The 8 Best Vacuum Cleaners of 2023, According to Editors and Shoppers

Best vacuum cleaner overall

Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner 

Easy maneuvering and an affordable price point make the Black+Decker Powerseries one of the best vacuum cleaner models of all time. Though it was designed with pets in mind, we love it for busy households of all types and styles. For starters, the angled floorhead can be used on multiple surfaces. V-shaped bristles pick up all kinds of debris and the anti-tangle pet hair brush bar goes to work on even the furriest corners and sofas. Reviewers rave about the removable battery, long run time and powerful suction.

“I love the LED floorhead light that literally shines a light on dog hair, crumbs and other dirt that I otherwise might not have seen,” writes our tester Anne Fritz in her Powerseries review. “When fully charged, it runs for 55 minutes—ample time for me to vacuum the areas I want to without it running out of charge.”

Pros

• Brilliant battery efficiency and ease of use
• Affordable price point
• Easy maneuvering
• Can be used as a stick vacuum or handheld vacuum
• Several included attachments for corners, pet hair and unusual angles
• Available on Amazon and Walmart

Cons

• Reviewers note that it rests better in its charging mount vs. against a wall or stairs

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Best value vacuum cleaner

Shark VM252 VacMop Pro

Whether you have vinyl, tile or other hard floors, the Shark VM252 VacMop Pro is a multi-surface wonder. Though it’s not the best option for carpets and rugs (try these carpet cleaners for pets instead), it does clean messes without leaving streaks. Instead of being held down with a heavy dustbin or water tank, debris sticks to the disposable pads. At less than $100, it’s one of our best cheap vacuum picks.

Our Executive Editor Megan Wood loves her Shark, writing in her VacMop Pro review, “I love how easy it is to go from vacuuming to mopping with one machine, and not having to unplug anything to move between rooms. Tossing the disposable pad in the garbage without having to empty a filthy canister is convenient, too.”

Pros

• Affordable price point with a superb value
• Picks up wet and dry messes
• Doesn’t leave streaks
• Lightweight model
• Switches easily from vacuum to mop capabilities
• Available on Amazon, Target, Walmart and Shark

Cons

• Requires disposable cleaning pads and solutions
• Doesn’t hold a long enough charge for large rooms

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Best splurge vacuum cleaner

Miele Complete C3 Canister Vacuum

Wondering which luxury vacuum aggressively beats out all the rest? This Miele Complete C3 model. But be warned: This level of awesomeness doesn’t come cheap. High price point aside, it delivers an exceptional value. This top-performing canister vacuum tackles any mess. Powerful airflow makes its attachments especially effective. It’s also noticeably quieter than many models.

It’s worth buying just for its Parquet Twister, which provides 180-degree rotation for the agile yet gentle care on smooth floors and surfaces. It also has a savvy self-adjusting automatic setting that makes the transition from carpets to wood floors a breeze. Cleaning professionals swear by this Miele model as their one-and-only, and real customers say it “lasts for years.”

Pros

• Luxury vacuum model with added attachments and superior suction
• 10-year warranty
• Powerful motor and components
• Easy to maneuver thanks to the Parquet Twister
• A worthwhile investment that lasts for years
• Comes in several stylish colors
• Available on Amazon, Walmart and Williams-Sonoma

Cons

• Heavy at 19.4 pounds
• High price point (but designed to last)

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Best vacuum mop combo

Tineco iFloor 3 Cordless Vacuum

A device that vacuums and mops? Consider this a must-have cleaning product. The Tineco iFloor 3 clears up wet and dry messes without leaving streaks in its wake. You’ll also be able to see the results in real time as the clean and dirty water is held in two separate tanks. It boasts up to 25 minutes of runtime but will undoubtedly cut your cleaning time in half.

“After years of consistent use, and the welcome addition of a baby to my home, the vacuum mop works as well today as it did straight out of the box,” writes our Executive Editor Megan Wood in her iFloor 3 review. “The battery life is consistently strong. The mop roller doesn’t need to be replaced yet, though it does need to be cleaned and air-dried occasionally to prevent odors.” With more than 18,000 five-star reviews, it’s also a customer-favorite, and a top Amazon vacuum cleaner.

Pros

• Powerful suction works on wet and dry messes
• Clean and dirty water is separated into two different tanks
• Cordless, lightweight model
• Doesn’t leave streaks as it dries
• Quiet motor
• Dependable battery display
• Available on Amazon and Target

Cons

• Roller attachments need to be manually cleaned
• May need more than one charge and tank refresh for larger homes

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Best vacuum for pet hair

Bissell CrossWave X7 Cordless Pet Pro Wet Dry Vac

Pet owners know that a quality vacuum is essential for the battles between pet hair and a clean home. But with the Bissell CrossWave’s suction power and two-in-one versatility, you can easily win the war. It’s the best vacuum for pet hair and allergies and still easily cleans far more than just animal dander. Forgive the pun, but that’s nothing to sneeze at. FYI: For deeper carpet dirt, try the ChomChom Roller or a carpet scraper tool.

Although our Senior Editor Dawn Yanek didn’t have pets when she tested the Bissell CrossWave X7, she writes, “I also have a lot of long hair that tends to get everywhere (yep, like a pet), and I was worried that it would get tangled in the plush roller brush, but nope! The suction funneled it right into the tank without a problem. Plus, this genius vacuum mop somehow made my old area rugs look brand-new in 60 seconds flat.”

Pros

• Advanced suction power hones in on all kinds of hair
• Double tank compartments for bigger rooms and messier loads
• Up to 30 minutes of runtime
• Includes a multi-surface cleaning formula with Febreze freshness
• Lightweight, cordless model
• Available at Bissell, Walmart and Amazon

Cons

• Water tanks may need to be cleaned after each use, especially if cleaning pet accidents

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Best robot vacuum

Eufy RoboVac 11S

You don’t have to shell out hundreds and hundreds of dollars for one of the best robot vacuums—not if you get the Eufy 11S, that is. The Eufy RoboVac keeps carpets spotless and does even better on bare floors. This best vacuum cleaner pick also has a built-in cliff sensor to keep it from tumbling down steep staircases. That said, still never store your robotic vacuum in certain spots.

With brilliant remote control options and hands-free cleaning, it’s no wonder the Eufy has racked up more than 44,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Check out our robot vacuum guide to make sure one of these hands-free gadgets is right for you.

Pros

• Hands-free robotic cleaning
• Can be operated from anywhere you have Wi-Fi access
• Affordable price point for a robot vacuum
• Quiet motor
• Built-in cliff sensor
• Available on Amazon, Eufy and Walmart

Cons

• Some shoppers reported scattered debris
• Won’t pick up heavier grains or large fragments

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Best cordless vacuum

Tineco Pure One S15 Smart Vacuum Cleaner

The feature-packed Tineco Pure One Stick Vacuum boasts impressive cleaning ability for household dirt and pet (or human) hair. An LED panel on the top displays the power level, battery time and clog warnings. It’s one of the best cordless vacuum models on the market, loved by customers and also the Reader’s Digest team. “Our puggle sheds like crazy, and this is the first vacuum to successfully remove fur from rugs—and in a single pass,” says Executive Editor Aviva Patz. “And unlike our old vacuum, the rotating parts never get clogged with fur—or hair from the four humans in the house.”

While also being cordless and lightweight, this vacuum runs for up to 40 minutes without a single charge, making it an ideal vacuum for whole-house cleaning. Plus, download the handy Tineco app to your phone to monitor the cleaning progress, battery levels and suction performance. Another brilliant feature: a smart sensor automatically adjusts suction power according to the soiling detected, improving the overall cleaning efficiency.

Pros

• Offers heavy-duty debris cleanup in a lightweight cordless stick design
• One-touch trigger wipes the dustbin clean
• Quiet motor
• Impressive suction power
• Docks in a wall charger
• Available on Amazon and Tineco

Con

• Some consumers say the wall-mounting feature is hard to use

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Best handheld vacuum

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser

What makes pet-focused vacuums so effective is their suction capabilities. While we tested the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser on a furry home, it also works effortlessly in pet-less houses to suck up hair and debris. The long nose allows it to reach tough spots, including behind couch cushions and underneath furniture. It even makes an excellent car vacuum. Plus, it comes with helpful attachments that make the job easier, including a crevice tool, motorized brush and upholstery tool.

“Alongside a dependable pet odor remover like Angry Orange, it’s an easy way to quickly clean pet messes. Even if you don’t have pets, this vacuum would be a good choice as a car vacuum or to clean up after kids,” writes Deputy Shopping Editor Reina Galhea in her Pet Hair Eraser review.

Pros

• Convenient size fits into every nook and cranny
• Works on carpet, upholstery, floors and more
• Perfect for spot cleaning
• Can be transported just about anywhere
• Easy to empty dirt bin
• Available on Amazon, Walmart and Bissell

Cons

• Requires a long charge time for about 20 minutes of runtime

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What to look for when buying the best vacuum cleaner

“When shopping for the best vacuums, usability and function are what you are looking for,” explains Pam Clyde, a house cleaning expert and owner of BritLin Cleaning.” Look at the weight of the vacuum should you need to carry it upstairs, how difficult it is to push during use and the size of the vacuum head. Larger doesn’t always mean better. This is true of all styles and models, and includes handheld vacuums.”

Pam suggests looking for easy-to-maneuver wheels and handles on the best upright vacuums, as well as lightweight metal and plastic encasement materials. She also insists that shoppers opt for vacuum brands and models that are simple to clean and maintain. “Having a good maintenance schedule will allow even the least expensive vacuum to last longer. Remember to dump vacuum filters often—especially your best vacuum for allergies.”

How we found the best vacuum cleaner

As shopping experts, our only job is to help you find a winning product. We start with the research and reporting basics—what products are made of, what they look like and how much they cost—to ensure that we’re only recommending the buys that are worth your time and money. Then, we research the features that speak to the product’s quality, taking advice from industry insiders and subject matter experts on what makes a product a smart value (or worthy of a splurge). Finally, we do the work of combing through user reviews to see how real people interact with the product, and if it stands up to the test.  

FAQ

How do you know what type of vacuum cleaner to buy?

Before splurging on the latest expensive model, consider the best vacuum cleaner for your needs. Pets, children, floor type, living space and accessibility needs will all dictate which vacuum is right for you. So whether you need the best vacuum for hardwood floors or the best vacuum for stairs, your perfect match is easy to find.

How long do vacuum cleaners last?

Vacuum cleaners last as long as you care for them. While some will need regular maintenance or a replacement part every so often, a well-maintained vacuum should last multiple years. Clean the filters and follow through with regular checks.

Why do vacuum cleaners lose suction?

Vacuums typically draw power from an outlet, so if the machine is losing suction, there’s probably something blocking the filter or hose (a classic cleaning mistake). There could also be a broken part or hole somewhere, so it’s important to thoroughly check the device every few uses.

How often should you clean a vacuum?

A vacuum should be checked and cleaned at least once a month, considering all its uses. While some have self-emptying capabilities, a deep clean every six months will have your machine working like new every time.

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Source:

• Pam Clyde, house cleaning expert and owner of BritLin Cleaning