Best Canister Vacuums of 2024
These top-rated models are easy to handle and tough on dirt
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All 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 vacuums 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 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.
- Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly CrossOver 21814
- Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly UltraPlush 81714
- Kenmore Pop-N-Go BC4026
- Kenmore Pop-N-Go UltraPlush BC4027
- Kenmore 200 Series BC4002
- Kenmore 400 Series 81414
- Miele Complete C3 Calima Powerline SGFE0
- Miele Complete C3 Marin
- Kenmore 22614
- Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog
Best Bagged Canister Vacuums
Bagged vacuums generally have a larger capacity than bagless vacuums, but that means they’re a bit heavier than bagless models. It’s also good to keep in mind that there are more options for bagged canister vacuums than bagless on the market. Our testers evaluate both types on their ability to clean carpet and bare floors, as well as noting how quiet they are. For bagged canister vacuums, we found that Kenmore and Miele outperformed other brands.
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 one of 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. As a brand, Kenmore canisters earned midlevel ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction in our member surveys.
The Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly UltraPlush 81714 is indeed friendly to pet owners, earning an excellent score 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.
The versatile Kenmore Pop-N-Go BC4026 makes an impressive showing in both our bare-floor and pet-hair cleaning 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.
The Kenmore Pop-N-Go UltraPlush BC4027 earns some of the category’s highest scores for cleaning bare floors and pet hair. It also aces our clean emissions test, which measures the quantity of wood-flour particles a vacuum released. Like the vacuum above, this model features the brand’s Pop-N-Go feature, which allows you to easily transition between the powerhead and the floor brush. But our testers did note that the powerhead does not swivel.
The Kenmore 200 Series BC4002 offers both strong performance and value. At this relatively low price, you get an impressive bagged canister vacuum that vanquishes pet hair and leaves floors spotless. It’s also quite capable at cleaning carpet, scoring a near top-level score in 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.
The budget-friendly Kenmore 400 Series 81414 earns top marks for cleaning bare floors and removing pet hair and is almost as good at cleaning carpet. It gets only an average score for emissions, so if you have allergies, consider a vacuum that scores higher in this test. Suction through the hose is very good, making this a good choice if you often use attachments. This Kenmore is a bit noisy, though.
The Miele Complete C3 Calima Powerline SGFE0 aces our bare floors cleaning test and is a solid performer at cleaning pet hair, making it a smart choice if you have pets. It earns an excellent score in our emissions test, and in terms of noise it’s pretty quiet. The one downside is that it is mediocre at cleaning carpets.
Our highest-rated canister vacuum, the Miele Complete C3 Marin earns impressive marks in almost every test we throw its way. It’s a champ at cleaning bare floors and picking up embedded pet hair, and its emissions are free of debris, earning the highest score possible in that assessment. 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 strong performance has made it one of our top canisters for several years running.
Best Bagless Canister Vacuums
Bagless canister vacuums are lighter than their bagged counterparts. These two models are exceptional at cleaning bare floors and pet hair. And, characteristic of bagless canister vacuums, they have near top-level or first-rate scores for clean emissions.
Impressive cleaning, lots of airflow for tools, and fairly quiet operation make this bagless canister a top pick. The budget-friendly Kenmore 22614 is also a great choice for cleaning up pet hair. The machine’s 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 surveys, Kenmore canister vacuums earned midrange scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
The Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog is on the pricey side, 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 surveys the brand earned top scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.
How CR Tests Canister Vacuums
CR tests canister vacuums across a variety of 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 based on CR’s exclusive member surveys of over 105,000 nonrobotic vacuums purchased from 2013 to 2023. See our guide to the most reliable vacuum brands for more survey insights.
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