Best Canister Vacuums of 2024
These top-rated models are easy to handle and tough on dirt
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All of the canister vacuums Consumer Reports has tested do a terrific job cleaning bare floors, and some are very good at cleaning carpet.
What makes canister vacuum cleaners stand out from other types of vacuums? Their design. Because the weight is distributed between the canister itself and the powerhead, they’re easier to move around than upright vacuums. So they’re particularly suitable if you live in a house with multiple levels.
“Canisters have an advantage for cleaning stairs because you’re not lifting the whole vacuum—plus the wand and hose give you a longer reach,” says Frank Rizzi, a senior CR lab technician who tests vacuums. “They’re also easier to maneuver than an upright.”
CR also tests the airflow of canister vacs using scientific instruments that measure their ability to limit debris from escaping back into the air. We also judge them on their ability to tackle specific jobs, like removing pet hair.
Below, in alphabetical order, we list the top bagged and bagless canister vacuums from CR’s most recent tests. In addition to those picks, you’ll find more details on how we test canister vacuums and determine which ones are the best. You can also browse our full canister vacuum ratings and consult our vacuum cleaner buying guide to learn more.
Best Bagged Canister Vacuums
CR’s take: The Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly CrossOver 21814 is top-notch at cleaning bare floors and, like many of the canisters featured here, earns a very good rating for cleaning carpet. Suction through the hose is superb and emissions are clean. At 26 pounds, however, it’s among the heaviest canisters in CR’s tests, which contributes to its so-so score for handling and undermines a key advantage of canisters. Of all the Kenmore canisters in our tests, this one rates the lowest for removing pet hair, but its performance is by no means bad, showing very good results in that test.
CR’s take: The Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly UltraPlush 81714 is indeed friendly to pet owners, scoring excellently in our test for removing pet hair. It’s also a champ at cleaning bare floors and a solid performer at cleaning carpet, making it a smart choice if you have a combination of flooring. It makes the grade in our emissions test, but in terms of noise, there are quieter choices. Kenmore canisters earn above-par ratings for predicted reliability and an average score for owner satisfaction in our member survey.
CR’s take: The versatile Kenmore Pop-N-Go BC4026 makes an impressive showing on both our bare-floor and pet-hair tests, leaving little or nothing behind. It also earns above-average marks for carpet cleaning. The Pop-N-Go name refers to how easy it is to attach the floor brush, and our testers liked the way this vacuum maneuvers around and under furniture. Emissions are clean, and this model has robust airflow, making it a good choice if you often use your attachments to clean upholstery.
CR’s take: The Kenmore 200 Series BC4002 offers both performance and value. At this relatively low price, you get an impressive vacuum that vanquishes pet hair and leaves floors spotless. It’s also quite capable at cleaning carpet, scoring a near-top-score on that test. Emissions are clean and tool airflow is strong, so you’ll have no problem using your attachments. Our testers found it pretty easy to handle and move under and around furniture.
CR’s take: Our top canister vacuum, the Miele Complete C3 Marin, earns impressive marks in almost every test we threw its way. It’s a champ at bare floors and embedded pet hair, and its emissions are free of debris, earning the highest score possible in that area. Its carpet-cleaning capabilities are on a par with the best performers here. It’s the most expensive canister in this group (costing two to three times as much as its competitors), but its consistently high performance has made it one of our top canisters for several years running. Miele canisters earn excellent ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
Best Bagless Canister Vacuums
CR’s take: Impressive cleaning, lots of airflow for tools, and fairly quiet operation help make this bagless canister a top pick. The Kenmore 22614 is also a great choice for cleaning up pet hair. Key features include manual carpet pile-height adjustment, suction control, a brush on/off switch, and a retractable cord. One caveat: Handling this vacuum’s 23 pounds takes some muscle. In our member survey, Kenmore canisters earn a very good score for predicted reliability and an average rating for owner satisfaction.
CR’s take: The Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog is on the pricey side for vacuums, but it’s one of the best canisters you can buy. It’s a top-grade performer in our bare-floor and pet-hair tests, but it’s not as great when it comes to cleaning carpet. This vacuum also performs well in our emissions tests; it doesn’t release debris back into the air of the room you just cleaned. Miele vacuums have a devoted following, and in our member survey the brand earns top scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
CR’s take: The Shark Pet CZ351 is similar to the Shark Vertex CZ2001 with the exception of the powerhead, which has a single brush roll that has silicone fins to prevent hair from entangling in it. And like its brandmate, below, it impressed our testers with features that include a hinge that allows the wand to bend beneath furniture and an innovative bin that pops out for easy emptying. The wand also clips to the vacuum body in two different positions to prevent it from falling over when not in use. Shark canisters earn an excellent score for predicted reliability and an average score for owner satisfaction.
CR’s take: The Shark Vertex CZ2001 canister vacuum is one of the first canister vacuums from Shark that CR has tested, and its performance didn’t disappoint. Testers liked many of the vacuum’s features, including a hinge that allows the wand to bend for better reach under furniture and to fold over for easy storage. The bin has an innovative design that conveniently pops out for easy emptying. This model has dual brush rolls (one bristled, one soft) on the powerhead, similar to many Shark stick vacuums.
How Consumer Reports Tests Canister Vacuums
CR tests them across different surfaces and challenges them with picking up pet hair and other debris. We also measure airflow through the hose and their emissions—that is, how much dust and debris they spew into the air. For example, to see how much debris a vacuum emits, our testers stuff wood flour into each one and measure the amount of particles released into the air using a laser spectrometer. For more on our vacuum testing, see How We Test Vacuums.
The Overall Score for each model incorporates results from all our tests as well as brand reliability and owner satisfaction scores, which are based on CR’s exclusive member survey of over 105,000 nonrobotic vacuums purchased from 2013 to 2023. See our guide to the most reliable vacuum brands for more survey insights.
How We Picked the Best Canister Vacuums
The best ones earned the highest Overall Score in our rigorous lab tests. They’re grouped by whether they’re bagged or bagless. As you browse the models, consider which vac would work best for you based on factors like weight, performance across different surfaces, noise level, and reliability. You can find more criteria and detailed test results in our canister vacuum ratings.
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