Top 5 compared
The best corded vacuum cleaners
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The top 5 at a glance
One of the first powered vacuum cleaners, patented by Hubert Cecil Booth in 1901, stayed parked outside with its hoses fed in through the windows. A corded vacuum still runs from the wall, with no battery to charge or wear out. Full-size uprights push like a lawn mower, with a hose and tools for everything above the floor; compact uprights and sticks are lighter for apartments and stairs.
Every vacuum here is bagless: the dirt goes into a cup or tank that empties over the trash can. Amps say what a motor draws, not how well it cleans, so they’re no way to rank vacuums on their own. For cordless sticks and robots, see our cordless vacuum and robot vacuum lists.
What matters
- A wide cleaning path, for big rooms in fewer passes.
- A long cord, for fewer outlet changes.
- A pet tool for hair on couches, stairs and car seats.
- A sealed HEPA system, if anyone at home has allergies.
#1Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Upright Vacuum (3836)
$100–$150
A full-size upright that steers around chair legs on its swivel head, with a Triple Action brush roll for carpet and Scatter-Free Technology so hard floors don’t send crumbs flying. The Active Extension Wand pulls out to reach up to 12 feet, for stairs and ceiling corners.
What owners say: Pet hair is where owners notice it most: strong suction that leaves carpets and floors spotless, and an upright that’s easy to push and pull. A few had one fail within the first month.
A closer look: Set the height to suit the floor: there are five settings, from bare floors to deep carpet. The TurboEraser tool goes on the hose for pet hair on the couch and the stairs, and the dirt tank comes off to empty straight into the trash can.
- Swivel steering
- Wand reaches 12 ft
- Five height settings
- Keeps crumbs from scattering
- Pivoting turbo brush tool
Best for: Pet hair in bigger homes
- Type
- Upright
- Dirt capacity
- 1.1 qt
- Cleaning path
- 13 in
- Power
- 8 A
- Cord
- 25 ft
- Pet tool
- TurboEraser tool
#2Shark Rocket Corded Stick Vacuum (HV301)
$100–$150
A corded stick that weighs under 9 lb, so it goes up the stairs in one hand, and the hand vacuum pops off the wand for the couch, the stairs and the car. The low nozzle slides under beds and couches, and with no battery it never runs out halfway through a room.
What owners say: Owners like how light it is to carry, up and down the stairs especially, and say it picks up well on floors and carpet, pet hair included. Several mention that it won’t stand up on its own.
A closer look: Assembled, it needs a wall to lean on, so for storage unclip the hand vacuum and clip it to the base of the wand, which lets the pair stand in a closet. The 0.3 qt dust cup is small: empty it after each room, and rinse the foam filters now and then.
- Under 9 lb
- Low nozzle slides under beds
- Swivel steering
- Washable foam filters
- 5-year limited warranty
Best for: Apartments and stairs
- Type
- Stick, converts to handheld
- Dirt capacity
- 0.3 qt
- Cleaning path
- 8.5 in
- Power
- 4.2 A
- Cord
- 25 ft
- Pet tool
- No
#3Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum (3508)
$50–$75
A full upright scaled down to 7.5 lb and 25 in tall, so it carries up the stairs and fits a small closet. The removable extension wand reaches curtains, baseboards and upholstery, and Scatter-Free Technology keeps it from scattering crumbs across hard floors.
What owners say: Owners are pleased with the suction for its size, on dirt, pet hair and carpet alike, and find it quick to put together and handy on the stairs. Some had one stop working after several months.
A closer look: The size suits an apartment, a dorm room or the upstairs of a house, where a full-size machine is a chore to carry. Hold the dirt container over the trash can and press its button to empty it, and rinse the washable filter now and then so the suction stays strong.
- Weighs 7.5 lb
- 25 in tall
- Removable extension wand
- Push-button emptying
- Keeps crumbs from scattering
Best for: Upstairs floors and dorm rooms
- Type
- Compact upright
- Dirt capacity
- 1.1 qt
- Cleaning path
- 10 in
- Power
- 6.2 A
- Cord
- 23 ft
- Pet tool
- No
#4Amazon Basics Upright Bagless Vacuum (black and white)
$50–$75
A plain, light upright that does the basics well: 8.4 lb, a 25 ft cord and a 1.8 qt dust cup, the biggest here, so it runs longer between trips to the trash. The handle comes off to reach high corners with the crevice and upholstery tools.
What owners say: Strong suction and pet hair pickup are what owners mention first; they find it nimble to maneuver and a handy size for carpeted stairs. The cord suits some homes and comes up short in others.
A closer look: Empty the dust cup over the trash can with its quick-release button, and rinse the washable filter every few weeks, letting it dry fully before it goes back. There’s a single power setting, so nothing to adjust between rugs and hard floors; just pull the handle off when a corner needs the crevice tool.
- Weighs 8.4 lb
- Handle detaches for high spots
- Quick-release dust cup
- Washable filter
- One setting for every floor
Best for: Fewer trips to empty it
- Type
- Upright
- Dirt capacity
- 1.8 qt
- Cleaning path
- –
- Power
- 6 A
- Cord
- 25 ft
- Pet tool
- No
#5Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Allergen Lift-Off Vacuum (39883)
$100–$150
A pet upright whose pod lifts off for stairs, ceiling corners and the car, with a Tangle-Free brush roll that doesn’t wind up hair and a sealed HEPA system that keeps dust allergens inside the machine. Bissell’s TurboEraser pet tool comes in the box.
What owners say: Pet hair is its strong suit, owners say, on hard floors and carpet alike, and they rate the suction and find it a good value. Opinions differ on how heavy it feels and how easily it steers, and for a few the brush roll stopped turning.
A closer look: At 15.7 lb it’s the heaviest here, so lift the pod off and carry that up the stairs rather than the whole upright. The quick-release wand and 7.2 ft hose reach high corners, and the dirt tank lets go of its contents with one touch over the trash can.
- Tangle-free brush roll
- Sealed HEPA system
- Quick-release wand
- One-touch tank emptying
Best for: Allergy sufferers with pets
- Type
- Upright, lift-off pod
- Dirt capacity
- 1.1 qt
- Cleaning path
- 11.75 in
- Power
- Up to 9.7 A
- Cord
- 25 ft
- Pet tool
- TurboEraser tool
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet | #2Shark Rocket HV301 | #3Bissell CleanView Compact | #4Amazon Basics upright | #5Bissell Pet Hair Eraser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best stick vacuum | Best budget | Biggest dust cup | ||
| Picked Rating | 8.9 | 8.7 | 8.7 | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Price | $100–$150 | $100–$150 | $50–$75 | $50–$75 | $100–$150 |
| Type | Upright | Stick, converts to handheld | Compact upright | Upright | Upright, lift-off pod |
| Dirt capacity | 1.1 qt | 0.3 qt | 1.1 qt | 1.8 qt | 1.1 qt |
| Cleaning path | 13 in | 8.5 in | 10 in | – | 11.75 in |
| Power | 8 A | 4.2 A | 6.2 A | 6 A | Up to 9.7 A |
| Cord | 25 ft | 25 ft | 23 ft | 25 ft | 25 ft |
| Pet tool | TurboEraser tool | No | No | No | TurboEraser tool |
| Best for | Pet hair in bigger homes | Apartments and stairs | Upstairs floors and dorm rooms | Fewer trips to empty it | Allergy sufferers with pets |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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