The Best Vacuum For Stairs Carpet in 2023

Best Overall: Shark Vertex Pro Powered Cordless Vacuum

The cordless nature of the Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away Cordless Vacuum means that you are not limited by power cable length and outlet distance.

It is also reasonably lightweight and, although being an upright vacuum, is small and lightweight enough to be used on stairs. You may also utilize the motorised lift-away device to detach the pod, leaving you with a stick vacuum with simple stair access.

The Shark Vertex Pro is priced around averagely, but it includes a runtime of up to 60 minutes on a single charge, an IQ display that indicates the remaining runtime, and a suction performance display that may indicate when the vacuum needs to be emptied.

In addition to being lightweight, small, and handy, the vacuum includes a HEPA filter and enough suction power, making it the best vacuum for stairs currently available. Nevertheless, it is not very effective when attempting to remove pet hair.

PROS

• Portable lightweight vacuum that can be converted to a stick
• With a cordless vacuum, you are not connected to electrical outlets.
• IQ display indicates runtime and cleaning effectiveness

CONS

• Poor at dealing with pet fur

Bissell Featherweight Stick Bagless Vacuum - Best Value

The Bissell Featherweight Stick Bagless Vacuum offers about every desirable feature for a stair vacuum. It is very light, weighing just 3 pounds.

It can transform from a stick to a handheld, allowing you to select based on your desire, and it is really affordable. It has a 0.6-liter dust capacity and is bagless, so there is no need to purchase or dispose of dust bags.

While it is a terrific alternative and our recommendation for the best stair vacuum for the money because to its cheap price and lightweight construction, it has limited uses.

The 15-foot cable is fairly short and makes it doubtful that you will be able to complete all of the steps in one go. And although the suction is enough, it will not effectively clean the whole home.

If you want a separate vacuum for the stairs or one that costs very little, this is a convenient option that can also be used for emergency cleanups.

PROS

• Extremely delicate style
• Converts from a standing to a handheld position
• Very inexpensive

CONS

• A cable of 15 feet might be longer.
• Not excellent for anything than stair cleaning.

Dyson V11 Cordless Handheld Vacuum - An Excellent Option

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cordless Handheld Portable Vacuum Cleaner is the most costly product on our list, yet it weighs only a bit more than the Bissell Featherweight stick vacuum cleaner.

It features a maximum duration of 60 minutes and a cleaning head that automatically recognizes and adjusts to the floor type being cleaned.

Dyson says it has 40% more suction power than the previous generation, and it performs a fantastic job of picking up pet hair and cleaning different sorts of surfaces, while its automated surface recognition saves you the trouble of determining the optimal setting. The bagless design contains 0.76 liters of dust, which will fill up pretty rapidly due to the V11's increased suction power.

PROS

• The effectiveness of powerful suction is shown
• Detects and adapts automatically to the surface type
• 60 minutes of operation on a single charge

CONS

• Very costly

Dyson V8 Animal Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Cordless

The Dyson V8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is a somewhat older and less well-equipped model than the V11, but costs almost half as much.

The stick cleaner is cordless and may be converted from a stick to a handheld according to your preferred mode for stair cleaning. It has high suction power, a bin-emptying technology that eliminates the need to handle the dirt, and is reasonably lightweight.

Unfortunately, its dust capacity is just 0.6 liters, so it might use a little more space. Yet despite Dyson's boast of a 40-minute maximum duration, a full 4-hour charge yields barely 8 minutes of usage at the highest setting.

PROS

• Strong suction force
• Converts from a stick to a portable device
• Cordless vacuum cleaners are simple to transport.

CONS

• 0.6-liter capacity for dust should be enhanced.
• The usage of powered attachments significantly reduces runtime.

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum

The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand Vacuum is an authentic hand vacuum. It is a lightweight cleaner, weighing just 3 pounds, and while it's not the cheapest item on the list, it's not too far behind.

Although being portable, it has a 0.7-liter dust capacity, and the head is equipped with a motorized dust tool that works to penetrate the carpet pile and pull dirt from the carpet fibers, making it excellent for removing pet hairs and ground-in dirt.

So, it would also be handy for emergency spot cleaning, despite the fact that handhelds are not ideal for regular cleaning.

Nevertheless, the Bissell only has a 14-minute runtime, so depending on your speed and the number of steps, you may have to clean them in many sessions.

Nonetheless, there are some criticisms. For instance, pressing the machine's power button causes visible static shocks, which may be a bit unsettling.

PROS

• Its portable cleaner weights just 3 pounds.
• Cheap cost
• The motorized head is effective for removing pet hair.

CONS

• 14-minute runtime is terrible
• Many reports of static discharges from the power button

Cordless Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Stick Vacuum

The Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cord-Free Stick Vacuum Cleaner is a strong Dyson stick vacuum.

It has three power levels, allowing you to pick according on the degree of filth, and at its lowest setting, the V10 can operate for up to an hour before requiring recharging, which is excellent.

Be careful that if you use the soft roller, you will only receive around 40 minutes of runtime, but the torque drive cleaner, which is useful for removing pet hair and ground-in filth, will likely only provide 20 minutes of runtime.

In addition, it has a 0.76-liter dust cup capacity and a HEPA filter that removes allergens as small as 0.3 microns.

This is a hybrid model, thus simply removing the stick, the V10 can be transformed into a handheld vacuum with the same dust cup capacity and runtime.

This is a pricey stick vacuum, but it has characteristics that make it a suitable vacuum for stairs and other parts of the home.

PROS

• Convertible cleaning stick to handheld use
• Less than 6 pounds in weight
• Torque Drive is suitable for pet hair removal.

CONS

• Extremely costly

Shark CH951 Handheld Cordless Vacuum

Less than 3 pounds, the Shark CH951 Cordless Handheld Vacuum UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is one of the lightest vacuums on our list.

Despite this, it features an extra-large dust cup, but only in comparison to other Shark handheld vacuums. It can contain up to 0.5 liters, which is far less than what the XL label implies.

Its UltraCyclone performs an amazing job of taking up pet hair and quickly disposes of dust, but it has to since its runtime is limited around 10 minutes, so you may need to recharge before completing the stairs.

It comes with a respectable assortment of heads, and you can empty the dust cup without touching the dust, making it a sanitary alternative. Nonetheless, it is somewhat more costly than some of the other handhelds on the list.

PROS

• Less than 3 pounds in weight, ultra-lightweight handheld
• 0.5-liter dust capacity is enough, but not XL standard.
• Captures pet hair effectively.

CONS

• 10-minute timeframe makes cleaning most staircases a race against the clock

Samsung Jet 90 Stick Lightweight Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

If you can afford the expense, the Samsung Jet 90 Stick Cordless Lightweight Vacuum Cleaner is a pricey stick vacuum cleaner with a number of exceptional features. T

he telescoping stick of the stick vacuum can stretch to around 3–4 feet, and it comes with a range of heads that enable mobility and effective cleaning capabilities. The machine's dust cup has a capacity of 0.8 liters, and the Jet 90's five-stage filtration technology eliminates allergens and tiny dust particles from the air.

It is a very lightweight machine, weighing little over 6 pounds, with a 60-minute runtime and a dual charging station that allows you to purchase and utilize a supplementary battery to extend your duration further, although at an additional expense.

Unfortunately, like with many of similar devices, this duration is only available at the lowest option. At the maximum level, you'll be fortunate to get 15 minutes of usage before recharging, and although the stand is a nice addition, it might be difficult to find a place for it, particularly if you don't want your Samsung stick cleaner to be on display.

PROS

• Strong suction
• Spacious 0.8-liter volume for dust
• 60 minutes of operation, but on the lowest setting

CONS

• 15 minutes of operation on the maximum setting
• Stand is attractive yet inconvenient
• Expensive

Black+Decker Dustbuster Cordless Handheld Vacuum

The Black+Decker Dustbuster QuickClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum is a handheld vacuum that is very lightweight and portable.

It weighs half as much as the next lightest model on our list. It features a tool for getting into small locations, such as the corners of steps. It has a dust cup capacity of around 0.4 liters and a runtime of 30 minutes.

But, this cleaner is not intended to clean the whole staircase. It lacks the suction force to pick up pet hairs, but it is very lightweight and portable, making it appropriate for emergency clean-ups on a few steps without the need to bring out a bigger device.

It also has a wall-mounted charger, allowing you to keep the cleaner charging between usage so that it is always available for the next emergency spot cleaning. It is a very inexpensive alternative for occasional users.

PROS

• Very inexpensive price
• The lightest item on this list weighs 1.4 pounds
• Handy wall-mounted power supply

CONS

• Not the most robust
• Not ideal for complete stair cleaning

Lift-Away Shark Navigator Upright Vacuum

If you're searching for a stair-specific vacuum, an upright is probably not the greatest choice since it is not portable or lightweight enough to be handy.

But, if you want a vacuum that can be used for numerous tasks, including stair cleaning, an upright vacuum with a long hose and detachable pod might be advantageous.

The Shark Navigator Lift-Away Upright Vacuum has a dust bin capacity of 2 liters, which is an advantage of upright vacuums, and it weighs just under 14 pounds, which is significantly more than a handheld or stick vacuum but not excessive for an upright.

It is a corded vacuum, so there is no need to worry about battery life or charging, and it is effective at removing pet hair and embedded debris.

Nevertheless, the Shark Navigator is difficult to carry up and down stairs and does not do as well with pet hair as some of the more expensive models.

PROS

• 2-liter dust capacity
• Appropriate for cleaning all sections of the residence

CONS

• Neither lightweight nor transportable
• Should do a better job of collecting pet hair.

Vacuuming the stairs is challenging. Alternatively it might be if the appropriate vacuum is not used.

The ideal vacuum must have the suction ability to suck up all the dust, grime, debris, and pet hair, but it must also be lightweight enough to be carried up and down the stairs with ease.

Either there should be no string or it should be sufficiently long to reach both ends of the stairs. These are some of the most important characteristics to consider while selecting the finest vacuum for stairs.

Vacuum Type

While robot vacuums are inapplicable for stair cleaning, there are still lots of alternatives:

Stick Vacuum

The stick vacuum is a lightweight vacuum with a stick, or pole, and a dust cup or dust collector near the handle. Some may give the ability to lengthen the length of the stick pole.

They are useful for stairs since they let you to remain standing without having to bend down to vacuum each step, are lightweight enough to be carried up the stairs, and cordless models often have sufficient runtime to go from the bottom to the top—or the top to the bottom.

Upright

A upright vacuum consists of a single, self-supporting unit. Because of the additional power required to handle the weight of the dustpan and power the roller heads, they are typically mains-powered as opposed to battery-powered.

They may be large and cumbersome, therefore they are seldom the vacuum of choice for cleaning several stairs. Most, however, enable you to detach the handle or utilize a hose and adapter while carrying the main device. This may make cleaning stairs simpler, but you must still carry the vacuum's weight as you go.

Handheld

A handheld vacuum is a tiny, lightweight device that can be carried in one hand and includes all the necessary components. Unfortunately, these vacuums often have tiny dustpans and inferior suction power compared to other types. The majority of the time, they are utilized to clean automobiles and other confined areas.

If you have a small number of steps and a little amount of dirt, a portable vacuum may suffice, particularly if you have a central vacuum for bigger messes. In addition, some contemporary versions have greater power and space for dust, making them a more realistic alternative.

Hybrid

Hybrid machines are ones that combine the characteristics of two or more vacuum kinds. In the context of stair vacuums, a hybrid is often a stick vacuum that can be transformed into a handheld. The stick vacuum may be used throughout the remainder of the home, and it can be transformed into a portable unit for cleaning the stairs or in an emergency.

What to Search For

In addition to suction power and cleaning abilities, you should also examine the following characteristics while buying.

Volumetric Dust Capacity

This is the quantity of dust and debris the vacuum can retain before it must be emptied into a bag, dustpan, or cup. Typically, capacities vary between 0.4 and 2 liters or more.

Even the smallest pan should be able to contain the dirt from a set of stairs, but if you don't want to empty the vacuum after every cleaning, or if you'll be using the vacuum to clean other parts of the house, seek for a higher capacity.

Weight

Regardless of the kind of vacuum you pick, you will be required to bear its weight while vacuuming. Often, canister vacuums cannot balance on stairs or have a sufficiently long hose to clean a whole flight of steps while leaving the canister on the ground.

Handhelds are typically the lightest, sticks are typically the next-lightest, and uprights are the heaviest, although weight also depends on whether a machine is electric or battery-powered and what extra functions it has.

Corded or Cordless?

Corded devices are powered by electricity. They must be plugged in, and if the cord is not long enough, you will often have to unhook the vacuum halfway up a flight of stairs and move the plug to another level before completing the task.

Cordless vacuum cleaners are more handy, however they need charging and have a limited runtime between charges. The average runtime for handheld vacuums ranges from 10 minutes to roughly 60 minutes for stick vacuums. Whether you employ powered rollers or other options like as boost or max power will effect your runtime.

1. What is the best vacuum for stairs?

If you are searching for a vacuum for stairs and want to ensure that you are selecting the ideal one for your requirements, verify that the vacuum is lightweight enough to be carried up and down extensive staircases.

You should also choose a device without a power chord, such as a cordless stick vacuum, and one with strong filtration. Be sure that the brush roll on a regular upright vacuum cleaner is of high quality and that it is not too heavy.

2. How frequently should stairs be vacuumed?

Experts believe that stairs should be carefully cleaned around once every week, especially if they are heavily used. If stairs are seldom used, you may get away with cleaning them every two weeks or once per month. Hand vacuums, upright vacuums, and stick vacuums with a strong motor should be able to complete the task.

3. What is the ideal method for vacuuming stairs?

There is no incorrect method for vacuuming stairs. Just ensure that you can reach all nooks and crevices by attaching the proper instrument and being diligent. Consider each step as a separate cleaning area, particularly if your vacuum is cordless and has a long runtime.

4. Who are the leading producers of stair vacuums?

There are a great number of well-known and amazing brands that create high-quality vacuums for cleaning stairs and carpets. Among these businesses are Bissell, Eureka, Miele, Kenmore Dyson, and Tinreco. Along with other Bissell devices, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is well-known as a stair-specific hand vacuum.

There are a great number of well-known and amazing brands that create high-quality vacuums for cleaning stairs and carpets. Among these businesses are Bissell, Eureka, Miele, Kenmore Dyson, and Tinreco. Like with other Bissell devices, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is also well-known as an excellent hand vacuum for stairs.

The best vacuum for stairs carpet should be lightweight, portable, and equipped with powerful suction and effective cleaning functions.

By compiling the evaluations above, BestForHomes (bestforhomes.org) discovered that the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro+ cordless upright vacuum is portable enough to handle stairs, strong enough to clean other rooms and surfaces, and affordable.

The Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum weighs just 3 pounds and is cordless, making it even more portable. It is a wonderful option for people searching for a stair-only vacuum or one with limited further applications because to its low price.