May 2022
Vacuum Cleaners: Aggregated Ranking Report
This report contains an aggregate consensus of Vacuum Cleaner rankings posted by key online experts, as of May 2022.
At a glance - May 2022 Ranking
Rank | Change | Price | Vacuum Cleaner |
Consumer Reports
|
Tom's Guide
![]() |
Wirecutter
![]() |
This Old House
![]() |
Rtings.com
![]() |
Good Housekeeping
![]() |
The Strategist
![]() |
The Spruce
![]() |
HGTV
![]() |
TechRadar
![]() |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1
|
- | $844 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
9
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
1
|
2
|
- | $999 |
![]()
The best smart vacuum that takes care of itself
|
7
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
6
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
3
|
- | $370 |
![]() |
-
|
2
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
4
|
- | $177 |
![]() |
-
|
1
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
+1 | $550 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
2
|
-
|
8
|
8
|
6
|
+1 | $222 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
+1 | $244 |
![]() |
1
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
+1 | $343 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
12
|
1
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
+1 | $799 |
![]() |
-
|
3
|
2
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
10
|
+1 | Check price |
![]() |
6
|
-
|
3
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-6 | $590 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
-
|
3
|
12
|
- | $129 |
![]() |
8
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
9
|
13
|
- | $699 |
![]() |
-
|
5
|
4
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
14
|
- | $54 |
![]() |
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
15
|
- | $299 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
11
|
-
|
16
|
- | $189 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
9
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
7
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
17
|
New * | $454 |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
5
|
-
|
8
|
-
|
-
|
18
|
-1 | Check price |
![]() |
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
8
|
10
|
-
|
-
|
We ranked Dyson V15 Detect #1 in May 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Dyson V15 Detect as #1.

Good Housekeeping
MOST INNOVATIVE VACUUM CLEANER
Pros
Automatically adjusts speed and suction
Laser spotter makes it easier to see dust on bare floors
Converts to a handheld vacuum
Battery can be removed and charged separately
|
Cons
Doesn't include a second battery
|
TechRadar
The best vacuum cleaner you can buy
Pros
Powerful Suction
Laser highlights hidden dust
Informative LCD Screen
|
Cons
Average-sized dust canister
Noisy on full power
|
We ranked iRobot Roomba s9+ #2 in May 2022 because:
- 4 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

- Good performance on wooden floors
- Autonomous dirt disposal
- Advanced navigation capability
- Loud operation
- Expensive
Experts are impressed with the iRobot Roomba s9+, which passed every performance test with flying colors. The suction is powerful enough to collect human/pet hair, small particles, larger debris, and it has no problem picking up dirt from wooden floors. Performance on carpeted areas was almost just as good. Its unique D-shaped design allows it to tackle corners with no difficulty. It uses a smart mapping system so it can remember the layout of various rooms. Most experts also praise its ability to empty the collected dirt into a dustbin without any human intervention. The device intuitively returns to its charging base when it’s time to repower. Once fully-charged, it returns to its previous position to keep cleaning. One negative point some reviewers noted is that it tends to be loud while operating. It may be noisy, but the iRobot Roomba s9+ certainly gets the job done.
Tom's Guide
Our Favorite Robot Vacuum if Price is No Object
Pros
Attractive, premium design
Mapping was quick and easy
Easy-to-use mapping controls in app
|
Cons
Very expensive
Have to buy replacement disposal bags
|
Good Housekeeping
Best Robot Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
Fully-featured robot vacuum
Automatically empties dirt into the bin
Doesn't clog with pet hair
|
Cons
Pricey
|
TechRadar
The best robot vacuum cleaner
Pros
Good suction on hard floors
Cleans corners efficiently
Self-emptying
|
Cons
Expensive but worth every penny
Dust bags have an ongoing cost
|
Methodology: combine opinions of key experts
Identify Experts
We identify key publishers and experts that consistently review and recommend Vacuum Cleaners.
Capture Rankings
For each publisher we find a currently recommended "top 10" list of Vacuum Cleaners, it must be updated in the last 9 months.
Aggregate Rankings
We put all those lists together and aggregate them. The more frequently a product is recommended, the higher it is in our ranking
Experts chosen for May 2022 ranking









We ranked Shark Apex Self-Cleaning Upright #3 in May 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Shark Apex Self-Cleaning Upright as #1.

Tom's Guide
Best vacuum cleaner for pet hair
Pros
Excellent pet-hair pickup
Two rollers, one just for bare floors
Relatively quiet
|
Cons
Main body topples easily in cannister mode
Short hose
|
This Old House
Best for pet owners
Pros
Contains an anti-allergens HEPA filter
Has a detachable vacuum pod for extended reach
Has LED lights on the handle and floor nozzle to provide visibility in dark spaces
|
Cons
Some users experienced consistent tangling and twisting of the power cord
|
Good Housekeeping
Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
Comes with a washable HEPA filter
Converts from an upright to a canister
Brush roll minimizes hair hair clogging
|
We ranked Shark Lift Away NV352 #4 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.
- Out of those, 2 experts ranked Shark Lift Away NV352 as #1.

Tom's Guide
The Best Vacuum is Great At Picking Up Everything
Pros
Great performance at an affordable price
Swivel head for multidirectional cleaning
Able to tone down the suction for small rugs and delicate fabrics
|
Cons
Brush roll isn't removable
A little heavy and clunky to disassemble and reassemble
|
We ranked Dyson Ball Animal 2 #5 in May 2022 because:
- 3 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

TechRadar
The best upright vacuum cleaner
Pros
Powerful suction
Large dust canister
Glides well on carpet and hard floor
|
Cons
No LEDs on the floor cleaning head
Heavy and bulky
|
We ranked Bissell Turbo Plus #6 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Bissell Turbo Plus as #1.

Good Housekeeping
Best Vacuum Cleaner For Pet Hair
Pros
Brush roll and dust cup help eliminate pet hair messes
Sealed to trap allergens
Well-priced
|
We ranked Kenmore Inducer #7 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Kenmore Inducer as #1.

Tom's Guide
A Heavy But Effective Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
Great performance on carpet
Good edge cleaning
Long cord
|
Cons
Heavy
Not easily maneuverable
|
We ranked Shark Vertex IZ462H #8 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.
- Out of those, 1 expert ranked Shark Vertex IZ462H as #1.

The Spruce
Best Overall
Pros
Powerful suction on all surfaces
Vacuum basically moves itself
Very long battery life
Folds in half for easy storage
|
Cons
Collection canister could be bigger
Pieces are individually wrapped
Noisy when picking up larger items
|
We ranked Miele Complete C3 Calima #9 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

Tom's Guide
Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
Excellent for wood floors
Good for people with allergies
Attachments securely stored onboard
|
Cons
Expensive
Takes up more space than an upright
|
We ranked Miele Triflex HX1 #11 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

TechRadar
The best vacuum cleaner for pets
Pros
Powerful suction and pet hair tool
Can be used as a stick vacuum or a handheld cleaner
Swappable battery means fewer interruptions to your cleaning
|
Cons
Expensive compared to the rest of the market
Heavy to use as a handheld cleaner
|
We ranked Shark WandVac Slate #12 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

TechRadar
The best vacuum for small spills
Pros
Lightweight
Strong suction
Easy to empty
|
Cons
Noisy
Much shorter battery life
Small that usual dust canister
|
We ranked Dyson V11 Animal #13 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

Tom's Guide
Splurge-worthy Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
Dynamic Load Sensor adjusts suction automatically
Brushroll automatically adjusts between carpet and bare floors
Informative LCD screen
|
Cons
Expensive
Dock only stores two attachments
|
We ranked Black+Decker Dustbuster #14 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

Tom's Guide
A Handy Hand Vacuum for Small Messes
Pros
Affordable
Great for quick cleanups
Narrow crevice tool is useful in small spaces
|
Cons
Lackluster pet-hair removal from upholstery
Battery isn't user replaceable
|
We ranked Samsung Jet 90 #17 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

Good Housekeeping
Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
Charges in a convenient stand
Includes a fluffy roller attachment for wood floors
Easy to use and empty
|
Cons
Doesn't come with a second battery
|
The Spruce
Best for Carpet
Pros
Leaves freshly-vacuumed carpet lines
Powerful suction
Telescopic pipe
|
Cons
Challenging set-up
Emptying the canister is a hassle
|
We ranked Bissell ICONpet #18 in May 2022 because:
- 2 independent experts mentioned it in their “best Vacuum Cleaners” rankings.

The Spruce
Best for Pet Hair
Pros
Three suction settings
Effective at picking up hair
Has a light on the floor head
|
Cons
Can't stand up on its own
Attachments are a bit confusing
|