Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The Best Canister Vacuums

Based on 7,882 analyzed reviews

Table of contents

NerdWallet Shopping’s rankings of the best canister vacuums are based on our analysis of the opinions of experts and shoppers like you.

Picking a vacuum isn’t easy. We researched some of the most popular models on the market to make your decision a little less confusing.

We recognize that consumers look for different qualities in vacuums, so we ranked multiple feature of top models, including their performance on carpet and hard surfaces.

Our analysis

Our rankings range from a low of 1 to a high of 10. Here’s how we came up with them:

Overall score: The overall score reflects buyer satisfaction with each vacuum in 10 categories, including how well it cleans across various surfaces, ease of use, durability and noise.

How well it cleans: This score reflects buyer satisfaction with the vacuum’s performance on carpet and hard floors, including hardwood, bare, tile and vinyl. It also considers buyer satisfaction with the vacuum’s ability to clean up pet hair and debris.

Ease of use: This score reflects buyer satisfaction with the vacuum’s ability to maneuver — including its weight and cord length — the process of emptying or cleaning it out, and whether it’s easy to operate.

The rankings


#1 Miele S6270 Quartz

Whether it’s performance, ease of use or noise level, the Miele S6270 receives rave reviews from users in a majority of the categories we studied.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
9.5 8.5 9.5

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on bare floorsr
  • Its lightweight design, which is ideal for cleaning stairs
  • Its noise level during operation

Buyers Dislike

  • Its performance on carpets
  • Its ability to pick up pet hair

#2 Miele S8590 Alize

The Miele S8590 Alize scores high in practically every category we analyzed, including performance across a range of surface types, maneuverability and durability.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
9.4 8.7 9.2

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on hardwood, tile and stairs
  • Its ability to pick up pet hair
  • How easy it is to clean

Buyers Dislike

  • Its performance on carpet and rugs

#3 Miele S2121 Olympus

The Miele S2121 Olympus is a strong performer on carpet, hard floor and stairs, making it a good choice for shoppers who have these surfaces in their homes.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
9.0 9.0 8.6

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on stairs
  • Its noise level during operation

Buyers Dislike

  • Its relatively short power cord
  • Its ability to pick up pet hair

#4 Dyson Ball Multifloor

The Dyson Ball Multifloor satisfies users looking for a lightweight device that can tackle large homes with multiple stories.

Its performance on stairs Its lightweight design, which is easy to roll and maneuver
9.0 8.4 8.9

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on stairs
  • Its lightweight design, which is easy to roll and maneuver

Buyers Dislike

  • Its performance on thick carpet and rugs
  • Its ability to pick up pet hair

#5 Electrolux UltrasilencerEl6986a

Convenience-minded consumers appreciate the Electrolux Ultrasilencer El6986a for its easy-to-clean design, light weight and low noise level during operation.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
8.8 7.7 9.3

Buyers Like

  • How easy it is to clean
  • Its noise level during operation

Buyers Dislike

  • Its performance on carpet and rugs
  • The company’s customer service

#6 Bissell Zing 6489

Due to its light weight and portable design, buyers report that using the Bissell Zing 6489 to vacuum stairs is a breeze.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
8.6 8.6 8.8

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on stairs
  • Its lightweight and portable design

Buyers Dislike

  • Its noise level during operation
  • The company’s customer service

#7 Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G

The Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G is a lightweight and durable model that excels at stair cleaning.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
8.5 7.6 9.1

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on stairs
  • Its durability

Buyers Dislike

  • Its performance on carpet
  • Its noise level during operation

#8 Panasonic MC-CG917 Optiflow

The Panasonic MC-CG917 Optiflow canister vacuum is easy to clean and proficient on carpet.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
8.5 9.4 8.6

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on carpet
  • How easy it is to clean

Buyers Dislike

  • Its weight, which makes mobility difficult
  • Its performance on stairs
  • The company’s customer service

#9 Kenmore Progressive 21514

Boasting a strong performance on carpet and stairs, the Kenmore Progressive 21514 also comes with an attachment specifically designed to pick up pet hair.

Overall score How well it cleans Ease of use
7.9 9.0 4.6

Buyers Like

  • Its performance on carpet and stairs
  • Its pet hair attachment

Buyers Dislike

  • Its weight, which makes mobility difficult
  • Its bulky tools
  • Its difficult-to-clean filters

Canister vacuum buying guide

Canister vacuums’ ultra-portable designs simplify housecleaning. Designs vary, but they’re often recognizable by their separated motor and suction head.

When buying a canister vacuum, keep these factors in mind:

Surface type
Most canister vacuums perform well on hardwood and tile surfaces. If you have carpeting or rugs in your home, you’ll want a model that can tackle those surfaces effectively as well.

Weight
Since you’ll likely be carrying your canister to the areas in your home that need cleaning, consider its weight before you purchase. You don’t want to lug a bulky device up stairs.

Noise
If you get a chance, test out the models you’re comparing before you buy to gauge their noise levels. If you can’t, consult online reviews from past purchasers.

Cord Length
Note the length of each vacuum’s power cord. Longer cords may be especially helpful for users who want to clean large rooms — or even multiple rooms — without having to regularly unplug and move the device.

Special Uses
Keep an eye out for any tools, attachments or brushes that come with a particular canister model and might fit your household’s needs — special nozzles for picking up pet hair, for example.

Cleaning
Assess how easy it will be to clean the canister. Some models come with a bag system, while others are bagless. Dumping a used bag may be less messy, but you’ll have to factor in the cost of replacement bags.


Compare other popular vacuums here:

 
For more vacuum buying advice, check out:

 
Courtney Jespersen is a staff writer at NerdWallet, a personal finance website. Email: courtney@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @courtneynerd.


Top image via iStock.

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