Canister Vacuum vs. Upright Vacuum - Does It Still Matter?

This is the first post in our vacuum cleaner series, in which we're going to explore the different kinds. This week we're helping you choose between canister and upright vacuums, the two most common types.



The first vacuum cleaner was invented almost 150 years ago. It was an expensive contraption that relied on a hand crank to work. Through the evolution of the vacuum cleaner, there have been many different designs, but the two most popular are undoubtedly the canister and upright models.



The run-down on canisters:

• Canister vacuums are better on hard floors and don't suffer from the dirt scattering effect that may be a problem with some uprights.


• The focus of canisters is their tools and extension hose. Most have a carpet cleaning power brush (either belt- or suction-driven) that can rival an upright, as well as tools for hard surfaces, upholstery, and crevices. This makes them great all-round cleaners.


• They provide a quieter cleaning experience than uprights.


• Canister vacuums are better on stairs because of their lighter weight and longer hose. They're easier to manage in a multi-level home.


• They are lighter than uprights, and easier to manage.


• Canister vacs can be more expensive than uprights.

The run-down on uprights:

• Most upright vacuum cleaners are still better at carpet cleaning than canister vacs.


• The focus of upright vacuums is floor cleaning. Since they vacuum directly from the ground, they often feature options like dirt sensors, extra-wide cleaning paths, and self-propelled motors.


• While most uprights have an extension hose and attachments, the focus is generally on their floor-cleaning power.


• Height adjustment, brush roll shut-off, and different tool options are making upright vacuum cleaners useful for cleaning hard surfaces.


• Upright vacuums are more compact and easier to store.


• They tend to be less expensive than canister vacuums.

Uprights still have the edge for carpets, while canisters are still supreme for hard floors and above-the-floor cleaning. While they are both becoming more multi-purpose, this is likely to hold true for some time.