8 Best Vacuums on Amazon, Tested by Cleaning Experts
Dirt, grime and pet hair don't stand a chance.
We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.
Keeping your floors clean, whether carpeted or hardwood, is crucial for a tidy home, and a reliable vacuum cleaner makes all the difference. Not only do vacuum cleaners tackle everything from a toddler’s crumbs to excessive dog shedding, but they come in a variety of designs and price points to suit your individual needs. Whether you’re searching for a super slim stick vacuum, a vacuum mop combo or a robot vacuum that does the dirty work for you, our experts have narrowed down the best vacuums on Amazon that you can ship straight to your door just in time for spring cleaning.
Our top pick: The Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum Cleaner AX3002. A top performer in Lab tests, the Shark Stratos impressed us with its powerful suction, versatility and ability to pick up debris from several floor types. Plus, a sealed HEPA system and handy attachments make it a top choice for allergy sufferers and pet owners.
At the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab, experts rigorously test a wide range of vacuums to find the best options for your home. To find top-performing models, we based our tests on ASTM International industry-standard methods and assessed how effectively vacuums picked up debris from various floor types.
Pros
- Includes a HEPA filter
- Can be used as an upright, stick and canister vacuum
- Features brush roll system for minimal pet hair clogging
Cons
- Bulkier than other vacuums
Power: Corded | Dust container: Bagless | HEPA filter: Yes | Attachments: Upholstery tool, crevice tool and pet power brush
Why we love it: Shark vacuums have performed well in Cleaning Lab tests over the years, and the Stratos excelled at picking up debris from various surfaces like wood, tile and carpets. Its double brush roll nozzle makes it fast and effective along wall edges, and the self-cleaning brush roll helps prevent hair clogging. Our experts appreciate that it can be used as an upright, stick or canister vacuum, and note that its sealed HEPA system keeps dust and other allergens securely trapped in the dust bin. While we found the Stratos on the bulkier side, it’s easy to use and features a large carry handle to help you move it around your home.
What reviewers say: A great option for families with allergy sufferers and pets, the Shark Stratos has more than 13,000 reviews on Amazon and an average 4.3-star rating. Reviewers said it effectively removes dirt, hair and other grime thanks to powerful suction and easy maneuverability. “This vacuum is it!” wrote one pet owner on Amazon. “The Shark Stratos gave me a whole new level of clean. Not a hair left to be found.”
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: I Tested Shark's Stratos Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Can be used as a hand vacuum too
- Weighs under 3 pounds
Cons
- No brush roll, so not a great pick for high-pile carpets
Power: Corded | Dust container: Bagless | HEPA filter: No | Attachments: Crevice tool
Why we love it: The Featherweight is one of the best cheap vacuums you’ll find online and a top choice for pet owners constantly battling with shedding. It also lives up to its name, clocking in at under 3 pounds. We appreciate the removable parts for their versatility, allowing for handheld use in cleaning small areas, and the floor nozzle attachment for cleaning stairs.
Just note there’s no brush roll, so it won’t work as well on high-pile carpets, but for small spaces with mostly hard flooring and low-pile area rugs, it gets the job done. While the bagless dustbin doesn't feature a HEPA filter, our pros appreciate that it's washable and cleanup is simple.
What reviewers say: The Bissell stick vacuum has more than 107,000 reviews on Amazon, along with dozens of photos that showcase its ability to pick up huge amounts of pet fur. One online reviewer raved about it: "This simple, little no-nonsense vacuum is so great. It's [easy] to put together, lightweight and gets the job done! I love it for a quick clean-up. The power is pretty good and you just can't beat the price."
RELATED: The Best Bissell Vacuums
Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Automatically adjusts speed and suction according to dust amount
- Features laser beam to make dust more visible
- Includes innovative attachments
Cons
- Expensive
Power: Cordless | Dust container: Bagless | HEPA filter: Yes | Attachments: Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Digital Motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, combination and crevice tool
What we love: In Lab tests, Dyson vacuums have consistently impressed our pros with their exceptional performance. This Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award winner, the Dyson V15, stands out not only for its ease of use but also for its multiple settings and attachment options that make it a worthy investment. We love the vacuum's innovative laser beam that makes it easier for you to spot dust and hair hiding on your floor as you vacuum, and we couldn't get enough of the color display that shows the particles being picked up in real time, along with key alerts.
According to our cleaning experts, the vacuum’s suction is powerful (and automatically adjusts to match the floor type and amount of dust it senses) and features excellent filtration and useful attachments for optimal cleaning. At around 6 pounds, we found it light enough to maneuver easily and compact enough for convenient storage.
What reviewers say: Online reviewers were impressed with the vacuum's illuminating laser: "And the green light - just wow! I can see dirt being removed and am so impressed with the suction," shared one five-star review. Others appreciate its lightweight design, good battery life and powerful suction.
READ OUR FULL REVIEW: Dyson V15 Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum
Pros
- Dedicated tool for pet hair
- Affordable price for an upright vacuum
Cons
- No auto cord rewind
Power: Corded | Dust container: Bagless | HEPA filter: No | Attachments: Extension wand, crevice tool, pet TurboEraser tool, dusting brush, pet hair corner tool
Why we love it: Pet hair doesn't stand a chance with this Bissell vacuum, which performed well in Lab tests. This model comes with a Pet TurboEraser tool to tackle pet hair on stairs and upholstered furniture, and every purchase from the brand supports Bissell’s Pet Foundation for homeless pets. We were also pleased to find some advanced features on such an affordable model like a triple-action brush roll, technology that prevents the scattering of debris and a dust bin that empties with one button.
What reviewers say: One of Amazon's best-selling upright vacuums, this Bissell has over 100,000 reviews and an average 4.5-star rating. It's backed by impressive photos from reviewers of huge masses of pet hair it picked up. A pet owner on Amazon had this to say about the Cleanview Swivel: “Holy smokes this vacuum is amazing! [...] I have a black lab mix who sheds quite a bit and her short hair sticks into the carpets/furniture. I couldn’t figure out which vacuum to buy but I went with this one and I couldn’t be happier!”
RELATED: The Best Vacuums for Pet Hair
Pros
- Comes with two-in-one crevice tool and dusting brush
- Quiet operation
- Features USB charger
Cons
- Very small dustbin
Power: Cordless | Dust container: Bagless | HEPA filter: No | Attachments: Crevice tool, dusting brush
Why we love it: Our cleaning experts have tested dozens of Bissell vacuums and trust the brand to deliver high-quality performance. The Aeroslim is the perfect size to keep in your car for spilled snacks or to clean up your WFH desk after a busy afternoon. The two-in-one crevice tool and dusting brush make it easy to reach tight spaces, and USB charging means you can recharge the vacuum's battery from your car. Our pros do warn, however, that the dustbin on this handheld vac is very small and the battery runtime is just 12 minutes, so you’ll have to empty and recharge it often.
What reviewers say: Affordable, lightweight and stylish are just three ways Amazon reviewers describe this little handheld vacuum that has earned upward of 16,000 reviews. Many online reviewers commented on the vacuum’s quiet operation despite its powerful suction. “It even sucks up sand and crumbs stuck in the carpet in my car. I've literally been walking around the house with this little vacuum, sucking up every piece of dust or dirt I can find. It's that much fun,” said one five-star review on Amazon.
RELATED: The Best Handheld Vacuums
Kenmore 600 Series Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum
Pros
- Tools are stored on-board
- HEPA filter
Cons
- Heavy
Power: Corded | Dust container: Bagged | HEPA filter: Yes | Attachments: Pop-N-Go brush, crevice attachment, dusting brush & bare floor tool
Why we love it: This Good Housekeeping Cleaning & Organizing Award winner is one of our top-performing canister vacuums. During testing, we found this model easy to maneuver thanks to its large wheels, and we appreciated how easy it was to attach the hardwood floor brush. It quickly picked up dry oats that we scattered across hardwood floors, tiled floors and low-pile carpets.
It uses bags and has a HEPA filter, so allergy sufferers can rest assured that any dust this vacuum sucks up stays inside. After you’ve finished vacuuming, storage is easy thanks to a cord rewind button and onboard tool storage. Just take note that this canister vacuum weighs over 20 pounds, so getting it up and down a flight of stairs takes a bit of work.
What reviewers say: Among over 12,000 reviews on Amazon, one user said, "Have had this vacuum cleaner for a couple of years now and really think it’s top notch. It has great suction, it’s not too noisy and is adaptable to any type of floor covering." Another happy customer shared that the vacuum exceeded their expectations: "From the retractable cord to the tremendous pick up to the ease and maneuverability, this vacuum is exactly what I wanted."
RELATED: The Best Canister Vacuums
Pros
- Great value
- Slim design for easy navigation under furniture
- Features multiple options for deep or regular cleaning
Cons
- Inconsistent cleaning pattern
Power: Cordless | Dust container: Bagless | HEPA filter: No | Attachments: N/A
Why we love it: An affordable yet effective robot vacuum to help you keep your floors clean, our cleaning experts love this inexpensive pick from eufy that’s packed with high-end features like BoostIQ Technology that automatically increases suction power when needed. On top of the brand’s consistently impressive performance in Lab tests, we like this model’s sleek, slim design that makes it easy to navigate underneath tight surfaces (like below the couch) as well as its large wheels that help it move between various surfaces and over ledges. It’s also built with advanced sensors and mapping technology to help it avoid bumping into furniture or falling off stairs.
What reviewers say: Online reviewers find this eufy easy to use, noting that it cleans well, and appreciate that it's one of the cheapest robot vacuums on the market. “This little robot picks up a ton of dirt. A ton… My floors are now constantly clean with no real effort on my part,” said one online reviewer.
RELATED: The Best Self-Emptying Robot Vacuums
Pros
- Easy to maneuver
- Gentle enough for hardwood floors
- Compact design
Cons
- Heavy
Power: Corded | Dust container: Bagless | HEPA filter: Yes | Attachments: Upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, dusting brush with synthetic bristles, SBD 365-3 floorhead, parquet Twister Floorhead SBB 300-3, cleaning brush
Why we love it: Also a Best Cleaning & Organizing Award winner, Miele stands out for its consistently strong performance in Lab tests. This small yet mighty canister vacuum is an ideal choice for hardwood or sensitive floors thanks to its gentle parquet twister that swiftly navigates around corners or nooks. We love its compact design — it's about the size of a small cooler — as well as how easy it is to carry. The vacuum also features large wheels for easy maneuverability and a robust dust bin for easy emptying.
What reviewers say: “The suction power of this Miele is something you have to see to believe, and the turbo brush works very very well on my low-pile carpeting,” said one online reviewer. Others appreciate its efficiency in cleaning tight corners as well as the vacuum's easy-to-empty dust bin.
What to look for when shopping for the best vacuums on Amazon
✔️ Vacuum type:
- Corded upright vacuums offer unlimited runtimes and clean well on hard flooring and medium- to high-pile carpets. They stand without any support, making them easier to store, though they do have a larger footprint than stick vacuums.
- Cordless stick vacuums are a good option for smaller spaces. These models work best on hard flooring and low-pile carpets and their slim design is convenient for reaching deep under low furniture. Keep in mind that their shorter runtimes and smaller dustbins mean more frequent stopping to recharge and empty. For small messes, consider a hand vacuum.
- Hand vacuums are especially useful for vacuuming car interiors and often come with many tools that help reach into tight spaces.
- Canister vacuums are a convenient option for homes with stairs as they are easier to carry and have long hoses to clean hard-to-reach areas like curtains and ceiling molding. These vacuums work best on hard flooring and low-pile carpets, though canister vacuums with a rotating brush power nozzle attachment, like the Kenmore model in this guide, can deep clean high-pile carpets too.
✔️ Bag v. bagless: There are benefits to both kinds of vacuums, and the kind you choose largely depends on your personal preference. From our testing experience, there are no performance differences between bagged or bagless vacuums.
With bagless vacuums, you don't have to worry about keeping bags stocked at home, but emptying the dust bin can get a bit messy. Some of the newest bagless stick vacuums we've tested come with self-emptying bases to make cleaning them easier and neater.
Bagged vacuums are better for allergy sufferers as they keep dust and other allergens sealed in the bag, even when removing the bag from the vacuum. Just remember to keep your home well-stocked with replacements.
✔️ Attachments: Consider a model with a motorized pet attachment if your current vacuum can't quite pick up all of your pet's fur. Crevice tools are helpful for vacuuming dust from deep behind heavy furniture and other tight spaces. Dusting brushes and upholstery attachments are great for getting dust and hair off furniture. These tools are made to clean these more delicate items without causing any damage.
✔️ Reviews from other shoppers: See what others have to say about a model in online reviews. Search for keywords like "pets" and "small space" to read feedback from users with similar needs to yours.
Why trust Good Housekeeping?
This guide was initially created by former Reviews Analyst, Jodhaira Rodriguez, who tested and wrote about vacuum cleaners, floor-cleaning appliances and dozens of other cleaning products. She selected the vacuums above based on her experience vacuum testing in the Cleaning Lab and her familiarity with the brands included in many GH vacuum cleaner guides.
This story was most recently updated by GH Institute Senior Reviews Analyst and Writer, Olivia Lipski, who covers everything from tech to travel, home, fitness, appliances and more. She consulted the Cleaning Lab’s extensive testing data to update the picks featured above. During her time at GH, she's had the opportunity to test several of the latest vacuums in her own home, like vacuums for pet hair, to help her tackle her Shiba Inu's constant shedding.
From 2021 to 2023, Jodhaira (she/her) was a product reviews analyst in the Good Housekeeping Institute’s Home Care & Cleaning Lab, where she tested and wrote about home appliances, cleaning products and cleaning tips. Prior to joining GH, she graduated from Hofstra University with a bachelor’s degree in forensic science and spent two years as an analyst in an environmental lab in Queens.
Olivia (she/her) is a senior reviews writer and analyst at the Good Housekeeping Institute, overseeing product testing and covering tech, travel, home, fitness, parenting, health and more. Since joining GH in 2021, she has continued to leverage her extensive product reviews experience by staying on top of the industry’s latest innovations and helping readers make better buying decisions. Olivia is a graduate of the George Washington University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, political science and French, and she holds a master’s degree in communications from Sciences Po Paris.
The 15 Best Natural and Organic Sunscreens
The Best Mosquito Repellents
The Best Neck Firming Creams
The Best Pressure Washers
