In a studio flat with lots of furniture, choose a stick vacuum if you need to move between pieces of furniture and put the appliance away quickly. A compact cylinder vacuum is worth considering if you prefer a corded appliance with a capacity suited to your cleaning routine. A robot vacuum is suitable for regular upkeep only if the floor is clear and there’s a permanent place for its dock. Whichever type you choose, check how much space the whole set-up takes up, the accessories included and how well it performs on your flooring.
You need to manoeuvre between furniture, reach walkways and find somewhere to keep the appliance without taking up space in a cupboard. UFC-Que Choisir highlights how useful easy storage can be in a small home.
You plan to clean your entire home with the same appliance. In that case, battery life in the mode you use, dust container capacity and performance on your flooring matter just as much as how easy it is to store.
You can clear the floor before the robot runs and take care of its maintenance. The location of the dock and how well the model performs on your flooring are still key: UFC-Que Choisir finds that robot vacuum performance varies depending on the type of floor.
In a small furnished home, first choose the type that suits the space you have for moving around, storage and maintenance. Then compare models on your flooring.
Worth considering: for frequent cleaning between furniture and quick storage. Les Numériques notes that some stick vacuums can be used as the main appliance in small and medium-sized homes.
Bear in mind: battery life at high power and dust container capacity can limit longer cleaning sessions. UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking beyond the maximum battery life stated by the manufacturer.
Worth considering: if you prefer a corded appliance and want to check whether the bag or dust container has enough capacity for your cleaning routine.
Bear in mind: you’ll need to be able to move and store the body, tube, hose and cable in your home.
Worth considering: for regular cleaning on a clear floor, if you have a permanent spot for the dock.
Bear in mind: a compact dock means more manual maintenance, while a more comprehensive station takes up more space. UFC-Que Choisir notes that vacuuming results vary depending on the type of floor.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Manoeuvrability and corners | Check the width of the vacuum head, whether it can reach under furniture and whether it comes with a crevice tool. | If walkways are narrow and skirting boards are hard to reach, I want to be able to manoeuvre without constantly moving furniture. Around 36% of consumers would put manoeuvrability first. |
| Storage space | Measure the appliance with its tube and accessories stored, or the permanent space needed for a robot’s dock. | When the cupboard is already full, my main concern is storing everything without losing useful floor space. This would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Cleaning with one main appliance | Compare performance on your flooring and dust container capacity. For a stick vacuum, check battery life in the mode you need and charging time. | With rugs or longer cleaning sessions, I want to avoid stopping to recharge or empty the appliance. Around 21% of consumers would make this their priority. |
| Automated cleaning | Look at the type of station, how much space it takes up and what maintenance you’ll still need to do yourself. | If the floor can be cleared regularly, I’d rather schedule cleaning runs, while accepting that I’ll need to prepare and maintain the robot. For around 14% of consumers, automation would be the main priority. |
UFC-Que Choisir says that the battery life quoted is generally measured at the lowest power setting. It may not reflect how long you can clean a rug at high power.
Compare battery life in the mode you’ll use, charging time and whether the battery can be replaced.
An emptying or washing station can take up valuable space in a walkway. A simple charging dock takes up less room, but you’ll have to empty the dust container and handle other maintenance yourself.
Measure the permanent space you have in mind, including clearance around the dock, then decide which tasks you actually want to automate.
According to UFC-Que Choisir, robot vacuum performance varies depending on the type of flooring, and results are not always convincing. You’ll also still need to maintain the dust container.
Before relying on a robot as your only appliance, check how it performs on your types of flooring and make sure it can move around your home without obstruction.
ADEME says that corded, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners are all covered by the repairability index. A model’s score doesn’t remove the need to check that the parts and consumables you’ll need are available.
Check the rating shown for the exact model, then separately check the availability of filters, brushes, batteries or bags, as applicable.
These brands give you a range of types to explore. It’s the specific model, rather than the brand name, that needs to suit your home.
A brand to explore if you’re comparing stick, cylinder and robot vacuums.
A brand featured in the stick and cylinder vacuum categories covered by French comparison sites.
A brand to consider when comparing stick vacuums and some cylinder models.
A brand to look at if you’re considering a robot vacuum and need to find a spot for its dock.
These models let you explore three ways to clean a small home: two stick vacuums for moving between furniture, two corded cylinder vacuums and a robot for clear floors. Compare how much space they need for storage before choosing.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want a stick vacuum that can be used as a handheld for cleaning corners, without relying on a battery.
The title lists a 5 m cable, 18 kPa suction and a HEPA filter. Check that the cable won’t get in the way and that you have room to store the whole appliance.
Image unavailable
A cordless design could suit you if you often need to manoeuvre between closely spaced furniture.
The title lists up to 55 minutes of battery life, 55 kPa and 550 W, as well as a charging dock. To decide whether it could be your only vacuum cleaner, compare battery life in the mode you’ll use, charging time and the space the dock needs.
Image unavailable
This corded cylinder vacuum is for anyone who would rather not recharge a stick vacuum.
Before choosing it for a studio flat, measure the space you’ll need for the body, hose, tube and accessories together. Also compare its performance on your flooring rather than relying solely on the power stated in the title.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you want a corded cylinder vacuum with a bag as your main appliance.
Check that you can move and store the body, hose and tube in your home, and that you’re happy with the bags made for this model.
Image unavailable
This robot is worth considering for scheduled cleaning on clear floors, as long as you can make room for its station.
The title lists 8,000 Pa suction, up to 180 minutes of battery life and 3D obstacle avoidance. These figures don’t replace performance results for your flooring. Also check the clearance needed around the station and what maintenance you’ll still need to do.
No. Compare how long each one runs in the mode and with the brush you’ll use. UFC-Que Choisir says the maximum battery life quoted is generally measured at the lowest power setting. If the stick vacuum will handle all your cleaning, check the charging time too.
It depends on how well it performs on your flooring and how easy it is to move around your home. Don’t assume it will replace a manual appliance. UFC-Que Choisir finds that performance varies depending on the type of flooring. Also check how much space the dock needs and what maintenance the robot requires.
Choose according to the permanent space you have available and the tasks you’re happy to do yourself. A simple compact dock charges the robot but doesn’t empty its dust container. A station with additional functions needs more room.
Check the repairability rating shown for the specific model and find out which parts and consumables it needs. ADEME says that corded, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners are covered by this index. The rating doesn’t remove the need to check separately whether parts for the model are available.