8 Best Vacuums for Carpet in 2023 – Reviews & Top Picks

Vacuums are an essential part of any household, but especially if you have carpet. Carpet is nearly impossible to clean by hand because of dirt, dust, pet hair, and other nasty bits getting tangled up in the fibers. Cleaning carpet calls for the most powerful, heavy-duty vacuums available, but how do you choose? We’ve compiled some reviews of the eight best vacuums for carpet money can buy, so read on to find your next vacuum.

A Quick Look at Our Favorites in 2023

Rating	Image	Product	Details
Best Overall		Dyson Ball Animal Vacuum	Sucks up even the smallest particles Self-adjusting head Easy to maneuver	CHECK PRICE
Best Value		Hoover WindTunnel 3 Vacuum	Ensures a deep, thorough cleaning Many tools included Minimizes time going over previously cleaned areas	CHECK PRICE
Premium Choice		Shark Vertex DuoClean Vacuum	Cordless Automatically adjusts suction Roller won’t get tangled with pet hair	CHECK PRICE
		Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Vacuum	Spools pet hair in the bin to minimize mess Optional Febreze odor-eliminating filter One-touch bin release	CHECK PRICE
		Tineco PURE One S11 Vacuum	Helps save energy LED headlight for increased visibility Quiet operation	CHECK PRICE

The 8 Best Vacuums for Carpet

1. Dyson Ball Animal Vacuum – Best Overall

The best overall vacuum for carpets on our list is the Dyson Ball Animal, which is no surprise given Dyson’s reputation for stylish engineering marvels. It uses Dyson’s proprietary cyclone technology to ensure it gets even the smallest particles of dust, dirt, and debris. The vacuum’s head automatically seals to hardwood, tile, or carpet for maximum suction, and it rides on the titular Ball for optimal maneuverability. So, what are the downsides? It is a bit more expensive than some people would like to pay. Plus, it is corded and heavy, making it less convenient to use.

2. Hoover WindTunnel 3Vacuum – Best Value

The best vacuum for the money on this list is undoubtedly the Hoover WindTunnel 3. Although Hoover isn’t known for their fancy tech, they really stepped it up with the WindTunnel technology. Combined with the quick pass brush roller, you can extract tons of baked-in dirt with short, easy passes. For non-carpeted areas of your home, the WindTunnel 3 has four heights that customize suction to match the flooring type. This is another vacuum that is corded and heavy, plus it is loud. It also doesn’t automatically retract the cord, which is a big benefit for some customers.

3. Shark Vertex DuoClean Vacuum – Premium Choice

Shark has made its name with cutting-edge technology and futuristic design, not unlike Dyson. What’s truly amazing about this vacuum is that it’s cordless, taking advantage of “Hypervelocity Accelerated Suction” to match even the most powerful corded vacuums. The deep-cleaning nozzle maintains contact with the ground at all times, even when switching from carpet to hardwood. As if all that isn’t enough, the Vertex Duoclean also has a self-cleaning brush roller that shreds pet hair. The run time is short, though. And since it is cordless, it does need to be charged.

4. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Turbo Vacuum

Anyone with pets knows that they’re an absolute disaster in homes with carpets, with shed hair materializing in the most unlikely places. For carpet, though, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser packs powerful suction in a relatively lightweight package. The vacuum comes with every pet tool attachment you could ever need, and the brush roll is tangle proof. Last but not least, emptying the bin is as easy as touching a button.

5. Tineco PURE One S11 Vacuum

For a lightweight option, you can’t do much better than Tineco’s Pure One S11. It features iLoop Smart Sensor technology that lights up when it’s actually sucking up dirt, dust, or debris. This means it doesn’t constantly use max power when there’s little to no mess. Even handier is that it can convert to a handheld vacuum for cleaning those tough-to-access areas, and it has an LED light for shedding further light on messes. It doesn’t stand upright on its own, and it doesn’t have as many perks as other choices.

6. Miele C1 Complete Vacuum

The often forgotten canister-style vacuum makes an appearance on our list thanks to Miele’s precision-crafted German engineering. Everything about it screams quality, from the shockingly quiet volume, foot release power switch, and the silky-feeling extra-long telescoping wand. Most importantly, it allegedly never loses suction, with some users reporting that it’s even strong enough to pull up their rugs. It needs a brush roller to truly tackle thick carpet, though, so it isn’t perfect.

7. Wyze Cordless Vacuum

One of the most lightweight and affordable entries on our list, the Wyze cordless vacuum offers incredible power despite weighing just shy of 3 pounds The easy-to-understand display shows you the vacuum’s remaining battery life and mode, which is helpful to know when it’s done charging. It offers three cleaning power settings, with Turbo eating up the most battery life but offering maximum power. Conversely, Eco is perfect for light everyday cleaning, with 50 minutes of battery life.

8. Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ Vacuum

If you’re looking for a robust handheld vacuum to supplement your main vacuum, look no further than the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+. The name might be a tad long, but the vacuum itself is compact enough to fit in nearly any cupboard or drawer in the house. It doesn’t come with a HEPA filter, so it’s not #1 against allergens, but it’s extremely powerful when sucking up dirt, dust, and other debris from low and high carpets alike. It looks super snazzy, too, so maybe don’t throw it in the cupboard when you’re done with it.

Buyer’s Guide: Buying the Best Vacuum for Carpet

Confused on which vacuum is right for you? We don’t blame you, so for your convenience, we’ve compiled some information that can help you narrow down which vacuum listed above is right for your busy life.

Factors to Consider When Choosing a Vacuum

There are a few things you should think about when choosing a vacuum. To name a few, cordless vs. corded, pet features (for pet parents), attachments, and space. You should scrutinize every vacuum you look out to see what fits your home’s needs.

Cordless vs. Corded

Generally, corded vacuums are able to draw more power than corded vacuums, which makes them more powerful. As recently as 10–20 years ago, cordless vacuums were seen as a novelty that could never replace a ‘real’ vacuum.

Today, that’s changing. Advances in battery and motor technology have yielded extremely well-crafted cordless vacuums that can almost compete with corded vacuums for sheer power. The major downside of cordless vacs, of course, is that they have limited battery life and need to charge. You can remedy this by buying another battery and swapping them out as they get low, but a corded vacuum never needs to be charged and usually offers more power and versatility.

Cordless vacuums are usually more mobile than corded vacuums, however. They’re usually designed with mobility in mind so that you can easily clean under furniture, and attachments help reach high spots like drapes and cobweb-filled ceiling corners.

Pet Features

The main pet-related features you should look for are brush rollers that eliminate hair wrapping and HEPA-rated filters, but some vacuums shred pet hair too. HEPA filters are a must-have for allergy sufferers, eliminating far more dust, pollen, and pet dander than regular filters.

Attachments

Most vacuums at least come with a crevice tool and hose nozzle, but many come with more. Telescoping wands are extremely useful for reaching all areas of the house while dusting attachments make cleaning the antique cabinet more manageable. Some have special tools designed to shred pet hair, which are invaluable for pet owners tired of their pets’ hair ruining vacuums.

Conclusion

Vacuums are the best way to keep our carpets clean, but it can be hard to choose one right for your home. We hope that our reviews and other info have helped to shed some light on the best vacuums available today for cleaning carpet. Whether you choose the super-powerful Hoover WindTunnel or the futuristic Dyson Ball Animal, you know your carpet is in good hands.

Featured Image Credit: Liliana Drew, Pexels