The 5 Best Vacuums for Stairs Of 2024, Tested

The Dyson V11’s performance at cleaning stairs during our testing impressed us so much that selecting it as our best overall choice just made sense.

Alongside a clever design and outstanding maneuverability, it has many times proven to be exceptionally powerful and efficient to capture dust and dirt in its path.

The power of the three auto-adjusting motor levels combined with the 5 attachments adds valuable versatility and convenience. We undoubtedly found it to be an effective solution for both carpeted and bare-floor stairs.

And if you want to select and adjust the power settings, you can thanks to the touchscreen panel and the easy control over your cleaning.

We also loved how lightweight and maneuverable its shape and size were – making it super easy when cleaning the stairs. We also didn’t have any trouble moving it up and down stairways.

And just like many Dyson models, this cordless stick vacuum has the ability to convert easily into a handheld vac which is always a convenient feature, especially on the stairs.

What’s more, the built-in rechargeable battery offers 60 minutes of run time in eco mode which we found quite remarkable. If you switch to the boost mode, you’ll be left with 6 minutes of intensive cleaning time. Too short for whole-house cleaning but perfect for spot-cleaning dirty stairs.

There’s so much to love in this Dyson vacuum cleaner and more than 11,000 confirm our opinion.

The only hiccup is that we found this powerful vacuum noisy. So if you’re noise sensitive, you might consider another model. Otherwise, we think that it’s an excellent choice for homes with stairs.

Read Full Review: Bissell Featherweight Vacuum

The Bissel Featherweight has nothing to envy the most expensive models.

During our stairs cleaning session, we were really surprised by its ability to tackle everything from large detritus like corn nuts to small debris like hairs or breadcrumbs for a fraction of the price.

The suction is so strong that the floor head is stuck to the floor – something we experienced only with this model so far.

We were really curious about the three cleaning modes so we tested all of them to clean the stairs. And the three cleaning modes are all compatible with stair cleaning which is remarkable in our opinion.

To transform the Bissell into a stair vacuum, we simply had to attach the floor nozzle attachment and remove the handle. From there, the suction – while not adjustable – easily picked up the various debris without failing or decreasing in power.

We also found the handheld mode with the crevice tool very helpful and handy to clean around the stairs’ edges and corners. And the lightweight design combined with a small floor head made it easy to maneuver around the staircases of our testing area.

It does have a few glitches, but it is worth the splurge for a versatile vacuum that’s easy to use, lightweight, and converts into a handheld or stair vacuum, all for a price tag under $40.

For instance, with 0.67 liters capacity, don’t expect a spacious dustbin. Even if it’s really straightforward to empty, it required us to empty it several times in one cleaning session.

And while the cord allowed us to clean nonstop, we noticed that it was on the shorter side. Depending on the size of your stairs and your outlet positions, the 15-foot cord length might prevent you from properly using the vacuum – which was unfortunately our case. To clean all our stairs, we had to use an extension cord, which can pose some risks on the stairs.

We also found it very difficult to detach the floor head from the main unit. It took so much strength that we wondered if removing the floor head was even possible.

While we can’t ignore these designs’ drawbacks, we still think it’s a great basic affordable option for stairs and household cleaning in general.

While most models on our list can be transformed into handheld, this Black+Decker Dustbuster deserved the best handheld spot for its reliability in the long run, convenient portability, and effective performance at vacuuming stairs.

We used it to vacuum various debris such as breadcrumbs, rice, cat litter and hairs as well as dust and dirt on our hardwood stairs. In our tests, we were amazed by its ability to suck up literally anything on its way.

However, if you have carpeted stairs, it’s another story. We noticed that it does a decent job on low-pile or high-pile carpets alike, but only after a few passes. Don’t forget to use the brush attachment for that purpose.

And because the price is wallet-friendly, we hesitated to offer it the best budget pick category. We finally were convinced by its standout cord-free feature which we found definitively useful. No cords to get the feet tangled up in.

Another perk is that the BLACK+DECKER dustbuster comes with two integrated attachment tools: the crevice tool comes in handy to get into tight spaces and staircases corners, while the brush attachment is a terrific tool for carpeted stairs. And since both are integrated, we always had them on hand, which we found to be an ingenious feature.

And despite its small design, the 0.4 liters dust cup capacity of this dustbuster is enough to avoid numerous trips to the trash can.

That being said, with a continuous run time of 15 minutes tops, the battery life could be better. And since there is no indicator light to know when it’s fully charged, we can’t tell you for sure the time it will take. We also found it noisy for a small appliance – more than its two counterparts from this list.

But considering the low price tag, the remarkable performance, and overall stunning cleaning abilities, we found these minor flaws to be more than acceptable.

Read Full Review: Shark Navigator Lift-Away Vacuum

We found this Shark Navigator to be a game changer if you have carpeted stairs.

First, it’s a 2-in1 vacuum meaning you can use it both in upright and handheld mode thanks to its detachable canister. Of course, we tested the second option on our stairs.

With just the push of a button, we took the detachable canister out and used the lift-away mode. For a lightweight experience, we carried the pod in one hand – no need to carry the whole machine up in each step.

Combined with the upholstery tool, we cleaned around the stairs with ease. We also found the crevice tool to be very helpful for cleaning tighter spots, too.

Second, it has a complete seal technology combined with a HEPA filter (the one that traps 99.9 percent of allergens), making it a solid choice for carpeted areas.

To be completely honest, we didn’t test it on carpeted stairs because our stairs are made of hardwood. But we tested separately on stairs and then on carpets.

And this Shark proved to be very effective and powerful in both situations. So even if we didn’t test on carpeted stairs, we’re absolutely confident in its cleaning abilities to remove dust and dirt particles from this type of surface.

Just like many Shark models, this is a corded model so we didn’t have to worry about losing suction or running out of power. Thankfully, the 25-foot cord gave us plenty of reach to clean our stairs – but may feel on the shorter side if you want to clean larger rooms.

Also, with so many pieces to attach and detach, there’s a bit of a learning curve when using it. We found that there was a stark contrast to the Dyson V11, which is more intuitive and fun to use.

While this model may have limited features to clean under low pieces of furniture or a lower-capacity dust cup compared to other upright models, you can’t beat practicality, performance, and smart design for such a low price point.

You’ll love using the BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Hand vacuum to suck up pet hair, cat litter, and fur from the stairs.

We didn’t test it in our homes, but this model convinced us by its ability to handle pet hair well. Whether you have hard floors or carpeted stairs, you’ll remove hair after a few quick passes only. This motorized handheld vacuum will do the best job to pull embedded hairs out – say numerous reviewers.

We tested this model on hard floor stairs and this model convinced us by its ability to handle pet hair well. But whether you have hard floors or carpeted stairs, you’ll remove hair after a few quick passes only. This motorized handheld vacuum will do the best job to pull embedded hairs out – say numerous reviewers.

We also enjoyed its portable design. Weighing 3 pounds and with a well-balanced handle, this vacuum felt light on our wrists and compact in size. We found this mini vacuum is really perfect to just grab and go – which is just what you need to vacuum stairs and what we were looking for.

Even though it’s small, we noticed that the dustbin is surprisingly large (proportionally speaking). With 0.18 gallons, we made fewer trips to empty it.

Speaking of emptying this vacuum, the process is incredibly simple and mess-free. When the dustbin was full of pet hair, we just had to press the release button and clear it from the dirt.

And since the dust compartment is see-through, no need to play guess-and-check – we immediately knew when it was saturated.

But with 6 hours (at least) to fully charge this cordless vacuum and only 15 minutes to drain it completely when in use, we found it to be on the low side. Handheld vacuums are known for not lasting very long, but we found 15 minutes to be really short. Thankfully, we were able to clean all our stairs within this time frame.

We also felt that the motorized brush would perform better on carpeted stairs than on hard-floor stairs. The suction is strong, but since the brush doesn’t adhere well to hard floors, we noticed that it tends to scatter dust and debris.

Still, we believe that this pet hair pick will perform well on your stairs and is worth the splurge.