For picking up crumbs straight away or cleaning the stairs, a cordless stick vacuum is handy for quick clean-ups, provided its battery life and noise level suit your needs. A robot vacuum can be scheduled to clean accessible floors, but stairs, furniture and skirting boards still need a manual vacuum. A cylinder vacuum is still a good choice for longer cleaning sessions or carpets when you want to stay in control.
For crumbs, hair or dust that needs clearing straight away, including on the stairs, a cordless stick vacuum is a handy option for quick clean-ups. UFC-Que Choisir points out that this type of vacuum may have limitations in terms of battery life and power, so check that it will suit the cleaning you have in mind.
A robot vacuum can handle regular cleaning if you’re happy to prepare the floors and maintain the bin, brushes and, depending on the model, the docking station. Les Numériques notes that you’ll still need a manual vacuum for stairs, furniture and skirting boards.
A cylinder vacuum can still be your main appliance for longer manual cleaning sessions, without relying on battery life. Compare its performance on your floors and check the accessories supplied with the exact model. A stick or robot vacuum can help with quick cleans between more thorough sessions.
Choose this if: you need to tackle small areas straight away and clean the stairs too.
Bear in mind: battery life, noise and suction vary by model and how it’s used, as the UFC-Que Choisir test criteria show.
Choose this if: you’d like to schedule cleaning on accessible floors rather than start each session yourself.
Bear in mind: you’ll still need to deal with obstacles and maintain the robot. Stairs, furniture and skirting boards need another appliance, according to Les Numériques.
Choose this if: you want a manual vacuum for longer or targeted cleaning sessions, particularly on carpets.
Bear in mind: having to plug it in and put it away makes it less convenient to grab than a cordless stick vacuum.
| Criteria | What to check | Your needs |
|---|---|---|
| Ease of use | Weight and manoeuvrability of a stick vacuum; storage and access to accessories; space needed for a robot’s docking station. | I want to clean a small area quickly, without having to set things up in a way that puts me off getting the vacuum out. |
| Floors and dirt | Suction results on your types of flooring, tested using a comparable method; how a robot handles edges and corners; accessories designed for specific areas. UFC-Que Choisir tests robots on carpets, tiles and wooden floors, among other surfaces. | My carpets, hard floors, hair and fibres don’t all put the same demands on a vacuum, so I’m looking for results that suit the areas I need to clean. |
| Running time and noise | Measured battery life by mode for a cordless vacuum; a cylinder vacuum’s operating radius; measured noise and any potential loss of power. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these criteria for stick vacuums. | If I’m cleaning several rooms in one go, I want to finish without recharging and choose a noise level that works with my schedule. |
| Maintenance and repair | Access to the bin, filters and brushes; maintenance of the docking station; availability of spare parts. In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition says that vacuum cleaners are covered by the repairability index, which is scored from 1 to 10. | Emptying and cleaning the vacuum needs to fit in with how often I use it. I also want to be able to compare how repairable different models are. |
According to Les Numériques, a robot vacuum won’t clean stairs, furniture or skirting boards. You’ll still need to tackle these areas separately.
Use the robot on accessible floors and keep a stick or cylinder vacuum for targeted cleaning.
Battery life, noise and suction alone don’t tell you how a vacuum will perform on every type of floor. UFC-Que Choisir assesses these criteria separately in its stick vacuum tests.
Look for results on the types of flooring in your home and check which mode was used to measure the battery life of the model you’re considering.
A vacuum that’s used often will also need regular emptying and cleaning. An automated docking station has its own parts to maintain, too.
Check how easy it is to access the parts that need cleaning and read the maintenance instructions for the vacuum and any docking station.
Allow time for regular maintenance and check which parts may need replacing, depending on the model.
In France, the Ministry for Ecological Transition includes vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by the repairability index, which takes factors such as disassembly, documentation and spare parts into account.
Compare the index score for the exact model and check that spare parts are available before you buy.
A cordless stick vacuum brand to consider if you’re looking for a manual vacuum for quick clean-ups.
A brand to consider for both manual stick vacuums and robot vacuums, depending on the model.
A robot vacuum brand to compare for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors.
Another robot vacuum brand to include when comparing individual models.
These models offer options for quick manual clean-ups with a stick vacuum, scheduled cleaning with a robot or longer manual sessions with a cylinder vacuum. Compare the features of the model you choose with your floors and cleaning routine.
Image unavailable
This stick vacuum converts into a handheld vacuum, making it useful for targeted cleaning and stairs. The product listing states that it has a 700 ml bin and an anti-tangle brush. Check the battery life for the mode you’ll use and whether the stated noise level of 75 dB suits you.
Image unavailable
This robot vacuum is worth considering for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors. The product listing states that it features obstacle avoidance, a 2-litre bagless station and 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi connectivity. Clear away cables and small objects, and keep a manual vacuum for stairs, furniture and skirting boards.
Image unavailable
This mains-powered cylinder vacuum is worth considering for manual cleaning without having to rely on battery life. The product listing describes a 1.5 l bin, adjustable power, a Turbo brush and a stated operating radius of 9 m. Check that the operating radius suits your rooms; the stated electrical power alone isn’t enough to judge how well it will clean carpets.
Image unavailable
This stick vacuum converts into a handheld vacuum, making it an option for targeted cleaning and awkward corners. The product listing states that it has a 1.8 l bin, an anti-tangle brush and up to 45 minutes of battery life. Check the running time for the mode you’ll use and how to maintain the filters.
Image unavailable
This robot vacuum and mop is worth considering for scheduled cleaning on accessible floors. The product listing describes an OMNI station that empties the bin and washes and dries the mop pads. Make room for the station and allow time to maintain the tanks, brushes and filters. Stairs will still need to be cleaned by hand.
Not if you also need to clean stairs, furniture or skirting boards. Les Numériques notes that robot vacuums can’t reach these areas, so keep a manual vacuum for them and for occasional cleaning.
Look at suction results on the types of flooring in your home, as well as the noise level and how easy the exact model is to maintain. For a stick vacuum, check the battery life for each mode. For a robot, also look at navigation, obstacle handling, edges and corners. These are all criteria included in UFC-Que Choisir’s tests.
Yes. The Ministry for Ecological Transition includes vacuum cleaners among the product categories covered by the index, which is scored from 1 to 10. Compare the score and details for the specific model, including information on disassembly, documentation and spare parts.
ADEME recommends putting vacuum dust in your household rubbish, preferably in a sealed bag. Bear this in mind when comparing access to the bin and how easy it is to empty.