The Best Vacuums For Carpet, Tested and Reviewed

The best vacuums for carpet are the ones that combine powerful suction, a brush roll that will sufficiently agitate the carpet, and a well-designed floorhead that makes a good seal on the carpet surface.

Read on for our recommendations for the best vacuums for carpets. These are the vacuums we have tried and evaluated, and that we are excited to recommend.

Best Upright Vacuums for Carpet

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 a standout vacuum for carpets, offering not only deep cleaning capabilities but also versatility and ease of use that adapt to various carpet types and conditions. Whether you’re dealing with ground-in dirt on low-pile carpets or regular maintenance cleaning, the Ball Animal 3 is engineered to handle it all with ease.

• High Suction Power: The Ball Animal 3 continues the tradition of powerful suction, almost matching the impressive levels seen in the Dyson Ball Animal 2, which was known for its top-tier suction capabilities.
• Innovative Cleaner Head Design: The newly designed head features adjustable gates, a first for Dyson’s U.S upright models, enhancing its ability to pick up larger debris on carpets as well as hard floors.
• Deep Carpet Cleaning: In our carpet deep clean test, where we embed sand into medium-pile carpet, the Ball Animal 3 scored perfectly, effectively removing all embedded material after a set number of passes.
• Active Hair Removal System: A significant upgrade includes an active hair removal feature that effectively reduces hair tangles during vacuuming, a major plus for homes with pets or long-haired residents.
• Adjustable Gates for Various Carpet Types: The ability to adjust the gates helps the vacuum glide over thick carpets without stalling, a common issue with previous models on denser carpet types.

Read our full Dyson 3 Review

The Shark Rotator Pet Upright Vacuum is an excellent choice for carpet cleaning, especially in homes with pets. Known for its comprehensive features designed to tackle pet hair and odors, the Shark Rotator Pet offers a powerful cleaning solution for carpeted areas.

• PowerFins HairPro Brushroll: Designed to actively grip and remove debris and hair from carpets.
• Self-Cleaning Brushroll: Eliminates the hassle of hair wrap around the brushroll, maintaining optimal performance without manual intervention.
• Advanced Filtration System: The vacuum is equipped with Shark’s Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter, which trap 99.9% of dust and allergens.
• 3XL Capacity Dust Cup: Allows for extended cleaning sessions with fewer interruptions to empty the dust cup, making it ideal for larger homes or more demanding cleaning tasks.
• Swivel Steering: Enhances maneuverability, allowing the vacuum to easily glide around furniture and in tight spaces, making it effective on carpeted areas cluttered with obstacles.

Best Cordless Vacuums for Carpet

With its powerful performance and advanced technology, the Dyson Gen5 Detect cordless vacuum brings a range of innovative features designed to tackle the challenges of keeping carpets clean and fresh.

• Deep Clean Test Success: In our studio, the Gen5detect achieved a perfect score for picking up sand embedded in carpet, showcasing its ability to handle deep-down dirt.
• Digital Motorbar Cleaner Head: Engineered to deep clean carpet, this cleaner head includes a de-tangling feature that efficiently handles long and pet hair without clogging, making it ideal for carpet maintenance.
• Large Debris Pickup: The adjustable gates on the cleaner head allow for effective pickup of larger debris, a common challenge on carpets.
• Intelligent Suction Adjustment: The vacuum automatically adapts its power based on the debris and floor type detected, optimizing cleaning effectiveness on various carpet densities and textures.
• Whole-Machine HEPA Filtration: Captures and keeps particles as small as 0.3 microns.
• Long Battery Life: Offers up to 70 minutes of run time, allowing for extended cleaning sessions ideal for larger carpeted areas without the need for frequent recharging.

Read our full Dyson Gen5 Detect Review

The Dyson V15 Detect cordless vacuum combines cutting-edge technology with powerful performance to tackle the particular challenges of carpet cleaning.  Whether it’s fine dust or larger debris, pet hair or deep-set grime, the V15 Detect handles it all with ease, making it an excellent investment for keeping your carpeted surfaces pristine.

• Deep Clean Test Success: In our studio, the V15 achieved a perfect score for picking up sand embedded in carpet, showcasing its ability to handle deep-down dirt.
• Digital Motorbar Cleaner Head: Engineered to deep clean carpet, this cleaner head includes a de-tangling feature that efficiently handles long and pet hair without clogging, making it ideal for carpet maintenance.
• Large Debris Pickup: The adjustable gates on the cleaner head allow for effective pickup of larger debris, a common challenge on carpets.
• Intelligent Suction Adjustment: The vacuum automatically adapts its power based on the debris and floor type detected, optimizing cleaning effectiveness on various carpet densities and textures.
• Whole-Machine HEPA Filtration: Captures and keeps particles as small as 0.3 microns.
• Long Battery Life: Offers up to 60 minutes of run time, allowing for extended cleaning sessions ideal for larger carpeted areas without the need for frequent recharging.

Read our full Dyson V15 Detect Review

Best Robot Vacuums for Carpet

The Roomba j7 Plus stands out as a highly effective solution for carpet cleaning, thanks to its advanced technology and robust design. It delivers a deep clean by seamlessly integrating smart features that enhance its performance on carpeted surfaces.

• Dual Brush Roll System: The patented technology excels at removing debris from carpets, from fine dust to large particles, ensuring deep cleaning.
• High Efficiency on Carpet Tests: In tests, it scored 91% for removing sand embedded in medium pile carpets, showcasing its superior cleaning capability.
• Recharge and Resume: Ideal for carpeted homes where more power is used, the vacuum automatically recharges and resumes cleaning, ensuring no spot is missed.
• Obstacle Avoidance with Precision Vision Navigation: Uses advanced camera technology to navigate around obstacles, preventing disruptions in the cleaning process.

Read our full iRobot Roomba J7+ Review

The iRobot Roomba Combo j5 Plus excels at carpet cleaning with its advanced navigation and obstacle avoidance features. Built on the robust vacuuming foundation of the j7 Plus, it delivers powerful cleaning without the mopping capabilities for those focusing purely on vacuum performance.

Why the Roomba Combo j5 Plus is Great for Carpets:

• Deep Cleaning Capability: It performed exceptionally in our deep clean tests, effectively picking up deeply embedded dirt and sand from carpets, which is crucial for maintaining carpet hygiene.
• Obstacle Avoidance: Equipped with a front-mounted camera, it avoids common floor obstacles like toys and pet waste, ensuring uninterrupted cleaning.
• Auto Empty Bin: After cleaning, it automatically empties its contents into a bag that can hold up to 60 days of debris, simplifying maintenance.
• Efficient Navigation: Utilizes a combination of camera, sensors, and algorithms to navigate in orderly rows, enhancing its thoroughness on carpeted areas.

Read our full iRobot Roomba Combo j5+ Review

Best Carpet Cleaners

The Shark Carpet Expert is a powerful carpet cleaner that combines strong suction capabilities with a unique onboard hose system for spot cleaning. It features advanced solution dispensing and an easy-to-clean dirty water tank, setting a new standard in carpet cleaning efficiency.

• Exceptional Suction Power: One of the most powerful carpet cleaners available, it delivers strong suction at the floorhead, which translates to more effective water and dirt pickup.
• Onboard Hose System: Unique in its class, the onboard hose is always ready for immediate use, making it easy to quickly tackle spots without the hassle of attaching separate components.
• Advanced Solution Dispensing: Features dual activated dispensing that keeps the oxy fluid separate until use, boosting cleaning effectiveness by 20% according to Shark’s claims.
• Easy Maintenance: The dirty water tank is simple to empty and clean, a notable advantage over other models that often make tank cleaning a cumbersome task.

Read our full Shark CarpetXpert Review

The Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Pet carpet cleaner introduces an innovative steam function to consumer-grade carpet cleaners, a feature traditionally reserved for professional equipment. This new model offers advanced capabilities and impressive results.

• Steam Pre-Treatment Mode: Utilizes a unique steam function that pre-treats stains for 20 seconds before regular cleaning, enhancing stain removal.
• Dual Brush Roller System: Maintains the effective dual brush setup found in the 2x Revolution, improving its ability to scrub and remove stains.
• Enhanced Water Heating: Unlike typical carpet cleaners that simply maintain water temperature, the HydroSteam heats up water, increasing cleaning effectiveness even when starting with cold water.
• Versatile Cleaning Tools: Includes a pet hair upholstery tool for targeted cleaning and a six-inch tough stain tool, making it ideal for handling various types of stains and upholstery.
• Quick Dry Mode: Offers a setting that uses less water for faster drying times, adding convenience for users who need quicker cleanups.

Read our full Bissell Revolution HydroSteam Review

Features to Look For

This guide is designed to help you select a vacuum that will meet the needs of your carpeted household and maintain a cleaner home.

Debris Pickup

Debris pickup is crucial for any vacuum. A vacuum designed for carpeting needs to combine powerful suction, a brush roll that effectively agitates the carpet, and a well-designed floorhead that forms a good seal on the carpet surface to optimize debris removal.

Anti-Hair Wrap Technology

Hair wrapped around a vacuum’s brush roll or motorized parts can cause interior resistance, potentially draining battery faster in cordless models and reducing the vacuum’s effectiveness. To combat this, many vacuums are equipped with technology either to remove hair or prevent it from wrapping around the brush roll, enhancing the vacuum’s efficiency.

HEPA Filter and Whole Machine Filtration

Good filtration is essential, as it prevents particles released from carpets during vacuuming from being expelled back into the air. A HEPA filter can trap particles as small as 0.3 microns, capturing harmful particles invisible to the naked eye. Additionally, vacuums with a sealed filtration system ensure that all air drawn into the machine passes through the filter, increasing the effectiveness of the HEPA filter.

Intelligent Features in Vacuums

Many vacuums come equipped with intelligent features like automatic suction adjustment, which regulates power based on the type of floor detected, such as carpets. This functionality ensures that your vacuum provides an extra power boost for carpets, boosting cleaning efficacy.

Conclusion

The development of lightweight, versatile vacuums has revolutionized cleaning for homeowners. With features specifically designed for carpet cleaning, these vacuums offer an efficient, user-friendly way to maintain a clean and comfortable living environment.