A stick vacuum is best suited to quick, frequent clean-ups, especially in a smaller home. For longer cleaning sessions, larger areas or carpets that need regular attention, a cylinder vacuum is worth considering: Que Choisir sees stick models mainly as a supplementary appliance and recommends checking the cleaning results for the specific model.
The size of your home matters, but the length of your cleaning sessions and the floor coverings you need to clean can also influence your choice.
If you reach for the vacuum often for a quick clean, a stick model is easy to handle and store. However, check its run time in the mode you’ll actually use. Que Choisir sees stick vacuums primarily as a supplementary cleaning option.
For longer cleaning sessions across hard floors, rugs, carpets and furniture, take a look at cylinder vacuums and their accessories. The operating radius, capacity and test results on your floor coverings can help you choose between models.
If you need to remove pet hair from fabrics, check the brush supplied and test results on fibres. If you’re concerned about contact with dust when emptying the vacuum, compare bagged collection with emptying a bin. These needs alone won’t determine which type is right for every home.
First decide whether you’ll mainly use the vacuum for quick clean-ups or a full house clean, then compare each model with your floors and cleaning routine in mind.
Consider one: for frequent clean-ups, when being able to get the vacuum out and put it away quickly matters.
The trade-off: if you want it to be your only vacuum, check that the run time in the mode you need and its test results on your floors are suitable for a full clean.
Consider one: for longer cleaning sessions or if you want to minimise contact with dust when emptying the vacuum.
The trade-off: you’ll need access to a plug socket and to replace the bags with compatible ones.
Consider one: if you’d prefer a cylinder vacuum that doesn’t use bags.
The trade-off: you’ll need to empty the bin and maintain the filters. According to Que Choisir’s guide, bagged cylinder vacuums clean more effectively than bagless models.
| Criteria | What to check | To suit your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Length of cleaning sessions | For a stick vacuum, compare the run time in the mode you actually need and the charging time. For a cylinder vacuum, check the operating radius and the capacity of the bag or bin. | I want to finish my usual clean without stopping to recharge or empty the vacuum. |
| Floors and fabrics | Check test results for rugs, carpets, hard floors and parquet gaps, as well as the brushes included in the exact bundle. Que Choisir’s tests assess cleaning performance on different floor coverings. | If I have rugs or pet hair on fabrics, I look at cleaning results and accessories rather than relying on a single power figure. |
| Handling and storage | Consider the weight you’ll need to carry, how much space it takes up when stored, whether it has a cable and how easily you can reach furniture or stairs. | If I get the vacuum out several times a week to clean small areas, ease of use matters just as much as how long it can run during a longer session. |
| Dust collection and maintenance | Check how to empty the bin or change the bag, which product codes are compatible and how to maintain the filters and brushes. | I prefer a collection method I can maintain regularly, especially if handling dust bothers me. |
A run time quoted for a lower-power mode doesn’t necessarily reflect how long the vacuum will last on carpets or at a higher power setting.
Check which mode the quoted run time applies to, then look for run-time measurements in the mode you’ll need. Que Choisir’s test protocol distinguishes between these testing conditions.
A single figure doesn’t tell you how much dust or fibre the vacuum will actually remove from your floors.
Look for tests carried out in comparable conditions on the floor coverings you have. Que Choisir assesses the cleaning performance of cylinder vacuums on carpets, tiles and parquet, among other surfaces.
The bag needs replacing as you use the vacuum, so finding the right product code is part of choosing your model.
Check which bags are compatible before you choose, then compare changing the bag with emptying the bin and maintaining the filters on a bagless model.
Published specifications apply to a particular appliance and set of usage conditions; they aren’t a health guarantee.
Check the maintenance instructions for the filters on your chosen model and, if this is a deciding factor, look for filtration test results for that specific model.
These ranges show some of the formats and features you can compare. Manufacturer claims don’t replace test results for the model you choose.
Rowenta’s range includes the X-Force Flex 14.80 Animal stick vacuum and the Compact Power bagged cylinder vacuum.
Bosch’s French range includes bagged cylinder vacuums, with different variants designed for different uses.
Philips bagless cylinder vacuums are worth considering if you’d rather empty a bin than replace bags.
The Dyson V11 Fluffy is an example of a cordless stick vacuum to consider if quoted run time is important to your choice.
This selection includes two cylinder vacuums, one bagged and one bagless, as well as three cordless models for quick clean-ups or above-floor surfaces. Compare each model with the length of your cleaning sessions and the floor coverings you need to clean in mind.
Image unavailable
This corded cylinder vacuum with a bag is worth considering for longer cleaning sessions. If you have rugs or carpets, compare its cleaning results on these surfaces and check the product code for compatible bags.
Image unavailable
This 900 W bagless cylinder vacuum is worth comparing if you want to clean several types of surface without replacing bags. Remember to empty the bin and maintain the filters. For carpets, check test results for this specific model rather than assuming how well it cleans based on its power rating.
Image unavailable
This cordless stick vacuum is worth considering for frequent clean-ups and above-floor surfaces. Its product title claims up to 65 minutes of run time. Check which mode this applies to, and look at its results on carpets if you need it to handle all your cleaning.
Image unavailable
This rechargeable stick vacuum is worth considering for frequent cleaning without a cable. Its product title claims 60 minutes of run time, but doesn’t specify how long it lasts in the mode you’ll need. Cleaning performance claims vary between descriptions of this variant, so don’t rely on them alone to judge how well it cleans carpets.
Image unavailable
This convertible model is worth considering for quick clean-ups, especially on furniture or in the car. Its product title claims 40 minutes of run time. Check how long it lasts in the mode you’ll use, and which configuration and accessories are included if you want to use it as your main stick vacuum.
Compare run times measured at the same power setting rather than relying on the maximum figures quoted. Que Choisir’s test protocol also measures charging time and noise, so compare these results with the length of your usual cleaning session.
Not necessarily. Pet hair mainly means you should check test results on fibres and look for brushes suited to the surfaces you need to clean. For a sofa or stairs, check which accessories are included in the exact bundle; for carpets, look at the model’s cleaning results.
A bagged cylinder vacuum is worth considering if you’re concerned about this, as you won’t need to empty a bin directly. Also check how to change the bag, maintain the filters and the design of the model. None of these features alone is a health guarantee.
Look for cleaning measurements on each of your floor coverings, as well as in parquet gaps if that’s relevant to your home. Que Choisir’s test protocols distinguish between these surfaces. For a stick vacuum, also compare the run time in the mode you’ll use and how easy it is to maintain.