We've Tested Hundreds of Vacuums—And These 10 Are Worth Buying for Cleaning Stairs (2024)

Our Top Picks

For an excellent vacuum that leaves your stairs looking brand new, we recommend this sleek cordless model from Levoit. During our testing, we were so impressed by the power and speed of the vacuum, especially considering its lightweight feel. It was especially great at getting into corners, underneath stair ridges, and other tricky areas, leaving no spot untouched and tackling every mess.

This vacuum has a helpful Auto Mode that adjusts the suction power level depending on the mess and bright LED headlights to illuminate your cleaning path. You can choose from five power levels, and two included accessories, including a telescopic crevice tool and a 2-in-1 dusting brush. Plus, the vacuum is easy to empty and has a very reasonable price tag. One flaw is that the device has a square head with a hard 90-degree corner in the rear, which can cause it to catch on chairs or table legs. But all in all, this top-tier vacuum will leave stairs and floors looking spotless.

Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 7.1 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: .15 gallons | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Telescopic crevice tool; 2-in-1 dusting brush

If you’re looking to stay within a tight budget, you’ll want to check out this inexpensive yet top-quality vacuum from Dirt Devil. The cordless stick vacuum not only boasts a low price tag but also has powerful suction and a compact size.

When we tried the vacuum in action, we found it to be quick to set up and extremely easy to use, thanks to its small size and lightweight feel. Maneuvering it around stairs and other areas was issue-free, as the vacuum’s rollers glide smoothly across the floor and the tiny brush head can fit into tight areas. During our test, it picked up all debris in only a few rounds. Plus, the device’s dustbin is large enough that we only had to empty it (a simple process!) after a long period of use.

While the vacuum conveniently turns into a removable hand vac as needed, it doesn’t come with any attachments, so it’s not the best gadget for pet hair or upholstery cleaning. It’s also very loud, which we understand can be bothersome. But if you’re looking for a low-cost vacuum that’s especially good for small spaces, then this is absolutely a solid choice.

Type: Cordless | Weight: 5 pounds | Battery Life: Not listed | Dustbin Capacity: 0.4 liters | Attachments: None

If cost isn’t a factor, then make sure to consider this high-priced but extremely worthwhile cordless vacuum from Dyson. The ultra-powerful device offers plenty of bang for your buck, including a long battery life, strong suction, HEPA filtration, several attachments, and more.

One of our favorite things about this vacuum is how easy it is to maneuver, particularly on stairs. The head can change angles and swivel 180 degrees with just a simple twist, allowing you to reach tricky areas with minimal effort. It can also transform quickly into a handheld vac. The vacuum uses laser lights to illuminate debris in its wake, and there’s an LCD screen that tracks cleaning progress so you can see how much material the vacuum has collected.

This vacuum transitions from hardwood to carpet with ease, and attachments like the built-in dusting and crevice tool come in handy time and time again. Additionally, emptying the dustbin when it’s full with its hygienic ejection mechanism is a breeze. On the downside, it is a pretty heavy device at a little over 7 pounds, and you may need both hands to hold it up properly as you work. Still, there’s plenty about this vacuum that makes it a great choice.

Type: Cordless | Weight: 7.72 pounds | Battery Life: 70 minutes | Dustbin Capacity: 0.2 gallons | Attachments: Hair screw tool, combination tool, built-in dusting, and crevice tool

If you prefer the traditional feel of an upright vacuum, this low-priced but high-quality model from Shark definitely won’t disappoint. This powerful, large-capacity corded device is highly effective at getting into edges, corners, and stairs thanks to a detachable pod that makes it easy to target tricky areas.

During our testing, we found that despite its substantial size, this vacuum is easy to maneuver across both floors and carpets, with the help of a 25-foot-long cord and swivel steering that allows for precise control. It comes with two convenient attachments (a crevice tool and an upholstery tool) that help capture hair, and the dustbin capacity is larger than average. It’s also easy to assemble, requiring just a few quick steps. We wish it weighed a bit less, as carrying the vacuum upstairs can be cumbersome, but the portable pod almost entirely negates this downside.

Type: Upright | Weight: 15.9 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: .22 gallons | Battery Life: n/a | Attachments: Crevice tool; upholstery tool

Canister vacuums are ideal for anyone looking to clean in tight, hard-to-reach spaces. This canister device from Miele is a fantastic option due to its helpful settings, included tools, and impressive ease of use.

Although this vacuum has a high price tag, it also boasts many notable benefits that make it worth the cost. The long 18-foot cord is conveniently retractable via a foot press, and it has a long hose with a telescoping handle ideal for tackling stairs and ceilings. The whole device maneuvers smoothly and quietly, and it’s easy to switch between the three included attachments, as they’re all clipped to the base. You can also switch out the head depending on the surface to ensure no damage occurs in delicate areas.

In our testing, we found that this vacuum occasionally spits dirt back out, but it cleans everything up on a second round. It also isn’t great at suctioning up long hair, but it's still quite powerful overall.

Type: Canister | Weight: 13 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 1.2 gallons | Battery Life: n/a | Attachments: Crevice nozzle; upholstery nozzle; dusting brush

Anyone with a pet who sheds knows how difficult it can be to clean up all of that hair, but this vacuum by Tineco is designed to make the process easier. The cordless stick vacuum features V-shaped bristles and a dual-comb design that are engineered to pick up pet hair and prevent it from tangling in the brush. As we tested it, we were pleased to see that it lived up to its promise!

One of the cool things about this vacuum is that it’s very interactive, with an LCD screen that uses voice prompts to switch modes and update you on the cleaning process, as well as a touch bar you can use to control the suction levels. There’s also a smart sensor that detects hidden debris and an LED headlight to illuminate its path. But we especially also love the zero-touch dustbin that allows you to empty out the debris without even getting your hands dirty.

The vacuum is also easy to maneuver, light enough to carry, and compact because all of the attachments can be stored on the charging stand. However, the voice controls are quite loud, which can be annoying because there’s no way to control the volume.

Type: Cordless | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Battery Life : 40 minutes | Dustbin Capacity: 0.47 liters | Attachments: Mini power brush, 2-in-1 dust brush, crevice tool

This sleek, lightweight vacuum from Dyson will thoroughly clean up any area of the home, but it’s particularly effective on hardwood stairs. For one thing, it’s incredibly easy to maneuver, thanks in part to its small size and also to the swivel on its floor brush. Both features mean that this vac is great at reaching into tight, awkward spaces.

When we tested the vacuum, we loved how easily its strong suction picked up debris like dirt and pet hair, and also how well the device transitioned from hardwood to stair and tile. As another perk, its tiny size and light feel mean it’s ultra-portable and takes no effort to move around the room, and the three included accessories (crevice tool, mini motorized tool, and light pipe crevice tool) are all pretty useful.

As far as negatives go, the battery life on this little vacuum is quite short, and the dustbin canister fills up in just about 30 seconds (although you can still fit in more debris after it reaches the mark). You’ll have to empty it fairly often, which isn’t the most intuitive process. Ultimately, this may not be the best vacuum for heavy-duty use, but for quick and small cleanups, it’ll more than do the trick.

Type: Cordless | Weight: 4.2 pounds | Battery Life : 20 minutes | Dustbin Capacity: 0.2 liters | Attachments: Combination crevice tool, mini motorized tool, light pipe crevice tool

If you want a versatile vacuum to tackle the stairs and carpeting, opt for the Samsung Jet 90 Cordless Stick Vacuum. This powerful cordless stick vacuum is effective on many surfaces and easily transitions between different areas.

This vacuum has three suction settings and several handy attachments that are simple to swap out, including a soft brush ideal for carpets and an extension tool for crevices. With the help of a swivel head, it maneuvers smoothly around floors, and the extendable stem of the vacuum means that taller people won’t have to strain themselves leaning over it. We also love the vacuum’s long battery life, lightweight feel, and easy-to-read digital screen.

On the downside, emptying the dust cup can be messy, and the vacuum’s turbo brush can get jammed with hair and require manual removal. Still, this device has enough helpful features and ease of use to be worth its higher-than-average price.

Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 6 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: .2 gallons | Battery Life: 120 minutes | Attachments: Mini-motorized tool; long-reach crevice tool; combination tool; soft brush; turbo brush

One of the biggest hassles with any vacuum is having to manually empty the dustbin canister and get your hands dirty with grime and hair. Luckily, this cordless model from Shark has a handy self-emptying option, where you just need to attach the dust cup to the base and the vacuum will empty debris directly into it, giving you a hands-free experience.

Another big perk of this vacuum is how lightweight it is, making it extremely easy to hold and maneuver around a room. It features a swivel head and slim build, so you can take it into hard-to-reach crevices and store it with minimal space needed when it’s not in use. Yet, despite its small size, the vacuum still contains very powerful suction and will pick up plenty of debris in its path.

You can change between multiple cleaning modes with this device, and we also like that hair rarely gets tangled in the brush roll. That said, the vacuum’s dustbin is very small, and it’s also pretty loud when in action (despite having a quiet mode that disables automatic emptying).

Type: Cordless | Weight: 13.9 pounds | Battery Life: Not listed | Dustbin Capacity: 0.13 quarts | Attachments: Duster crevice tool, pet multi-tool

We all know the frustration of a vacuum battery dying mid-clean, but that won't be an issue with this cordless stick model from Britech. The vacuum has a 50-minute battery life, and picks up an impressive amount of dust and debris, leaving your home in tip-top shape.

After testing this vacuum, we were impressed by the strength of its suction power (especially on hard surfaces), and how easy it was to maneuver the lightweight device across different areas. You can also detach the portable handheld vacuum for tight and tricky spaces. We also like the bright LED screen that displays settings and battery life, adjustable height, and easy-to-empty dustbin. We also like the detachable nozzle tool and swivel head for getting into tight crevices.

The handle design isn’t the most ergonomic, and the vacuum is stronger on hardwood and stairs than on carpet. But for its low price, solid runtime, and smart design, this is a worthy purchase.

Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 8.1 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: Not listed | Battery Life: 50 minutes | Attachments: Nozzle tool