For a thorough clean of hard floors and carpets, compare performance on each surface and check which brush is included before choosing a cylinder vacuum. Decide whether you’d prefer a bagged or bagless model based on how you want to empty it. For quick clean-ups, a cordless stick vacuum is easier to manoeuvre, but check the battery life at the setting you’ll use. A robot vacuum can handle scheduled cleaning, provided it performs well on your carpets and its maintenance suits your needs, as UFC-Que Choisir points out.
If your home has a mix of hard floors and rugs or fitted carpets, compare performance on each surface and check which brush is included with the exact model you’re considering. UFC-Que Choisir assesses performance on different types of flooring.
A bag can be removed and thrown away, while a dust container needs emptying and cleaning. UFC-Que Choisir notes that cleaning a bagless vacuum’s container can expose you to more dust; this does not mean it offers any medical benefit.
A cordless stick vacuum can be handy for quick manual clean-ups, while a robot vacuum can be programmed to clean if it can access the rooms. With either type, consider the battery life or how you’ll maintain the dust container, depending on the model.
UFC-Que Choisir’s guides and test methods assess performance on different floor types. Compare these results with how you prefer to empty the vacuum and how often you want to clean.
| What matters to you | What to check before buying | Who prioritises it most |
|---|---|---|
| Performance on hard floors and carpets | Compare test results for each surface and check which brush is included with the exact model. | When my home has tiles, wooden floors and rugs, I want to compare performance on the surfaces I actually clean. Around 33% of consumers prioritise performance across different floor types. |
| Handling dust | Check how to remove the bag or empty the container, and how to maintain the filter. | If I’d rather remove a bag than empty and clean a container, the maintenance routine is what guides my choice. Around 27% of consumers put this first. |
| Easy handling for quick clean-ups | Compare the weight you’ll need to handle, the battery life at the setting you need and the brush suited to your floors. | For a quick clean without having to move a cable, I check that a stick vacuum is easy to manoeuvre and lasts long enough on the setting I need. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Scheduled cleaning with a robot vacuum | Check performance on carpets, along edges and in corners, as well as how the vacuum is emptied. | If I want to schedule cleaning in rooms the robot can access, I also check which areas might need a manual clean afterwards. Around 20% of consumers prioritise this automation. |
Motor power alone doesn’t tell you how well a vacuum will perform on different surfaces: the floorhead and performance on the surface in question also matter, according to UFC-Que Choisir.
Compare test results for the floors in your home and check which floorhead comes with the exact model.
A dust container needs emptying and cleaning, while a full bag can be removed and thrown away. UFC-Que Choisir says that cleaning the container can expose you to more dust.
Choose the maintenance routine that suits you and check the instructions for the model.
A bagged model requires regular purchases of compatible bags; a bagless model takes time to empty and clean.
UFC-Que Choisir explains that the maximum battery life quoted may be measured at the lowest power setting, so it may not reflect the setting you’ll need for your carpets.
Check the quoted battery life at the setting and with the brush you’ll need.
A station can transfer dust into a larger container, but that container also needs emptying and maintenance.
Check what comes with the model and how to empty both the robot and its station.
You’ll still need to maintain the station’s dust container, depending on the system.
The Compact Power RO3923EA/4Q0 is an example of a bagged cylinder vacuum worth comparing for cleaning a range of surfaces.
The Série 4 BGC21HYG1 is an example of a bagless cylinder vacuum to consider when comparing capacity and ease of emptying.
The V11 Advanced is an example of a cordless stick vacuum for manual cleaning, provided its battery life suits the way you plan to use it.
The Qrevo Plus is an example of a robot vacuum with a multifunctional dock for regular cleaning across different surfaces.
The Guard M1 Rouge terra is a bagged cylinder vacuum variant to consider for cleaning several rooms.
The models below cover four types of vacuum cleaner for hard floors and carpets: cordless stick vacuums, bagged and bagless cylinder vacuums, and a robot vacuum.
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This cordless model is handy for manual cleaning. It features an anti-tangle brush and a green light to help detect dust.
Quoted battery life: 45 min; quoted suction power: 55 000 Pa.
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This bagged cylinder vacuum may suit you if you’d rather remove a bag than empty a dust container. Replace the bag when it’s full; the appliance is mains-powered.
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This model may suit you if you’d rather use a dust container than replace bags; the container needs emptying and maintenance.
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This robot vacuum is worth considering for scheduled cleaning if it can move around your home easily. Check its performance on your carpets and how to maintain the dust container and filters.
Automatic emptying dock; quoted suction power of 8 000 Pa and quoted battery life of 200 min. The app requires a 2,4 GHz Wi-Fi network and does not support 5 GHz.
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This cordless model is designed for manual cleaning and comes with an emptying dock. Its quoted suction power is 27 kPa.
Replace the dock’s bag when the indicator shows that it’s full.
No: performance varies by model and floor type. UFC-Que Choisir tests carpets, hard floors, edges and corners separately. Compare these results before relying on a robot to clean every area.
Choose based on which maintenance routine you prefer: removing and throwing away a bag, or emptying and cleaning a dust container. UFC-Que Choisir says that cleaning the container of a bagless model can expose you to more dust; check the model’s maintenance instructions too.
Not necessarily: UFC-Que Choisir explains that the quoted maximum battery life may be measured at the lowest power setting. Check the runtime at the setting and with the brush you’ll need for your floors.
Check the repairability rating that applies to the model, and distinguish it from the legal guarantee. The French Ministry of the Economy states that in France, for a new or second-hand product sold by a trader to an individual, the legal guarantee of conformity can be invoked for two years, subject to its legal conditions.