It can be challenging to clean a high-pile carpet. You need powerful suction power and an effective motorized brush roll to remove very fine debris. Height adjustment settings are crucial to navigate the thick pile without damaging the fibers, and large wheels enhance maneuverability. In our extensive review, three vacuum cleaners stood out from the 99 models evaluated.
We analyzed 152,207 reviews. Our unique approach certifies products as tested, utilizing our scientific True Score system to filter fake and low-quality reviews. The winning vacuums excelled, providing exceptional performance on high-pile carpets, making them excellent vacuums for this demanding cleaning task.
How Did We Rank the Best Vacuums for High Pile Carpet?
To curate the best vacuums for high-pile carpets, we dove deep into over 200 sources, dissecting testing methodologies and customer feedback. By evaluating expert reviews and understanding the critical aspects that matter most, we identified 1 necessary test result and 1 essential specification. This rigorous analysis allows us to present you with a comprehensive buying guide that highlights the top choices tailored to your needs.
Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low-quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.
?️ Minimum Specifications
- Must work on all floor types.
? Test Criteria
- Carpet Performance: The vacuum sucks up 80% of debris when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile.
Latest Updates
- 06/23/2024: Republished the list to include the best vacuum cleaners for high-pile carpets based on our True Score system.
Top Vacuums for High Pile Carpet For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Dyson V15 Detect
Best Apartment
The Dyson V15 Detect excels on high-pile carpets, bare floors, and pet hair with formidable suction. Lightweight and cordless, it’s ideal for versatile cleaning.
True Score
929119Experts
932kCustomers
Cosmic Wonder
SAVE $200$799.99$599.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Laser illumination technology
- Incredible performance on both carpets and hard floors
- Lightweight design
- Decent battery life
- Anti-allergenic HEPA filter
Reasons to Avoid
- Complicated maneuvrability on deep carpets
- Relatively low-capacity 0.45L dust cup
- Plastic construction
Specifications
Bagless Yes 
Bin Capacity 0.2 gal 
Brush Roll Shut-Off No 
Carpet Height Adjustments Yes 
Cleaning Path Width 10″ 
Compatible Floor Type All floors 
Cord Length Cordless 
Corded/Cordless Cordless 
Filter Type Other 
Hypoallergenic Yes 
Pet Yes 
Product Weight 6.7 lbs 
Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums 
Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 92 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 73 All Retailers
$599.99$800Save $200
$631.95$750Save $118
$631.95$750Save $118
Our Verdict
The Dyson V15 Detect is a versatile vacuum that excels on high-pile carpets as well as bare floors and pet hair, boasting formidable suction power. It offers a best-in-class carpet cleaning performance of 91.77%, adept at drawing out dirt and debris embedded deeply in high-pile carpets, ensuring they stay pristine. It achieves a flawless pet hair removal rate of 100% and cleans bare floors with a 98.59% efficiency, making it highly effective on various surfaces in your home.
The Dyson V15 Detect’s bin capacity is 0.2 gallons, which may require frequent emptying, but this also keeps the vacuum light at 6.7 lbs. This low weight, combined with its cordless design, enhances its maneuverability around your home and makes it handy for tackling large, carpeted areas.
Both models are lightweight and cordless, with similar bin capacities. While the Dyson is more expensive, it’s much quieter and slightly better at carpet cleaning, making it the better choice if you need superior carpet cleaning efficiency. The louder Shark Stratos Cordless offers better value by offering well-rounded cleaning efficiency at a lower cost, which is ideal if you’re on a budget.
Despite the premium price, the Dyson V15 Detect’s excellent performance on all floor types, particularly in lifting pet hair and cleaning high-pile carpets, makes it a worthwhile investment for your home. If you’re looking for a vacuum that combines powerful cleaning efficiency with the convenience of being lightweight and cordless, the Dyson V15 Detect is an outstanding solution for maintaining a clean and comfortable home.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Stratos Cordless
Best Cordless
The lightweight Shark Stratos Cordless is ideal for small homes with pets since it removes all pet hair and most carpet debris with a limited bin capacity.
True Score
86876Experts
86783Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $178$499.99$322.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Impressive suction power
- Great bare floor performance
- Great Carpet cleaning performance
- Excellent pet hair cleaning performance
Reasons to Avoid
- Attachments are very limited
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.18 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Yes Cleaning Path Width 10″ Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.9 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 89 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $322.00$500Save $178
- $329.00$400Save $71
Our Verdict
If you need a versatile vacuum for a small home with pets, consider the Shark Stratos Cordless, which has a best-in-class pet hair removal rate of 100%. Along with handling shedding effortlessly, it cleans 89.3% of debris from carpets, making it ideal for your plush, fibrous flooring. It also boasts a superior 98.83% efficiency on bare floors, ensuring thorough cleanliness across all surfaces in your large home.
Weighing just 8.9 lbs, the Shark Stratos Cordless is easy to handle, even if you need to navigate multiple levels or large staircases. However, with a noise level of 76.7 dB, it might be noticeably loud in quieter, more serene home settings. Its bin capacity of 0.18 gallons might require frequent emptying, which could be inconvenient during extensive cleaning tasks, making it more suitable for smaller or less cluttered homes.
Compared to the Hoover Onepwr Evolve Pet, the Shark Stratos Cordless offers better performance on high-pile carpets and is quieter, making it the superior option if you prioritize efficient cleaning on your thick carpets. The Hoover Onepwr Evolve Pet is still a good value with its cheaper price if you’re on a budget and mainly need to clean less dense surfaces.
Despite its noticeable noise level and smaller bin capacity, the Shark Stratos Cordless delivers excellent performance across various flooring types, especially in high-pile carpet cleaning. If you need a powerful, versatile vacuum that can manage the diverse demands of a small carpeted home, the Shark Stratos Cordless is a reliable pick.
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Category Snapshot
Vacuum Cleaners
- Total Brands/Products Tested
31 Brands, 99 Products
- Top 2 Brands
Dyson, Miele
- Price Range (Budget-Premium)
$50-$400+
- Average True Score
75.70
- Important Test Criteria
Bare Floor Performance (%)
Carpet Performance (%)
- Most Trusted Testers
- Typical Warranty
1 year
- Covered by Insurance
Yes – Amazon, Best Buy
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Hoover Onepwr Evolve Pet
The Hoover Onepwr Evolve Pet excels with a large bin capacity and strong performance on carpets and pet hair, ideal for large homes with high-pile carpets.
True Score
80795Experts
82160Customers
Absolutely Fresh
$229.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Interchangeable battery
- Easy to assemble
- Large dirt bin capacity
- Easy to maneuver
- Lightweight
Reasons to Avoid
- No HEPA filter
- No attachments included
- Mediocre build quality
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.3 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Yes Carpet Height Adjustments Yes Cleaning Path Width 11″ Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type Reusable, Washable Hypoallergenic No Pet Yes Product Weight 8.6 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 94 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 85 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 98 Noise Level (dB) 79 All Retailers
- $229.99
- $279.00
Our Verdict
The Hoover Onepwr Evolve Pet vacuum stands out with its superior bin capacity of 0.3 gallons, making it a valuable addition to large homes. It achieves an 84.91% carpet cleanup performance, effectively removing most dirt and debris from carpet fibers. Its exceptional pet hair performance is an impressive 98.33%, and for bare floors, it scores a respectable 93.83%, handling all types of floor clean up easily. It’s particularly effective on high-pile carpets thanks to its adjustable height settings, allowing you to customize it for optimal cleaning performance on various floor types.
The noise level is a bit high, registering at 78.6 dB, so you may find it disruptive. The Dyson is much quieter if you prefer a smoother cleaning session with noise-sensitive children or pets. Weighing in at 8.6 lbs, this vacuum is light enough to ensure easy handling and maneuverability. Its cordless design further enhances its ease of use, making it convenient to move around the house.
Compared to the Shark Stratos Cordless, the Hoover doesn’t reach the Shark’s cleaning efficiency, but it still does a great job on all floor types. The Hoover offers better value, though by being cheaper and having a larger bin capacity, meaning you can vacuum your large home for longer before emptying the bin. If you want better cleaning efficiency and you have a bigger budget, the Shark Stratos Cordless is the better pick.
While the Hoover is not the most efficient model compared to the other vacuums, it still strikes an impressive balance between great performance and value. With its reliable cleaning performance, affordable price, and large bin capacity, it’s a great vacuum for large homes with pets and various floor types.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Vacuums for High Pile Carpet?
By focusing on these criteria (1 required), anyone can quickly and easily compare these vacuum cleaners and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a vacuum cleaner that will meet your needs.
| CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carpet Performance | > 80% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 120+ vacuum cleaner reviewers and found that 27 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for vacuum cleaner.
- Dagobiet Morales Alfaro – RTings, LinkedIn
- Derek Hales – Modern Castle, LinkedIn
- Sabine Heinlein – Wirecutter, LinkedIn
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every vacuum cleaner review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Vacuum Cleaner Test Data & Results
1. Carpet Performance Test Results
Carpet Performance
> 80%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
If you have carpet, how well a vacuum cleans directly impacts how your carpet feels to walk on, and prevents pests from moving in.
Carpet cleaning ability is another important part of how your vacuum performs. Whether you have low-pile, high-pile, or rugs, how effectively a vacuum cleans up the dirt and debris left behind on the carpet is enormously important to keeping your carpet comfortable.
Generally speaking, we recommend a carpet cleaning performance of at least 80%. You might notice this is much lower than bare floors, and that’s because carpet is harder to clean. Short of devoting the time to actually shampoo and dry out a carpet, thoroughly cleaning out a carpet is very difficult, and good vacuums will reach deep between fibers and pull out long-forgotten crumbs.
Carpet Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
Best Vacuums for High Pile Carpet: Mistakes To Avoid
- Ignoring Adjustable Height Settings: Choosing a vacuum without adjustable height settings can make it difficult to clean high-pile carpets effectively. Look for a model that allows you to adjust the height to accommodate different carpet depths.
- Overlooking Strong Suction Power: Underestimating the importance of strong suction power can result in ineffective cleaning. High-pile carpets require vacuums with powerful suction to remove embedded dirt and debris. In addition to a powerful vacuum, the best portable carpet cleaner can be an excellent tool for spot cleaning and tackling tough stains on high-pile carpets. These portable cleaners provide targeted cleaning power, making them a perfect complement to your regular vacuum.
- Neglecting Brush Roll Type: Using a vacuum with the wrong type of brush roll can damage high pile carpets. Opt for a vacuum with a brush roll designed for high pile carpets, preferably one with soft bristles or adjustable speeds to prevent damage. For added convenience, consider a cordless vacuum that offers powerful suction and maneuverability, making it easier to clean various areas of your home. Additionally, using a carpet cleaner solution specifically designed for high-pile carpets can enhance the cleaning process, effectively removing stains and maintaining the carpet’s appearance.
- Not Considering Filtration Quality: Neglecting the quality of the filtration system can lead to poor air quality and re-circulation of allergens. Choose a vacuum with a high-efficiency filtration system, such as a HEPA filter, to ensure clean air in your home.
The Best Vacuums for High Pile Carpet Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 |
|
|
|
|  $599.99 $800 $200 |
| 86 |
|
|
|
|  $322.00 $500 $178 |
80 |
|
|
|
|  $229.99 |
