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Cleaning technology has improved by leaps and bounds in the smart home era—we have app-enabled cleaning devices and self-emptying robot vacuums—but finding a vacuum for stairs remains a serious challenge. Household staircases are typically very high-traffic areas and can build up dust and debris quickly—especially if you have pets or kids in the mix. But they are a challenge to clean. There are tons of vacuums on the market designed to make your day-to-day vacuuming routine as easy and streamlined as possible—but we’ve taken it upon ourselves to test and research some of the absolute S-tier options to help pick out the best vacuums for stairs.
- Best overall: Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum Cleaner
- Best for hardwood: Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum (3061)
- Best for carpet: Shark Cordless Pet Plus with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal
- Best lightweight: Eureka RapidClean Pro
- Best for pet hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum
- Best suction: Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- Best cordless: Samsung Jet 90
- Best budget: Bissell Zing Bagless Canister Vacuum (2156A)
How we chose the best vacuums for stairs
There are thousands upon thousands of highly rated vacuums on the market—which made narrowing our list down to just seven picks quite a feat. We wanted to choose a set of vacuums that worked for various lifestyles and household needs, including carpeted and hardwood flooring, homes with pets and kids, and winding or unconventionally shaped staircases.
To make our selections, we looked at hundreds of high-quality consumer reviews to learn about the little details that manufacturer descriptions don’t tell you, as well as tapping into our own testing to hone in on the absolute best of the bunch. We focused on crucial features like weight and bulk, suction power, and battery life for cordless models. We also kept budget in mind, examining vacuums at various price points to see where a little extra money makes a big difference and where it buys flashy features you don’t necessarily need.
The best vacuum for stairs: Reviews & Recommendations
The best vacuums for stairs will depend on your specific lifestyle and household—which is why we’ve included a spectrum of different vacuums to suit a variety of needs and budgets best. Read on to find the best vacuum for your household.
Best overall: Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum Cleaner
Drive My Vacuum
Pros
- Features up to an hour of run time
- Includes various options to best suit different flooring
- Extremely lightweight and easy to maneuver
Cons
- You have to hold down the power button
- Very expensive
Why it made the cut: The Dyson V11 Torque Drive might be pricey, but it’s slim, ultra-lightweight, and offers superior suction power that makes it worth every penny.
Specs
- Form factor: Stick
- Capacity: 0.2 gallons
- Surface recommendation: Carpet and hardwood floors
- Weight: 6.68 pounds
- Battery life: 60 minutes
A longtime favorite for its sleek, powerful, and wildly expensive vacuums, the latest Dyson V11 series is leagues ahead of the company’s original stick vacuum design—and happens to be one of the very best vacuum cleaners on the market right now. Of the two models available, we like the Dyson V11 Torque Drive, which features an LCD digital display that monitors performance and battery life.
The V11 Torque Drive has more than twice the suction power of similar cordless vacuums and offers an hour of run time between charges, making it a decent option for all flooring types and square footage. The cutting-edge stick vacuum also weighs in at less than 7 pounds, allowing for easy maneuverability on staircases and beyond and making it one of the best portable vacuums.
It isn’t perfect, though. Like most other Dyson models, the V11 requires holding the power button down rather than simply flipping a switch. It’s a minor annoyance that might sour you on spending hundreds of dollars on it.
Speaking of which, the main drawback for the V11 Torque Drive and its screenless cousin, the V11 Animal—any Dyson product, for that matter—is the price. Depending on the retailer, the Dyson Torque Drive costs $570 or more. That’s a lot more money than most vacuums. You definitely get a higher class of product but it will be a serious barrier for most people.
Best for hardwood: Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum (3061)
Nice and Easy
Pros
- Super lightweight design for superior ease of use
- Great price point for the quality
- Converts to a handheld vacuum
Cons
- Poor battery life
- Does not include a wall mount or stand
Why it made the cut: The Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum has impressive suction, a lightweight design, and a removable handheld mode, which makes it great for cleaning stairs.
Specs
- Form factor: Stick
- Capacity: 0.26 gallons
- Surface recommendation: Carpet and hard floors
- Weight: 5.8 pounds
- Battery life: 20 minutes
The Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum ranks high in our books for delivering solid suction for a basic cordless vacuum. Though it costs less than $120, the Featherweight Cordless offers a lightweight, ergonomic design similar to more expensive models from other brands. The powerful suction and lightweight design make this vacuum great for hardwood and laminate flooring.
This Bissell vacuum is also quite versatile (though it’s not a carpet cleaner, which is something the company is well-known for making). The ability to convert from a stick vacuum to handheld mode that can get into the nooks and crannies of your staircase without having to lug the whole frame up and down. That said, at just 5.8 pounds, the full-sized vacuum is extremely easy to maneuver.
The only big downside to consider is its battery life. At just 20 minutes per charge, you won’t cover very much ground in one sitting. It also lacks any wall mount or stand, which can make charging trickier than it needs to be.
Best for carpet: Shark Cordless Pet Plus with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal
Seal Up Dust
Pros
- Anti-allergen seal
- Lightweight and easy to use
- Converts to a handheld vacuum
Cons
- Not as powerful as other stick vacuums
- Top-heavy design
Why it made the cut: Designed to trap allergens like dust and pet dander, the Shark Cordless Pet Plus digs deep into carpets for the best clean possible.
Specs
- Form factor: Stick
- Capacity: 0.21 gallons
- Surface recommendation: Carpet and hard floors
- Weight: 7.17 pounds
- Battery life: 40 minutes
The Shark Cordless Pet Plus features an “anti-allergen seal” to ensure 99.9 percent of allergens it sucks up, including particles of dust and pet dander, stay trapped in the vacuum. Its brush roll features long panels called “powerfins” rather than traditional brush bristles, which Shark claims can help the vacuum dig dirt out of carpet. They also prevent the vacuum from getting jammed up with pet hair and other debris that can accumulate in carpets or rugs.
Studies suggest carpets can harbor more dust and allergens than non-carpeted flooring and might even decrease the air quality in the home or office space. As such, the Pet Plus should be a well-appointed option for ensuring minimal particles are able to escape into the air.
Customers tend to praise the Shark vacuum adamantly, but some note that the lightweight design feels a bit top-heavy while in use. This might make the maneuverability on stairs slightly more difficult while getting used to the vacuum’s unique shape and design.
Best lightweight: Eureka RapidClean Pro
Keep Your (Vacuum) Head on a Swivel
Pros
- Great price point for the quality
- Compact, ultra-lightweight design
- Very quick 40-minute recharge time
- Combo floor vac and handheld
Cons
- The suction power could be improved
- Harder to repair than other vacuums
Why it made the cut: The Eureka RapidClean Pro is among the lightest vacuums on our radar, and features a proprietary “swivel steering” feature that makes it especially maneuverable.
Specs
- Form factor: Stick
- Capacity: 0.18 gallons
- Surface recommendation: Carpet and hard floors
- Weight: 5.26 pounds
- Battery life: 40 minutes
Eureka RapidClean Pro is a game-changer for those looking for an ultra-lightweight design that can easily go up and down the stairs without feeling like you’re doing a workout. The 5-pound vacuum is easy to carry and converts into a handheld mode to maximize mobility. Off the stairs, the RapidClean Pro features a special “swivel steering” head that allows for better maneuvering as you clean.
The RapidClean Pro’s 40-minute battery life is strictly average, but it only needs 40 minutes to recharge, which means you can rapidly clean large spaces.
One thing to note, especially if you plan to keep this vac around for a while. According to customer reviews, replacement parts can be hard to come by and often cost nearly as much as a new vacuum, so don’t expect to get a decade out of this one.
Best for pet hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum
Clean Pet Hair Everywhere
Pros
- Includes a variety of tools for carpets, upholstery, and hardwood flooring
- “Triple-level” filtration system
- Features a surprisingly large dustbin for a handheld
Cons
- Terrible battery life
- Handheld vacuum isn’t ideal for whole-house cleaning
Why it made the cut: The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser features a “triple-level” filtration system and motorized brush tool that works to remove embedded hair and dirt.
Specs
- Form factor: Handheld
- Capacity: 0.18 gallons
- Surface recommendation: Carpet and upholstery
- Weight: 3 pounds
- Battery life: 17 minutes
Pet owners must work harder to ensure their floors stay clean and free of dander and debris—there’s no way around it. Thankfully, brands like Bissell cater specifically to those with furry friends at home who don’t want to settle for less than the best in cleaning technology. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser features great features for picking up hair and dander, including a motorized brush tool that digs them out of carpet and upholstery seamlessly and a “triple-level filtration” system that traps allergens in its bag. Of course, powerful suction is also a major weapon for cleaning all dirt and dust, whether you have pets or not.
Customers rave over the quality and suction power that this small but mighty hand vacuum offers, but reviews lament the short battery life—a mere 17 minutes between charges. If you’re looking for a full-size vacuum that also works well on stairs, check out our “best for carpets” pick, the Shark Cordless Pet Plus, which has similar pet-friendly features.
Best suction: Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Best with HEPA filtration
Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Pros
- Features advanced HEPA filtration to fight virus spread
- Powerful suction
- Converts to a handheld device
Cons
- Expensive
Why it made the cut: This powerful 2-in-1 cordless vacuum is designed with a whole-machine HEPA filtration that can help trap viruses.
Specs
- Form factor: Stick
- Capacity: .2 gallons
- Surface recommendation: All floors
- Weight: 7.6 pounds
- Battery life: 70 minutes
Vacuums are designed to suck up pet hair and dust, but how about viruses? Dyson’s Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is up to the task. This powerful stick vacuum features whole-machine HEPA filtration, which captures more than 99 percent of particles, including viruses. Operating at up to 135,000 rpm, this stick vacuum provides powerful suction and uses Dyson’s illumination technology to reveal microscopic dirt on your floors and stairs.
Users can switch between three cleaning modes: eco, auto, and boost. The Gen5detect comes with two cleaning heads: a Fluffy Optic that’s gentle on hardwood floors and a Digital motorbar head that deep cleans tile and other surfaces. It’s also equipped with a hair crew tool for pet hair and a crevice tool for deep cleaning on corners and stairs. The battery-powered vacuum also converts to a handheld device and runs for up to 70 minutes. And the LCD screen displays how much dust you’ve collected and how much time you’ve been vacuuming.
Best cordless: Samsung Jet 90
Game Changer
Pros
- Great battery life
- Dual replaceable batteries
- Auto-empty dustbin
Cons
- Requires more assembly than the average vacuum
- Very expensive
Why it made the cut: The high-tech Samsung Jet 90 offers next-level innovation and convenience.
Specs
- Form factor: Stick
- Capacity: .21 gallons
- Surface recommendation: Carpet and hard floors
- Weight: 6.87 pounds
- Battery Life: 60 minutes
The Samsung Jet 90 was made to outperform the average vacuum and do so stylishly. It feels like every element of the vacuum has a special feature: There’s an auto-empty dust bin for easy disposal, a five-layer filtration system that keeps 99.999 percent of allergens out of the air, and an advanced turbo-action brush head that allows for quick and easy cleaning on multiple surfaces at once (great for staircases with runners or carpet).
While it generally excels, some features stand out more than others. The Jet 90 features a charging stand that can recharge two batteries, so you can recharge and replace one to extend its long battery life. (It only comes with one battery, so you’ll need to buy a second to make that happen.)
Like the Dyson V11 Torque Drive, the Jet 90 costs a lot more than most of the competition, but it’s hard to ignore that it improves conventional cordless stick vacuum design in many ways.
Best budget: Bissell Zing Bagless Canister Vacuum (2156A)
Hose Up, Hose Down
Pros
- Incredible price point for the quality
- Features very good suction power
- The canister is large and easy to clean
Cons
- Heavier than other vacuums on the list
- Doesn’t include spinning brush attachment
Why it made the cut: The Bissell Zing Canister Vacuum might not offer the same bells and whistles as more expensive models on the list, but it’s powerful for its price and features a hose that makes navigating staircases simple.
Specs
- Form factor: Canister
- Capacity: 0.53 gallons
- Surface recommendation: Carpet and hard floors
- Weight: 10.23 pounds
- Battery life: N/A
The Bissell Zing Lightweight is one of the best cheap vacuums for stairs that we’ve come across. The large canister-style vacuum, which stores dirt in a large, wheeled-base, and features a hose for sucking up dirt, offers incredible suction power and durability that should last for years without requiring maintenance or replacement parts. Additionally, the dirt cup filters and post-motor filter help to capture particles before they hit the air. Its filters can also be hand-washed and reused for years without worrying about the quality or efficiency waning.
Between the corded power solution and heavy canister design, the Zing is not the most convenient solution for stairs. With a generous 15-foot power cable and a 4-foot, 8-inch hose, you have a lot of room to maneuver. Plus, the corded design also means that you won’t have to wait around for your vacuum to charge or worry about replacing a battery, long-term.
Customers love the Bissell Zing for its surprisingly high-quality design and reliability at such a low price but notice it lacked certain attachments, including a spinning brush. As such, the vacuum head sits directly on the floor, making it difficult to pick up larger debris or crumbs.
Things to consider when buying a new vacuum for stairs
Having a robotic vacuum is great … until it pleads for help in the form of beeps and/or an automated voice message from a very nice robot person. When shopping for a vacuum with stairs in mind, you’ll want to check a handful of factors to ensure you purchase something that’s right for your particular needs and routines.
Weight
The first thing you’ll want to consider is whether you’ll feel comfortable carrying your vacuum up and down the stairs regularly. Some of the bestselling upright vacuums can weigh up to 20 pounds, which might not sound like that much. Still, it’s enough to make things difficult when you pick it up and put it down repeatedly on each step, not to mention the possibility that it might slip as you clean, especially on winding staircases.
If you’re cleaning a lot of stairs and are in the market for a small vacuum, we recommend getting a lightweight vacuum that you can easily carry. If you have a large vacuum already that works for you, you could always get a handheld vacuum specifically for the stairs and other hard-to-reach places. Upright vacuums, though heavier, usually offer significant sucking power and are much more effective for carpeted surfaces, so we generally wouldn’t recommend them as your primary cleaner.
Corded or cordless?
You’ll also want to decide whether you want to opt for a cordless vacuum or something that plugs into the wall. Many modern vacuum cleaners feature cordless designs that make vacuuming the staircase much easier and safer than having to watch under your feet for a cord.
That said, most cordless vacuum cleaners have terrible battery life. Many last under an hour on a single charge and take many hours to fully recharge. Based on our testing, a good option should last at least 40 minutes. While you may not need them to last all that long, there’s nothing worse than having your vacuum die on you mid-clean.
Corded vacuums also tend to last much longer than their cordless counterparts. Most cordless models feature rechargeable internal batteries, which will last many years but can’t be easily replaced when they lose the ability to hold a charge.
Cleaning hardwood vs. cleaning carpet
Vacuuming rugs and carpeted areas require an entirely different approach than vacuuming hardwood flooring. Carpets require more suction power to clean deeply and require a vacuum that can trap common household allergens, such as dust and pet dander, which get trapped out of sight in the depths of the textile. Some models are designed specifically as carpet cleaner vacuums that are both wet and dry vacuums, while others are designed for all floors.
Attachments
Vacuum attachments might seem like a frivolous add-on or freebie, but they can be useful tools to help you clean parts of your home that might be otherwise inaccessible. The most common vacuum attachments include:
- Extension wand: A slim, elongated attachment that makes getting into hard-to-reach places much more feasible.
- Upholstery tool: A wide-mouthed piece that targets upholstered items and fabrics like mattresses or furniture.
- Crevice wand: Similar to the extension wand, the crevice wand has an angled opening that allows you to suck debris from tight edges and window sills.
FAQs
Deciding how much to spend on a vacuum is a personal decision and may depend on budget, the size of your home, and how often you clean. You can get vacuums at various prices, ranging from $30 to nearly $1,000—many of the basic cordless models on our list cost between $100 to $200. You can get a basic corded model for less, but you may find the power and build quality of the vacuums gets less consistent as the price tag decreases.
Cordless vacuums are generally much more convenient but especially helpful for cleaning stairs. Dragging a corded vacuum up and down your staircase can quickly become a safety hazard if you aren’t careful of your footing. That said, it’s important to remember that corded vacuums require much less maintenance and last longer since they don’t rely on a battery for power.
The lifespan of a vacuum cleaner depends on a whole slew of factors, including quality, brand, style, and how well you take care of your vacuum. Most cordless vacuums will require a new battery or some other kind of maintenance after about five years, while corded vacuums can last up to a decade or more with proper care.
In a word, no. Dyson vacuums usually outperform Shark models regarding both suction power and air filtration. That said, Shark vacuums work well and are generally much more affordable than a Dyson, often costing hundreds more than the average vacuum. For many people, buying a Shark vacuum (or another brand) makes more sense than buying a Dyson because of the cost.
It depends. According to Consumer Reports, vacuums last eight years on average. Some top-shelf vacuums can last up to a decade. Sometimes, vacuums can last even longer than that. One member of the PopSci gear team vividly remembers using a ’60s-era Electrolux Automatic G canister vacuum as a kid in the early 2000s. See if you can fix the problem before tossing.
Final thoughts on the best vacuums for stairs
- Best overall: Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum Cleaner
- Best for hardwood: Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum (3061)
- Best for carpet: Shark Cordless Pet Plus with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal
- Best lightweight: Eureka RapidClean Pro
- Best for pet hair: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum
- Best suction: Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- Best cordless: Samsung Jet 90
- Best budget: Bissell Zing Bagless Canister Vacuum (2156A)
Although they tend to be on the pricey end, there’s a reason that Dyson vacuums have a cult-like following: They really are some of the best on the market for their maneuverability and suction power alone. The Dyson V11 Torque Drive will make vacuuming stairs (and the rest of the household) a breeze—even if you have a carpeted staircase or share your home with pets.
That said, you don’t need to spend nearly $1,000 on a vacuum cleaner to get your house spic and span. I have personally owned the Bissell Zing, our budget pick, for over a decade, and it’s never required any maintenance. There may be better vacuums out there, but you can do the job with nearly any vacuum if you put your mind to it.
