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What are the differences between a canister vacuum and an upright vacuum?

Home » Small Appliances » Canister Vacuum Cleaners » What are the differences between a canister vacuum and an upright vacuum?

Though there are other options on the market, the two primary types of vacuum cleaners are uprights and canisters. Upright vacuums, which appear more often on retail shelves, are a single upright unit. Canister vacuums, on the other hand, have a heavy canister base, which contains the motor and the bag, and a vacuuming arm/hose extending from that canister. These two models, however, have more than mere cosmetic differences:

• Upright Vacuums: In general, upright vacuums clean carpet better than canister vacuums do. In addition, at $75-$300, uprights are cheaper than canister models as well. Uprights, however, are noisier than canisters, and they are often bulky and hard to maneuver as you work because you are pushing the entire vacuum. Consequently, uprights are less flexible than canisters and have a hard time reaching up to high areas and into tight spots.

• Canister Vacuums: Canister vacuums are superior to uprights on hard surfaces, such as tile and hardwood. In addition, since there is only the arm and hose to maneuver, canisters are more flexible than uprights; you can easily vacuum curtains, furniture, stairs, or even the interior of your car. Unfortunately, canisters are more expensive ($150-$400) than uprights, and although the arm is easy to use, canisters are overall heavier and bulkier than uprights and more difficult to store.

If you are choosing between a canister and an upright vacuum, determine whether you will primarily use the vacuum on carpet or on hard surfaces. If you answer “hard surfaces,” then you should purchase a canister. Many consumers, however, want one vacuum they can use on both carpet and hard surfaces, and if this is your situation, you should probably purchase an upright. Uprights are easier to store and more economical than canisters, and they often work better on hard surfaces than canisters do on carpet. Finally, it is also easier to spot clean hard floors (using a broom and dustpan) and delicate fabrics (using a mini-vac) where your upright falls short than it is to touch up carpet spots that your canister vacuum cannot handle. There are canisters that work well on both carpets and floors, but on the whole, the upright is the safer choice.

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