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This article was last updated on the 29th of November 2023. The last update included the removal of the Cyber Monday deals section as the event ended.
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Quick list
1. Best overall
2. Best for pet hair
3. Best affordable
4. Best new for 2023
5. Best upright
6. Best under £100
7.Best Dyson
8. Best for under £250
9. Best heavy duty
10. Best budget
11. Best cylinder
12. Best reliable
13. Best for hard floors
14. Best 2-in-1
FAQs
Deciding on the best vacuum cleaner for your home can be a big job. That's where this list can come in pretty handy, with our ranking of the top 14 vacuums, after reviewing and rating a huge line-up of options.
Every model that you can browse below has been tested extensively by a member of the Ideal Home team either at our test facility or at home, to replicate the environment that they'll be up against once you purchase them.
The result? Everything you need to know is contained in this handy guide, with premium and budget-friendly brands sitting side by side – we're talking Shark, Dyson, Miele and Vax just to name a few.
There are quite a few considerations that we've packed into this guide to make your life easier. For homes with a number of floors or a lot of pet hair to pick up, we've got top-rated corded vacuums, and the best cordless vacuum cleaners are also at hand for those in flats or smaller homes.
Keep reading to find out which vacuums we rated as worthy of a place in your home as we looked out for powerful suction, ease of use and value for money.
Quick list
Best overall
+ Sleek, foldable & compact design
+ Excellent power and features to aid pick-up
+ Suction is second to none
- Would benefit from a wall stand
- Dust tool is useless
Best for pet hair
+ Will free you from pet hair problems
+ Excellent suction power
+ Good for carpets, rugs and hard floors
- Not as convenient as cordless
- Tricky to use on stairs
Best affordable
+ A great amount of power
+ Roller head is great
+ Strong run time
- Doesn't stand upright on its own
- We wish it was cheaper
Best new vacuum 2023
+ More stylish than usual Shark vacs
+ Can be bought with a self-emptying stand
+ Great cleaning power
- Small dust tank
- Might not be heavy duty enough for everyone
Best upright
+ Huge amount of power
+ A must for those with pets
+ Has the power of a corded vacuum
+ Super convenient cordlessness
- Battery life is only fine
Best under £100
+ Unbelievably lightweight
+ Fine for the price
+ Capable of small jobs
- You should use in conjunction with a dustpan
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Best Dyson
+ Lasers improve pick up ability
+ Great battery life after testing
+ Excellent on carpet
- Extremely expensive (even for Dyson)
Best for under £250
+ Sturdy and reliable
+ Long cord and good capacity
+ Lightweight
- Plug-in design
Best heavy-duty
+ Unbeatable power for big jobs
+ Bagged to help with allergies
+ Really sturdy build
- Massive and hefty to manoeuvre
Best with stand
+ Great level of power
+ Three power odes
+ Impressive battery life
- Not the biggest dust tank
Best cylinder
+ Strong performance on pet hair
+ Easy to empty out
+ Good to move around considering design
- A bit hefty if you live in a flat
Best reliable
+ An affordable workhorse
+ Simple to use and lightweight
+ Long reaching
+ Generous 9 litre capacity
- One level of power
Best for hard floors
+ Seamless to use and easy to empty
+ Consistently powerful
+ Two rollers - one for carpet and one for hard floor
- Expensive, as most Dysons are
Best 2-in-1
+ Design makes saving space easy
+ Excellent docking station
+ Results were strong in tests
- Not a sizeable capacity
Best vacuum overall
