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Best vacuum 2023: expert tests for spotless floors

The very best vacuum cleaners from our expert tests, all in one place

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Alex David
By Alex David
last updated
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Testing flour and sugar on linoleum with the Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute. It has removed a clear path of flour and sugar

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1. The list in brief ↴
2. Best vacuum overall: Dyson V15 Detect
3. Best cordless vacuum: Shark Vertex Pro
4. Best upright vacuum: Shark Stratos Upright
5. Best value Dyson: Dyson Cyclone V10
6. Best vacuum for pet hair: Dyson Outsize+
7. Best robot vacuum: iRobot Roomba j7+
8. Best vacuum for allergies: Samsung Bespoke Jet
9. Best budget vacuum: Ultenic U12 Vesla
10. Best handheld vacuum: Brigii Cordless
11. How we test
12. Meet our testers
13. How to choose a vacuum
14. FAQs

Making sure you have the best vacuum is a home essential. An effective vacuum should banish dust, dander, and debris from your floors and keep your home spotless. However, in such a crowded market, it's not always clear which vacuums are actually worth buying. 

That's why we've assembled this roundup of the best vacuums we've ever reviewed. Across the best cordless, robot, or upright vacuums, each of these appliances is best in its class. We also include those which offer standout features which make them worth considering, though they might have been beaten by more well-rounded vacuums. 

I've tested vacuums for years, so I know exactly what makes for a good machine. We examined these vacuums in our own homes and in our standardised test studio. Our expert testers assessed suction power, noise levels, dust bin capacity, run time and even how these vacuums impact your allergies. 

Whether you're looking to shell out on a top-line vacuum or need a reasonably priced alternative, these are the very best vacuums you can buy.

Hoover ONEPWR Pet Max | Was $309.99
Best vacuum deal

Hoover ONEPWR Pet Max | Was $309.99, now $197.99 at Amazon
This is a great saving on an already cheap vacuum. There are better vacuums out there, but not at this price. If you need a decent vacuum ASAP, I'd get this now. 

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Shark Stratos | Was $499

Shark Stratos | Was $499, now $299.99 at Amazon
An excellent alternative to Dyson, the Stratos is really effective at hair removal. It's nimble, upright, and easy to use. It's reduced by $200 in the Cyber Monday sales.

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Dyson Outsize | Was $749.99

Dyson Outsize | Was $749.99, now $594.99 at Walmart
Dysons don't often get discounted and a cool $200 off the Outsize isn't a discount that comes around often. If you want a Dyson, but don't want to pay their prices, get this one.

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Shark Vertex Cordless Vacuum | Was $399

Shark Vertex Cordless Vacuum | Was $399, now $319.00 at Walmart
I've tested vacuums for years, and this is still one of my favorites. It offers near-Dyson performance at a much more reasonable price, and now it's even less. I personally think the compact folding storage is a bit of a gimmick, but being able to bend at the neck makes it unbelievably easy to clean under furniture. 

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Dyson V15 | Was $749.99

Dyson V15 | Was $749.99, now $599.99 at Amazon
This is the best vacuum that we tested. The green laser highlights dust that the naked eye can't see and it will give you numerical data on how well you've vacuumed. It's on sale at Amazon, too, but you'll save a further $50 when you shop at Best Buy.

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Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum | was $449.99,

Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum | was $449.99, now $349.99 at Amazon
This is the best alternative vacuum to a Dyson cordless. It's reasonably priced and performs excellently. Reduced by $100, it's a great Cyber Monday deal.

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iRobot Roomba j7+ | was $799.00

iRobot Roomba j7+ |was $799.00, now $590.00 at Amazon
For pet hair removal, without any fuss, the iRobot is an excellent option. You can monitor and control your vacuuming from your phone too.

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Dyson Outsize + | Was $949.99

Dyson Outsize + | Was $949.99, now $617.99 at Amazon
Powerful, cordless, and easy to use, this is our top pick. The green laser helps to spotlight dust and hair that your naked eye might miss. Dyson don't often discount, so this is a brilliant price.

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Samsung Bespoke Jet | Was $849.99

Samsung Bespoke Jet | Was $849.99, now $545.99 at Amazon
Samsung is at the forefront of vacuum innovation. The HEPA filter and bagged base is brilliant if you want to protect your allergies and strands of fur. It's neat, easy to use, and the lowest price that it's been for 30 days.

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Levoit VortexIQ 40 | was $229.99

Levoit VortexIQ 40 | was $229.99, now $179.94 at Amazon
This is the best cheap vacuum on the market. It performs well, even though it lacks some of the more premium features that others boast. It's now reduced by 22% in the Black Friday sales, so you can save even more.

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The Quick List

A Dyson V15 Detect against a white backgroundBest vacuum overall

1. Dyson V15 Detect

Best vacuum overall
This is the best vacuum you can buy. It's a little expensive, but there's nothing better. 

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shark vertex walmartBest cordless vacuum

2. Shark Vertex Pro

Best cordless vacuum
A fair balance of excellent performance at a reasonable price. 

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A Shark Stratos Upright vacuum on a white backgroundBest upright vacuum

3. Shark Stratos Upright

Best upright vacuum
Effective pet hair removal at a fair price. This nimble upright also has odor-neutralising tech that removes pet smells.

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A Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute on a white backgroundBest value Dyson

4. Dyson Cyclone V10

Best value Dyson
If you know you want a Dyson, this is a high-performing vacuum for a much fairer price. 

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A Dyson Outsize+ vacuum on a white backgroundBest for pet hair

5. Dyson Outsize+

Best for pet hair
This incredibly powerful cordless will utterly banish pet hair. It can even pick up dirt that can't be seen with the naked eye. 

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iRobot Roomba j7+ SquareBest robot vacuum

6. iRobot Roomba j7+

Best robot vacuum
Automatic, effective cleaning, all monitored from your phone. 

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