A lot of people enjoy having stairs in their homes. Stairs of all types can add character and glamour to a home. However, stairs need to be kept clean if they are going to have the impact you would like. That is where the best vacuum for stairs comes in. These amazing products are designed to no only clean your entire home, but they are also easy to use on stairs of any size.
Stairs come in all shapes, steepness, and lengths. In this article we will tell you about how to pick vacuums for stairs of any type. You will find information about vacuums for stairs with carpet, vacuum for wood stairs, vacuum for stairs and upholstery, and much much more. So, do yourself a favor, and continue reading this article.
What the best vacuum for stairs?
Now your very first question will likely be, what the vacuum for stairs is the best one. And, the answer is that that really depends on you. Later we will provide some vacuum for stairs reviews that will give you a sense of our choices for the top products. The choice between them will ultimately be up to you.
Even though there may not be a number one vacuum for stairs, all of the top vacuum for stairs and upholstery will have similar aspects. We will discuss many of these features in the next section; however, we’ve listed them in brief below.
- Vacuums with stair attachment will be on the lighter side. You need to be able to carry them up and down the stairs as you vacuum.
- If you have animals, you will need a vacuum for stairs and pet hair.
- Often, the best products will be able to clean multiple surfaces, such as vacuums for stairs and furniture, vacuums for stairs and edges, etc.
- The vacuum for stairs you choose should be convenient to use. When there is a mess on the stairs, you should clean it up immediately. Therefore, you need to choose a product that is easy to pick up and start right away.
Features to look for when buying vacuums for stairs
Now, let’s go into more depth about the features that you should look for when you purchase a vacuum for stairs.
Weight
Weight is a big deal when you are looking for a vacuum for stairs and hardwood floors. The heavier the product, the harder it will be to carry up and downstairs. When you clean stairs, you are not just pushing the vacuum back and forth. Therefore, a heavier vacuum may not be safe to use on a staircase.
Instead, look for smaller, lighter vacuums for stairs. These products may not have the power capabilities of the larger, heavier models, but they will be easier to use, and you go up and down the staircase.
Type of vacuum
The type of vacuum is another important consideration when looking for a vacuum for stairs and pet hair. There are a number of different types of vacuums: upright, canister, stick, and handheld are the most common. Robot vacuums, which we discuss in other review articles, will not work on stairs, and so are not discussed here.
Upright and stick vacuums are similar in shape and the way they are used. They are both contained in a single unit. That means that their motor, dirt collection bin and cleaning head are all attached together. You push these vacuums along the ground to clean up the dirt and debris. While both can be used as a vacuum with stair attachment, stick vacuums are much better. Stick vacuums are lighter and smaller and typically work better for stairs.
Canister vacuums are another common type of vacuum for stairs and furniture that you will find. This type of vacuum maybe a little heavier than you might expect. However, their weight doesn’t matter for smaller stairs. They are made of two parts, the motor and dirt collection bin, and the hose and cleaning head. Because the hose is much longer than on any other type of vacuum, you can easily clean shorter, smaller stairs without having to move the heavier canister.
Finally, a handheld vacuum for stairs can be a good idea. These are the smallest and lightest type of vacuum. They will not work well as a vacuum for the rest of your home. However, if you want a vacuum for stairs and edges, you should try the handheld vacuum. Just keep in mind that you will likely have to bend over to use the handheld vacuum for stairs and pet hair.
Corded or cordless
A big debate in the vacuum cleaner world is whether to purchase a corded or cordless vacuum for stairs and hardwood floors. There is not necessarily a huge difference between these two types except in the way that they make their power. Corded handheld vacuums for stairs use a power cord that plugs into an electrical outlet. Cordless vacuums for stairs with carpet use a rechargeable battery.
Both corded and cordless vacuums for stairs come with their own pros and cons. Corded handheld vacuums for stairs are great because they provide continuous power. You never have to stop to recharge the vacuum. Plus, they typically have more power. However, this type of vacuum can be annoying on stairs because you have the power cord to worry about and potentially trip over.
Cordless vacuums for stairs with carpet are much more convenient and they don’t have a power cord to trip over. However, you will have to worry about them running out of battery power. Obviously, this is not a huge issue for cleaning stairs, but if you want to clean the rest of your home as well, it could be a problem.
Bagged or bagless
Purchasing a bagged or bagless vacuum for stairs with carpet is another question you will have to answer. By far the most common type today is the bagless vacuum. The bagless vacuum was introduced by Dyson in the 1990s. Their dirt collection bins do not have any bags in them. All you do is push a button and empty the bin over the trash can.
The classic vacuums all had bags in their dirt collection bins. These were removed and thrown away when they were full. This is the most hygienic option and will keep your air much cleaner than a bagless vacuum with stair attachment. However, they do require you to touch the dirt collection bin, which may be a problem for some people. Most commercial models of vacuum for stairs and dog hair still use a bag.
Type of surface
As you probably know, stairs come in many shapes and sizes. And, that extends to their surface. You could have stairs that are made of hardwood or covered in carpet. Plus, if you plan on using this vacuum to clean your entire home, you will need to find one that will work for all of the surfaces in your house.
Your best bet when looking for a vacuum with stair attachment is to find a product that will work on a variety of surfaces. This likely means that the vacuum has a brush roll that can be turned on and off. Or, it could have a variety of height adjustments.
Also, the more attachments that come with the cordless vacuum for stairs with carpet, the more surfaces you will be able to clean. In this case, decide on the types of surfaces you will be cleaning, and then find the attachments that will help with those tasks. For example, if you plan on using the product like a vacuum for stairs and upholstery, you need to find a vacuum with an upholstery attachment.
Finally, you could look for a vacuum for stairs that transforms from stick or upright to handheld. The handheld vacuum for stairs is the most convenient, but then the larger stick or upright vacuum would be ideal for cleaning the rest of your home.
Top 5 Best Vacuum for Stairs Reviews 2025
Top 5 Best Vacuum for Stairs On The Market Reviews
#1 MOOSOO Vacuum XL-618A
The MOOSOO Vacuum XL-618A is a stick vacuum that converts into a handheld vacuum. Both the stick and handheld version of the XL-618A will work as a vacuum for stairs. So, your choices are only multiplied when you use the MOOSOO XL-618A.
The MOOSOO XL618A has a number of other great features. It has a very powerful and long-lasting battery. The battery will work for 30-45 minutes at a time, which is more than long enough to clean your stairs. Plus, the cordless vacuum for stairs with carpet has two cleaning modes and a HEPA filter. For stair cleaning, you need to try the MOOSOO XL-618A.
#2 Bissell Zing 4122
Bissell’s Zing 4122 corded vacuum for stairs is a canister type. It is the heaviest vacuum on our top five list. However, the long hose means that you should be able to clean smaller stairs without ever having to move the vacuum’s base.
#3 Bissell Pet Hair Eraser
Bissell is known for their vacuums for stairs and dog hair, and the Pet Hair Eraser is no different. In fact, this handheld vacuum for stairs and pet hair does it all. It will clean a variety of surfaces, including furniture and upholstery. And, the triple-level filtration system will leave your home’s air cleaner than when you began vacuuming.
As an added bonus, when you purchase the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser, the company donates $5 to their pet charity. To do good in addition to having clean stairs, choose the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser.
#4 Shark Rocket HV292
Another great handheld vacuum for stairs and pet hair is the Shark Rocket HV292. This is an extremely affordable corded handheld vacuum for stairs. Plus, it comes with a variety of accessories that allow it to be multi-functional in your home.
The power cord is fifteen-feet long. Thus, you will not have a problem cleaning the entire staircase without having to find another plug. For a lightweight and affordable vacuum for stairs and pet hair, you have to choose the Shark Rocket HV292.
#5 Tineco A10 Hero
The final vacuum for stairs on our list is the Tineco A10 Hero. This is another convertible vacuum that turns from a stick to a handheld vacuum for stairs with the push of a button. It also comes with a couple of useful attachments to make your stair cleaning experience that much easier.
The battery on the A10 Hero is not very long-lasting. However, it does power a very quiet motor that makes a lot of suction. So, if your stairs are prone to large messes or are carpeted, you may want to try out the Tineco A10 Hero.
How To Vacuum Stairs Effectively
Vacuuming stairs does not have to be a difficult or scary proposition. In fact, if you follow a few steps, you will be able to vacuum stairs effectively every time with very little effort.
- Start at the top and work your way down. This direction ensures that any dirt that blows off the stairs goes to an area that you have not already vacuumed. If you are using a large, corded vacuum, you may want to start at the bottom and work your way to the top for safety.
- Using a cleaning brush that fits the stairs. If you want a mini-motorized brush, you should use that. The cleaning head to fit most of the depth of the stairs if cleaning side to side, or it should reach the majority of the stair’s width if vacuuming back to front.
- Vacuuming either side to side or back to front on each stair depends on the cleaning head you are using and your own personal preferences.
- Once you are done with the first pass of the stairs, remove the cleaning brush roll and attach the crevice tool. This tool will allow you to clean all of the corners in each stair. This step is especially important if you are using a vacuum for stairs with carpet.
- Step back and enjoy having extremely clean stairs.
FAQ
If you still have questions about vacuums for stairs, this question will answer them. Here are all the important FAQs about vacuum for stairs that we haven’t yet covered.
1)What style of vacuum is the best for cleaning stairs?
Really, it doesn’t matter what type of vacuum you use to clean your stairs. Some are just a slightly better choice than others. The traditional, heavy upright will do an okay job, but it may be unwieldy and too heavy to use safely. On the other hand, handheld vacuums for stairs and pet hair are extremely light and easy to use, but they do require that you bend over to clean the stairs.
Probably our top pick for a type of vacuum for stairs and pet hair would be a stick vacuum. These have a long handle, so you don’t have to bend over, but are light as a handheld. However, as you can see from our vacuum for stairs reviews above, you can find a good vacuum for wood stairs in almost any category.
2) Are cordless vacuums all they’re cracked up to be?
The answer to this question depends on how you plan on using the vacuum for stairs. If you only plan on using the vacuum for stairs or as a vacuum for stairs and hardwood floors, a cordless vacuum is probably a great bet. It is light and won’t have a cord to trip over as you clean. Plus, it is convenient because you don’t have to find a plug to use it.
The instances where cordless vacuums for stairs with carpet are not great is if you plan on cleaning a large area. Cordless vacuums have at most an hour of battery life. Therefore, if cleaning will take longer than an hour, you should consider the more continuous power of a corded handheld vacuum for stairs.
3) What attachments are necessary for stair vacuuming?
You actually don’t need many attachments to adequately vacuum your stairs. Just a regular brush roll and a crevice tool will do. However, you could also decide to use a mini-motorized brush roll as well. The smaller motorized tool is ideal if you need a vacuum for stairs and pet hair. Or, if you have smaller stairs, the smaller tools may work better.
But, even if your chosen vacuum for wood stairs does not come with any accessories, you can still get a good cleaning with just the brush roll. You just may need to spend a little bit more time ensuring that the vacuum adequately cleans the corners of the stairs well.
4) Is a trigger switch more convenient than a power button?
The difference between a trigger switch and a power button on a vacuum is an important one. A trigger switch typically has to be engaged and held as you vacuum in order for the product to continue working. This saves money and means that the vacuum will not be running as you move it when you are not cleaning.
On the other hand, with the power button, you just push the button and the vacuum is on. You have to push the button again to turn the vacuum for stairs off. This type of vacuum can be helpful for people who have arthritis or other issues with their wrists and fingers. Yet, you will potentially use more battery power and have to contend with turning the product on and off every time you use to move it to a new cleaning location.
The question of whether a trigger switch is more convenient than a power button or not is another one that is really up to you. Typically, we would say the for cordless vacuums for stairs with carpet, a trigger switch is ideal because it saves the battery life. But, for people with medical conditions or larger cleaning jobs, a power button may be a better way to go.
5) Does a brush roll clean better than straight suction?
A beater bar, or brush roll, is perfect for carpet. That is what it was designed to clean. The beater bar agitates the dirt and debris from inside the carpet so that the vacuum can clean it up. So, if you need a vacuum for stairs with carpet, a brush roll will clean better than straight suction.
But, if you need a vacuum for wood stairs, a product with straight suction will be fine. You are actually not supposed to use a brush roll on wood or other hard surfaces because it can scratch them. Plus, as we established above, the beater bar does not really work well on hard floors anyway.
6) Is there a better way to vacuum the stairs?
After such a long article about the top vacuums for stairs, you may be left wondering if there is an even easier way to vacuum your stairs. Unfortunately, not really. The best and most efficient way to clean stairs is described in the previous section. If you have carpeted stairs, you may also want to use a carpet cleaner on them every once and a while. But, the carpet cleaning process will be very similar to the vacuum process.
Conclusion
The best vacuums for stairs make your life a lot easier. They help you keep your stairs, in addition to the rest of your home, sparkling clean. Whether you have carpeted or wood stairs, all five of the products mentioned in our vacuum for stairs reviews will work perfectly. They are all multifaceted cleaning machines.
When you are looking for a good vacuum for stairs and pet hair you need to consider a few things. These include the size of the stairs, what else needs to be vacuumed, and your preferred vacuuming method. Follow the buyer’s guide at the beginning of this article and then choose one of the five products mentioned here, and you will be well on your way to constantly clean stairs.