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Comparison method
About our comparison method
To provide the most accurate and unbiased picture of which products are the best, we do the following:
We gather user reviews from many different sources. Sources that have too many positive reviews are filtered out. You can view the source of each product review (note that in some cases, the reviews may be anonymous).
We collect expert reviews from various sources. Reviews about products received for free are removed. It is also important that the expert has physically tested the product.
A score is calculated based on this data. We do not modify product scores, and payment or products from brands to promote specific products are not accepted.
Biases
We are not perfect. There will always be biases that can affect the ranking of products. The following biases may arise:
If the brand or the sources we use in our reviews have employed aggressive strategies to receive positive reviews for certain products or if they delete negative reviews. We are aware of this and try our best to exclude these sources.
If most of a product’s reviews come from one source.
If the price has increased significantly since most reviews were submitted, we automatically try to remove these products. However, this is not always successful.
Some technological products, such as robot vacuums, quickly become outdated. Reviews may be several years old, making the products appear better than they are. We try to avoid this by downgrading or removing such products.
There may be errors in the data we use to calculate the score. Some data is collected automatically, and there can be errors in the information we receive. Other data is manually collected, and typos can occur.
In most cases, we collaborate with the largest and most popular retailers, although this is not true for all product categories. Our comparison includes only products from retailers we collaborate with.
Other important information about our comparison:
The reviews and scores are generally updated at the beginning of each month.
Prices are updated daily, typically in the morning (depending on the retailer).
Products no longer available are automatically removed from the ranking.
If the price we display does not match the actual price, it is either because the price has changed since our last update or because we have received an incorrect price from the retailer.
We can make mistakes. Therefore, you should always double-check information.
Brand
Power
Sound level
Capacity
Operating radius
Variable power control
Telescopic tube
Weight
Price
For allergy sufferers
Suited for pet hair
Parquet nozzle
Turbo brush
Mini turbo brush
Control buttons on the handle
Type of filter
Best vacuum cleaner
Cheapest
( - of ) |
Updated February 2, 2025
Filter
Best vacuum cleaner
Cheapest
( - of ) |
Updated February 2, 2025
When shopping for a vacuum cleaner, there are several important factors to consider, such as operating radius, filter, attachments, capacity, etc. In this buying guide, we will look closely at these factors and help you find the best vacuum cleaner to suit your needs.
You can use our tool below to compare the specifications of the vacuum cleaners represented in our comparison.
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
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Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
Updated February 9, 2025
1
Bagged or bagless
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, one of the key decisions you’ll need to make is whether to go for a bagged or a bagless model. Both have their pros and cons, and the best option for you depends on your specific needs and preferences.
An operating radius is the distance between the outlet and the vacuum cleaner’s nozzle tip.
It’s important to remember that while a larger operating radius may give you more flexibility to move around while cleaning, it also means that the vacuum will be heavier to move around. However, a large radius is typically recommended for large households.
The vacuum cleaner with the longest operating radius is the Henry Pet PET 200-11, which has an operating radius of 26.4 m meters. These are the five vacuum cleaners with the longest operating radius:
The operating radius varies from 5 to 26 meters, depending on the model. This chart shows how the operating radius is distributed across vacuum cleaners:
Updated February 9, 2025
3
Capacity
The bag capacity of a vacuum cleaner refers to the amount of dirt and debris that the bag/dust container can hold before it needs to be replaced or emptied.
The dust bag capacity can vary widely, depending on the specific vacuum cleaner model.
The larger the dust bag capacity, the less frequently you will need to replace the bag.
It’s worth noting that the dust bag capacity should be considered in relation to the size of your home and how often you plan to use the vacuum. For example, a vacuum with a smaller dust bag capacity may be sufficient if you have a small apartment and only vacuum once a week. But if you have a larger house and vacuum daily, consider a vacuum with a larger dust bag capacity.
4
Attachments
Most common attachments
Vacuum cleaners come with various attachments to help clean different surfaces and areas of a home. The most common attachments include:
Crevice nozzle: A narrow, pointed attachment used for cleaning tight spaces such as corners, along baseboards, and around furniture. Almost all vacuum cleaners come with this attachment.
Dusting brush: A soft-bristled brush used for dusting surfaces such as furniture, bookshelves, and window sills. Almost all vacuum cleaners come with this brush.
Furniture nozzle: A brush or nozzle attachment used for cleaning fabrics such as upholstery and curtains. Almost all vacuum cleaners come with this nozzle.
Combi brush: This attachment is designed to clean both carpets and hard floors efficiently, as the brush roll is used to agitate dirt and debris on carpets, and the hard floor tool is then used to pick it up and suction it away. The brush roll can be turned on or off, depending on your cleaning surface. Almost all vacuum cleaners include this attachment.
Parquet brush: An attachment with a smooth bottom used for cleaning hard floors such as tile and wood. You should pick a vacuum cleaner with this brush if you have delicate parquet floors. You can find the best vacuum cleaners for parquet floors here.
Turbo brush: A brush roll attachment used for picking up pet hair and debris from carpets and upholstery. If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner for pet hair removal, you should pick one with a turbo brush. You can find the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair removal here.
Mini turbo-brush: A small, handheld brush attachment that is powered by the suction of the vacuum cleaner. It is designed to clean pet hair and debris from furniture, stairs, and other small areas that are difficult to reach with a regular vacuum cleaner. If you are looking for a vacuum cleaner for pet hair removal on furniture, you should pick a vacuum cleaner with this brush.
Vacuum cleaner with built-in storage for the accessories (Image: Reoverview)
When it comes to storing these accessories, some vacuum cleaners will allow you to store them in the main body of the vacuum cleaner, while others may require separate storage. Choose something that will best suit your storage space.
5
Filter
All vacuums have filters that keep the dust you suction up from entering the atmosphere once again. Some come with both a primary filter and a secondary one. You also need to check for their kind of filter, as some can be washed while others need to be replaced occasionally. Below is an overview of the various filters:
Filter type
Efficiency rating
Description
EPA 10 (E10)
≥85% for particles ≥ 0.3 microns
It is commonly found in residential and commercial vacuum cleaners, offering moderate efficiency in trapping larger particles.
EPA 11 (E11)
≥95% for particles ≥ 0.3 microns
It provides better filtration than EPA 10 filters, capturing more particles, including finer dust and allergens.
EPA 12 (E12)
≥99.5% for particles ≥ 0.3 microns
It offers high efficiency in trapping particles, including minor dust, pollen, and other allergens.
HEPA 13 (H13)
≥99.95% for particles ≥ 0.3 microns
It is highly efficient in trapping allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites. It is ideal for allergy sufferers and environments requiring cleaner air.
HEPA 14 (H14)
≥99.995% for particles ≥ 0.3 microns
It provides even higher efficiency than HEPA 13 filters, suitable for environments requiring very clean air.
ULPA 15 (U15)
≥99.999% for particles ≥ 0.12 microns
The most efficient filter, capturing tiny particles and providing the highest level of air purity.
Explanation of efficiency rating: Efficiency rating shows how well a filter can trap particles of a specific size. For instance, if a filter has a 99.97% efficiency rating for particles of 0.3 microns or larger, it captures almost all of these particles. If it has a rating of 95%, it captures 95 out of every 100 of those particles.
These are the three best vacuum cleaners for allergies in our comparison.
Some vacuums are a lot noisier than others. Before buying one, you might want to check the noise or noise level first (usually written in decibels). The lower the decibel, the softer the operating sound of a vacuum cleaner. This can be helpful, especially if you live with pets or kids, as both are usually sensitive to sound.
The following chart shows the distribution of noise levels among vacuum cleaners. As the chart indicates, the quietest vacuum cleaner has a noise level of 62 dB, while it is 86 dB for the noisiest. That is a very big difference.
Updated February 9, 2025
7
Budget
The price of a vacuum cleaner varies from £39 for the cheapest one to £429 for the most expensive one. The advantage of an expensive model, compared to a cheaper one, is typical:
It will be quieter
It will have a longer operating radius
It will have a better filter
It will have a longer lifespan
It will have more attachments included
It will have more advanced settings (such as control buttons on the handle, etc.)
The chart below shows the price distribution among vacuum cleaners.
Updated February 9, 2025
If you are looking for a budget-friendly vacuum cleaner, take a look at one of the following models, which are the five cheapest: