This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.
A clean house. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But it’s the chore that never ends. So, a great vacuum that can handle it all is essential. Especially if you have pets or kids. You can de-clutter, tidy, and wipe down as much as you like, but until those carpets and rugs are properly vacuumed to shift dirt and debris, it just doesn’t feel like a clean home.
If you haven’t bought a new vacuum in a while, you’ll be impressed at the sheer amount of tech and features on offer. From robot vacuums to handheld mini vacuums that fold down to store away more easily, there’s a huge range available right now.
In fact, there’s almost too much choice. What you need is someone to do the hard work of researching modern vacuum cleaners to present you with all the information. That’s where we come in. Here’s everything to know about buying a vacuum.
Corded vs. cordless vacuums — which is the best?
It’s rarely a case of which is better, more a case of what suits you best. Corded vacuums — a classic vacuum that plugs into the wall — provide more suction power, which means a more powerful clean, and have a larger capacity. That means they’re better for larger homes. They are, however, heavier and harder to lug around.
Cordless vacuums are lighter, more portable, and easier to carry around. They can also reach overhead spots and tricky areas under the furniture more easily. The other thing to note about cordless vacs is that they have smaller capacity — usually somewhere between 0.5 and 1 litre — so they’re usually best suited to smaller homes and spaces, or homes with less carpet and more hard floors.
Do vacuums still use a bag?
Corded vacuums tend to use a bag, which needs changing. Cordless vacuums usually use a bin which can be unclipped and emptied much more easily. If you’re an allergy sufferer, be warned: Bagless vacuums can sometimes let dust re-enter the air, both while vacuuming or while emptying the bin’s contents. Bin vacuums sometimes use an advanced filtration system to combat this problem.
Is Dyson the best vacuum brand?
When it comes to the latest, most tech-savvy vacuums, Dyson is the standard to match or beat. But Dyson isn’t the only impressive brand. The likes of Shark and Samsung offer excellent vacuums — not to mention old favourites such as Hoover and Vax. We’ve included examples from various brands in the list below.
What is the best type of vacuum cleaner for you and your home?
There are plenty of vacuum types out there, with something for everyone:
Upright vacuums — A longtime favourite and for good reason. Aside from being cheaper on average, uprights are great for covering large carpet areas and can clean deep using motorised brushes. On the other hand, they generally aren’t as easy to store in small homes, and they require a bit more elbow grease.
Canister vacuums — If you don’t have any carpet in your home and need a versatile vacuum that is good at cleaning bare floors and then some, you may need a canister vacuum. These are known to be less noisy than their upright counterparts, but can also be even harder to store since they’re bulkier and have long attachments. But if you want something versatile enough to clean curtains, blinds, and other spaces that aren’t just the floor — or something you can roll out to your car — a canister is a good choice.
Handheld vacuums — If you want a lightweight, easy-to-store defence against messes, we strongly suggest keeping a handheld vacuum around. Though they have less power due to their compact size, handheld vacuums are great for quick pick-ups.
Robot vacuums — These vacuums clean for you, all while you kickback on the couch or go about your business. Robot vacuums use sensors and lasers to move around. You may not have to control the vacuum once it’s going manually, but you will have to pick up things like socks and other small household items that can get stuck.
The best type of vacuum will really depend on your lifestyle and home. Consider all of these options and think about how they would match with your circumstances.
What is the best vacuum cleaner?
We’ve read reviews, looked at customer ratings, and compiled a list of the best vacuums based on what users have to say. We’ll tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly to help you pick out a machine that really sucks — but in a good way.
These are the best vacuum cleaners in 2025.
