Best Deals on Vacuums

This Black+Decker POWERSERIES Extreme BSV2020P vacuum performs well in CR’s tests overall but struggles with edge cleaning. A few pluses: It’s self-standing, has a brush on/off switch, and features a filter cleaning dial that empties the filter dust into the dustbin to prevent your hands from getting dirty. In CR tests, it runs for about 30 minutes per charge on low and 10 minutes on high. The batteries can be used in other Black+Decker products. A few caveats: If you grab the dustbin while vacuuming, it may disengage. The vac is also a bit wobbly in self-standing mode.

The Shark PowerDetect IP1251 was as low as $320 during the last big sale, so it may get cheaper closer to Labor Day. It comes with lots of bells and whistles, including a dirt detection feature and a floor detect mode that adjusts the brush roll speed based on the surface it’s vacuuming. It’s very good at sucking up debris from carpets and is even more impressive at picking up pet hair. The vacuum can be converted into a hand vac and folded for storage.

It doesn’t come with tons of extra features, but the Shark Matrix RV2310AE gets the job done when it comes to cleaning. It’s excellent at picking up pet hair and does an exemplary job at sucking up debris from bare floors. While its dustbin is relatively small, our testers say it’s very easy to empty the dustbin and to clean the filter.

The Dyson 360 vis nav, typically $350, stands out for its unique features and powerful cleaning performance despite some limitations and its high price. It’s on the heavy side but compensates with extremely strong suction, effectively picking up pet hair and embedded dirt. Instead of a conventional side brush, it uses an extending side duct to tackle edges and corners. It also has a large brush roll that spans the full size of the vacuum for effective cleaning, and though its dustbin is relatively small, it’s equipped with a convenient one-touch ejection system for easy emptying.

The Bissell FlexClean FurForce 4270L is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to both vacuuming and mopping functions. However, compared to some other robot vacuum-and-mop combos we’ve tested, it lacks certain amenities. The base automatically empties the device’s dustbin, but you’ll need to clean the device’s mopping pads and refill the robot with cleaning formula yourself. Its current price matches the lowest price we’ve seen this model sell for this year.

The GorFanty 10-in-1 MultiPurpose is only $10 more than its lowest price. It’s an excellent cleaner that can produce steam for a decent amount of time. We like that you can adjust the length of the mop to accommodate users of different heights. The mop comes with plenty of accessories, including attachments for cleaning tile grout, clothes, furniture, windows, and carpets.

It’s hard to find fault with the Tineco Floor One S5, which is exemplary at cleaning stains off of ceramic tiles and producing steam. It also scores a very good rating on our convenience test, meaning it’s easy and comfortable to use.

For those looking for a vacuum that cleans carpets well, the bagless Shark Navigator Professional NV360 sucks up detritus from carpets better than all the other vacuums in the upright category. It’s also superb at picking up pet hair. One of our favorite features of this model is its lift-away functionality. You can detach the vacuum "pod" to allow for easier cleaning of stairs and the spaces under your furniture. As a brand, Shark vacuums get solid ratings in reliability and top-mark scores in owner satisfaction based on our member surveys.

The Shark PowerDetect AZ4002 tackles cleaning jobs with ease. It’s also fairly quiet and comes packed with handy features, among them a dirt sensor that automatically boosts power to pull up more debris. It can detect floor types and adjust the speed of its brush rolls accordingly. For those who hate having to extricate hair from a vacuum’s brush rolls, the PowerDetect’s rolls are designed with a self-cleaning feature to guard against entanglements. This is just $50 more than the lowest price, and while other retailers recenrtly offered the sale price as well, only Walmart has a discount right now.

The Tineco Floor One S3 Smart Wet Dry Vacuum Cleaner Mop can pick up dry debris such as rice, cereal, and sand with aplomb. It’s also very good at cleaning wet spills and removing stains. Another plus: it boasts one of the longest run times among the models we’ve seen, so you won’t have to stop and recharge the combo vacuum-mop in the middle of your cleaning. It’s now $30 less than the lowest price we’ve seen in months.

This Kenmore 200 Series 81214 performs quite well in CR cleaning tests, with a strong score for cleaning carpets and suction power, while its ability to clean bare floss and pet hair is stellar. Negatives? Handling is average and it’s one of the noisier canisters. Differences from the 400 Series: the on/off switch is on the body, it has a different type of suction control, and there’s no telescopic wand.

The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Pet is a great choice thanks to its strong performance—it scores very well in our tests for cleaning, drying, and convenience. We especially like that it has separate tanks for clean and dirty water. But it’s not especially quiet, with noise levels similar to other high-ranking models in our tests, and it can be quite heavy at 31 pounds when full (and 22 pounds empty). Its hose is a little under 7 feet, and it can cover an area of 39 square feet per tank of solution. In terms of accessories, it comes with a 2-in-1 pet upholstery tool and a 6-inch tough stain tool—making it especially handy if you have stairs to clean and want to use it on large furniture, too. Plus, it comes with two types of cleaning solutions. But it does cost around $100 more than the higher-performing Bissells in our ratings, so it’s definitely better to buy it when it’s on sale.

The Shark PowerDetect HZ4002 does an admirable job of cleaning bare floors and does almost as well on carpet. It features an auto-detect mode that adjusts the brush roll speed to the surface, transitioning efficiently between the two. It can be pulled apart for compact storage, allowing it to stand on its own and take up minimal space. This model even delivers powerful suction in reverse for more efficient cleaning in both a forward and backward motion. We’ve seen it sell at lower prices this year, but this is still a pretty good discount.

The Black+Decker Flex BDH2020FL is impressive at cleaning, though it’s a bit noisy. We like that its dustbin is larger than most, so you won’t have to stop to empty it as often when you’re cleaning. It also comes with a long 4-foot hose, making it easier for you to access hard-to-reach places. Its current discount is on a par with the lowest price we’ve seen this vacuum sell for this year.

If you’re tired of lugging around a heavy hand vacuum while cleaning, you should consider the Shark Ion W1 WV201. At 1.4 pounds, it’s one of the lightest hand vacs we’ve tested. And despite its strong cleaning performance, it’s also fairly quiet. The downside is that its bin is on the small side, so you have to empty it frequently when tackling big messes.

The $79 sale price we saw recently has passed, but you’re still saving a nice chunk on a trusty vac, especially compared to prices at other retailers.