Best vacuum cleaners 2026: tested by experts for a tidy home

Discover how to get your hands on the best vacuum cleaner for your needs with our expert advice and Best Buy recommendations. 

Our rigorous, independent lab tests have found the worst vacuum cleaners to leave behind twice as much dust as a Best Buy. And they’re prone to leaking dust and allergens back out into your home, too, undoing all your hard work.

Read on to find out which vacuums impressed us in our tests, along with all the advice you need to help you decide which one is right for your home.

To compare all the models we've tested, take a look at our vacuum cleaner reviews

Best vacuum cleaners for 2026

Every year we rigorously test vacuum cleaners – from dust pick-up on carpets and hard floors to allergen retention – to find the best model for you. 

Only logged-in members can see our full list of the best vacuum cleaners below. Join Which? to get instant access to our Best Buys and expert reviews. 

Vacuum cleaner reviews by type

• Cylinder vacuum cleaner reviews
• Upright vacuum cleaner reviews
• Handstick vacuum cleaner reviews

Vacuum cleaners by price

• Vacuum cleaners under £100
• Vacuum cleaners under £200
• Vacuum cleaners under £300
• Vacuum cleaners under £400

Why you can trust our vacuum cleaner reviews

Andrew Laughlin, Which? principal researcher/writer, says:

'When you can just whack a question into a search engine or even ask an AI assistant these days, why do you need Which? to find your next vacuum cleaner?

'Well, we invest substantial resources into testing appliances like no one else does, and give you the ultimate verdict on whether or not they're worth buying. 

'Every vacuum cleaner we test is put through more than 70 individual dust and debris pick-up assessments in laboratory conditions. 

'We don't accept any freebies from manufacturers, and our only goal is to make sure you buy a good vacuum cleaner and avoid the duds. Our vacuum cleaner reviews are unbiased, impartial and only available to Which? members.' 

Find out more about how we test vacuum cleaners.

Bagged vs bagless vacuums: which type should you buy?

Manufacturers of bagless vacuums often claim that bagged models lose suction as the bag fills up, whereas bagless vacs don't. Some also claim their bagless systems have hygienic emptying features.

However, we've found that both bagged and bagless options can lose suction as the bag or container fills up. We've also tested bagless vacs with hygienic emptying features, and found they still released much more dust into the room when emptied than bagged models.

If you don't want to factor in the extra ongoing cost of vacuum cleaner bags, you can take steps to prevent dust escaping back into your home after cleaning. Empty bagless vacuums outside, ideally into a bag, and use gloves and a mask if you have serious allergies. If you'd rather not have the hassle, opt for a bagged model.

Bagless vacuum cleaners

Pros

• No need to buy replacement dust bags, which can be expensive.

Cons 

• Tend to have a smaller dust capacity, so you'll need to empty them more frequently
• Easy to overfill, as the maximum level is often lower than it looks. 
• Can be messy to empty, as dust and fluff can get wedged inside, and dust escapes into the air when emptying.

Bagged vacuum cleaners

Pros 

• Tend to have a larger capacity than bagless models. 
• Dust and dirt are safely contained in bags, which are thrown away – minimising exposure. 
• Branded bags often have extra filtration to prevent allergens escaping, and some bags self-seal. Cheaper alternatives are also available (although these usually don't offer the same filtration benefits, so you may need to clean the vac's filters more often).

Cons 

• You need to remember to buy replacement bags, which will be an ongoing cost.

What about allergen retention?

It's also important to choose a vacuum cleaner that doesn't leak dust and allergens back out into the room while cleaning. This can happen if the internal system is poorly sealed or the dust filters aren't effective. 

We test this in our lab and have found both bagged and bagless models that excel at keeping allergens locked up while cleaning, so check our vacuum cleaner reviews and use the allergen retention filter to find those that scored the best for this feature.

Read all our bagged vacuum cleaner reviews, or browse our bagless vacuum cleaner reviews.

Upright vs cylinder: which type should you buy?

We test plenty of upright and cylinder models, with both types having both good and also bad options available. 

There are also general pros and cons to both types, although a lot comes down to the size and layout of your home.

Upright vacuum cleaners

Pros

• Good for covering large floor areas, particularly carpets. 
• You can vacuum in a more upright position and easily weave around furniture. 
• Generally better for getting hair and fluff out of carpets.

Cons

• Can be harder to use on stairs, in tight spaces and under low furniture.
• Sometimes noisier than cylinder models. 
• You can't usually clean as far from the power socket as you can with cylinder vacs (8.6 metres, on average).

Cylinder vacuum cleaners

Pros

• The long, flexible hose usually makes cleaning stairs easier.
• Sometimes quieter
• Generally reach further from the power socket (10.1 metres, on average). 

Cons

• Can often be bulky, heavy and difficult to lug around. Also, easy to bump into walls and furniture as you move it about.
• Tend to be harder to push over thick carpets, particularly if there's no turbo brush attachment.
• The long hose and tube can be awkward to store.

Check out our upright vacuum cleaner reviews, or browse our cylinder vacuum reviews.

Should you go cordless?

Cordless vacuum cleaners are increasingly popular. They tend to be light, bagless, stick-style models with smaller dust capacities, plenty of accessories and an option to convert into a handheld. 

On average, corded vacuums are still a better bet if you want a good-value deep clean, or have a larger home. But the best cordless vacuums are just as good as corded equivalents.

Pros of cordless vacuums

• Usually very light, as little as 1.2kg compared with around 7 to 8kg for a standard vacuum
• Compact and easy to store
• No cord makes it much easier to get around
• Often good for cleaning cars, stairs and other awkward spots.

Cons of cordless vacuums

• Smaller dust capacity means more frequent bin emptying and filter cleaning required
• Can be expensive compared with corded models
• Lots of very poor models on the market
• Cleaning time is limited by battery life (although some models have swappable batteries).

Check our cordless vacuum cleaner reviews to be sure you're getting one that can actually clean well, but watch out for Don't Buy cordless vacuum cleaners.

Where to buy a vacuum cleaner

You can spend anywhere between £25 and £900. In the past, our tests have uncovered Best Buy corded vacuum cleaners for as little as £50, although you'll usually need to spend £100 to £200 for a decent one.

Cordless vacs tend to be more expensive, particularly if you want decent battery life. Plus, you'll be looking at around £200 for a good model. Paying more doesn't guarantee a quality product, though – we've found good and bad ones at every price.

Popular online retailers that sell vacuum cleaners include:

• Argos stocks a wide selection of vacs from brands, including Dyson, Shark and Vax.
• Currys has a good mix of uprights and cordless alternatives, including the Dyson V8 Animal.
• John Lewis sells ones from AEG, Dyson, Miele, Shark and Vax – prices start at around £100 to beyond £500 for premium Dyson and Miele models.
• AO is home to a large selection of upright, cordless and handheld vacs. Its listed models include the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Lift-Away Pet NZ801UKT and Miele Complete C2 PowerLine. AO offers a refund if you return an unused purchase or 'up to 50% off' if you've tried it out.
• Amazon has a massive mix of options, although you'll want to consult reviews before parting with your money. Brands include Henry, Shark and Vax.

To see which retailers are rated highly by Which? members, read our guide to the best tech and appliance shops.

Vacuum cleaner tools and accessories

Vacs come with a range of extra features and accessories, but which ones do you really need?

Floor-cleaning tools

Most vacs come with a basic combination floorhead as standard. This works across all floor types and can either be adjusted when switching from carpet to hard floor – or, on more premium models, self-adjusts as you move across different surfaces.

Floor tools with spinning brush bars or powered turbo brushes can be handy for picking up pet hair and dislodging dust from carpets.

We test each tool on the surface it's designed for to ensure it does a good job. Check our vacuum cleaner reviews to see the models which perform well across all areas, or to find a vac that's brilliant on your main floor type.

Extra mini tools

Most vacs include a basic set consisting of a crevice tool, upholstery tool and dusting brush, or a combination tool that does several of these jobs. Here are some others to look out for:

• Mini turbo tool The most common extra, which will usually add around £30 to the price. This compact cleaner head has a spinning brush bar, and can be great for sucking up pet hair, lint and fibres from sofas, stairs and other tricky spots the main floor tool won't reach.
• Up-top tools Flexible wands that allow you to vacuum the tops of doors and on high shelves.
• Mattress tools Let you more easily vacuum up the dust particles and skin cells left in your mattress.
• Extension tubes Can give you extra reach to tackle things such as ceiling cobwebs or long flights of stairs.

Things to check before you buy a vacuum

If you're in the shop, you might be able to physically inspect a vacuum cleaner to see how it feels. You can check its weight, see how easy it is to manoeuvre and consider how easy it will be to store at home. 

However, as we more often than not buy online these days, here are some other aspects to consider before buying your corded vacuum from an online store. 

• Capacity: Depending on the type you buy, capacity can vary massively, from just 0.5 litres (enough to clean a small home) to more than 4 litres. If you have a large area to cover, opt for a larger capacity, so you aren't frequently having to empty the dust container.
• Attachments: Depending on the model and brand, corded vacuum cleaners can come with a range of different attachments and floorheads, including dedicated tools for cleaning upholstery, pet hair and even mattresses. Always check the included attachments before you buy. 
• Weight: This can range from as little as 2kg to more than 10kg. If you know you'll have to carry the vacuum up and down lots of stairs, opt for a lighter model. 
• Reach: If you go for a corded model, check how long the cable is - it's often shorter on cheaper vacs. Cord lengths vary from just six metres to more than 15 metres, which makes a big difference.
• Controls: Some vacs have a lever on the floorhead that you flick to adjust suction, or to switch from carpets to hard floors. Pricier options tend to have shortcuts to these controls on the handle, or self-adjusting tools, so you can change the controls without having to bend down.
• Filters: These prevent fine dust particles and allergens from escaping back into the room when cleaning. Some can be washed clean, others have a self-cleaning action, and some need replacing periodically. 
• Noise: Some vacs make a real racket, equivalent to standing next to a busy road, while others are whisper-quiet. Check our reviews to find the quieter models. 

Buying a vacuum cleaner that will last

If longevity is a key consideration for you, check our guide to the most reliable vacuum cleaner brands before you start to consider specific models.

We've pulled together all our historic testing insight, along with data gathered from owners, to bring you our unique guide to the brands that will last once you get them home and the ones more likely to break down early.

Vacuum cleaner maintenance advice

It can be tempting to see your vac as a catch-all solution to all the mess and spills home life can throw at you, but there are a lot of materials that can harm its performance or even break it.

Liquids, sticky materials such as glue or glitter, soil and plant debris, small sharp objects such as glass, coins, paperclips or small stones can jam the motor, filters and dust container.

Some forms of dust should also be left for the dustpan and brush to handle. Ash, sawdust and plaster dust have particles so small that even the best filtration systems will get clogged up and become unusable.

The best way to help yours last is to make sure you only suck up the usual household dust, debris and hair, and keep on top of cleaning the filters.

Make sure to flick through the user manual and read the instructions on how best to clean or replace the filter, as different models have different requirements. 

Our guide on how to fix a vacuum cleaner that's lost suction can give you step-by-step instructions on how to sort it out.