Vacuum cleaners: How to buy the best vacuum cleaner Bagless vacuum cleaners

Dyson is well known for its range of bagless vacuum cleaners

Choosing between a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner model isn't a matter of vacuum cleaner performance - it's more a question of personal preference. 

Our bagged and bagless vacuum cleaner pros and cons should help you decide which is the right type of vac for you.

Bagless vaccum cleaner pros and cons

Dyson unveiled its first bagless vacuum cleaner design 15 years ago. Since then, bagless vacuum cleaners have grown in popularity.

As the name implies, bagless vacs cut out the need for replacement vacuum cleaner bags - saving you money as well as a potentially fiddly task.

On the down side, emptying a bagless vacuum cleaner can be a little messy, as dust can spill out as you remove and empty the dust container. This may prove problematic for allergy sufferers.

Bagged vacuum cleaner pros and cons

Bagged vacuum cleaners offer a hygienic and allergy-friendly way of doing the vacuuming, as the bag securely holds all the collected dust. Our top-rated bagged vacuum cleaners are easy to change when full and don't need changing too frequently.

On the downside, vacuum cleaner bags are an extra expense and an extra piece of maintenance for your machine. Ideally you should have an extra supply of bags at home in case you're caught short.

Search for bagged and bagless Best Buys 

Vacuum cleaner performance deteriorates slightly the fuller your bag or container gets, so you should always empty your vacuum cleaner on a regular basis - but the difference in suction is only marginal in the case of our Best Buy vacuum cleaners. 

13 bagless and 30 bagged vacuum cleaners have been recommended as Which? Best Buys - take a look at our vacuum cleaner review to find out which models we recommend. You can filter the results of our vacuum cleaner test results according to whether a model is bagged or bagless using the vacuum cleaner product finder tool.