The Best Vacuum Cleaners of 2023, Reviewed by HGTV Editors

For just $200, this relatively affordable upright cleaner checks all the boxes for us: ample tank size, powerful cleaning capability, simple assembly, automatic shampoo release and mixing, and easy to clean. While it's not the lightest of cleaners, it handles like a standard upright vacuum, although its size may not be ideal for those with limited storage space. Dual tanks, a half-gallon dirty water tank and a one-gallon clean water tank, were large enough for our tester to clean upholstery and an 8-by-10-foot rug without emptying or adding more water. We loved being able to add cleaning solution directly into the machine's pre-measured tank for automatic mixing and dispensing. (No trigger, here!) We were also won over by an additional dry-only feature that allows you to push and pull the machine without dispensing water or cleaner to help speed up drying time. A removable nozzle gives easy access to brushes for de-gunking. Overall, we were really impressed by the design and effectiveness of this machine, and believe it's a solid choice for most households.

Our Editor Says: "I really appreciate when machines are engineered so that simple and regular cleaning and maintenance can be done without tools. I'm very happy that was the case with this machine."

This 20-volt handheld vacuum cleaner gets our Best Overall pick for a reason. While its runtime is only 10 to 12 minutes, it handles everyday messes like a champ and has the most powerful suction on our list. Its 15-ounce dustbin and washable filter are removable for easy cleaning right in the sink with a “side door” for quick dirt disposal between vacuuming sessions. It comes with a built-in crevice tool, upholstery brush and features a patented nozzle that pivots to your preferred angle to help clean up high, down low and even in tight spaces. Our tester found it works better on hard surfaces than carpeted areas, though. The compact, lightweight design and attached accessory tools make it easy to store, too. We love that the battery is integrated into the vacuum so you don’t have to store it separately, and the charging base is even mountable so you can store it in a closet out of sight — a huge pro on our list.

Our Editor Says: "It's so convenient to have a compact, cordless vacuum like this stored near the areas in my home with the most frequent messes so I can tackle them as they happen instead of putting them off until my robot vacuum covers that area."

Engineered for homes with pets the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal is a great option for pet owners at a reasonable price. While it doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles of the newer models like laser lights and LCD screens, it handles pet (and human) hair extremely well and meets the basic requirements like decent battery life, powerful suction and cleaner heads that detangle hair to make it a great value for pet owners.

With a max output of 150 AW, this vacuum works well on both carpeted and hard floors. Our tester found that this vacuum even worked better than her older Dyson upright vacuum. This vacuum comes with five attachments: a Motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, crevice tool, combination tool and a mini soft dusting brush. Our tester especially liked the hair screw tool because it worked incredibly well removing stuck-in hair and debris on upholstered furniture.

It features three suction modes: suction mode 1, suction mode 2 and boost mode. Unlike the Detect models, this vacuum can’t automatically adjust suction when changing surfaces or in areas with more dust, so it’s up to the user to manually switch to boost mode when needed. While this model is rated for an up to 60-minute runtime, the battery usage isn’t quite as efficient and didn’t last quite as long in testing without the auto mode option. With the battery lasting about 30 minutes on the middle suction power mode, this vacuum would be great for spot cleaning and daily maintenance as a supplemental vacuum in a home that already has an upright one. For larger homes with a lot of carpet and pet hair, both of which might require boost mode (and more battery juice) frequently, opting for a V15 Detect or V15 Detect Absolute would be a better choice for a primary vacuum for whole-house cleaning sessions.

One con but not a dealbreaker is that this vacuum doesn’t feature a continuous vacuum mode, but this accessory clamp would also work on this model if you want to hack a trigger lock feature.

Our Editor Says: "I was impressed by the suction power and hair removal capabilities for a vacuum of its size and weight."

To determine which vacuum would hold the "Best Overall" title, it had to meet three main criteria: affordable, strong suction and good navigation. Ultimately, the eufy prevailed in all of these categories. In comparison to other models on the market, the RoboVac G30 offers the most features for your money. We were unexpectedly won over by its quiet noise level (the quietest one we tested) and the user-friendly app that provides a map of the bot's cleaning job and allows you to manually direct the robot to clean a specific area. It picked up leaves, crumbs and hair, no problem, thanks to BoostIQ, a feature that automatically increases suction power when extra strength is needed. The 0.6-liter dustbin was less than half full after our tester ran it two to three times a week. The G30's slim design fits easily in hard-to-reach spots but, because of its smaller size, struggled to get over thresholds between rooms. All in all, though, the eufy RoboVac met our basic needs from a robot vacuum. It's not the fanciest, but it's also not going to cause you more problems than it solves.

Our Editor's Review: "I really like that it creates a visual map of its cleaning jobs that you can look at while it's running or later after it's completed a job."

From small to large homes with pets, kids, carpet, hard floors and everything in between, Dyson's V15 Detect model is a solid overall cordless vacuum that will satisfy the needs of most households. Plus, the suction power, battery life and bin size are sufficient for this model to serve as your primary vacuum for quick pickups and whole-house cleans. With suction power up to 230 AW, the V15 Detect is the second most powerful cordless vacuum Dyson offers (just barely behind the V15 Detect Absolute model, our Best Upgrade pick). Our tester concluded this is the best vacuum she's ever used. She said, "In the past, I’ve needed an upright vacuum with my stick vacuum at times to get a truly deep clean, and that isn’t the case with this one."

The V15 Detect comes with seven attachments: Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, hair screw tool, digital motorbar, crevice tool, combination tool, mini soft dusting brush and stubborn dirt brush. It also comes with a charger, docking station and wand clip for attaching to the stick canister that can hold more tools for storage. The Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head is one that sets this model apart from older Dyson models — this cleaner features a green laser that allows you to see microscopic dust on hard floors you might have otherwise missed. All of the cleaner heads work extremely well on human and pet hair on both carpeted and hard floors, meaning hairs don't get wrapped around the roller brushes. This vacuum features eco, auto and boost modes that allow for efficient battery use, especially in auto mode when the vacuum can increase power automatically when it detects heavier dust and debris. While the vacuum performed well on all surfaces, our tester did notice that the auto and boost modes were too powerful on her Ruggable rugs, but switching to eco mode worked well on those thinner rugs. In testing, we found that the battery life lasted for 79 minutes on eco, 40 minutes on auto and 15 on continuous boost mode. At .2 gallons, the dust bin does need emptying frequently, but since the point-and-shoot emptying process is so easy and mess-free, it only takes a couple of seconds and doesn't require touching any of the dust.

Our tester did note a few downsides but not deal-breakers when using this vacuum. This vacuum does not have a trigger lock or on/off button for continuous vacuuming, so you have to hold down the trigger manually for the entire cleaning session. For a higher-end vacuum, this seems like a feature that should be included, but you can find off-brand accessories on Amazon like this clamp to hack a trigger lock function. At 6.8 lbs, this vacuum is heavier than most of our other recommendations, too, which our tester found a bit more cumbersome to maneuver than the Dyson V8 she previously used. The V15 Detect is still much lighter than an upright vacuum, though, so it should be comfortable to use for most people. If you have arthritis or mobility issues, one of the lighter models on this list might be a better choice for you. While this vacuum comes with seven attachment tools that all work really well, the docking station and wand clip can only accommodate four storage spots other than the one on the vacuum, so you'll need a box or somewhere to store extra attachments.