The best cylinder vacuums deliver powerful suction, whilst still being lightweight and easy to move around. Some of the best vacuum cleaners available today are cylinder designs, with models suited to everything from compact flats to busy family houses. While they may not offer the grab-and-go convenience of a cordless vacuum or the automation of a robot vacuum cleaner, cylinder vacuums continue to impress where it matters most: cleaning performance.It’s no surprise that professional cleaners regularly rely on cylinder vacuums, and according to cleaning expert and author Laura Mountford, their popularity comes down to both versatility and power. “Cylinder vacuums are lightweight but with heavy duty power, because they focus on pure suction rather than rotating brushes,” says Laura. “Most models come with lots of tools and attachments that can be used to clean all around your home. They are basically the Swiss Army knife of vacuum cleaners – great for vacuuming different surface types, the stairs, getting into tight spaces, sofas, curtains and rugs.”Drawing on years of experience testing vacuum cleaners, I put a range of cylinder models through their paces to discover which options are really worth your money. Whether you’re after a bagged or bagless design, something suited to allergy sufferers or one of the best pet vacuums for tackling stubborn hair, there’s a cylinder vacuum cleaner to suit every type of household in this round-up.Read more: Best corded vacuum cleaners, tested by an expertI tried and tested each and every vacuum on this list (Jo Plumridge/The Independent)The best cylinder vacuums for 2026 are:Best overall – Miele boost CX1 parquet powerline: £349, Miele.co.uk Best budget buy – Morphy Richards MRXCYLINDERFLEX powersphere cylinder vacuum: £79.99, Amazon.co.ukBest for pets – Sebo airbelt E3 premium + boost 2.0: £567.90, Sebo.co.uk Best for larger homes – Vacmaster D8 cylinder vacuum cleaner: £99.99, Amazon.co.ukBest for longevity – Henry HVR 160-II vacuum cleaner: £169.99, Amazon.co.ukRead more: The best handheld vacuums, tried and tested