Our 15 Highest Rated Multi-Surface Vacuum Cleaner in 2020
Do you have different types of floors in your home? If so, you need a multi-surface vacuum cleaner.
You probably know the struggle of going from hard floor to a carpet. Regular ones usually can’t perform well on both types leaving some areas of your home dusty and dirty.
Multi-surface vacuums are equally as efficient on all types of floors. They tackle pet hair, dirt, and dust on both thick carpets and smooth hardwood. Most also come with several attachments you can use on your furniture, stairs, in your car and pretty much anywhere else.
Though most work in a similar way, they do come with several differences. For example, some can only clean in dry conditions while others are waterproof.
Continue reading as we discuss the best multi-surface vacuums and all their features. Take a look at our Buyer’s Guide as well if you need a bit more information on how to make the final decision.
| Product Name | Weight | Filtration Type | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dyson V8 Absolute Cord-Free Vacuum | 5.75 lbs | HEPA | 2 Tier Radial Cyclone |
| Dyson Ball Multi Floor Canister Vacuum | 20 lbs | HEPA | Bagless Technology |
| Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E | 13.7 lbs | HEPA | Lift-Away Technology |
| Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick | 5.3 lbs | Dyson's two-tier radial cyclone filtration system | Direct Drive cleaner head |
| Eureka NEU182A PowerSpeed | 10 lbs | Pre-Motor Foam Filter | Dynamic motor |
| Hoover WindTunnel 3 Pet Upright | 18.1 lbs | HEPA | QuickPass brush roll |
| Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away | 15.5 lbs | HEPA | Pet Power Brush |
| Tineco A10 Hero Cordless Stick/Handheld Vacuum | 5.03 lbs | 4-stage HEPA | LED lights |
| Miele Compact C2 Electro+ Canister Vacuum | 18.7 lbs | HEPA | SBB Parquet-3 suction floor head |
| Hoover BH50010 Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum | 10 lbs | HEPA Media | WindTunnel technology |
| Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum | 14 lbs | HEPA | Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology |
| Bissell Zing Canister, 2156A | 10.23 lbs | Washable | Multi-surface floor tool |
| Hoover UH74210PC Power Drive Bagless Multi Floor Upright | 16 lbs | Washable | Automatic floor adjustment |
| BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright | 19.46 lbs | Unknown | Scatter-Free Technology |
| BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright, 2252 | 18.01 lbs | Unknown | Triple-action brush |
Top 15 Multi-Surface Vacuums Reviews
Dyson V8 Absolute Cord-Free Vacuum
This cord-free vacuum features powerful suction and impressive run time. It’s versatile and equally as efficient on all kinds of floors you might have in your home.
When using a non-motorized tool, it can work about 40 minutes. This goes down to 30 minutes with the soft roller cleaner head. On max mode, it provides about 8 minutes of continuous power. Make sure to charge it for at least 4 hours before or after each use.
The direct drive cleaner head pushes all the stiff nylon bristles into the carpets to get out the most persistent dirt. Its digital V8 motor provides 115 AW of ample power that helps pick up fine dust from hardwood, tiles, and carpets.
Dyson V8 has a HEPA filtration system that traps all the allergens. It expels clean air, so it’s especially convenient for allergy-prone people.
Because it comes with a wide range of attachments, Dyson V8 is suitable for both carpets and hardwood floors.
Want to learn more? Visit our in-depth Dyson V8 review page.
Specifications
- Weight: 5.75
- Run Time: Up to 40 minutes
- Cord Free
- Transforms to Handheld
Dyson Ball Multi Floor Vacuum Cleaner
Though this isn’t an upright vacuum, you won’t have to bend down as all its controls are at the handle. You’d only have to bend to empty the dustbin, but the entire process is quick and easy nonetheless. Just push the button to open the bin for easy emptying. Its capacity is about 0.53 gallons.
Dyson Ball is specially designed to tackle all kinds of flooring. It can go from thick rugs to tiles and hardwood with no trouble at all. Its maximum reach is 45ft which is somewhat enough to clean large areas.
With the power of 280AW the suction always remains the same, and it can get out even the most persistent dirt from the most hard-to-reach areas. The machine has a HEPA filter that makes it suitable for allergy-prone people by keeping all the bacteria and allergens inside.
Their Ball technology helps with maneuverability and ease of use on all rugs and hard floors.
Specifications
- Weight: 20 pounds
- Hepa Filter
- Triggerhead floor tool
- Bagless Technology
Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional NV356E
Navigator is another one of Shark’s impressive vacuums that can tackle hard floor as well as even the thickest rugs.
It also features their well-known Lift-Away technology. This allows you to lift the canister and carry the vac around with ease. It makes cleaning easier as you can reach tricky areas better.
This one has the ability to clean bare floors as well as deep and thick carpets. The Navigator has Shark’s Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and HEPA filtration. It traps even the tiniest allergens and dust from your carpets and air.
You can use its brush roll on all floors, though there’s also the bare floor attachment. It features 30 feet long power cord, and it weighs only 13.7lbs. You will maybe have to re-plug it several times depending on the size of your home, but overall, it can cover significant area nonetheless.
Dyson V7 Motorhead Cordless Stick
Dyson V7 is among the most favorite stick vacuums on the market. It’s thanks to its cordless and hassle-free design that you can use it for all kinds of surfaces.
This one runs for 30 minutes without a motorized tool and only some six minutes in max mode with increased power. The battery takes 3.5 hours to charge.
This Dyson features an instant release trigger that means the battery power is only used when you hold it.
It features a Direct Drive cleaner head with stiff nylon bristles that help to remove embedded dirt from all carpets. On top of that, this one works as a handheld vacuum as well, making it easy to clean above-floor surfaces.
Its dust bin is easy to empty without touching any of the collected dirt.
Eureka NEU182A PowerSpeed
Eureka NEU182A is a powerful upright with a dynamic motor and a motorized brush for stubborn and persistend debris and dust. Its cleaning path is 12.6’’ wide meaning that you can easily cover large areas in less time.
This one weighs 10 pounds, which is pretty lightweight for an upright. It’s easy to work with thanks to its convenient design and user-friendly controls.
One of the best things about this multi-surface vacuum is its adjustable height. It has five height settings, allowing you to clean hard floors, shag carpets, and other surfaces.
Plus, it comes with a wide range of accessories, including a stretch hose, a 7-inch crevice tool, upholstery tool, and a dusting brush. All of its accessories store within the machine.
It features an easy-to-empty 4.1-liter dust bin and a 25’ long power cord.
Hoover WindTunnel 3 Pet Upright
Hoover WindTunnel3 is among the most powerful pet upright vacuums. It features a QuickPass brush roll that delivers enough power to remove debris without going over the area multiple times.
The WindTunnel3 technology features three suction channels to extract embedded dirt and surface debris. It’s especially suitable for pet owners as it helps to remove pet hair and dander.
It’s important to note that you can shut the brush off when cleaning delicate floors. This makes the vacuum suitable for various surfaces including hardwood and plush carpets.
It also has a headlight that helps you spot embedded dirt in low-light areas. This is especially convenient when it comes to cleaning the stairs, corners, and the space between furniture.
This Hoover has a HEPA filter, a 55’ long reach, a crevice tool, and a pet turbo tool.
Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away
The rotator is probably one of the most favorite Shark models on the market. It’s easy to use, versatile and efficient.
The lift-away technology allows you to lift the canister and get to those hard to reach areas. It comes with a Pet Power Brush that picks up the tiniest debris and hair. It’s one of the best to clean dander from both hard floors and carpets.
It features HEPA filter and Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology. This combination helps trap all dirt, dust, hair, and tiny allergens from all your flooring.
The swivel steering helps with maneuvering it around and under furniture, on stairs and other tricky areas. The cleaner also features LED headlights for when you’re cleaning under and behind the furniture.
Its XL dustbin and abilities to adapt to any floor make this one of the most versatile models on the market.
Specifications
- Weight: 15.5
- Advanced Swivel Steering
- Premium Pet Power Brush
- HEPA Filter
Tineco A10 Hero Cordless Stick/Handheld Vacuum
Tineco A10 is a cordless stick vacuum that also works as a handheld. It features a high-performance 350W motor that provides strong suction for all floor surfaces in your home.
This cordless vacuum is lightweight and convenient to use and store away. Its slim design and low-profile head allow you to get to all the nooks and crannies.
Its battery provides around 25 minutes of continuous use in regular mode, and only ten minutes of runtime in max mode. Keep in mind that the max mode is pretty strong and you probably won’t use it that often in everyday cleaning.
A10 Hero comes with a multi-task brush, a mini brush, and a high-torque power brush. It also features a hair-cleaning tool, a crevice tool, and a dusting brush.
It features 4-stage HEPA filtration and LED lights.
Specifications
- Weight: 5.03
- Run Time: up to 25 min
- Dustbin Capacity: 0.4 l
- Suction Power: 105 W
Miele Compact C2 Electro+
Consider this one by Miele if you want a more standard vacuum cleaner. It has air clean sealed system and HEPA filtration that helps trap persistent dirt and dust from all your floors.
Its power consumption is at 1100W. However, it has six stages of speed and a silence motor. This combination makes it suitable for every household with different flooring.
Miele Compact C2 comes with an electro brush for deep and intensive cleaning of carpets and rugs. It also comes with a soft parquet brush that’s more suitable for hardwood. Upholstery and crevice tools are also included for areas that are somewhat harder to reach.
Another great attachment for hard floors is the SBB Parquet-3 suction floor head. It glides with ease and without damaging them. Soft and natural bristles help suck in all the hair, dust and dirt that’s on your floors.
Hoover BH50010 Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum
This Hoover provides fade-free power for multi-floor cleaning. It’s a cordless stick vacuum, featuring interchangeable batteries, allowing you to reach all areas of your home.
This one has a recline handle, making it easy to maneuver, especially if you have plenty of furniture and obstacles. It also has edge cleaning bristles to remove pet hair, dust, and dirt near edges and corners.
One of the best things about this Hoover vacuum is WindTunnel technology. It creates channels of suction to remove embedded dirt and surface debris with ease.
It weighs less than ten pounds and has fingertip controls for easier use. It also has a battery indicator that shows how much battery life you have left.
Its low-profile construction makes it easy to clean under furniture as well.
Shark NV352 Navigator Lift Away Upright Vacuum
This Shark might be your best choice if you’re looking for a powerful upright. It has the brand’s popular Lift-Away design, allowing you to detach the canister and use it for hard-to-reach and above-floor surfaces.
This one has Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology along with HEPA to trap the most stubborn hair, dust, and dirt. The combination is especially suitable for allergy-prone people.
It features a motorized brush that you can shut off when cleaning more delicate surfaces like plush carpets or hardwood floors. Also, its swivel steering allows easy maneuverability, especially around furniture legs.
This upright weighs 14 pounds, although it weighs less when used as a portable canister. It comes with a two-piece crevice tool and an upholstery tool for multi-surface cleaning.
It also has a 25’ long power cord that wraps around the handle.
Bissell Zing Canister, 2156A
This bagless canister is one of the most popular Bissell vacuums, especially if you have pets or you’re prone to allergies.
It has a dirt cup of 2 liters that’s easy to remove and empty when needed. You can also rinse it once in a while to prevent dirt build-up.
This one uses cyclonic action to lift and remove the most stubborn dirt, dust, hair, and other particles. Plus, it has an efficient set of washable filters that prevent all that stuff from ending back in your breathing space.
Bissell Zing has a 15’ long power cord and some additional reach provided by the extension hose and wand. It weighs less than eight pounds and is easy to carry around.
Another thing worth noting is that the cord retracts for easier storage.
Specifications
- Weight: 10.23
- 15-feet power cord
- Integrated carrying handle
- Multi-surface floor tool
Hoover UH74210PC Power Drive Bagless Multi Floor Upright
This Hoover is a champ among easy-to-maneuver vacuums thanks to its swivel steering and lightweight design. It’s easy to work with in tight spaces and around furniture, although you might find it tricky to store due to its size.
The advanced brush is designed to remove even the most embedded dirt and hair. Plus, you can shut the brush off when cleaning hardwood and plush carpets if you’re scared of damaging them.
One of the best things about it is its extra-large dirt cup. It’s big enough so that you don’t have to empty it as frequently although the emptying process is pretty simple.
This one comes with a few multi-surface tools, allowing you to clean pet hair, dust, dirt, and other types of debris.
It has a 30’ long power cord and automatic floor adjustment.
BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Rewind Pet Upright
Bissell CleanView is a pet vacuum, featuring useful accessories, a long power cord, and powerful suction to remove dirt from all kinds of surfaces.
It features a powerful triple-action brush combined with Scatter-Free Technology for maximum hair pick up regadless of the type of flooring. Plus, it does a great job of cleaning near edges and corners where most hair tends to collect.
One thing to keep in mind is that you can’t shut the brush off, so you might want to be careful with plush carpets and other delicate floors.
This Bissell has a 27’ long power cord that retracts for easier storage. It also has an extension hose for some added reach when cleaning above-floor surfaces.
It comes with a pet turbo eraser tool and a pet hair corner tool that works on all surfaces.
BISSELL Cleanview Swivel Pet Upright, 2252
Bissell CleanView 2252 is another popular pet upright vacuum. It’s a powerful machine designed to remove even the most embedded dirt thanks to its suction and tools included.
Much like most Bissell uprights, this one has a triple-action brush for stubborn dust and debris. It also uses the brand’s unique Scatter-Free technology that allows you to clean hard floors with ease.
Bissell CleanView 2252 features swivel steering and edge-to-edge cleaning that makes it versatile and convenient. You can vacuum around furniture legs and near corners where most dirt accumulates.
Its cleaning path measures 13.5 inches, which means you can clean larger areas in less time. Plus, it comes with a few pet tools to clean hard-to-reach and tight areas where its cleaning head can’t fit.
It has a 27’ long power cord and washable filters.
Specifications
- Weight: 18.01 pounds
- Cord Length: 27 ft
- Cleaning Path Width: 13.5 in
Buyer’s Guide
Different Types of Multi-Surface Vacuums
Most multi surface vacuum cleaners offer somewhat the same performance with a slight difference in attachments they come with. However, as you saw in our list above, some models are more different than others.
You’ll notice some can work on wet floors while others are only for dry conditions. Another difference is the Lift-Away technology some models come with.
Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Dry vacuum cleaner is the basic one. You shouldn’t use it if the floors are wet because the wires and cables on the inside probably aren’t isolated as well. It doesn’t have any waterproof filter and dust collector either.
A wet vacuum cleaner also known as shop vacs is the opposite and has all that the dry one lacks. Its container is waterproof, and all the cables inside are isolated and separated, so there’s no chance of a short circuit.
Lift Away
Vacuum cleaners that feature this technology are a bit easier to use in some areas that are hard to reach. This is primarily designed for surfaces above the floor. You simply detach it and use it as a handheld vacuum cleaner for your car, stairs, furniture, and other such areas.
All-in-one or Combo?
Whether you’ll get an all-in-one machine or a combination is mostly up to you. They all work equally as well so it’s up to you to decide which one would suit you the best.
If you have children or pets, you might want to consider a wet one while if you have stairs, a Lift-Away vacuum cleaner is a good option.
Bag or Bagless?
Again, it’s up to you to decide which one would fit your needs the best. A bagless vacuum cleaner would have a canister, so make sure it’s easily accessible. Both canisters and bags should have sufficient capacity for you to clean your home without having to empty them all the time.
Accessories
Accessories are among the most important factors to consider when buying a multi-surface cleaner. You want a vacuum that can clean both carpets and hard floors and for that, you need more than just its cleaning head.
A motorized brush roll might be your best choice for some carpets, but make sure you can shut it off if you have hard floors.
Most multi-surface vacuums have a crevice tool, upholstery tool, dusting brush, and possibly some pet tools. If it’s an upright, you’ll probably get an extension hose as well.
The best way to figure out which tools you need is to think about the floor surfaces you have throughout your home.
Corded or Battery Powered?
With battery powered you won’t have to worry about sockets, but you’ll have to make sure its battery is fully charged. Corded vacuums provide unlimited cleaning time, but you’ll maybe have to switch sockets a few times during the process.
Filtration
Filtration is always important to prevent dirt and dust from ending back into your breathing space. It’s that much more critical if you’re prone to allergies or you have indoor pets.
HEPA filters are by far the most popular due to their efficiency and ease of maintenance. Most of these filters are washable and can last as long as the vacuum itself.
You should look for washable filters regardless if its HEPA or any other type. Reusable filters are most cost-effective and eco-friendly than replaceable ones.
Without a good filtration system, you’ll find a vacuum difficult to maintain, especially if you have pets.
Cord Length
As you probably noticed, some of these vacuums are corded while others are battery-powered. For corded ones, the lenght of the cord is possibly the most critical thing to pay attention to as it determines the ease of use and convenience.
Most vacuums offer between 15’ to 40’ of power cord with variable cord storage options. Some have an extension hose and a wand to provide some added reach as well.
Think about how long you’d like to cord to be depending on your needs and preferences. Make sure to check whether it stores on the handle or inside the vacuum.
Capacity
Some of the best multi-surface vacuums have large dust bins, but you should always make sure if its capacity fits your needs.
Uprights and canisters usually have the biggest bins, although that often depends on their overall size. Sticks and handhelds have the smallest dust capacity.
Think about how big you need the bin/bag to be for you to clean your entire house. The size determines how often you’ll have to empty it throughout the process.
You should also consider whether the dust bin/bag is easy to remove. Some vacuums have hygienic emptying that’s ideal for allergy-prone people.
Weight & Design
Both weight and design determine ease of use and convenience, so you might want to think about these factors in advance. A vacuum that’s too heavy and bulky is typically challenging to work with, especially if you have a lot of furniture.
This is preisely why most multi-surface vacuums have swivel steering. This helps to work around furniture legs and other obstacles regardless of how big the vac is.
Stick vacuums are usually the lightest while uprights are the heaviest. But, stick vacuums don’t have swivel steering whereas upright vacuums do.
Check if your vacuum has user-friendly controls that are within your hand’s reach.
Final Thoughts
Multi-surface vacuum cleaners are an innovative and easy way of cleaning your entire home with one unit. These allow you to go from one floor to another without any hassle.
The ones we listed above are the top ones the market has to offer. They are reliable and come from brands we’ve known for ages. Plus, each model is different and brings something else to the table.
We’re sure you found your next multi-surface cleaner now that you’ve learned about different types and what they have to offer. Make sure to consider all the important factors so you can choose the best multi surface vacuum cleaner for your floors.
