The 18 Best Vacuums of 2024, Tested on Real Debris
Sep. 23, 2024
The 18 Best Vacuums of 2024, Tested on Real Debris
Read more about the best vacuums PEOPLE Tested as well as what to consider when shopping for a vacuum for your home.
We spent countless hours testing over 350 vacuums in our lab and at home to determine specific metrics as well as gauge the ease of use for everyday vacuum users. For each vacuum, we assessed the setup, user-friendliness, and how effective the overall performance was in terms of maneuverability, cleaning ability, and versatility.
A house is hardly a home until it has at least one vacuum cleaner. But with so many vacuums on the market from upright vacuums to robot vacuums how are you supposed to know which one is perfect for you?
Best Cordless Vacuum
Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Picked up debris easily while on its lowest setting
Long battery life and cleaned for 25 minutes straight
Lightweight and cordless design makes it easy to move around, use, and store in a small home
Red Flags
Hard time transitioning from the rug to the hardwood floor
Very little beats the convenience of a cordless vacuum cleaner and the Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum is one of the best we tested. It excelled at debris cleanup with impressive suction even on the lower mode (our testers didn't even need the high mode). The Shark vacuum even grabbed dirt and pet hair from a Ruggable rug without separating the top layer from the bottom (a feat, trust us).
It did get stuck on the edge of the rug, but once addressed, the vacuum carried on with impressive efficiency. It easily maneuvered around furniture and into corners. Its light weight makes carrying it from room to room a breeze, and the battery lasts for 25 minutes straight on the lowest mode (11 minutes on the high mode). While this battery life isn't as long as a Dyson's (some can run up to an hour on the lowest setting), for a standard cordless stick vacuum, 25 minutes is a great run time. Plus, it has a HEPA filter.
Type: Cordless | Dimensions: 10.24 x 7.09 x 46.09 inches | Weight: 6.89 pounds | Filter Type: HEPA, foam | Capacity: 0.34 quarts | Cord Length: Cordless | Included Accessories: Pet multi-tool, crevice tool, battery charger
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Laura Gurfein
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Experts Say
Dr. Shyam Joshi, MD and CMO of Nectar finds HEPA filters to be one of the most important aspects of anyone's vacuum search. He says a vacuum should be 'used with an appropriately designed HEPA filter and seal, thus reducing the risk of contaminants escaping into the air when vacuuming.' While size, price, dustbin capacity, and attachments are extra components to consider, this is one to keep top of mind throughout the process.
Best Upright Vacuum
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Works on carpets, hardwoods, and tile
Built-in HEPA filter
Large canister aids emptying process
Red Flags
Tough to maneuver on carpet
Not great for stairs
The Shark Navigator Deluxe is one of those vacuums that makes the chore go by faster due to its ease of use and powerful suction. Assembly was quick ' it only has three sections that clip in together easily. When it came to performance, this upright vacuum was lightweight to maneuver around furniture and across floors like hardwood and tile (carpet requires a little extra push). It suctioned up all stray crumbs, pet hair, and dirt. Plus, the HEPA filter grabs any pollen and other allergens. Other reasons to love this vacuum: It's quiet, simple to empty, and reasonably priced compared to other large vacuums.
How It's Held Up
Six months into testing, the Shark Navigator Deluxe continues to impress. It has some wear but suctions up pet hair and other debris without issue. It's simple to maneuver, lightweight to carry and store, and easy to clean out when you're finished vacuuming.
Dimensions: 45.5 x 15 x 11.5 inches | Weight: 16 pounds | Dirt Cup Size: 3.4 liters | Cord Length: 25 feet | Attachments: Pet brush, duster, crevice tool, long-reach hose, floor brush nozzle
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Robot Vacuum
iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Works well on hard flooring and carpets, and navigates around furniture
Technology allows it to effectively vacuum unsupervised
Super easy to use
Red Flags
Sensory issues at the edges of carpets and rugs
No mapping capabilities
If a list of vacuums makes you exhausted just thinking about the task of vacuuming your house, then the iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum may be the one for you. The iRobot was the crowned winner in our robot vacuum test, thanks to its effectiveness on all types of flooring, from hardwood and tile to carpeting. It took us less than five minutes to get this robot vacuum going after removing it from the box (including the app and scheduling setup on our phones).
As robots can only do so much that humans cannot, the Roomba had some issues detecting the edges of rugs and carpeting, staying away from those areas as if it sensed a drop-off or staircase. With this in mind, you may have to nudge it along when it gets to the edge of a surface, but it is fantastic at maneuvering around obstacles like chair legs and couches. This robot vacuum doesn't have mapping technology, but for an appliance that can effectively clean for you while you go about your day, we'd say this model is as good as it gets.
How It's Held Up
Our tester used the iRobot vacuum weekly for six months and continued to be delighted by how efficiently it sucked up dirt, debris, hair, and more. They disliked the chore of vacuuming so they appreciated the self-sufficient nature of the robot vacuum. They noted it was impressive and disgusting how much grime the vacuum got off their floors. Essentially, the vacuum continues to earn its best overall title.
Type: Bagless, robot | Dimensions: 13.4 x 13.4 x 3.54 inches | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Filter Type: High-efficiency | Capacity: 0.15 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Docking station, extra filter, Wi-Fi connectivity, app
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
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PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
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PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
Best Budget Pick
Dirt Devil Versa 3-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Most inexpensive vacuum on our list, yet it still performs incredibly well
Easy to set up and maneuver around multiple floor types and furniture
Spacious dustbin, so you can go longer before having to empty it
Red Flags
Noticeably noisier than the others we tested
No included attachments
Vacuums are one of those household items that usually require an upfront investment, which is why this under-$100 DirtDevil is something to write home about. The Versa Cordless 3-in-1 Stick Vac is a powerful machine, gliding around any type of flooring effortlessly. Its lightweight frame and cordless design help you get into every corner without having to switch a cord to a closer socket.
It was extremely easy to set up, as the body of the vacuum came pre-assembled. It doesn't come with any additional attachments, but we think that's okay given its effective cleaning. As we maneuvered it around an obstacle course of furniture and a variety of floor types, we were impressed with its power and light weight ' it glided around chair legs with ease (made easier by its cordless design).
It would be difficult to carry on a conversation while vacuuming since it's a little loud, but who's really doing that, anyway? For all of our tests, whether it be coffee grounds on carpet or hair strewn on tile, the DirtDevil rose up to the challenge (and did so at a fabulous price).
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 2.5 x 10 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Filter Type: Washable | Capacity: 0.10 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: None
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
The 11 Best Vacuums Under $200 We've Tested from Kenmore, Shark, Bissell, and More
Best Shark Vacuum
Shark Vertex Cordless Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Cordless yet powerful
Good suction and maneuvers efficiently
Impressive battery life of almost 50 minutes on the low mode
Red Flags
Weighs around nine pounds so it's heavier than other cordless stick vacuums
Continually impressed by this popular vacuum cleaner brand, we set out to find the best Shark vacuums and put them head to head in a series of tests. Cordless stick vacuums tend to be user-friendly and efficient, so the Shark Vertex was all but guaranteed a top spot on our list. Throughout all of our tests, the Shark Vertex received nearly perfect scores, thanks to its easy setup, incredible suction, low noise level, and more.
Plus, the battery lasts a surprisingly long time ' 50 minutes! It's also a bit of a shape-shifter because it has a series of attachments that you can interchange to grab debris in various places, like a crevice tool, a handheld attachment, an anti-allergen brush, and a multipurpose attachment to grab pet hair. It's just under nine pounds, so it's lighter than most upright vacuums but a little bulkier than other cordless stick vacuum cleaners.
Type: Cordless | Dimensions: 15.35 x 10.24 x 47.05 inches inches | Weight: 8.93 pounds | Filter Type: HEPA, Foam | Capacity: 0.34 quarts | Cord Length: N/A | Included Accessories: Removable handheld vacuum, removable dust cup, crevice tool, anti-allergen brush, pet multi-tool
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Wet-Dry Vacuum
Bissell TurboClean Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner
PHOTO: Bissell
Star Qualities
Self-cleaning function is user-friendly
Lightweight to maneuver
Cleans wet and dry debris effectively at the same time
Red Flags
Challenged by large debris
Has a small water tank you have to refill often
When you live in a home with multiple floor types, a wet-dry vacuum can be a huge timesaver. The Bissell TurboClean Cordless Hard Floor Cleaner delivered on both fronts, proving equally effective at cleaning dry and wet debris. It vacuums and sanitizes (though we learned it prefers small bits of dirt to larger debris).
The wet/dry vacuum has a sleek design that's easy to maneuver around your home. Your floors will definitely have that shiny clean look to them, you just might have to stop once or twice to empty the water tank because it's small and dirties as quickly as the machine cleans.
Weight: 8.37 pounds | Dimensions: 27.44 inches x 13.03 inches x 10.67 inches | Battery Life: 30 minutes | Capacity: 17 ounces
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Handheld Vacuum
Shark UltraCyclone Pro Handheld Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Design is sleek, but it doesn't sacrifice power
Incredibly strong suction and left all of our testing surfaces completely clean
Easy to clean and doesn't make a mess (just empty the chamber over a trash can)
Red Flags
Suction is so strong it actually got a bit of the upholstery
More expensive than many other handheld vacuums we tested
When we tested dustbusters and handheld vacuums, this handheld vacuum blew us away with its design and functionality. First, it's just pretty to look at with a sleek, seamless design that looks so nice you could leave it out. And the performance was stellar too: It easily lifted all debris from upholstery, even suctioning the fabric a little with its power.
The attachments, such as the crevice tool, simplified the cleaning process and got hard-to-reach crumbs without much effort. Once it was filled with crumbs, feathers, and more, the vacuum's dustbin was simple to empty and clean, without making any kind of mess.
Battery Life: 10-15 minutes | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Bin Capacity: 0.54 quarts | Attachments: Duster crevice tool, multi-surface pet tool | HEPA Filter: No
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PHOTO: Amazon
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PHOTO: Amazon
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PHOTO: Amazon
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PHOTO: Amazon
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PHOTO: Amazon
Best Dyson Vacuum
Dyson V12 Detect Slim Vacuum
PHOTO: Walmart
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Easy to see hidden dirt and debris with a built-in laser light on the brush head
Has a single-touch power button instead of the 'trigger' button on other Dyson models
Incredibly lightweight
Red Flags
Didn't perform as well on bare floors
Some hair remained twisted in the dustbin while emptying
We've tried many of the best Dyson vacuums, with more being tested as we speak (or write, as the case may be). It's hard to narrow down a favorite when all Dyson vacuums offer such impressive power. If you're willing to spend, then rest assured, the best Dyson is the Gen5Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum. If you'd prefer to save a little, then we'd recommend the reliable V8 Absolute Cordless Vacuum. However, for the majority of daily vacuuming needs, we're sticking with the V12 Detect Slim Vacuum.
It's a solid pick with upgraded features like a single-touch power button, so you don't have to hold down a trigger button while you vacuum. At just over 5 pounds, it's super lightweight, making it easy to maneuver from one room to another during its extended 60-minute battery run time. Plus, it comes with a laser light on the brush head that illuminates dirt, dust, pet hair, and more, so that you can efficiently clean your space.
That said, even the most handsome prospects have a few red flags: While the dust bin was incredibly easy to empty, there was some hair stuck inside that had to be manually fetched out at the end of its cleaning run. And the vacuum prefers carpet to bare floors. (25 passes later, it struggled to pick up popcorn kernels and Cheerios from hard flooring.) However, for Dyson collectors who already own the Omni-Glide model for your bare floors, then this outstanding upgraded option is a worthy purchase for your carpets.
How It's Held Up
Our long-term tester was pleased with the vacuum's performance over the six months they tested it at home. They use the vacuum weekly and haven't noticed any changes in the quality, apart from occasional discrepancies with the run time monitor. That said, the vacuum cleans our tester's whole apartment without needing a charge. The suction continues to be effective and our tester hasn't needed to pull any hair from the rollers.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 9.8 x 9.9 x 49.1 inches | Weight: 5.2 pounds | Filter Type: Whole machine filtration | Capacity: 0.1 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, Motorbar cleaner head, crevice tool, hair screw tool, combination tool
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
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PHOTO: People / Rachel Marek
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PHOTO: People / Dera Burreson
Best Roomba
iRobot Roomba i3 EVO Robot Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Works on many types of flooring
Suctioned up 90 percent of dirt and debris with solid efficiency
Smart mapping and an (optional) self-emptying base
Red Flags
Gets stuck when faced with certain objects and corners
While we love the iRobot Roomba 694 for its quality and price, there's no doubt the iRobot Roomba i3 EVO vacuum is an equally competitive option ' especially when the two were compared in our best roombas test. Its versatile design works effectively on both hardwood floors and carpets, makes hardly any noise, and suctioned up 90 percent of dirt and debris during our initial test.
We like that the iRobot i3 EVO has smart mapping technology to help avoid dings in your furniture legs, though it did get stuck in corners and when faced with curtains, cords, and other stray objects. It's fairly easy to empty, but you can also upgrade to the i3+ EVO model, which comes with a self-emptying base. iRobot has also upgraded this model on its website to the i4 EVO which has 20 minutes longer worth of battery life ' an impressive feat considering the i3 already has a 75-minute run time.
How It's Held Up
After bringing the vacuum cleaner home to test for an additional six months, we only have good things to say about the i3 EVO robot vacuum. Not only has it maintained its initial level of efficiency, grabbing all sorts of debris and maneuvering with ease, but it also has a user-friendly app that makes the entire cleaning process that much easier.
Dimensions: 13.26 x 3.63 inches | Weight: 7.44 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.5 liters | Runtime: 75 minutes | Smart Mapping: Yes | Self-Emptying: i3+ only
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PHOTO: People / Donna Freydkin
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Vacuum for Pet Hair
Samsung Jet 75 Stick Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
Star Qualities
Easy to assemble
Powerful suction of hair on all floor types
Helpful attachments, like a crevice tool for furniture
Red Flags
Short battery life
Loud volume
We love our pets dearly, but there's always going to be a trail of fur left in their paths ' which calls for a great pet hair vacuum that can clean up after them. The Samsung Jet 75 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner worked tirelessly to scoop up pet hair across all surfaces, from tile to high-pile carpets, leaving only a clean space in its wake.
It assembled quickly and performed exceptionally well picking up hair on all flooring types. You can use it as a cordless stick model or detach the handle to convert it into a sleek, shorter handheld wand. The crevice tool came in handy when getting into those small corners, as the regular vacuum struggled to get debris at the very end of the base.
We did notice, however, that the volume was quite loud for our taste. Also, the battery lost power a bit faster than we expected, but it charged quickly, so this wasn't a big problem.
Type: Bagless, cordless | Dimensions: 8.5 x 9.8 x 44.5 inches | Weight: 6 pounds | Filter Type: Washable | Capacity: 0.21 gallons | Cord Length: Not applicable | Included Accessories: Mini motorized tool, long reach crevice tool, combination tool, soft brush
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
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PHOTO: People / Henry Wortock
Best Canister Vacuum
Kenmore Compact Bagless Canister Vacuum
PHOTO: Amazon
Our Ratings
89
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