The Best Vacuum Cleaners of 2026

The Shark Apex AZ1002 is not just our favorite upright vacuum cleaner, it’s also the best vacuum for hardwood floors that we’ve ever tested, thanks to its DuoClean feature.

Shark’s top-of-the-line model, this upright vacuum cleaner aced our debris test—it was able to pick up uncooked rice, macaroni, and pet hair better than more expensive vacuums on regular carpet, shag, and linoleum. It also excels at vacuuming up dirt, scoring in the top third of all the vacuums we’ve tested, and works with a HEPA filter to trap dust and allergens.

Shark vacuums often come with lots of attachments, but this one only has a crevice tool, upholstery tool, and motorized brush head. However, the brush head is powerful and versatile, so you may not even notice the limited number of attachments.

The overall deep-cleaning power of the Shark Apex means you won’t find a better full-sized vacuum cleaner, especially when you factor in the price.

If you’re looking for a canister vacuum, the Dyson Big Ball Multifloor is worth checking out. It has powerful suction and an easy-to-use design. In our cleaning tests, this Dyson vacuum picked up an average 47% of the dirt on our lab carpets in a single pass. The average is around 30%.

Suction power is great, but the Multifloor is also easy to use. The self-adjusting cleaner head means this vacuum can seamlessly go from bare floors to carpet without the need to push buttons or levers. The chassis is also designed to always self-right. This means if the canister gets tipped over, it will get back on its wheels without any assistance.

We also liked the lightweight wand, which allowed us to clean high-up areas like vents with the combination tool and not put a lot of strain on our wrists.

One of our favorite Dyson vacuums, this canister has engineering we can appreciate. Every aspect on the Multifloor feels well made. Parts come together with a satisfying click, the brush head pivots on a dime, and cord retracts quickly. Whether you’re looking for a general vacuum for carpet or need something to clean hardwood floors, the Dyson Big Ball Multifloor is worth checking out.

There’s a lot to love about the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI, our favorite cordless stick vacuum. Weighing only 6.3 pounds, it’s among the lightest cordless vacuums we’ve tested, but the Bespoke Jet AI is no lightweight in the cleaning department.

During testing, this cordless vacuum cleaner sucked up 90% of the dirt and fine dust we laid out for it during our carpet cleaning test. It comes with plenty of attachments and features to make cleaning a breeze. The Jet AI also has a powerful battery, which can last up to 17 minutes on high.

One of the things we appreciate most is the Jet AI’s ability to automatically adjust suction based on dirt and floor type. Another way this cordless vacuum tops the competition—it can empty itself. When it’s in the charging dock, you can press a button that activates a secondary vacuum to suction out the dust bin. The contents are placed into a self-sealing bag, so you never have to touch anything nasty.

For someone looking for a superb cordless vacuum cleaner, the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI checks all the boxes.

Read our full Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review.

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser 2390 handheld vacuum may be small, but it has the suction power to tackle messes around the house and in your vehicle.

When we tested the best handheld vacuums, the Pet Hair Eraser picked up a remarkable 94% of the dirt we sprinkled on medium-pile carpet in a single pass.

Our tests also confirmed that this hand vacuum is aptly named—the Pet Hair Eraser was able to tackle pet fur from a couch cushion, vacuuming it up in a single pass, earning it a spot on our best vacuums for pet hair list.

This handheld vacuum weighs just 3 pounds and can last up to 19 minutes of continuous cleaning. Combine those two stats with a 24-ounce dirt cup, and you’ll be able to handle almost any mess around the house or in your vehicle.

The iRobot Roomba j9+ robot vacuum combines superior floor cleaning, exceptional navigation, and useful smart features to earn the nod as best robot vacuum.

During testing, the Roomba j9+ picked up an average of about 9.45 grams of our testing debris per run, scoring in the 90th percentile of robot vacuums we’ve tested. Using lidar technology, the j9+ is able to navigate from floor to carpet while avoiding furniture, cods, and pet accidents. When moving from bare floors to carpet, this robot vacuum increases suction with its automated Carpet Boost feature.

After it has returned to its charging base after cleaning, the dirt and debris is automatically suctioned from the robot vac’s dust bin and it’s placed in a self-sealing bag. This process, however, is loud, at about the same noise level as a blender. This robot vacuum is fairly loud when it’s operating on its highest setting, as well.

Controlling the j9+ with iRobot’s OS smart platform is simple—using the app is intuitive, and includes useful features.

There’s a reason that the Roomba is synonymous with robot vacuums. The iRobot Roomba j9+ is yet another outstanding robot vacuum in the Roomba lineup.

Read our full Roomba j9+ robot vacuum review..

The iRobot Roomba Combo j7+ improves on what the brand is known for by adding a mop to clean hard floors. The result is our favorite robot vacuum and mop.

The j7+ vacuums floors and carpeting incredibly well, picking up an average of 9.85 grams per run. It ranks among the top robot vacuums we’ve tested and earned a spot on our best robot vacuum cleaners list.

The Combo does a good job mopping, too, but what really sets its mopping function apart from the competition is how it’s deployed. While other mops can get carpeting wet, the Combo avoids this problem by flipping its mop attachment on its top when it detects carpet. You’ll have no wet carpets with this robot vacuum mop.

With its forward-facing camera, the j7+ Combo can easily avoid obstacles like power cables and pet accidents. Like the iRobot Roomba j9+, the Combo is compatible with the company’s OS software platform, which is easy to use and intuitive. The Combo also features a secondary vacuum on its dock that can empty the dust bin after it’s done cleaning.

Someone looking for one device to vacuum and mop won’t go wrong with the iRobot Roomba j7+ Combo.

Read our full review of the iRobot Roomba j7+ Combo robot vacuum and mop.

Even with the best vacuum cleaners, you will need to occasionally give your carpets a deep cleaning. Enter the Bissell Big Green, our favorite carpet cleaner.

Anyone who’s rented a commercial carpet cleaner knows that there’s dirt that’s hidden in a home’s carpet. That’s especially true for people who have children or pets. Rather than renting a machine every time your carpet gets a little dingy, we recommend you buy the Big Green, which will help you keep your carpets fresh. In addition to saving money in the long run, you also won’t have to touch other people’s gunk, like you do when you rent.

With the Big Green’s two massive tanks, 10.5-inch cleaning path, and 25-foot cord, you’ll be able to clean a living room in no time. It also has a 9-foot attachment hose and handheld tool so you’ll be able to clean stairs, upholstery and hard-to-reach areas with ease.

This carpet cleaner is heavy, weighing in at more than 50 pounds, so if the Big Green is a bit too big, you might want to consider another Bissell that we also like, the Little Green Pro. It’s much lighter while still offering excellent cleaning performance.

The VacMaster is a versatile wet/dry vacuum that we think will suit most people. You can easily place the hose on the exhaust and tote just the motor around. That means this wet/dry vacuum can transform into a leaf blower in seconds.

During our suction tests, the VacMaster moved 1.36 gallons of water in 10 seconds. It’s not the most powerful shop vac, but it did handle dirt and debris well. For its relatively low cost, we think it provides great value.