Flooring is easy to clean when you have a great vacuum cleaner and the right tools for the job, and those attachments can work wonders on other parts of your home as well. One of the most difficult areas to clean in any home are the stairs, however, as you’ll have to deal with tight corners and can be covered in a variety of materials.
Whether your stairs are wooden or carpeted, a vacuum cleaner is usually the easiest way to keep them clean but not ideal, unless you pick the right system for your home. The best vacuum for stairs can come in many forms, and we’re going to tell you how to choose the best one based on your stairs and other factors in your home.
The first step in finding the best vacuum for stairs is to think about what’s covering them. Are your stairs made of hardwood from top to bottom, fully carpeted, or do you have a runner?
The material used will have an impact on the style of vacuum you choose. Stairs covered in soft carpet are harder to clean than bare surfaces or low pile as well. What’s on your stairs can help you decide if you need a dedicated machine or are able to use a full-sized system.
Form Factors
Stairs are hazardous by design, so the form factor of any vacuum cleaner is important. Even if you are strong enough to carry a 20 pound upright up several flights of stairs, that doesn’t mean it’s a good idea as tripping is always a concern.
You also need to consider the size of your stairwell. Do you have wide steps and plenty of elbow room, or is it cramped quarters while you clean? Size matters, which is why we are only recommending a few types of vacuums, so you won’t see any full-size uprights or robot vacuum cleaners on our list.
Handheld Vacuums – Affordable and powerful, a handheld vacuum cleaner is the lightest and easiest style to use on stairs. They are often cordless, although corded options are available if you have a lot of stairs in your home. You can also find models with attachments that work on both carpet and hardwood.
Stick Vacuums – If you need a system to use on your floor and the stairs, consider a stick vacuum. They excel on bare surfaces like tile and hardwood but are also able to handle low to medium pile carpet. Unless your stairs are covered in soft pile, stick vacuum cleaners should be high on your list. While more expensive, convertible stick vacuums can transform into a handheld.
Canister Vacuums – A canister vacuum is the only system we can recommend for true whole-house cleaning, including the stairs. Attachments allow you to clean any area of your home, and lightweight models can weigh between 8 to 10 pounds. They will hold more dirt than a handheld or stick vacuum and can be a joy to use on a stairwell when properly designed.
Do you need a Corded or Cordless Stair Vacuum?
Now that you understand which styles are ideal for stairs, it’s time to make a big decision between corded and cordless vacuum cleaners. There are obvious advantages and disadvantages to each style, during “normal” usage, but things can get tricky when you factor in one or several flights of stairs.
Battery Powered Vacuum Cleaners
If you love convenience, you’ll want to consider a cordless vacuum for your stairs. They are lightweight, easy to use, and there are a wide array of options, whether you want a handheld system or a stick vacuum. The chance of you tripping is decreased as there’s no cord to worry about, and they are typically easy to store.
The downside to a cordless vacuum is the battery life unless you are only using suction, not a motorized tool. Unfortunately, you may need those tools for carpet, although they can cut your battery life in half. The best cordless vacuums only average around 60 minutes per charge, which can drop to 20 minutes if you use Max power mode or certain tools.
Corded Vacuum Cleaners
While many manufacturers have turned to cordless vacuums, machines with a cord provide some major benefits. They are the best option for thick carpet and usually homes with pets. You need extra cleaning power to remove muddy paw prints, and a cordless system provides you with unlimited juice as long as you have access to a plug.
There’s a bit more selection with corded systems as well, considering you’ll find corded canisters, upright vacuums, and handhelds in all shapes and sizes. Weight isn’t a concern with the systems on our list, but cord length can be if you have a lot of stairs. Pricing is comparable to cordless models, although corded vacuums have the advantage in the budget to mid-range tiers.
Problems with Pets
If you have pets in your home, you need a special type of vacuum cleaner, whether you have hardwood or carpet. Unless your furry friend is fearful of stairs, you’ll need something that can tackle those as well. Unfortunately, most of the best vacuums for pet hair on carpet are heavy and not something you’ll want to drag up a flight of stairs.
Manufacturers realized the pet hair problem decades ago, so now you can find pet hair tools that will fit almost any vacuum cleaner. When you need a system for stairs that have carpet, a motorized brush roll is the best option. Those can raise the cost of a system, but you’ll be thankful to have one on hand if your pets use the stairs as much as the rest of your family.
Accessories
Vacuum cleaner tools and accessories will either save you a lot of time or give you a major headache. Depending on the type of vacuum you choose, they are something you won’t want to overlook with stairs. Canister and handheld vacuums can come with a variety of attachments, including powered heads that dig down deep into carpet fiber. You will definitely want one of those for carpeted stairs in high traffic areas.
Bare floor tools, dusting brushes, and crevice tools are common as well and can work wonders on hardwood stairs. Hoses are rare, however, and something typically reserved for corded stick vacuums. Even if you find a system that doesn’t have the accessory you need, there’s a good chance it’s available as an add-on from the manufacturer.
Durability
While many vacuum cleaners that work on stairs are relatively inexpensive, you don’t want to pick up a system only to have it die a few weeks later. It’s also important to keep the “tumble” factor in mind as well, considering we’ve seen many vacuums come to an untimely demise after falling down a flight of stairs.
Warranties for vacuum cleaners in this class are going to range between 1 – 2 years. Most people aren’t going to buy a Miele or Riccar just for stairs, so prepare for a short warranty and pay attention to the build quality. Extended warranty plans can be a great option as well; just remember to read the fine print.
The Best Vacuums for Stairs
Vacuum cleaners are lumped into a few categories based on the style of the machine. While there are several sub-categories for consumers with allergies or pets, you won’t find many vacuums geared towards cleaning stairs.
We made our selections based on the criteria in our guide while also keeping pricing and consumer feedback in mind. Several of these systems have been best sellers for years, and while all are amazing on stairs, some are capable of cleaning apartments and small households.
Shark is an excellent brand to turn to when you need an affordable and effective vacuum cleaner for your home. They produce a number of systems that are excellent on stairs, but none are as handy or compact as the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light.
Stairs are high-traffic areas, and if you have pets or children, suction just won’t cut it. The Shark Rocket Ultra-Light can clean any type of surface, but the TruePet attachment has a small motorized brush roll that gets to dirt deep within carpet fibers. As it’s corded, power won’t be a problem, which makes tough stains a thing of the past.
The cord will limit you to around 15 feet with the motorized head attached. The 500-watt motor provides excellent suction, and the bin is big enough to fit most homeowners’ needs. It’s listed at 0.1 gallons and doesn’t detach, so you’ll need to take this one to the trashcan when the bin is full. While you won’t get HEPA filtration, you can wash and reuse the filters in this system.
If you’re interested in a handheld that can clean stairs, drapes, and furniture with ease, the Shark Rocket Hand Vac may be the right choice for you. Consumers have been thrilled with its performance although it’s not the best option if you have a large flight of stairs or several staircases to contend with. The Rocket has a 5-year warranty and comes with a flexible hose, crevice tool, and dusting brush.
When you just need to clean a dozen stairs, Dyson probably isn’t the first name you think of because of the price of their systems. Well, their handheld vacuums are a different story, and while the Dyson V7 Trigger is still the most expensive hand vacuum on our list, it’s one that’s well worth your time.
This is another vacuum that’s built for carpeted stairs, although it perfect for hardwood as well. The V7 Trigger has a mini motorized head that is powered by the company’s popular digital V7 motor. It has fade-free suction for as long as the battery lasts, which will vary depending on your usage. The 22.5-volt battery is rated for 30 minutes and takes 210 minutes to get back to a full charge.
With Turbo Mode in play, the battery level will drop, so you can actually expect between 10 to 15 minutes unless you’re only using suction. Their hygienic dust bin is incredibly easy to use and keeps your hands dirt-free. Another perk is the ability to transform this model into a full-sized V7 by simply buying a third-party extension wand. While not an OEM part, it’s a trick Dyson Trigger owners have taken advantage of for years.
The Dyson V7 Trigger is one of the best vacuums for stairs, and one of the most adaptable systems on our list. There are a number of official and unofficial accessories for this vacuum, and its portable nature allows you to use it on your stairs, in the car, or anywhere in your home. The Trigger has a 2-year guarantee from Dyson and comes with a crevice and combination tools to go along with that small, motorized head.
Oreck is a brand that can be overlooked if you’re focused more on design than performance. The Oreck Super-Deluxe Compact canister vacuum is a good example of that, as it won’t win any beauty contests, but it can clean your stairs along with the rest of your home.
This mean little machine is less than 5 pounds and easy to carry thanks to the handle and an adjustable shoulder strap. It has a 20-foot cord, which gives it a nice, large cleaning radius once you factor in the flexible hose. That cord wraps around the side of the system when not in use. While we couldn’t find a bag capacity for the Super-Deluxe Compact, the company’s Posi-Lock system provides a tight seal against dust.
Stairs are no problem for this versatile machine, but dog hair on carpet could be an issue. It’s an air-based system with no powered heads, although it does come with an excellent range of tools. You’ll get a cleaning head geared towards bare surfaces, a small brush head, two extension poles, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush with this vacuum. It’s also powerful enough to lift a 16-pound bowling ball as you’ll see about 20 seconds in on the video below.
The Oreck Super-Deluxe is one of the few vacuums on our list that can clean an entire home from top to bottom as well as the stairs. That’s especially impressive given its price and how it performs compared to similar systems. While there is a newer model available with a completely different style, we chose the BB880-AD as it’s proven itself to be reliable for years.
Fashioned after a vacuum cleaner built for astronauts in the 70s, the first DustBuster took America by storm. While the cordless system has undergone some serious changes over the years, the Black+Decker DustBuster AdvancedClean+ is an interesting choice when you need portable power.
Whether you have bare stairs, a runner down the middle, or carpeted stairs, this vacuum has you covered. It comes with an extra-long crevice tool that’s wide and ideal for hardwood stairs. This particular model also comes with a motorized pet brush as well. As a bonus, the small brush roll has rubber bristles which keep it tangle-free.
There’s no HEPA filter or fancy features on the DustBuster aside from a battery indicator near the handle. It’s built for ease of use and succeeds in that regard. It’s powered by a 20-volt battery and has a runtime of around 25 minutes in eco-mode using suction or around 10 minutes on high or with the motorized tool.
The DustBuster AdvancedClean+ is available in several configurations, although we feel like this model provides the most bang for your buck with the pet brush and a larger battery. It does not come with a charging dock, however, so you’ll have to make do with a basic wall charger. This lightweight hand vacuum comes with a 2-year guarantee.
As we mentioned, handheld vacuums can come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Bissell’s Pet Hair Eraser has been a best-seller for years, and it also happens to be one of the more unique handhelds from a design standpoint.
This handheld is another multi-head system so you can use it on both bare and carpeted stairs. Neither is powered, but they are easy to swap out and perform as advertised. The suction nozzle is unremarkable, but the carpet cleaner is made of rubber with little bristles on the outside. It’s a common design with pet hair brushes and will make quick work of any pet hair on carpeted stairs.
Bissell designed the Pet Hair Eraser 33A1 with power in mind and used a cyclonic system. The curved handle is comfortable and provides easy access to the power button, and the power cord is a little longer than average at 16 feet. It has a replaceable filter and an easy to dump dust cup that’s larger than what you’ll find on similar vacuums at 0.77 liters.
Despite its odd design and the fact it’s corded, you can’t go wrong with the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser on stairs. The company has several cordless models available as well, but we felt the 33A1 is built to last longer and that rubber nozzle is as good as advertised. A longer warranty would have been nice, but you can always pick up an extended plan if you are concerned about durability.
Our first upright is a skinny system from Bissell. Dubbed the “Featherweight,” this vacuum cleaner lives up to its namesake as it tips the scales at around 3 pounds. That means it’s easy to move up and down the stairs, although that’s not the most impressive feature.
Considering all the handheld systems on our list, you might be wondering why we chose the Bissell Featherweight. Well, it’s actually a 3-in-1 as it can be used as a stick vacuum, hand vacuum, or as a miniature upright. Hand vac and mini mode are perfect for staircases, and you can attach the pole in seconds and continue your cleaning on the floor.
While the Featherweight’s convertible nature is impressive, it’s not built to deal with thick carpet but works well on hardwood, laminate, and low pile. The cord is on the shorter side at 15 feet and wraps around the back of the system when not in use. This vacuum also has a simple filtration system and a large dust bin for its size.
There’s a lot to like with the Bissell Featherweight 20344 as it’s relatively quiet and very budget-friendly. Consumers found this system easy to clean and were surprised by its suction even if a little underwhelmed by the cord length.
While we’re big fans of Black and Decker’s DustBuster, sometimes you need something that’s a little more versatile. Their cordless Max Flex handheld vacuum certainly fits that bill as this cordless system walks a fine line between a handheld and canister vacuum.
This vacuum is another handheld designed to provide a lot of power from a small package. It’s powered by a 20-volt battery, which can provide around 15 minutes per charge. You’ll get fade-free suction but will have to wait around 4 to 5 hours to recharge the Black+Decker 20V Max Flex. That’s par for the course when dealing with handhelds this size, and the only real drawback with this one.
With a weight of 3.2 pounds, this vacuum is comfortable in hand. The 4-foot expendable hose allows you to set this system on the stairs while you clean, and the bin can hold plenty of dirt at around 17 ounces. A multi-stage filtration system is another highlight of this hand vac along with the rubber pet hair brush, 2-in-1 nozzle, and crevice tool.
Stairs, area rugs, and drapes are no match for the Black+Decker Max Flex, even if you’ll need to take a long break if it runs out of juice. Consumers found this handheld comfortable to use and easy to empty as well. This cordless system comes with a 2-year warranty from Black+Decker.
If you’re still with us and haven’t found the best vacuum for stairs in your household, you’ve probably noticed we’ve leaned towards lightweight systems for obvious reasons. Well, none can top the Shark WANDVAC WV201 in that regard, and it’s incredibly powerful for its size.
We’ve called other handhelds lightweight, but the WANDVAC trumps them with a weight of 1.4 pounds. It’s tiny, but still capable of sucking up larger debris along with pet hair, dust and anything else on your stairs. Its size makes it perfect for those areas, especially cramped stairwells, where a larger vacuum will put your elbow into a wall.
This sleek hand vacuum has a small charging station that can also handle a few tools. The runtime is far from the best, and something Shark typically doesn’t discuss. That means you can expect around 10 minutes per charge with a recharging time of 2.5 hours. That will rule out the Shark WANDVAC if you have multiple sets of stairs to deal with, but it’s certainly suitable a single set with light carpeting or hardwood.
If you’re not turned off with the battery life, the Shark WV201 WANDVAC is well worth a look. It’s the type of hand vacuum you don’t mind leaving out as it’s classy, and it’s an excellent size to handle other cramped areas in your home that need a quick cleaning. This tiny vacuum is backed by a 2-year warranty and comes with a brush and crevice tool.
There’s a good chance you’ve never heard of MOOSOO unless you are a vacuum cleaner expert with a knack for foreign brands. While the K17 is the only complete full-sized stick vacuum on our list, it’s also a great choice for stairs as it provides a lot of bang for your buck.
The K17 is a cordless stick vacuum that’s comparable to the Dyson line when it comes to design. It has a similar form factor, and the main machine detaches from the pole, which allows you to use the vacuum in handheld mode. That also means you can pop the pole loose to use it on stairs, but that’s not the only reason we chose this system.
MOOSOO included a lot of accessories with this vacuum, so you’ll get an extension hose, crevice tool, two 2-in-1 brushes, a mini motorized tool, and a full-sized motorized floor head with LED lights. Any of these attachments will snap directly to the head, which gives you more ways to clean your stairs. The 200-watt motor is powerful, and while the battery life is average at 10 to 30 minutes depending on your usage, it’s detachable, which is a huge perk.
The price of the MOOSOO K17 makes it an attractive option, especially when you consider what it can do compared to a “normal” handheld in this range. If you already have a stick vacuum in your home, you’ll want to look elsewhere, but it’s a great option for stairs and highly regarded by homeowners as well.
Some canister vacuums can be a real drag to move around your home, but that’s not the case with the Atrix Lil Red AHSC-1. This system was designed for whole-house cleaning, although its size makes it a great option for stairs as well.
At 1,200 watts, the Lil Red is one of the more powerful vacuums on our list. You won’t run out of juice thanks to a 16.5 foot, which retracts into the base for easy storage. The head isn’t the best choice for soft, thick carpet, but can cut an 8” path through dirt thanks to its wide cleaning head. Tools like the short carpet tool and furniture brush are also handy on stairs along with other areas of your home.
The filtration system on the AHSC-1 is also noteworthy as its 3-stages with HEPA filtration to go along with a washable pre-filter and exhaust filter. You can adjust the suction with a dial on the base of this little canister and won’t be turned off by the weight considering it only weighs 6.5 pounds. While not on par with a canister from Miele, it will get the job done, performs admirably, and is easy to use.
Atrix makes some interesting vacuums, and this one is a great option for smaller homes or stairs. It won’t take up a lot of space in a closet and has features usually found on higher-priced machines like cord rewind, HEPA filtration, and a variable speed motor. The warranty is a little shorter than we’d like at 1-year, but that’s one of the few drawbacks of this diminutive little system.
Pros
Adjustable speed
Great accessories
3-stage filtration
Retractable cord
Cons
Short warranty
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is a beater bar the same as a brush roll?
A: No, although the terms are used interchangeably. A beater bar uses vibration to loosen dirt while a “brush” roll has bristles like a hair brush.
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: What’s a vacuum with a sealed system?
A: When you hear that term, it means the manufacturer has designed their machine to keep dust in so it won’t leak from the vacuum while you are cleaning.
Q: How often will I need to clean or maintenance my robot vacuum?
A: While it’s a good idea to give them a quick dusting with every cycle, the frequency of cleaning depends on the brand and manufacturer.
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