Vacuuming your floors regularly is essential for a healthy home, but finding the best vacuum for carpet can be a daunting task. You need a certain amount of suction power to get the dirt and dust out of carpets, which means that some machines that clean perfectly well on hard floors may not be up to the task. And while there are plenty of options out there, how do you find one that can help you clean thoroughly without breaking the bank?
In our carefully curated guide, our experts have done the legwork for you, by testing and reviewing vacuum cleaners of all shapes and sizes. We've got hands-on and in-depth with every model below, considering factors such as suction power, battery life, maneuverability and special features, to help you find the best vacuum cleaner for your needs. You might be tempted to narrow things down to the best cordless vacuums, but bear in mind that corded models tend to have more outright power, which is especially important when dealing with carpet – so it's worth keeping them in the mix.
So whether you're dealing with medium or deep pile carpets, we've got you covered. Our best vacuum for carpet selections range from budget-friendly vacs to premium models packed with cutting-edge tech.
The quick list
Best overall
This cordless Dyson may be getting on in years but it's affordable and does a brilliant job on carpets, although a limited battery life means it's best for smaller homes and apartments.
Most versatile
The Shark Stratos Cordless is great at suction and hair removal, it'll auto-adjust its power as needed, and its flexible wand can get anywhere, even under furniture.
Best suction
If your carpets are matted with pet hair, this cordless vac will take it all in its stride. It delivers amazing suction for a cordless vac, and it's lightweight and comfortable to use.
Best upright
With an innovative anti-odor puck, this Shark upright keeps carpets smelling fresh. You also get top suction and anti-hair wrap tech, but bear in mind this one's corded, bulky and quite heavy.
Best premium
Got a big budget? If money's no object this Dyson is an outstanding choice. It's powerful with top end features including a dust-seeking laser and an LCD screen.
The best vacuum for carpet 2024: picked by experts
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Best vacuum for carpet overall
Dyson is a huge name in vacuums, and one that generally commands a premium. But this 2016 cordless model has become increasingly affordable in recent years, making it the best vacuum for carpets, particulaly for anyone who wants to buy into this premium brand at a more affordable price.
Despite being eight years old, the Dyson V8 offers strong suction power, versatility, and good battery life. Its two-in-one design allows it to function as both a stick vacuum and a handheld unit, with various attachments for different cleaning tasks. It has a 0.54L dustbin capacity and as you'd expect, uses Dyson's cyclone technology for efficient dirt separation.
In practice, our reviewer found the V8 lightweight and easy to maneuver, and while it lacks some of the advanced features found in newer Dyson models, such as an LCD screen or automatic suction adjustment, it still delivered impressive cleaning performance. It comes in various versions with different accessories, but all share the same core technology.
The vacuum provides up to 40 minutes of battery life on its standard setting, though this drops to about seven minutes on the maximum power mode. Given that it takes up to five hours to recharge, this means the V8 may not be the best option for large houses. Those with smaller homes to clean, though, will enjoy its cleaning prowess, versatility and excellent accessories.
Read our full Dyson V8 review
Best for versatility
The Shark Stratos Cordless is a great choice if you need a really versatile vacuum for carpet. Our reviewer found it to be a powerful cleaning device, with strong suction capabilities and effective hair removal, plus the ability to spot dust and dirt with an infrared sensor and automatically adjust the suction power accordingly, which meant she never had to run over the same area more than twice.
Thanks to a flexible wand that bends in half at the click of a button, our tester found that it made for easy cleaning under furniture without squatting or bending over, which makes a real difference if you find vacuuming a strain on your back.
Other great features include a swiveling floor head with LED headlights, odor-neutralizing technology, and a design that prevents hair wrap around the brush rolls. Plus this stick vacuum can convert to a handheld unit for added versatility. Battery life is impressive, too, lasting up to 60 minutes in ECO mode, which is typically sufficient for cleaning a mid-to-large-sized home. And the battery recharges in just three hours, which is pretty quick for this type of device.
We rate the Shark Stratos Cordless as the best vacuum for pet hair, and it runs the Dyson V8 at #1 a very close second if you need the best vacuum for carpet. It's certainly a strong choice for those seeking a versatile and powerful cordless cleaning solution for carpets.
Read our full Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum cleaner review
Best vacuum for suction
Cordless vacuums are convenient, but they often lack suction compared with their corded counterparts. The Halo Capsule X, however, is a notable exception and really impressed us in our tests. Our reviewer found it excelled at picking up various debris types from both medium and deep-pile carpets, from fine flour to large cornflakes, as well as proving effective at collecting pet hair.
Not only that, but the vacuum operates quietly and is lightweight and comfortable to use, with good maneuverability. Unlike many modern vacuums, this device uses a bagged system with a large 2-liter capacity, which is made from compostable materials. This design allows for easy, dust-free emptying and the ability to vacuum fine particles without damaging the motor.
We found the battery and motor housing, while bulky-looking, don't interfere with arm movement during use. The Capsule X comes with two batteries, providing up to 50 minutes of runtime in medium power mode. The Pet Max bundle includes two motorized floor heads, a motorized pet brush, and additional tools for detailed cleaning.
On the downside, while the vacuum performs excellently in stick mode, its bulky design makes it somewhat awkward to use in handheld mode, particularly for car cleaning. Overall, though, the Halo Capsule X stands out for its impressive performance, large dust capacity, and eco-friendly bagged system, although it does lack some of the high-tech features found in other vacuums.
Read our full Halo Capsule X Pet Max review
Best upright vacuum for carpet
Don't want to wait around for batteries to recharge? If you're looking for a corded model, this is the best upright vacuum we can recommend for carpet.
While it's a little on the bulky and heavy side, this vacuum has been designed with maneuverability in mind. Our reviewer particularly liked how you can detach the main unit from the floorhead and attach the wand, making it easier to clean under furniture. Another favorite feature was its exceptional hair pickup capability, complemented by anti-hair wrap technology in the cleaner head that prevents hair from tangling around the dual brushrolls. This makes it particularly effective and low-maintenance for pet owners.
Then there's the innovative anti-odor cartridge system, which keeps both the machine and floors smelling fresh, a feature which worked well in practice in our testing. The Stratos Upright also boasts an anti-allergen complete seal, which captures and traps 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum.
Note that unlike the Stratos Cordless at #1, this vacuum doesn't include Shark's Clean Sense IQ tech, which senses how much dirt is on a floor and adjusts the suction power accordingly. However, its impressive performance and useful features make it a strong contender for anyone who's more interested in cleaning power than the lightweight maneuverability of cordless options.
Read our full Shark Stratos Upright review
Best premium vacuum for carpet
Have money to splurge, and want the best vacuum for carpet that money can buy? You need the Dyson V15 Detect: a high-end cordless vacuum cleaner that offers powerful suction and innovative features. It's the most advanced vacuum in Dyson's lineup, with features including a laser that highlights microscopic dust on hard floors and a piezo sensor that counts and identifies dust particles. This info is handily displayed on an LCD screen, along with battery life and power settings.
Our reviewer found that its 230 air watts of suction power made for effective cleaning of both carpets and hard floors. Battery life ranges from 15 to 60 minutes depending on the power setting, and the battery is swappable for extended cleaning sessions. That's pretty handy, given that this vacuum takes five hours to recharge.
The V15 Detect can convert to a handheld unit for versatile cleaning, though it's somewhat heavy in this mode. It comes with various attachments, including a high torque cleaning head that automatically adjusts power based on floor type and dust levels. You also get an anti-tangle hair screw tool for pet hair and a soft roller head for hard floors.
On the downside, it can be noisy at maximum power and the dust bin is average-sized, which may require frequent emptying in larger homes. On the whole, though, the Dyson V15 Detect is a top-tier vacuum for those who want powerful suction and advanced cleaning technology.
Read our full Dyson V15 Detect Absolute review
Best vacuum for carpet FAQs
What type of vacuum is best for carpet?
When choosing a vacuum cleaner for carpets, there are several types and features to consider, and each has its own pros and cons. So it's a matter of weighing these up in terms of your own specific needs and home layout.
To start with, upright vacuums are known for their powerful suction and wide cleaning path. They often come with rotating brushes, aka beater bars, that are effective at deep cleaning carpets. However, they can be heavy, bulky and difficult to maneuver around furniture, making them best suited for large carpeted areas and homes with high-pile or plush carpets.
In contrast, cordless vacuums offer more versatility and are easier to maneuver around and under furniture and on stairs. They also usually come with a variety of attachments for specific tasks. They are generally not as powerful as upright vacuums for deep carpet cleaning, but are still a good choice for homes with a mix of carpeted floors, hard floors and area rugs.
Robot vacuums can also be a good choice for carpets, providing you use them regularly, as they typically don't provide the same deep cleaning as other vacuums. These devices generally perform better on low to medium-pile carpets, but high-pile or shag carpets may pose challenges.
How to choose the best vacuum for carpet
When selecting the ideal vacuum cleaner for your carpets, several key factors come into play. Perhaps most obviously, suction power is crucial for effectively removing dirt and debris from carpet fibers, so look for models with strong performance in this area. A motorized brush roll is also useful, as it agitates the carpet to loosen embedded dirt. Some vacuums offer adjustable brush rolls to accommodate different carpet heights.
You'll also need to decide between corded models, which offer consistent power, and cordless options that provide greater mobility. Consider the vacuum's weight and maneuverability, especially if you have stairs or multiple levels in your home. For more on this, read our article on the disadvantages of a cordless vacuum cleaner.
There's also a choice to be made between bagged and bagless models depends on whether you suffer from allergies. If you have pets, seek out vacuums with specialized pet hair removal features. And if noise is a concern, look for quieter models.
Attachments can greatly enhance a vacuum's versatility, so consider what tools are included. Also, some high-end models offer smart features like automatic suction adjustment or app connectivity. However, you'll need to balance all these things against price, because the most expensive vacuum won't represent overall value for money if you don't use all of the features.
