Pros and Cons of a Bagged vs. Bagless Vacuum

If you’re looking to buy an upright or a canister vacuum, one of the first things you need to decide on is whether you want a bagged or a bagless model.

As their names suggest, a bagged vacuum stores the dust it picks up in a disposable bag, while a bagless vacuum keeps the debris in a built-in canister that you empty into the garbage can. If you’re wondering which type to go for, here’s how the experts we asked break down the pros and cons of both.

Convenience. If you’d prefer a vacuum that you don’t have to empty out as often, consider a bagged model. Vacuum bags tend to hold more debris and need to be changed less often than a bagless vacuum canister, says Chris Kobrick, director of Kenmore product management.

Disposing of the debris collected by a bagged vacuum is also easier—and neater—than that collected by a bagless vacuum. “Emptying a bagless vacuum can be messy, releasing some of the particles you just sucked up back into the air,” says Susan Booth, CR’s lead vacuum tester.

That being said, it’s usually easier to tell when a bagless vacuum needs to be emptied because the debris is collected in a transparent canister that’s visible to the user, says Ben McLaughlin, global marketing director for SharkNinja. Unless your bagged vacuum has a full-bag indicator light, it can be difficult to know when the bag is full.