15 Best Vacuums for Every Home & Budget, Vetted By Fur Moms
Find the perfect vacuum to fit your needs.
Shopping for a new vacuum is like shopping for a new swimsuit or pair of jeans. While there's a lot of decent options, it can be hard to find the one that's just right.
Ask Katie Reed, a passionate fur mom who was purchasing a new one annually up until three years ago when she moved to her current place. "I've tried so many vacuums. We have two animals, and one is a Sheltie with a lot of hair who sheds what feels like all day long," Reed explains. "We also have a lot of different surfaces, plus stairs." A new house was the perfect excuse to splurge on a cordless Dyson (which, unsurprisingly, makes a couple of appearances on this list). "I haven't felt the need to buy or even look at a new vacuum, so I've already saved hundreds of dollars," she continues. With an ease of use, variety of attachments, light weight and powerful suction, it continues to check every box.
However, even Reed admits the perfect vacuum may not exist. "I have yet to find one that actually does it all," she says. That's why it's important to keep your priorities top of mind when looking for the best vacuum for your life. Are you using yours daily like Reed and need something simple to maneuver? Or do you have all hardwood and want something that can handle both the vacuuming and mopping? From my own experience to Reed's anecdotes to hours of research, this list of the 15 best vacuums encompasses something for everyone, including budget buys, robot options, techie splurges and more.
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15 Best Vacuums
1. Best for Pet Hair: Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum, $320 on Amazon
With an extra powerful suction and accessories like a motorized brush designed specifically for stubborn fur, this vacuum is truly a powerhouse. The sealed air system and HEPA filter are big pluses too, trapping 99.9% of dust and allergens (such as pet hair). Because of the small floor head, you can easily maneuver it under furniture and other tricky places to capture every single dust bunny, which is made even easier with the LED lights on the nozzle that light the way. Shark Rotator Powered Lift-Away TruePet Upright Vacuum, $320 on Amazon
2. Best for Hard Floors: Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, $450 at Target
This cordless stick vacuum is made specifically for bare floors, all about suction with no brush roll. It's incredibly lightweight, as well as easy to maneuver, courtesy of the 360-degree swivel—great for stairs and furniture legs. The dustbin is relatively small, but it's a breeze to empty. Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, $450 at Target
3. Best for Small Storage: Shark Vertex Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins, $300 on Amazon
The hallmark of this cordless vacuum is that it can be folded down to three feet when not in use—a dream for compact closets everywhere. (This feature also allows it to clean hard-to-reach spaces.) Two more pros for storage: It's super lightweight and doesn't require a charging hub, thanks to the removable battery. The washable HEPA filter and complete seal come in handy for those with allergies, trapping any irritants the vacuum comes across inside. Shark Vertex Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins, $300 on Amazon
4. Best Canister Vacuum: Kenmore 600 Series POP-N-GO Canister Vacuum, $350 on Amazon
If you're looking for something that's just plain effective, you're going to love this canister vacuum. The suction is beyond impressive, whether being used on deep-pile carpet or tile, and you can choose from the motorized pet hair tool, floor nozzle, crevice tool, dusting brush and bare floor brush to make it even more effective. Whatever ones you're not using can be stored in the canister. This vacuum may be a little heavier and bulkier than others, it's effectiveness more than makes up for it. Kenmore 600 Series POP-N-GO Canister Vacuum, $350 on Amazon
5. Best Robot Vacuum: Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum, $650 on Amazon
Self-emptying, ultra clean mode for thick carpets and pet hair, AI laser navigation that detects and avoids items over four inches...but wait, there's more! This robot vacuum can handle voice commands via Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, as well as scheduling, high traffic zones and areas to avoid via its app. More good news: The large dustbin in the base station only needs to emptied every two months, and because it's bagless, you don't need to worry about buying replacements. Shark AI Ultra Robot Vacuum, $650 on Amazon
6. Best Handheld Vacuum: Shark WV201 WANDVAC Cordless Handheld Vacuum, $128 on Amazon
Perfect for spot cleanings, the strong suction, sleek appearance and super light weight design all make this handheld vacuum a winner. Its two attachments are incredibly effective, one specifically for pet hair and the other for crevices and dust. Bonus: you can store them in the charging dock when not in use, so they don't get lost. Though a short battery life and small container are the norm for these kinds of vacuums, this one is a little shorter and smaller than the norm. Shark WV201 WANDVAC Cordless Handheld Vacuum, $128 on Amazon
7. Best Upright Vacuum: Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum, $385 on Amazon
As the name implies, this vacuum is an animal, featuring one of the most amazing suctions on the market. The motor bar makes it even more effective, since you can customize the suction based on floor and debris type. You may have to wash the filter once a month, but we can forgive that considering the extra long 35' power cord. Dyson Ball Animal 3 Upright Vacuum, $385 on Amazon
8. Best Budget Canister Vacuum: BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister Vacuum, $80 on Amazon
Though the most inexpensive vacuum on this list, its canister style knows how to get the job done. Its suction power rivals that of much pricier options, especially when paired with one of its included accessories: the crevice tool, dusting brush and multi-surface floor tool. The 15' power cord and more stationary design make it trickier to maneuver, but the compactness helps solve that problem. BISSELL Zing Bagless Canister Vacuum, $80 on Amazon
9. Best Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo: ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI Cleaning Robot, $1,550 on Amazon
Once you try this, you'll never go back. First, it's both a vacuum and a mop, with a station that automatically empties its dustbin and washes and dries its mop heads. The voice control is equally indulgent, allowing you to direct the DEEBOT X1 wherever you want it to go. The tech also identifies and avoids anything taller than two inches, and even scans your home for the most efficient cleaning paths. ECOVACS DEEBOT X1 OMNI Cleaning Robot, $1,550 on Amazon
10. Best Budget Upright Vacuum: BISSELL CleanView Swivel Pet Vacuum Cleaner, $119 on Amazon
Ranked #1 on Amazon as the best upright vacuum cleaner, it's surprising that something that performs so well can be so inexpensive. The stellar pet attachment is a well-known perk of the CleanView, but there's plenty to praise whether you use it or not. For example, the low profile of the front makes vacuuming under furniture and cabinets way easier, and the side brushes help ensure every last piece of debris is picked up. The bagless design features a washable filter and easy-to-empty dustbin, and the vacuum overall is lightweight and smooth to maneuver. BISSELL CleanView Swivel Pet Vacuum Cleaner, $119 on Amazon
11. Best for Allergens: Shark Navigator Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum, $119 on Amazon
Allergens are often hiding in plain sight, and this vacuum manages to find them all. The lift-away system combined with the swivel steering makes it way easier to cover every nook and cranny. Another dynamic duo? The fantastic suction thick bristles, which help get as much debris as possible. Add in the light weight design, and this vacuum's favor is more than valid. Shark Navigator Lift-Away ADV Upright Vacuum, $119 on Amazon
12. Best Budget Robot Vacuum: iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum, $274 on Amazon
Though an entry level robot vacuum, this Roomba is still capable of a lot. With the easy to use app, you can schedule times to clean and connect it to wifi, so you can send voice commands through Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. While the bump-and-clean system may not be all that efficient, the vacuum's automatic dirt detection (which allows it to increase suction when debris is sensed) is extra helpful. iRobot Roomba 694 Robot Vacuum, $274 on Amazon
13. Most Intelligent Vacuum: Dyson v15 Detect Vacuum, $750 on Amazon
Clean freaks and techies alike will love this cordless stick vacuum, starting with the laser that highlights all the previously-invisible dust particles on the floor. The LCD display shows you the remaining run time and current power level, as well as exactly how many particles it's picked up and what size they are. The v15 can automatically adjusts its power depending on floor (but no matter what, the suction is super powerful). The one con is that it's heavier for a cordless stick, but with all of these features, who can dock it for that? Dyson v15 Detect Vacuum, $750 on Amazon
14. Best Budget Stick Vacuum: Eureka Flash Corded Stick Bagless 2-in-1 Vacuum, $145 on Amazon
Affordable yet effective, everything about this vacuum is designed for thorough cleaning. LED headlights play a big part in this, allowing you to find every hidden piece of dust and debris in the house. The vacuum itself is able to cover all the tough spots on hardwood and carpet alike, able to be easily switched between floor types and automatically adjusting based on their heights. Swivel steering and a 30' cord make it all the more functional. Eureka Flash Corded Stick Bagless 2-in-1 Vacuum, $145 on Amazon
15. Best Vacuum and Mop Combo: BISSELL CrossWave Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner, $258 on Amazon
It doesn't get more versatile than a machine that can vacuum and mop at the same time. Plus, the double water tanks in this vacuum mean you're never cleaning with dirty water. Keep in mind that it can't be used on carpet, but rugs are fair game. Also, some maintenance is involved—washing and replacing the filter, emptying and cleaning the dirty water tank, and clearing and cleaning the brush roll—but you're already saving so much time, it's definitely worth it. BISSELL CrossWave Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner, $258 on Amazon