35 Best Vacuum Cleaners (December 2018)

List of the 35 best vacuum cleaners based on tests and 20.101 reviews.

#1

Shark NV601UKT Shark NV601UKT

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.8 out of 5 (1384 users)

£ 189

96

#2

Henry Compact HVR 160-11 Henry Compact HVR...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.8 out of 5 (771 users)

£ 105

95

#3

Miele Complete C3 Cat&Dog PowerLi... Miele Complete C3...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner Ideal For Pet Hair

✓ 4.7 out of 5 (510 users)

£ 210

94

#4

Miele Complete C3 PowerLine SGDF4 Miele Complete C3...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.7 out of 5 (463 users)

£ 173

94

#5

Miele Complete C2 Cat&Dog PowerLi... Miele Complete C2...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner Ideal For Pet Hair

✓ 4.7 out of 5 (182 users)

£ 199

94

#6

Shark NV801UK Shark NV801UK

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.8 out of 5 (643 users)

£ 261

93

#7

Miele Complete C3 Total Solution ... Miele Complete C3...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.7 out of 5 (319 users)

£ 294

93

#8

Shark NV681UKT Shark NV681UKT

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.7 out of 5 (1244 users)

£ 250

92

#9

Miele Classic C1 Junior PowerLine... Miele Classic C1 ...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.6 out of 5 (508 users)

£ 130

92

#10

Miele Complete C2 PowerLine SFAF3 Miele Complete C2...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.6 out of 5 (68 users)

£ 176

92

#11

Duronic VC5010 Duronic VC5010

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.6 out of 5 (53 users)

£ 70

92

#12

Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat&Dog PowerL... Miele Blizzard CX...

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner Ideal For Pet Hair

✓ 4.5 out of 5 (376 users)

£ 293

90

#13

Miele Blizzard CX1 Powerline SKRF3 Miele Blizzard CX...

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.5 out of 5 (298 users)

£ 229

90

#14

Vax UCPESHV1 Vax UCPESHV1

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.6 out of 5 (356 users)

£ 170

89

#15

Philips FC9729 Philips FC9729

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.4 out of 5 (145 users)

Good price

144 £ 109

89

#16

Philips FC9279 Philips FC9279

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.4 out of 5 (116 users)

Good price

144 £ 109

89

#17

Vax U85-AS-Be Vax U85-AS-Be

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.3 out of 5 (824 users)

£ 100

87

#18

Vax UCNBAWP1 Vax UCNBAWP1

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.3 out of 5 (164 users)

Good price

150 £ 92

87

#19

Philips FC9332 Philips FC9332

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.3 out of 5 (1281 users)

£ 108

86

#20

Deik VC-1507 Deik VC-1507

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.2 out of 5 (277 users)

£ 57

83

#21

Hoover SE71 WR01 Hoover SE71 WR01

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.2 out of 5 (1626 users)

£ 60

82

#22

Eureka R300 Eureka R300

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.2 out of 5 (93 users)

£ 67

82

#23

Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine SHAF3 Miele Dynamic U1 ...

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.3 out of 5 (14 users)

Good price

385 £ 285

82

#24

Philips FC9920 Philips FC9920

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.0 out of 5 (752 users)

£ 199

80

#25

Hoover TH31BO02 Hoover TH31BO02

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.0 out of 5 (522 users)

£ 85

80

#26

Vytronix CYL01 Vytronix CYL01

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.0 out of 5 (147 users)

£ 40

80

#27

Hoover PU71 Hoover PU71

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.0 out of 5 (132 users)

£ 85

80

#28

Zanussi ZAN3002EL Zanussi ZAN3002EL

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.8 out of 5 (585 users)

£ 60

76

#29

Eureka R700 Eureka R700

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.6 out of 5 (95 users)

£ 80

72

#30

AmazonBasics VCS35B15KC-70EUK AmazonBasics VCS3...

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.5 out of 5 (60 users)

£ 36

70

#31

Philips FC8578 Philips FC8578

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.6 out of 5 (35 users)

£ 180

70

#32

Hoover WR71WR01 Hoover WR71WR01

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.3 out of 5 (740 users)

£ 55

66

#33

Zanussi ZAN1930UEL Zanussi ZAN1930UEL

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.3 out of 5 (103 users)

£ 90

66

#34

AEG AUC9220 AEG AUC9220

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.4 out of 5 (19 users)

£ 130

64

#35

Dihl VC-AR800 Dihl VC-AR800

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 2.6 out of 5 (143 users)

£ 30

52

#36

Discontinued: Miele Complete C3 Silence EcoLine... Miele Complete C3...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

"Test winner" - Stiftung Warentest 05/2018
✓ 4.6 out of 5 (164 users)

£ 230

94

#37

Discontinued: AmazonBasics VCB35B15CEUK AmazonBasics VCB3...

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.6 out of 5 (54 users)

£ 38

92

#38

Discontinued: Philips FC9328 Philips FC9328

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.4 out of 5 (116 users)

£ 140

88

#39

Discontinued: Eureka S500 Eureka S500

Bagged Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.2 out of 5 (93 users)

£ 80

84

#40

Discontinued: Vax AWC01 Vax AWC01

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.2 out of 5 (90 users)

£ 62

84

#41

Discontinued: Vax U90-MA-Re Vax U90-MA-Re

Upright Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.1 out of 5 (2988 users)

£ 123

82

#42

Discontinued: Philips FC9724 Philips FC9724

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.2 out of 5 (37 users)

£ 256

82

#43

Discontinued: AEG ASPC7120 AEG ASPC7120

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 4.0 out of 5 (357 users)

£ 230

80

#44

Discontinued: Philips FC8769 Philips FC8769

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.9 out of 5 (566 users)

£ 232

78

#45

Discontinued: Vax C85-P4-Be Vax C85-P4-Be

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.8 out of 5 (256 users)

£ 225

76

#46

Discontinued: Vytronix PET01 Vytronix PET01

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.8 out of 5 (224 users)

£ 50

76

#47

Discontinued: AEG ASPC7160 AEG ASPC7160

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.8 out of 5 (44 users)

£ 85

74

#48

Discontinued: Zanussi ZAN7880UKE Zanussi ZAN7880UKE

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.4 out of 5 (43 users)

£ 54

66

#49

Discontinued: Hoover SX70HU01 Hoover SX70HU01

Bagless Vacuum Cleaner

✓ 3.5 out of 5 (21 users)

£ 66

66

Today's best prices

39%	26%	25%	25%	9%
Vax UCNBAWP1 92 £ 151 £	Miele Dynamic U1 PowerLine SHAF3 285 £ 385 £	Philips FC9729 109 £ 145 £	Philips FC9279 109 £ 145 £	Duronic VC5010 70 £ 77 £

Vacuum Cleaner Guide

The world of vacuum cleaners has evolved and expanded over the last few years, with more designs and products available than ever before. While the wealth of features and functionality is great news for consumers, it can get confusing when you need to compare products before making a purchase. From small upright vacuum cleaners through to powerful bagless models and innovative robot vacuums, it's important to be aware of what's out there so you can make the best decision for your home.

When comparing vacuums, you need to choose a type and model that fits your budget and environment. From the overall design of the vacuum through to the cleaning ability, filter and dust capacity, accessories and other features, it's important to compare vacuum cleaners based on their specifications as well as their price. Let's take a detailed look at the common features and specification standards used by the vacuum cleaner industry, so you can decide where to put your hard earned money.

Types of vacuum cleaners

Not all vacuum cleaners are created equally, with a wide range of technologies and designs available for different environments and cleaning needs. Generally speaking, modern vacuum cleaners can be placed into one of the following four categories: robot vacuum cleaners, bagged vacuum cleaners, bagless vacuum cleaners, and upright vacuum cleaners. While there is some crossover between these categories, understanding these industry standards will make your decision a lot easier.

Robot vacuum cleaners

A robot vacuum cleaner describes an automated model that is capable of moving around your home without human intervention. This class of vacuum cleaner has only been around for the last few years, with a myriad of models now available to choose from. Above all else, robot vacuums are designed to make the task of cleaning your floors much easier to manage. While most models are limited to hard surfaces and short pile carpets, there are vast differences between products based on their suction power, battery life, technological features, and price.

Bagged vacuum cleaners

Traditional bagged vacuum cleaners are still very popular, thanks mostly to their efficient operation, powerful suction capacity, and clog resistant design. Bagged vacuums are also more hygienic than bagless designs, with a dedicated dust bag installed inside the main compartment and removed as soon as it's full. While it can be annoying having to remove the vacuum bag as you clean, this conventional design provides better dust protection for the user and more powerful suction capacity. People with allergies and asthma often prefer bagged vacuum cleaners with HEPA filter technology.

Bagless vacuum cleaners

Many modern vacuums employ an innovative bagless design, including a number of popular filtered and cyclonic variations. Unlike traditional bagged models, these vacuums rely on a dedicated dust canister to filter and trap the dirt. While these vacuum cleaners lack the dustless integrity and seamless design of bagged models, modern engineering has made them more efficient and powerful than ever before. Bagless vacuums are generally easier and quicker to use, with the dust canister often featuring a transparent design that is simple to operate and easy to empty.

Upright and handheld vacuum cleaners

Upright, stick and handheld vacuum cleaners are smaller and more lightweight than floor models. While they may lack the large dust capacity and powerful motors of conventional bagged and bagless designs, they are more ergonomic, and easier to handle and store. Upright vacuums are generally very convenient for quick clean-ups and spot cleaning, although their limited battery life makes them a poor choice when you want to clean your entire home. Handheld vacuum cleaners feature the smallest design, with these models often used for quick surface cleaning, pet hair removal, and other specific tasks.

Cleaning ability

Regardless of what type of vacuum cleaner you want to buy, it's important to check the cleaning ability of each model with regard to your home environment. Important factors to look at include the ability to clean hard floors and carpet, the size of the motor, the battery life, the filter technology employed, the ability to clean pet hair, and the number and type of accessories.

When comparing robot vacuums, it's also important to look into how you will control the unit, with dedicated apps and remote controls both available. At the end of the day, you need to purchase a vacuum model that suits your needs and those of your home. Vacuum cleaners are rated for their carpet and hard floor cleaning performance, with potential buyers also able to look into the energy efficiency and motor size of each model in order to compare their performance.

While you will often need to make compromises, at the very least, you should buy a vacuum cleaner that has been designed for the size and floor surface of your home. While it's important to compare the power rating of the vacuum cleaner, you should make a selection based on the Air Watt rating rather than the wattage alone.

Filters and dust emission

One of the key features to look out for in a vacuum cleaner is the filter technology employed. Above all else, the filter design used has the biggest effect on dust emission, pet hair suction and odor control, and the overall control of allergens. Modern vacuum cleaners are rated for their dust re-emission performance, with different filter systems used to minimize allergens and help prevent asthma.

Vacuums equipped with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter are able to trap fine particles of dirt that you can't even see. The inclusion of a HEPA filter means the vacuum has been tested to trap 99.97% of emissions down to 0.3 microns in size. This level of filtration is essential for anyone who suffers from allergies or asthma. Along with HEPA filters, replaceable electrostatic filters and double-walled bags can also be used as an alternative.

Accessories and functionality

Along with the overall cleaning performance and filter design, the inclusion of accessories has a big role to play in the overall functionality of a vacuum cleaner. Typical accessories include various types of nozzles for different surfaces, extensions to improve the operating radius, and various handles and brushes to improve the overall performance. For example, some models come with dedicated nozzles and brushes for different surfaces and types of upholstery.

The performance of a vacuum cleaner can also be improved through suction control features, ergonomic emptying and carrying systems, and versatile height adjustment. The weight and size of a vacuum cleaner also have a significant effect on functionality, as does the battery life if applicable, the electric cord length, and the overall operating radius. Not only do you need a vacuum that is powerful enough to handle the demands of your environment, you also need one that is easy to use and versatile enough to handle any surface.

Additional features

When it comes to domestic chores, sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference. While most people compare vacuum cleaners based on their price and major features, it's also important to look closely at the product details. For example, the weight of a vacuum can make a big difference in how you use it, as can the size and shape of each model. Product dimensions are available from most manufacturers, as is the product weight, dust capacity, operating radius and other important specifications.

The sound of a vacuum cleaner can also have a significant effect on your cleaning experience, with some vacuums especially designed with a silent or near-silent motor. If you're buying a robot vacuum, it's important to research the companion apps and other technology used for local and remote control. Last but certainly not least, it's important to look into the colors and materials used. While some vacuum cleaners are made from inexpensive plastic parts, others feature quality steel components that have been designed to stand the test of time.