The 7 Best Corded Vacuums - Summer 2024 Reviews

The best corded vacuum we've tested is the Miele Complete C3. As the flagship variant in the C3 lineup, the C3 Brilliant model packs tons of convenience features, like a handle-mounted power adjustment switch, an automatic motor shutoff when docking the floorhead against the body, and a wide assortment of attachments. The attachments include an extra wide parquet tool, a universal pure suction floorhead with retractable bristles for use on hard floors and low-pile carpets, and Miele's SEB 236 height-adjustable powerhead for thicker carpets.

This variant of the C3 is also unique, as it has a surface detection system that allows for automatic power adjustment depending on the floor type you're cleaning, not to mention additional noise insulation for its already quiet motor. The Brilliant comes bundled with the brand's HEPA-rated exhaust filter, making it a great fit if you suffer from allergies. Of course, it's worth noting that this is a very expensive vacuum. The Kona variant of the C3 is a great alternative if you're willing to give up some of the Brilliant's convenience features and wide selection of attachments, as it'll deliver almost identical performance on most surfaces at a considerably lower price.

Unfortunately, all C3s incur somewhat high recurring costs. If you're looking for a similarly high-performing vacuum that incurs lower ownership costs, the SEBO Airbelt D4 Premium is worth a look, as it uses bigger dirtbags and much longer-lasting filters. However, it's bulkier and heavier than the Miele, making maneuvering in tight spots more of a hassle.

The best corded stick vacuum we've tested is the Shark Stratos UltraLight. Compared to a high-end canister vacuum like the Miele Complete C3, it's far less impressive in performance and doesn't feel nearly as well built. However, it's a much better fit for quick cleaning sessions thanks to its smaller, lighter form factor. It has a replaceable cartridge in its floorhead that emits a pleasant detergent-like scent as you clean, and its floorhead uses the newest iteration of Shark's DuoClean PowerFins brushroll design, which uses angled fins on its main roller to prevent hair from getting tangled in the mechanism. The downside is that you can't remove this primary brushroll, making it hard to clear away any hair that does get stuck.

Another drawback is that, unlike the similarly named Shark Stratos Cordless, it doesn't have a MultiFlex folding wand, making cleaning under most tables and chairs much harder. If you're willing to forego the Stratos' odor-neutralization feature and don't mind a bulkier design in exchange for greater debris capacity, the Shark APEX UpLight is a good substitute.

The Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine is worth a look if you're shopping at an upper mid-range price point. Miele's Classic C1 vacuums don't feel as well-built as the higher-end Miele Complete C3. C1 models also have shorter power cables and lack an onboard tool storage compartment. However, all C1 models use the same 1200W motor as the C3, resulting in similarly fantastic debris pickup performance. The high-end Cat & Dog variant of the C1 also comes bundled with a Miele's SEB 228 powerhead, which offers five levels of height adjustment for deep cleaning different lengths of carpet, along with a parquet tool and a mini turbo brush for cleaning upholstered furniture.

This C1 variant comes with Miele's Active AirClean filter, which incorporates activated charcoal to trap odors as you clean. However, you can always swap it out with Miele's top-of-the-line HEPA AirClean filter if you have serious allergies. Unfortunately, like the C3, the C1 uses 2.5L dirtbags that are a little on the small side for a bagged vacuum, so you'll need to swap in a new one if you vacuum a lot.

Searching for a corded vacuum at a slightly more affordable price point? Consider the Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction PowerLine. From the outside, this entry-level C1 model looks very similar to the Miele Classic C1 Cat & Dog PowerLine, but there's one small yet key difference. The Cat & Dog has a power socket at the base of its hose, but the Pure Suction doesn't, meaning that Pure Suction is incompatible with powered floorheads. This isn't an issue if you have a home with mostly bare floors, where you can get away with using its straight suction head (which features retractable bristles for cleaning low-pile carpets and rugs). Still, you'll want to go for the more expensive model if you need to clean high-pile or shag carpeting regularly, where the additional surface agitation from a powerhead comes into play.

This model comes with an AirClean filter, which, despite being the most basic of post-motor filters for Miele's canister lineup, is still pretty effective for capturing allergens. However, you can always swap in a HEPA AirClean or Active AirClean filter if you want even better air filtration performance. For a similarly priced canister vacuum that uses larger dirtbags and has a longer power cord, the NaceCare HVR 200 Henry is worth a look. However, it has a less powerful motor than the Miele, resulting in slightly worse performance.

The best lower mid-range corded vacuum we've tested is the Kenmore Intuition Bagged. This bagged upright doesn't feel as well built as the Miele Classic C1, and its upright configuration isn't as easy to maneuver in tight spaces as the Miele's canister design. That said, it offers a pretty wide set of features at a relatively affordable price. It uses HEPA-rated bags and has a HEPA exhaust filter, resulting in very good air filtration performance. You can also release its dirtbag from the compartment with the press of a single latch, so you don't need to dirty your hands or worry about generating a plume of dust when taking it out. Its 'Lift-Up' design lets you pick up and carry its canister body separately from the floorhead, which makes it easier to clean hard-to-reach areas.

The Kenmore's deep-cleaning performance falls a little short of the pricier Miele and pricier uprights like the Dyson Ball Animal 3, but it's still quite effective on bare floors and carpets. Unfortunately, there's no floorhead height adjustment, so the vacuum can sometimes get stuck on thick shag-pile rugs. Thankfully, you can turn off the brushroll to prevent it from scattering around lightweight debris on hard floors.

If you want a budget-friendly corded vacuum, consider the Eureka Mighty Mite. This model does a great job of cleaning pet hair and solid debris from bare floors, especially for a model at this price point, thanks to a relatively potent suction motor. Unlike the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, with its powered floorhead, the Eureka comes bundled with only a basic straight-suction floorhead, so it'll struggle with thicker high or shag-pile carpeting. Thankfully, it's still quite effective on low- and medium-pile carpets with the floorhead's bristles retracted. Meanwhile, its lightweight canister body makes it easier to maneuver, even in tight spots.

Naturally, there are a couple of downsides to consider, as this is a budget model. First, it doesn't feel nearly as well built as a pricier canister vacuum, even a mid-range model like the Miele Classic C1. Next, it lacks many convenience features, like a telescopic wand, a tool storage clip, and a self-winding power cord. Lastly, some newer versions of the Mighty Mite lack the requisite mounting clips for attaching an aftermarket HEPA filter, which is a shame if you were looking for a relatively budget-friendly way of upgrading the vacuum's filtration performance. If you'd rather not deal with the hassle of swapping out a dirtbag now and then, look at the Eureka Whirlwind Bagless Canister, which performs similarly to the Mighty Mite. Unfortunately, it has an even shorter range. It only comes with a soft-bristle dusting brush, with no crevice tool for tackling messes in tight corners or a dedicated upholstery tool for easier cleaning of fabric-lined furniture.

If you prefer the all-in-one design of an upright vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra/Complete is worth a look. This premium upright vacuum doesn't feel nearly as solidly built as the Miele Complete C3 and isn't as easy to maintain due to its bagless design since it uses filters that have to be washed regularly. However, it delivers superior all-around performance compared to a cheaper upright like the Kenmore Intuition Bagged, as well as a wider array of features. Its floorhead features three levels of surface adjustment, so you can quickly adapt to several surface types on the fly. The floorhead also has a set of built-in plastic vanes that are highly effective in trapping pet hair so that it doesn't jam the mechanism. Combined with the vacuum's very powerful suction motor, it has no trouble clearing messes on various surface types, though even with its height-adjustable head, it can still get stuck on high- and shag-pile carpets. Thankfully, it's still better in this respect than its predecessor, the Dyson Ball Animal 2, which formed such a tight seal with carpets that it could even tear up carpet fibers.

This Dyson's power cord is quite long, so you won't have to swap outlets very often, but unlike the pricier Miele C3, you'll need to wind it up manually after you've finished cleaning, which can be tedious and is a particular annoyance given this vacuum's fairly expensive price point. Build quality is also far from spectacular, with a mainly plastic construction that creaks and flexes while in use.