Vacuum cleaner specifications for its real-world performance are essential when shopping around for such a machine. You can measure a vacuum cleaners’ performance by looking at various parameters. When trying to find out the best model for you, such data is good to know, along with the reviews by purchasing customers, of course. In this case, you need to understand vacuum cleaner specifications so you can make an educated choice.

On the other hand, many manufacturers use the specifications of their vacuums to promote new models as ‘just the right model for you’. Logically, they want to sell as many vacuums as possible. They often hide certain details that can play a key role in deciding whether a certain model is the right for you or using hard-to-decipher terms to further confuse the customer.

So, let’s see what the most common vacuum cleaner specifications mean.

Vacuum Cleaner Specifications: What to Look for in a Vacuum Cleaner

You can measure a vacuum cleaner’s performance through various parameters, but not all of them are useful when determining suction power and the value of a model.

vacuum cleaner specifications

Air Speed

Measured in meters per second (m/s), kilometers per hour (km/h) or miles per hour (mph).

  • The faster the airspeed, generally the higher the ‘cleaning’ power of the vacuum cleaner is.
  • The faster airspeed also requires a stronger motor, requiring more power, thicker cables, etc.

To avoid that, many manufacturers keep the airflow speed within certain limits but use various power tools like spinning brushes and similar other technologies to increase the cleaning prowess of their vacuums, without increasing motor power.

Airflow (often listed as CFM)

Measured in liters per second (l/s), cubic meters per minute (m3/min), or cubic feet per minute (ft3/m), airflow is the amount of air that flows through the vacuum at any given moment.

Keep in mind that one cubic foot equals to 0.0283 cubic meters or 28.3 cubic liters.

You can determine this parameter by multiplying the cross-section area of the cleaning head (or any other part where air flows in) and the airspeed at a given point.

  • The larger the airflow, generally, the greater the ‘cleaning’ power.
  • This measure describes the capability of your vacuum cleaner to transport the air containing dust, debris, allergens, and pet hair among others from the floor/carpet to the dust bin.

Higher airflow hence requires larger filters, larger and stronger motors, and thicker cables … But a powerful motor also means that the vacuum cleaner’s components will wear out faster than a less powerful unit.

Unfortunately, not many manufacturers list this volume over time dimension when they display the vacuum cleaner specifications. However, if you find one with this measure, it is all for the best.

This dimension considers both the motor power of the vacuum and the resistance of the exhaust system. In other words, the higher the CFM value, the higher the suction power you will enjoy. Most commercially available vacuum cleaners feature airflow between 50 to 100 CFM.

Suction power is highly important when it comes to a vacuum’s tech specs and features, but airflow is probably the most important one.

Important Note

To feature the airflow spec, manufacturers usually measure CFM without any connected hose, wands, or other accessories. Since you connect all these vacuum cleaners tools, attachments, fittings, and accessories, you might end up with a lower real CFM than the one you see listed on the product’s spec description.

Suction Pressure (Water Lift or Sealed Suction)

Measured in centimeters or inches of water lifted or in pascals (Pa).

This is the maximum difference in pressure that a vacuum cleaner can create.

  • Typical domestic vacuum cleaners can create a suction of 20 kPa.
  • Pascal is a measure of pressure that equals to a pressure of 1 newton of force per square meter of area. 20 kPa would be 20000 N/m2 or around 2 tons per square meter, or around 200 cm (80 inches) of water.
  • The higher the suction pressure, the easier for the vacuum to pick quickly up large bits of debris it is.
  • More powerful vacuum cleaners generally have more suction pressure but at the expense of airflow, as the two vacuum cleaner specifications are inversely proportional.
  • Since you can’t have them both, look for a vacuum cleaner that manages to create a good balance between the two.

One-Stage vs. Two-Stage Vacuum Cleaners


For instance, a less expensive vacuum cleaner with a higher airflow (around 120 – 140 CFMs) has a strong motor but lower suction pressure (around 50-60 inches of water).

  • This means that this type of cleaner will have a hard time pulling up large chunks of debris.

Fortunately, there are more expensive models known as “two-stage,” which can hit the right balance between airflow and suction pressure, but at the price of a less powerful but quieter motor.

  • Pricier two-stage vacuum cleaners can deliver 80 inches or more as suction without sacrificing the CFM by a large margin. The ideal airflow, in this case, would be 100 or more.

The previous vacuum, with 50-60 inches of pressure, is an older, one-stage model. When shopping around, look for the more advanced models as they are the best investment in the long run. What’s more, don’t overlook two-stage models just because they have less of a powerful motor than their predecessors.

  • A less powerful motor means that the vacuum cleaner is quieter, which is ideal for households with edgy pets, small children, or difficult neighbors, and that the motor has a longer life.

Durability and suction power should be the two key factors you should be looking for when purchasing a new vacuum cleaner.


Important note

To date, the strongest suction pressure in a vacuum cleaner is 200 CFM, but the manufacturer pulled off that number without any attachments and accessories added to the unit. CFM tends to decrease as you add the accessories (vacuum head, hose, and even a HEPA filter). It is estimated that a quality (thick) HEPA filter can decrease the CFM by up to 30%.

Output/Suction Power (often listed as Air Watts)

It is power measured in watts of the airflow at the end of the cleaning hose.

Often, this unit of measurement is called Air Watts (AW). The ratio of output and input power gives the effectiveness of a vacuum cleaner in percentages (%).

  • Many manufacturers use Air Watts as a unit of measurement for a vacuum’s suction power.
  • Other manufacturers may use CFM, Amps, HP, and Watts.
  • An air watt is a watt needed to carry a unit of air through the vacuum cleaner.

If you don’t know how many air watts a model has, you can calculate it by multiplying 0.117254 with the airflow (in CFM) and with the suction pressure (in inches of water). Air Watts is the most surefire way of finding out the real suction power of a vacuum cleaner.

An upright vacuum cleaner that does its job excellently should stand at 100 AW or more, while a canister vacuum cleaner should have at least 220 AW. Canisters need more air watts because the distance between the vacuum’s nozzle and the dust container is longer than that in an upright.

Do not mistake Air Watts for Watts!

The former is used to measure the output power, while the latter measures the input power. Also, two vacuum cleaners with the same input power, let’s say 12 Amp or 1440 Watts, can have a very different output power (listed as Air Watts). 

Electrical Motor Power (Watts)

As you probably remember from school, the Watt (W) is a measure of energy. When it comes to vacuum cleaner specifications, the motor power expressed in Watts describes how much energy the product needs when you operate it. For instance, many industrial and commercial vacuum cleaners consume an average of 1000 – 4000 W, depending on their application. One-motor vacuum cleaners for smaller homes usually require only 1000 – 1500 Watts to function.

The motor power of a vacuum cleaner measured in Watts is NOT an expression of how powerful the motor is. It DOES NOT describe how well the motor vacuums either. It is a measurement of how much energy the unit requires to work. For this reason, your most important measurements to understand a vacuum cleaner’s performance are airflow and suction power.

Input Power/Current (Amps)

Is the consumption of energy of the vacuum cleaner. This is not the actual power of vacuum cleaner due to losses in the system and level of effectiveness in general.

  • In North America vacuum cleaner manufacturers often state the vacuum’s current in amperes (for example, ’12 amps’).
  • In order to get wattage, you must multiply that by the line voltage (120V).
  • So, ’12 amps’ vacuum cleaners consume around 1440W (or 1.4 kWh) of electrical energy.

In other words, horsepower, Watts, or Amps are useless when determining what vacuum cleaner could bring the biggest bang for your buck, in the long run, so stop shopping around these vacuum cleaner specifications!

Important Note

Line voltage in Europe is 220V, so don’t use vacuum cleaners if they are designed for different markets, unless you have a vacuum cleaner that has manual or even automatic voltage switch.

In 2014, EU limited vacuum cleaners’ power to 1600W and from 2017 the input power was further reduced to 900W.


Conclusion

As you have seen above, some of the most important vacuum cleaner specifications are suction power and air flow.

Suction power describes how well your vacuum cleaner can lift off the dust, debris, allergens, and pet hair from the ground or from a carpet.

Airflow represents the vacuum’s capacity to move the collected dirt through the airways and into the bin or bag. In turn, this specification reflects on the filling capacity of the vacuum’s bag, which, furthermore, influences the overall performance and efficiency of your vacuuming unit.

Other Vacuum Cleaner Specifications

They include parameters that do not directly relate to performance.

vacuum cleaner specifications

Weight

Measured in kilograms (kg) or pounds (lb).

  • One pound equals to 0.453 kg.
  • Lighter vacuum cleaners are easy to maneuver with and often, due to their smaller sizes, can reach tight spaces.
  • On the other hand, they often lack the power and filtering capabilities of the larger, but heavier models.

Upright vacuum cleaners often have swiveling cleaning heads, enabling them to reach tight spaces despite their sizes, and cylinder vacuum cleaners usually have hoses with several add-ons that can reach practically everywhere.

Noise in Decibels (dB)

This measurement determines the noise of the vacuum cleaner.

Especially silent vacuum cleaners can be used in the room while kids are sleeping, while noisier models will wake up half the city 🙂 Stay away from anything noisier than 80dB (75dB).

  • Vacuum cleaners with noise levels below 60dB are great, but most of them are between 65 and 75dB.

Important Note

The standard computer noise is around 40dB.

Filtration System

We recommend using only quality HEPA filters even though they may cost much more than standard filters.

  • HEPA filters last up to five times longer than their cheaper counterparts and are able to trap airborne particles inside the vacuum down to 0.3 microns, which means that it can trap most allergens.
  • Steer clear of knock-offs or products that are labeled as “HEP-type” or “HEPA-style” as they are not the real deal.

Power Cord Length

A longer power cord means more freedom when vacuuming and changing outlets less.

Most of the models have some sort of automatic winding mechanism, so after vacuuming, power cord is stored in seconds, literally.

Hose Length (if applicable)

It enables certain models to reach tight spaces.

It is easier to maneuver with a vacuum hose with a powerhead than with a whole vacuum cleaner. On the other hand, due to air friction inside the hose, power losses are somewhat increased.

Of course, there are other details that influence the performance and general characteristics of vacuum cleaners, but they are often specific to individual models of a vacuum cleaner.


You may also like our guide on the best vacuum cleaners under $100 and how to pick one for your needs!


Upright Vacuum Cleaners vs. Canister Vacuum Cleaners: Which Has the Best Suction Power?

The most commonly used vacuum cleaners are upright vacuums – mostly used in the United States – and canister/cylinder vacuums – with a stronger presence in Europe.

Canister vacuum cleaners usually feature more suction power than upright vacuums. Nevertheless, upright models present cleaning heads and brush rolls much closer to their bags. They also operate on a sweep-and-vibrate principle. This feature helps them collect more dirt, although it has little influence on the suction power per se. Upright models also feature bigger bins/bags in comparison to canister vacuum cleaners. In conclusion, uprights do not require the same amount of suction as their smaller canister counterparts.

How Do I Choose the Best Vacuum Cleaner Depending on Suction Power (Airwatts)?

Airflow and Airwatts are your most important parameters when choosing a vacuum cleaner. If you do not have airflow specs presented by the manufacturer, you should stick to suction power. Choosing the best vacuum cleaner depending on suction power has everything to do with what you need from your new machine. It is one thing to pick a vacuum cleaner for a small home with low-to-moderate cleaning requirements, and a whole another one to look for one of the best commercial vacuum cleaners able to remove loads of dirt, debris, or pet hair from large homes. All in all, here are some tech specs that might interest you:

  • An upright vacuum cleaner will do a great job at 180-200 AW;
  • An efficient canister vacuum cleaner should feature 300+ AW;
  • If you are into cordless vacuum cleaners, pick one with AW ranging between 80-100 AW.

Vacuum Cleaner Specifications: FAQs

Before we wrap up this guide, let’s take a quick look at the most frequently asked questions regarding vacuum cleaner specifications!

How many watts is a good vacuum cleaner?

For the regular cleaning of a small apartment, a vacuum cleaner with a useful power of 250-320 watts should be enough. You should look for vacuums featuring power consumption in the range of 1500-3000 W, with useful power ranging in between 250 and 480 W. If you have a larger home, keep pets, or present allergies, you should buy a vacuum with maximum useful power. Keep in mind that the Watts measurement says little about a vacuum’s performance. You need airflow and suction power (Airwatts) to understand how efficient a vacuum is in removing dirt and debris from your hard floors or carpets.

What is the best suction power for a vacuum cleaner?

Depending on the brand and model, suction power can range between 270 AW and 350 AW. As we said above, you should find a vacuum with balanced specifications.

How many volts does a vacuum use?

In the United States, the standard voltage is usually 120 volts. Other countries have different voltage standards.

How many watts is a good vacuum cleaner?

For most small apartments, the best wattage range is from 250 to 320. But keep in mind that wattage is merely an indicator of how much power a vacuum consumes. Just because the number is higher doesn’t mean the performance will match up. In fact, the most important setting you should look for is suction power.

How long do Shark vacuums last?

Since Shark is one of the most known and recommended brands of vacuum cleaners, it’s obvious that their entire lineup is made with quality materials and fantastic engineering. As such, a typical Shark vacuum cleaner that has been kept in good condition should last you around five to seven years, or possibly even longer. The whole trick is to follow the instruction manual and take care of all the maintenance processes.

Why are Dyson vacuums so expensive?

This is a question that many people seem to be Googling right now, and for good reason. Dyson vacuum cleaners are, indeed, expensive, but the cost is worth it for what you’re getting. Dyson vacuums reduce hard work and provide a better handling system than others. All Dyson vacuum cleaners use the most advanced filter system, called HEPA, which we have already talked about extensively on our website. It’s practically a seal of quality, as each vacuum is made with the utmost engineering standards.

Is repairing a vacuum cleaner worth it?

Generally speaking, we wouldn’t recommend repairing your vacuum unless the cost is relatively low compared to the price of buying a new one. With that said, most upright vacuum cleaners won’t be worth fixing. But if you’ve got a Dyson or Shark vacuum, then repairing it might just be the best approach since getting a new one of the same quality can be quite costly in comparison.

Conclusion

Now that we saw the most important vacuum cleaner specifications, it is time for you to tell us which parameters you are looking for when you shop for vacuum cleaners!