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Best Canister Vacuums in 2023: Buying Guide

Canister vacuum cleaners offer a fun and practical way of cleaning the house. Though designed to operate in a similar fashion as upright vacuum cleaners, they differ in their physical design. Canister vacuum cleaners have a detached suction head that is connected to the motor body via a hose.

This makes them lighter and easier to work with than normal vacuum cleaners. However, when it comes to performance they are not as powerful as upright vacuum cleaners, but they clean stairways and corners far much better. So, what are the factors to consider when purchasing the right canister vacuum cleaner?

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Our Recommended Canister Vacuums

5) Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G

For a budget canister vacuum, the Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G is a very good purchase. It weighs only 11.6-pounds, yet offers a 10 Amp motor and some excellent vacuuming tools.

By using the 10 Amp motor, you are able to vacuum on hard surfaces and soft surfaces. It doesn’t matter if you’re vacuuming on a hardwood floor or a thick carpet, because this canister vacuum can handle it.

With tools such as a dusting brush and crevice tool, you can clean spaces/areas that the main canister vacuum can’t reach. These tools, combined with the vacuum’s mobility, make vacuuming very easy.

Eureka Mighty Mite 3670G Corded Canister...
  • Dust cup capacity - 2.5 liters. Ideal for quick and efficient cleaning
  • Convenient for home and auto

4) Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction

The Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction is an exceptionally powerful canister vacuum. It relies on a Miele Vortex Motor and a fantastic floor head.

With the Miele Vortex Motor, you have access to a tremendous amount of suction power. By using the dial that’s on the front of the vacuum, you can choose how much suction you are using at any given time. That way, the vacuum process is tailored to your needs.

Miele includes a Rug & Floor Combination Nozzle. With this nozzle/floor head, you can loosen up and remove the dirt, dust, and debris that is on your floors.

Miele Compact C1 Pure Suction Powerline...
  • POWERFUL & LIGHTWEIGHT: Bagged canister vacuum cleaner ideal for homes with hard floors...
  • STRONG SUCTION POWER: Switch between 6 suction power settings specific to the surface...

3) Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor

For vacuuming on hard floors, the Miele Complete C2 Hard Floor offers everything you need. Within the vacuum there is a Miele Vortex Motor that produces a great deal of suction power. To enhance the vacuuming process, Miele has included two floor heads that will work wonders on your floors.

Making use of the suction power this canister vacuum offers is very easy. All you must do is turn the suction speed dial to one-of-six-settings. By doing that, you only use as much suction as you need to use.

Both floor heads Miele has included glide across hard and soft floors. It doesn’t matter what’s on those floors, because these floor heads will clean them.

Miele Complete Hardfloor Bagged Canister...
  • Powerful yet gentle: Equipped with an AllTeQ Universal floorhead for hard floors and...
  • Strong suction power: 1200-W Miele-Made Vortex Motor, and 6 suction power settings...

2) Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team

The Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team weighs only 12.9-pounds. It offers the same Vortex Motor and floor heads as the other Miele vacuums, but emphasizes mobility and speed.

Moving this canister vacuum around is easy, and so is using it to clean small spaces and areas. To do so, you can attach one of the many vacuuming tools that Miele has included. Tools such as a dusting brush and crevice tool – among others.

By using the Turbo-Brush Floor Head and Parquet Floor Head, you can easily vacuum soft and hard floors, respectively. Both floor heads make use of the excellent suction the Vortex Motor produces.

Miele Classic C1 Turbo Team Bagged Canister...
  • GERMAN ENGINEERED: Bagged canister vacuum cleaner ideal for homes with hard floors and...
  • STRONG SUCTION POWER: Switch between 6 suction power settings specific to the surface...

1) Miele Grey Classic C1 Pure Suction

For a more inexpensive Miele canister vacuum, the Miele Grey Classic C1 Pure Suction is a great choice. It weighs just 11.4-pounds and emphasizes maneuverability and versatility.

To make use of this versatility, there is a six-speed suction setting that you can make use of. But, along with that, there is a Combination Floor Head and various vacuuming tools. The Combination Floor Head and vacuuming tools allow you to vacuum in any space and on any surface.

When you buy this canister vacuum, you get a 7-year warranty on the motor and casing. Plus, a 1-year warranty on parts and labor.

Miele Classic C1 Vacuum Cleaner, Graphite...
  • GERMAN ENGINEERED: Bagged canister vacuum cleaner ideal for homes with hard floors and low...
  • STRONG SUCTION POWER: Switch between 6 suction power settings specific to the surface...

Look for Higher Engine Power for Better Performance

Unlike normal vacuum cleaners where the suction head is directly connected to the motor, the canister has a hose. This means that there is a significant amount of distance involved from the suction head to the motor.

You, therefore, need an efficient canister that will get the job done once, without having to repeat a spot several times before it becomes clean. A good indicator of a powerful canister vacuum cleaner is the engine power, which is measured in Watts (W).

Engine power in most canisters ranges between 1200 W and 2000 W. A higher power, therefore, means that the canister is more efficient. Sometimes the engine power may not be the best determining factor, especially if you are dealing with “green vacuum cleaners”. These are designed to consume less power and still offer high performance.

It is due to this reason that you have to consider the depression and flow rate of the machine. Unfortunately, these two are rarely provided by the manufacturer. Depression refers to the ability of the canister to create a vacuum and is measured in kPa.

It is important to have a higher depression rate, especially if you have thick carpets to vacuum. A higher flow rate is also important if you want to clean hard floors.

Is It Bagged or Bagless?

Canister vacuum cleaners are categorized as either bagged or bagless. Bagged canisters have a bag that is used to collect dust and debris. They have been in existence for far much longer than bagless canisters and are generally more durable.

They tend to be more silent and have a higher level of filtration (especially cloth bags). The bags also hold more dust and release less dust during disposal. It may be a good choice for you if you suffer from respiratory complications like asthma. The only problem is that they require regular replacement of the bags.

Bagless canisters do not have bags. Instead, they have dust compartments or bins. The compartments are usually transparent, which makes it easier to tell when they are full. Also, the bins are used multiple times, before they wear.

However, the filters have to be replaced frequently and are more expensive than dust bags. Their only problem is that they are a bit noisy and cost more than the bagged canisters at the same level of performance.

Canister Vacuums

Whichever canister you select, make sure it has the adequate size of the dustbin or bag. The minimum capacity is 2.5 quarts, which is quite small if you have a large cleaning area.

A small size bag/bin means that you will be emptying and replacing it too often, which is tiring and expensive. In addition, choose a canister vacuum cleaner with an indicator that shows when the bag/bin is full to avoid unnecessary inconveniences.

Should It Have a HEPA Filter?

Generally, many vacuum cleaners come with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters. A HEPA filter is more effective when it comes to purifying air than normal filters. It removes at least 99.97% of all harmful allergens, such as molds, dust, and smoke.

HEPA filters are more expensive than other filters, but they guarantee better air quality. It should be noted however that there are non-HEPA filters that are equally effective as the HEPA filters.

Kindly note that when selecting the right filter, ensure that it has a higher level of filtration to prevent the leaking of particles back into the air. If you can afford a canister vacuum with multiple filtration levels, the better.

Canisters with multiple filtration levels have a large surface area to trap allergens and also to accommodate a larger amount of particles. Also, ensure that the filters are removable, washable and can be used severally before they need replacement.

cannister vacuums

How Long Should the Power Cord be?

The longer the power cord, the better. This will remove the need to switch to different power plugs while working. The cord should be at least 20 feet long for you to be able to clean larger spaces comfortably.

Some manufacturers choose to include the cleaning radius, which may clearly indicate to you if it is sufficient or not. Go for a canister with a retractable cord that automatically wraps itself to remove the need for you to coil it. Equally important is the length of the suction hose. It should also be longer to allow you to cover much ground without moving the canister.

Which Accessories Should I Look Out For?

Most canisters come with different accessories for various functionalities. Common accessories include a dusting brush for the corners, an upholstery brush for curtains and furniture, a crevice nozzle for hard-to-reach places, a hard floor brush for parquet floors and a motorized brush for the carpets.

If you have a pet, it should have pet-removal tools to pick up the flurry deposits. The most important thing is that it should have various settings for different cleaning needs.

Is a canister vacuum better than an upright?

Is the Layout of the House a Factor When Buying A Canister?

Your house layout and everything in it should dictate the type of canister to buy. The first thing to consider is the layout of the house. If your house has an open floor plan, then a heavy vacuum cleaner is not a problem.

However, if maneuverability is an issue or your house has a lot of tight spaces, then consider a lightweight design because there will be a lot of carrying involved. Most canister weights range between 9 and 24 pounds. Therefore, it should have a handle with an ergonomic design for comfort.

Also, you want to consider the cleaning path of the vacuum. Most cleaning paths range between 10 and 15 inches, which is enough to get the job done. If you have a large floor plan, then go for the one with the highest cleaning path.

This will reduce the number of passes you will have to make to complete the floor. Lastly, consider the noise level of the canister vacuum cleaner. Noise levels are measured in decibels (dB) and the higher the decibels, the more noise the canister makes. A vacuum with 60-65 dB is ideal, especially if you have kids and pets, while an 85 dB canister is very noisy.

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Recommended Canister Vacuums

Best Bagless The Miele Blizzard CX1 is the perfect Miele vacuum for anyone seeking a high quality bagless vacuum! This vacuum comes with a Washable HEPA Air Clean Lifetime Filter... more

Affordable Option The suction power on the Miele Classic C1 can be easily adjusted to the surface being cleaned with the 6-setting Rotary Dial located on the vacuum.

Popular Option This Eureka Canister Vacuum has a telescoping metal wand, fingertip suction controls and an on-board 2-in-l tool.

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Last Update: 2024-03-29 | Affiliate links/Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

About the author

Hi I’m Alex, founder of HouseholdMe.com and I’d like to say thank you for dropping by. Like most of you, the first thing I look at before buying something online is reviews or buying guides. By reading what other people say will help me gauge whether or not a product is good or not.  I am trying to help people find answers, solve problems, and get inspired.

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