Guide: Canister Vacuum Cleaner with Bag or without Bag?

When shopping for a canister vacuum cleaner, one of the main choices you will have to make will be between bagged and bagless models. Bagged canister vacuum cleaners have a disposable bag that collects dirt, which must be replaced once it is full. Bagless canister vacuum cleaners, on the other hand, use a fitted dustbin to collect dirt, which must be emptied when full. Both types of vacuums have their advantages and disadvantages, so the best choice will depend on your needs and preferences. In this comparison, we will take a look at the pros and cons of bagged and bagless canister vacuum cleaners to help you decide which type is right for you.

The following table compares selected specifications between vacuum cleaners with bags and bagless vacuum cleaners.

Bagged vacuum cleaner

Advantages

Generally more quiet

Better filtration

Less maintenance

Generally longer operating radius

Disadvantages

Ongoing costs for bags

Price

£56-421 (Avg.: £168)

Noise level

62-80 dB (Avg.: 75 dB)

Operating radius

7-26 meters (Avg.: 12 meters)

Weight

3-8 kg (Avg.: 6 kg)

Bagless vacuum cleaner

Advantages

No ongoing costs for bags

Consistent suction power

Easy to empty the dust container

Generally lower weight

Disadvantages

Noisier

More frequent emptying of the dust container

Requires more maintenance of the filter

Generally shorter working radius

Price

£40-447 (Avg.: £179)

Noise level

64-80 dB (Avg.: 75 dB)

Operating radius

6-12 meters (Avg.: 9 meters)

Weight

4-9 kg (Avg.: 6 kg)

These are the typical advantages of purchasing a vacuum cleaner with a bag:

• Quiter: Vacuum cleaners with a bag produce tend to produce less noise than the bagless models. All the quietest vacuum cleaners have a bag.
• Better for allergies: Bagged vacuums are the better choice for those who have allergies or other respiratory problems because they seal away the dirt and allergens in the bag. Bagless models often release the dust back into the air when you empty the dustbin.
• Better suction power: Because the bag effectively captures dirt, it prevents it from clogging the motor and filter, which allows the vacuum to retain a higher suction power for a longer time.
• Longer operating radius: Most vacuum cleaners with a bag have a higher operating radius than bagless models.

These are the typical advantages of purchasing a bagless vacuum cleaner:

• Lighter and less bulky: Most bagless vacuum cleaners are lighter and more compact, which makes them easier to maneuver, store and carry.
• Fewer ongoing costs: Bagless models are more cost-effective in the long run because you won’t have to keep replacing the bags.
• Less maintenance: Bagless vacuum cleaners are easier to maintain, as there is no need to replace bags or worry about finding the right type of bag.
• Transparent dust container: The dustbin is transparent, allowing you to see when it needs to be emptied.
• Detachable dustbin: The dustbin is quite easy to empty, as you simply need to detach it and dump out the debris.

The following chart compares the prices of the two types of vacuum cleaners.

The average price for vacuum cleaners with a bag is £168, while the average price for bagless vacuum cleaners is £179.

If you are looking for a cheap vacuum cleaner, take a look at our comparison here.

The noise emission for the two types of vacuum cleaners is as follows:

• Vacuum cleaners with a bag: 75 dB on average, and 62 dB for the quietest model.
• Bagless vacuum cleaner: 75 dB on average, and 64 dB for the quietest model.

This chart shows the distribution of noise emissions:

You can find the best quiet vacuum cleaners here.

This chart shows how the energy consumption is distributed across the vacuum cleaners with and without a bag:

The average energy consumption is 716 watts for bagged vacuum cleaners and 767 watts for bagless vacuum cleaners.

This chart shows how the operating radius is distributed across the vacuum cleaners with and without a bag: