If you live in an apartment, you most likely have limited space. You absolutely need a vacuum that is maneuverable and easy to store. Cordless models offer flexibility, and versatile attachments help clean small areas. In our guide, seven vacuum cleaners earned top spots from a pool of over 100 evaluated models. We analyzed 150,575 reviews, filtering out fake and low-quality reviews with our science-based True Score system.
Our unique approach also certifies products as tested, ensuring only the best vacuums make it to our list. These winning models performed well in our rigorous evaluations, providing reliable performance and meeting the diverse cleaning needs of apartment dwellers.
How Did We Rank the Best Vacuums for Apartment?
For our guide on the best vacuums for apartments, we leveraged data from over 200 websites. We analyzed testing methods and customer reviews, comparing these with expert evaluations. This allowed us to pinpoint the essential criteria: 2 required test results and 1 must-have specification. We emphasized factors crucial for apartment living, such as ease of storage, noise levels, and maneuverability. Our method ensures a reliable and accurate guide tailored to your needs.
Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.
?️ Minimum Specifications
- Must be under 15 lbs
? Test Criteria
- Bare Floor Performance: The vacuum sucks up 95% of debris when cleaning bare surfaces such as tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
- Carpet Performance: The vacuum sucks up 70% of debris when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile.
Latest Updates
- 06/20/2024: Republished the list to include the best vacuum cleaners for apartments based on our True Score system.
Top Vacuums for Apartment For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Dyson V15 Detect
Best Apartment
Consider the premium Dyson V15 Detect for effective removal of pet hair and carpet debris. It is perfect for homes with pets and various floor types and is relatively quiet.
True Score
919119Experts
932kCustomers
Cosmic Wonder
SAVE $200$799.99$599.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Laser illumination technology
- Incredible performance on both carpets and hard floors
- Lightweight design
- Decent battery life
- Anti-allergenic HEPA filter
Reasons to Avoid
- Complicated maneuvrability on deep carpets
- Relatively low-capacity 0.45L dust cup
- Plastic construction
Specifications
Bagless Yes 
Bin Capacity 0.2 gal 
Brush Roll Shut-Off No 
Carpet Height Adjustments Yes 
Cleaning Path Width 10" 
Compatible Floor Type All floors 
Cord Length Cordless 
Corded/Cordless Cordless 
Filter Type Other 
Hypoallergenic Yes 
Pet Yes 
Product Weight 6.7 lbs 
Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums 
Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 92 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 73 All Retailers
- $599.99$800Save $200
- $624.99
- $638.99$750Save $111
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a quiet vacuum that can handle fur and carpet debris, consider the Dyson V15 Detect for its powerful suction. It offers a superior pet hair performance of 100% and a bare floor performance of 98.59%, making it an excellent vacuum for homes with furry pets and spaces with hard flooring by thoroughly cleaning up debris and dirt. It has a best-in-class carpet performance of 91.77%, which for a vacuum is impressive, meaning it’s highly effective at removing dirt and debris buried in carpets.
The Dyson V15 Detect’s bin capacity is 0.2 gallons, which is on the smaller side. This means that larger apartments might need more frequent emptying. Its lightweight design, at 6.7 lbs, ensures easy maneuverability, which is beneficial for both cleaning and storage in apartment spaces. Plus, the cordless feature provides great flexibility and is perfect for quick cleanups.
When put side by side with the Samsung Bespoke Jet, both are cordless and have the same bin capacity. The Dyson cleans bare floors better than the Samsung, making it ideal for apartments with hard surfaces. The Dyson produces more noise (72.5 dB compared to Samsung’s 70.5 dB), making the Samsung better for apartments with kids and noise-sensitive pets. The Samsung still has excellent well-rounded cleaning performance and is a better value than the Dyson.
Despite its higher price tag, its superior pet hair pickup and carpet cleaning performance makes it a great investment. If you have an apartment with thin walls, young children, or noise-sensitive pets, this is one of the quieter models on the list that would better suit your lifestyle.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Best Cordless
Choose the Samsung Bespoke Jet for quiet, effective cleaning for a mid-range price. Ideal for pet owners, it’s light and versatile, perfect for any apartment.
True Score
88867Experts
91551Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $200$899.00$699.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- The cleaning station simplifies emptying the dust cup
- Two battery packs
- Lightweight design
- Turbo brush accessory
- Excellent performance on carpets and hard floors
Reasons to Avoid
- Doesn’t support wet cleaning
- Bulk two-in-one floor head
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.2 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off No Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 9.8" Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type 5-stage, Cyclonic, HEPA Hypoallergenic Unknown Pet Yes Product Weight 6 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 98 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 92 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 71 All Retailers
- $699.00$899Save $200
- $699.99
Our Verdict
The Samsung Bespoke Jet is a fantastic, quiet vacuum suitable for carpets. It boasts a best-in-class noise level of 70.5 dB. It delivers a robust carpet cleaning performance of 91.70%, effectively removing most dirt and debris from carpet fibers. It’s also great for pet owners, offering a pet hair performance of 99.5%. This cleaning performance and its superior noise level make it an ideal choice for maintaining a clean and tranquil apartment environment.
However, it’s worth noting that its bin capacity is only 0.2 gallons, which could mean more frequent bin emptying, especially for pet owners. Despite this, at just 6 lbs, it is one of the lightest vacuum cleaners, enhancing its portability and ease of use, especially in smaller apartments. The Samsung Bespoke Jet is adaptable to all floor types, making it a versatile option for any apartment layout. Its cordless design makes it convenient, allowing easy movement throughout the apartment.
Both the Dyson V15 Detect and the Bespoke Jet have the same bin capacities and are fairly even in carpet and pet hair cleanup performance. The Bespoke Jet has a slightly lower noise level, making it ideal for apartments with noise-sensitive pets and children. It’s a more budget-friendly option, offering similar features at a lower price point. However, its bare floor performance is less impressive at 97.71% compared to Dyson’s 98.59%, so if your apartment’s mostly bare floor, the Dyson is the better choice.
The Samsung Bespoke Jet, with its excellent pet hair performance, low noise level, and low weight, provides a robust and cost-effective solution for maintaining a clean and peaceful apartment. The drawback is the small bin capacity, but its versatility and convenience make it a reasonable value if you need a quiet, efficient vacuum for your carpeted apartment.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Stratos Cordless
Best Allergies
Choose the Shark Stratos Cordless for top bare floor and pet hair cleaning. Ideal for diverse flooring, yet consider its louder sound and smaller bin.
True Score
85866Experts
86729Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $71$399.99$329.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Impressive suction power
- Great bare floor performance
- Great Carpet cleaning performance
- Excellent pet hair cleaning performance
Reasons to Avoid
- Attachments are very limited
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.18 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Yes Cleaning Path Width 10" Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.9 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 89 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $329.00$400Save $71
- $349.99$500Save $150
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a vacuum with best-in-class bare floor cleaning performance, the Shark Stratos Cordless is a fantastic solution, boasting a debris cleaning rate of 98.83%. This vacuum also excels in pet hair performance, scoring a perfect 100%, ideal if you have a pet that sheds a lot or you’re sensitive to dust. It cleans 89.3% of carpet debris, effectively removing most dirt and particles embedded in carpet fibers. This makes it a suitable choice for apartments with diverse flooring.
However, it weighs 8.9 lbs, which might make it slightly less maneuverable for some users if they have a large apartment or live in a loft. Its noise level is 76.7 dB, which is moderately loud for indoor use, which may not be ideal if they live in a quiet apartment setting.
Compared to the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away, both share similar cleaning performance for bare floors, carpets, and pet hair. The Shark Stratos Cordless is pricier than the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro, but it’s slightly quieter too, ideal for users concerned about having a loud vacuum. The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro is a better value due to its excellent cleaning performance and cheaper price. It also has a larger bin capacity for less emptying in large apartments.
If you need a vacuum that efficiently cleans various floor types and you don’t mind the noise, the Shark Stratos Cordless strikes a great balance between performance and convenience. It’s an expensive pick requiring frequent bin emptying due to its capacity of 0.18 gallons, but the Shark Stratos Cordless is a solid vacuum for cleaning your hardwood apartment.
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Did you know 78% of vacuum cleaner reviewers are untrustworthy?
Our research found only 27 of 125 vacuum cleaner reviewers as of July 2024 can be trusted. This is why Gadget Review is committed to calculating the most accurate product scores on the web.
To do this, we give every vacuum cleaner review site a Trust Rating, which measures how trustworthy the site and their testing claims are. We then leverage AI & a machine learning model to combine and calculate the Trust Rating with data from experts and consumers to deliver the True Score, the web’s most accurate product quality rating.
150,575Vacuum Cleaner Reviews Analyzed
100
Total Products Analyzed
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
Best Cordless For Hardwood
The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro excels in pet hair removal and handles mixed flooring well. Ideal for large apartments, its larger bin means less emptying.
True Score
84842Experts
86328Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $1$399.99$399.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent performance on all floor types
- Good battery life
- Outstanding pet hair pick-up rate
- Low on-going costs
- LED headlights
Reasons to Avoid
- The brush roll is not removable
- Poor stain-removal performance
- Lacks a turbo brush
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.34 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off No Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 10" Compatible Floor Type Carpet, Hardwoods Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 12.4 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 89 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $399.00$400Save $1
- $399.99
Our Verdict
The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is a standout vacuum for pet owners in large apartments, as it achieves a best-in-class 100% pet hair performance. It can handle mixed flooring since it cleans an impressive 98.6% of debris on bare floors and 89.4% on carpets. The cordless feature further enhances its usability, allowing easy movement around the apartment without worrying about cord length.
This vacuum cleaner boasts a superior bin capacity of 0.34 gallons, which means less frequent emptying and more convenience in larger apartments with pets. However, it’s important to note that at 12.4 lbs, this vacuum is the heaviest on our list. This could impact its maneuverability, especially if you live in a loft or large apartment. With a noise level of 77 dB, it is slightly noisier than some other models, so make sure you live in a space without sound-sensitive children, pets, or neighbors.
The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is slightly cheaper than the Shark Stratos Cordless, providing a balance between features and cost. This vacuum has a significant advantage over the Shark Stratos Cordless with its larger bin capacity of 0.34 gallons, making it ideal for large apartments or users dealing with lots of pet hair. The Stratos Cordless is a little quieter than the Vertex Pro, suitable for apartments with noise-sensitive pets and kids.
Overall, despite its slight drawback in terms of weight, the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away offers excellent value, especially for pet owners in larger apartments. Its superior cleaning performance and larger bin capacity make it an excellent option for renting a large apartment.
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DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
When choosing a vacuum cleaner, consider factors like suction power, versatility, and the types of surfaces you’ll clean. Investing in the best vacuum accessories can enhance the efficiency and functionality of your vacuum, making it easier to tackle various cleaning tasks, including understanding how to vacuum stairs effectively.
Many people wonder if robot vacuums are worth it. While they offer convenience, it’s important to compare robot vacuums to regular vacuums to determine which best suits your needs. Robot vacuums can be a great addition for those with busy lifestyles, but regular vacuums often provide more power and flexibility for deep cleaning tasks.
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Stratos Ultralight
Best Long Hair
The Shark Stratos Ultralight excels in pet hair removal and bare floor cleaning, ideal for apartments with pets and hard floors, but less effective on carpets.
True Score
83821Experts
86945Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $106$299.99$193.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Good bare floor cleaning performance
- Decent carpet cleaning performance
- Great pet hair performance
Reasons to Avoid
- Below average suction power rating
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.2 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off No Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 8.25" Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length 30 ft Corded/Cordless Corded Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.6 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 98 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 82 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $193.99$300Save $106
- $199.99$300Save $100
- $249.00$400Save $151
Our Verdict
The Shark Stratos Ultralight is a reliable corded vacuum for cleaning pet hair on bare floors. With a pet hair performance of 99.33%, it’s ideal for apartments with furry pets that shed frequently. The vacuum delivers excellent bare floor cleaning with a performance of 97.50%, effectively removing nearly all debris from hard surfaces. However, its carpet cleaning efficiency is lower at 82.25%, which may leave some embedded dirt and particles behind in carpet fibers.
The noise level, at 76.8 dB, is typical for vacuums but may not be the quietest option if you’re seeking a serene apartment atmosphere. It boasts a corded design with a 30-foot cord length, offering extensive reach without the need for frequent outlet changes. However, it’s worth noting that the bin capacity is average at 0.2 gallons, which might require occasional emptying during cleaning sessions.
When put side by side with the Shark Stratos Cordless, both have similar bin capacities, noise levels, and weights. The Shark Stratos Ultralight holds its own with its reliable cord length and more affordable price, best suited for pet owners on a budget with hard surface floors. The Stratos Cordless has an edge in carpet cleaning performance and is a better fit if you have a carpeted apartment and want cordless convenience.
The Shark Stratos Ultralight is a solid choice if you seek a vacuum that balances cost, performance, and usability. Though it’s not the quietest and doesn’t offer as much freedom of movement as cordless vacuums, its impressive pet hair performance, and long cord length make it a valuable asset to apartments with hard surfaces.
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Category Snapshot
Vacuum Cleaners
- Total Brands/Products Tested
31 Brands, 100 Products
- Top 2 Brands
Dyson, Miele
- Price Range (Budget-Premium)
$50-$400+
- Average True Score
75.70
- Important Test Criteria
Bare Floor Performance (%)
Carpet Performance (%)
- Most Trusted Testers
- Typical Warranty
1 year
- Covered by Insurance
Yes – Amazon, Best Buy
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+
Best Handheld
The Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+ is a lightweight, affordable vacuum perfect for quick cleanups in small apartments. It cleans pet hair and bare floors well.
True Score
81806Experts
831kCustomers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $10$89.99$79.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent performance with pet hair
- Great dirt pick-up rate on carpets and hard floors
- Comes with a turbo brush
- Great build quality
- Portable design
Reasons to Avoid
- Poor battery life
- Lacks a HEPA filter
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.1 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Unknown Cleaning Path Width 2.5" Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Unknown Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type Cloth, Washable Hypoallergenic Unknown Pet Yes Product Weight 2.8 lbs Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 95 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 85 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $79.99$90Save $10
- $79.99$90Save $10
- $85.99$90Save $4
Our Verdict
The Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+ is a great handheld vacuum for quick cleanups in a small apartment. Weighing in at 2.8 lbs, its lightweight design is easy to hold, and its cordless feature adds to its convenience, making it a breeze to maneuver around your apartment. This vacuum is the cheapest option on our list, providing excellent value if you’re on a tight budget.
It performs well in removing pet hair, cleaning up to 99.17% of debris, ideal for pet owners who need to keep their spaces free from pet hair. It does a decent job on bare floors, cleaning up 95.25% of debris, making it a reliable choice for hardwood, laminate, or tile flooring. Its carpet cleaning performance of 84.5% is decent, but it will not pick up every particle of dirt caught in the carpet fibers.
When put side by side with the Shark Stratos Cordless, both are cordless options that can be conveniently maneuvered around your home. The Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+ is noticeably lighter and cheaper, ideal for users on a budget, but it has a small bin capacity of 0.1 gallons, meaning you’ll be emptying the bin frequently unless you have a small area or studio apartment to clean. The Shark Stratos Cordless’s higher price is justified by its overall better cleaning efficiency, and with its bin capacity, it’s better suited for cleaning entire apartments.
Despite the limited bin space and carpet cleaning performance, the Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+ stands out with its excellent pet hair and bare floor cleaning performance. Its lightweight design and affordability further make it a great vacuum, especially if you live in a studio apartment and need a balance of performance, convenience, and value.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Vertex Pro
Best Cordless For Pet Hair
The Shark Vertex Pro excels in bare floor and pet hair cleaning, ideal for large apartments. Its cordless design and sizable bin enhance convenience.
True Score
80803Experts
82341Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $103$479.99$377.48Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Has an anti-allergen HEPA filter
- Low noise output
- LED screen for status display
- Large dirt canister
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Reasons to Avoid
- High maintenance requirements
- Struggles with fine debris on low pile carpet
- Long charge time
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.25 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Unknown Cleaning Path Width 10" Compatible Floor Type Carpet, Hardwoods Cord Length Unknown Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.82 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 83 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 82 All Retailers
- $377.48$480Save $103
- $429.99
- $449.99
Our Verdict
The Shark Vertex Pro is a superb vacuum that excels at bare-floor cleaning in large apartments. It boasts an impressive 98.5% bare floor debris cleaning rate, picking up most dirt on hardwood, laminate, and tile floors. Pet owners will find the 99.66% score in pet hair cleaning appealing, ensuring a dander-free living space. The carpet cleaning performance of 82.61% is decent, though it won’t provide deep cleaning and may leave behind embedded dirt and particles.
The Shark Vertex Pro is cordless for convenience and user-friendly for those with limited storage space. Its bin capacity of 0.25 gallons lessens the amount of emptying you’ll have to do if you live in a large apartment. However, note that the noise level is high at 82.4 dB, which is better for apartments with thicker walls, no small children, and no noise-sensitive pets. The vacuum weighs 8.82 lbs, making it relatively easy to maneuver around the home without being too burdensome.
While the Shark Vertex Pro might be pricier than the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away, it compensates with a lighter weight for easier maneuvering, making it ideal for users who prefer a less physically demanding vacuum. The Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away has a larger capacity, is quieter, and is better at cleaning carpets, making it better suited if you have carpets and have some decent body strength.
The Shark Vertex Pro offers impressive value with its performance on bare floors and pet hair and features tailored for apartments. Despite the high noise level, being pricier, and lacking a bit in carpet cleaning, its excellent performance on bare floors and pet hair and user-friendly features make it a worthwhile investment if you’re seeking a balance of performance and convenience for your large apartment.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Vacuums for Apartments?
By focusing on these criteria (2 required), anyone can quickly and easily compare these vacuum cleaners and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a vacuum cleaner that will meet your needs.
| CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Floor Performance | > 95% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors. |
| Carpet Performance | > 70% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 120+ vacuum cleaner reviewers and found that 27 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for vacuum cleaner.
- Dagobiet Morales Alfaro – RTings, LinkedIn
- Derek Hales – Modern Castle, LinkedIn
- Sabine Heinlein – Wirecutter, LinkedIn
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every vacuum cleaner review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Vacuum Cleaner Test Data & Results
1. Bare Floor Performance Test Results
As the name suggests, bare floor performance references how well a vacuum does when it’s cleaning up tiles, vinyl planks, or hardwood flooring. Debris comes in a variety of sizes of course, and much of the testing revolves around picking up debris that ranges in size from cereal to bits of dirt to sand to a mix of everything above and more.
We recommend that a vacuum be able to pick up at least 95% of debris from a bare floor to ensure you end up with clean floors. Hitting a perfect score is obviously ideal, but the worse a vacuum performs here, the more work you need to do sweeping up or re-vacuuming. Missing debris is frustrating and can invite pests if you miss bits of food or annoyance if you step on something barefoot and hurt yourself.
Bare Floor Performance
> 95%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
A vacuum is supposed to clean, so if it can’t pick up most of the debris on a floor, it’s not doing its job.
Bare Floor Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
2. Carpet Performance Test Results
Carpet Performance
> 75%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
If you have carpet, how well a vacuum cleans directly impacts how your carpet feels to walk on, and prevents pests from moving in.
Carpet cleaning ability is another important part of how your vacuum performs. Whether you have low-pile, high-pile, or rugs, how effectively a vacuum cleans up the dirt and debris left behind on the carpet is enormously important to keeping your carpet comfortable.
Generally speaking, we recommend a carpet cleaning performance of at least 75%. You might notice this is much lower than bare floors, and that’s because carpet is harder to clean. Short of devoting the time to actually shampoo and dry out a carpet, thoroughly cleaning out a carpet is very difficult, and good vacuums will reach deep between fibers and pull out long-forgotten crumbs.
Carpet Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
Best Vacuums for Apartment: Mistakes To Avoid
- Choosing a Vacuum Without Considering Size: Selecting a bulky vacuum can be impractical for small apartment spaces. Opt for a compact, lightweight model that is easy to store and maneuver in tight areas.
- Ignoring Noise Levels: Loud vacuums can be disruptive, especially in apartments with thin walls or close neighbors. Choose a vacuum with low noise levels to avoid disturbing others.
- Overlooking Versatility: Selecting a vacuum that only works well on one type of flooring can limit its usefulness. Ensure the vacuum can handle both carpets and hard floors effectively.
- Disregarding Storage Needs: Failing to consider where you will store the vacuum can lead to clutter. Look for models with a small footprint or those that come with wall-mountable storage solutions.
The Best Vacuums for Apartment Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91 |
|
|
|
|  $599.99 $800 $200 |
| 88 |
|
|
|
|  $699.00 $899 $200 |
| 85 |
|
|
|
| $329.00 $400 $71 |
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
| 84 |
|
|
|
| $399.00 $400 $1 |
| 83 |
|
|
|
|  $193.99 $300 $106 |
| 81 |
|
|
|
| $79.99 $90 $10 |
| 80 |
|
|
|
| $377.48 $480 $103 |
