“In general, vacuums for tile floors must remove soil without the use of an agitator—as when cleaning carpet—to prevent the vacuum from marring the surface,” says Allen Rathey, director of the Indoor Health Council. “That said, airflow and suction are very important factors, and canister vacs with a suction-only wand and floor tool, and stick and upright vacuums that offer a suction-only option, are great at cleaning smooth floors.” A soft roller head brushbar is also ideal for cleaning and polishing tile floors without scratching them. To arrive at the best vacuums for tile floors, we researched various choices and also tested quite a few, considering performance, weight, attachments, and ease of use. We also received expert advice from Allen Rathey, director of the Indoor Health Council, along with Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer of The Cleaning Authority, as well as Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid. We chose the Samsung Jet 90 as our overall best vacuum for tile floors. It has strong suction, a lightweight design that makes it easy to use, a telescopic pipe that adjusts in height, and a five-layer filtration system to capture and trap allergens. Keep in Mind: There aren’t any LED headlights to help you see in dark spaces. The telescopic wand can be adjusted in height, so it’s never too tall or too short for any user and can also be used to clean on top of tall items or reach far underneath furniture. The digital display lets you view the power level and brush type and provides visible alerts in the event of a missing filter or airflow issue. Other attachments include a combination tool for dusting and upholstery, a soft brush for hardwood floors, and a mini motorized tool for furniture and rugs. The lack of LED lights, however, makes it difficult to see in dark areas. The vacuum’s battery lasts 60 minutes, and the self-standing dual charging station can hold and house two batteries at the same time. The five-layer filtration system includes a washable micro filter, and the dust bin is also washable. Price at time of publish: $649 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 6.17 pounds | Runtime: 60 minutes | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, carpet, furniture | Number of attachments: Four Keep in Mind: Three disposable bags are included, but you’ll need to purchase the rest. The LG CordZero All-in-One has powerful suction and includes a five-step HEPA filtration system that features two cyclones to keep dust and allergens out of the air. The telescopic wand is adjustable for users of different heights and provides convenience for various cleaning functions. It can also transform into a handheld vacuum and comes with a two-in-one combination tool with a brush and hard nozzle, a power mini nozzle for stairs and furniture, and a crevice tool for getting into tight spaces. The cyclone and filters are washable, and all the tools and accessories can be stored in the tower. The vacuum has two 60-minute batteries and can connect to the LG ThinQ app. Price at time of publish: $1,000 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 5.95 pounds | Runtime: 120 minutes (60 minutes per battery) | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, carpet, furniture | Number of attachments: Five Keep in Mind: There may be a learning curve for nontechies. The multi-stage filtration system keeps all the debris and dust inside, and the robot vacuum has an auto-empty dock, so you don’t have to touch the dustbin’s contents. One bag holds several weeks’ worth of debris, meaning you don’t need to empty it often. The robot vacuum has a runtime of 180 minutes and can also be controlled via your smartphone using the app. Price at time of publish: $1,160 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Robot | Weight: 10.36 pounds | Runtime: 3 hours | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, and carpet | Number of attachments: Two  Keep in Mind: It doesn’t have a long runtime before it needs to be recharged. The vacuum cleaner also has a multi-surface pet tool to remove pet hair, as well as a duster crevice tool. It has a compact charging dock and dual onboard accessory storage to keep the attachments neatly stored. The battery lasts 10 minutes before you’ll need to recharge it–not long, but standard for handheld vacs. The LED indicator light lets you know the remaining battery life and the charging status. This hand vacuum is available in several colors, including blue, gold, graphite, and rose gold. Price at time of publish: $130 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Handheld | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Runtime: 10 minutes | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, carpet, furniture | Number of attachments: Two Keep in Mind: The steam function can’t be used on carpets. The cyclonic vacuum function can also clean hardwood floors and carpets. It uses dry tank technology, which keeps moisture out of the dirt tank. Once finished, by the press of a button, the contents of the dust bin are ejected into the trash. The handle can be adjusted to find the desired height for comfort, or it can be completely collapsed, and the cord can be wrapped on the back side of the vacuum for easy storage. Price at time of publish: $186 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Upright steam | Weight: 9.74 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, carpet | Number of attachments: Two Keep in Mind: At 17.3 pounds, it’s rather heavy. The vacuum has 12 cyclones and whole-machine filtration to capture and trap dust and debris. The generous 50 feet of cord consists of 35 feet of cord and 15 feet of long-reach hose, which helps clean stairs without dragging the vacuum with you. Accessories include a stair tool and a combination tool with a brush and wide nozzle for cleaning in tight places as well as up high and on/under furniture. The large bin can be emptied with the touch of a button. Price at time of publish: $390 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Upright | Weight: 17.3 pounds | Cord Length: 50 feet | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, carpet, furniture | Number of attachments: Two Keep in Mind: The cord is 25 feet long, but Bissell makes models with 27-foot and 30-foot cords. The two-in-one Lift-Off Technology consists of a removable canister to provide more functionality, and the quick-release extension wand can reach more than 12 feet, allowing you to vacuum stairs and reach high places as well as far under furniture, which is helpful considering the cord is slightly shorter than other Bissell models. The HEPA-sealed allergen system keeps all the dust and debris inside instead of releasing it back into the air. The one-touch easy-empty mechanism means you simply push a button to empty the canister. Attachments include the combination crevice tool dusting brush and pet turbo eraser tool, which removes embedded pet hair. Price at time of publish: $258 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Canister | Weight: 15.7 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, carpet, furniture | Number of attachments: Two Keep in Mind: The 25-foot cord is not as long as some other Sharp models, and there’s no LED light. The vacuum is also easy to maneuver and easily tilts left and right and goes around furniture without much effort, which is it’s one of the best vacuums for tile. The suction can be adjusted depending on the floor type. Also, the vacuum uses a complete seal technology along with a HEPA filter to capture and keep allergens in the machine and out of the air. Attachments include a duster crevice tool, upholstery tool, and dusting brush, however, there is no LED light to help see in dark spots.  Price at time of publish: $280  Product Details: Vacuum Type: Upright | Weight: 16 pounds | Cord Length: 25 feet | Recommended Surfaces: Tile, hardwood, carpet, furniture | Number of attachments: Three Keep in Mind: The vacuum can’t be used on carpets. The brush roller is designed to fit right up against baseboards and into corners for a more thorough clean, which is especially important when cleaning your bathroom floors. The cordless vacuum has a 35-minute run time, and the digital display lets you view remaining battery time, selected modes, and debris that has been detected and/or cleared. In addition, the built-in voice assistant and app connectivity makes it even easier to operate the vacuum. After the cleaning session is over, put the vacuum on the docking station, press the self-clean button, and it flushes dirt and debris out of the roller brush. Take note this cannot be used on carpeting. Price at time of publish: $500 Product Details: Vacuum Type: Cordless Wet/Dry | Weight: 9.9 pounds | Runtime: 35 minutes | Recommended Surfaces: Tile and hardwood | Number of attachments: None

What to Know About Vacuums for Tile Floors Before Shopping

Weight

The weight of the vacuum is important for several reasons, depending on your usage. If you’re using the vacuum on a single level, weight may not be as much of a factor; however, if you plan to use the same vacuum on several levels or stairs, weight becomes more important. A vacuum that’s too heavy won’t be used often because you’ll find it burdensome.  We included a variety of stick vacuums for tile floors on the list since they’re lightweight and easy to maneuver. We also included relatively lightweight canisters and upright vacuums (along with a robot vacuum) and ensured that our choices were easy to maneuver.

Cord Length or Runtime

If you prefer a corded vacuum, you want to ensure that the cord is long enough that you don’t need to keep stopping to change outlets. On the other hand, if you choose a cordless vacuum, you don’t want to stop every few minutes to charge the battery. Some people opt to purchase an extra battery, and some of the cordless vacuums on our list of the best vacuums for tile also include two batteries.

The best vacuums for tile floors can also be used on hardwood floors, and some can be used on carpeting as well. In addition, certain models also work on furniture and other surfaces. However, most—but not all—vacuums that include a mopping feature tend not to be recommended for carpets. (Robot vacuums represent one class of vacuums that can be used on both types.)

Number of Attachments

Attachments like crevice tools and brushes can help you get more bang for your buck since it’s like having two vacuums for the price of one. Vacuums that convert to handheld models that use these tools provide even more functionality. Cordless stick vacuums are more likely to include these additional features.

Your Questions, Answered

Is it better to vacuum or sweep tile floors?

According to Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer of The Cleaning Authority, it depends on the type of tile, and she recommends sweeping for everyday cleaning and touch-ups. “Most vacuums that are designed for tile floors come with roller brushes and attachments,” she says. “If you are allergy-prone, have pets, or just simply need to remove small particles from in between grout lines, vacuuming is your best option.” However, if your floor is natural stone tile, she advises being careful when you vacuum since the stone is fragile. “In this instance, you will want to stick to sweeping,” Stapf says. “Make sure to avoid using harsher cleaning tools on tile, like bristle brushes or scrubbing pads, to avoid scratching the surface of the floor.”  “Plus, using different attachments on a vacuum can be great for that stubborn debris in grout lines.”

How often should you vacuum tile floors? 

How often you should vacuum tile floors will depend on the level of foot traffic, according to Peterson. “Any room you spend most of the time in such as hallways, foyers, mudrooms, children’s playroom, and the kitchen should be vacuumed weekly,” she says. And during allergy season, she recommends vacuuming these areas twice a week. “Less-often used spaces such as guest rooms, sunrooms, or formal dining rooms can be vacuumed less frequently or just before you’re expecting company.”

Should you use steam on tile floors? 

Peterson wholeheartedly endorses using steam on tile floors, adding that tile flooring will only look as good as the grout that holds it together. “To do a deep clean in those grout lines, we recommend either using a steam mop or renting a grout-cleaning machine from your local hardware store.” Stapf agrees that steam mops are perfect for cleaning your tile flooring. “They prove to be highly efficient cleaners and are also a much safer, eco-friendly alternative to using harsh chemicals on your floors.” However, she warns against using a steam mop on peel-and-stick vinyl flooring/tile as this will weaken the adhesive. “Additionally, while you may use a steam mop to clean your marble, ensure that you are keeping the moisture level to a minimum.”

Who We Are

Terri Williams is a freelance journalist and product review writer with bylines at Architectural Digest, Realtor.com, The Daily Beast, CNN, NBC News, USA Today, Popular Science, and more. To find the best vacuums for tile floors, she spoke with Allen Rathey, director of the Indoor Health Council, Leanne Stapf, chief operating officer of The Cleaning Authority, and Vera Peterson, president of Molly Maid. Terri has also tested several dozen vacuums and relied on her experience, in addition to conducting extensive research.