Are you confused about which best vacuums for stairs will perfect handle going up ? Are you tired of breaking your back whenever you need to clean your staircase?
If so, you could benefit from purchasing a vacuum that is designed to clean your entire home, including staircases. However, these types of vacuums have various features that you should consider before making your final purchasing decision.
To assist with this, we have reviewed 10 of the best vacuum models for cleaning stairs, and we have even included an educational section.
In this section, you will find factors you should consider when purchasing these vacuums and a FAQ section to help answer any questions that might arise while in the market for one. Let’s get started.
Contents
- Our Recommended Vacuums for Stairs
- 10 Best Vacuums for Stairs:
- 1. Black&Decker; Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum
- 2. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
- 3. Shark Rocket Ultra-Light with TruePet Mini Motorized Brush Hand Vacuum
- 4. Dirt Devil Plus 16V Bagless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- 5. Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick/Handheld Vacuum
- 6. Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- 7. Shark ION F80 Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum
- 8. Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional Vacuum
- 9. Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean Upright Vacuum Cleaner
- 10. Shark APEX Upright Vacuum with DuoClean Vacuum
- Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Vacuum for Stairs
- Vacuum for Stairs FAQ
- Conclusion: The Best Vacuum for Stairs Is...
Our Recommended Vacuums for Stairs
- Black&Decker Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum
- Power Source: Battery Powered
- Warranty: 2 Year Limited Warranty.
- Dimensions: 17.25 x 5.5 x 7.75 inches
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
- Power rating: 1.6 amps
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
- Power source: Corded electric
- Warranty: 1 Year limited warranty
- Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 8 inches
- Weight: 4.2 pounds
- Power rating: 4 amperes
- Shark Rocket Ultra-Light with TruePet Mini Motorized Brush Hand Vacuum
- Power Source: Corded Electric
- Warranty: 5 year limited warranty
- Dimensions: 9.65 x 4.92 x 13.58 inches
- Weight: 3.7 pounds
- Power rating: 3.4 amperes
10 Best Vacuums for Stairs:
1. Black&Decker; Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum
Black & Decker is one of the top manufacturers of various household appliances, and this is one of the top best hand vacuum models, available on the market.
It was designed to run entirely off of a high-powered Lithium-Ion battery, which makes it convenient when having to maneuver around in different places because you don’t have to worry about dealing with a power cord getting tangled up as you maneuver in and out of areas.
It is also designed to be lightweight, which makes carrying it around less of a burden, and it comes with a rotating slim nozzle that is capable of helping with various applications, from cleaning stairs to detailing your car, if that is what you need to do.
Finally, it is backed by a 2-year manufacturer warranty that will give you peace of mind on your purchase on the off chance something goes wrong after your purchase.
Pros:
- Comes with a 2-year warranty
- Has a rotating slim nozzle that helps with various applications
- Lightweight and portable handvac design for cleaning stairs
- Runs on a Lithium Ion battery
Cons:
- Minor charger issues with this model
What Customers Are Saying
Most consumers who purchased this model did it because it is the best handheld vacuum for stairs. They liked that it comes with a rotating slim nozzle that reaches harder to reach areas and stairs, and they liked that it was backed by a 2-year warranty.
However, some consumers did have minor issues with the provided charger that was provided with this model.
2. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
Bissell is one of the top manufacturers of vacuum cleaners, in the industry, and this is by far one of their best handheld vacuums that are designed to thoroughly pick up pet hair.
It comes with a 16-foot power cord, which is designed to give you plenty of room to maneuver up and downstairs to clean them thoroughly, without getting stuck.
This handheld vacuum also comes with a rubber pet hair eraser attachment that is designed specifically to draw pet hair from deep inside any staired carpet. It was never meant to be a full-home vacuum cleaner.
It was designed specifically with cleaning automobiles, stairs, and upholstery. Finally, it was designed with a cyclonic cleaning system, and it is a bagless vacuum, which means you don’t have to worry about constantly purchasing and changing out bags, like with older vacuum models.
Pros:
- Comes with a 16-foot power cord
- Includes a Bissell pet hair eraser
- Classified as a bagless vacuum with cyclonic cleaning system
- Designed for stairs, automobiles, and upholstery
Cons:
- Mainly designed to pick up pet hair
What Customers Are Saying
Most consumers were looking for the best vacuum for carpeted stairs, and they chose this model because they liked that it is a bagless model with a cyclonic cleaning system.
Plus, they liked the included attachments that made it ideal for homes with pets. However, this vacuum is best used in homes with pets, and it is not the best choice for an overall vacuuming experience.
3. Shark Rocket Ultra-Light with TruePet Mini Motorized Brush Hand Vacuum
Shark is a well-known manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, and this is one of their best ultra-light hand vacuum cleaner models. It is designed to be lightweight and portable, and it is powered by a 15-foot long power cord, which gives you plenty of lengths to move around areas and up and downstairs.
Plus, it has an easy to empty dust cup, which means you don’t have to worry about changing out bags, and it comes with a TruePet motorized brush to assist with deep cleaning into thick carpet areas and to help remove pet hair.
Pros:
- Comes with a 15-foot power cord
- Designed to be lightweight and portable
- Comes with an easy to empty dust cup
- Uses a TruePet motorized brush for deep cleaning
Cons:
- Poor customer service department
What Customers Are Saying
Most consumers liked this handheld vacuum for stairs because of the length of its power cord and because it is designed to be lightweight and portable. However, some consumers were not satisfied with their customer service department.
4. Dirt Devil Plus 16V Bagless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Dirt Devil is one of the top manufacturers for vacuums, on the market, and this is one of the best bagless handheld vacuum cleaner models.
It runs off of a 16V Lithium battery that is capable of running for a long time, and it has a power indicator that shows you when it is time to recharge the battery.
This model also comes with a powered turbo tool that is meant specifically to assist with cleaning stairs and upholstery. Finally, it was designed with an easy to empty dirt cup that keeps you from having to constantly change and purchase new dirtbags.
Pros:
- Has power indicator to show when needs to be recharged
- Uses a 16V Lithium battery
- Comes with a powered turbo tool for cleaning stairs and upholstery
- Has an easy to empty dirt cup
Cons:
- Doesn't have a replacement alternative filter adapter
What Customers Are Saying
Many consumers liked this vacuum for carpeted stairs because it runs off of a battery and it has an easy to empty dirt cup. However, they didn’t like that this vacuum cleaner does not have any sort of replacement alternative filter adapter options.
5. Tineco A11 Hero Cordless Lightweight Stick/Handheld Vacuum
Tineco has produced many vacuum models, but this is one of their top cordless 2 in 1 vacuum models. It comes with a 2-in-1 dusting brush and a crevice tool, and it is designed to run off of a single 2500mAH Lithium battery.
It has a high-performance cordless design that makes it easier to maneuver over various flooring types and areas, and it was designed to easily convert from an upright vacuum design to a handheld vacuum model.
Pros:
- Comes with a 2-in-1 dusting brush and crevice tool
- Uses a single 2500mAH Lithium battery
- Has a high-performance cordless design
- Can easily convert from stick to handheld vacuum
Cons:
- Poor customer service department
What Customers Are Saying
Many consumers thought this is the best cordless vacuum for stairs because they liked that it comes with different tools to make it easier to maneuver, and it was designed with a high-performance cordless design that does not give up easily.
However, some consumers did mention not liking the manufacturer’s customer service department.
6. Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson has worked hard over the years to provide their customers with quality vacuum cleaners, and this is by far one of their top handheld vacuum cleaner models that were designed specifically for cleaning harder to reach areas, like stairs.
It comes with an advanced whole-machine filtration system that is designed to help with clogging issues that many other vacuums have.
Plus, it is designed with the extra power to provide a more powerful experience, and it also comes with a high-torque cleaner head that is designed to help with deep cleaning into most types of carpet.
Finally, this vacuum cleaner is also able to clean areas like automobiles and upholstery on top of stairs.
Pros:
- Comes with advanced whole-machine filtration system
- Designed for home deep cleaning
- Designed for powerful vacuuming
- Has a high-torque cleaner head
Cons:
- Poor customer service department
What Customers Are Saying
Most consumers were looking for the best stick vacuum for carpeted stairs, and they chose this model because they liked that it comes with an advanced whole-machine filtration system.
Plus, they liked that it comes with a high-torque cleaner head, but some consumers did mention having a poor customer service experience when trying to contact the manufacturer.
7. Shark ION F80 Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum
Shark has been a well-known manufacturer of vacuum models for many years, and this is just one of their top lightweight vacuum models. It runs entirely off of 2 batteries, which helps to minimize the space that you can travel with the vacuum.
It also means that you do not have to worry about constantly moving a power cord from one location to another.
It also is outfitted with multiflex technology that is designed for freestanding and for getting under furniture. Finally, it was equipped with DuoClean technology that helps to deep clean most types of carpet flooring, and it is capable of picking up fine dust and large debris.
Pros:
- Uses duoclean technology for fine dust and large debris
- Runs on 2 batteries in handheld mode
- Designed with powerful suction
- Uses multiflex technology for freestanding and getting under furniture
Cons:
- Has a top heavy design
What Customers Are Saying
Many consumers liked this Shark stair vacuum model because it was designed with a Duoclean technology that is meant to not only pick up fine dust but also large debris.
Plus, they liked that has powerful suction, but some consumers did mention that this model is designed to top-heavy, which can make it difficult to stand it up on its own.
Shark has always constructed quality vacuum cleaners, and this is one of their top lift-away vacuum models. They designed it with a brush roll shutoff to help with deep carpet cleaning, and it has a large 2.2-quart capacity dust cup.
It also was designed to be lightweight and portable, and it uses a HEPA filter, but it also has an anti-allergen complete seal technology to help ensure your home remains allergen clear between vacuuming sessions.
Pros:
- Comes with a brush roll shutoff for deep carpet cleaning
- Has anti-allergen complete seal technology with HEPA filter
- Designed to be portable and lightweight
- Has a large 2.2 quart capacity dust cup
Cons:
- Poor customer service department
What Customers Are Saying
Most consumers were looking for the best vacuum for pet hair on stairs, and they liked that this model came with an anti-allergen complete seal technology with a HEPA filter. However, many consumers didn’t like the customer service experience they had when contacting the manufacturer.
9. Dyson Ball Animal 2 Total Clean Upright Vacuum Cleaner
Dyson is one of the top manufacturers, in the industry, and this is one of their top upright vacuum cleaner models.
They designed this vacuum with a self-adjusting cleaner head that makes it easy to go between rooms with different types of flooring, and it uses Dyson technology that is meant to help with deeper cleaning.
Plus, this model was specifically engineered to work in homes that have pets, and finally, Dyson has included 6 extra tools that make this model capable of doing various tasks that other models are not, like vacuuming stairs and uholstery.
Pros:
- Comes with a self-adjusting cleaner head
- Uses Dyson technology for deeper cleaning
- Comes with 6 extra tools for various cleaning capabilities
- Engineered for homes with pets
Cons:
- Minor issues when used on thicker carpet
What Customers Are Saying
Most consumers purchased this when looking for the best vacuum for hardwood stairs, and they liked that it comes with a self-adjusting cleaner head and is engineered for homes that have pets.
However, some consumers did mention having minor issues when it came to vacuuming thicker carpet flooring.
10. Shark APEX Upright Vacuum with DuoClean Vacuum
Shark is a well-known manufacturer of vacuum cleaners, and this is one of their top vacuum models. It comes with a detachable canister for emptying dust, and the dust cup has a large 1.5 quart capacity.
Plus, they have added DuoClean technology into this model, which is excellent for deep cleaning thicker carpets. Finally, it was designed for homes that have occupants with allergies. It uses an advanced anti-allergen complete seal technology mixed with a HEPA filter.
Pros:
- Comes with detachable canister for emptying dust
- Has a 1.5 quart dust cup capacity
- Uses DuoClean technology for deep cleaning
- Uses advanced anti-allergen complete seal technology with HEPA filter
Cons:
- Poor customer service response
What Customers Are Saying
Many consumers were looking for good vacuums for stairs carpet, and they chose this model because they liked that it used DuoClean technology for deep cleaning and that it has a large 1.5 quart dust cup capacity.
However, some consumers did have a few minor issues when contacting the manufacturer’s customer service department.
Factors to Consider When Buying the Best Vacuum for Stairs
Unlike in the past, vacuum cleaners have evolved, and it is not always a cut and dry decision on which vacuum cleaner will best suit your needs.
Each model uses different types of technology and comes with various types of attachments that are meant to help in different situations. So, here are several factors that you should consider before making your final purchasing decision.
Manufacturers:
When it comes to purchasing a vacuum, the manufacturer of the vacuum is an important factor that you should consider.
Hundreds of manufacturers make vacuum cleans, but not all of them make models that are worth purchasing or will at least last long enough to be an effective investment.
The best way to weed out the better manufacturers is to read different reviews about each manufacturer to see if they will stand behind their product.
One of the best ways is to see if they offer any sort of warranty of their models, but even if they do, you should see if the manufacturer has a reputation for honoring their warranties or if they make it difficult for consumers to get the relief they need if something is wrong.
This is one of the most important factors, because if a manufacturer will not stand behind their product, then it will be better to look elsewhere.
Attachments:
Not all vacuum cleaners come with attachments, but if you have a larger home or if you just have different types of cleaning that you need the vacuum cleaning for.
Then you should consider the attachments that are included with each model to ensure that the model will be able to provide you with the functions that you require.
For instance, if you need to clean stairs, then a full-size vacuum can make this difficult, but it might come with a hose attachment or different motor head that can be attached to the vacuum to make it viable for this purpose.
Portability:
When looking for a vacuum cleaner to clean stairs, portability is a factor that should be considered.
Lugging up a heavy vacuum cleaner is bad for your back, but lightweight vacuum cleaners are ideal because they will be easier to move and maneuver.
Vacuum for Stairs FAQ
What is better a cord or cordless vacuum cleaner?
Each of these types of vacuum cleaners have their pros and cons. The real issue is what is most important to you.
With a power cord model, you know that you will always have a power source for your vacuum cleaner, and many cordless vacuum cleaners have issues with chargers and batteries going bad.
Are handheld vacuum cleaners ideal for cleaning stairs?
A vacuum cleaner that can turn into a handheld version is the best in most cases because they are usually lightweight and portable.
Plus, they are capable of doing out types of vacuuming like on upholstery and automobiles. However, using a handheld vacuum cleaner over a full stick vacuum cleaner is based on preference and not a necessity.
What is needed for a vacuum to be capable of working on various floor types?
One important thing you should look for if you have different types of flooring or different thickness carpet variations is a motorhead that is capable of lifting either automatically or manually to be able to move between the different flooring types.
Conclusion: The Best Vacuum for Stairs Is...
After reviewing all of the above vacuum models, we have concluded that the Black&Decker Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum is by far the best vacuum for cleaning stairs in an overall sense.
It comes with a rotating nozzle that makes maneuvering easier, and it runs off of battery power, which means that you do not have to worry about dealing with a power cord getting in your way.
However, it is important to note that this is just a suggestion. Everyone has their own needs and wants when it comes to purchasing a vacuum cleaner, and this is just the best one in the provided models that we felt would fit most people’s needs to clean their stairs.
You should research and know all of your needs before making your personal and final purchasing decision to ensure that you make the best one for you
