After 1,000+ hours of testing, these are the 9 best vacuum cleaners in 2025 to suit every home and budget

Picking the best vacuum cleaner for your home may feel tricky, given the countless types, brands and features at a range of budgets. Determining the best choice involves extensive research, but we have done the leg work for you.

As Homes & Gardens' home tech editor, my team of product testers and I have spent more than 1000 hours thoroughly testing and reviewing 74 of the world's best vacuum cleaners.

This guide crunches that down to the nine top vacuums you should consider, whether you're looking for a cordless model that can tackle pet hair, or a corded upright to deep clean your carpets.

Across the best cordless vacuums, best robot vacuums, and best upright vacuums, each of the models on this list surpasses all the others we've tested in that category. From the most premium vacuums to the top-performing budget ones, these are our very best vacuum recommendations for your home.

The one-minute verdict

Right now, the best vacuum cleaners we've tested are the Dyson V15 Detect and the Shark POWERDETECT.

The Dyson V15 Detect boasts market-leading suction power that's similar to a big, heavy corded vacuum, but with the freedom and convenience of a lightweight cordless stick. It's also our best pet hair vacuum thanks to its anti-tangle and carpet-agitating brushroll.

The Shark POWERDETECT is the most powerful vacuum we've tested, making it the perfect choice for busy homes with lots of carpets and rugs. It's less expensive than the V15 Detect, but larger, heavier, and reliant on a power cord.

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is the slimmer and cheaper version of the V15 Detect, and the decrease in suction power means it's perfect for cleaning hard floors as they don't require high suction, just an effective soft brushroll that won't damage delicate surfaces.

If you'd prefer not to break the bank on your next vacuum upgrade, the Ultenic U16 Flex [at Amazon] is our best budget cordless, and the Shark Rotator is our best budget upright, both offering strong performance without the high costs.

The Quick List

Here's a quick overview of the tried-and-tested best vacuum cleaners. You can scroll down or click the navigation links for more in-depth info.

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The best vacuum cleaners in 2025

The best vacuum cleaner

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The Dyson V15 Detect is the best vacuum, the best cordless vacuum and the best vacuum for pet hair that we've tested at Homes & Gardens. Along with its market-leading suction power, this is thanks to its unique dust-hunting feature: a green diode laser that reveals what the human eye can't see.

This couples with a Piezo sensor which measures microscopic dust particles in real time, giving clear proof of a deep and effective clean. It sounds like a gimmick, but our tests found that it's incredibly effective, as the vacuum automatically adjusts its suction according to how much dust is detected.

I tested the V15 Detect in a local cat and dog shelter and it can effortlessly pull every strand of pet hair from hard floors, high-pile carpets and thick rugs. It has an a great anti-tangle brushroll that will save you the horrible job of picking hair out of the vacuum to clean it.

This is why it's the best vacuums for pet hair, as you would usually have to rely on a heavy, corded vacuum to achieve this level of cleaning. You get all the benefits of a lightweight, agile cordless stick that you can grab in a moment's notice to vacuum pet hair, without any sacrifice in suction. It's perfect for quickly vacuuming fur from the sofa.

It can easily reach tight spots, and it's light enough that you can use it with one hand. The bright LCD screen makes it easy to use, demonstrating runtime, suction mode and if the bin is too full.

This is one of the best vacuums you can buy, but it will set you back more than $700 at full price. I don't enjoy that dust occasionally gets stuck in the dust bin, and that you have to hold down the trigger to keep it running, which might become uncomfortable if you have mobility issues with your hands.

If you time it right and find the best Dyson deal, you can find the V15 Detect discounted for around $100-200 at multiple points throughout the year.

Read more in my full Dyson V15 Detect review.

Best upright vacuum for carpets

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The Shark POWERDETECT is the best upright vacuum for a number of reasons but, most importantly, it's one of the most powerful vacuums we've tested. If your home has a lot of carpets or rugs, or if it's a busy house with kids and pets, this is the robust, high-performing vacuum you need.

Our tester James Holland found that, regardless of the mess or type of floor, it had no problem cleaning up in one sweep, making it our all-time best vacuum for carpets.

'It’s able to suck everything up in its path efficiently and proficiently, no matter the debris. And, it’s equally capable regardless of the surface I used it on,' he noted.

Thanks to his cat's heavy shedding, James was also able to find out just how effective the POWERDETECT can clean pet hair. 'With one pass, the Shark POWERDETECT had basically picked up every visible piece of hair (as well as litter near the litter box) from the carpet, filling the dust bin with an amount of hair equal to a second cat. The carpet itself was left spotless and smelling ever-so-slightly fresh thanks to the odor neutralizer cartridge.'

So, as well as being able to clean pet hair from the most difficult floor type, the POWERDETECT goes a step above what most vacuums offer: it uses an anti-odor cartridge to actually deodorize the odors from your floors, leave the room smelling fresher than before .

To make things easier too, the POWERDETECT can be lifted from its main, heavier component whenever you need more mobility, like on the stairs or when reaching above. This feature is paired with a hose (an albeit limited one at only two feet long), to help make the most of the attachments for any non-floorcare related cleaning.

It also matches the detection tech we've come to love from the Dyson laser vacuums. This upright vacuum can detect floor type, dust volume and the floor's edges so that it can automatically adjust suction power when it's needed. So, when you move from hard floor to carpet, or from a clean area to a dirty area, the vacuum will up the power to make sure everything's picked up.

It is a little on the heavy side at 17.57 lbs, but that's not too far from what we expect from upright vacuums (the Shark Stratos weighs in at 16.71 lbs). It's available for around $400-500 which, in my view, is more than reasonable considering the cleaning power on offer.

Read more in our full Shark POWERDETECT review.

Best vacuum for hard floors

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When we look at the best vacuum cleaners in the world, the Dyson V15 Detect and the pricey Dyson Gen5detect, the smaller, more affordable counterpart often gets forgotten about. The Dyson V12 Detect Slim is the entry-level model in Dyson's flagship Detect range, and it's the cheapest way to bring this market-leading tech into your home.

It still carries the same core features, like dust/floor detection, the green laser that illuminates hidden dust, the particle counter and the adaptive suction power.

Its smaller size comes with a dustbin that's 0.1 gal smaller, but if you're willing to empty it more often, this shouldn't be too much of a task. Its suction power is also 90 air watts lower (more on what this means in our vacuum jargon buster), but on hard floors, this difference isn't too noticeable.

On test, it picked up everything (no matter the debris size) in one or two passes on every floor type, just slightly slower than the V15 Detect. The green laser works wonders on hard floors to reveal every speck of dust, and the soft brushroll avoids damaging even the most delicate surfaces.

I tested it alongside other vacuums from brands like Shark and Tineco, and I was really able to see just how much it excelled in comparison. Suction power is adjusted within a fraction of a section whenever the floor is particularly dirty, and the green laser genuinely does reveal dust that you wouldn't otherwise see.

The V12 Detect Slim retails for around $650 but more often than not, it's discounted at around $450-550. This is one of the leading cordless vacuums in the world so, while $400+ is still a bit of an investment, it's certainly a worthwhile one. The Dyson V8 is another great budget option, costing a few hundred dollars less but without any of the fancy detection tech.

Read more in my full Dyson V12 Detect Slim review.

Best budget cordless vacuum

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Generally, budget vacuum cleaners aren't great. Their suction is so poor that they'll end up pinging mess across your floors rather than sucking it up, leaving you spending more money on another vacuum that can do the job.

But from all the budget vacuums we've tested at Homes & Gardens, the one brand I can confidently endorse is Ultenic. Their vacuums aren't perfect, sure, but they offer decent cleaning performance considering they cost under $200. This is why I consider their vacuums as some of the best Dyson alternatives.

It shares many of Dyson's features and aesthetics, and I tested this budget vacuum against a $750 Dyson and found that, while it couldn't match the Dyson's power, its features were useful, and the suction is strong enough for anything that isn't a carpet.

The U16 Flex is one of Ultenic's latest releases, featuring a new bendable wand that allows you to easily reach under furniture when cleaning. During testing on hard floors, the U16 Flex easily managed small and large debris, rivaling more expensive competitors from Miele and Shark.

It wasn't quite as powerful on carpets or when getting between the panels when cleaning hardwood floors, but the vacuum's boost mode helped to finish the job, even if it took a few passes.

Also, at 3.75 lbs this is easily one of the best lightweight vacuums we've ever tested. It's incredibly easy to use with its trigger operation (that acts as a button rather than having to press it constantly).

The materials aren't the best quality, so it does feel a little cheap, and that in itself comes with long-term durability concerns, but if you're looking for a decent cordless vacuum on a tight budget, this is your best bet.

The full Ultenic U16 Flex review is coming soon.

Best budget upright vacuum

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The Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum does everything you need a cleaner to do, at a price that everyone can afford. It comes with a HEPA filter to detect and dispose of dust and dander, as well as an odor-neutralizing cartridge to keep things smelling fresh.

The Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum is essentially a smaller, lighter, cheaper version of the Shark Stratos. For a corded vacuum, it's easy to maneuver and features a Lift-Away function to help you clean stairs and high areas. Those non-tangle brushrolls would give the best vacuum for pet hair a run for its money.

Our tester was particularly impressed by the vacuum's performance on hardwood floors. It sucked up small rocks, larger clumps of dirt, and even fine pieces of cat litter without spraying them all over the floor. Just don't try to use it on area rugs: the suction is far too powerful and you'll only pull the fabric.

The Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum doesn't have the most capacious dustbin, nor the latest technology, but it's a quick, quiet cleaning companion. If you're looking for an upright vacuum that can deliver premium results without the premium price tag, look no further.

Read more in our full Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum review.

Best mid-range cordless vacuum

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One of the best Shark vacuums, the Cordless PowerDetect stands out from the competition thanks to an impressive and genuinely useful feature set. Like many recent cordless vacuums from brands like Kenmore and Ultenic, the Shark Cordless PowerDetect has a flexible wand that can reach under furniture without you having to strain your back, and easily snaps back into place afterwards. Out

It has the best suction power found across any of Shark's cordless vacuums, with our tester James Holland writing that 'it had no issues sucking up debris and dust' across all floor types, and it even pulled an impressive amount of dust and dirt from two floors that appeared to be clean.

As it can detect the floor type (just like the best Dyson vacuums), the floor's edges, and the volume of dust on the floor, the PowerDetect is able to maintain optimal suction power, increasing on carpets and dirtier areas, and preserving battery on hard floors and cleaner areas. It has a floorhead with dual-brushrolls so that it can seamlessly pass between floor types; the soft brushroll helps to capture dust and fine particles while the bristled brushroll helps to clean carpets and avoid hair wrap.

Aside from its cleaning capabilities, it has an LED screen displaying suction mode and battery life, a HEPA post-motor filter (which means air is filtered before being let back out into the room) and washable foam pre-motor filters, and the option of a self-cleaning and self-emptying charging station. It is a bit on the pricier end however; if you're looking for Shark cleaning for a little less, consider the Shark Vertex Pro. It's a few years old but still gets the job done.

Read more in our full Shark Cordless PowerDetect review.

Best handheld vacuum

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I tested the Black+Decker dustbuster furbuster AdvanceClean+ Pet handheld vacuum in my own home and in a local pet shelter – and was massively impressed by its performance in both environments, putting it as our number one best handheld vacuum.

A major part of the dustbuster furbuster's cleaning power is a motirized pet brush with a spinning brushroll, similar to what you'd expect from one of the best cordless vacuums.

I used it to clean a dog hair-ridden rug that hadn't been cleaned in weeks, and it was surprisingly able to pull up fur that another handheld vacuum, the Black+Decker 12V MAX Dustbuster, couldn't even budge. The performance was just as strong when vacuuming hair from a soft chair with a stubborn, difficult to clean fabric.

When not using the motorized attachment, the handheld vacuum has a purple nozzle that you can pull out to use it as a crevice tool. Its edges allow you to easily scrape hair and debris from soft flooring and upholstery. The vacuum also has surprisingly strong suction power, as I watched dust, debris and hair being pulled into the nozzle from 1-2 inches away when vacuuming on hard floors.

Another big win is the power boost mode, delivering a much stronger airflow for more difficult messes or thick carpets. I tested it when cleaning baseboards and dust was sucked into the vacuum with ease, leaving the baseboards looking like they'd been dusted with a cloth.

The suction power and cleaning performance is stronger than with any other handheld vacuum I've used. Its only downsides are the lack of a HEPA filter and that the filter can occasionally become clogged, but it's easy to clean and I can't complain about such a spacious dustbin.

Read more in my full Black+Decker dusbuster furbuster AdvanceClean+ Pet review.

Best canister vacuum

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The Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog is the best Miele vacuum if you're looking for a bagless, powerful and not-too-expensive canister vacuum.

A standout feature of the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog model is the inclusion of the TurboTeQ floorhead. It's tailored specifically for picking up hair and vacuuming carpets – and it handles both easily.

The CX1's suction is exceptional – even on lower settings, you can feel the air drawing in around the nozzle. When vacuuming carpets, it can almost stick to the floor if you don't choose the right settings.

When testing at a local cat and dog shelter, the Blizzard CX1 ranks as one of the top performers for cleaning their carpets and removing dirt, dust, and pet hair without leaving any mess behind.

It didn't perform quite as smoothly on hard floors using the standard EcoTeQ head, which is designed for smooth surfaces. It doesn't handle bulkier debris as effectively, and I found it was more efficient to remove the head entirely when tackling big messes.

The Cat & Dog model is expensive, and if you're not prepared to splash out $999 for it, there's a more affordable alternative in the Miele Blizzard CX1 PureSuction PowerLine for $629 – it's the same vacuum but without the TurboTeQ floorhead. I've also tested the Miele Boost CX1, which didn't perform quite as well as the Blizzard CX1, but is still a powerful vacuum.

Read more in my full Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog review.

Best robot vacuum

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The S1 Pro is the new flagship model from eufy's range of robot vacuum cleaners, and the best robot vacuum we've tested by miles.

It's hailed as 'the world's first floor washer,' and although many robots have a similar mopping function, the S1 Pro has a mop that continuously stays clean throughout the mopping as it return to base when needed, refreshes it and goes back out.

On test, 'it tackled sticky, sugary liquid spills with ease, and much like the tests available to view on the manufacturer’s website, blasted through coffee, milk and ketchup stains with zero issue, residue or spread,' Punteha van Terheyden, Head of Solved at Homes & Gardens noted.

Many robot vacuums struggle to offer any deep cleaning with their mop functions so it's a pleasant surprise eufy has managed to do so.

As well as top-class mopping, the S1 Pro also shines as a vacuum. 'During testing, there was nothing it was unable to handle with day-to-day debris, dust and mess (human, pet, and otherwise),' Punteha added.

On top of that, the robot vacuum proved to have excellent navigation, avoiding obstacles within a two-inch radius while the two spinning brush arms make sure no part of the floor gets missed.

The main downside however, is, of course, the price. It retails at full price at $1,499.99. But I have learned that robot vacuums are almost always reduced by hundreds of dollars during major sale events, so look out for the S1 Pro during the next Black Friday or Prime Day sale.

If it's still out of your budget, consider the iRobot Roomba Combo j9+ or the iRobot Roomba j7+ – they're two of the most capable robots we've tested, and they cost hundreds of dollars less (as they're now a few years old).

Read more in our full eufy S1 Pro Omni review.

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More options

These are the best nine vacuum cleaners to consider for all budgets and floor types, but there are plenty more we've tested that I still happily recommend:

• The Dyson Gen5detect is the best vacuum we've tested, but it costs a whopping $949.99 at full price. That's $200 more than the V15 Detect, and the suction is only marginally better, so it doesn't warrant the huge price jump. But if you have the money, you won't get better than this. Read more our full Dyson Gen5detect review.
• The Dreame H14 Pro is our all-time best vacuum-mop. I now use this deep cleaner in my home to simultaneously vacuum debris and mop the floors in seconds. Read more in my full Dreame H14 Pro reivew.
• The Levoit LVAC-300 [at Amazon] and the Bissell CleanView XR Pet 300W are both decent low-to-mid range cordless vacuums, with cleaning performance that sits somewhere between the budget-friendly Ultenic U16 Flex and mid-range Shark Cordless PowerDetect. Read more at our full Levoit LVAC-300 review and Bissell CleanView XR Pet 300W review.
• The Dyson Car+Boat is the most powerful handheld vacuum we've tested, but as it costs 2-3x as much as the Black+Decker dustbuster furbuster, I only recommend it to those who are happy spending extra. Read more in my full Dyson Car+Boat review.

How we test the best vacuums

At Homes & Gardens we like to get hands-on experience with all the products that make it feature in our buyers' guides. You can learn more in in our behind-the-scenes look at how we test vacuums, and there's an overview of our principles in our guide to how we test products.

Each new vacuum we get the opportunity to review is tried and tested in our own homes, undergoing rigorous testing on a range of flooring and household challenges. We also test vacuums in a dedicated test studio, standardizing our examination across different linoleum, hardwood flooring, and carpets with different substances: flour, sugar, cereal, lentils, and hair.

We tested the best vacuums for pet hair at a local cat and dog shelter to see how they could handle great amounts of fur, along with the general day-to-day mess of a busy establishment with high foot traffic. We also work with vacuum testers who have pets at home for real-world reviewing.

We look out for factors such as maneuverability, run-time, emptying of the dust bin (or bag), smart features, weight, volume, and general controls so you know exactly what you are getting for your money.

We test the vacuum cleaners for a number of weeks (sometimes months) so we get a feel for the longevity and durability of each model. In some instances, we are also fortunate enough to keep the vacuum cleaners after writing up the review, so we can continue to learn about them and share our findings with you.

Meet our testers

Dan Fauzi

I am Homes & Gardens' home tech editor, covering vacuums and floorcare on a near-daily basis. I've spent 250+ hours testing 24 vacuums, including the Dyson V15 Detect, V12 Detect Slim and Ultenic U16 Flex. I've also visited vacuum engineering labs to see under the bonnet of high-quality vacuum engineering.

Punteha van Terheyden

Punteha heads the Solved section at Homes & Gardens, writing, editing, and commissioning features and guides that cover cleaning, organizing, and anything practical around the house. She tested the eufy S1 Pro Omni in her family home, which has a mix of carpets and linoleum floors, as well as two cats that shed a lot.

Helen McCue

Helen is a seasoned product tester who's reviewed more than 100 vacuums since she began in 2007. She reviewed the best vacuum we've ever got our hands on, the Dyson Gen5detect.

James Holland

James has been testing products since 2021, and in that time has spent more than 100 hours testing 20+ vacuum cleaners. He tested the Shark Cordless PowerDetect and the Shark POWERDETECT Upright in this guide.

How to choose the best vacuum

Consider a variety of factors before choosing a vacuum as some details are more important to one than they may be to another. You can find more detailed info at our guides on how to choose a vacuum cleaner, and our vacuum jargon buster that explains all the technical vacuum terms. Here's a brief summary.

Type:
Vacuums come in a variety of types. Some common terms you may come across include:

• Cordless: Cordless vacuums are battery-powered and do not require a wall outlet nearby to operate. As technology evolves, these vacuums become more powerful, run longer, and increasingly more lightweight. They will require a period of time to charge between cleans.
• Upright: Upright models do as they sound, they are stable and can sit upright. They are usually heavier, more stable, and offer the most consistent suction and larger dust cup capacity. Most upright vacuums are corded.
• Stick: Those looking for a lightweight, easy to maneuver vacuum or are short on storage space, may prefer a stick vacuum for its slim profile that makes it lighter and easier to store. However, they can't stand on their own, so it will need to be propped up or placed on the floor if you pause cleaning. Stick models can be found in either corded or cordless operation, but they usually don't offer as much suction power as an upright.
• Canister: Canister vacuums have a separate canister that houses the motor and dust bag with a long hose that works with a variety of attachments. They're usually much lighter and easier to maneuver than upright counterparts, and just as powerful. They are very convenient for stair cleaning and make it easy to get into tight spaces.
• Robot: Robot vacuums autonomously clean your home on your own schedule without you having to lift a finger. Many can be paired with smart home assistants, provide detailed home mapping, and can run on your own schedule. However, you will need to remove any obstacles before running, and they're not nearly as capable as traditional vacuum cleaners.
• Handheld: Many cordless models convert into handheld units, but for smaller jobs and quick clean-ups, handhelds, either corded or cordless, are great to have on hand for getting into tighter spaces or cleaning above ground.

Dustbin:
Here, we consider two factors. Dust bin size, and bagged or bagless designs. Consider how large your home is, or how often you're willing to empty the dust bin. Bagged dust bins will seal in collected dirt and debris, but there is the added cost of repeatedly keeping the bags on hand. Meanwhile, most bagless designs are clear and allow you to see how much dirt has been collected. They can be dumped directly into the garbage, but there is still the risk of a few particles escaping back into the air.

Weight:
Taking into account the maneuverability of your vacuum, if you will be using a vacuum between levels, it is necessary to choose the best lightweight vacuum for you to carry up and down the stairs. Cordless vacuums are the lightest, weighing around 7lbs on average, while upright vacuums tend to weigh around 17lbs.

Floor type:
Consider if you have more hard, smooth floors or carpets, and be sure to select a vacuum that is built to handle that surface. Some handle both excellently (or come with interchangeable attachments), while others work on hard floors or carpets much better. Consider our guides to the best vacuums for carpet or the best vacuums for hardwood floors to better inform your decision.

Cord length:
If you're choosing between the best corded vacuums, the length of a cord can really make or break one's cleaning experience if you're constantly having to plug into different outlets. Look for vacuums that offer between 25 and 30 foot long cords for plenty of space to roam.

Runtime:
On the contrary, if you're after a cordless stick or one of the best robot vacuums, you'll want to focus on how long you'll have to clean before having to recharge. We've tested models with a battery of just 20 minutes, to those that can run up to 70 minutes. Our sweet spot of recommendation is choosing a vacuum that lasts 45 to 60 minutes on average, as that's usually an adequate amount of time to get through your cleaning. Battery life varies significantly depending on if you're cleaning carpets, hard floors, or simply whipping out the crevice tool. Note: when a cordless vacuum says 'up to 60 minutes runtime,' this will be on its lowest setting without using any motorized attachments. Don't expect to be able to clean your house on normal suction mode for that long.

Special features:
Increasingly, more and more vacuums highlight special features like support for pet hair, floor detection, or smart self-emptying cleaning stations. These are all luxuries, but can make a huge difference if you'd benefit from them.

Vacuum FAQs

Do I need a vacuum with a HEPA filter?

HEPA filters aren't essential but the best vacuums tend to have them as they're the most effective type of filter you can get. HEPA filters trap tiny particles like pollen, dust, and even some bacteria, whereas lower-quality filters don't.

For allergy sufferers and pet owners, a HEPA filter is a must. They capture at least 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns, which includes most airborne allergens like pollen and pet dander.

Owning a vacuum with a HEPA filter also means the air that's released back into your home is cleaner, as non-HEPA vacuums won't trap as many particles. If vacuuming makes your allergies worse, this could be a major reason why.

For further insight, we explore if you need a vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter in a separate piece, and have a guide for the best HEPA vacuums.

Can you use a vacuum to dust?

Yes, vacuums are a good option to use when removing dust from the home, especially for cleaning upholstery (we explore how to vacuum furniture without damaging upholstery in our guide).

I've also used a vacuum hack to clean my baseboards that proved to be effective, and there are many more handy but perhaps unusual uses for vacuums.

However, when dusting more delicate surfaces like mirrors, TVs, or books, you should use a microfiber cloth or a product such as the Scrub Daddy Damp Duster, available on Walmart.

Can you use a vacuum to clean up liquids?

No, you shouldn't use a vacuum to clean up liquids as this can damage the motor. The best appliances for cleaning up spills on carpets are carpet cleaners or wet-dry vacuums. We look into reasons to upgrade to a wet-dry vacuum in our dedicated feature, along with things you can clean with a wet-dry vacuum.

Vacuum cleaning tech is constantly improving, so we're always reviewing the newest vacuums to keep up with what's best.

If you find that you're spending a bit too much time cleaning up after your pets, it might be worth choosing one of the best vacuums for pet hair.