Bissell isn’t just a logo on a vacuum; it’s a household legacy that has been around for nearly 150 years. While you might know them for their deep-cleaning machines, there is much more to this brand than meets the eye.
From a rich history of female leadership to a long commitment to saving homeless pets, Bissell has built a reputation that goes beyond clean floors. We dug into the brand’s history and compared its current lineup to find the best Bissell vacuum for different kinds of homes.
If you are ready to upgrade your cleaning gear, here are five Bissell vacuums that balance performance, durability, and value.
Our Top Picks
- Powerful brush roll
- Cleans close to edges
- Washable filter and extendable hose
- Three-in-one design
- Only weighs three pounds
- Easy to empty
- Handy tools for deep cleaning
- Powerful suction
- Easy charging
- Vacuums and mops
- Structured navigation
- WiFi and app control
- Gentle on hard floors
- Powerful suction
- Telescopic wand
Our Review Criteria: Matching the brush roll and suction to your floor type matters more with Bissell than chasing any single model name, so that pairing anchored these rankings. We compared the current lineup on filtration and sealing for allergy households, weight and maneuverability, cord length or battery runtime, and the ongoing cost of replacement filters and belts. Manufacturer specifications were weighed against independent reviews and verified owner feedback. Each recommended model was confirmed to be still in production and available, with discontinued products swapped out.
History of Bissell
The story begins in a small crockery shop in Michigan in 1876. Melville R. Bissell, tired of constantly sweeping sawdust off his shop floors, invented a unique carpet sweeper to make the job easier.
It worked so well that customers started asking to buy the sweeper rather than the crockery. When Melville passed away in 1889, his wife Anna stepped in to lead the company. She became the first female CEO in America, a groundbreaking achievement for the time.
Anna was a gifted marketer. She expanded the business globally, even securing a royal fan; Queen Victoria insisted that her palace be cleaned weekly with Bissell sweepers (1).
Bissell continued to innovate over the decades:
- 1956: They launched the manual carpet shampooer, saving people from scrubbing floors on their hands and knees.
- 1979: The first carpet deep cleaning machine hit the market, designed to extract dirt from deep within fibers.
- Late 1980s: Bissell introduced the first deep cleaner that didn’t need a hookup to a water source, making it much easier for homeowners to use.
In the modern era, the company shifted focus toward a specific, messy problem: pets. Since the early 2000s, they have specialized in tools designed to erase pet hair, stains, and odors.
About the Brand
Bissell has cemented itself as a go-to for pet parents and eco-conscious shoppers. Here is what you need to know about buying and owning one.
Product Reviews
We analyzed the lineup to find the best machines for every type of home. Here are our top five picks.
Bissell CleanView Swivel Pet Upright Bagless Vacuum
Best Bissell Vacuum for Multiple Surfaces
If you have furry friends, you know the struggle of keeping hair off the furniture and carpets. This bagless upright is a pet-hair linebacker designed to tackle stubborn shedding season messes.
It features a Triple Action Brush Roll that digs deep to loosen embedded dirt. Combined with swivel steering, it maneuvers easily around furniture legs, making it a solid daily driver for busy homes.
What We Like
Powerful Brush Roll
The brush roll utilizes specialized bristles to lift fine dust and hair that other vacuums might mat down. It is aggressive enough for carpets but still manages to clean hard floors without scattering debris everywhere.
Note that while it works on hard floors, the spinning bristles are always engaged, so be cautious with delicate hardwood.
Cleans Close to Edges
Bulkier vacuums usually struggle near baseboards. This model is designed with edge-to-edge suction, meaning the cleaning path extends the full width of the foot. You won’t have to go back over the edges with a hose attachment.
Washable Components
Maintenance is cheap and easy. The multi-cyclonic system keeps dirt in the tank and away from the motor, while the filter can be rinsed in the sink. This saves you money on frequent replacements.
Great Reach
The stretch hose and extension wand make ceiling corners accessible. It also comes with a Pet TurboEraser tool, which uses a spinning air-driven brush to rip hair off stairs and upholstery.
What We Don't Like
Dust Bin Design
While easy to empty, the bin shape can sometimes trap clumps of hair near the top, requiring you to reach in to pull them out.
Product Specs
| Power Source | Corded |
| Swivel Steering | Yes |
| Pet Tools | Pet hair corner tool, pet tool |
| Cord Length | 27 feet |
| Weight | 17.8 pounds |
Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum
Best Stick Bissell Vacuum
Dragging a heavy canister up and down stairs is a recipe for back pain. This ultra-light stick vacuum solves that problem by packing decent suction into a feather-light frame.
It is a convertible unit, transforming from a floor stick vac to a hand vac in seconds. This makes it a perfect choice for dorm rooms, studio apartments, or as a secondary vacuum for quick kitchen sweeps.
What We Like
Three-in-One Versatility
You get three modes in one cheap package: a stick vacuum for floors, a handheld for counters, and a stair vacuum (by attaching the floor nozzle directly to the hand unit).
Extremely Lightweight
Weighing under four pounds, anyone can use this machine comfortably. It is compact enough to store in a broom closet or even behind a door.
Simple Maintenance
The bagless design means no recurring costs. The dirt cup (0.67 liters) is easy to pop off and dump. The filter is rinseable, though you must let it air dry completely for 24 hours before using it again.
What We Don't Like
Short Power Cord
The 15-foot cord is limiting for large rooms. You will likely need to swap outlets if you are cleaning an open-concept living area.
Product Specs
| Power Source | Corded |
| Swivel Steering | No |
| Pet Tools | None |
| Cord Length | 15 feet |
| Weight | 3 pounds |
Bissell AeroSlim Cordless Handheld
Best Handheld Bissell Vacuum
For small spills, car interiors, or crumbs on the keyboard, you don’t need a full-sized machine. The AeroSlim is a sleek, cordless handheld unit that looks modern enough to leave out on a shelf.
Powered by a 7.2V lithium-ion battery, it offers grab-and-go convenience. It comes with a 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush, making it ideal for detailing cars or cleaning between sofa cushions.
What We Like
USB Charging
Unlike old dustbusters with bulky wall mounts, this charges via USB. You can charge it in your car, plugged into your laptop, or with a standard phone block.
Compact and Stylish
It is about the size of a wine bottle, meaning it fits easily in a glove box or desk drawer. The aesthetics are a step up from typical utility vacuums.
Effective for Quick Pickups
You get about 12 minutes of runtime. While that sounds short, it is plenty of time to vacuum spills on the kitchen counter or clean the floor mats in your car.
What We Don't Like
Small Dirt Capacity
This is strictly for small messes. The bin fills up quickly, and the filter needs frequent brushing off to maintain suction power.
Product Specs
| Power Source | Battery |
| Swivel Steering | No |
| Pet Tools | None |
| Cord Length | N/A |
| Weight | 1.37 pounds |
Bissell SpinWave Pet Robot
Best Robot Bissell Vacuum
If you have hard floors and a shedding pet, this robot does double duty: it vacuums and wet-mops in the same pass. This robot vacuum pairs a dry vacuum with two spinning microfiber mop pads, so it lifts loose fur, then scrubs up the sticky paw prints and spills a vacuum-only robot leaves behind.
It connects to WiFi and the Bissell Connect app for scheduling, and unlike the older EV675 it uses structured back-and-forth navigation rather than bouncing around at random. The mopping is built for sealed hard floors like tile, laminate, and finished wood, which makes it the pick for a hard-floor home, not a house full of plush carpet.
What We Like
Vacuums and Mops in One Pass
The two-tank system lets it dry-vacuum and wet-mop at the same time. The spinning microfiber pads handle dried-on spills and paw prints a vacuum-only robot just rolls over, which is the real reason to choose this over a basic bot.
Structured Navigation
Instead of the random bouncing of older models, it cleans in orderly rows with gyroscopic structured navigation and doubles back on missed spots. Coverage is more consistent, even though it still lacks full lidar room mapping.
Long Runtime and App Control
Bissell rates it for up to 130 minutes per charge on hard floors in low mode, and it pairs with the Bissell Connect app and Amazon Alexa, so you can schedule or start a clean by voice or phone.
Built for Pet Households
The dry pass pulls pet hair off hard floors and low rugs, its low profile reaches under beds and sofas an upright skips, and like every Bissell purchase it supports the Bissell Pet Foundation.
What We Don't Like
Sealed Hard Floors Only
The mop function is meant for sealed tile, laminate, and finished wood. Keep it off plush carpet and any floor that should not get wet, so it is a poor fit if most of your home is carpeted.
No Room Mapping
It navigates with optical and bump sensors rather than lidar, so it will not save a floor plan or let you set no-go zones the way pricier mapping robots do.
Small Water Tank and Upkeep
The water reservoir holds only about 13.5 ounces, so larger homes need a mid-clean refill, and the microfiber mop pads need rinsing after each run and can wear out with heavy use.
Product Specs
| Power Source | Battery |
| Swivel Steering | N/A |
| Pet Tools | Mopping pads, edge brush |
| Cord Length | N/A |
| Weight | Not listed |
Bissell Hard Floor Expert Corded Bagless Canister Vacuum
Best Bissell Vacuum for Hard Floors
Hard floors require a gentle touch; stiff bristles can leave scratches, and high-speed brush rolls often just fling debris across the room. This canister vacuum is engineered specifically for tile, laminate, and wood.
It uses a specialized air-driven turbine foot that captures fine dust while being soft on delicate surfaces. The lightweight canister body follows you easily as you move through the house.
What We Like
Gentle Yet Effective
The main floor head is designed to suction up dirt without the abrasion of a heavy carpet beater bar. It keeps your expensive hardwood finish safe.
No Suction Fade
The multi-cyclonic technology ensures consistent power even as the bin fills up. It handles pet hair, kitty litter, and cereal spills with ease.
Retractable Cord & Telescoping Wand
Convenience features like the auto-rewind cord and the adjustable metal wand make it user-friendly. You can adjust the height to save your back and retract the cord with the push of a button.
What We Don't Like
Struggles on High-Pile Carpet
This is a “Hard Floor Expert” for a reason. While it can clean flat rugs, it lacks a motorized brush roll necessary for deep cleaning thick, plush carpets.
Product Specs
| Power Source | Corded |
| Swivel Steering | No |
| Pet Tools | None |
| Cord Length | 18 feet |
| Weight | 13 pounds |
| Product | Best | Power Source | Swivel Steering | Pet Tools | Cord Length | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CleanView Swivel Pet Vacuum | For Multiple Surfaces | Corded | Yes | Pet hair corner tool, pet tool | 27 feet | 17.8 lbs |
| Featherweight Stick Vacuum | Stick | Corded | No | None | 15 feet | 3 lbs |
| Cordless Hand Vacuum | Handheld | Battery | No | None | N/A | 1.37 lbs |
| SpinWave Pet Robot | Robot | Battery | N/A | Mopping pads, edge brush | N/A | Not listed |
| Hard Floor Expert | For Hard Floors | Corded | No | None | 18 feet | 13 lbs |
FAQs
Keep It Rolling with Bissell
Bissell has thrived for nearly 150 years by sticking to its values: family, pets, and clean homes. Whether you need a heavy-duty upright for shedding season or a robot to handle the daily sweep, there is a model in their lineup for you.
When choosing, focus on your floor type. If you have mostly hardwood, grab the canister or stick vac. If you have wall-to-wall carpet and a Golden Retriever, trust the CleanView to get the job done.
