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A vacuum cleaner is an essential household appliance that helps maintain hygiene levels in your home. Considering their cost, you want to know how much use you can get out of this cleaning device before it wears out or breaks.
Vacuums come with a variety of features, such as wet/dry cleaning capabilities, bagless collection, and even robotic assistance. They range in price from affordable to luxurious, but understanding how durable and efficient they are can be confusing.
How long do vacuums last?
While the answer depends on the model you choose and the maintenance you provide, most vacuums should last anywhere from three to ten years depending on its build quality and design. In this article, we will discuss average lifespans for different types of vacuums and best practices for increasing their longevity.
How long do the different types of vacuum last?

Go on admit it.... you'd be lost without your vacuum cleaner
Does the type of vacuum affect how long it lasts?
Whether the vacuum is an upright, canister, cordless stick or robot vacuum can make a difference to a vacuum's longevity. However, this is not a simple answer as there are many factors at play.
Generally speaking, the more heavy duty a vacuum cleaner is, the longer it should be expected to last. For example a shop vacuum can last a lifetime because they are specifically designed for heavy use.
On average, an upright or canister vacuum will last longer than a cordless stick or robot vacuum. This is mainly due to the limited battery life on a cordless, which may need replacing after only a few years. At this point it may make more economic sense to replace the vacuum rather than the battery. This is the drawback of cordless vs corded vacuums.
How Does Brand Affect Vacuum Cleaner Longevity?




More often than not, a company that stands behind a particular product affects the given quality.
While the price is not always the best guarantee of what you are getting, vacuum cleaners that are more costly seem to offer a more durable performance than the ones you would find at lower prices. This doesn’t come as a surprise, given the fact that in order to offer an extended vacuum life, the manufacturer needs to invest more money.
Hence, if you are looking to get the best performance and save money in the long term, you may want to consider buying models from premium vacuum brands such as Miele or Dyson or Hoover or Shark.
Furthermore, the same applies for robot vacuums. With the rise of these automated cleaning robots in recent years there is a huge range of options and prices you can pay. Our advice is to get the best robot vacuum brand you can afford. The pay-off will not just be in cleaning performance but also in the robot vacuum's longevity.
Premium Vacuum Brands

The saying "you get what you pay for" is often the case when it comes to vacuum cleaners
There are a number of premium brands on the market so we won't detail them all here. However our favourites are Miele, SEBO, Dyson and Riccar.
The Miele company has been on the market for more than a few decades and that itself is a great guarantee that the product you are getting is a long-lasting one (up to 20 years). You need to consider that buying a Miele vacuum cleaner is going to be pricey.
SEBO vacuum cleaners are of a similar quality to Miele and are also built to last a long time. You can expect to get at least 15 years of use from a SEBO and some of their models come with a lifetime warranty.
Dyson vacuum cleaners offer exquisite performance and are constantly innovating with their new models. Their cordless models are the longest lasting in terms of battery and lifespan and are the best for cleaning performance too. How long do Dyson vacuums last? Up to 10 years, which is why you will pay more compared to cheaper imitations.
Riccar vacuum cleaners are manufactured in the US and come with the longest warranties we have come across. Their tandem air upright vacuums have up to 8 years of warranty, which gives great confidence that Riccar make their vacuums to last a long time.
Budget Friendly Brands Built To Last
On the other hand, Shark vacuum cleaners are quite durable and powerful, and are offered at much lower prices. They are a great budget-friendly option if you can’t invest in one of the premium models.
How long should a Shark vacuum last? Anywhere from 5 to 7 years depending on how frequently you use it. In fact, Shark offer a warranty on most of their models for that long.
Two alternative cheaper vacuum cleaner brands that are reputable are Hoover and Bissell. They offer a large range of different types of vacuum, including upright, canister and cordless models. Given the low price of these vacuums, it may surprise you to learn that long warranties are still offered on some of their models, up to 5 years.
Know the Brand’s Credibility

A vacuum brands reputation goes further than the vacuum itself
These brands are trusted and offer versatile and high-quality vacuum cleaners that should last you for more than a few years. But how can you know if one brand is to be trusted?
It's important to do your research and read reviews from other customers. Check out customer ratings on the brand's website, or look for independent reviews online (such as Home Vacuum Zone).
Check the Warranty Terms
You should also check out the company's warranty policies and see what kind of customer service they offer. This will give you an idea of how reliable the brand is and how long their vacuums are likely to last.
If a particular model comes with a limited warranty, you need to make sure you carefully check the terms of the warranty. Limited warranties are often not as good as they sound so be sure to check the exclusions.
Lifetime Vacuum Guarantee?
Although we haven't found any vacuums that come with a lifetime guarantee, Kirby vacuums come close. As the owner of a Kirby, you have the option to use their Lifetime Factory Rebuild program to restore your system to "like new" condition with help from their experienced Rebuild Department.
Kirby pledges to stand by all of its customers for the duration of their ownership of a Kirby Home Cleaning System.
Extending Vacuum Cleaner Life

Vacuum cleaners that are regularly maintained last longer and perform better
The more you care for your vacuum cleaner, the longer it will last.
Warranties for vacuums are limited and typically do not cover fans, filters, bags, belts, or brushes that require regular maintenance. Moreover, the warranty will not cover damage due to neglect, misuse, unauthorized repair, or any other type of usage not recommended by the manufacturer's user guide.
The key maintenance tasks that you should undertake routinely to ensure a long lifespan for your vacuum are:
Change the dust bag or empty the dust bin when full
You should also never allow the bag or bin to become overly full as this may slow it down, or even cause power issues with your vacuum cleaner. In order to prevent this, empty it frequently.
To ensure cleaning efficiency is maintained on a bagged vacuum, change the bag regularly. In addition, always be sure to use the genuine dust bags made by the manufacturer of your vacuum. Non-genuine dust bags will reduce the performance of your vacuum, particularly its filtration.
Clean or replace the filters when dirty
A major component of any vacuum cleaner is the filters, without which a vacuum cleaner couldn’t run smoothly. In order to keep your vacuum cleaner running and lasting, you should replace or clean the filter once it picks up too much dirt.
CHECK YOUR USER GUIDE TO SEE IF THE FILTERS ARE WASHABLE or need to be replaced.
Remove tangled hair from the brush roll
Don’t forget about cleaning the motorized brush, allowing the motor to run without stress being placed on it. This will cause it to burn out and need replacement causing your vacuum a shorter lifespan.
Cordless Vacuum Battery Care
In addition to regular maintenance, how you use your vacuum cleaner makes a difference to how long it will last. This is especially important for cordless vacuum longevity.
Dyson offer some great advice on battery care that is worth checking out if you own a cordless vacuum. In summary, the key points to prolong your cordless vacuum's battery life are:
Conclusion
If you purchase a high-quality vacuum cleaner, it should last you anywhere from 5 years to 20 years and more. Buying from brands such as Shark or Dyson is a great long-term investment allowing you to get a versatile vacuum cleaner at a fair and reasonable price.
Also, remember that good vacuum cleaner maintenance and care play a large role in extending vacuum cleaner life and keeping it running at optimum efficiency. Most of us can’t live without a vacuum cleaner in our home, and because of this, making the correct purchasing decision is vital.
Last update on 2025-02-04 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API