The 3 best multi-surface vacuums – clean carpets, rugs and hard floors effortlessly with one of these powerful machines

If your home has a mixed variety of carpets, hard floors and area rugs, a multi-surface vacuum is a must so that every floor is given the deepest clean and most appropriate treatment.

Vacuums that are better on carpets might damage the delicate surfaces on wood and tile, while vacuums that are better suited to hard floors might not be strong enough to remove stubborn dirt and hair from carpets.

As H&G's home tech editor, my team of product testers and I have reviewed 56 of the world's best vacuum cleaners on different floor types in our test center and in real-world conditions in our homes. That's how we know exactly which models work wonders on all surfaces, protecting the delicate ones while thoroughly cleaning the stubborn ones.

The best multi-surface vacuum cleaners

The best multi-surface vacuum

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The Dyson V15 Detect has two main floorheads: the FluffyOptic and the Motorbar. What makes them so well-suited to different floor types is the FluffyOptic's soft roller, which works incredibly on hard floors, and the Motorbar's sharper bristles that dig dirt out of carpets.

They're not just capable cleaners for each floor type, but they excel when compared to every other vacuum floorhead we've tested at H&G. The FluffyOptic is one of the best methods of cleaning hard floors that we've experienced, using Dyson's signature green laser to reveal dust that the naked eye can't see then effortlessly vacuuming these super-fine particles in a single pass.

The Motorbar floorhead can actually be used on all floors, but it really shines when vacuuming carpets thanks to anti-tangle veins that work like a dream when removing stubborn hair, debris and dust out of soft flooring. This floorhead is one of the main reasons why the V15 Detect is our best vacuum for pet hair, as well as unbeatable performance when vacuuming hair from floors, dog beds and furniture.

Another excellent feature is the vacuum's detection tech, sensing what's on your floors and automatically adjusting the suction to the optimal level. So, when you pass from carpet to hard floor to area rug, the vacuum will change its power to ensure it's cleaning as effectively as possible at all times. I learned at Dyson's labs that this change happens in under a second, and from my own experience, it's virtually instant.

It's also worth mentioning that you can enjoy these same market-leading features for $100 less with the smaller, lighter Dyson V12 Detect Slim. Or, you can step up the suction power (and spend an extra $200) with the Dyson Gen5detect which is the absolute best vacuum we've ever tested. All three are part of Dyson's same flagship range and are the champions of multi-surface cleaning (and cleaning excellence in general).

Read more in our full Dyson V15 Detect review.

Runner-up best multi-surface vacuum

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The Shark Cordless PowerDetect's floorhead, called the DuoClean Detect, uses two brushrolls to be able to clean all types of floors. It's a different type of multi-surface cleaning: rather than the Dyson's dedicated floorheads for each floor, you don't have to swap anything out with the Shark's single, multi-purpose floorhead as you pass from soft to hard flooring.

The soft roller can pick up large crumbs and tiny dust particles from hard floors while protecting the surface (which is great for hardwood floors), while the bristled roller can better deal with carpets, effectively digging up hair and preventing it from wrapping.

Like the Dyson, this vacuum senses what's on your floors and adjusts the power accordingly. Suction power can be increased up to 75% when the vacuum detects dirt or carpet, so it does the thinking for you as you clean. It also has a flexible wand that can bend to reach further under furniture while applying less strain on your body.

Tester James Holland found that the cordless vacuum 'picked up everything that it could fit in its floorhead,' when vacuuming samples of cereal, flour, granulated sugar, and breadcrumbs.

'I tested it on carpets, upholstery, and hard flooring and it had no issues sucking up debris and dust,' he said. 'I even used it to vacuum two rooms that had been untouched for a week, but that seemed clean, and found its 0.74qt dust cup to be a quarter full of pet hair, dust, and dirt.'

It's not quite as powerful as the Dyson Detect vacuums, and we also found its suction was weak when reversing. But the Shark Cordless PowerDetect costs less than half the price of the Dyson V15 Detect, so it's an easy way to save on a vacuum that still cleans your floors well.

And for an extra $100, you can get the Shark Clean & Empty System that charges, empties and cleans the vacuum, storing dust for up to 60 days before you have to empty it yourself.

Read more in our full Shark Cordless PowerDetect review.

The best upright multi-surface vacuum

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The Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum works similarly to the Cordless model above, sensing what's on your floors to maintain the ideal suction power and performance. It also has two brushrolls in the floorhead, a soft one and a bristled one, to easily deal with all types of flooring without any work from yourself.

A benefit of a upright vs cordless vacuum is its lack of reliance on a battery, granting more power and stronger performance particularly in messy homes and on carpets. The Shark POWERDETECT is the best upright vacuum we've tested, with flawless results when cleaning carpets, hard floors and upholstery.

'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,' wrote James Holland. 'It took just a single pass with each test for the vacuum to suck up whatever was on the floor.'

'It was just as quick at picking up dust and debris when cleaning hardwood floors and bathroom tile,' he said, and when his carpet was covered in cat fur, it was able to clear it all in one pass, picking up an amount of hair similar to a second cat.

What's more, the vacuum uses an odor-neutralizing puck to leave a fresher scent in the room after you clean. We also love how well it vacuums edges and upholstery, even if the hose is limited at two length. But when vacuuming trickier spots like stairs and cars, you can lift out a detachable pod from the vacuum for more freedom when vacuuming.

Read our full Shark POWERDETECT review for more info.

How to choose the best multi-surface vacuum

The best vacuums for carpets and the best vacuums for hardwood floors differ because of the nature of the different floors' surfaces. Hard floors are smooth, require less airflow to be able to vacuum dust off and can be more easily damaged by a vacuum cleaner. Carpets are stubborn, and thick-pile fabrics can easily trap dust and dirt within the fibers making cleaning more difficult.

To deal with hard floors, a vacuum needs a floorhead with a soft brushroll. From our years of vacuum testing, this has always proved to be the most effective as it can capture those super-fine particles and common household allergens like dust, pollen and dander. It's also the safest choice for protecting delicate surfaces like tile and wood.

For carpets, you need a more agitating brushroll that uses sharp bristles to get deep into the fibers, pulling out dirt and hair that a soft roller wouldn't be able to. Carpets also require more powerful airflow to pull trapped dirt away, so look for a anything above 200 air watts (this is different to wattage, find out more in my vacuum jargon buster).

So, when choosing the best multi-surface vacuum, you need to look out for both soft and bristled brushrolls, and powerful suction that can be adjusted when not needed. All the vacuums in this guide have two brushrolls and floor detection to automatically adjust the power for you when changing floors.

If our picks aren't right for your home, I also recommend the Dyson Ball Animal 3, but you'll have to adjust the power yourself each time you change surface. And, the eufy S1 Pro Omni is the best robot vacuum cleaner if your home has mixed flooring.

Read more general advice on finding the right model for your home in our how to choose a vacuum cleaner guide.

How we test multi-surface vacuums

At Homes & Gardens we thoroughly test and assess every product that features in our buying 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.

We test vacuums using standardized amounts of flour, sugar, cereal, lentils and hair in our test center. We run the same tests on carpets, linoleum and hardwood flooring, as well as testing the vacuum for weeks in our own homes. For the best vacuums for pet hair, we even test in a local pet shelter.

When it comes to multi-surface vacuums, we compare each vacuum's ability to clean different flooring types. Some will excel on carpets and others can only truly clean smooth surfaces. But some make light work of all floors, with additional features to make passing over different flooring types easy and painless.

We also vacuum with all included attachments to find out how capable each vacuum can handle stairs, baseboards, crevices and upholstery. A multi-surface vacuum should be able to clean your furniture just as well as your floors.

More generally, we also look out for maneuverability, run-time, emptying of the dust bin (or bag), durability smart features, weight, noise levels, and general controls so you know exactly what you are getting for your money.

Meet our testing team

Dan Fauzi

I am H&G's home tech editor, covering vacuums and floorcare on a near-daily basis. I've tested 16 vacuums in my time at H&G, including the Dyson V12 Detect Slim.

Jaclyn Turner

Jaclyn was an eCommerce editor for Homes & Gardens. She's been testing vacuums for four years, spanning 300 hours, and she's reviewed more than 16 vacuums including the Dyson V15 Detect.

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.

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.

FAQs

What can a multi-surface vacuum clean?

The best multi-surface vacuum should be able to clean carpets as effectively as hard floors like wood, tile, laminate and linoleum. They should be able to pass over different floor types safely to minimize any damage to delicate surfaces when, for example, vacuuming from an area rug to hardwood.

It should also be able to tackle furniture, upholstery, and smaller areas like baseboards and stairs. These are some of the many ways to use your vacuum cleaner around the house that a multi-surface vac can easily handle.

How do I protect my floors when vacuuming?

Understanding how often to vacuum will keep your floors clean as the weeks go by, while limiting how often you're passing over them with a sturdy, spinning brushroll that can damage the surface over time.

Vacuums that are powerful enough are also a vital part of making your carpet fluffy again, using the suction with additional steps to revive the original feel.

Next, browse our tried-and-tested selection of the best Dyson alternatives for cheaper vacuums that still pack a punch.