What exactly is a canister vacuum, and what are they good for?

Picture this: you're trying to clean under your sofa, but your bulky upright vacuum won't fit. Or you're facing a flight of stairs and dreading lugging that heavy machine up and down. These are the kinds of situation where a canister vacuum really shines.

So what is a canister vacuum, anyway? Simply put, it's a vacuum cleaner where the motor and dust collection bin sit in a separate wheeled unit you pull behind you, connected by a flexible hose to a lightweight wand and cleaning head.

This design is fundamentally different from the upright vacuums many of us grew up with. Instead of pushing one big unit around, you're working with a lighter wand while the canister glides along behind you on the floor. These days canister vacuums are the dominant vacuum style in Europe, although uprights remain more popular in the United States and Canada.

(Of course, cordless stick vacuums are now also extremely common. While they have their benefits – including flexibility and maneuverability – the fact they're not plugged into the mains also has its drawbacks. But that's a different article.)

The benefits of using a canister vacuum

The main advantages of using a canister vacuum are versatility and maneuverability. That long, flexible hose gives you serious reach. This means, for instance, that you can easily clean stairs by carrying the lightweight canister in one hand while working the wand with the other.

Getting under beds and furniture is effortless, too, since you're not trying to shove an entire vacuum underneath. And cleaning above-floor surfaces such as curtains, upholstery, bookshelves or even ceiling corners becomes genuinely doable, rather than an awkward wrestling match.

Canister vacuums typically come with multiple attachments: crevice tools for tight spots, dusting brushes for delicate surfaces, upholstery tools for furniture and motorized floorheads for carpets. Swapping between them is quick since the hose is always out and ready. Many models also include retractable cords and onboard storage for accessories, helping you keep everything organized.

Performance-wise, canisters often deliver stronger suction than comparably priced uprights, making them excellent for hard floors, low-pile carpets and rugs. However, if you have thick, plush carpeting throughout your home, make sure you look for a canister vacuum that comes with a floorhead with a motorized roller (also called a beater bar) that will agitate the carpet fibers. While this is standard on stick vacuums and uprights, it's still quite common for canister vacuums to have a main floorhead that lacks a roller.

The disadvantages of canister vacuums

Not everyone, though, loves this kind of vacuum. For a start, canisters require a bit more coordination since you're managing a hose, wand and the canister itself. These can occasionally get caught on furniture legs if you're not paying attention. And if you've spent your whole life developing the 'muscle memory' of using an upright, that can be very frustrating, at least at first.

On the whole, canister vacuums take up more storage space, although some models are surprisingly compact. And as I mentioned above, they can also be a real slog on large expanses of thick carpet. Typically, they lack the heavy, motorized brush heads found in uprights that help self-propel the vacuum through deep pile.

Canisters often have smaller dust bins or bags than uprights, so you may need to stop and empty them more frequently during a cleaning session. Plus in general, using a canister can involve more bending over to adjust settings or move the unit, while modern uprights feature ergonomic handles and foot-operated controls that can minimize this.

For all these reasons, some households with varied needs end up buying two vacuum cleaners; one upright and one canister. But if you can only choose one, and your home isn't wall-to-wall with thick carpeting, a good canister vacuum is usually the best option.

The best vacuums

➡️ Read our full guide to the best vacuums
1. Best overall:
Dreame R20 Cordless
2. Best upright:
Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum
3. Best premium:
Dyson Gen5detect
4. Best for pet hair:
Shark PowerDetect Cordless