Best Canister Vacuums

Top canister vacuums under $500

According to the reviews we read, the budget-priced Hoover WindTunnel Bagless S3765-040 (*Est. $250) has the best blend of cleaning ability on carpet and bare floors, along with low emissions and good durability. This bagless vacuum has a HEPA filter, which helps keep the vacuum from leaking dust back into the room. The 22-pound Hoover canister also has a telescoping wand and comes with a crevice tool, dusting brush and upholstery brush. A powered hand tool helps scrub carpets and furniture. A separate bare-floor brush is extra gentle on wood floors that could otherwise be scratched by a rotating brushroll.

Because it's a bagless canister vacuum, you don't have to buy replacement bags. However, emptying the dust bin will expose you to some dust, so a bagging unit might be a better choice for those with allergies. Users say it's easy enough to empty the dust bin, though some wish the bin were a little bigger. Another caveat is that tools aren't stored on the unit itself. In professional tests, the Hoover S3765-040 does a great job on carpet, rugs and bare floors. It's not as great as some other more expensive canister vacuums at picking up pet hair, however. Upright vacuums generally do a better job in that respect.

The Kenmore 27514 (*Est. $230) does a better job than most canister vacuums, and is the best in its price range both for getting pet hair out of carpet and for general cleaning on carpet and bare floors. This model isn't bagless, and its HEPA filtration system earns it excellent scores for controlling emissions. Although professional reviews give this vacuum top marks, user ratings are mixed. On the Sears website it gets 3.5 out of five stars in nearly four dozen owner-written reviews. The issue doesn't seem to be performance or ease of use -- most owners say it's effective and relatively easy to handle -- but rather some trouble with reliability. Several owners report liking the Kenmore canister vacuum initially before becoming frustrated with premature breakdown and high repair costs.

The Kenmore 27914 (*Est. $400) has a better reputation among owners, but there are a smattering of complaints about durability. Still, three quarters of the reviews on the Sears website give it a perfect score. Experts rate it higher as well, giving this Kenmore canister vacuum good marks for cleaning carpet and bare floors and for removing pet hair. Like the less expensive Kenmore 27514, this model uses vacuum bags and includes a HEPA filter for controlling emissions, which experts say it does very well. For the extra money, you get a few upgrades, including a slightly longer cord and couple of feet more cleaning range with the included tools. It also comes with a powered hand tool for digging dirt and pet hair out of upholstery. The big downside to this vacuum is its high price compared to other top-rated models.

Another Sears canister vacuum, the Kenmore Intuition 28014 (*Est. $500) is top-rated in one large expert test where it scores very well all around, with especially good marks for emissions control and pet hair removal. The Intuition comes with a crevice tool, a combo brush, a fan-cleaning tool, a powerhead for digging up pet hair and an integrated bare-floor tool. Reviewers say that the tools work well, with good functionality and excellent airflow. This Kenmore canister vacuum comes with useful extras like a retractable cord and on-board tool storage, plus one feature that critics say isn't so useful: an infrared dirt sensor. User reviews are very positive, with a rating of 4.5 out of five on Sears.com (though only about a dozen owners have reviewed it). Still, the test results are much better for the Intuition than for similarly priced luxury vacuums from Dyson and Miele.

The Electrolux Oxygen EL6988D (*Est. $400) matches or outperforms most other canisters in independent testing on all fronts: cleaning carpet and bare floor, pet hair removal, noise and emissions. Unfortunately, this canister vacuum suffers from mixed user reviews. Most criticisms of the Oxygen involve durability: the electrical system and plastic parts seems to be particularly prone to failure.

The Electrolux Harmony (*Est. $260) is another model that does quite well with professional reviewers. Aside from the low price, it gets good marks for quietness and efficiency. What's not so popular with owners is the fact that the washable HEPA filter (*est. $30) has to be purchased separately (a standard disposable HEPA filter is included, though). Like the Oxygen, the Harmony also loses points for durability.

Several owners claim to have been misled by the Electrolux brand name. Although this brand was once known as an independent manufacturer of top-quality vacuums, the Electrolux brand has changed ownership, leaving consumers confused about what kind of product they are buying. Electrolux canister vacuums are now made by Eureka. To find what is known as a traditional Electrolux vacuum, you must turn to a company now called Aerus. They offer an expensive canister called the Lux Guardian (*Est. $1,500). Aerus offers an amazing 25-year warranty on the Lux Guardian, but in comparison performance reviews, the Aerus Guardian doesn't work any better or worse that vacuums costing less than half as much. However, durability may be better than average.

Dyson is one of the champs in the upright vacuum cleaner world, but right now has just one canister vacuum in its lineup, the DC21 Stowaway (*Est. $500). It shares the patented Dyson cyclone technology of its upright cousins and has a motorized brush bar, a lifetime HEPA filter, a 16.4-foot cord and a five-year warranty. It weighs approximately 23 pounds. Which? magazine includes the Dyson DC21 in its Best Buys, saying it works well on all surfaces and does a good job of removing pet hair from carpets. Other experts disagree, giving it only average marks for performance on carpet and pet hair. Owner feedback is generally positive, but there are enough complaints about ease of use to give us pause. Furthermore, owners say that the brushroll's stiff bristles can be a problem. The stiff bristles might do a good job "fluffing up" regular carpeting, but they can manhandle delicate rugs or finer carpet. Several owners also comment that the power cord is too short.