Best Vacuum Cleaner Australia: Top-Rated Buying Guide 2021
A vacuum cleaner is one of those items at home that have become crucial. Choosing the right kind of vacuum for your home, however, can be a tough prospect!
Vacuumit is here to help you with a round up of the cleanest vacuum reviews!
Keep reading to find out what the top vacuums for your home may be.
Australia’s Best Vacuum Cleaner Reviews for 2021
Top Vacuum Cleaner by Type
The most confusing aspect that you will face when buying cleaning home appliances, is the wide variety of types of vacuum cleaners.
Mainly, the six major types of vacuum cleaners are:
- Stick Vacuum Cleaners
- Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- Robot Vacuum Cleaner
- Cylinder Vacuum Cleaner
- Wet & Dry Vacuum Cleaner
- Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Stick Vacuums
The most important components of a Stick Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide are:
- Stick vacuum cleaners are generally battery-powered and are therefore ideal for smaller homes.
- Stick vacs are typically a bagless vacuum cleaner and typically need emptying after every cleaning session.
The best kind of Stick Vacuum Cleaners have long battery life and can easily reach the tightest nooks and crannies in your home!
Here are our top picks of the best stick vacuum cleaners around!
Dyson V8 Animal
A cyclonic system captures fine dust, while a unique tool deals with pet fur, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. HEPA filter, 40 minutes of operation life and the ability to convert to a handheld device are the icing on this cake.
Devanti 450W 2 in 1
The Devanti 450W 2 in 1 Stick Vacuum cleaner is the cheapest offering on our list. At only 3.5 kilos and with 450 watts of power, this stick vacuum showcases the most powerful suction in this category.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners
The most important components of an Upright Vacuum Cleaners Buying Guide are:
- The type of rugs on your property, probably best for rough and fuzzy carpets.
- Staircases in your home, as these vacuums generally perform poorly in this regard.
Upright Vacuum cleaners are single unit vacuums with suction-powered cleaning heads at the bottom and the handle up top.
Shark DuoClean Powered Lift-Away
Staying true to its name DuoClean, a rough brush roll deeply cleans carpets while a softer brush roll allows you to leave your floors with a polished look. A sealing technology on the filters ensures that 99.9% of dust stays inside.
Bissell Lift-Off Pet
The Lift-Off Pet Vacuum cleaner gets its name from having an easy-release switch to convert to a handheld. A Pet TurboEraser Tool allows you to extract all of the furs your pets have shed.
Robot Vacuums
The most relevant factors to consider when purchasing Robot Vacuums are:
- Robot vacuum cleaners work best on hard floors such as laminate floors, porcelain tiles or wooden floorboards.
- Robot vacuums work seamlessly in thin carpets but dismally otherwise.
The iRobot Roomba has created waves, practically becoming synonymous with robot vacuums!
Excitingly, the technology has gotten so advanced that your Robot Vacuum Cleaners at home could connect to your Wi-Fi and compatible with your smartphone!
The market has developed at a frightening pace, pushing products like the iRobot Roomba to the fringes, while other vacuum brands have upped the pressure on their once-unassailable market share.
eufy BoostIQ Robovac 11S
With the eufy BoostIQ Robovac 11S, you get a robot vacuum comparable to powerful barrel vacuum models or upright vacs. When the battery that lasts 100 minutes runs low, the Robovac 11S finds its way to the charging station by itself!
Samsung POWERbot VR7000M
With a slim design, the POWERbot VR7000 comes with battery power that lasts for 90 minutes. A unique self-cleaning brush at its cleaning heads ensures that no dust or hair gets trapped on the bristles. A brush will drop down as soon as it touches a wall, creating a barrier so that no dust escapes its clutches!
Cylinder Vacuums
The critical elements to consider when looking at a Cylinder Vacuum Cleaners are:
- The suction power of the cleaning heads, to pull out the dust from the floor in your home.
- The filter quality on your vacuum, to minimise dust generated from the vacuum.
Cylinder Vacuum Cleaners get their name from the distinctive cylindrical shape and are also called Barrel Vacuum Cleaners for this same reason.
Increasingly in the Australian market, the price range of Cylinder Vacuum Cleaners can swing wildly, with both the price range and product availability on two ends of the spectrum for these barrel vacuums.
Miele Complete C3 Cat & Dog
For pet-owners in Australia, it doesn’t get much better than the Miele Complete C3. This vacuum is ideal for getting deeply-embedded fur from rough carpets. An incredible control panel gives you a say on the powerful suction.
Dyson Cinetic Big Ball Animal
This vacuum promises no maintenance for its owners, owing from the lack of any filters to clean or replace! This cleaner will easily handle the tightest spots to reach, as the handle on the Big Ball rotates 360 degrees!
Wet & Dry Vacuums
The most important considerations when looking at a Wet & Dry Vacs are:
- A large capacity to store wet and dry debris is critical.
- As wet & dry vacuums are pretty heavy, the cleaning radius is an important consideration.
By handing both wet spills and dry debris, wet & dry vacuums are an excellent tool for homes that want to get some outdoor cleaning done.
While these are typically heavy machines, the cleaning performance of our top picks in the market is something else!
Bosch Universal Vac 15
After our team of testers were done testing the Bosch Universal Vac 15, they were stunned at the affordable price range. This vacuum boasts zero maintenance as the filters never need to be changed. A 15-litre tank capacity and a blow
Hoover Enigma 2000W Wet & Dry
U.S.-based Hoover has done a lot right to be the name virtually synonymous with vacuum cleaners. With a massive wattage of 2000 watts and a 30-litre canister capacity, this is the heavy-duty machine you need.
Handheld Vacuums
The critical factors to consider when looking at a Handheld Vacuum Cleaner are:
- The battery power of handheld devices will determine how much cleaning you can get done.
- The limited dust canister capacity of handheld vacuums is a running theme.
Handheld Vacuums are designed to be as convenient as possible.
Technology has not gotten so far that these devices can replace larger vacuums for two main reasons - small dustbins and toned down suction.
Dyson V7 Trigger
Staying true to its name DuoClean, this vacuum from Shark can handle both - hard floors and plush carpets. A rough brush deeply cleans carpets while a softer brush roll allows you to leave your floors with a polished look.
Black+Decker Wet and Dry Lithium-ion
The Lift-Off Pet Vacuum gets its name from having an easy-release switch that converts the vacuum to a handheld. Multiple levels of filtration ensure that very minimal amount of dust goes back up to your rooms.
Best Vacuum Cleaner by Task
It is wrong to think that every vacuum cleaner can execute any task.
The vacuum market has gotten so fragmented that there are specialisations for every type of cleaning!
The most useful of those tasks, we believe are:
- Car Vacuums
- Steam Cleaners
- Garden Vacuums
- Carpet Sweepers
Let's dive right into what makes the foremost vacuums ideal for each of these cleaning tasks.
Car Vacuums
The things to look out for when looking at a Car Vacuum cleaner are:
- The number of regular passengers (or pets) in your vehicle will determine the cleaning intensity you should look out for - cars that transport children get dirtier.
- With any cordless vacuum cleaner operation, it is vital to keep tabs on the battery.
Cars are some of the filthiest places to be in, with Canadian research claiming that every square centimeter of your car could have about 283 different bacteria species lurking!
The best car vacuums have tremendous suction, a great battery and have cleverly-designed cleaning heads to get through to the tightest corners.
Black+Decker PV1820L Lithium-ion Dustbuster Pivot
For a budget-friendly price range, the Lithium-ion dustbuster Pivot provides tremendous value for money. Showcasing an excellent pivot design and an extendable crevice tool, this Black+Decker can reach where most car vacuums will struggle.
Hoover BH52210PC
If you wanted a car vacuum cleaner that could also double-up as a cordless stick vacuum for your home, look no further than the Hoover BH52210PC. The ability to convert to a handheld the reason why this stick vacuum is so good at cleaning cars.
Steam Cleaners
The key considerations when looking at a Steam Cleaner are:
- Steam power is a critical requirement.
- The capacity of the steam cleaner to hold water and how easy to use it is will be key.
Despite being a relatively new vacuum technology, steam cleaners have become a bit of a super-product in Australia.
High-powered steam is an extremely hygienic tool for keeping your hard floors sparkling.
The best thing about the top steam cleaners is their versatility in cleaning shower cubicles, windows or even greasy ovens.
Bissell Steam Shot 2635F
Steam comes out like a rocket from the Bissell Steam Shot’s 0.36-litre tank. Keeping things ultra-lightweight at 1.4 kilos, this corded device can handle tight spots at home that large steam cleaners typically struggle to clean.
Karcher SC3 EASYFIX
The Karcher SC3 is one of the easiest steam cleaners we’ve had a chance to test, heating water up in under 30 seconds. With a full litre of water capacity, the Karcher SC3 has a massive water tank compared to most other steam cleaners.
Garden Vacuums
The critical factors to consider when looking at a Garden Vacuum are:
- Keep an eye out for machines that can vacuum, blow and shred leaves.
- Suction power needs to pick up dry as well as damp leaves.
Garden up-keep is something very few Australians look forward to, but not with a garden vacuum for help!
Fallen leaves can host a range of dangerous diseases, blocking sunlight for the ground and acting as a tripping hazard when they are damp.
The top garden vacuums we tested in Australia have a lot of different functions, potent suction and a large dust bag for collection.
Bosch ALS 25
By a large margin, this is the top garden vacuum we tested, particularly when you consider the excellent build quality. By generating wind speeds of 300 km/hour, it is safe to say that you will blow your garden away!
Black+Decker GW2500
Black+Decker has long made a reliable name for itself when it comes to workshop tools or garden equipment. While the 2,500-watt motor isn’t too quiet, we reckon 310 km/hour of wind speed makes up for it!
Carpet Sweepers
The key considerations when purchasing a Carpet Sweeper are:
- Carpet sweepers may be manual or automatic.
- While automatic sweepers provide more power, the limited battery will hamper cleaning.
- Low dust canister capacity is typical in carpet sweepers.
Carpet Sweepers are making a bit of a comeback off late, as they are easy to use and low-cost.
Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo
For a cordless carpet sweeper that showcases 60 minutes of operational life and a powered rotating brush. While it may not come cheap, the secure emptying system and the ability to handle any floor type makes this one of our top options tested in Australia.
Ewbank Evolution 3
Manual sweepers are wonderful tools as you don’t have to worry about tripping over long cords or worrying about the battery! With adjustable height settings, this manual sweeper can handle all types of floors, while also being extremely easy to empty.
Best Vacuum by Features
Not every vacuum cleaner focuses on picking up debris and leaving your floors sparkling.
Some of the foremost vacuum makers have been crafting devices that can target particular hotspots when it comes to cleaning.
The most relevant features you will find in specific vacuum niches are:
- Pet Hair Vacuums
- Quiet Vacuums
- HEPA Filter Vacuums
- Lightweight Vacuums
Let’s try to understand how the top vacuums in each niche outperform against the rest of the competition.
Pet Hair Vacuums
These are the critical elements to look out for when purchasing a Pet Hair Vacuum:
- To combat microscopic allergens, it is critical to have an excellent filtration system.
- Pets shed fast, so it’s essential to see how big that dust canister is on the vacuum!
A Pet Hair Vacuum will help you maintain a clean home for yourself and your furry companions.
With 62% of all Aussie homes having at least one pet, our nation has some of the highest pet ownership rates on the planet.
With our picks for the top pet vacuums, you can see there are some magnificent vacuums out there to combat pet hair.
Hoover React Quicklift
Pet hair cleaning has rarely gotten to such high tech levels before the Hoover REACT hit the market. Customisation is the name of the game, with the Hoover REACT vacuum easily controllable from your smartphone.
Dyson Ball DC65 Animal
Showcasing Dyson founder James Dyson’s famous mobility invention, the “Ballbarrow”, the distinctive shape of this vacuum makes it incredibly agile. Washable HEPA filters and an extendable hose make this a vacuum ideal for pet owners.
Quiet Vacuums
Here are some things to keep in mind when trying to buy a Quiet Vacuum:
- The holy grail for any quiet vacuum is the decibel rating. Anything under 70 decibels is typically bearable.
- To qualify as quiet vacuums, certain manufacturers compromise on suction power, which defeats the purpose of a new vacuum.
It may seem unfathomable, but most vacuum cleaners are as loud as a busy city intersection at rush hour!
By choosing a quiet vacuum, you do not have to compromise on suction power.
Numatic Henry Hoover HVR200
The original vacuum that launched the Henry Hoover vacuum brand to fame, the latest iteration - the HVR200 - is a treat to use. With a huge dust bag, conical hose for improved airflow and TriTex filters, this is a well-made vacuum which looks highly durable.
Dyson Cyclone V10
Before the Dyson V11 stole the show, the V10 was the Dyson vacuum with the most potent Dyson motor ever. Beyond the great battery power and sufficient bin size, this vacuum also operates at barely a murmur!
HEPA Filter Vacuums
Pet dander, pollen or dust can be a serious problem for homes with people that suffer from breathing difficulties or severe dust allergies.
Homes with allergy sufferers need to consider the following pros and cons when considering a HEPA Filter Vacuum:
- Beware of misleading advertising from new vacuum cleaner brands about “HEPA-grade” or “HEPA-like” filtration, which almost always are not the real thing!
- While a bagless vacuum cleaner is cost-effective, they may not be the best option for homes as there is a risk of dust re-entering your homes during disposal.
Hoover Allergy
Filtration on this cylinder vac is comprehensive because of the triple whammy of HEPA filtration combined with a carbon exhaust filter as well as multiple cyclones. HEPA filters are renowned for trapping at least 99.95% of all allergens captured by a vacuum cleaner.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away
Shark vacuums have made a name for themselves to capture the American vacuum market. The Navigator Lift-Away is a genuinely magnificent performer. Despite seeming like a bulky upright vac, when Lift-Away technology is in play, this vacuum can turn into a highly mobile, portable cleaner.
Lightweight Vacuums
Consider these factors when selecting a lightweight vacuum for your home:
- When opting for a cordless vacuum, it is essential to keep an eye on the battery life if it is a cordless model.
- To maintain the nimble status, some lightweight vacuums have a limited dust canister capacity.
There used to be a time when lightweight vacuums could not dream of having the same suction power in noisier uprights and cylinder vacs.
Worryingly in the Australian market, a lot of the lightweight vacuums we tested were made of inferior, shoddy parts.
Vax Blade VX63
Weighing under 3 kilograms is only the start of the story with this excellent cordless vacuum from Vax. Over 45 minutes of battery life and converting to a handheld helps this new vacuum cement a place in our list.
Bissell Featherweight
Besides the versatile, corded and lightweight design, this Bissell vacuum is also remarkably cost-effective. The ability to convert to a hand vacuum makes this a good lightweight option for staircase cleaning as well as your car interiors.
Best Vacuum Cleaner by Brand
We discuss the top vacuums from some of the most popular Australian brands. Their popularity stems from making excellent devices that have stood the test of time!
The vacuum cleaner brands we discuss are:
Let’s try to understand how these brands have captured the public imagination in Australia.
Dyson Vacuums
Dyson V11 Absolute
Overtaking the Dyson V10’s motor, the Dyson V11 currently has the most potent Dyson motor ever. Combined with a High Torque cleaner head that rotates 60 times a second, the suction on this cordless stick vacuum cleaner will put most large vacuums to shame.
Dyson V8 Animal
An excellent battery will run for 40 minutes, but the reason the Dyson V8 has a cult status in Australia is for a number of other reasons. When you combine all of that with quiet operation, a top-quality filtration system and easy emptying, you land upon a real winner in the Dyson V8.
Miele Vacuums
Miele Swing H1 Tactical
Excellent performance in both hard floors as well as low-pile carpet cleaning will endear this super lightweight corded vacuum in your mind. Hard floor performance excels because of the presence of an Integrated Glide feature.
Miele Complete C3 Family All-Rounder
By cleaning up to 11 metres on a single swivel, this vacuum is a great tool for covering large spaces in no time. Bagged design as well as Miele’s trademark AirClean filters make this vacuum an excellent choice for curbing allergies.
Shark Vacuums
Shark IONFlex 2X
The last thing you have to worry about will be the battery life on this excellent cord free stick vacuum. That’s because of the two batteries, which can be charged separately, giving you about 45 minutes of battery life. DuoClean tech will allow you to alternate between different floor types easily.
Shark Navigator Lift-Away
Although it may not look like it, this excellent upright vac weighs only a little over 3 kilograms! With an excellent two-tone filtration system that includes HEPA filtration, this is a superb choice for homes with allergy sufferers. If you aren’t bowled over by the incredible suction, then the excellent steering will win you over!
Bissell Vacuums
Bissell Lift-Off Pet
With the Bissell Lift-Off Pet, you get extremely powerful suction performance in an upright vacuum that comes with flagship Lift-Off technology, excellent display on carpets as well as excellent filtration.
Bissell Featherweight
The Bissell Featherweight is a super-convenient and lightweight stick vacuum, which particularly excelled in our hard floor testing. Despite the thin stature, this vacuum displays surprisingly powerful suction.
Hoover Vacuums
Hoover Essential Upright Vacuum
Don’t let the supreme cleaning power of this upright vacuum fool you; it is also seriously affordable. A motorised vacuum head will make carpet cleaning a breeze by agitating carpet fibres. A wand that extends up to 2.4 metres will also increase the cleaning radius substantially.
Hoover Quickstick Handstick
This cordless vacuum beauty from Hoover will use motorised powerheads to give carpets a real workout, no matter how thick or long the carpet fibres may be. With 20 minutes of battery life, this ultra-light stick is perfect for quick spot cleaning sessions.
Which Vacuum Cleaner is Best For My Home?
The most effective vacuums are often a hefty investment for any home, so it is essential to get it right! Consider these facets:
Budget
With the vast array of technologies prevalent in the market today, the price range of vacuum cleaners in Australia can swing wildly too!
Taking a quick peek at your nearest electronics store will let you know that a price range can run from under $150 to as high as $1,200!
Ultimately, the top vacuums are an investment that maintains the up-keep of your home!
Floor Type
Choose a vacuum cleaner with soft bristles so that your hardwood floors don’t get scratches!
Keep a close eye on the suction power of your vacuum if your home has a lot of carpet-covered surfaces.
Pets
Every pet owner knows the secret struggle of owning a pet - the fur shedding.
Nimble stick vacuum cleaners may not be the best option for a home with multiple pets as their suction nozzles can be quickly overwhelmed.
Generally, the most effective type of vacuum for pet hair has a rotating brush roll that stirs up the carpet to get to the hard-to-reach fur lurking underneath.
Stairs
The long hose and pliable nozzles of a cylinder vacuum cleaner makes it an excellent fit in trying to clean your staircases.
Stick Vacuums with thin, and lightweight handles can also be a good option for homes with staircases.
Upright Vacuum Cleaners, however, can be quite cumbersome and tough to carry up your stairs!
Robot cleaners may be smart, but most aren’t smart enough to identify your staircases (the iRobot Roomba versions typically display this feature)!
The Accessories
Thinking about cleaning your car as well? Go for accessories to reach the tough corners underneath your car seats.
For especially tight corners, opt for adapters that convert to a handheld vacuum.
Want a definitive solution for your pet hair problem in your vehicle? Some vacuums come with rubber attachments for expertly sucking up fur for shaggy carpet cleaning sessions.
Bagless Vacuum Cleaner vs Bagged Vacuum Cleaner
Unlike a bagless vacuum cleaner, a bagged vacuum can typically hold a lot more waste.
During emptying of a bagless vacuum, some of the dust could get discharged and affect air quality.
The drawback of having a bagged vacuum is that you will have more operational costs to replace bags.
In many cases, replacement bags may not be biodegradable which is a real concern for carbon-conscious Aussies, who then opt for a bagless vacuum instead.
Final Verdict
Selecting a vacuum cleaner is never easy, especially with the variety of factors you need to consider during a round up of one of the essential home appliances.
Align your vacuum choice with the special needs of your home by reading multiple vacuum cleaner reviews.
Do you have a lot of guests showing up at short notice? Then a lightweight stick vacuum cleaner is best for quick spot cleaning.
Is your home overrun with furry pets that shed indiscriminately? Then you’ll need to focus on a vacuum cleaner with an excellent pet hair attachment to deal with the good guys at home!
Does your home occupy a large area? Then you may have to focus on a large upright vacuums or cylinder vacuum cleaner to get you over the line.
We hope that our pick of the top vacuums in Australia represent a useful guide of vacuum cleaner reviews!
Happy hunting!
Sources
- 'Best Vacuum Cleaners' - Product Review
- 'Best Vacuum Cleaners' - CanstarBlue
- 'Vacuum Cleaners' - Consumer Reports
- 'Are Vacuum Cleaners Bad for Your Health?' - Webmd
- 'Market & Industry Scoping Report Vacuum Cleaners' - ENERGY STAR
Last update on 2023-10-07 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Hi, amazing info !! Can you share what is the cheapest one of all the above?
Hello Jörg! The cheapest one in this list is the Devanti 450W. The Bissell Featherweight is also cheap and one of the best vacuum cleaners around!
Jeff from Vacuumit
Which is the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair?
Hello Maria! Check out our page for the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair – https://vacuumit.com.au/vacuum-cleaners-for-pet-hair/
Jeff from Vacuumit
Hi. Thanks for sharing. I’ve been looking for a best vacuum cleaner list for some time now.
Hi Christi, we’re glad we could help you with decision making!
Are all of these best vacuums available in stores like Harvey Norman?
Hello Jayson,
We’re not too sure about which ones will be available at outlets, but we know that almost all of them can be bought online on Amazon! We reckon that’s much easier!
I really didn’t know there was so much choice in Aus in choosing a good vacuum cleaner. Thanks.
Hi Lindsey,
You’ll be surprised just how many excellent vacuum cleaners go under the radar in Australia! We certainly were!
Pretty nice post.
Hi Geraldine,
We appreciate you taking the time to lend some feedback!
my mate reckons shark vacuums are better than dysons??
Hi Mildred,
That’s a close one to call, as some Shark models (especially the two in this list right here) are some of the best vacuum cleaners we have tested – period. But overall, we reckon Dyson still slightly edges it over Shark because of the overall ease of use!
Hi I work with tools in my garage and was wondering if any of these vacuums are good enough to clean up. TIA
Hey Dale,
We would recommend the Bissell Garage Pro for you, it’s one of the best vacuum cleaners for people that regularly need to clean up their garage!
i run a business at home, so i have a lot of clients coming in and out. will a steam cleaner disinfect my floors?
Hi Stephanie,
You can bet it will! Steam is ejected at super-high temperatures, killing all sorts of bacteria!
Most of these vacuums are pretty costly!
Hi Eben,
We agree with you, but we reckon the build quality of these vacuums means you can use them for a couple of years at least!
Thanks for this very nice and helpful review. This review information helped me to choose the best vacuum.
Thanks for saying that John! We love helping people select the best vacuum cleaners for their budget!
I like what you guys are up too. This kind of clever
work and coverage! Keep up the awesome works guys I’ve included you guys to my personal blogroll.
Hi, Thanks for the info. what would you recommend for my wife and daughters long hair? it gets stuck on my vacuum robot a lot.
Hi Julian,
In our review of the best robotic vacuum cleaners, we mentioned how the iRobot Roomba 890 is an excellent cleaner of hair! – https://vacuumit.com.au/robot-vacuum-cleaners/
Thanks a lot. You provide a lot of choices. Thanks