empty it when it looks like it is full.
- The casing on the brush roll is made from a flimsy plastic. It held up to our tests but wasn’t nearly as durable as some of the other vacuums.
Click here to buy the Bissell Zing on Amazon.
Top Rated Robot Vacuums
New in the past decade is robotic vacuums. These vacuums will clean your home without you ever lifting a finger which make them among the best vacuum for the home. Some use GPS technology to map out your home to make sure it cleans every nook and cranny while the cheaper models use a random pattern to clean your floors. Robot vacuums don’t cost much more than traditional vacuums so they are worth a look. Here are my top rated robot vacuums:
- eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S
- iRobot Roomba 694
- eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 15C
- Shark ION Robot Vacuum
- Roborock Q5+
#1 Robot Vacuum: eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S
There are many reasons why the eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S. This vacuum shows that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a high quality robotic vacuum. It was one of the quietest robot vacuums in my noise test. This is great if you want it to vacuum while you are sleeping at night or working from home during the day.
Another thing I loved about this vacuum is that it is extremely thin. It is only 2.85 inches tall and can get under couches, beds and other furniture. Speaking of which, if you want a vacuum that can get under furniture, check out this article. Overall, I was really impressed by how the eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S performs in my tests and I was surprised that it even beat out the industry leader, Roomba.
Things I Like
- eufy claims that this robot vacuum can clean for up to 100 hours on one charge. My tests show that this claim is accurate. You probably won’t need 100 hours to vacuum your entire home but it’s a nice feature to have.
- An infrared sensor will prevent the vacuum from running into your furniture and scuffing up your walls.
- The anti-scratch, tempered glass top on this robot vacuum provides durable protection.
Things I Don’t Like
- A few obstacles did trip up the eufy in our tests. Things like power cords, dog toys and dust ruffles hanging off the bed should be picked up before sending this robot out to vacuum.
Click here to buy the eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S on Amazon.
Top Rated Handheld Vacuums
You may not consider them as the best vacuum for the home, but handheld vacuums are a great tool to have on hand for cleaning up quick messes. They also work great for cleaning the car and RV. Handhelds have come a long way since the DustBuster of the 1980’s and 90’s. In fact, the DustBuster is still around but with newer technology. It even makes an appearance on my list. Here are my top 5 handheld vacuums in [year]:
- BLACK+DECKER DustBuster AdvancedClean CHV1410L
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Hand Vac
- ThisWorx Car Vacuum Cleaner
- BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Handheld Vacuum
- VacLife Handheld Vacuum
#1 Handheld Vacuum: BLACK+DECKER DustBuster AdvancedClean CHV1410L
Some people say that classics never die and nothing can be more true when it comes to the DustBuster. This iconic vacuum looks a lot different today than it did in the past. It uses newer technology and has a sleek, updated design.
All of the handheld vacuums in my tests performed decently but I decided to give the BLACK+DECKER DustBuster AdvancedClean CHV1410L the edge because of nostalgia. Don’t get me wrong, this vacuum is high quality and performs like a dream so it is worthy of the top spot.
Things I Like
- An ergonomic design makes this vacuum easy to hold and the extension nozzle allows you to vacuum without bending over.
- One of my favorite features is a flip-top upholstery brush. It allows you to vacuum upholstery without having to search for a separate tool.
- Most people don’t think about the energy a vacuum consumes but you’ll be pleased to learn that the DustBuster uses 50% less energy than other handheld vacuums we tested.
Things I Don’t Like
- This vacuum is fat. It’s definitely lightweight and easy to hold but the wide body makes it a pain to store. It comes with a mount to store it on your wall but I didn’t like how it looked. Other handheld vacuums are much more compact.
- Something that I didn’t like when using this machine was that the nozzle extension won’t stay clipped into place. When I was vacuuming, it would randomly slide down when I wasn’t using it. It’s not a big deal but could get annoying if you don’t use the extension very often.
Click here to buy the DustBuster AdvancedClean on Amazon.
Top Rated Bagless vacuums
When vacuums were first invented, they came with a bag that collected the dirt and debris that was sucked up from the floor. This bag would need to be replaced when it got full. Around the 1990’s, bagless vacuums were invented. These vacuums didn’t require a bag. They had a plastic cup that collected the dirt and debris. When it got full, it could be emptied and reused. This saved families a lot of money since they no longer needed to buy bags for their vacuums. Here are my top 5 bagless vacuums in [year]:
- Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away
- Dirt Devil Endura Reach
- Eureka Airspeed
- Kenmore DU2012
- Bissell CleanView Swivel Rewind
I love the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away so much that I included it in two of my lists. It could easily be considered as the #1 canister vacuum but I didn’t want to put the same vacuum at the top of two lists. Instead, I put the NV360 as the #1 bagless vacuum for a variety of reasons.
The first reason being that it has the largest dust cup of any of the bagless vacuums that I tested. Second, it has a very effective anti-allergy system with filters that will remove 99% of allergens from the air. It passed my smoke test with flying colors so I know that this system works well. If you are looking to buy a bagless vacuum, you have to consider the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away.
Things I Like
- The extra large dirt cup holds up to 0.9 liters of dirt. It’s easy to remove and empty.
- A brushroll shutoff feature allows you to easily vacuum different types of flooring. It can go from carpet to hardwood in seconds.
- Go from upright vacuum to canister vacuum by detaching the canister from the body of the vacuum. This feature is more convenient than you think. I used it more than I thought I would.
Things I Don’t Like
- It doesn’t come with very many tools. The tools included are an upholstery tool and a crevice tool. For the price, I would like to see a few more specialized tools.
- The brushroll had to be cleaned often. Long hair got stuck in it easily in our tests. If you have women or girls in your home with long hair, then I would reconsider purchasing this vacuum.
Click here to buy the Shark NV360 Navigator Lift-Away on Amazon.
Top Rated Bagged Vacuums
Some people like the classics and are perfectly fine with a bagged vacuum. If this is you, then I’ve got some good news. There are many bagged vacuums on the market that come with new features, technology and design. You can keep buying the bags while utilizing the latest technology. Here are my top 5 bagged vacuums in [year]:
- Miele Classic C1 Canister Vacuum
- Oreck XL Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Bissel Zing Canister Vacuum
- Kenmore Intuition Upright Vacuum
- Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Tempo
#1 Bagged Vacuum: Miele Classic C1 Canister Vacuum
Even though it’s one of the more expensive models I tested, the Miele Classic C1 Canister Vacuum is worth the high price tag. It is made in Germany and is extremely high quality. The lightweight, compact design allows you to take it everywhere in your home and store it neatly out of the way when you are done vacuuming. My favorite feature of this bagged vacuum is the 6 different suction power settings. These settings worked great to help me clean different surfaces. Some surfaces needed less power such as hardwood floors or rugs while others needed more suction like deep pile carpet.
Overall, the Miele Classic C1 is a great candidate for best vacuum for the home. It’s expensive but has everything you need to keep your home clean and free of dust, allergen and pollen.
Things I Like
- Miele has an airclean system that is a unique 3-stage filtration system that uses a filter on the bag, in the motor and on the exhaust. In my fog test, this vacuum did an excellent job of clearing the air.
- The tools included in this vacuum are very high quality. It comes with a 365 combination floorhead, a dusting brush, a crevice tool and an upholstery tool.
- I was also impressed by how easily this vacuum went from carpet to flooring. The German engineering is strong in this vacuum.
Things I Don’t Like
- I really don’t like the high price. Over $300 is a lot to spend on a vacuum, especially when there are just as good options for less money. If you have the cash to spend, the Miele Classic C1 is an excellent choice but I really wish the price was lower.
Click here to buy the Miele Classic C1 Canister Vacuum on Amazon.
How I tested and compared these vacuums
You are probably wondering how I tested these vacuums and compared them to each other. My methods are definitely not scientific and have a lot of room for error. I basically completed five tests per vacuum and also factored in price, feel, customer reviews, and value for the money (i.e. does it come with a warranty, how many tools are included, etc). The five tests are as follows:
Suction & Scatter Test
The first thing I tested was how well the vacuum suctioned up different types of debris on different surfaces. I tested each vacuum on how well it cleaned up coffee grounds, cereal, hair, cat litter, oats and potting soil.
Each type of debris was vacuumed from tile, laminate, thin carpet, thick shag carpet, a thin rug and hardwood. I also performed this test on quartz countertops and a glass coffee table for the hand vacuums.
I measured out the same amount of debris for each experiment so I could easily keep track of how much each vacuum picked up and how much it left behind. Also, I took note of how much the debris scattered on the floor while vacuuming.
Air Filtration Test
The air filtration test measures how well a vacuum filters the air. This can be a bit difficult to measure. I used the fog test to measure this. Basically, a fog test works like this: you fill a room with fog using a fog machine and then you turn on the vacuum and see how well it cleans fog from the air.
As I said, this is difficult to measure and I’m not even sure I did it right but some of the vacuums pretty much eliminated the fog while others didn’t do much. Overall, I think most HEPA filtration systems do a good job cleaning the air, especially the 2 or 3-stage filtration systems.
Battery Test
The battery test was used to determine how long the battery would last in a cordless vacuum. Before starting the test, I made sure the battery was fully charged by charging it for at least 24 hours.
After I was sure that the battery was charged, I turned on the vacuum and started a timer on my phone. When the vacuum died, I stopped the timer and wrote down that number. I did this test using the vacuum without attachments and with attachments.
Noise Test
The noise test is used to measure how loud the vacuum cleaner is when it is running. I turned on the vacuum and used a sound meter on my phone to see how many decibels the vacuum produced.
After completing these tests, I put the results in a spreadsheet along with the price of the vacuum, how many attachments it came with and the star rating on Amazon. I also made a note about how the vacuum felt when using it and any other notes about problems, things I liked about it, etc. Then I could easily compare the vacuums and let you know which ones are worth buying and which ones you should stay away from.
Dust Cup Test
The dust cup test is used to measure how much dirt a vacuum can hold before the dust cup needs to be emptied. I basically threw potting soil on the ground and vacuumed it until the dust cup was completely full and needed to be emptied. Then I measured how much dirt the vacuum picked up.
Best Vacuum for the Home
And now what you’ve been waiting for…my pick for the best vacuum for the home. It was a hard decision but I chose the Shark ZU503AMZ Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum. This vacuum aced all my tests and offers tremendous value. In fact, all of the Shark vacuums that I tested did extremely well in my tests. This particular model has a self-cleaning brush roll that won’t get tangled with strings, hair and other debris.
It is a bit expensive but I think it is well worth it. The lift-away function essentially makes this a two-in-one vacuum. It can work as an upright vacuum or a canister vacuum. The Shark ZU503AMZ also comes with a bunch of really useful accessories like a Pet Crevice Tool and a tool to get under furniture or appliances. After all my tests, I can happily declare that this is one of the best vacuum cleaners for the home.
Things I Like
- The self-cleaning brush roll is amazing. It cleaned up hair without getting clogged at all. I never had to cut any hair off the brushroll in any of my tests.
- An upholstery tool that has its own mini brushroll is included with this vacuum. It worked very well at getting cat hair off my couch. My cat is over 20 years old and shedding badly so I was super impressed with how well it got rid of the cat fur.
- If you have a lot of stairs in your home like I do, you will fall in love with the lift-away feature on this vacuum. It allows you to carry the vacuum up and down the stairs with one hand while vacuuming with the other. It’s a dream come true.
Things I Don’t Like
- Nothing – I loved everything about the Shark ZU503AMZ. The price is on the high end but I think it’s well worth it. If you can’t afford the price, they have similar models without the self-cleaning brushroll that are cheaper.