Professional cleaners often stick with a simple cylinder vacuum, despite there being lots of different vacuum cleaners on the market (from cordless vacuums to automated robot vacuums)
These appliances often offer more powerful suction. Unlike cordless vacuums, there’s no faff with charging or a frustrating runtime, and unlike an upright vacuum, a cylinder is light enough to carry upstairs comfortably. According to Kiril Natov, carpet and upholstery cleaning technician at Premium Clean, cylinder vacuums also boast “lighter cleaning heads, better reach under furniture and more attachments,” making them a more versatile choice.
Cylinder vacuums come in two formats: bagged and bagless. There are pros and cons to both. Bagged models, unsurprisingly, trap dust and dirt in a bag, making them a great choice for people with allergies. However, you’ll need to keep stocking up on disposable bags, which makes for an extra (though relatively modest) expense.
Bagless cylinder vacuums, meanwhile, make it easy to see what you’ve sucked up and when the cylinder needs emptying. However, they tend to be worse at sealing off dirt, so they’re less well-suited to people with allergies.
How I tested
I tested the vacuums within my busy home alongside my three messy children. It was crucial to test the vacuums in real scenarios to understand how they fared in the realities of my day-to-day. I lugged each model up and down stairs, stored them away in a small cupboard and used all the included attachments. I paid close attention to maneuverability, ease of storage, performance, value for money and additional accessories. Only the vacuums passed my rigorous testing made the cut. You can read more about my testing criteria at the end of this article.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
With a focus on products and appliances for the home, Zoë Phillimore has written numerous reviews for IndyBest. When it comes to vacuum cleaners, she knows which features to look for, having tested everything from handheld and robot models to vacuums you can use in your car. As a married woman in her early 40s with three children, Zoë’s household undergoes plenty of footfall, from PE trainers to muddy wellies, so she was perfectly placed to put the following vacuums through their paces. Plus, with five people under one roof, it presented more challenges from a maneuverability perspective, with little toes running about and plenty of toys blocking her path. This meant that all the vacuums were tested under real-world conditions, similarly to how you would in your own home.
The best cylinder vacuums for 2025 are:
Hoover H-power 300 bagless cylinder vacuum cleaner with allergy care
Best: Cylinder vacuum overall
Bin size: 2l
Cord length: 7m
Weight: 4.5kg
Attachments: 2-in-1 crevice tool, pet tool
Bin type: Bagless
Why we love it
- Relatively lightweight
- Good for allergy sufferers
There are lots of nifty things I liked about this Hoover during testing. First up, it’s relatively easy to store as, it’s fairly compact. Despite only having two attachments, it comes with two different hoses, so it can cover a wide cleaning zone – up to 12m.
Using the hose and pole attachments, I could reach the top of my dusty curtain rail without having to stand on a chair, and I could even reach some of the stairs without moving from the bottom step. Emptying the Hoover was a breeze, and the HEPA filter is washable, which is great for those with allergies. I also liked that I could push a button, and the cord would wind itself back into the vacuum.
Buy now £99.00, Amazon.co.uk
Russell Hobbs atlas2 cylinder bagless vacuum cleaner
Best: Budget cylinder vacuum
Bin size: 2.5l
Cord length: 5m
Weight: 3.8kg
Attachments: 3 in 1 multi-tool, pet turbo tool
Bin type: Bagless
Why we love it
- Great three-in-one tool
- Decent cleaning radius
- Relatively lightweight
Take note
- Pet attachment could be bigger
This cylinder vacuum has been designed with two things in mind: big houses and homes with pets. There’s a large 2.5l bin, and the 5m flex means you can get across most rooms without having to switch between plug sockets. With the pole attachment in place, the atlas2 has an 8m radius cleaning zone, which is pretty impressive.
Meanwhile, the ‘pet turbo tool’ scoops up pet hair and spins it into the vacuum’s bin. It’s far from perfect - it’s quite a small tool, so it takes a while to cover a whole sofa, and the tool tends to tangle with long hair. However, it’s effective at removing pet hair.
I also liked the three-in-one tool, which does crevices (it worked wonders on a crumb-covered car interior), upholstery and has a brush for dusting skirting boards and so on. It’s also pretty lightweight, making it easier to lug up and down stairs.
Buy now £49.99, Amazon.co.uk
Miele boost CX1 cat and dog powerline cylinder vacuum
Best: Cylinder vacuum for pet owners
Bin size: 1l
Cord length: 8m
Weight: 5.8kg
Attachments: Upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, dusting brush with synthetic bristles, turbobrush
Bin type: Bagless
Why we love it
- Easy to pull along
- Relatively compact
- Easy to empty
Take note
- Quite heavy
- Smaller bin capacity
The CX1 is more compact than most Miele vacuums, and it looks more modern than Miele’s usual aesthetic, too. As well as the crevice, dusting and upholstery nozzles, it comes with a floorhead that enables you to flick between thin- and thick-pile carpets. There is also the ‘turbobrush’, which is ideal for thinner carpets and hardwood floors.
When testing this model on a medium-pile carpet, it was able to suck up plenty of grit and hair. With the telescopic pole, I had no problem reaching picture rails and the top of curtain rails.
Unusually for Miele, this is a bagless vacuum. I found emptying the bin simple – lift, open the hatch, and your dirt falls out into the bin. There is also a HEPA filter, meaning this vacuum is blasting out clean air behind it, which is good news for allergy sufferers.
However, like most Miele vacuums, this is fairly heavy. It’s also expensive - it costs nearly six times as much as my budget buy. The 1l bin is fine, but you’ll find that it fills up pretty quickly.
Buy now £399.00, Argos.co.uk
Numatic Henry home cylinder vacuum
Best: Cylinder vacuum for versatility
Bin size: 6l
Cord length: 10m
Weight: 7.5kg
Attachments: Crevice tool, dusting brush, mattress tool
Bin type: Bagged
Why we love it
- Loads of attachments
- Easy to empty
- Solid build quality
- Huge bin capacity
Take note
- Heavy and bulky
Henry vacuums are hard to ignore when you’re buying a vacuum – those famous eyes follow you around the shop. I tested the classic Henry home model, but there are other iterations available too – you can also buy a Hetty and Harry vacuums, with the latter specialised for pet hair removal.
This vacuum comes with plenty of attachments. I enjoyed using the dusting attachment, which is ideal for fiddly areas such as fireplaces and around cornicing. I also liked the mess-free emptying system – the bags seal to avoid any dust or allergens from floating around. While you will have to remember to stock up on bags, the bin has a huge capacity, so you won’t have to worry about emptying it every five minutes.
However, this Henry vacuum is the heaviest I tested, weighing in at almost 9kg. I found this less than ideal when lugging him up and down the stairs – or, indeed, when vacuuming the stairs. It’s also cumbersome to store compared with some other vacuums in this round-up.
Buy now £129.00, Amazon.co.uk
Your cylinder vacuum questions answered
What is the best cylinder vacuum?
I was really impressed with the Hoover cylinder vacuum during testing. It’s got a great cleaning radius, as well as being lightweight, easy to use and relatively affordable. There’s a HEPA filter included, too, so it’s good for allergy sufferers. If you have the budget to stretch, I also loved the Miele boost CX1 cat and dog – the turbobrush was incredibly effective on my hardwood floors.
Which is better, a cylinder or an upright vacuum cleaner?
According to Kiril Natov, carpet and upholstery cleaning technician at Premium Clean, there are pros and cons to both varieties of vacuum, listed as follows:
Cylinder vacuum cleaner pros |
Cylinder vacuum cleaner cons |
Upright vacuum cleaner pros |
Upright vacuum cleaner cons |
Versatile |
Bulkier to store |
Better for open spaces |
Heavier on stairs |
Lighter attachments and more attachment options |
Work well on large carpeted areas |
||
Good for manoeuvring in tight spaces |
Easy “push and go” design | ||
Quieter |
What are the different types of cylinder vacuum?
As well as corded and cordless models, Natov breaks down the key cylinder varieties into four categories:
Why do cleaners prefer cylinder vacuums?
“They handle multiple surfaces, stairs and tight spaces without needing extra machines,” says Natov, emphasising the “wide range of tools for dusting, crevices and upholstery” on offer. Bagged cylinder models often feature “large bags, which means fewer emptying trips, and a lighter weight wand reduces fatigue.”
Which cylinder vacuum brand is better, Henry or Miele?
Natov praises Henry for its toughness, affordability, and the fact that it “has a huge capacity, making it ideal for commercial work.” Meanwhile, “Miele is quieter, more refined, and offers better filtration, making it great for allergy and pet owners.” In short, he summises, “Choose Henry for durability and low running costs, Miele for top air quality and comfort.”
How were these cylinder vacuum cleaners tested?
As mentioned, I had a strict testing criterion. I used each vacuum in my busy home and considered the following:
For more tried and tested cleaning appliances, check out our experts' picks for the best handheld vacuums
