Carpet and hardwood are the two most popular types of flooring found in homes today. While luxury vinyl planks and engineered hardwood aren’t far behind, they don’t bring value to your home like solid hardwood or high-end carpet. Unfortunately, they both require different types of care, which can make a good vacuum cleaner hard to find.
In our guide, we’ll help you find the best vacuum for hardwood floors and carpet by highlighting key areas of interest. We’ve also combed the web to find the top options from a number of manufacturers, all of which meet strict criteria and certain price points. That includes homeowners that need a vacuum for their allergies along with people that are on a tight budget or don’t have the time for a regular cleaning routine.
Both carpet and hardwood can be used in any area inside your home, although they are not ideal for every room. Moisture can be a serious issue with either type of flooring, but it’s not uncommon to see a home with hardwood in every room. Carpet, on the other hand, is something you won’t find in a kitchen.
Carpet also requires more suction and needs a system with a good brush roll. If your home is 50% carpeted, you may want to focus on a vacuum built for it. Hardwood and similar surfaces still need a system with excellent suction, but there are a lot of carpet-centric features you can do without if you only have carpet in a few rooms.
What’s your style?
If you’ve used a heavy upright with a 30-foot cord for the past decade and dreamed of a stick vacuum, you are in luck. Almost any style of vacuum cleaner will work on hardwood and carpet. That means you can choose from a variety of styles but may have to pay a premium for specific ones.
Robot Vacuums
Robotic vacuum cleaners are an excellent choice when you hate cleaning or don’t have time to run the vacuum every few days. They can handle your flooring without much intervention aside from dumping the bin and robot-proofing your home if you buy a budget-friendly bot.
These vacuums have side sweeping brushes that work well on hardwood, but even the best models can struggle with thick or high-pile carpeting. This style is also the most expensive on average, although you can find some cheap robot vacuums for less than a solid upright.
Stick Vacuums
When you need something lightweight or convertible, a stick vacuum is your best choice. As it’s one of the most popular styles, there are also a wealth of options to choose from. Cordless models are more convenient, but a corded model is generally more powerful.
2-in-1 vacuums that convert to hand vacuums are also common in this class, and you can find systems with a wide range of attachments. The downside is pricing if you want a big battery and the fact there are a limited number of options that come with soft roller heads and brush rolls.
Upright Vacuums
While there’s a fine line that separates some stick vacuums from uprights, there’s no mistaking a traditional upright vacuum. They are usually corded and powerful enough to handle any style of carpet with ease.
You can find cheap options in this class that work with hardwood and carpet, but the best machines can be quite expensive. Weight is another concern with an upright, especially if you have thick carpet. The wrong combination of power and fiber can leave your machine stuck to the floor.
Canister Vacuums
Canister vacuums for residential use are typically compact and can incredibly powerful. They are usually your cheapest option if you want a bagged system as well. Attachments are plentiful with this style, although you won’t find many cordless canister vacuums.
You’ll need to pull this vacuum behind you as you clean, which can be a problem depending on the layout of your home. They are one of the best styles for hardwood and carpet, however, thanks to the way they are designed and the variety of floor heads available from manufacturers today.
Corded vs. Cordless Vacuums
A robot vacuum cleaner doesn’t give you the option of a cord, but you’ll have to choose between corded or cordless with other styles. Some of the pros and cons are fairly obvious. Everyone knows cordless systems are limited by battery life, but did you ever consider the cost of a replacement power pack? Those can be expensive and difficult to obtain for some models.
Corded vacuum cleaners will never run out of power; you just need access to an outlet. Cord length can be an issue in larger homes, although it’s not hard to find solid systems with a range of 25 to 30’. The cord can also be a point of failure over time – vacuum cleaner repair shops are full of systems with cord issues.
Bin Systems
Whether a vacuum is a 20 pound upright or a cordless 2-in-1, the dust and dirt have to go somewhere. Depending on your preference and the style of vacuum you choose, that will be a bin or bag. Dust bins or dust cups are found on every style of vacuum, but bagged systems are a bit rarer. They can also be more expensive upfront and cost more in the long run as you’ll need to replace those bags.
Generally, you will only find a dust bag on a canister or upright vacuum cleaner. That limits the selection, but bags are worth your time if you have allergies or want a dust-free system. Vacuum cleaners with bins allow a measure of dust to escape back into the air, no matter how good the system is. Some are also notoriously difficult to dump, especially when there’s a filter in the way.
Capacity is another technical specification to keep an eye out for. It tells you how much dirt a bin or bag can hold before it’s full. On average, bagged systems tend to hold more debris, but there are a few canister-based uprights with high capacity bins as well.
Features
There are far too many features available on vacuum cleaners today for us to list them all. There are plenty of pointless bells & whistles as well, which makes it easy to become distracted by a feature you may not need or will never use. With that in mind, here are a few things to consider when you need the best vacuum for hardwood floors and carpet.
Brush Roll Switch – This is a small, but important feature if you want a vacuum that can clean a variety of floor surfaces. A brush roll switch allows you to turn off the spinning bristles on your vacuum and just use suction on hardwood or other bare surfaces.
Filtration – Most vacuum cleaners will have at least one filter, but many systems have several. HEPA filtration is a term you’ll see often, but not necessarily something you need to break the bank for as it’s common on a wide variety of vacuums. The price of replacements should not be overlooked, however.
Cleaning Tools – Do you have pets that like to sleep on the furniture or dusty drapes that require a stool to reach? If so, don’t underestimate the power of cleaning tools. Powered accessories can come at a premium, but even common tools like 2-in-1 brushes and crevice tools will come in handy.
Power Levels – Adjustable suction is something we’d like to see on every vacuum cleaner, but it can be tough to find. This allows you to adjust the power level to match the surface you are cleaning, whether it’s low pile carpet, drapes, or hardwood flooring.
The Best Vacuums for Hardwood Floors and Carpet
We’re going to keep things short and sweet this time around. Our choices for the best vacuums for hardwood floors and carpet include best-selling systems from each type of vacuum cleaner. That means there’s a style and set of features for everyone, whether you want something powerful, lightweight, or automatic.
LG is a new player in the cordless vacuum game, especially compared to seasoned brands like Dyson or Bissell. Well, they made a strong impact with thousands of consumers with the LG Cordzero A9, and it’s a vacuum we think you’ll be very impressed with as well.
LG’s cordless stick vacuum solves several issues that have plagued similar systems in the past. It has a removable battery, which will extend your cleaning time considerably. It also has a dual docking system. You can hang it on the wall like most stick vacs or use the included stand to let it charge upright in a corner. Runtime is excellent at around 40 minutes per charge, depending on the mode and your usage.
You won’t have to put holes in your wall if you own the Cordzero A9, and it’s incredibly easy to use. The controls are set on the handle, so you can change speeds or shut it with your thumb. The filters are easy to maintain and part of a 5-stage filtration system. As you’d expect, the wand is detachable if you want to use this one as a handheld, but it’s also telescopic.
Another reason this system made it to the top of our list are the cleaning nozzles. You’ll get three powered heads, two of which are full-sized with the Power Floor nozzle and Power Carpet nozzle. The Power Punch nozzle is smaller but highly effective on pet hair and upholstery as it vibrates dirt loose. Rounding out this package is a standard crevice tool and an extra battery, which gives you an extra 40 minutes of juice.
The LG Cordzero A9 checks all the right boxes on things you want from a cordless vacuum cleaner. While not the best choice for thick carpet like most cordless stick vacuums, battery life won’t be a problem with the extra power pack. You’ll be thankful for those removable batteries and thrilled with how it performs on hardwood and low pile carpet as well. This vacuum comes with a standard 1-year guarantee to go along with a 10-year warranty on the inverter motor.
Our pick for the best vacuum for hardwood floors and carpet from the upright class comes from Dyson. The latest generation of the Ball Animal 2 is a no-brainer if you’re a pet owner. It’s also highly maneuverable on hardwood and powerful enough to pull in debris before it eve reaches the brush roll.
Dyson’s popular Ball technology makes this vacuum easy to push across carpet or hardwood. It’s surprisingly agile for its size, although heavy with a weight of 17 pounds. That’s partly because of its cleaning prowess considering it’s the company’s most powerful vacuum cleaner. You will definitely notice a difference with their cyclonic system.
The bin on the Dyson Ball Animal 2 is 0.55 gallons. It’s large, and most homeowners found it easy to dump thanks to the button-based system. Consumers found it relatively easy to clean as well. It has a self-adjusting cleaning head for when you transition from hardwood to carpet, but you can also turn the motorized brush roll off.
A HEPA filter provides whole-machine filtration for the Animal 2, something you’ll be thankful for if you have pets that are heavy shedders. The flexible hose will extend your cleaning range, and the tools are solid across the board. A combination tool can help you clean hard to reach places while a tangle-free turbine tool is built for pet hair. You’ll also receive a stair tool, and all three attachments are securely stored on the vacuum.
With a 13” wide cleaning path and plenty of power, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 does not disappoint. It’s certainly not cheap, but it does an amazing job on carpet and has strong suction for hardwood floors. If budget isn’t a concern, the more expensive Animal 2 Complete is an option as well, with a total of 10 cleaning tools. This vacuum is backed by a 5-year guarantee from Dyson.
Robot vacuum cleaners get a little smarter every year, and Roomba has the market cornered when it comes to brainy bots. While most of their systems are suitable for hardwood and low pile, we chose the Roomba i7 as it strikes the right balance between price because of its price point and features.
This Roomba robot has advanced navigation. That means it uses advanced mapping technology along with iADAPT 3.0 and vSLAM to find its way around your home. It also allows you to set “Keep Out” zones, which can keep the i7 from wandering into rooms where it doesn’t belong. The robot can handle multiple floor plans, and can also sync with the companies Braava jet M6 mop bot to provide you with a total cleaning solution for your flooring.
iRobot designed the Roomba i7 with a more powerful suction system than previous generations. It’s twice as powerful as the 960 and sports Smart Charge & Resume as well. With a 7” cleaning path, it can’t cover as much ground in one pass as an upright or even a stick vacuum, but you won’t need to lift a finger until it’s time to empty the 0.1-gallon bin.
While small, the Roomba i7 has a high-efficiency filter. It can contain up to 99% of particles and allergens in the air. It’s a great feature to have, but not as impressive as the connectivity on this system. This robot vacuum cleaner comes with Wi-Fi, which allows you to use it with a mobile app. It also works with both Alexa and the Google Assistant.
The Roomba i7 may be more than a traditional vacuum cleaner, but it’s smarter than most bots from other brands. It’s perfect for hardwood and can deal with low-pile carpet, although it will struggle with certain styles or high pile like most robot vacuums. If you have pets, the bin can fill quickly, so the Roomba i7+ with its self-emptying bin could be a better option.
Our second cordless stick vacuum shares a few similarities with our first option but has a more palatable price tag and a very unique feature. While cordless vacuums are known for their versatility around your home, the Shark ION F80 actually folds in half, which is handy for more than one reason.
Does your usual cleaning routine end with a sore back from moving or bending down to clean beneath furniture? No matter how low profile a vacuum cleaner is, none can go as low as Shark ION F80. The pole bends, so you can dip under a couch or bed without breaking your back. It also bends completely in half for storage purposes, but still stands upright without assistance.
The batteries with the ION F80 are removable and rated at around 40 minutes each in ION power mode. According to the company, it will take 210 minutes to bring a battery back to a full charge. It’s comfortable to use during extended cleaning sessions but is a little heavier than other cordless vacuums at 8.6 pounds. The dust bin is of average size at 0.1 gallons and can fill rather quickly once you consider the head.
Shark’s DuoClean system is an interesting way to tackle multiple flooring surfaces. The cleaning head has two brush rolls with a bristle brush roll for carpet and a softer roller for hard surfaces. It can dig up dirt, dust, and suck up debris on a variety of flooring. It works well but is no substitute for a system with dedicated motorized heads.
Any cordless vacuum that has a removable battery has a huge advantage over other systems, and you’ll get two 40 minutes packs with the F80. That’s just a bonus, however, along with the DuoClean head as the MultiFlex system is the real star of the show, in our opinion. The Shark ION F80 cordless vacuum comes with a 5-year warranty, crevice tool, and upholstery tool.
Canister vacuums are the best option when you want to clean your home from top to bottom. The Miele Compact C2 Compact does just that thanks to a powerful 1,200-watt motor, two floor heads, and several useful accessories.
The Miele Compact C2 has 6 levels of suction control. You can adjust the power through a dial on the body of the system, and it can cover everything from rugs to hardwood, drapes, and carpet. There’s even a “quiet” mode for when you need to keep the noise levels down. The company’s Vortex motor drives the system, and when it comes to carpet, it’s hard to top the SEB 228 Electro Plus floorhead.
The carpet head features 5 levels of height adjustment along with an electric beater bar. It’s perfect for deep cleaning, but also easy to switch out when it’s time to work on your hardwood. Their Parquet Pure Suction floorhead can handle small to medium-sized debris without bogging down or clogging. The 10.5” cleaning head is behind most uprights, but performs as advertised and can clear a lot of ground for a canister vacuum.
Another reason we’re fans of this vacuum is the AirClean Sealed System. It includes a Class 13 HEPA filter, a pre-filter, and a collared dust bag with a self-locking collar. The bags are large at 3.7 quarts and reasonably priced compared to similar brands. The tools are held onto the machine with a clip and include a dusting brush, upholstery tool, and crevice tool.
The price tag of this vacuum may give you pause, but the warranty will make you feel better as you’ll get 5 years on the system and 10 years on key internal parts. It’s also their most affordable vacuum with dual cleaning heads. On the downside, it’s heavy at around 18 pounds, and while it’s easy to roll, stairs can be an issue.
Pros
Six power levels
Electric carpet head & parquet head
Top-tier filtration
Telescoping extension
Cons
The price tag
It’s heavy
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Will a vacuum cleaner damage hardwood floors?
A: If you’re concerned about scratches on hard flooring surfaces, look for a vacuum that allows you to turn off the brush roll. There are suction-only systems as well, but you shouldn’t have to worry about scratches with any high-quality vacuum.
Q: Do vacuums with higher amps have more power?
A: A vacuum cleaners amp rating only tells you how much electricity it uses, not how much airflow or suction the machine produces.
Q: Does a cordless vacuum have enough battery life to clean an entire home?
A: It depends on the size of your home and the type of flooring. On average, you can expect 20 to 40 minutes from most systems although the runtime drops with powered heads and intense cleaning modes.
Q: Why did my brushroll stop spinning?
A: While there could be a variety of reasons for that to happen, it generally means the belt is broken, there’s a clog or an electrical issue. Turn off the machine, look for any obvious issues, then consult your user manual.
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