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When you think of the traditional household vacuum, there are two types that most people own: the canister and the upright.
For years upright vacuums dominated the market but as we began to realize the benefits that a canister vacuum could offer, it seemed these became the preferred choice.
Shopping for a new vacuum is a serious investment. These devices are built to last for many years and considering how often we rely on them it’s a purchase that matters.
Whether you’re looking for a small canister vacuum or something heavy duty, there are plenty of options to choose from, which probably doesn’t make your hunt for the right one any easier.
If you’re in the market for the best canister vacuum but have no idea where to start, there’s no cause for concern.
We’ve rounded up the top-rated devices from countless canister vacuum reviews and come up with the best choices, so you can start cleaning your house with the power and maneuverability you deserve.
A quality vacuum will serve your home for years to come, so it’s an investment that should be given careful consideration.
After comparing countless canister vacuum cleaner reviews and recommendations, these are our picks for the best on the market.
We’ve found vacuums in all shapes, sizes, and price ranges, so you can easily select the one that’s right for your home.
Contents
Our Reviews Of The Best Canister Vacuums
Miele Pure Suction Canister Vacuum
BEST OVERALL
When you’re in the market for a canister vacuum that’s been built to last, something like the Miele Pure Suction will meet all of your requirements.
Made to last the average family for 20 years, this canister vacuum is powered by a 1,200-watt motor and offers six different speeds so you can change the flow rate as needed.
The suction power of this device is what sets it apart with a Miele made vortex motor that can be adjusted to as strong as you need.
Customers were thrilled at how little effort it took to clean their home and because it’s part of their compact line the entire thing weighs less than 15lbs.
When you consider it’s being pulled around on wheels, you’ll barely notice it at all.
There were some minor negatives to note, mainly from people using it on the standard carpet.
They found it took a little effort to get it back and forth smoothly, but other than that there was nothing to fault.
Customers were also hesitant to use it on their hardwood floors even though it had an attachment for it, so consider what your floor surface is before you start vacuuming.
The Pure Suction Canister Vacuum is elegantly made and comes in a lotus white color with silver hardware.
It has a telescopic suction wand and stainless steel tube as well as 360-degree swivel capabilities.
Miele covers this vacuum with a two-year limited warranty but tests their vacuums to last for up to 20 years in the average household.
You can expect to pay a little more this canister vacuum, but its well worth the price tag.
Amazon lists this for just under $400 which includes all of the attachments and parts you’ll need.
For a truly deep clean in a compact package, the Miele Pure Suction Canister Vacuum is our favorite choice.
Technical specifications
- Weight: 14.8lbs
- Dimensions: 16.88 x 9.05
- Type: Bag
- Power: 1,200 watt
- Flow rate: N/A
Eureka Whirlwind Vacuum Cleaner
If you want to make the switch to a lightweight canister vacuum without spending a lot of money, the Eureka Whirlwind Vacuum cleaner is the most economical choice.
This lightweight device weighs just 8lbs so you can pick it up and carry it with you, or let the wheels do the work.
It’s a bagless design with a 3L dust contained that can be easily flipped open and emptied whenever you need.
According to the reviews, customers were pleased with how much suction it could get for such a cheap device.
The Eureka Whirlwind uses a cyclone filtration system that won’t lose suction because of how the particles are moved through it, which means you’ll have a consistent flow of power no matter what you’re cleaning.
It uses wheeled steering and a telescopic metal wand to give you greater maneuverability and because it’s so light you can even take it up and down the stairs.
On the downside, it doesn’t seem this is made to last as many years like some competitors.
After a few years, people noticed that it started to slow down, so it’s not the best bagless canister vacuum for those who want longevity.
People also found that the hose kinked more often than they’d like, so you have to be careful going around corners.
There are plenty of features to brag about though including the washable dust cup, 2-in-1 crevice tool, and rewind cord that lets you pack up in seconds.
It has three options for operation modes with carpet, upholstery, and hard floors, so there’s no space in your home that can’t be cleaned.
With a one year limited warranty it’s still well made for the cost and is a great way to show you what canister vacuums are capable of.
The Eureka Whirlwind Vacuum Cleaner costs less than $50 when you shop on Amazon, and this includes the 12-month warranty.
It’s compact, lightweight, and powerful enough to clean most homes, so if you’re after a canister vacuum that won’t break the bank you’ll be pleased with the results of this one.
Technical specifications
- Weight: 8lbs
- Dimensions: 14.2 x 12.2 x 9.7”
- Type: Bagless
- Power: N/A
- Flow rate: N/A
Hoover PortaPower Canister Vacuum
When you think of vacuums one of the first names that come to mind is Hoover, and they’ve designed our top choice for the best commercial vacuum.
The PortaPower Canister Vacuum is a commercial grade machine with a 7.4 amp motor but surprisingly low weight of just 8.3lbs. with a carrying strap to take it with you wherever you go, you’ll love just how light it actually feels.
People loved how long the cord as on the POrtaPower vacuum, measuring an amazing 33ft.
Customers were able to clean the entire length of their homes without having to unplug and plug the cord back in which can get downright annoying when you’re in the middle of a cleaning spree.
It has a compact size which people appreciated so they were able to fit in tight spaces where other vacuums couldn’t go.
However, there were some negative points, and it mainly had to do with cleaning hardwood floors.
It seems this device was made with carpets in mind, which it does a spectacular job of, but when it came to anything hard it struggled to get the right suction.
Although a good choice for a cheap commercial vacuum, you really need to think about the areas you’ll be cleaning.
You have the option of using either a cloth or paper bag in this vacuum, with both having their own benefits depending on what you’re trying to pick up.
This vacuum also features a built-in blower so you can clean inside and out, again adding to its value as a commercial device.
This is one of the cheapest commercial vacuums on the market and for a canister style, it’s even better priced at under $100 on Amazon.
Hoover offers a one-year limited warranty, not including the attachments and other parts, but for the convenience that this machine offers and how versatile it is, we sill consider it the best choice for a commercial canister vacuum.
Technical specifications
- Weight: 8.3lbs
- Dimensions: 20.9 x 7.8 x 12.5”
- Type: Bag
- Power: 7.4 amps
- Flow rate: N/A
Bissell Zing Bagged Vacuum Cleaner
Finding a quality canister vacuum for around $100 might seem impossible, but the Bissell Zing Bagged Vacuum is our top pick in this price range.
As a number one seller on Amazon, it’s got plenty of cool features like a light 12.5lbs weight, 10 amps of sucking power, and variable suction control that lets you adjust its strength depending on what you’re cleaning.
For the price, customers were thrilled with how the Bissell Bagged Canister Vacuum performed.
It was easy to maneuver around the house and powerful as a device twice its price, with 10 amps of power that make light work of pretty much anything from pet hair to ingrained dirt.
Where it fell flat was some of the attachments. According to the reviews, the way the pieces fit in together meant they sometimes came apart while you were busy vacuuming.
It didn’t affect the suction but having to bend down and rectify this every 10 minutes could get a little annoying after some time.
Considering the low cost though, it’s a small price to pay for everything else it offers.
The Bissell Zing Vacuum comes with two options for hard and soft surfaces and you can change it with the flip of a switch.
There are onboard cleaning tools that you can attach as well as and a telescoping wand so you can get into hard to reach places.
This is a pretty versatile vacuum that would suit most homes and could even be used for commercial applications thanks to its power.
Priced at around $110 when you shop on Amazon, this is our top pick for the best canister vacuum for the money.
The Bissell Zing Vacuum Cleaner comes with a 12-month warranty and great reviews from customers, so if you want something fairly priced but still effective, this is our top recommendation.
Technical specifications
- Weight: 12.5lbs
- Dimensions: 16.75 x 10 x 11.75”
- Type: Bagged
- Power: 10 amps
- Flow rate: N/A
Kenmore 81214 Bagged Canister Vacuum
Kenmore is known for making quality home appliances, so it’s no surprise that their 81214 Canister Vacuum has made it on our list.
This is a mid-range vacuum with a massive 12 amps of power and suction that will never die thanks to two powerful motors at work.
With a 24ft cord and 9.5ft attachment, there’s plenty of length to reach every crevice of your home.
The suction is what makes this a winner with reviewers and it’s all thanks to the 12 amps of power.
You’ll get three onboard attachments for cleaning all areas of the house and two floor nozzles as well.
At its most basic, these are what customers loved the most about the Kenmore 81214 Canister Vacuum and made it fantastic value for more.
According to the reviews, there might have been too many features trying to work here though, and not all of them were doing the best job.
The filters don’t seem to be the right fit, the rewind cord doesn’t really work on its own so you have to hand feed it in, and the wheels aren’t able to carry the load right so it requires some pulling.
Although they don’t affect the suction and power, they’re still worth noting.
This Kenmore vacuum comes with a triple HEPA filter which is capable of getting up to 99.7% of debris, dust, and pet hair out of your home.
After years of use you just need to replace it for the same powerful results.
As a bagged vacuum you will need to empty it now and then but other features like adjustable height and detachable wand give it back some much-needed convenience.
As a mid-range bagged canister vacuum, the Kenmore 81214 has plenty to offer but does tend to get carried away with the features.
For a price of around $160 on Amazon and one year warranty, it’s nice to know that many customers have proudly owned a Kenmore for over 10 years, so they’re definitely one of the better made devices.
Technical specifications
- Weight: 22.6lbs
- Dimensions: 25.9 x 16.2 x 13.6”
- Type: Bagged
- Power: 12 amps
- Flow rate: N/A
The Benefits of Cleaning with a Canister Vacuum
There are some advantages to owning a canister vacuum compared to other styles that make them a more popular choice.
Here are some things to consider about the benefits these devices offer:
- Easier to move around the house and get into tight spaces;
- More suction power due to their design;
- Lighter and easier to carry than an upright vacuum and with wheeled steering;
- Quieter to operate and easier to work on both kinds of surfaces;
FAQs About Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums are a popular choice for domestic and commercial use, but how do they differ from the rest?
We’ve answered some commonly asked questions about these cleaning devices to give you some background on what they’re best used for.
What Is The Advantage Of A Canister Vacuum?
Depending on the specific model, a canister vacuum is usually more powerful, and easier to carry and maneuver around during cleaning.
Traditional upright vacuum cleaners are preferred by some because they’re cheaper and easier to store.
Are Canister Vacuums Better For Hardwood Floors?
A canister vacuum is better designed to vacuum hardwood floors because they disperse less dust as they clean it up due to where the nozzle is located to the barrel.
This is compared to an upright model that usually has a hard time containing everything and could damage the floor.
Bagged Vacuum vs Canister Vacuum
Canister vacuums come in either bagged or bagless styles and there’s no right or wrong approach.
Both require you to empty them when they’re full but either style offers its own benefits that might make them more suitable than the alternative.
How To Clean Canister Of Canister Vacuum?
The canister in these vacuums can usually be pulled out of the device completely to be cleaned separately and should be done every few months or as needed.
Always check the manufacturer’s recommendations before cleaning, but most models can be washed out with warm, soapy water and dried before locking them back into place.
The Smarter Way to Clean
Canister vacuums are a popular choice for domestic and commercial applications, and thanks to the unique benefits this style of vacuum offers it’s becoming even more prevalent in homes.
A vacuum is usually a huge investment to make and something you rely on lasting for many years to come, so getting it right the next time is essential.
We’veshown you some of the top rated canister vacuums on the market in all kinds of styles and price ranges, so all you have to do is choose the best.
With a quality vacuum ready to go at all times, your home will be cleaner than ever and with minimal effort from you, so it’s an investment worth taking seriously.
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