Best Canister Vacuum
Vacuuming isn’t usually the most enjoyable task, but it’s a lot easier with the right vacuum.
And if you’re looking for versatility, a canister vacuum gives you enhanced suction and maneuverability compared to upright vacuums because of their compartmentalized design.
Most canister vacuums come with a variety of tools and accessories for upholstery, stairs, and just about any other job. They excel at cleaning hard-to-reach areas because of their unique design.
Despite the fact that they have powerful motors, canister vacuums are usually much quieter than uprights because they’re often well insulated.
Whether you’re looking for an ultra-lightweight model for maximum portability or super powerful suction for pet hair, we’ve found some of the best canister vacuums available on the market.
Read on to get the details about each one, so you can decide which canister vacuum suits your needs the best!
The 5 Best Canister Vacuums
Kenmore 81614
About the Kenmore 81614
If you’re looking for a canister vacuum that works equally well on both hard floors and carpets and effortlessly sucks up pet hair, the Kenmore 81614 might be the right choice for you.
This bagged vacuum gives you plenty of reach to clean just about anywhere – up to 10.5 feet with the telescoping wand attachment. It also comes with a crevice tool/, a motorized power brush for pet hair, two floor nozzles, and a dusting brush that are stored onboard inside the canister.
It also gives you a lot of suction with dual motors and Power Flow technology, and comes with a washable HEPA filter that traps 99.97 percent of dust, dirt, debris, pollen, and bacteria.
The 28-foot cord is retractable for quick and convenient storage, too.
The Kenmore 81641 comes with a 1-year limited warranty, which isn’t the most impressive offering considering the price.
Our Thoughts
The Kenmore 81614 is a great multipurpose vacuum that easily glides over all types of hard flooring and carpets, and has a low enough profile to easily reach under furniture.
The long reach of the attachments makes it easy to clean above the floor, too. The pet brush attachment does an excellent job at getting up all types of pet hair.
The vacuum is also convenient to use, since all of the attachments are stored on-board and within reach.
The Kenmore 81614 is a mid-range vacuum, and it costs around $260.
The only downside of the vacuum is that it’s on the heavier side, so it’s not quite as easily portable as other canisters.
The Pros
- Versatile
- Very powerful suction
- On-board storage for tools
The Cons
Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum
About Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum
The Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum is extremely lightweight and portable, since it only weighs about 7.5 pounds.
This bagless vacuum easily switches from carpet to hard floors with the flip of a switch, and it uses cyclonic technology for powerful suction that can handle all types of messes.
This vacuum comes with a few basic accessories – a floor tool, a dusting brush, and a crevice tool.
The dirt cup uses an Easy Empty design that’s mess-free, since you just have to hold it over the trash and press a button to empty it from the bottom of the cup.
The 15-foot cord gives you a decent amount of reach, and it’s retractable for convenience.
Our Thoughts
The Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum is ideal for homes with hard floors or low carpets, but it’s difficult to push across plush carpets. It’s also particularly good for smaller spaces, since its compact design easily fits in tight spots.
While this vacuum does offer a lot of suction power, it’s not the best choice for pet hair since there is no motorized brush attachment.
Because the vacuum is so lightweight, it’s easy to roll from room to room, or to pick it up and carry it as you go. It’s especially easy to use on stairs.
If you’re looking for a basic canister vacuum that’s excellent on hard floors and affordable, the Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum fits the bill, since it’s only about $50. It comes with a limited 1-year warranty, which isn’t bad considering the low price.
The Pros
- Low price
- Ideal for hard floors
- Lightweight design
- Powerful suction
The Cons
- Doesn’t work well on plush carpet
- Not ideal for pet hair
Miele Complete C3 Marin
About Miele Complete C3 Marin
The Miele Complete C3 Marin is an ultra-powerful and versatile vacuum that’s designed to perform well on any floor type, and the powerful airflow makes its attachments particularly effective.
This vacuum comes with an Electro Comfort electrobrush with a swivel neck and a floating head that makes it easy to maneuver in small or awkward spaces. It also has LED lights so you can see better while you clean.
You can clean any type of smooth flooring with the Parquet Twister nozzle, which rotates 180 degrees for maximum flexibility.
There are six speeds to choose from using footswitch controls, and the powerhead automatically adjusts suction from hard floors to carpets when you move between floor types. There’s on-board storage for the crevice tool, dusting brush, and upholstery tool.
The vacuum has an AirClean filtration system that traps up to 99.9 percent of lung-damaging particles, too.
The Miele Complete C3 Marin comes with a 7-year warranty on the canister and motor, as well as a 1-year warranty on the entire unit.
Our Thoughts
The Marin Complete C3 is a reliable vacuum, since it’s designed to last for up to 20 years with proper cleaning and maintenance when used weekly in a home environment.
This vacuum works well on all floor types, and picks up pet hair with ease. It also does an excellent job at cleaning dust and allergens out of the air due to its AirClean filtration system.
The canister is easy to maneuver without tipping since it has three swivel casters that rotate 360 degrees.
If you’re concerned about noise, this vacuum is the quietest one in this list. Another plus is that the dust bags are large, so they can hold a lot of debris before they need changed.
A few downsides of the Marin Complete C3 are that the powerbrush head can feel heavy to some, and the vacuum itself is very expensive at about $1,000.
The Pros
- Very powerful suction
- Ideal for all floor types
- Easy to maneuver
- Excellent filtration system
The Cons
Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal
About Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal
If you’re looking for an attractive vacuum that gives you top of the line performance, the Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal is the way to go.
This vacuum doesn’t lose suction, and there’s very little expense or maintenance involved with ownership, since you don’t have to wash filters or replace bags.
This vacuum has a high-capacity dust bin that holds a lot of debris, and a whole-machine HEPA filtration system to keep allergies at bay, too.
One unique feature of this vacuum is that it rights itself if it topples over, something which no other vacuum on this list can do.
The vacuum works equally as well on hard floors and all types of carpet, and the 360-degree rotating carbon fiber rotating head allows you to clean more effortlessly, too.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal comes with a 5-year parts and labor warranty.
Our Thoughts
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal is very easy to use and lets you change direction without a lot of effort.
It also provides the most impressive cleaning power out of all the canister vacuums in this guide, quickly trapping dust, dirt, pet hair, and more in just a few passes.
You’ll get plenty of cleaning reach with the 10-foot hose and 21-foot cord. The included brush and crevice tool are highly effective, too.
This vacuum is on the more expensive side, at around $300. However, you won’t have to spend extra money on new filters or bags throughout its life.
A few downsides of this vacuum are that it’s relatively loud compared to the other options in this guide, and the vacuum is a bit heavy.
The Pros
- Superior suction
- Easy to maneuver
- Low maintenance
The Cons
Eureka WhirlWind Canister Vacuum
About Eureka WhirlWind Canister Vacuum
If you’re looking for a lightweight and highly efficient canister vacuum, the Eureka Whirlwind has you covered.
This multisurface vacuum works on all floor types, and it uses swivel steering so you can get around furniture with ease.
Furthermore, it allows you to adjust the airflow at the handle, with three settings for hard floors, carpet, and upholstery.
The vacuum itself is very lightweight at less than 8 pounds, so you can effortlessly move from room to room or carry it on stairs for cleaning throughout the entire house.
The large 3-liter dust bin gives you plenty of time between emptying, and the filters are washable so there’s no need to replace them.
One unique feature of the WhirlWind canister is that it has a built-in crevice tool and dusting brush on the hose, so it’s always within reach when you need it. The cord is also retractable for quick storage.
Our Thoughts
The Eureka WhirlWind offers impressive performance at a low price point of about $65.
The dual cyclone system prevents loss of suction, and the vacuum does a great job on carpets, hard floors, rugs, and upholstery. It’s also ideal for homes with pets.
The integrated crevice tool and dusting brush are very handy, and the light weight of the vacuum make it very efficient to use for whole house cleaning.
The only downside of this vacuum is a minor annoyance. Because of the placement of the suction control, it’s easy to accidentally change the suction level while you’re vacuuming.
The Pros
- Impressive suction
- Easy to use
- Ideal for all floor types
- Low price
The Cons
- Awkward placement of suction control
The Best Canister Vacuums
Now that we’ve reviewed some of the best canister vacuums available, it’s clear which one provided the best mix of features, price, and performance.
The Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal wins our pick for the best canister vacuum. Its ease of use, suction power, and versatility are unmatched for the price.
If, on the other hand, you’re looking for a vacuum that offers impressive performance and efficiency for a low price, the Eureka WhirlWind Canister Vacuum can’t be beat.
Regardless of the one you choose, any of these canister vacuums can provide you with the power you need to clean your whole home.
