Are Dyson vacuums worth it? I'm a professional vacuum tester, and I have a lot of opinions about Dyson's prices

Dyson has rightly built a stellar reputation as a market leader in powerful vacuum cleaners. But are Dyson vacuums worth it, especially when they can cost up to $1000?

I've spent more than 200 hours testing vacuums, and I use two of the best Dyson vacuums in my own home daily. I know these pricey appliances inside and out and, yes, Dyson vacuums are worth the $100s more you'll fork out.

After also testing 55 alternativesc, I have a lot of opinions on Dyson vacuums, and whilst the real deal is worth it even at full price, you can save a lot on other, similar vacuums if you're on a tight budget.

Are Dyson vacuums worth it?

In a word, yes, they are worth it. The cleaning performance of Dyson's best cordless vacuums is incredible. In their top models, you'll clear all visible dust, dirt, and pet hair in a single pass, saving you time and energy.

The best upright vacuums can achieve this performance too, but they rely on huge, heavy machines that must be plugged in as you move around the house. This is one of the major advantages of Dyson's top models: you get the cleaning power of a big, corded vacuum, with the convenience of a lightweight, cordless vacuum.

But this is not the case for all Dysons. I've tested the Dyson V8 and the Dyson V15 Detect, and there's a notable difference between the tw,o which is, naturally, reflected in the price.

To get the signature Dyson performance, you have to opt for these top-tier models, which can set you back around $650. The older models are still exceptional vacuum cleaners, but as other brands have since released newer models, you can get more for your money elsewhere.

As for Dysons, these are the three best models you can buy. They are expensive, but in my expert opinion, absolutely worth every cent. All three share the same intelligent features, but have different suction powers and sizes.

Versatility across all floors

Chances are, you have a few different floor types in your home. Maybe you laid down carpet in your living room but decided to stick to wood in the kitchen. To clean your whole home in one fell swoop, you need a vacuum that performs well on all sorts of floors.

Dysons are some of the best multi-surface vacuums out there. The Dyson Motorbar floorhead can be used across any surface, with bristles that are strong enough to dig dirt from deep within carpet fibers, but not too harsh that they'll damage your delicate hard floors.

Dyson's newer vacuums from the V12 Detect Slim and upwards have two floorheads: the Motorbar and Fluffy Optic. The Dyson Fluffy Optic has a soft brushroll to capture super-fine dust particles while revealing microscopic dust particles that you can't see without it.

And as somebody who's spent more than 200 hours testing vacuums, I promise you that these are the two most effective cleaner heads I've ever used. Unlike many other vacuum brands, they work exactly as described and pull all manner of dirt from your floors. It's why Dyson vacuums can be considered the best vacuums for hardwood floors and the best vacuums for carpets.

Incredible pet hair pickup

When hunting for the best vacuums for pet hair, we've tried everything from the best Shark vacuums to the best Miele vacuums. And while many brands offer seriously impressive performance in this regard, the best we've ever tested is the Dyson V15 Detect and Dyson Gen5detect.

The Motorbar floorhead that's standard across all cordless Dysons has anti-tangle vanes that never wrap with hair. I've been using my Dyson vacuums for over a year and they haven't tangled with hair once. It avoids one of the major reasons why pet hair is so hard to vacuum, and saves so much time and energy not having to cut hair out of the brushroll.

But while the floorhead works wonders in all Dyson vacuums, not all of them have the suction to be able to pull hair from thick carpets. Anything from the Dyson V11 onwards will provide this exceptional cleaning performance, but anything older will be similar to other cordless sticks on the market.

Dyson's high prices

Now, Dyson's vacuums might be among the highest-performing vacuums on the market, but they're also some of the most expensive. You can spend up to $1,000 on a Dyson. Not many people can or want to spend that much on a vacuum cleaner, no matter how good it is.

And when you compare Dysons to others in the market, such as Shark vs Dyson, you'll find that many brands are considerably cheaper, while only being slightly less powerful.

For example, the Shark Cordless PowerDetect is around half the price of the Dyson V15 Detect. The V15 is the better vacuum, sure, but it's not twice as good as the Shark. You can save yourself $100s by opting for a vacuum that, for the large part, will achieve similar results at home.

We've tested 55 of the best Dyson alternatives for this exact reason. I've even tested a $150 budget vacuum against a $750 Dyson – of course, the Dyson won, but the budget vacuum still has its merits.

Here are a few of our favorites if Dyson's prices put you off.

Cordless vacuums and durability

This issue isn't exclusive to Dyson vacuums. But when you compare cordless vs corded vacuums, cordless models typically only have a lifespan of 3-5 years, whereas upright and canister vacuums can go for ten years or more.

However, as I learned from interviewing vacuum engineers on the common faults found in Dyson vacuums, Dyson have actually designed their models to be easily fixable. You can find individual parts to replace anything that goes faulty, as opposed to other brands that can only be fixed through whole-machine repairs.

Still, spending $100s of your precious money on a vacuum that will only last a few years might not be the most financially-savvy move. For something more durable, consider the Miele Blizzard CX1 – it isn't remotely close to a Dyson, but if treated well it could last for more than a decade.

Next, browse our tried-and-tested picks of the best lightweight vacuums and the best handheld vacuums for faster cleaning.