Best Canister Vacuums in Canada

We’ve been evaluating household and lifestyle products for years to help Canadians make the most efficient and sensible choices for their homes, their lives, and their families. We’ve evaluated products in nearly every category, from mattresses to exercise equipment and beyond. We look for the very best products that include the features that matter the most in Canada.

We evaluate each product in our test lab and then send the products we think are the best of the best to our team of dedicated testers for further evaluation and real-world feedback. Based on those observations, we compiled a list that we are certain contains products that you will love and get great use from. When evaluating products to find the best canister vacuums in Canada, we looked for the following features:

• Suction Power. A canister vacuum doesn’t serve much purpose if it doesn’t sufficiently do the job it was intended for, and that’s to suck up dirt, dust, and debris from your home. For our list, we looked for canister vacuums that performed the best and had the most power behind them.
• Filter Capabilities. The air filter on a canister vacuum is what protects your home and your family from dangerous allergens, dust particles, and bacteria. When you vacuum, these particles are stirred up, and without a powerful filter, may be blown out into the air that you breathe. We chose vacuums that provided HEPA filters for multi-filtration systems so we could be sure that our recommendations were designed with your health in mind.
• Weight and Portability. Canister vacuums were designed to be lightweight and maneuverable. So, we looked for models that incorporated those features into the design. The vacuums on our list are lightweight and easy to move around or carry from room to room.
• Attachments. Vacuums are for more than just sweeping the floors. They are used to clean upholstery, curtains, under the couch, or even in the car. Canister vacuums are perfectly suited for these types of jobs because of their design. We looked for vacuums that included helpful attachments to make cleaning any space or surface a breeze.

Why Use a Canister Vacuum in Canada?

When most people think of a vacuum cleaner, they picture a traditional, upright model. Vacuum cleaners of this kind have been a staple in Canadian households for decades. However, they are typically cumbersome, and not very maneuverable. They also have limited power because of the small space allowed for the motor and have a shorter reach as far as the hose attachment is concerned. Most people assume that this is as good as it gets when it comes to vacuuming their floors.

However, the canister vacuum is becoming more popular in Canadian households – and for good reason. All the shortcomings and limitations provided by the standard, upright vacuums are solved by a good canister vacuum. These powerful, functional, and lightweight vacuum cleaners offer a variety of benefits, including:

More Power

Canister vacuums have greater power and suction capacity than their upright counterparts, mostly because there is more space available to house a larger motor. With upright vacuum cleaners, the base of the unit is the only space available for a motor. And because uprights are typically heavier, to begin with, this motor is usually smaller in size, and therefore, less powerful.

With canister vacuums, the motor is housed in the canister itself. This canister is significantly larger than the front part of a standard upright vacuum. This extra space allows for a much larger motor or even multiple motors. Many canister vacuums use cyclone technology or multiple airflow channels to create powerful suction action that an upright model simply can’t duplicate.

Better Maneuverability

If you’ve ever used an upright vacuum, you know that they only travel in one direction: forward. To maneuver the vacuum, you have to point it in another direction. The front of an upright vacuum, where the roller brushes are housed, is typically wider than a canister vacuum as well. Although this means a wider cleaning path, it also limits the maneuverability of the vacuum. Upright vacuums do not fit easily into tight spaces, under furniture, or in corners.

A canister vacuum is designed to be easily maneuverable and suitable for cleaning in even tight spaces. Because the vacuum includes two separate parts – the canister itself and the cleaning nozzle itself – which are connected by a detachable hose, there are no limitations on where you can reach with one of these handy vacuums.

Flexible Functionality

Canister vacuums are intended for use on multiple surfaces. While some newer models of upright vacuum cleaners include height adjustments to make them usable on hard floors as well as carpets, there is no comparing them to the increased functionality of canister vacuums. Upright vacuums that include height adjustments rely on that higher height to protect hard floors from damage. Canister vacuums, however, may include both height adjustments and additional tools specifically designed for hard floors. They also typically come with a variety of tools and attachments to handle a multitude of cleaning tasks, such as crevice tools, upholstery brushes, and more.

Quieter Operation

Canister vacuums are almost always quieter during operation than their upright cousins. This is because canister vacuums are designed so that extra insulation of the canister component, where the motors are housed, is possible. This means less noise while vacuuming.

Still, most vacuum cleaners will advertise a decibel rating for how loud they can get. This usually only represents their noise level on the lowest possible setting. Make sure to check out the noise setting listed for the vacuum you have your eye on, as it may determine whether it fits your lifestyle.

How to Choose a Canister Vacuum in Canada

Once you’ve decided to purchase a canister vacuum, you might be overwhelmed by the options on the Canadian market. Here are some of the features you should keep an eye on while you shop for your next vacuum cleaner.

Reach

The reach of your canister vacuum can refer to the length of the cord or the length of the hose. Either way, you may want to choose the longest option you can find. Nobody wants to stop cleaning to move the plug around repeatedly. A longer hose and extension attachment means you can reach many different levels of your home, including high ceilings or ceiling fans without the use of dangerous ladders. Choosing a canister vacuum with a longer reach can make cleaning easier for you in the long run.

Filter Type

Canister vacuums can use a variety of filter types to help clean your air and your floors. Many use HEPA filters to remove allergens from the air, filtering out dirt and leaving your home cleaner overall. Multi-level filtration systems often have the best benefits, as they offer multiple filters for your air to pass through before the vacuum releases it back into your home.

When considering the type of filter your vacuum cleaner uses, make sure to consider the cost. Your canister vacuum may have washable filters that don’t need to be replaced often. Some models have replaceable filters, and these may cost more than you expect. Look into the filter in each canister vacuum you consider before making a purchase.

Weight

Canister vacuums are lightweight options in general, which is why the weight of each unit is so important. You want to make sure that the vacuum is comfortable to use, especially if you have special needs or limited mobility.

Most canister vacuums will be extremely portable. Some even come with wheels on the canister section, allowing you to easily move the vacuum from one location to the next. Consider choosing an option with wheels if you can’t (or don’t want to) move the heaviest part of the vacuum around with you.

Capacity

How much dirt can the bag (or cup) hold? Since canister vacuums can remove a lot of dirt and debris at once, the dirt cup or bag tends to fill up quickly. You don’t want to stop to empty the bag multiple times during the same cleaning session, so you should pay attention to the capacity of each canister vacuum you’re considering.

Choose a canister vacuum that will last through a full cleaning session without cleaning. The larger the capacity, the better off you’ll be. Keep in mind that high-capacity vacuums will get heavier with use, and may be bulkier to transport. It’s a trade-off you might have to consider.

Attachments

Canister vacuums are useful for cleaning a variety of surfaces, and are helpful for refreshing upholstery, getting those hard-to-reach cobwebs from the corners of your home, and even sweeping out your car. Each of these functions requires a different attachment to get the job done right. Because canister vacuums are made to be used in a variety of locations, many come with a host of attachments for different jobs.

Make sure to look for the attachments you’ll be reaching for most often. It’s important to choose a vacuum that comes with these attachments rather than purchasing them later. While you can purchase additional attachments as you need them, this can quickly become expensive for some models. Instead, look for a model that includes all the attachments you need with the purchase of the machine.