Best Canister Vacuums of 2023

These 10 canister vacuums are easy to handle and tough on dirt

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All the canister vacuums in Consumer Reports’ tests do a terrific job cleaning bare floors, and some are very good at cleaning carpet. What makes canisters stand out is their design. Because the weight is distributed between the canister itself and the powerhead, they’re easier to move around than upright vacuums. That's particularly ideal 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."

How We Picked the Best Canister Vacuums

The best canister vacuums we picked earned the highest Overall Score in our rigorous lab tests. They’re grouped by whether they are bagged or bagless. As you browse through the models, consider which vacuum would work best for you in terms of weight, versatility across different surfaces, noise level, and reliability. You can find more criteria and how we rated models for each factor in our comprehensive canister vacuum ratings.

How Consumer Reports Tests Canister VacuumsTo rate canister vacuums, CR tests them across different surfaces and challenges them with pet hair and other debris. We also measure their suction power over time and their emissions. For example, to see how many particles a vacuum emits, our testers stuff wood flour into each vacuum and measure the amount of particles released into the air using a laser spectrometer. For more details on our vacuum testing, check out our vacuum buying guide.

The Overall Score for each model incorporates results from all our tests, as well as brand reliability and owner satisfaction, which are based on CR's exclusive member survey of over 110,000 vacuums—see our guide to the most reliable vacuum brands for more survey insights.

Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly UltraPlush 81714

CR's take: The Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly UltraPlush 81714 is indeed friendly to pet owners, earning an Excellent rating 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. Strong airflow through the hose makes it a good choice if you use attachments often. Kenmore canisters earned a Very Good rating for predicted reliability and an average score for owner satisfaction in our member survey.

Kenmore Pop-N-Go BC4026

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 to nothing behind. It also earns a Very Good rating for carpet cleaning. The Pop-N-Go name refers to how easy it is to attach the floor brush, and our testers like the way this vacuum maneuvers around and under furniture. Emissions are clean, and this vacuum has robust airflow, making it a good choice if you often use your attachments to clean upholstery.

Kenmore 200 Series BC4002

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, earning a Very Good rating 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.

Kenmore 81614

CR's take: If you have bare floors and deal with pet hair, the Kenmore 81614 is the vacuum for you because it aces both of those tests. It doesn't do quite as well on carpet. Emissions are clean, although you’ll find that this vacuum is a bit noisy as you work. Despite weighing in at a significant 23 pounds, its Good rating for ease of use is one of the highest among canister vacuums, and it boasts an unusually long cord—it measures 28 feet.

Miele Complete C3 Marin

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 an Excellent rating. Its carpet-cleaning capabilities are on 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 consistent high performance has made it one of our top canisters for several years running. Miele canisters earned Excellent ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.

Dyson Ball Multi Floor

CR's take: If you’re looking for a canister that performs well on carpet, this isn't the one. But if you have uncarpeted floors, the Dyson Ball Multi Floor is worth a look because it earns an Excellent rating on that test. Emissions are clean, so once you do the work, the debris stays in the vacuum. It's fairly quiet, and suction through the hose is solid, so you can use all the attachments with confidence. It's not the best at pet-hair removal. Dyson canisters earned middling scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction based on data from our member survey.

Dyson Big Ball Multi Floor

CR's take: In our tests, the Dyson Big Ball Multi Floor performs as well as its brandmate above but doesn't feature an on/off button for the brush roll, which can prevent you from scattering dirt about as you work on bare floors. It's below average on cleaning carpet but earns an Excellent rating for bare floors. It's fairly quiet and earns a respectable rating for removing pet hair.

Kenmore 22614

CR's take: Impressive cleaning, lots of airflow for tools, and fairly quiet operation helped 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 earned a Very Good score for predicted reliability and an average rating for owner satisfaction.

Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog

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 earns an Excellent rating on 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 earned top scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.

Rainbow SRX Cleaning System

CR's take: Let's just say that the Rainbow SRX is unusual. For starters, it uses water instead of bags to trap debris. When you’re finished vacuuming, you have a tank full of dirty water—and you’re advised not to dump it down your drains, so as not to clog them. Another peculiarity: The design of the floor nozzle pushes debris along bare floors before sucking it up. But despite the caveats, it received high praise in CR member surveys, earning an Excellent rating for predicted reliability and a Very Good rating for owner satisfaction. It's expensive and mostly available through Rainbow reps rather than your local retailer. And at 36 pounds, it's quite a beast—the heaviest of any canister in our tests.

Mary H.J. Farrell

Mary H.J. Farrell is a senior editor at Consumer Reports whose real passion is for cooking and all that entails. She has expanded CR's cookware category to include not only more pots and pans but also other essentials like stand mixer attachments, sheet pans, and vacuum sealers. Mary also covers vacuums but finds cooking way more fun than cleaning. Since the mid-1990s, Mary has held senior positions at People.com, MSNBC, and Ladies’ Home Journal. One of her earliest jobs was at Good Housekeeping.