Whether your home has carpet or hardwood, a good vacuum cleaner is essential to keeping your floors free of dirt, crumbs and other grime that builds up over time. At our workshop Institute Cleaning Lab, our product analysts test everything from cordless stick vacuums to robot vacuums and vacuums for pet hair to help you find the best vacuum type for your space, including handheld models, powerful canister vacuums and super compact alternatives. Below you’ll find top-performing vacuums you can purchase on Amazon, including affordable picks for all floor types.
Our cleaning experts and test engineers have been testing vacuums for decades and serve as members of the ASTM International F11 Vacuum Cleaner Committee, which is tasked with developing the standards used to test vacuums across the industry. Each year, we are hands-on with dozens of models to evaluate how effectively debris is picked up off hardwood floors and carpets and to assess each vacuum’s ease of use and maintenance, durability and much more. The picks below are comprised of top performers in Lab tests as well as picks from reputable brands our pros trust.
After checking out our top picks, continue reading to learn more about the various types of vacuums to choose from to find the right one for you.
1
BEST OVERALL VACUUM ON AMAZON
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Upright Vacuum
Shark vacuums have performed well in Cleaning Lab tests over the years, which is why we recommend the Navigator Lift-Away, which can be used as an upright or a canister vacuum. Its sealed HEPA system keeps dust and other allergens securely trapped in the dust bin. While we haven’t tested this exact model yet, we named an older model with the same Lift-Away feature our best overall vacuum pick before it was discontinued. We love that the Navigator Lift-Away can be used on both high-pile carpets and hard flooring thanks to its brush roll shutoff feature. Maintenance is easy with washable filters, and the bagless dustbin can be emptied without having to reach into the bin to pull debris out.
This vacuum is absolutely spectacular! Whoever designed it deserves an engineering medal. Though a few reviewers mention that the dustbin feels too small, many highlight the vacuum’s impressively strong suction power and handy crevice and upholstery tools.
2
BEST VALUE VACUUM ON AMAZON
Bissell Featherweight Stick Lightweight Bagless Vacuum
The Featherweight doesn’t disappoint as one of the best cheap vacuums online — just take a look at more than 100,000 reviews on Amazon along with dozens of photos showcasing this stick vacuum’s ability to pick up huge amounts of pet fur. The Featherweight also lives up to its name, clocking in at under 3 pounds. To use this model as a handheld vacuum, detach the pole and use the built-in crevice tool to clean small areas or keep the floor nozzle on and use it to clean stairs. There’s no brush roll on this model, so it won’t work as well on high-pile carpets, but for small spaces with mostly hard flooring and low-pile area rugs, it will get the job done. While the bagless dustbin doesn’t feature a HEPA filter, our pros appreciate that it’s washable and cleanup is simple.
This simple, little no-nonsense vacuum is so great. It’s [easy] to put together, lightweight and gets the job done! I love it for a quick clean-up. The power is pretty good and you just can’t beat the price.
3
BEST CORDLESS STICK VACUUM ON AMAZON
Dyson V12 Detect Slim Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Named one of the GH Institute’s top-rated cordless stick vacuums, the Dyson V12 Detect blew us away in Lab evaluations thanks to its effectiveness at cleaning up dirt and crumbs from the floor. We love the vacuum’s innovative laser beam that makes it easier for you to spot dust and hair hiding on your floor as you vacuum, and we couldn’t get enough of the color display that shows the particles being picked up in real-time, along with key alerts.
According to our cleaning experts, the vacuum’s suction is powerful and features excellent filtration and handy attachments for optimal cleaning. At around 5 pounds, we found it light enough to maneuver easily and compact enough for convenient storage. This exceptional cordless vacuum is an absolute game-changer, effortlessly combining cutting-edge technology with unparalleled convenience.
4
BEST VACUUM ON AMAZON FOR HARDWOOD FLOORS
Miele Boost CX1 Parquet
A winner of a Best Cleaning & Organizing Award Miele stands out for its consistently strong performance in Lab tests. This small yet mighty canister vacuum is an ideal choice for hardwood or sensitive floors thanks to its gentle parquet twister that swiftly navigates around corners or nooks. We love its compact design — it’s about the size of a small cooler — as well as how easy it is to carry. The vacuum also features large wheels for easy maneuverability as well as a robust dust bin for easy emptying. The suction power of this Miele is something you have to see to believe, and the turbo brush works very very well on my low-pile carpeting.
5
BEST ROBOT VACUUM ON AMAZON
eufy BoostIQ RoboVac 11S MAX
Looking for an affordable yet effective robot vacuum to help you keep your floors clean? Our cleaning experts love this inexpensive pick from eufy that’s packed with high-end features like BoostIQ Technology that automatically increases suction power when needed. It’s also built with advanced sensors and mapping technology to help it avoid bumping into furniture or falling off stairs.
On top of the brand’s consistently impressive performance in Lab tests, we like this model’s sleek, slim design that makes it easy to navigate underneath tight surfaces (like below the couch) as well as its large wheels that help it move between various surfaces and over ledges. This little robot picks up a ton of dirt. A ton… My floors are now constantly clean with no real effort on my part.
6
BEST VACUUM ON AMAZON FOR PETS
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Plus
Pet hair doesn’t stand a chance with this Bissell vacuum, which performed well in Lab tests. This model comes with a Pet TurboEraser tool to tackle pet hair on stairs and upholstered furniture, and every purchase from the brand supports Bissell’s Pet Foundation for homeless pets. The Amazon’s Choice vacuum has almost 100K reviews and an average 4.6-star rating, and several reviews contain impressive photos of huge masses of pet hair it picked up. We were also pleased to find some advanced features on such an affordable model like a triple-action brush roll, technology that prevents the scattering of debris and a dust bin that empties with one button.
A pet owner on Amazon had this to say about the Cleanview Swivel: “Holy smokes this vacuum is amazing! […] I have a black lab mix who sheds quite a bit and her short hair sticks into the carpets/furniture. I couldn’t figure out which vacuum to buy but I went with this one and I couldn’t be happier!” This Bissell is one of Amazon’s best-selling upright vacuums.
7
BEST HANDHELD VACUUM ON AMAZON
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum
Black+Decker’s Dustbuster has almost 100,000 reviews on Amazon and is priced under $60. While we haven’t tested this exact model in the Lab yet, we’ve tested other handheld vacuums from the brand including previous models with the same pivoting nozzle feature. We like that this pick features a dusting attachment and crevice tool built into the vacuum’s nozzle so there’s no chance you’ll lose them around the house.
Also unique is the nozzle’s ability to rotate 180º to fit into tight or awkward spaces easily. Keep in mind that though the hand vac itself can be mounted to a wall for storage, the charging base cannot, so you won’t be able to charge the vacuum while it is mounted. Also, the dustbin is not detachable from the vacuum’s main body, but emptying it is easy and the filter can be washed under running water when necessary. These are great for cars and hard-to-reach spaces, but amazing cleanup for my sewing room. Gets all the thread and fabric scraps super easily.
8
BEST VACUUM ON AMAZON FOR CARS
Bissell AeroSlim Lithium Ion Cordless Handheld Vacuum
Affordable, lightweight and stylish are just three ways Amazon reviewers describe this little handheld vacuum from Bissell that has earned upward of 16,000 reviews. Our cleaning experts have tested dozens of Bissell vacuums and trust the brand to deliver high-quality performance. The Aeroslim is the perfect size to keep in your car for spilled snacks or to clean up your WFH desk after a busy afternoon. The two-in-one crevice tool and dusting brush make it easy to reach tight spaces, and USB charging means you can recharge the vacuum’s battery from your car.
Many online reviewers commented on the vacuum’s quiet operation despite its powerful suction. Our pros do warn, however, that the dustbin on this handheld vac is very small and the battery runtime is just 12 minutes, so you’ll have to empty and recharge it often. It even sucks up sand and crumbs stuck in the carpet in my car. I’ve literally been walking around the house with this little vacuum, sucking up every piece of dust or dirt I can find. It’s that much fun.
9
BEST CANISTER VACUUM ON AMAZON
Kenmore 600 Series Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum
During testing, we found this model easy to maneuver thanks to its large wheels, and we appreciated how easy it was to attach the hardwood floor brush. It quickly picked up dry oats that we scattered across hardwood floors, tiled floors and low-pile carpets. It uses bags and has a HEPA filter, so allergy sufferers can rest assured that any dust this vacuum sucks up stays inside. After you’ve finished vacuuming, storage is easy thanks to a cord rewind button and onboard tool storage. Take note that this canister vacuum weighs over 20 pounds, so getting it up and down a flight of stairs takes a bit of work.
Have had this vacuum cleaner for a couple of years now and really think it’s top notch. It has great suction, it’s not too noisy and is adaptable to any type of floor covering. From the retractable cord to the tremendous pick up to the ease and maneuverability, this vacuum is exactly what I wanted.
What to look for when shopping for the best vacuums
✔️ Vacuum type: Corded upright vacuums offer unlimited runtimes and clean well on hard flooring and medium- to high-pile carpets. They stand without any support, making them easier to store, though they do have a larger footprint than stick vacuums. Cordless stick vacuums are a good option for smaller spaces. These models work best on hard flooring and low-pile carpets and their slim design is convenient for reaching deep under low furniture. Keep in mind that their shorter runtimes and smaller dustbins mean more frequent stopping to recharge and empty. For small messes, consider a hand vacuum. Hand vacuums are especially useful for vacuuming car interiors and often come with many tools that help reach into tight spaces. Canister vacuums are a convenient option for homes with stairs as they are easier to carry and have long hoses to clean hard-to-reach areas like curtains and ceiling molding. These vacuums work best on hard flooring and low-pile carpets, though canister vacuums with a rotating brush power nozzle attachment, like the Kenmore model in this guide, can deep clean high-pile carpets too.
✔️ Bag v. bagless: There are benefits to both kinds of vacuums, and the kind you choose largely depends on your personal preference. From our testing experience, there are no performance differences between bagged or bagless vacuums. With bagless vacuums, you don’t have to worry about keeping bags stocked at home, but emptying the dust bin can get a bit messy. Some of the newest bagless stick vacuums we’ve tested come with self-emptying bases to make cleaning them easier and neater. Bagged vacuums are better for allergy sufferers as they keep dust and other allergens sealed in the bag, even when removing the bag from the vacuum. Just remember to keep your home well-stocked with replacements.
✔️ Attachments: Consider a model with a motorized pet attachment if your current vacuum can’t quite pick up all of your pet’s fur. Crevice tools are helpful for vacuuming dust from deep behind heavy furniture and other tight spaces. Dusting brushes and upholstery attachments are great for getting dust and hair off furniture. These tools are made to clean these more delicate items without causing any damage.
✔️ Reviews from other shoppers: See what others have to say about a model in online reviews. Search for keywords like “pets” and “small space” to read feedback from users with similar needs to yours.
