After going through an intensive research process to narrow down our short list of top products in this space, we tested the Eureka Whirlwind to be sure that it’s worthy of our recommendation. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter and test to verify manufacturer claims.
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Hard floors and carpets face a range of challenges, from everyday dust to pet hair and spills. To handle these issues, the best canister vacuums have a lightweight design, powerful suction and a variety of convenient attachments. Compared to uprights, canister vacuums are easier to maneuver under furniture and on stairs, and most have cords that automatically retract at the press of a button.
There's a lot to consider when choosing a canister vacuum cleaner. For example, you should look at its suction power, which is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm). A rate of over 100 cfm is considered well above average. You should also note what kind of filter it has and the capacity of the bag or dustbin before making a purchase.
The BestReviews Testing Lab compared, scrutinized and tested the latest canister-style cleaners from the likes of Miele, Kenmore and Shark to help determine the best vacuums worth buying. Based on our extensive evaluation, we named the Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team Bagged Canister Vacuum as the best canister vacuum overall. We love its powerful suction and effective filtration system.
Editors' Favorite
Suction Power: 1200 W | Filtration System: AirClean Filter | Bin Capacity: 4.5 L | Cord Length: 18.5’ | Weight: 13 lb
Like the other Miele models on our list, the Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team Bagged Canister Vacuum is powerful enough to clean most surfaces, including hard flooring and low- to medium-pile carpeting. Its tightly sealed, efficient motor ensures that airflow is maintained to provide superior suction on all floors. It also has six suction settings, so you can adjust the power based on the surface you’re cleaning.
Despite its power, the Classic C1 Turbo Team is surprisingly lightweight and easy to maneuver. It weighs just 13 pounds and has a handle at the top of the canister, making it easy to carry throughout the house. It also has smooth-gliding caster wheels that allow it to easily move with you as you clean. Its 29.5-foot operating radius means you can clean large areas more quickly, too, so you can get your vacuuming done in no time.
We also love how versatile the Classic C1 Turbo team is. It comes with an upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle and dusting brush, so you can also clean above-floor surfaces. The crevice nozzle is especially convenient because it easily fits in hard-to-reach areas, such as between sofa cushions or under furniture, so you can clean your home more thoroughly.
Great Value
Suction Power: 600 W | Filtration System: Triple HEPA Filter System | Bin Capacity: 1.2 L | Cord Length: 28 ft | Weight: 22.6 lb
With a two-motor system, the Kenmore 600 Series Pet-Friendly Canister Vacuum offers excellent suction power and more effective brush rotation across multiple surfaces for deep cleaning. Its main cleaning head is designed for effectively pulling dirt, hair and other debris from carpeting. However, it also has a hard floor brush that stores conveniently in the canister and attaches easily to clean hard surfaces without scratching or damaging them. It offers four height adjustment levels, too, which ensure the best airflow and cleaning power for all surfaces.
Not just for cleaning floors, it offers handy features to clean the whole home. It has a 10.5-inch telescoping wand to reach above-floor surfaces, including the ceiling. It also comes with three additional tools: a crevice tool, an upholstery brush and the Pet PowerMate tool. Pet owners will especially appreciate the motorized Pet PowerMate, which easily removes pet hair from furniture, carpeting, bedding and stairs.
The vacuum also has a triple HEPA filtration system that can help keep your home’s air clean. It traps 99.97% of dirt and other small particles inside the machine, including potential allergy triggers, so it’s ideal if you have allergies, asthma or other respiratory issues.
Best Ultra-Budget Bagless Cleaner
Suction Power: 960 W | Filtration System: Cyclone filtration system | Bin Capacity: 2.5 L | Cord Length: 16’ | Weight: 8.15 lb
The Eureka WhirlWind Bagless Canister Vacuum may be affordable, but it delivers all the power and features you would expect from a quality canister vacuum. It delivers up to 960 watts of suction power, allowing it to clean hard floors, carpeting and even upholstery. You can easily adjust the suction as you switch between surfaces, too, because the controls are right on the handle.
Compared to other canister vacuums, the WhirlWind is incredibly lightweight, weighing just over 8 pounds. Paired with swivel steering and a telescopic wand, its weight allows you to easily maneuver around furniture and other obstacles, as well as up and down stairs and under furniture. It also features an integrated two-in-one crevice tool in the hose handle, so you can easily detach it from the hose and use the narrow nozzle to clean hard-to-reach areas and the brush for dusting.
In addition to its budget-friendly price, this vacuum greatly reduces maintenance costs because it doesn’t require replacement dust bags or filters. It has a bagless design with an easy-to-empty dust container that holds 2.5 liters of debris. Its filters are washable, too, so you only have to rinse them to keep the machine cleaning effectively.
Best Hard Floor Cleaner
Suction Power: 1,200 W | Filtration System: AirClean filter | Bin Capacity: 4.5 L | Cord Length: 18’ | Weight: 12 lb
If your home has mainly hard floors and low-pile carpeting, the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Bagged Canister Vacuum may be the ideal model for cleaning all your surfaces. It features Miele’s Universal Floorheat, which is designed for efficient cleaning of smooth flooring, and offers six suction power settings to target different surfaces. It can clean more than just floors, too — it comes with several accessories, including an upholstery nozzle, a crevice nozzle and a dusting brush, that allow you to clean hard-to-reach areas and above-floor surfaces.
The vacuum is also designed with maneuverability in mind, so you can easily move it around your home. It weighs only 12 pounds and has smooth-gliding caster wheels that easily move over any floor surface. It also features a handle at the top of the canister to make it easier to carry up and down stairs.
The Classic C1 Pure Suction is an excellent option if you have allergies, too. It features a three-tiered filtration system with a filter bag, a motor-protection filter and a Miele AirClean exhaust filter. The filter bag automatically seals before you remove it, too, so you don’t have to worry about dust and other allergens escaping back into your home’s air.
Best for Ultimate Pet Hair Performance
Suction Power: 1,200 W | Filtration System: Active AirClean | Bin Capacity: 4.5 L | Cord Length: 18’ | Weight: 15.7 lb
With a 1200-watt motor, the Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog Bagged Canister Vacuum delivers powerful suction, allowing it to clean pet hair from both hard floors and carpeting. It includes both Miele’s universal floorhead for hard floors and thin carpeting and the turbobrush floorhead for thicker carpeting. You can easily adjust the machine’s suction, too, thanks to the foot controls that save you from having to bend.
The Guard L1 Cat & Dog is also highly effective at keeping dust and other allergens inside the machine. Its cleaner bags feature an automatic sealing system, so you never have to come into contact with the dirt. Its Active AirClean filter also contains activated charcoal, which is highly effective at neutralizing pet odors.
The vacuum is also extremely easy to use. Its convenient parking system lets you hook the floorheat on the back or underside of the machine when you take a break, so the suction wand remains in place and ready to clean until you’re ready to resume. It also has a cord rewind feature that lets you use a foot or touch control to automatically retract the vacuum’s cord when you’re done cleaning.
Best for Small Spaces
Suction Power: 1,200 W | Filtration System: HEPA Filtration | Bin Capacity: 2.5 L | Cord Length: 20’ | Weight: 8.6 lb
Finding a canister vacuum as compact and lightweight as the Eureka 3670M Canister Cleaner is nearly impossible. It weighs under 9 pounds and has a handle on top, making it very easy to carry around your home and up and down stairs. Despite its size, it still uses replaceable high-filtration dustbags that can hold 2.5 liters of dirt, dust and debris, so you won’t have to change them too often.
The vacuum is still powerful enough to clean all types of messes and surfaces, too. It has a max suction power of 1,200 watts, so it can deep-clean carpets and effectively remove debris from hard floors without scattering it. The cleaning head is also designed for multisurface cleaning, so you only have to push a button to transition from carpeting and rugs to hard floors.
The Eureka 3670M isn’t just for cleaning floors, though. It has two extension wands and two accessories that allow you to clean furniture, ceilings, car interiors and other above-floor surfaces for whole-home cleaning. It even has a blowout port that lets you blow away dust, leaves and other debris.
Best Mid-Range Canister Vacuum
Suction Power: 1,320 W | Filtration System: Triple HEPA filter | Bin Capacity: 2.1 L | Cord Length: 26’ | Weight: 20 lb
The Kenmore 81414 Bagged Canister Vacuum features two motors, providing excellent suction power for cleaning multiple surfaces throughout the home. It also offers four height-adjustment options to ensure proper airflow and efficiency based on the surface you’re cleaning. Its adjustable, lightweight telescopic wand gives you an extended reach of 9 feet, so you can easily reach above-floor surfaces.
The included dusting brush and crevice tool provide additional cleaning flexibility, enabling you to clean furniture, curtains and even car interiors. They store conveniently on the vacuum, too, so you don’t have to worry about losing track of them.
The vacuum is simple to maneuver, so you can clean large areas quickly. It has a swivel head that easily glides around furniture and other obstacles. It also features a 26-foot cord, which reduces the need to switch outlets. Best of all, it has a retractable design, so you don’t have to spend time winding it yourself.
Best Simple, Lightweight Budget Canister
Suction Power: 1080 W | Filtration System: 3-stage filtration system | Bin Capacity: 2 L | Cord Length: 15’ | Weight: 7.5 lb
The Bissell Zing Canister Bagless Vacuum may feature a simple design, but it can deep-clean both hard floors and carpeting. It delivers up to 1,000 watts of suction power and lets you easily switch from hard surfaces to carpets with a flip of a switch. It also includes a crevice tool, a dusting brush and a multisurface floor tool, increasing its versatility and enabling above-floor cleaning.
The Zing weighs under 8 pounds, so it’s incredibly lightweight and easy to maneuver. It features an integrated carrying handle, too, which makes it easy to carry from room to room or up and down stairs.
For many homeowners, though, its bagless design may be its best feature because it means you don’t have to buy and replace vacuum cleaner bags. Its dust cup can hold up to 2 liters of dirt and debris, so you don’t have to empty it too frequently. The Zing’s filters are also washable and reusable, further reducing maintenance costs.
Best for Upholstery
Suction Power: 1,440 W | Filtration System: HEPA filter | Bin Capacity: 2.1 L | Cord Length: 26’ | Weight: 19.29 lb
The Kenmore BC3005 Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum makes it easy to clean not just your home’s floors, but also its furniture, curtains and other upholstered surfaces. It features a lightweight, extendable wand that provides a reach of up to 9.5 feet, as well as a crevice tool and an upholstery brush. You can clean plenty of above-floor surfaces with ease, and all the tools fit on the machine for convenient storage.
The vacuum system features two motors that deliver over 1,400 watts of suction power. Paired with the BC3005’s highly effective brush rotation, this power allows for deep cleaning of both hard floors and carpeting. The machine offers four height adjustment levels that let you select the ideal airflow for each surface, too.
You’ll also appreciate the BC3005’s extra-long cord if you have a large home, as it lets you cover wider areas without having to change outlets. The automatic cord rewind saves you from having to wrap the 26-foot cord for storage, too, because it retracts and stores inside the vacuum with the push of a button.
Most Reliable
Suction Power: 1250 W | Filtration System: S-Class HEPA Filtration | Bin Capacity: 3 L | Cord Length: 25’ | Weight: 15 lb
The sleek SEBO 9687AM Airbelt K3 Canister Vacuum is designed to make cleaning your floors easier and more efficient. It has a lower profile than other models, so it can easily clean under furniture and in other tight areas. It also has a 25-foot cord and a 12-foot hose, which provides a 32-foot total operating range that allows you to quickly clean larger areas. You don’t have to worry about scuffing your walls or scratching furniture, either, because it has a bumper system that protects the surfaces around it.
The Sebo 9687AM Airbelt K3 can handle all floor surfaces, too. Its brush has four height levels that you can adjust manually to easily switch between thick carpeting, area rugs, wood floors and laminate. You can also turn the brush roller off when cleaning more delicate surfaces to ensure they aren’t damaged.
The vacuum also has multiple suction levels to clean all flooring surfaces. The controls for the suction are on its handle, allowing you to adjust the settings without having to bend down. There’s also a full bag and clog indicator, which makes the vacuum easier to maintain.
Best Bagless Canister Vacuum
Suction Power: 1,200 W | Filtration System: Hygiene Lifetime Filter | Bin Capacity: 2 L | Cord Length: 21’ | Weight: 19 lb
The Miele Blizzard CX1 Bagless Canister Vacuum is the only bagless model on our list, and it offers a few perks that bagged models don’t. For starters, not having to change bags means lower operating costs. Emptying the reusable dustbin is also more convenient because it’s easy to pull out and empty directly into a trashcan with the push of a button. Paired with the Hygiene lifetime filter that keeps up to 99.98% of small particles inside the machine, it ensures your home is as clean as possible.
Featuring German engineering, this vacuum is powerful enough to clean both hard surfaces and low-pile carpeting. It has four suction levels that allow you to easily switch between different flooring types to ensure the most thorough clean, no matter where you’re vacuuming. It comes with a universal floorhead, as well as a head for hard surfaces with a double swivel joint for greater maneuverability.
We also love how user-friendly the Blizzard CX1 is to use. Its EcoComfort handle isn’t just comfortable to hold; it also has a built-in dusting brush that lets you easily switch to above-floor cleaning while vacuuming. You don’t have to worry about winding the cord when you’re done cleaning, either. By tapping the one-touch cord rewind footswitch, you automatically rewind the cord without having to bend.
Excellent Performance
Suction Power: 1200 W | Filtration System: HEPA Lifetime Filter | Bin Capacity: 4.2 L | Cord Length: 24’ | Weight: 16 lb
The Miele Complete C3 Calima Bagged Canister Vacuum perfectly balances power, maneuverability and versatility, making it a high-performing, user-friendly model. It offers varying suction levels and, on its highest setting, delivers 1,200 watts of suction power. This power, paired with its Parquet floorhead for hard surfaces and Turbobrush for carpeting, allows it to effectively clean all types of flooring.
However, despite its power, it weighs just 16 pounds, which is fairly lightweight for a canister vacuum. This premium model also has a 24-foot power cord, which allows you to clean a large area without switching outlets — and with the press of a foot-controlled button, the cord automatically rewinds for hassle-free storage. The vacuum’s suction settings also have foot controls, so you can easily adjust the power without bending down.
You can clean above-floor surfaces with the vacuum, too. It comes with several accessories, including a dusting brush, an upholstery nozzle and a crevice nozzle. The upholstery nozzle is particularly effective for removing pet hair from furniture and bedding. The HEPA filter also captures up to 99.99% of the smallest particles, including dust, dander and other allergens, so it’s ideal for homes with allergy sufferers.
Best Canister Vacuum for Pet Owners
Suction Power: 1,200 W | Filtration System: Active AirClean Filtration | Bin Capacity: 4.22 L | Cord Length: 18’ | Weight: 16.1 lb
Another powerful Miele model, the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog Bagged Canister Vacuum is designed with pet owners in mind. It has a 1,200-watt motor for premium suction power and an Electro Plus floor brush that can easily pull stubborn pet hair from carpeting. It also includes a mini turbo brush that removes hair, lint and other debris from carpets and upholstery.
The Classic C1 Cat & Dog Canister Vacuum has an Active AirClean filtration system that traps up to 99.9% of fine particles, including dander and other allergens. The AirClean filter also neutralizes odors, so your home smells fresh, even if your pet has accidents. The vacuum’s bags help keep all the hair, dirt and other debris contained and can hold up to 4.22 liters, so you don’t need to change bags too often.
To keep all your home’s nooks and crannies free from pet hair, the Classic C1 Cat & Dog has an adjustable telescoping suction wand. This makes cleaning in corners, along baseboards and other hard-to-reach areas effortless. And the included crevice tool is especially handy for removing dirt and hair from even the tightest corners.
Lightweight and Easy to Handle
Suction Power: 210 W | Filtration System: Enhanced HEPA Filtration | Bin Capacity: 3 L | Cord Length: 26’ | Weight: 22 lb
With variable suction power control, the Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet-Friendly Canister Vacuum makes it easy to move between carpets and rugs to the bare floors in your home. Its ultra-plush nozzle provides powerful airflow on carpeting and has a manual pile height adjustment to ensure the deepest clean for all styles of carpeting and rugs. However, its cleaning head is gentle enough on hard floors to prevent scratches and other damage.
Like other Kenmore canister models, the Kenmore Elite 81714 Pet-Friendly Canister Vacuum is versatile enough to clean above-floor surfaces. It has a specially designed stair grip that allows it to rest securely on the stairs without tipping over. It also has four accessories, including a dusting brush and crevice tool. Pet owners will be most excited by the Pet PowerMate, which is motorized to efficiently remove pet hair and other debris from furniture, carpeting and other surfaces.
We also love how easy the vacuum is to store. It has an extra-long 26-foot cord, which is retractable, so you don’t have to manually rewind it after use. Unlike other models with onboard accessory storage, the Elite 81714 doesn’t have the tools hang from the vacuum, where they can fall off during cleaning. Instead, they fit neatly inside the canister to ensure more secure storage.
Most Durable
Suction Power: 1,200 W | Filtration System: Washable Cloth Filter | Bin Capacity: 2.3 L | Cord Length: 33’ | Weight: 8.3 lb
Whether it’s cleaning around the house or your workshop, the Hoover Commercial PORTAPOWER Lightweight Canister Vacuum is designed to hold up to heavy use. It has a 1,200-watt motor that provides excellent power, but it weighs just over 8 pounds, making it one of the lightest models on our list. While it’s easy to carry by hand, it also has a shoulder strap to free up your hands.
This commercial-grade Hoover isn’t just for cleaning floors, either. It has a stretch hose that makes it easy to reach above-floor surfaces and get into tight areas. It also has a built-in blower that can blow away dirt, leaves, sawdust and other debris. In addition to the shoulder strap, its accessory pack includes a crevice tool, a dusting brush, a furniture nozzle, a rug/floor nozzle and a wall/floor brush, so you have a tool for every cleaning task.
This canister vacuum allows you to clean more efficiently, too. It has an extra-wide cleaning path that lets you cover large areas with fewer passes. It also has a 33-foot power cord that enables you to work in bigger spaces without having to change outlets.
Best Bagged Canister Vacuum
Suction Power: 140 cfm | Filtration System: 3-tier system | Bin Capacity: 3.5 qt | Cord Length: 18' | Weight: 14 lb
The Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction is a comparable alternative to our top pick, the Miele Classic C1. However, it distinguishes itself with a sleeker and more compact design featuring a smaller 3.5-quart bag capacity. Despite its compact size, it weighs slightly more, coming in at 14 pounds.
With an impressive 140-cfm airflow, this vacuum delivers strong suction that tackles dirt and debris on multiple surfaces. We like that a convenient dial lets you adjust the suction power for optimal cleaning whether you're working on hard floors, low-pile carpets or even delicate upholstery.
The three-tier filter system includes an AirClean exhaust filter, a Miele dustbag and a motor protection filter, making it a great buy for those who suffer from allergies. This nimble and reliable canister vacuum conveniently lets you stow its included tools on its body as well.
Most Portable
Suction Power: 64 cfm | Filtration System: Bag and exhaust filters | Bin Capacity: 1.25 qt | Cord Length: 30' | Weight: 5 lb
Forget bulky wheeled vacuums that get stuck on every corner. Thanks to the Oreck Commercial XL Pro 5’s handle and included carrying strap, this model is more agile than the competition.
This vacuum boasts a 30-foot cord, letting you clean a surprisingly long distance without unplugging and replugging. We love that its 5-foot hose gives you even more cleaning freedom.
This versatile vacuum also comes with a range of cleaning attachments, including a standard cleaning head, a crevice tool and a dusting brush. You will, however, need to empty its smaller-than-average 1.25-quart bin more frequently — a small sacrifice for the freedom of not having to pull a canister behind you.
If you're looking for a powerful yet compact and lightweight canister at an affordable price, the Oreck Commercial XL Pro 5 is a great choice
When it comes to basic floor care, there are three common types of vacuum cleaners: uprights, stick models and canister varieties. Each type offers strengths and weaknesses.
Canister vacuum cleaners excel at the task of cleaning all floor types, from hard floors to low-pile, medium-pile and thicker carpets. Unlike traditional upright vacuums, canister models boast exceptional maneuverability. Their lightweight bodies and smooth-rolling wheels allow you to effortlessly drag them around (and under) furniture, corners and tight spaces.
Canister vacuums are the best option if you have thick carpets and plan to frequently clean stairs and upholstery and under furniture. They can even be used to clean your car's interior, assuming you have access to an outdoor outlet.
Using spinning brushes to clean carpet or hard floors, upright vacuums typically include a removable hose that you can use to accomplish some above-floor cleaning, but they don’t clean carpets as thoroughly as canister vacuums and aren’t as easy to maneuver for cleaning stairs and upholstery. This vacuum type has a tilt-and-push design and comes in bag and bagless models.
A stick vacuum is best for quick cleanups. Given its shorter runtime of 10 to 20 minutes, a stick vacuum may not be an ideal replacement for your regular vacuum cleaner. For most people, a stick vacuum is a complementary purchase rather than a primary cleaning tool unless you splurge for a premium stick vacuum that includes additional batteries.
A stick vacuum is suitable for vacuuming up crumbs, last-minute cleanup to make your home presentable before company arrives and the ongoing task of sucking up pet hair. Many stick vacs have swivel heads that make them easy to maneuver, especially in tight spaces.
One drawback of stick vacs is a comparative lack of power. They often have around 500 to 900 watts of power, while canister vacuums pack an average of 900 to 1,200 watts. Stick vacuums also have smaller dustbins that hold less than 12 ounces, whereas canisters can often hold 2 to 5 quarts of dust and debris. What’s more, the suction of a stick vac on a carpet is not highly powerful, especially if you’re working with a thick pile.
In the battle of bagged canister vacuums versus bagless canister vacuum cleaners, owners are evenly divided in terms of preference. Both sides offer benefits and drawbacks, so the answer to which is better is a definite “it depends.”
Bagged canister vacuum cleaners, such as the Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team, the Kenmore 600 Series, the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction, the Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog, the Eureka 3670M, the Kenmore 81414, the Kenmore 400 Series and the SEBO Airbelt K3, hold collected dirt and dust in a bag that is tossed in the garbage when full. Many bags have a HEPA filter that greatly cuts down on allergens and prevents dust from collecting inside the vacuum or blowing back into the room. HEPA filters undergo testing to ensure they trap at least 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in diameter. This can include dust, pet dander and pollen.
A bagless vacuum, like the Eureka WhirlWind or the Bissell Zing, has a plastic chamber or dustbin that collects dust and debris. You empty the dustbin when it gets full. Occasionally, this can be a messy process that exposes the user to the allergens and grit inside the chamber.
Canister vacuum cleaners come with a wide array of possible features, and some of those features might satisfy your needs better than others. Here’s a list of the most common features to consider.
Unless you live in a tiny space, vacuuming your entire home generally means unplugging and replugging your vacuum cleaner cord at least once or twice as you work. A power cord length of 20 feet or longer is helpful in this regard. This generous cord length reduces the number of times you would need to repeat this action.
The Kenmore 600 Series Pet-Friendly Canister Vacuum has a 28-foot cord and the Kenmore BC3005 Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum has a 26-foot cord, so they’re both ideal for larger homes.
Cord rewind is a handy feature that automatically retracts the power cord at the push of a button or with a slight tug of the cord. We've used this feature before and found it hugely convenient. It's so much easier than winding a cord by hand, which is one of those annoying tasks that can make us not want to vacuum. The Miele Classic C1 TurboTeam, the Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog, the Kenmore BC3005 and the Kenmore 81414 are among models that feature automatic cord rewind.
While many canister vacuums have a hose that is 5 or 6 feet long, a long hose (greater than 5 or 6 feet) simplifies the task of accessing tight spaces and underneath furniture. When we've used canister vacuums, we've found long hoses make it significantly easier to vacuum stairs. We've been able to leave the canister at the top or bottom of the stairs and reach each step with the hose. The Sebo 9687AM Airbelt K3 stands out for its 12-foot hose, which provides excellent maneuverability in tight spaces.
Every vacuum cleaner has at least one filter, but some have more than one. And some have HEPA filters to catch even the tiniest allergens and dust particles, including the Sebo 9687AM Airbelt K3, the Eureka 3670M Canister Cleaner, the Kenmore BC3005 and the Kenmore 81414.
In the case of bagged vacuums, the bag itself serves as a filter. As mentioned, HEPA filters trap 99.97% of particles 0.3 microns in diameter, so hardly anything gets past them. These are excellent filters for people with environmental allergies (allergies to dust or pollen, for instance) as well as for homes with pets.
The roller brush, also called a beater brush, loosens and lifts grime and hair out of carpeting. However, it could potentially scratch wooden flooring or other hard-surface flooring. Some canister vacuums, such as the Sebo 9687AM Airbelt K3, have a switch that allows you to turn the roller brush off while cleaning wooden floors.
When the roller head is powered by electricity instead of air, you get a much more powerful and effective suction on carpets and rugs.
If you have pets, you probably deal with pet hair and dander regularly. Canister vacuums marketed as “for pets” generally come with a powered pet hair head, which is basically a miniature vacuum head that excels at picking up pet hair and dander from carpets, upholstery and drapes. The Kenmore 600 Series Pet-Friendly Canister Vacuum comes with a motorized pet cleaning head that effectively removes pet hair from furniture, carpeting and other surfaces.
Vacuum cleaners are noisy; there’s no getting around it. That said, some put out a little less noise than others. Most canisters on this list produce around 70 to 80 decibels. That might not seem like a big difference, but an 80-decibel sound is 10 times louder than a 70-decibel sound.
The Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team and the Sebo 9687AM Airbelt K3 are some of the quietest models, all operating at 65 decibels or less.
Many canister vacuums include attachments that connect to their hoses, providing additional cleaning versatility. These tools are typically designed for cleaning hard-to-reach areas or above-floor surfaces. The most convenient models also offer onboard storage for the attachments, so they’re always within reach while cleaning.
Some of the most common attachments that canister vacuums include:
As a general rule, canister vacuums are more expensive than upright vacuums. However, you can certainly find some compact canister vacuum cleaners priced under $100. Two quality companies with several superior offerings in this price range are Eureka and Bissell. The Eureka 3670M Canister Cleaner, the Eureka WhirlWind Bagless Canister and the Bissell Zing Canister Bagless Vacuum are our favorites in this price range.
Between $100 and $200, you can find mid-range canister vacuums from top companies like Hoover and Oreck. Though the vacuums may or may not be cordless at this price range, they employ a few more desirable features than the cheapest canister vacs. Helpful cleanup tools are usually included with these options, such as an attachment for bare floors and swivel steering. Some of these choices also offer an air-filtration system. The Kenmore BC3005 Lightweight Bagged Canister Vacuum falls in this price range.
If you want a canister vac with many desirable bells and whistles — HEPA filtration system, powerful suction, cordless capabilities and/or a long power cord — prepare to spend $200 or more. In our research, we discovered high-end canister vacs from the likes of Miele, Dyson and Kenmore that cost several hundred dollars.
Most of our favorite canister vacuums fall in this price range, including the Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team, the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction, Kenmore 600 Series Pet-Friendly Canister Vacuum, the Miele Guard L1 Cat & Dog and the Sebo 9687AM Airbelt K3.
To get the lowdown on canister vacuums, we first spoke to our cleaning expert, Ketia Daniels. We also tested one of the models — the Miele Classic C1 — putting it through rigorous testing to see how it performed. For our other top picks, we compared dozens of canister vacs on a range of factors including suction power, filtration system and bin or bag capacity.
A. For many homes, a weekly session with the canister vacuum is enough. If you have pets, kids, lots of foot traffic or live in a dusty area, however, you’ll probably need to vacuum two to three times a week. And in some households, daily vacuuming is necessary to keep all areas sparkling clean.
A. It’s recommended that you replace your canister vacuum bag when it’s approximately two-thirds full. Beyond that point, your vacuum will start losing suction power.
A. An upholstery tool is an attachment that allows you to clean items other than your flooring, such as your couch cushions, curtains and mattresses. Some people take their canister vac outside and use their upholstery tool to clean the inside of their cars. But Hoover isn’t the only company that makes this handy attachment. Look for an upholstery tool in any vacuum cleaner product’s list of included cleaning tools before you consider buying it.
Lauren Corona is an experienced home products writer. She's written about vacuums, including canister vacuums, for BestReviews more times than she can count. Over her lifetime, she's used many canister vacs, giving her a good idea of which features work and which are best avoided.
