How Americans use and replace their vacuum cleaners

Vacuum cleaners are a staple of home maintenance, and YouGov set out to understand current ownership patterns and consumer habits. Using the YouGov Surveys: Serviced tool, YouGov surveyed a nationally representative sample of 1,070 US adults to better understand which types of vacuum cleaners Americans own, how often they use them, the issues they face, and what they look for when considering an upgrade.

Half of Americans own an upright vacuum cleaner (48%). Some 28% reported owning a handheld vacuum cleaner, while one in five (20%) own a stick vacuum or a canister vacuum. Wet/dry vacuum cleaners are found in 18% of households, and robot vacuum cleaners are owned by 15% of Americans.

Among the 917 adults in the survey who own a vacuum cleaner, usage tends to be regular. About 47% said they vacuum at least once a week, while one in five (19%) use their vacuum daily. Some 16% vacuum at least every two weeks, and a further 9% report vacuuming at least once a month.

Even though many consumers are satisfied, nearly 60% reported at least some issues with their current vacuum cleaner. Among the most common complaints were heavy or bulky design (23%), not enough power (22%), and noise (22%). Some other issues include difficulty maneuvering (15%), poor battery life (11%), and short cord length (11%).

Half of adults say they only replace their vacuum cleaner when it breaks (48%). This figure was highest among those aged 55 and over (56%) and lowest among those aged 18-34 (39%). Other consumers upgrade more regularly: 14% said every 2-3 years, 16% every 4-5 years, and just 3% replace their vacuum annually.

When asked which type of vacuum they would most likely choose if price was not a concern, the traditional upright vacuum still led the way, selected by 28% of surveyed Americans.

Robot vacuum cleaners followed at 18%, with younger adults aged 18-34 showing the most interest in this option (22%). Stick vacuums were next at 15%, while smaller segments opted for canister vacuums (9%), wet/dry vacuums (8%), handheld vacuums (5%), or central vacuum systems (5%).

Methodology: This survey has been conducted using an online interview administered to members of the YouGov Plc panel of individuals who have agreed to take part in surveys. Emails are sent to panelists selected at random from the base sample. The e-mail invites them to take part in a survey and provides a generic survey link. The total sample size of this survey was 1070 US adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 13th - 14th May 2025. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all US adults (aged 18+).