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The best vacuum cleaner for your home depends on your lifestyle, but one thing’s for sure: Getting a quality machine that caters to your needs will make the chore significantly easier. Vacuums come in various styles and with different features, from high-tech robot vacuums that’ll clean when you’re not home to powerful stick vacuums that can slide into corners and crevices. Looking for portability? Check out some cordless vacuum options, and when it comes to cleaning the car or removing pet hair from furniture, handheld vacuum cleaners are handy tools to have.

With is power, versatility and attainable price point, the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional ... [+] nabs the spot for the best vacuum cleaner overall.

On your hunt for the best vacuum for your home, consider additional things like your floor type, the size of your home and what exactly you want cleaned, whether it’s a large room or hard-to-reach corners. A smaller space may benefit from a cordless vacuum that’s easy to store or a stick vacuum that’s lightweight rather than a traditional, heavy model. Vacuums can also come bagless or with bonus features like air filtration systems and swiveling heads designed for maneuverability. In short, there’s an option that fits every home type and cleaning need, so if your old, clog-happy vacuum isn’t cutting it anymore, read on for our list of the best vacuum cleaners available.

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional upright vacuum comes with a few modes you might find useful. First among them, of course, is the upright mode that lets you clean both carpets and hardwood floors. If you want to clean your stairs, however, you can detach the canister and use it as a handheld vacuum with one of several attachments. The Shark Navigator also comes with an extender so you can vacuum high or hard-to-reach areas to tackle dust and cobwebs.

Shark’s vacuum also has an anti-allergen seal to reduce chances of infectious debris from entering your home and it offers a high-capacity canister to house more dirt than most other upright vacuums. Be aware, though, that at 13.7 pounds, it’s a bit heavier than other models, and while a 25-foot cord is quite long, there are other options from Shark that deliver 30-foot or longer cords.

Free yourself from getting tangled in your vacuum cord with Eureka’s powerful cordless model. With a 40-minute fade-free runtime that makes quick work of wood floors, tile floors, low-pile rugs and carpets, you can tackle multiple rooms before it is time to recharge. Great for everyday use, the RapidClean’s swiveling head gets in and around tricky corners while bright LED headlights help you spot hidden dust and debris. It can also lie completely flat, which makes reaching under beds and furniture easier.

The iRobot Roomba has several built-in features—like sensors that detect dirt and high-traffic areas, a “cliff detect” feature that keeps it from falling down stairs and an automatic recharge function—that make daily cleaning effortless and effective. Especially good for large spaces, the Roomba’s three stage cleaning system and multi-surface brushes eliminate dirt from both hard floors and carpet. An edge sweeping brush is designed to reach into corners. The iRobot app lets you schedule regular cleanups on your phone when you’re not home and it connects with Alexa or Google Assistant for voice control. 

For smaller and more localized spills and clean-ups, a good handheld vacuum can provide serious suction power without the heft of an upright. Shark’s popular handheld model comes with a tapered nozzle, which easily picks up dirt and debris, plus two accessories: one for cleaning pet hair or upholstery and another for tight spaces. When you’re not using it, simply set it in the charging dock—the sleek, modern design will look great on your countertop. The bagless dirt holder and filter are removable and clean easily in the sink, which makes cleaning your vacuum as easy as using it.

Weighing in at just 7.7 pounds, this powerful cleaner punches well above its weight class. The all-floor suction removes pet hair and debris from both hard floors and carpets and a detachable handle captures dirt in vents and other hard-to-reach places. And because the filter can be washed and reused, there’s no need to buy endless replacements. The vacuum’s compact size lends to its portability, allowing you to move effortlessly from room to room and then easily stores away until you need it next. 

Miele’s vacuum is specially designed to keep hardwood floors gleaming. The high-suction 1,200-watt motor swoops up debris while the nimble cleaning head maneuvers easily around chairs and table legs. Miele’s vacuum comes with a filtration system that protects the motor and leaves indoor air cleaner than it was prior to vacuuming. Since this vacuum doesn’t have a brush roller, it’s not a great choice if you have lots of thicker carpeting. But if your home is mostly hardwood with scattered low-pile rugs or carpets, it’s an excellent option.

One of Dyson’s most popular models, the Dyson V8 Absolute is a lightweight cordless stick vacuum with powerful suction that picks up everything from hairballs to extra large dust bunnies to the tiniest specks of dirt. The vacuum comes with six handy attachments that tackle almost every surface and corner in your home, including a mini motorized tool that gives upholstered surfaces a deep clean and combination tool that reaches areas like vents and floor trims. Best of all, the filter is washable, so you’ll never have to deal with a smelly vacuum ever again.

Bissell’s Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum Cleaner is ideal for homes with pets. It uses triple-action brush roll technology and a scatter-free design to capture every strand your pup or kitty sheds—even if it is deeply embedded in your upholstery. The vacuum comes with specialized pet tools including a pet hair corner tool and a pet turbo eraser tool. The 27-inch cord automatically winds for easy storage and the 1-liter capacity allows for extended vacuuming without a trip to the garbage. Plus, for every pet product purchased, Bissell donates up to $10 to the Bissell Pet Foundation.

This powerful model by Bissell delivers effective cleaning at an exceptionally reasonable price point. The large capacity (1-liter) tank empties easily into the garbage, the filter can be removed and washed and a 25-foot cord provides extended cleaning power. The vacuum’s scatter-free technology keeps debris from flying everywhere while you clean. And on board storage keeps all of the tools—a dusting brush, crevice tool and extension wand—in one place and close by when you need them.

While cordless options are convenient for quick cleanup, the best vacuums for heavier jobs are the more powerful, corded models, like this Armor All Utility Shop Vacuum. It comes equipped with a 10-foot power cord that’s easy to wrap and store when you’re finished. Plus, it has a brush attachment, crevice tool, detail brush and multiple nozzles (including a blower). Keep in mind the hose is 1.25 inches in diameter, so while you can easily collect dirt and dust, it won’t work for larger items like leaves.

There’s no single answer to which type of vacuum is best. Depending on your specific needs, there may be one type that outshines another. Before you set out to buy a vacuum, it’s helpful to understand the different types of vacuum cleaners out there and the key differences between each.

Not all vacuums are made the same so the very first thing to consider is your cleaning needs. That will help you narrow down what kind of vacuum you actually need. If you own furry pets, for example, you’ll need a vacuum that specializes in lifting pet hair from carpets. And a lightweight vacuum won’t do the trick for your car or tougher surfaces like garages; in this case, look for utility and car-specific vacuums.

Space needs to be taken into account as well. Apartments and smaller spaces may benefit from a light stick vacuum while larger rooms will call for something heavier like a standard upright vacuum. Some vacuums also do better with certain types of flooring than others. If you have thick carpets, a vacuum that specializes in hardwood floors won’t be the best choice. Needless to say, when vacuum shopping, it’s important to read up on what the vacuum is actually for.

Tank capacities vary so pay attention to the sizes when shopping for bagless vacuums. Smaller, lightweight vacuums are efficient but will likewise have smaller tanks, which means they’ll fill up quickly. You’ll find yourself taking more trips to the trash can to empty them out, which can be a hassle if you vacuum often. Traditional vacuums may be bulkier but will have larger tanks so you won’t have to worry about emptying them after just one clean. Most people also love the ease and satisfaction of dumping out a larger tank all at once.

Consider whether you want a corded or a cordless vacuum. If corded, you want to make sure the cord is easy to wrap around and store when not in use. The length varies as well. Longer cords allow you to easily maneuver the vacuum in large rooms or move from one small space to another without having to unplug, then plug the cord into a closer outlet. Cords can also make your vacuum harder to move or store, and there is the risk of it getting worn down from daily use.

On the contrary, cordless models are lighter and make for quick cleanup and storage since you don’t have to worry about handling or properly wrapping up a long, thick cord. Not having a cord makes them more portable as well; you can move them all around the house without worry. Cordless models run on charges however, so you’ll have to keep an eye on battery life. Suction may also not be as strong with a cordless vacuum, since they’re on the lighter side and not always ideal for deep-cleaning.

As mentioned, cordless vacuums don’t have the same hassle as corded models but they do run on batteries. So, you’ll want to make sure your cordless vacuum has a decent battery life, and they need to be charged before and after use. How long the vacuum takes to fully charge and how long it can run on a single charge are also factors to consider. Like any technology, battery life depletes over time so replacing the battery may be a necessity at some point. You might want to check that replacement batteries for your particular model are easy to find.

Many vacuums come with additional features and extra attachments to help streamline your cleaning tasks. Consider what features you need and what attachments would be useful for you. Pet owners, for example, will want to look for pet-friendly attachments like brushes that help extract fur from couches. Whether it’s quality-focused like anti-allergen seals and air filtration systems, technology-based like motion sensors and app controls or physical tools like extension tools and blower nozzles, each feature has a different function so you want to get something that’ll actually be useful for you. After all, there’s no point in having six different attachments if you won’t use them.

If your vacuum comes with physical attachments, make sure to note storage as well. Some vacuums have on-board storage so you can just stick the attachments in their place once you’re done. This feature can also have a bearing on the size of your vacuum, making it bulkier. Other models don’t offer storage so you’ll need a separate place to keep the attachments.

Both bagged and bagless vacuums have their pros and cons. Bagged vacuums tend to be easier to clean—all you have to do is remove the bag and toss it in the trash—but bagless vacuums are more environmentally friendly and produce less waste. Bagless vacuums can also save you money over time, since you don’t have to purchase bags separately.

It depends. A higher price tag doesn’t always equate to better quality (just like a lower price tag doesn’t necessarily mean the vacuum won’t work well). Expensive vacuum cleaners often come with additional features, like cordless capabilities and allergen filters. In the case of robot vacuums, you generally have to pay more for advanced technology, like home mapping and self-emptying. So whether an expensive vacuum cleaner is worth it depends on your needs and what additional features you’re looking for.

There’s not a single vacuum cleaner that professional cleaners use. Often, the vacuums combine powerful suction with portability, like the Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog Bagless Canister Vacuum or the Samsung Jet 90 Complete Cordless Stick Vacuum.