Best Vacuum Cleaners

Our editors independently research the best products online to produce this list. We may receive commission on purchases made from the links below but this will never affect our product choices.

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A vacuum cleaner is an essential appliance for any home or office. They are invaluable tools that allow us to clean our carpets, hard floors, and tiles. However, choosing can be tricky as hundreds of models are available. If you are looking for a new hoover, we can help. We have selected seven of the best vacuum cleaners that could meet your needs.

How We Compared Vacuum Cleaners

To find the right vacuum cleaners, we considered multiple factors, including:

• Mains Power vs Battery Powered
• Suction Power
• Manoeuvrability
• Vacuum Head Versatility

Our team planned comparison points and specifically looked for products that would cater to all kinds of needs. We spent countless hours researching, consulting customer reviews and comparing features to come up with this list.

Vacuum Cleaner Reviews

Numatic HVT160 Henry (Editor’s Choice)

This vacuum cleaner remains a popular choice in households and offices. It has a fun design but is also practical and effective. The great suction and simple operation make it easy to use.

Henry benefits from turbo cleaning power. The powerful suction can pick up dirt even from deeper carpets. The rotating bristle bar also helps you pick up lodged dirt and hairs. 

If you have a large household with plenty of floor space, this hoover will make short work of vacuuming. Effective suction means you can cover large areas with minimum effort. The versatility of the vacuum head also means you can use it on carpets, hard floors, and stairs.

Shark Upright ZN801UKT (Luxury Choice)

This portable vacuum cleaner is ideal for smaller spaces and for cleaning difficult stairways. The upright design and different configurations allow you to adapt easily to different spaces.

This Shark vacuum is a full upright hoover. However, you can also use it with the tank disconnected. This mode is great for hoovering furniture and car interiors. Please note that in this way, you hold the hoover’s head in one hand and the connected tank in the other hand.

If you want to hoover underneath furniture, the LED light helps highlight dust. For those who have allergies, the anti-allergen seal also helps. It traps dust and allergens inside the tank and thus removes them from your home.

Amazon Basics 700W 1.5L (Best Value)

This vacuum cleaner is great for those who are environmentally conscious. It has an excellent A-class energy rating, so it shouldn’t add much to your electricity bill.

The Amazon Basics vacuum has a simple floor unit design. This contains the motor and dust tank, which connects to a flexible hose and the hoover head so you can manoeuvre it around your house quickly. Also, the flexible pipe means you can reach underneath furniture and up your sets of stairs without too much effort.

The dust cup is also straightforward to remove. It can be drained quickly and has a generous capacity of 1.5L. This means less emptying.

Dyson Cyclone V10 226319-01 (Most Powerful)

If you have carpets, this vacuum cleaner is a good option. It has powerful cyclone technology that improves suction. It can, therefore, deep clean carpets and pick up stubborn stains and dirt.

The Dyson Cyclone is a handheld wand vacuum. The dust tank and motor are located at the top of the pipe. As a result, it is easy to carry and manoeuvre around your home.

You can also disconnect the pipe and attach the head directly to the power unit. This makes vacuuming furniture, car interiors, and stairs incredibly easy. For power, this vacuum cleaner has a battery that lasts for up to 60-minutes per charge.

Shark Cordless IZ201UKT (Best for Manoeuvrability)

If you don’t want to trip over a power chord, this vacuum cleaner is the best choice. It is battery powered and gives you 40-minutes of vacuuming from a single charge.

Due to the lack of a power chord, you can use this Shark Cordless IZ201UKT wand hoover without limits. It is lightweight and great for smaller homes. Also, it is useful if you want to vacuum under tables and furniture because you can simply lower the wand and reach underneath.

You will also like this vacuum cleaner if you live in a house with excess hair. The anti-hair wrap technology prevents the brush roll from getting clogged. You can, therefore, vacuum stray hairs from humans or pets with ease.

Greenote Cordless 23000PA (Most Versatile)

This vacuum cleaner is perfect if you need versatility. You can use it for different kinds of floors. It is also a great choice if you have lots of stairs and furniture that can make hoovering difficult. 

The Greenote wand vacuum can be used with the full pipe when you are vacuuming your carpets and hard floors. For tighter spaces like vacuuming around furniture or your stairs, you can detach the pipe and attach the vacuum head for easy cleaning.

In terms of power, this is a battery-powered vacuum. It lasts for up to 35-minutes per charge and takes approximately 4-hours to charge fully.

Miele Complete C3 (Best for Large Homes)

Do you want a vacuum with great suction and tank capacity for larger homes? This vacuum has exactly that. It also has a brilliant 12m operating radius from the power socket.

If you have large rooms, the 12m operating radius is invaluable. This means you do not have to continually disconnect the power and find a new socket, thanks to the long suction pipe connected from the head to the unit.

The floorhead also has a versatile design. For example, you can use it on carpets, rugs, hard floors, and tiles. Inside the main unit, there are three types of head attachments. These are conveniently stored. They also allow you to clean different areas and items efficiently.

How to Choose a Vacuum Cleaner

There are many styles of vacuum cleaners available, and this can be confusing. Also, it can be difficult to know which is suitable for your home. To help, we have created a short buying guide with useful considerations.

Mains Power vs Battery Powered

The first thing to consider is the power type. There are two types of vacuum cleaners – mains power and battery-powered. Both have their pros and cons.

Mains power vacuum cleaners require plugging into a socket, which means you have a cable trailing as you hoover. It can limit your manoeuvrability. Sometimes it can be a trip hazard too. The benefit is the improved power and longevity. You can run a mains power vacuum cleaner for as long as you want. These vacuums are generally better for larger homes with a large floor area to vacuum.

Battery-powered vacuum cleaners have a lithium-ion battery pack which has a limited charge. Therefore, you have to charge the battery before use. A downside is that the charge times are often lengthy. Also, some batteries may not have a great life. However, battery-powered vacuums give you unlimited freedom of movement. Battery-powered vacuums are better suited for smaller homes where less vacuuming is required.

Suction Power

The suction power is also crucial and depends on the type of floors you have. You may not need as much suction if you have mainly hard floors like laminate, wood, or tiles. This is because the dirt and hairs cannot get trapped. 

In contrast, more suction is ideal if you have mainly carpeted floors. This is because the dirt and hairs will get trapped in the carpet’s fibres. Less suction could mean that your carpets never truly get a deep clean.

Manoeuvrability

How easy the vacuum cleaner is to move is also essential. This depends on your mobility, strength, and layout of your house.

You may not need an ultra-lightweight and movable vacuum cleaner if you have large, open spaces. In contrast, a heavy upright vacuum cleaner may be ineffective if you have many tight spaces and stairs.

Wand vacuum cleaners are generally more manoeuvrable. This is because they have a smaller dust tank and are much lighter. Alternatively, traditional upright hoovers are usually less manoeuvrable. They may have a larger dust tank and less flexibility in terms of movement.

Vacuum Head Versatility

The head is also something to consider. Some vacuum heads are adjustable, and you can change the height and opening. This allows you to adjust the suction and tailor the head for different surfaces like carpets and laminate flooring.

Many hoovers also have different attachments to the head. For example, some have special heads specifically for pet hair, whilst others have thin attachments suitable for vacuuming skirting boards or narrow places.

Summary

Our top pick is the beloved Numatic HVT160 Henry vacuum cleaner. This has been a popular vacuum cleaner for years, and many of us endear to it simply due to its cute little red face! Cuteness aside, this vacuum cleaner is really effective. It has excellent suction and can easily keep your carpets clean. This is aided by the turbo cleaning power airbrush and rotating bristle bar. The filtration system inside also helps improve cleanliness. It’s just an all-around great vacuum cleaner!