It does the basics, scoops up daily crumbs, pet fur, and dirt, and does them better than most vacuums in its price range. For pet owners tired of underpowered vacuums that leave strands of fur everywhere, this compact yet powerful model offers a whole-home solution. Cordless stick options allow for more freedom and flexibility when vacuuming, but require charging and, in cases of non-freestanding options, docking. Dock the vacuum and all the dust will whoosh out of the small onboard dust cup and into a far larger dust cup in the base, via a closed system.
That said, it won’t be ideal for everyone, so my ranking includes alternative options for a range of needs and budgets. Dirt travels to the dust cup via the hose and the dust cup sits above the cleaner head, with the wand behind it and handle up top. But where the Bissell CleanView Swivel really stood out is with its thoughtful attachments, which clip onto the vacuum so they’re always handy. Based on all that expertise, and many, many hours of testing, I’ve come to the conclusion that the Dreame R20 is the best vacuum cleaner for the majority of people.
On test, it delivered impressive suction, paired with a nimble, lightweight build and useful automation features. A combination of a robot vacuum and a cordlesss or upright can make a huge impact on the fur floating around your house too. If you just want a vacuum that gets the job done without the bells and whistles, the Eureka QuickShift OmniVerse is the one for you. It’s also excellent value for money.
She has tested every vacuum category, logging hundreds of hours in the lab cleaning up carefully measured messes. The Shark Stratos is the workhorse of the group, delivering powerful performance for large spaces and deep cleaning.
What is the best shop vac for 2025?
Unlike the other small vacs, this one is equipped with wand extenders, so you don’t have to sacrifice your knees and back every time you clean something off the floor. These attachments are all stowed either on the casters or the top of the vacuum, where they are kept securely in place with a snug friction fit. This is a much smaller vacuum than the Ridgid models, and it doesn’t match their capabilities on larger messes. The Stanley 5-gallon shop-type vacuum features a sleek stainless steel canister, caster wheels, and a rear blower port.
These vacs can’t deal with a foot of standing water in your basement, but they can take out a pretty large puddle not to mention broken glass, small chunks of wood, gravel, nails, and other objects that even the best vacuums designed for the home can’t handle. Among the larger vacuums (canister volume 10 gallons or more), the Ridgid’s wide caster radius helped it have a solid base when moving around. If you’re looking for a quiet shop vac, you may want to consider a battery-powered model with a low decibel rating. Ridgid gives the vac minor upgrades and tweaks every few years, so the models have changed, but the core positives of the vac have always remained constant.
They all store on the vac and out of the way a smarter design than that of many competitors’ accessory caddies.
What is the most reliable vacuum cleaner on the market?
We recommend this model to friends who don’t care about the premium extras and just want a reliable cleaner at an affordable price. Dust, pollen, pet dander, smoke and more are all caught by these high-efficiency filters that are also found on air purifiers, and since HEPA filters are available on many upright, canister and stick vacuums, it’s relatively easy to find a model to fit your needs. Suction power plays an important role in how well a vacuum removes dirt, allergens, and debris especially from carpets but it’s not the only factor. For over a decade, we’ve tested more than 250 different vacuums, learning a ton about which designs work and which make cleaning more difficult.
Unlike most vacuums that clean best when pushed forward, this one picks up more effectively when pulled back. While some vacuums excel in specific tasks, such as deep carpet cleaning or quick daily sweeps, others are designed for specialized jobs like cleaning up wet messes or tackling pet hair. When you’re looking for a vacuum for your home, it’s not enough to know which ones are the best; you also have to know which to avoid. A Central Vacuum will last 25 years with proper maintenance, and you will go through up to 10 vacuums over that time.
Stick vacuums typically consist of a handled vacuum head, complete with a battery, dust cup, control buttons, filter and sometimes a digital display screen (think of the head, or “upper, as its central processing and operating unit). If you don’t mind carrying it up the stairs, it’s a reliable partner for those who want a thorough clean without cutting corners. It rolls smoothly where other vacuums would tip over, so despite its size, it’s easy to move around the workspace. The Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog canister is on the pricey side for a vacuum, but it’s one of the best bagless canisters you can buy.
