Best Vacuum Cleaners for Stairs for 2020

Best stairs vacuums Featured Image

The big, beautiful two-story home looks great when you walk up to it, but when it comes time for cleaning it becomes … well another story. Cleaning the first floor isn’t bad. Cleaning the second floor isn’t bad even. What’s really bad is the middle. That’s right, the stairs. It’s the worst part of cleaning any house, but it’s something that needs to be done.

Fortunately, there are some great vacuums that are designed to help those of us who have this two-story house problem. There’s no more reason to lug your large, heavy vacuum cleaner over the stairs so you can clean each one. Instead, there are plenty of smaller vacuums that are perfect for this very purpose.

The key is making sure that the vacuum you choose has good suction, is lightweight and still has a decent sized tank. It’s not always the easiest combination to find, but you can definitely do it by checking some of the information we have right here. You can find the best vacuum for stairs by reading further and decide for yourself which one is best for you.

Whether you’re looking for an inexpensive option, the best of the best or something in between, a vacuum cleaner for stairs should not be the same one you’re using everywhere else, it’s just not practical.

Best Vacuum for Stairs Comparison

Shark Rocket Stairs Vacuum

SHARK ROCKET HANDHELD

  • The best handheld vacuum for stairs
  • Lots of accessories
  • Priced just under the $100 mark

BISSELL POWERGLIDE LIFT OFF PET PLUS

  • Lift off technology is awesome
  • Great suction power
  • Priced under $200

Eureka Easy Clean cheap vacuum for stairs

EUREKA EASYCLEAN

  • Cheap and efficient
  • Perfect for stairs
  • Priced under $50

Dyson V6 Absolute best cordless vacuum

DYSON V6 ABSOLUTE

  • The ultimate vacuum with everything you could dream of
  • Lightweight and cordless
  • Priced around $350

Shark Navigator Lift Away Pro Pet Hair Vacuum Cleaner

SHARK NAVIGATOR LIFT AWAY PRO

  • Lift away technology
  • Lightweight design
  • Priced under $250

Best Vacuum for Stairs Reviews

Overall, there are a number of different vacuums that could choose to work for your stairs. In fact, just about any vacuum will work on stairs, but you really don’t want to spend a lot of time on the process. You want to clean the house, vacuum where you need to and be done with it. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the best vacuums for stairs. That way you can check out the great features of each and decide which one is going to give you a great clean with less of the work.

1
Shark Rocket Stairs Vacuum

Shark Rocket Corded Hand Vac - The Best of Both Worlds

The Shark Rocket Corded vacuum is designed for small spaces where you’d have trouble getting a traditional vacuum cleaner to go. It’s designed for anything you might need to pick up and it’s made by a company that we all know and love for their vacuums. Plus, it’s very reasonably priced at right around $100. That means it’s going to be a simple investment to make for your home.

One of the best things about this vacuum is that it’s also going to be a great tool for pet owners. It’s designed with a TruePet Motorized Brush that helps pick up the pet hair and more debris at the same time. That’s because it makes the hose suction even stronger and ensures that you’ll get everything up, which is usually a big problem on stairs.

Because it is extremely lightweight, you’ll be able to carry the vacuum quickly and easily anywhere you want to go. That means it’s easy to hold while you’re walking up the stairs. It also makes it easier to clean smaller spaces throughout the house, including shelves, corners and a whole lot more. The vacuum is also very small overall so it’s possible to carry with one hand.

You definitely won’t go wrong with this great vacuum for stairs. It’s got a little of everything you could want in a full size vacuum, a pet vacuum and a transportable one.

Overall, this is definitely a great little vacuum. It’s small enough to carry with you wherever you need to go and it works really well too. It’s designed to never lose suctions and it has a long enough cord that you don’t have to worry about making your way up the stairs. If you need a cleaner that’s perfect for small spaces and constant movement then you’re going to love the Shark Rocket Corded vacuum.

2

Bissell PowerGlide Lift Off Pet Plus - The Traditional Favorite

Made by the same people you’ve probably trusted for a long time with your vacuum needs, the Bissell PowerGlide Lift Off Pet Plus  with Lift-Off Technology is definitely a good investment. It’s moderately priced at around $200 and offers exactly what you’d expect from this name brand.

Designed with a multi-layer filtration system, this vacuum not only maintains suction, but cleans out some of the allergens in the air and your floors as well. That means your children and the rest of your family will be able to breathe a little easier and no one needs to worry about the dust and debris that could cause damage in your home.

Because this is a full-size vacuum it has a larger canister to hold debris you don’t need to empty it as frequently while you’re cleaning. It also doesn’t use a bag, which makes it easier to use and easier to empty when you’re done for the day. Not to mention it allows for easier cleaning as you move up a set of stairs because you don’t need to worry about stopping partway through.

With this vacuum you really can’t go wrong. The Bissell PowerGlide is a good option for anyone that has pets and definitely anyone who has stairs. You get the best of both worlds and you don’t have to have two different vacuums to clean your entire house.

Because this vacuum is a full-size it takes a little more to get it up the stairs but the crevice device definitely helps it get into all the little spots on the steps and the fact that it has a larger canister means no emptying it as you’re walking up the stairs (definitely a benefit). Plus it gets rid of allergens in your flooring. This is definitely a vacuum you’ll want to look at.

3
Eureka Easy Clean cheap vacuum for stairs

Eureka EasyClean Corded Hand-Held Vacuum - The Best on a Budget

Eureka has been known in the vacuum industry for a long time, but it hasn’t been as prevalent lately. That doesn’t mean that they’ve backed off or that their quality is any different than before. Instead, they’ve got a great lineup of vacuums that you’re going to want to check out for yourself. Especially this one, the Eureka EasyClean Corded Hand-Held Vacuum.

This small vacuum is easy to carry because it weighs less than 5 pounds. It’s also designed to get right into the crevices of anything you need to clean both with the vacuum itself and the crevice tool. That way you can use it for those stairs with ease but you can also get counters or other corners in your rooms.

There’s no bag in the canister, which makes it even easier to use and to empty, but there is a filter that helps get rid of dust and allergens. It also has a plastic cover to protect the brushes while you’re using it on flat surfaces, but it can be removed so that cleaning up the side of stair risers is extremely easy. All you have to do is slide it straight up the side and you’re done, no turning or twisting to try and get all the space or using a crevice device to go up the stairs. The Eureka EasyClean is the vacuum you’re going to want for your house.

This is definitely a low priced option when it comes to vacuum cleaners. You probably won’t find a cheaper option and especially not one that does the work that this one does. It’s a small vacuum but it still holds a lot and it’s designed specifically for small messes and stairs so it does the job a whole lot easier than most vacuums. This is not one you’re going to want to miss.

4
Dyson V6 Absolute best cordless vacuum

Dyson V6 Absolute Cord-Free Vacuum - The Top of the Line

If you’re looking for all the benefits of a full-size vacuum and a hand-held in one then this is exactly what you’ve been looking for. It’s priced higher than all of the rest, but there are definitely several reasons for that. From a name brand you’ve always known as excellent in the world of vacuums to a whole lot of power and quality in one little package it’s not something you want to overlook because of price.

This vacuum has the small canister of a hand-held but has the long stem of a fullsize vacuum. Because it has a smaller size overall you can easily maneuver it over any spaces whether it’s the floor or the stairs. That’s because the pad is flat and just the right size to get into corners. The stem is thin enough and light enough that you’ll have no problem at all spinning or swiveling the entire unit as you go.

You can also use this unit as a handheld, taking out the center stem to use it much smaller. It has a Direct-drive head that will help get rid of pet hair, dirt, debris and a whole lot more. It’s definitely going to get in deep and take care of absolutely anything and everything that might get on your floors. It also has HEPA filtration to make sure that dust and allergens are removed just as quickly.

Make sure you’re looking into this option if you have a set of stairs because it’s going to give you both large space vacuuming and small space vacuuming as well. The Dyson V6 Absolute Cord-free is going to make the cleaning process a whole lot easier, no matter where you need it.

The Dyson V6 is going to become your absolute favorite vacuum ever because it can do anything and everything. It’s a full-size vacuum that cleans all types of floors and it’s a hand-held vacuum that takes care of small spaces and stairs. Plus it’s entirely cord-free so you don’t have to worry about staying close to an outlet!

5
Shark Navigator Lift Away Pro Pet Hair Vacuum Cleaner

Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional - The Most Versatile Choice

All the vacuums on this list do a great job with stairs, but sometimes you need a little more versatility to handle uneven surfaces and hard to reach places. Enter the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Professional. Between open floors, curtains, stairs, and even vehicle upholstery, this versatile vacuum has your needs covered.

For flat flooring, the Navigator Lift-Away Pro has all the features you’d expect: a HEPA air filter, variable suction, and a powerful anti-allergen seal that traps in 99.9% of fine particles like dust and dander. Add in a 30 foot power cord and Shark’s extra large dust bin, and you’ll get a fantastic deep clean with less time wasted emptying dust.

But when it comes to cleaning uneven and high up surfaces - somewhere most upright vacuums struggle - the Lift-Away absolutely shines. One push of a button and the handle and motor detaches from the base and transforms into a highly versatile canister vacuum.

The Shark Navigator also comes with a variety of attachments to fit your exact cleaning needs. Between the premium pet power brush, the crevice tool,and the bare floor dusting pad, there’s no job you won’t be able to tackle. Since the canister hose converts directly from upright mode, it is a little on the short side for reaching the highest surfaces. Beyond that, you’ll find this vacuum should be able to handle pretty much any situation you throw at it.

The Shark Navigator Lift Away Professional is a high quality, highly versatile machine and one of the overall best vacuums for pet hair - and hardwood floors, and curtains, and shag carpets. With its huge tank capacity, you’ll be able to clean an entire 3-4 bedroom house without stopping to empty. Again, we wish the lift away canister hose was longer, but beyond that it’s everything you could ask for.

Final thoughts

Don’t miss out on any of these great vacuums for stairs. They have excellent options, a variety of different qualities and they’re also going to give you good value for the money. Whether you’re looking to save on a decent machine or get the absolute best of the best you’ll find it here. So make sure you’re looking at those great options. Each one of these is made by a brand that you know and trust extremely well and that means you’re going to get what you need.

If you have pets that you need to clean up after you might want to look at the Dyson V6, Bissell PowerGlide or Shark Rocket. On the other hand, if price is the most important aspect for you, consider options like the Eureka EasyClean or Shark Rocket. If price isn’t a factor and you just want the top option then you might want to look at the Dyson V6. If lightweight is the most important you can get the Eureka EasyClean for low weight and it’s the lowest price. There’s always something you can look at and get the best for your needs and each of them are the best vacuums for stairs.