10 Recommended Vacuums for Carpeted Home

1. Dyson V11 Animal

Powerful vacuum with all the bells and whistles

Overall, the Dyson V11 Animal is the best cordless vacuum for carpet, it’s a top vacuum if you are looking for something that is powerful yet compact. If you’re not on a tight budget and you’re after a technologically-advanced stick vacuum for your carpets, this is the model for you.

When it comes to cleaning carpets, this vacuum does a stellar job. With the combination of its powerful suction, integrated digital motor, stiff nylon bristles and option of the stubborn dirt brush, dirt is picked up effectively.

With the Boost mode, you can get an even deeper clean. Just note that using this mode decreases battery life from about 60 minutes to less than 15 minutes.

Its swivel cleaning head, multiple interchangeable nozzles and the ability to use it in handheld mode, means the Dyson V11 Animal does a decent job at cleaning hard-to-reach areas. Coupled with its portable nature, this makes it quite an easily maneuverable machine. 

However, it is on the heavier side for a stick vacuum, making it a bit more difficult to use over a longer period of time. The ‘on’ button is also a trigger, which means you will need to constantly keep your finger on it to keep the machine going. These aren’t major flaws, but it does affect the overall user experience.

2. Shark Rocket Pet Pro

A cordless stick vacuum for dirt and pet hair, versatile for different floor types

If you’re looking for the best vacuum for hardwood floors and carpet that can handle pet hair cleanups, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro is a serious contender among cordless vacuum cleaners. It performs well on both types of surfaces with some notable features.

With the Dirt Engage Technology and MAX mode, the vacuum digs into the carpet to tackle stubborn debris, providing a deeper clean. Its self-cleaning brushroll means that hairs are automatically removed without getting tangled in the roller. 

The Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and HEPA filter trap 99.9% of particles so that it doesn’t get released back out in the air. The CleanTouch technology then allows you to empty the dust cup without getting your hands dirty.

However, with a small dust bin, you’ll need to empty it out frequently. It’s battery also only lasts 40 minutes at maximum with a three hour charge, so it’s something to keep in mind if you have a larger space to clean.

Generally, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro is a great option if you’re looking for a vacuum targeted for cleaning carpet and pet hair. It’s various trademark features help make this vacuum a solid choice for keeping your carpet and air clean.

3. Samsung Jet VS90

Many helpful features make this model a decent all-rounder

All in all, the Samsung Jet VS90 is one of the best vacuums for high pile thick carpets due to its strong suction power and the various included attachments that make cleaning your carpets a breeze. Also great as a car vacuum, for those looking for versatility.

It boasts many awards and certifications which make it also one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners. It has the British Allergy Foundation’s Seal of Approval, Sensitive Choice Approved (recognised by the National Asthma Council Australia), certified dust retaining capability from SLG Prüf- und Zertifizierungs GmbH and has won two design awards.

With its 5 Layered Filtration System, Jet Cyclone Technology and Digital Inverter Motor, this vacuum cleaner can pick up larger dust particles and up to 99.999% of micro dust particles. It has a strong and consistent suction power, great especially for high-pile carpet. You can also turn it into a handheld vacuum cleaner for upholstery.

However, it has a short battery life when using MAX mode with the Turbo Action Brush and can be depleted in about 10 minutes. A way to combat this is to purchase an extra battery pack if you think you’ll need to use the function a lot in one cleaning session.

The parts of this vacuum are also a bit of a hassle to maintain. These parts need to be removed and cleaned regularly. If you’re not a huge fan of that, then this might not be a vacuum for you. 

4. Tineco A11 ProEX

High-performance features at a lower price tag

Despite being a relatively unknown brand, the Tineco A11 ProEX is the best stick vacuum for carpet in the mid price range in our books. It has a wide range of features, additional attachments and still feels relatively premium without the hefty price tag of one of the more well-known brands. With its adjustable suction power and the option of a soft brush, this also makes it one of the best options for wool carpet in the Australian market.

One interesting feature is the Rinse-Free Filter Cleaning Tool, enableing you to clean the filter without needing to wash it. The 4 Stages Fully-Sealed HEPA Filtration System traps particles of up to 0.3 microns within the machine and prevents it from being released back into the air.

It also has a Full-Size LED Multi-Tasker Power Brush, ensuring that particles deep within your carpet are picked up. Coupled with three suction settings and LED for better visibility, you can be sure that your carpet is getting the clean it needs. 

Given the longer battery life with the second battery pack, it would have been nice to have a more sizeable dust bin. However, this may not be a big deal to some given the one-touch system that enables you to empty the dust bin with ease.

5. Miele Blizzard CX1

Certified features make this great for allergy sufferers

The Miele Blizzard CX1 is a decent option if you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner that has a powerful suction for your carpets and doesn’t require charging. It’s also a good option for allergy and asthma sufferers with its ‘Sensitive Choice’ award, recognised by National Asthma Council Australia.

The Miele Blizzard CX1 has a HEPA AirClean Lifetime filter, trapping up to 99.95% of small particles. However, as this model is bagless, it can get a bit dusty when you empty the dust bin, as the flap is quite large.

The suction on this vacuum is also quite powerful, with the ability to choose from four suction levels electronically or via the radio controls on the handle. The Miele Blizzard CX sucks up dirt and hairs very effectively yet performs quietly, a dream combination.

One major pain point with the Miele Blizzard CX1 is cleaning the Turbobrush attachment. It is challenging to dismantle the attachment to remove the hair trapped in the brush as there are many small parts and screws. However, if having to clean up long hairs isn’t something that you’ll be doing very often, then this might not be a deal breaker for you.

6. Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog PowerLine

Odour-neutralising filter perfect for those with pets

The Complete C3 Cat & Dog PowerLine is yet another great value for money option from Miele, a great vacuum cleaner designed specifically for cat and dog owners living in a carpeted home.

A great addition in the Miele C3 is the charcoal filter that neutralises odours as you clean. This is useful if you have pets or if there are other smells that you’d like to keep at bay such as smoke. Coupled with the TurboTeq floorhead that has a strong suction that effectively picks up dirt and hairs, this is a noteworthy all-rounder vacuum for carpet and pets. 

The included mini turbobrush makes it easy to get into hard-to-reach and small spaces, improving the maneuverability of the vacuum. It also makes this vacuum more versatile as it’s easy to use for cleaning the carpet as well as upholstery in your car.

Bagged vacuums like this one are great when it comes to keeping dust from escaping back into the air compared to bagless models, both while you’re cleaning and when you’re emptying the unit. This makes it a more hygienic option. However, a downside is having to replace the bags once they’re full and needing to purchase new ones which come at an additional cost. This is something to keep in mind when deciding on what features are important to you when choosing a vacuum cleaner.

7. Shark Rotator ZU632

Not only for carpets, it tackles dust on windows and in high corners

The Shark Rotator ZU632 is one of the best upright vacuums for carpets, great on carpets and versatile enough for those other parts of your house that might need cleaning too. If you’re keen to battle those dust bunnies trapped on your window frames or in those high corners this is the machine for you. 

The Shark Rotator ZU632 can be used in three different modes - powered Lift-Away mode, above-floor mode and upright mode. The powered Lift-Away mode and upright mode allow you to detach the wand to clean under furniture and higher up areas. The hose is a bit short though so it might be challenging to reach the back of wide furniture or ceiling corners. Nevertheless, these features still make it a multi-purpose vacuum with the upright mode providing strong suction for those carpet cleans.

With the self-cleaning brush roll, hair wrap is reduced. If you’ve used other vacuums and struggled with trying to cut hair out of the brush roll, you’ll appreciate this function. Additionally, this comes with an Anti-Allergen Complete Seal that captures and traps 99.9% of dust and allergens.

One thing to note about this vacuum is its weight of about 7.3kg. It’s definitely something to consider if you need to clean a big space or across multiple levels and need to lug this up the stairs. However, this downside might outweigh the other great features, depending on what you’re looking for.

8. Numatic Henry HVR200

Features one of the biggest dust bags out there

The Numatic Henry HVR200 is great among cylinder vacuum cleaners if you want a hassle-free clean without having to bother with constantly emptying out the dust bag or unplugging and replugging the vacuum to get to various parts of the house.

No one likes having to empty their vacuum multiple times in one clean. At 9 litres, this vacuum has the biggest capacity out of all the ones we’ve featured on this list. However, as this is a bagged machine, you’ll need to purchase replacement bags. But like we said, at a capacity of 9 litres, it should take a while before you’ll need to change it.

Another great feature is the massive 10 metre-long cord of this vacuum. You’ll probably be able to get quite far before you have to find another outlet. What isn’t so great though is having to manually wind the cable back in by hand.

Lining up with the overall hassle-free nature of the Numatic Henry HVR200, this vacuum is also easy to maintain. The dust bag is simple to remove and replace. It’s also easy to disassemble the wand for cleaning and removing any hairs stuck in the vacuum head.

Overall, this is a fuss-free vacuum that’s a great option for your carpet. It’s a decent choice if you’re not too particular about HEPA filters and other additional features catered to asthma and allergy sufferers.

9. Bosch Athlet 25.2V

A no-frills vacuum that does the job

Looking for a cheap vacuum that just does the job and has no need for all those additional features? With a price point in the lower range, the Bosch Athlet is an easy choice for carpeted homes.

A standout feature of the Bosch Athlet is the EasyClean system. The roller brush can be removed for cleaning and the grooved design of the brush allows you to easily cut hair that’s been wrapped around the brush. Super handy when you’ve got lots of particles and hairs integrated in your carpet. 

The SmartSensor Technology ensures that the machine is operating at the optimal rate. As carpets tend to trap a lot more dust and hence get picked up more by your vacuum, this feature takes the guesswork out of the equation, letting you know when it’s time to clean the vacuum.

One thing to note is that the vacuum head of the Bosch Athlet cannot be changed. This means you might find it more challenging to clean tight corners or crevices, or to do deep carpet cleaning that might be achieved with a dedicated brush. However, if you’re in the market for a simple vacuum for everyday cleaning, then this probably wouldn’t be too much of a downside for you.

10. INSE N6

A cheaper stick vac option with some decent inclusions

The INSE N6 is a decent cheap vacuum option if you’re looking for an alternative stick vacuum without stripping back on features.

With a HEPA filter, this is another great option for asthma or allergy sufferers. The HEPA filter is also washable, prolonging its life and eliminating the need to purchase replacements. Two HEPA filters are provided, so you can continue to use the vacuum cleaner while waiting for the other one to dry after washing. It also has a cyclone filtration system, preventing the dust from being released back into the air while cleaning.

A stiff roller brush is included for cleaning carpets. However, it is good to note that this is mainly catered to low and medium pile carpets. Something to keep in mind when evaluating this vacuum as an option. Another useful inclusion is the cleaning device tool, making it easier to remove hairs from the roller brush without having to use your fingers to pull them out.

Overall, the INSE N6 is not a bad option considering its price point and the features it comes with.

Here are a few things to think about to get you started on finding the best vacuum for your carpets.

• Brush system: For carpeted floor types, you should choose a vacuum cleaner with a brush system dedicated to cleaning carpets to ensure that you’re cleaning effectively. These brushes typically have stiffer bristles to agitate the dust within you carpet for deep cleaning.
• Type of carpet: Some types of vacuum are more effective than others on different carpet types. For example, if you have thick or high pile carpet, you might want to choose a vacuum with a bigger capacity for better suction efficiency and a brush for thick carpets. If you have thin or low pile carpet, an upright or handstick vacuum with a smaller capacity and multi-purpose brush would do the job.
• Battery life: How big is your space? This would influence your choice on what kind of battery life you need or if you should get a vacuum cleaner that plugs into the wall for uninterrupted vacuuming. 
• Capacity: Capacity would also be important if you have a big space, so that you can avoid emptying out your vacuum multiple times. Capacity also influences the suction of the vacuum.
• HEPA filter: If you have children or suffer from health conditions like asthma or eczema, a HEPA filter is essential to keep any potential triggers at bay.
• Tight spaces: If your space has many tight corners, look out for a vacuum that has included interchangeable nozzles to ensure you can reach those spots.
• Other factors: Keep other factors in mind like style, weight, ease of storage and ease of cleaning the vacuum itself. For example, if you have a bad back, an upright or stick model might be a better choice. 
• Is a robotic vacuum a good alternative option? in the list we talked about vacuum cleaners only. Just know that a robotic vacuum is also a good choice for some types of carpets, you can learn everything about robotic vacuum cleaners in this guide.