Before you really get into the nitty gritty differences of each model, you need to determine your vacuum needs. For homes with wall-to-wall carpet, an upright model is the best choice. On the other hand, homes with mostly bare floors are best paired with a canister vacuum. 

Traditionally, upright models were the most common type of vacuum cleaner. But canister vacuums are becoming more popular. So, you may be thinking: “Which type of vacuum should I buy? A canister vac or a traditional upright vacuum cleaner?”

A traditional upright vacuum has a motorized brush head, dust container, handle, and flexible plastic hose attachments in one unit. Depending on the design, upright models can come with a range of cleaning tools. These can include a crevice nozzle, upholstery tool, and dusting brush tool.

To operate an upright vacuum, you push the unit in front of you. To get to hard-to-reach places under furniture or up high, you can use the flexible hose that most upright vacuum models have.

A canister vacuum typically consists of the canister body that contains the motor, filters, dust bag, and, on some models, storage for extra cleaning tools. A flexible plastic hose and metal or plastic telescopic wand attach to the body. The vacuum head attaches to the wand.

To use a canister vacuum, you only have to operate the lightweight wand and pull the canister behind you. This design can make it easier to clean stairs, upholstery, hard-to-reach places, and all types of floor surfaces, including hard floors.

Buying an upright vacuum is generally best if you mostly have carpeted floors, especially deep-pile carpets and rugs. The electric brush roller works best for removing deep dirt and debris from carpet fibers.

For homes without carpets, a canister usually has the best advantages. The floor tool usually makes it easy to switch from hard floors to carpet areas without losing suction power.