Got a question? We're happy to help
03303903059Our experts have put this handy guide together to help you find the right vacuum cleaner for your home.
Choosing the right vacuum cleaner can make everyday cleaning much quicker and easier, but with so many different types, features and technologies available, it can be difficult to know which one is right for your home.
Whether you're looking for a cordless vacuum cleaner, upright vacuum, cylinder vacuum, pet vacuum or robot vacuum, the best choice depends on your flooring, the size of your home, whether you have pets, how often you clean and how much convenience you want.
This vacuum cleaner buying guide explains the main types of vacuum cleaner, the features worth looking for and which type is best for different cleaning needs.
There isn't one vacuum cleaner that's best for every home. Different designs are suited to different cleaning jobs.
Cordless stick vacuums are designed for convenience and easy everyday cleaning. Without a power cable, they're quick to grab when you need to clean up spills, crumbs, dust and pet hair.
Many modern cordless vacuums can also provide enough power for whole-home cleaning, with some models offering different power modes, floor detection, illuminated floorheads and dedicated pet tools.
A cordless vacuum is ideal if you:
Look at our cordless vacuum cleaners for models from leading brands including Dyson, Shark, Samsung, Miele and Vax.
Upright vacuums are a traditional choice and are particularly well suited to homes with lots of carpet.
Their upright design makes them comfortable for covering larger areas of floor, while many models feature large dust capacities, powerful floorheads and specialised tools for stairs, upholstery and pet hair.
Some uprights also have lift-out or detachable sections, making them more versatile than their appearance suggests.
An upright vacuum is ideal if you:
Explore our upright vacuum cleaners for corded models designed for carpets, hard floors and whole-home cleaning.
Cylinder vacuums are a versatile option for cleaning multiple rooms and different floor types. The main vacuum unit is pulled behind you while you use the hose and floorhead to clean.
Their flexible hose and longer reach can make them particularly useful for stairs, furniture, corners and underneath beds. Cylinder vacuums are available in both bagged and bagless designs.
A cylinder vacuum is ideal if you:
See our cylinder vacuum cleaners for models from brands such as Miele, Numatic and Dyson.
Robot vacuums are designed to automate everyday floor cleaning. Once programmed, they can navigate around your home and clean floors with minimal input.
More advanced robot vacuums can map your home, recognise obstacles, return to their charging station and, depending on the model, empty their own dust container. Some also combine vacuuming with mopping.
A robot vacuum is ideal if you:
Explore our robot vacuum cleaners for automated floor cleaning.
Wet and dry vacuums are designed to handle both dry debris and liquid spills.
They're particularly useful for garages, workshops, DIY projects and heavier-duty cleaning rather than everyday household vacuuming. Some models also include blower functions or power-tool connections.
A wet and dry vacuum is ideal if you:
Browse our wet and dry vacuum cleaners.
The best vacuum depends on what you're cleaning.
| Your priority | Vacuum type to consider |
|---|---|
| Quick everyday cleaning | Cordless |
| Large carpeted home | Upright or cylinder |
| Stairs and furniture | Cylinder or cordless |
| Pet hair | Pet-specific cordless, upright or cylinder |
| Hard floors | Cordless, cylinder or upright with suitable floorhead |
| Small home or flat | Cordless |
| Automated cleaning | Robot vacuum |
| Garage or workshop | Wet and dry |
| Allergies | Vacuum with effective filtration |
| Deep carpet cleaning | Upright or powerful cylinder |
Tip: Don't simply choose a vacuum because it has the highest advertised wattage or motor power. Floorhead design, suction performance, airflow, filtration, brush technology and how well the machine suits your floor type can all affect real-world cleaning performance.
If you have a dog or cat, ordinary vacuuming can struggle with hair that's worked into carpets, rugs and upholstery. Look for a vacuum with features specifically designed for pet hair, such as:
A dedicated pet vacuum cleaner can make a particularly useful choice for homes where shedding is a daily problem.
Appliances Direct has a dedicated pet hair vacuum section alongside cordless, upright and cylinder categories.
Carpets benefit from a vacuum with an effective floorhead and enough cleaning power to lift dust and debris from between the fibres. For homes with lots of carpet, consider:
A rotating brushroll can help agitate carpet fibres and loosen embedded dirt, while adjustable suction can be useful when moving between different surfaces.
Hard floors such as wood, laminate, tile and vinyl need a vacuum that can pick up fine dust and larger debris without unnecessarily scratching or scattering dirt. Look for:
If you have several different floor types, a multi-floor vacuum with an adjustable or automatic floorhead can be more convenient than buying a machine designed for one surface.
For genuine hardwood flooring, follow the flooring manufacturer's cleaning recommendations and choose an appropriate floorhead.
Stairs can be awkward to clean because large upright or cylinder vacuums aren't always easy to manoeuvre.
A cordless stick vacuum can be particularly convenient because you don't have to drag the main unit up and down the stairs. A cylinder vacuum with a long hose can also work well, while some upright models have detachable or lift-out sections specifically designed for stairs and above-floor cleaning.
Look for:
If storage space is limited, a compact cordless vacuum can be an excellent choice. Cordless stick vacuums take up less floor space than many traditional upright or cylinder models and can be stored in a cupboard or charging dock.
However, don't automatically assume that a smaller home needs a cordless vacuum. A compact cylinder can provide excellent cleaning performance and may offer a larger dust capacity.
Consider:
For larger homes, consider how much cleaning you can complete before the vacuum needs emptying, charging or unplugging.
A corded upright or cylinder can be particularly practical because you don't have to worry about battery runtime. A cordless vacuum with a long runtime or removable batteries can also work well if convenience is more important than uninterrupted cleaning.
For a large home, look for:
One of the biggest decisions is whether to choose a traditional corded vacuum or a cordless model.
Which is better? If convenience is your priority, cordless is often the better choice. If you regularly clean a large home in one session, a corded vacuum can still be the more practical option.
Another important choice is whether you want a bagged or bagless vacuum.
Bagless models collect dirt in a removable dust container.
Benefits include:
However, the dust container needs to be emptied and filters may require regular cleaning.
Bagged vacuums collect dust inside a disposable or replaceable bag.
Benefits include:
You'll need to buy replacement bags, so check availability and ongoing costs before choosing a model.
Suction power matters, but it's not the only thing that determines how well a vacuum cleans.
Rather than choosing based solely on watts, consider the complete cleaning system. Important factors include:
A vacuum designed specifically for carpets may perform very differently from a lightweight model designed primarily for quick hard-floor cleaning.
Filtration helps prevent fine dust and allergens collected by the vacuum from being released back into the room.
If filtration is particularly important to you, look for models with HEPA or high-efficiency filtration systems and check the manufacturer's specifications to understand exactly what the filtration system provides.
Also consider how easy the filters are to remove and clean.
A good filtration system is particularly worth considering if your household is sensitive to dust or you simply want to minimise airborne fine particles while vacuuming.
The right attachments can make a vacuum much more versatile.
Designed for narrow gaps, corners and difficult-to-reach areas.
Useful for shelves, blinds, furniture and delicate surfaces.
Designed for sofas, chairs, mattresses and other fabric surfaces.
A motorised or specialised pet tool can help remove hair from carpets and upholstery.
Provides additional reach for ceilings, stairs, curtains and awkward areas.
Uses a rotating brush to help agitate and lift dirt from carpets and other surfaces.
Tip: Before buying, check which attachments are included rather than assuming that every accessory shown by a manufacturer is supplied with the particular model.
Vacuum cleaners now come with a huge range of features. Some can make a real difference to everyday cleaning, while others are more about convenience.
Designed to reduce hair wrapping around the brushroll. Particularly useful for pet owners and homes with long hair.
Some vacuums can detect the surface being cleaned and automatically adjust their cleaning performance.
Lights can highlight dust and debris that would otherwise be difficult to see, particularly underneath furniture and in darker areas.
Useful when switching between carpets, rugs and hard floors.
Some premium cordless models can detect dust levels and automatically adjust cleaning performance.
Available on some robot vacuum cleaners, allowing the robot to transfer collected debris into a larger dock-based container.
Useful for stairs, furniture, cars and other above-floor cleaning.
The lifespan of a vacuum cleaner depends on its construction, frequency of use, maintenance and how it's treated. Regular maintenance can help keep a vacuum performing properly for longer.
Remember to:
Even the best vacuum will perform poorly if it's blocked or poorly maintained. Before troubleshooting a loss of suction, check the:
Hair and debris can quickly build up around brushrolls, while blocked filters can restrict airflow.
Always follow the manufacturer's cleaning and maintenance instructions for your specific vacuum.
Before buying a new vacuum cleaner, ask yourself:
Carpets, hard floors or a mixture?
A small flat has different requirements from a large house.
If so, look for dedicated pet tools and anti-tangle technology.
Consider battery runtime and charging requirements.
Think about convenience, dust disposal and ongoing costs.
Look for a suitable high-efficiency filtration system.
Check the included tools and reach.
Consider the vacuum's dimensions and charging/storage solution.
Think about emptying, filter cleaning and brushroll maintenance.
For quick everyday cleaning, a cordless stick vacuum is convenient and easy to grab.
For large carpeted homes, an upright vacuum can provide excellent floor coverage and a generous dust capacity.
For versatile whole-home cleaning, a cylinder vacuum offers long reach and flexible cleaning.
For pet owners, look for a dedicated pet vacuum with a motorised pet tool, effective brushroll and suitable filtration.
For hard floors, choose a vacuum with a floorhead designed for your flooring and good fine-dust pickup.
For stairs and furniture, prioritise lightweight handling, long reach and useful attachments.
For automated cleaning, a robot vacuum can help keep floors clean with minimal day-to-day effort.
For garages, workshops and heavy-duty cleaning, a wet and dry vacuum is the better choice.
If convenience is your priority, cordless is often the better choice. If you regularly clean a large home in one session, a corded vacuum can still be the more practical option because you don't have to worry about battery runtime.
Bagless models avoid the cost of replacement bags and make it easy to see when the container needs emptying. Bagged models offer more hygienic dust disposal and are often a good option for allergy-conscious households, but you'll need to buy replacement bags.
Not necessarily. Suction and airflow, floorhead design, brushroll technology, filtration, floor type, dust capacity and adjustable suction all affect how well a vacuum cleans.
Check the dust container or bag, filters, hose, floorhead, brushroll and air pathways. Hair and debris can quickly build up around brushrolls, while blocked filters can restrict airflow. Always follow the manufacturer's maintenance instructions.
Once you've decided which type of vacuum cleaner is right for you, explore the full range of vacuum cleaners at Appliances Direct. You can narrow your choice by vacuum type, brand, features and cleaning requirements to find a model that suits your home.
Don't forget to consider the floor type, home size, pet hair, filtration, battery runtime, dust capacity and accessories before making your decision.
The right vacuum isn't necessarily the most powerful or most expensive model — it's the one that matches the way you actually clean your home.
Shop vacuum cleaners
