Best Vacuum Cleaners | Barrel & Upright Vacuum Cleaners ─ Canstar Blue

Vacuum cleaner buying guide

Top ratings were in fairly short supply in our latest review, suggesting that consumers are quite hard to please when it comes to vacuum cleaners. One in ten survey respondents (13%) told us they are often disappointed with their vacuum cleaner’s performance, and roughly the same number (12%) regret not spending more on a better model. So, you’ll want to make sure you pick the right type of vacuum for your needs and preferences.

Not all vacuums are created equal, that’s why it’s SO important to compare specs, features, capacities, and designs, as well as brands and price, to find a vacuum cleaner that meets your unique needs and those of your household. If you want to avoid buying a lemon, we’ve compiled a quick buying guide (below) on how to buy the best vacuum cleaner for your home. Thank us later!

Vacuum sizes & capacities

The first thing to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner is the size of your home as this will naturally inform the vacuum size (as well as weight & capacity) you need. If you live in an apartment with limited storage space, or are renting; upright or stick vacuums are ideal. They have a smaller footprint meaning they can be stored in smaller cupboards and easily moved around between properties, but still have enough runtime to see you through a full cleaning cycle. Before you buy any cordless vacuum, make sure to check the runtime to ensure your stick vac will stay powered up for as long as you need it to.

If you need a more powerful vacuum to cover more ground and if you’ve got pets, you’ll need a larger, heavy-duty barrel vacuum with enough capacity for bigger cleans and even multiple cycles. ‘Barrels’ have a stronger suction power and tend to be the most powerful of the lot. However, they can be bulky and difficult to store.

If storage space is at a premium in your household, it may be a good option to dismantle your vacuum to fit the main unit in a cupboard and place all accessories and removable parts in a bag to hang on the door. Be sure to take advantage of unused spaces in your home like under the stairs, the balcony, or the garage.

Type of vacuum cleaner

The next consideration when in the market for a new vacuum cleaner is what type of unit you need. This decision will be informed largely by the types of floors in your home, what kind of capacity you need and whether you prefer a corded or cordless unit. Here’s a rundown of different types of vacuum cleaners.

Stick vacuums

Stick vacuums are lightweight and have a slim design. They can be either corded or cordless. However, cordless variants have limited runtimes. Stick vacs collect dust and dirt in a small detachable bin (0.6L- 1.7L) attached to the top or bottom of the unit. They’re are super lightweight and require hardly any set-up. Simply remove the vac from its docking station and turn it on to start cleaning. Stick vacs are best suited to hard floors and rugs but may struggle to clean carpets thoroughly. They also require more frequent emptying and charging.

Read more: Stick vacuum cleaners buying guide

Upright vacuums

Upright vacuums feature a broom-like handle with a vacuum bag and have the same cordless configuration as stick vacs, but with a slightly larger bin capacity (1.9L-2.2L) and motor. These types of vacuums offer the best of both worlds (more power in a compact cordless unit) and are ideal for households looking for something a bit bigger to avoid having to empty the dust bin every 30 minutes and for vacuuming pet hair. Upright vacs are suitable for both hard floors and carpets. They can also be used to clean upholstery.

Barrel vacuums

Barrel vacuums sometimes called cylinder or canister vacuums, are typically corded and have a dust tank capacity of between 3L and 5L. These types of vacuums are best suited to larger households who don’t want to empty the vacuum after every clean, although they do require pulling the wheeled canister around doorways and furniture, where it can sometimes get stuck. Barrel vacuums work on all floors types and come with various attachments for corners and ceilings.

Handheld vacuums

Handheld vacuums are vacuums that can be used with one hand. They’re designed to clean hard-to-reach areas such as behind furniture and to vacuum couches, dusty windowsills, and car seats. Handheld vacs are the most compact of the lot, so lack the power of larger vacuums. They come with various attachments to suit different surfaces, like a crevice tool and a rotating brush, while some models can also take care of wet spills.

Read more: Handheld vacuum cleaners buying guide

Robot vacuums

Robot vacuums are the ultimate gift for households short on time and for anyone looking to relegate cleaning the floors. Robot vacs are autonomous disc-shaped vacuums powered by a rechargeable battery in a charging dock that vacuum and mop floors when needed. They’re mostly used for touch-ups between regular manual vacuuming sessions. Most models are remote-controlled and feature sensors and mapping capabilities to avoid bumping into furniture or falling down the stairs.

Read more: Robot vacuum cleaners ratings and buying guide

There are pros and cons to different types of vacuum cleaners. Whether it’s not enough battery power from a stick vacuum or constantly tripping over corded barrel models, owning more than one type might be the way to go. If space is at a premium, a stick vacuum is generally easy to store as well as a handheld vacuum that’s ideal for small messes. Canister/barrel models are still the most common and are typically quite versatile with a variety of cleaning heads.

Suction power

A vacuum cleaner’s performance always comes down to its suction power, which is measured in ‘Air Watts’. This refers to the airflow and power a vacuum cleaner produces and uses when pulling debris through the air. The higher the Air Watts, the more powerful suction you have. A strong suction motor is important especially if you have thick carpets and pets that shed a lot of hair.

Full-size corded vacuums have stronger suction power since they’re plugged into the wall and typically offer up to 200-300 Air Watts, while cordless units sit around 100-200 Air Watts. However, many upright and stick vacs are slowly becoming just as powerful as their corded counterparts with brands like Dyson offering highly-efficient brushless motors and powerful lithium-ion batteries.

Smart tip:

Air Watts is not to be confused with the motor’s wattage which doesn’t necessarily equate to strong suction.

Which vacuum has the strongest suction?

Premium brands like Miele, Dyson, and Shark are typically regarded as having vacuums with strong suction power but don’t discount other brands like Bosch and iRobot either since consumers rated both of them best for overall satisfaction.

As a general rule, a vacuum that really sucks will have a minimum of 180 Air Watts. This should be powerful enough to clean all surface types, including carpets and hard floors.

Bagged vs bagless vacuums

Another important consideration is whether to buy a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner. Bagged vacuums are considered more hygienic and are the option of choice for allergy sufferers and people with sensitives as they trap dirt and dust in an enclosed bag. However, bagless vacuums are still the most popular choice for the majority of households because they’re cheaper in the long run since they don’t use bags that’ll need to be replaced.

Here are some advantages and disadvantages to both:

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Vacuum Type

Pros

Cons

Bagged

• HEPA filtration & hygienic emptying − these vacuums release less dust into the air
• Require less maintenance
• Indicator light alerts you when a new bag is needed

• Suction power decreases when the bag gets full
• Not eco-friendly (dust bags aren’t re-usable)
• More expensive in the long run as you’ll need to buy replacement bags

Bagless

• Easier to empty dust and dirt
• Clear chambers on bagless vacuums make it easy to see when it needs emptying
• More economical (save money on replacement bags)

• Emptying dust bins can release more allergens into the air
• Require more maintenance
• Often feature filters (like HEPA filters) which will need to be cleaned and/or replaced more regularly

Read more: Vacuums with bags buying guide

Corded vs cordless vacuums

Something else to consider is whether you’d like a corded or cordless vacuum cleaner. This comes down mainly to your individual cleaning needs and the size of your home. Corded vacuums are plugged into power points and therefore have much stronger suction power − that’s what you need if you’ve got large carpeted areas, kids, or pets (or all of the above). Corded vacuums are also better at keeping dust contained inside the unit and don’t need to be emptied as often (ideal for allergy sufferers). The downside is that they can be quite bulky and harder to maneuver around.

On the other hand, cordless vacuums are battery-powered and therefore have limited suction power and runtime, but they do offer the benefit of complete cord-free cleaning − great for apartments, and to vacuum tight spaces, stairs, corners, and so on. It’s all give and take!

• Corded vacuums: tend to provide a deeper clean and are best for allergy sufferers and larger homes with lots of carpets, pets, and kids.
• Cordless vacuums: are good for households short on storage space as they’re fairly unobtrusive and convert into a handheld vacuum for quick spot cleans. If you want a powerful stick vacuum, go for one with a high voltage lithium battery and innovative motor technology.

Runtime

Obviously, cordless vacuums have a limited runtime as they’re powered by a battery and not a plug-in. The best cordless vacuums feature a runtime of up to 30-60 minutes − enough to clean large areas on a single battery charge. Definitely enquire about runtime when shopping for a cordless model, or you’ll end up having to stop and start your cleaning more often than you’d like to. Again, keep in mind cordless vacuums are not comparable to corded units in terms of suction power.

Read more: Cordless vacuum runtimes compared

Air filtration

Any vacuum worth its weight will feature HEPA (High-Efficiency Particulate Air) filters. These remove up to 99.97% of dust and allergens in the air (or particles as small as 0.3 micrometers in size). Vacuums with HEPA and full system filtration are also available. This level of air filtration is particularly crucial for people with asthma, allergies, or compromised immunity.

All vacuums come with filters of some sort but keep in mind not all filters are created equal. Some models come with mechanical air filters, some combine air filtration of the vacuum bag with air filters, others combine cyclonic action with mechanical air filters, etc. Only HEPA filters will get rid of all pathogens and allergens in the air.

Smart tip:

HEPA filters need to be regularly changed to work effectively. Some will be harder to replace than others so be sure to enquire about this before you purchase any model. Smaller filters naturally need to be changed more frequently than larger filters.

Read more: HEPA filter vacuums review

Features

There are a lot of different features to consider when buying a vacuum. These include intuitive controls, variable power settings for various floor types and pet hair, multiple nozzle heads and brushes for cleaning different areas, cord or cordless configuration, and accessories like crevice tools, dusting brushes, and extension wands. Vacuuming is meant to be fast and efficient, so an appliance that’s easy to operate is also essential. Many models also come as a 2-in-1, giving you the ability to vacuum with a full-sized vacuum and detach a handheld vacuum for smaller messes.

Most vacuum cleaners come with a suite of cleaning tools and accessories for cleaning various floors, crevices, dust, pet hair as well as other surfaces like upholstery, sofas, ceiling fans, mattresses, car interiors, etc. You can also purchase these accessories separately.

Common cleaning tools and accessories you can expect with a vacuum purchase include:

• Crevice tool: as the name suggests, is a long and narrow cleaning tool designed for cleaning crevices and other hard-to-reach spots around your home like edges, corners, and gaps between furniture.
• Dusting brush: sometimes comes combined in a convenient 2-in-1 design tool with the crevice tool and bristles at the end. The dusting brush is designed to ‘shake up’ and pick up extra fine particles of dust and dirt from surfaces while vacuuming.
• Motorised (pet) tool: features a small brush roll usually powered by a small air turbine to pick up embedded dirt, pet and human hair, lint, fibres, and other dirt from surfaces. This tool is a must-have for people who have issues with pet or human hair clogging their vacuums.
• Upholstery tool: features a soft edge to clean upholstery (as the name suggests), including beds, sofas, mattresses, and other soft surfaces. Some vacuums also come with a dedicated mattress tool.
• Extension wand: can be attached to the vacuum’s nozzle to create an extension to clean ceilings and awkward spaces.

Noise levels

When doing your research, make sure to check out the vacuum’s noise emission if you want to keep the peace with your neighbours or your sleeping baby. Most vacuums display noise levels in decibels (dB). As a general rule AVOID anything noisier than 80dB. Any models with noise levels between 65dB and 75dB are what you should look for.

You’d think a cyclonic vacuum cleaner would be inherently noisy, especially with the sucking power available on newer models. In spite of this, many vacuum brands have committed to reducing the noise produced by their appliances, with some impressive results.

Vacuum cleaners for pets

If you have fur babies (congratulations), a barrel vacuum is easily the best type of model to clean up pet hair. This is because a) they have a stronger suction power than upright or stick vacs and b/ because they come with specialised tools like a motorised pet hair brush roll to clean up pet hair and the rest of it.

However, several brands including Dyson and Miele have launched ‘Pet’ stick cordless vacuums that specialise in cleaning up pet messes. These come with strong suction, anti-odour filters to neutralise pet smells, and turbo brush floor heads to remove pet hair and dander from carpets and hard floors.

Read more: Good vacuum cleaners for pet hair

Price

Price is the most important consideration when buying a vacuum, according to our survey. Our research found Australians spend an average of $368 on a new barrel or upright vacuum, which isn’t cheap by any stretch. The good news is vacuum cleaners come at all different price points, ranging from $50 and going upwards of $1,000! Ultimately your budget will determine what you’re comfortable paying for a new vacuum cleaner, but don’t forget – price alone isn’t the sole determiner of value. Be sure to compare the price against the vacuum’s advertised features, runtime, and suction power. Our review should provide a helpful start to your buying journey!

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