How to choose the best vacuum cleaner or robot vacuum for you: what to check before you buy

In this guide, a robot vacuum is one that cleans by itself, a stick vacuum is a light, usually cordless one you push, and a cylinder vacuum has the motor in a box on wheels that you pull along behind a hose. Some checks only apply to one type; skip the ones that don't fit.

Why the adverts and the shop are not enough

Vacuum adverts show the best result a vacuum can reach. The detailed specifications often say something different. For example:

• The battery time in the advert may be measured on the lowest power setting.
• A high "suction power" number doesn't tell you how well it picks up dust from your floors.
• Bags, filters and brushes need replacing, and their price can add up over the years.

So check the same things for every vacuum, using the maker's own specifications and independent tests, and check the exact model number you would buy.

Before you look at any vacuum

Write down your answers to these four points. They decide which checks in the list matter most to you.

• Your floors. Carpets, rugs, hard floors, stairs, and how big your home is.
• Who lives there. Pets that shed hair, people with allergies, or small children.
• How you want to clean. A quick daily clean, a thorough weekly clean, or a robot that cleans while you are out.
• Storage and charging. Where it will be kept, and whether there is a power socket nearby for a charger or robot base. If you buy from another country, check that it and its charger work with your mains voltage and plug.

The checklist

The checks are in three groups. Must have means a problem here can make it hard to use or costly to fix. Nice to have means it makes a real difference for many people. Optional means it only matters to some people. When you open the checklist in NeutralPick, you can move any check to a different group to match your answers above.

• Must have
• Cleans your type of floor wellHow well does it pick up dust and hair from my type of floor (carpet, rugs or hard floor), in independent tests or, if there are none, detailed owner reviews?Suction numbers in adverts don't show how much dust is picked up. Independent tests measure it on different floors.
• Runs long enough, or reaches far enough, to clean your homeFor a cordless or robot vacuum, how long does one charge last on the setting I would use? For a corded one, does the cord reach every room from one socket?The advertised battery time is often on the lowest power; on full power it can be much shorter. A short cord means unplugging often.
• Running costs you can live withDoes it use bags, and how much do bags, filters, brushes and a replacement battery cost, and how often are they needed?Running costs over several years can add up to a large part of the price. Check that parts are sold in your country.
• Spare parts available for yearsCan I buy spare parts such as the battery, brushes and filters, and for how many years will they be available?If no spare battery is sold, you may have to replace the whole vacuum when the battery wears out. In the EU, new rules from 2027 require batteries that owners can replace.
• A warranty that applies where you liveHow long is the warranty in my country, does it cover the battery, and where is repair done?Some warranties cover the battery for less time than the vacuum. Your country's consumer law may give you more than the maker's warranty.
• Nice to have
• Handles pet hair and long hairDoes hair wrap around the brush, and is there a brush or tool that stops this or is easy to clear?Only matters if you have pets or long hair in the home. Owner reviews usually mention it.
• A filter suited to allergies, if neededWhat kind of filter does it have, is the whole vacuum sealed so dust doesn't leak out, and how often must the filter be changed?Only matters if someone in the home has allergies. A good filter helps little if dust leaks out elsewhere.
• Easy and clean to emptyHow is the bin or bag emptied, can I do it without touching the dust, and does a robot base empty itself?Emptying a bagless bin can release dust. Owner reviews describe how messy it is.
• Noise you can live withHow loud is it, in decibels (dB) from the maker or an independent test?Matters in flats (apartments), with babies, or if a robot cleans while you are home. Lower dB is quieter, but compare numbers from the same test or maker only.
• Optional
• For a robot: finds its way and avoids cablesFor a robot vacuum, does it map rooms, avoid cables and socks, and get stuck less often, according to independent tests?Only matters for a robot. Getting stuck is a common complaint in owner reviews.
• For a robot: works without the app or accountFor a robot vacuum, does it work without the app or an account, and what data does the app collect?Some robots map your home and need an account. Check the privacy settings and what still works without the app.
• Comfortable to carry and storeHow heavy is it, can it be carried up stairs easily, and how much space does it need when stored?Matters most for stairs and small homes. Hold one in a shop if you can.

Claims to look at carefully

Adverts and product pages often describe the points below in vague terms. When you see one, look for the specific information shown here. If you cannot find it, assume the answer is "no" or "only partly".

• A large power or suction number (in watts, air watts (AW) or pascals (Pa)). A plain watts figure is usually how much electricity the motor uses, not suction. Look for independent tests of how much dust it actually picks up on floors like yours.
• Battery time "up to" a number of minutes. Look for the time on the setting you would use, often the middle or highest.
• "Hygienic" or "allergy-friendly". Look for what kind of filter it has, and whether the maker says the whole vacuum is sealed. "HEPA-type" or "HEPA-style" does not mean a true HEPA filter; look for a filter class such as H13.
• The price. Add bags, filters, brushes and a replacement battery over the years you plan to keep it.

What to do with what you found

1. Put all the vacuums side by side.
2. Look at the Must have checks first. If a vacuum gets a No on one of your must-haves, remove it, however good the rest looks. Look closely at any Partial.
3. If two vacuums are close, read reviews from owners who have used them for several months, especially about the battery and parts.
4. Before you buy, check the shop's return policy.

Why use NeutralPick to compare vacuum cleaners

• The same checks for every vacuum. You fill in the same checklist for each vacuum you are considering, so you compare them in the same way.
• Everything in one table. You see every vacuum side by side, check by check, instead of switching between shop pages and notes.
• Nobody can pay to influence it. There are no adverts, no paid placements and no "featured" products. No maker or shop can pay to be shown to you or placed higher.
• Free, with no account. You don't need to sign up or pay anything.

Start with this checklist See an example comparison