For the main clean in a large home, start by comparing cylinder vacuums on the types of flooring you have, then check their operating radius and manoeuvrability. A cordless stick vacuum is a better fit if you prefer quick clean-ups, provided its battery life in the mode you use is enough for your cleaning session. A robot can take care of some regular cleaning as well, but check how much floor it covers and what happens when it needs to recharge before it resumes.
If you regularly clean a large area with a mix of hard floors and rugs, start by comparing how well each model picks up on different floor types. With a cylinder vacuum, the operating radius matters too: it determines how often you’ll need to change the plug socket during a cleaning session.
A cordless stick vacuum means you don’t have to unwind a cable every time you want to vacuum. For a large home, though, compare its battery life in the mode you’ll need, as well as its charging time and whether the battery can be removed.
A robot can clean regularly between manual vacuuming sessions. Before relying on one to cover a large area, check how it moves around rooms, how well it cleans near walls and on rugs, and how it returns to its dock and resumes cleaning.
For a large home, first decide what you need the vacuum to do: handle the main clean with a cylinder or stick vacuum, or take care of regular cleaning automatically as a helpful extra. Que Choisir covers these categories separately in its guides and tests how well vacuums pick up on different floor types.
Best for: the main clean in a large home, if you’re happy to use a plug socket and move the vacuum around.
Bear in mind: the cable and weight of the vacuum can make frequent cleaning less convenient, even when the operating radius is suitable.
Best for: quick, regular clean-ups, provided its battery life in the mode you need is suitable for your home.
Bear in mind: the maximum battery life quoted won’t necessarily be the same as the battery life at high power. Que Choisir points out that it is measured at the lowest power setting.
Best for: automating some everyday cleaning between sessions with your main vacuum.
Bear in mind: check how well it cleans corners, edges and rugs; whether it resumes after recharging depends on the model.
| What to consider | What to check | Who this matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Pick-up on different floor types | Compare test results for your flooring and check which brushes are included with the variant you choose. | If my home has a mix of tiles, wood flooring and rugs, I want to know whether it will clean well from room to room. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise good performance across different floor types. |
| Uninterrupted cleaning | Check the operating radius of a cylinder vacuum or the stick vacuum’s battery life in the mode you’ll use. For a robot, check what happens when it recharges and resumes. | When I’m cleaning a large area, having to stop to change the plug socket or recharge is more inconvenient than other drawbacks. Around 29% of consumers would prioritise uninterrupted cleaning. |
| Weight and manoeuvrability | Check the weight in the configuration you’ll use on the floor, and how easily it moves around or under your furniture. | If I vacuum often, I need a model that’s easy to get out, manoeuvre and put away. Around 21% of consumers would prioritise ease of handling. |
| Automated cleaning | Check how well the robot cleans along edges and in corners, as well as the navigation and charging features of the specific model. | If I want to reduce the amount of cleaning I do between manual sessions, my first priority is how well the robot can move around the rooms. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this. |
These figures alone don’t tell you how much dirt the vacuum will remove from your floors. Que Choisir tests pick-up on different floor types, so the floorhead and test conditions also matter when comparing models.
Look for results on the types of flooring you have and check which brushes are actually included with the model being sold.
According to Que Choisir, the maximum battery life quoted for a stick vacuum is measured at the lowest power setting. That means a cleaning session in a large home could end sooner if you use a different mode.
Compare battery life in the mode you plan to use, charging time and, if you’ll need it, whether you can swap the battery.
iRobot says that some Roomba models recharge and then resume cleaning, but this feature isn’t available on every robot. How it works may also depend on the model’s settings.
Check the product details and manual for your chosen model before relying on multiple cleaning cycles to cover your home.
Bags, filters, brushes and dust containers all need regular attention. If you choose a bagged cylinder vacuum, buying compatible bags is also part of everyday use.
Check the reference numbers for consumables, the manufacturer’s care instructions and whether the right spare parts are available for your chosen model.
Worth considering for a bagged cylinder vacuum to handle the main clean. Miele France quotes an operating radius of up to 12 m across its range of bagged cylinder vacuums, depending on the model.
Worth considering when comparing cordless stick vacuums and robots. Rowenta France quotes up to 1 h 20 of battery life and a removable battery for the X-Force Flex 15.60 stick vacuum.
Worth considering among cordless stick vacuums if you’re comparing battery life and attachments for your floors. Dyson France quotes up to 60 minutes for the V11 Fluffy.
Worth considering for a robot to take care of regular cleaning as an extra. iRobot France says the Roomba 976 automatically recharges and then resumes cleaning.
These models cover three different needs: cordless stick vacuums for cleaning without a cable, a robot for everyday cleaning as an extra, and a bagged cylinder vacuum for the main clean. Compare each model for the job you want it to do rather than judging how well it will clean your floors from the product details alone.
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Worth considering if you want to clean a large area without a cable and move between hard floors and rugs.
The product details quote 550 W, 55 kPa and up to 55 minutes of battery life. They also mention an anti-tangle brush and charging dock. Check how long the battery lasts in the mode you’ll use on your floors: these figures aren’t a substitute for comparable pick-up test results.
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Worth comparing if you’re looking for a cordless stick vacuum for regular cleaning in a large home.
The product details quote 60,000 Pa and up to 65 minutes of battery life, as well as an anti-tangle brush. They also mention a self-standing design. To see whether it will last for your cleaning session, check the battery life in the mode you need and how well it picks up on your floors.
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Worth considering for automated cleaning as an extra to the vacuum you use for the main clean.
Before relying on it to cover a large area, check how it moves around your home, how well it cleans your floors, and the recharging and resuming conditions for this specific model.
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Worth considering if you’re looking for a mains-powered vacuum to handle the main clean in a large home.
This model uses a bag. Check its operating radius against the position of your plug sockets, which brushes are included for your floors and the reference number for compatible bags. Also compare its pick-up performance on the types of flooring in your home.
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Worth considering if you prefer cleaning without a cable and want the option to remove the battery.
The product details quote 45,000 Pa and up to 60 minutes of battery life. They also mention a removable battery, a self-standing design and an anti-tangle brush. Check how long the battery lasts in the mode you’ll use, the weight of the complete vacuum when cleaning floors, and how well it picks up on your flooring.
Compare separate results for each floor type rather than looking only at the quoted watts or pascals. Que Choisir tests pick-up under specific conditions; also check which brush was used and, for a robot, how well it cleans along edges and in corners.
On its own, it’s not enough to tell: compare the battery life in the mode you’ll use with the time it takes to clean your rooms. Que Choisir points out that the maximum quoted battery life is measured at the lowest power setting. If you’re planning several cleaning sessions, check the charging time too.
First, check that it can move around your rooms and find its dock in the situations described in the manual. Then compare how well it cleans your floors, along edges and in corners. If you’re relying on several cleaning cycles, confirm that the specific model can recharge and then resume cleaning.
No. For goods sold to a private individual by a professional in France, the statutory guarantee of conformity is separate from any commercial warranty offered by a brand or seller, as explained by the French Ministry of the Economy. Keep your proof of purchase and check the terms of any commercial service offered separately.