We Tested More Than 40 Vacuums to Find the Best for Air Quality, Mobility Issues, and Pet Hair

For a powerful vacuum that’s lightweight and easy to maneuver, consider the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute. It’s a cordless upright vacuum that weighs less than 7 pounds (lb), so it’s ideal for quickly cleaning up messes around the house. The powerful suction makes it a good fit for more heavy-duty vacuuming, too. Tester Sarah Glinski says, “It has a long battery life and gives an extremely deep clean.” According to the Dyson website, the vacuum can run for 60 minutes on a single charge.

According to Glinski, the major drawback of the vacuum is that the canister is fairly small and difficult to empty, and it needs to be emptied frequently. “Sometimes hair or fur gets stuck, and I have to shake it quite vigorously to remove debris,” she says. This is also a more expensive choice than many other upright cordless vacuums.

The dustbin empties automatically into the base, which can store up to 3 L of debris in a sealed dust bag. According to Tapo, this means it only needs to be emptied roughly every 60 days. The vacuum also uses a HEPA filter. “The app is comprehensive in terms of features,” adds Olsen. “I love that I can view the live mapping, set up rooms and cleaning preferences, and watch in real time.”

However, one common problem with robot vacuums is that the suction isn’t as powerful as many other vacuums, especially in the more affordable models like this one that’s under $300. “I found that it missed some key debris and crumbs,” says Olsen, “And it does take some time to clean.”

Our team has tested numerous robot vacuums, and Roborock models often outperform the rest. This latest model is particularly impressive, with its stronger-than-average (for a robot vacuum) suction and its ability to lift itself over thresholds as high as 4 centimeters (cm). I’ve tested a few different models, and this one consistently surprised me with how well it met its marketed claims.

While we recognize this robot vacuum comes with a high price tag, you get plenty of bang for your buck: a self-washing, self-emptying vacuum-mop combo that offers a fully customizable cleaning schedule, advanced room mapping with AI obstacle recognition, and a super-slim design that can get into tight corners and under furniture. I’m always dubious of a robot vacuum’s ability to deeply clean a rug, but this one really did a great job of picking up debris and pet hair. I also noticed it doesn’t get discombobulated as much as other models I’ve tested and can overcome bumps and circumnavigate smaller obstacles with ease.

It does have some room for improvement. My household disproved the robot vac’s “zero-tangle” claim — it required manual detangling a few times over the course of a month. It also doesn’t know how to go back to its base and empty itself when its mobile dustbin is full. This means it can really only clean one room at a time before it stops holding debris. This wasn’t a dealbreaker for me, but I’d certainly appreciate a smart emptying feature.

We love a vacuum-mop combo because messes (especially in kitchens) often include wet and dry components. This cordless model from Kenmore truly handles it all without you having to maintain it too much. It has self-wash and self-dry functions, so you never have to worry about damp, mildewy smells or dreaded mold buildup.

Editor Nicole Bonaccorso tested this one on spills and stains made by her toddler and was surprised by how often she’d use it. “This doesn't use a lot of water, so drying time is minimal,” she said. “This is great if you have kids who make messes all day long, like me, or if you have an unexpected guest on the way.” She also appreciated that the head swivels easily and propels itself forward somewhat, which was helpful because the whole thing is a bit heavy.

Her main gripes were that the hole to fill the water tank is somewhat small, and “the dry vacuum mode isn’t the first to come on when you turn the machine on, even though it’s the one you’re supposed to start with.” Other than that, it’s a surprisingly versatile tool, especially for the price.

Ideally, you want an upright vacuum that easily swivels around furniture, isn’t cumbersome to maneuver, and has features that make accessing dust in hard-to-reach places a breeze. This bagless pick from Kenmore hits all those marks. Writer Holly Klamer said its design is ideal for cleaning a large room quickly.

“It also goes from rugs to hardwood floors easily,” she says. “I can clean my floors in, like, 10 minutes. It picks things up really well and usually only takes one time to go over.” Perhaps the most functional aspect of this vacuum is its detachable canister. With one click and a 9-foot suction wand, you can clean everything from the tops of bookshelves to ceiling fans. There’s also an LED light that illuminates all the dust particles, so you can be sure you’re getting each surface as clean as possible.

It’s not the most powerful vacuum (for example, if you have high-pile carpets, this one is not for you), but its maneuverability and versatility made it the best upright model in our books. And the bagless design and HEPA filter means it’s great at mitigating allergens. “I’ve owned other bagless upright vacuums: In my opinion, this model works better, is more efficient, and is easier to maneuver than other vacuums,” Klamer says.

A cordless vacuum can make cleaning much easier, but only if it has a decent battery life. (You don’t want to be halfway through vacuuming and have to stop to recharge for an hour.) We love this one from Shark for many reasons, but the two biggest are its 70-hour battery life and incredible suction on all floor types (including carpet).

“This is my favorite vacuum to use on my high-pile carpets,” says editor Ashley Ziegler. “I feel like it’s the only one that really picks up dirt deeper into the carpet as opposed to just what’s sitting on top.” She also loved how it bends in half so she could easily clean under low furniture like couches.

Like most Shark vacuums, this one comes with a HEPA filter for added allergen protection. It also has a canister rather than a bag, which you can easily empty with the push of a button. The canister is on the smaller side, though, so Ziegler had to empty it after cleaning each room in her house. It’s an expensive vacuum to be sure, but considering its power, ease of use, and versatility (it converts to a handheld), we think it’s absolutely worth the price. 

There’s a lot we love about this little vacuum. For something that weighs less than 10 lb and costs less than $70, it packs a serious punch. Our tester Kimberly Dawn Neumann was genuinely blown away by its suction power.

“It’s the most powerful little ‘sucker’ I’ve ever owned,” Neumann says. “Like, literally nothing can escape its pull. I thought my floor was fairly clean before I started, and I was horrified [by] how much hair and dust it sucked up from my floors the first time I used it.” At times it was almost too powerful — it tried to suck up her entire rug — so she wishes it had a low setting.

Neumann was also a huge fan of the vacuum’s washable filter (an uncommon feature among vacuums). However, it’s not a HEPA filter, so if you’re prone to allergies, we suggest checking out our Best Vacuums for Allergies roundup. The only other downside is that the base of the vacuum is on the large side, which kind of negates the point of a compact vacuum. “I had to move things around because you can’t just shove it in the back behind some clothes or something — it stands on its own and requires its own space,” she says. However, because it’s such a good vacuum, that wasn’t a dealbreaker for her (or us).

A powerful vacuum with strong suction and easy-to-use corner and detailing tools is a must for managing pet hair and dander, making the Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum an excellent choice for pet owners. “When it comes to pet hair, you need a powerful vacuum that can get it all up out of the carpet,” says tester Raki Swanson. “This is it.”

The roller is designed to maintain constant contact with your floors using Shark’s PowerFins design, which also helps prevent hair from getting wrapped around the brush roller. The vacuum also features odor-neutralizing technology to help eliminate unpleasant smells. It features a HEPA filter and a complete seal system to trap dust and allergens, and it’s bagless, making it easy to empty into your trash can. Swanson has owned this vacuum for more than a year and says the suction is still just as powerful as it was on its first day of use.

However, Swanson notes that it can be tricky to use this vacuum on the stairs. Although it has a 12-foot hose attachment, it’s not long enough to reach from the bottom to the top of a regular flight of stairs. Being bagless, it may not be the best fit for people with allergies because particles can be rereleased into the air when emptying the canister.

A strong handheld vacuum like this Dyson is ideal for small spaces with lots of nooks and crannies, such as those found inside vehicles. It can also be used to clean up small messes like crumbs or dry food spills. For people with no carpet or rugs, a handheld vacuum like this one can also serve as a stand-in for a full-sized vacuum (in addition to a broom and mop). “I love how strong the suction is,” says tester Ashley Ziegler. “It packs a surprising punch!”

The Dyson Car+Boat has a fully sealed HEPA filtration system, and the battery can last for up to 50 minutes on a full charge. Because it’s handheld, it has a small dust cup that needs to be frequently emptied. It comes with three attachments, including a crevice tool and a combination tool for awkward spaces.

“It’s heavier than others I’ve tried, but it’s also stronger and comes with more attachments,” says Ziegler. However, she notes it’s also more expensive than many other comparable handheld vacuums, although they may not be as powerful. “I think there’s a brand-name premium here,” she says.

Canister vacuums that have a sealed, bagged HEPA filtration system — such as the Kenmore 600 Series Bagged Canister Vacuum — can be particularly helpful for trapping allergens, according to Dr. Shepherd. Bagged filtration systems trap allergens and seal them within the bag, so there’s minimal exposure to allergens because you don’t have to empty the canister contents directly into the trash can.

Canister vacuums can also be helpful for people with limited mobility. “It’s fairly agile when in use,” says Katie Tuttle. “It’s also constructed in such a way as to limit the amount of bending over you have to do in order to switch out the parts or retract the cord.”

The vacuum features four height-adjustment levels to accommodate different flooring types, from hard floors to high-pile carpets. It also includes four attachments: a bare-floor tool, a dusting brush, a crevice tool, and a Pet PowerMate for removing pet hair and dander. The attachments have a reach of 9.5 feet from the canister. With a dust bin capacity of 0.55 gallons, each dust bag can last for up to two months of regular vacuuming.

“The canister is a bit awkward, as it drags along behind you as you vacuum,” says Tuttle. “However, the vacuum has enough reach that you aren’t constantly adjusting it.” Although the vacuum weighs 24 lbs, which is heavier than many other vacuums, the canister has wheels that make it easier to maneuver.

The Levoit LVAC-300 is a bagless cordless vacuum that is both convenient and effective. “It makes it easy to clean up pet hair,” says Alexandra Klausner, “and being cordless makes it easy to port around.” According to the Levoit website, the device features a powerful motor capable of up to 12,000 sweeps per minute, which enables it to vacuum floors just as effectively as corded or canister vacuums.

The vacuum has three different settings: Eco for hard floors, Mid for low-pile carpets, and Turbo for high-pile carpets. It also comes with two accessories: a crevice tool and a mini motorized upholstery brush. Its slim profile makes it easy to assemble, store, and maneuver, too. It uses five-stage HEPA filtration to trap dust and allergen particles. Additionally, it’s self-standing and features LED lights mounted near the roller to help you see dust and dirt.

However, it has a smaller dust cup than other upright vacuums, so it may need to be emptied more frequently. Because it’s bagless it may also release some trapped dust and dirt particles back into the air when you empty the canister, so it may not be the best choice for people with severe allergies or people who are sensitive to dust or pet dander.

The Eureka PowerSpeed vacuum provides impressive performance for less than $100. It’s a straightforward and easy-to-use corded bagless vacuum, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it was able to pull dust and dirt from my rugs. It’s also very easy to detach the canister and empty it directly into the trash can. It also comes with a crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool.

The filter is washable and reusable, although it’s not HEPA rated. The height can be adjusted to five different levels using a dial on the front of the vacuum — from high-pile carpet to bare floor. The key drawback of this vacuum that I noticed was that it was too powerful to vacuum smoothly over some of my smaller, more lightweight rugs. It was also somewhat difficult to maneuver around furniture and children’s toys.

As a bagless vacuum, a significant amount of dust is released into the air when the canister is emptied into the trash. For this reason, it may not be the best choice for people with allergies.