Best Vacuum Cleaner by Category

Our reviews of the best vacuums by category are designed to eliminate the guesswork of purchasing the best vacuum cleaner.  We also aim to save you money by helping you make the best choice for you and your cleaning needs the first time around. 

Our review process is based on several factors, including ease of use, durability, consumer vacuum cleaner reviews, and price.  And, to make it easier, we’ve broken our selections down by category, so you don’t have to weed through "bagged vacuum" reviews if you know you want a bagless.  However, we do recommend considering other vacuum cleaner options since additional features you haven’t considered might provide you far more benefit than you expected.


Best Overall Vacuums

Don't let the price fool you – the Hoover U5140-900 Tempo Widepath Bagged Upright Vacuum has a small price tag, but it provides superior cleaning ability coupled with an extra wide cleaning path that is especially helpful in large, open areas.

• Large, 15" cleaning path means more cleaning with less work

• The innovative filtration system traps allergy-triggering pollen, ragweed, and dust mites

• The powerful 12-amp motor provides plenty of suction power for deep down cleaning

• Features a bright headlight to illuminate your cleaning path

• Retail price is under $80

Dyson is known for superior suction in its vacuums, but also couples innovative ball technology in it's Dyson DC25 Ball All-Floors Upright Vacuum Cleaner.  Now maneuvering around furniture and other obstacles is easy work, thanks to the unique pivoting nature of the ball technology.  Other features on this outstanding cleaner include:

• Root Cyclone technology that keeps suction strong when other vacuums lose power – and cleaning ability – over time

• The motorbrush can be engaged to clean pet hair from carpets or disengaged to clean rugs and delicate floors

• Lifetime HEPA filter means the air coming out of the vacuum is even cleaner than the air in your house normally.  And you save money by not having to replace the filter.

• Certified "Asthma Friendly" by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

• 16-foot telescoping wand extends with the touch of a button to clean hard to reach places

• Backed by Dyson's 5-year warranty

• Retail price is $499

For superior steam cleaning at an affordable price, the Hoover F5914-900 SteamVac with Clean Surge really delivers. Having a steam cleaner handy at home will pay for itself in no time, especially now that you can clean one room at a time as your schedule allows, rather than make a whole day of it with a rental unit that needs to be back by a certain time. 

• Cleans carpets, rugs, upholstery and even bare floors

• Designed with a powerful 12-amp motor for deep cleaning and strong suction

• The dual tank water system keeps the dirty water away from the clean water

• Send a 'Clean Surge' blast of cleaning power at the touch of a button for high traffic or heavily soiled areas

• Retail price is $169

Best Canister Vacuums

Hoover, a long-trusted name in vacuum cleaners, hits another home run with the Hoover S3765-040 WindTunnel Electronic Bagless Canister Vacuum where the versatility of a canister is combined with the easy cleaning of a bagless vacuum.

• Variable motor speed controls and the on/off controls are placed conveniently at your fingertips

• The HEPA filtration system traps the smallest particles and is removable for easy cleaning

• The WindTunnel design keeps debris from being spit and scattered around the room as some other canister vacs do

• The telescoping nozzle make cleaning hard to reach places easy when extended and makes storage a snap when collapsed

• Retail price is $229

The Dirt Devil 082500 Breeze Bagless Canister Vacuum is an angel when it comes to cleaning. Don't let it's smaller profile convince you it has inferior cleaning ability.  In fact, it's size makes cleaning even easier.

• Includes carrying strap for easy cleaning of above-ground items like walls, ceilings and heating/AC ducts

• 99% of allergens in your carpets are collected and trapped by the MicroFresh filtration system

• The front wheel swivels 360 degrees for easy maneuverability

• The compact design still manages houses a beefy 12-amp motor

• Retail price is $89.99

The Electrolux EL6988D Oxygen3 Canister Vacuum Cleaner is a breath of fresh air when it comes to vacuum cleaning, literally, since the HEPA filtered air coming out is cleaner than the air you're breathing in your house normally.

• The HEPA H12 filter cleans 99.97% of allergens down to as small as 0.3 microns in size

• The convenient "bag full" indicator light lets you know for sure when the bag needs to be changed

• Designed with a 1400-watt canister motor plus an additional motor is in the power head for superior cleaning

• High quality parts minimize vacuum cleaner maintenance over the years

• Fingertip controls mean you don't have to bend and stoop to change selections

• Retail price is $356

Best Bagless Vacuum

A favorite among bagless vacuums, the Hoover 5507-900 Elite Auto-Rewind Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner has some handy features you'll love.

• Automatically rewinds the power cord at the touch of a button

• Air-flow indicator lets you know when suction power is waning, so you can empty the collection container or clean the filter

• Lifetime HEPA filter is washable, meaning you don't have to keep buying new filters

• Powerful 12-amp motor and wide 14 ½" cleaning path

• Deluxe furniture guard protects your furniture from nicks and bumps

• Retail price is $249.99

When price and size are buying considerations, check out the Hoover S2220 Flair Bagless Upright Stick Vacuum with Power Nozzle. This powerful stick vacuum is easy on the budget, takes up very little space, and goes from closet to cleaning in just seconds.

• Easy-to-clean, filtered canister lets you see when its time to empty.

• The Power nozzle has it's own motor for carpet cleaning and easily switches modes to clean bare floors or to pick up larger items like popcorn or dog food

• The swivel design of the nozzle head makes maneuverability a breeze

• Quiet operation, a built in hook to hang it out of the way, and no more money spent on vacuum bags also make this a favorite pick among consumers

• Retail price is $47.00

The Dyson DC25 Ball All-Floors Upright Vacuum Cleaner is not only a top bagless vacuum cleaner, but also our choice for one of the top vacuum cleaners, period.  The unique ball feature makes easy work of maneuvering around furniture with no more back and forth moving to position the vacuum. Other features on this top cleaner include:

• Root Cyclone technology that avoids the clogs that rob suction power from other vacuum cleaners

• Engage the motorbrush to clean pet hair  from carpet or disengage it to clean rugs and delicate floors

• Lifetime HEPA filter means super clean air is returned to your home. Certified "Asthma Friendly" by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

• The 16-foot telescoping wand quickly extends with the touch of a button to clean hard to reach places

• Backed by Dyson's 5-year warranty

• Retail price is $499

Best for Pet Owners

If you have pets that shed, the Bissell 3920 Pet Hair Eraser Dual-Cyclonic Upright Vacuum Cleaner is a good vacuum choice for excellent pick up of pet hair and dander. This model is bagless, collecting dirt, hair and other stuff in a canister that is easy to clean.  This feature will also save you money since you won't have to keep purchasing replacement bags.

Some of the many features that make this a favorite of pet owners:

• Powerful 12-amp motor and 2-stage cyclonic action pulls up deep-seated dirt and dust

• Wide, 15" cleaning path means quicker cleaning than smaller vacuums

• Comes with a 4" pet turbo brush for removing pet hair from cushions, beds, etc

• And the 4" pet contour brush that flexes around odd shaped objects like stair lips

• The HEPA filter removes dander and other allergens while the "clean filter" indicator lets you know its time to change the filter

• Retail price is under $130

The Bissell 89Q9 Lift-Off MultiCyclonic Pet Bagless Upright Vacuum Cleaner with Detachable Canister is a unique combination of bagless upright and canister vacuum in one – with added features to effectively pick up pet hair.

• Bagless canister lets you see when it's full and saves you money since there are no replacement bags to purchase

• Handy, detachable canister vacuum cleaner lets you easily clean areas, like stairs, that are hard to reach with an upright vacuum

• Powerful 12-amp motor and 15" wide cleaning path make cleaning a breeze

• HEPA filtration captures 99.99% of dust mites, pollen, and pet dander so they aren't released back into your home

• Includes Pet Hair TurboBrush to remove pet hair from stairways and upholstery in the house or car

• Retail price is under $155

Another favorite Dyson vacuum among pet owners is the Dyson DC25 Animal Ball-Technology Upright Vacuum Cleaner. 

• Dyson's unique ball technology lets you move effortlessly around corners and furniture

• The motorized brushbar can be engaged to clean pet hair from carpets or disengaged to clean rugs and delicate floors

• Lifetime, washable HEPA filter means the air coming out of the vacuum is even cleaner than the air in your house normally – and you don't have to purchase replacement filters

• The 16-foot telescoping wand extends with the touch of a button to clean harder to reach places

• Backed by Dyson's 5-year warranty

• Retail price is $539

Best for Allergies

The Eureka 4870MZ Boss Smart-Vac Upright HEPA Vacuum Cleaner is one of our top picks for allergy sufferers.  Many vacuums have such poor filtration systems that they blow dirty air back into your home as you vacuum, meaning now you have to dust after you've just vacuumed.

• The sealed HEPA filtration system captures 99.97% of allergy inducing dust, allergens, bacteria and pollen.

• Its Power Paw brush lets you easily clean pet hair from stairs, furniture, even auto upholstery

• The 12-amp motor and 15" wide cleaning path make easy work of cleaning all sorts of trapped dirt and debris in your carpets

• Engage or disengage the motorized brush with the flick of a switch so you can move from carpet to hard floors without changing attachments

• Retail price is $133.95

A canister vacuum as powerful as uprights, the Eureka 6500A Airextreme 12-Amp Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner with Hepa Filtration also comes with many of the handy features found on uprights.

• Operates quietly enough to hold a conversation, yet it houses a powerful 12-amp motor

• The unique combination of a hygienic dust bag and air basket optimizes airflow and, therefore, suction power

• Change from carpet to hard floor settings with convenient fingertip controls

• Handy bag-change indicator lets you know just when it's time to change bags

• Comes with pre-motor filter to protect the motor, plus a HEPA filter which catches 99.97% of dust, mites, pollen, and other allergens

• Retail price of $201.89

The Dyson Slim DC18 All Floors HEPA Bagless Upright Vacuum provides Dyson's legendary quality coupled with a slimmer profile that's handy for cleaning smaller rooms or apartments.

• Narrower 11" cleaning path allows for easy maneuverability in smaller rooms and around furniture

• Although slim in design, the ample 11-amp motor provides superior suction and cleaning power to rid your home of pet hair, dirt, dust, and allergens

• Lifetime, washable HEPA filter means you save money by not having to purchase replacement filters

• And because this is bagless, you save even more money over the life of the vacuum by not having to purchase replacement bags

• Retail price is $349.99