What is the best vacuum cleaner with less noise? When buying a vacuum, many people ignore one crucial aspect – the noise level. Some manufacturers don’t seem to mind that either. When listing specs, they often leave out data about a vacuum’s dB values. But details about how loud or quiet a vacuum is are as crucial as any other feature.
That’s in addition to the annoyance and distraction caused by loud sounds. Because no vacuum will ever be entirely silent, the right one should be quiet enough while also matching your specific needs. But how do you balance the two? I made this guide to help you do that. It contains information about how to choose the best quiet vacuum that also cleans effectively – the kind that will not disturb the peace in your home. And if you live in an apartment or studio, that of your neighbors.
Why is My Vacuum Cleaner so Loud?
Vacuums use an engine that consists of a motor, fan, and air channels. That means they will inevitably produce noise. However, noise levels vary across vacuum types and brands. Different manufacturers use different technologies to reduce the noise output of their vacuums. Some are conventional, others unique to specific companies.
Most of us have simply accepted the fact that loud and vacuum cleaner go together. After all for a vacuum to have any worthwhile suction power, it is going to have to have a decent motor and a decent motor is going to be loud. Where this conclusion might have been true a few decades past, innovations in design and more efficient motors have created the potential for a quiet vacuum cleaner.
How do I make my Vacuum Cleaner Quieter?
While a vacuum cleaner is always somewhat loud, it doesn’t have to be deafening. In fact, it is possible for you to find an outstandingly quiet vacuum cleaner that still possesses an incredible cleaning potential while keeping the noise to a minimum.
Finding the quietest vacuums that make little noise will help you eliminate the risk of waking the children or disturbing your neighbors at unreasonable hours.
ALSO CHECK: Best vacuum cleaner for outdoor
When selecting a quiet vacuum, one of the most crucial factors to consider is the type of vacuum. That’s because different kinds of vacuum cleaners produce different levels of noise. To help you find the right one for your needs, we have selected the best vacuum cleaner with less noise.
Best Vacuum Cleaner with Less Noise
· Hoover HushTone Hard-Bagged
The HushTone from Hoover lives up to its name by generating only 69 dB of noise during normal operations. This Hoover upright cleaner comes with 2 stage motor speed control and the patented WindTunnel technology that allows great dust pickup from hard floors as well as carpets. Hoover HushTone is fitted with self-sealing bags that do not allow dust and debris to back into the environment. The upright also has a reclining function that makes it easy to clean underneath the furniture and low-hanging obstacle. For a commercial upright cleaner, the Hoover HushTone 15+ is incredibly lightweight, weighing a mere 18.5 lbs. See on Amazon
· Dyson V11 Torque Drive

When compared to the Dyson V10, the V11 is almost as quiet. In the Eco setting, the V11 generates a noise output of 70 dB, while on the highest Boost setting, it outputs 80 dB. Those are impressive values for a cordless. Apart from that, the V11 is also a very potent cleaning machine. It has powerful suction and a cleaning motorhead that delivers a deep clean. The V11 Torque Drive comes with a Torque Drive head that picks up dirt from both hardwood and carpeted floors. It also features HEPA filtration and an easy dust ejection system to clean the dust tank. See on Amazon
· Electrolux Sanitaire SC889A Vacuum Cleaner

The stout vacuum cleaner with its profoundly quiet operation mode of only 69 dB is a perfect choice for offices or homes with mainly carpeted floors. The strong suction will help you quickly and easily clean the areas where many people walk, such as office, school, or hospital flooring.
The long cord will allow you to reach far without unplugging it. Unfortunately, there is no HEPA filtration. The sizeable disposable bag will allow you to collect a vast amount of debris stuck in your flooring. Although it is not meant for hard flooring, it will work on them but with lower efficiency. See on Amazon
· Eufy Robo Vac 11S Vacuum Cleaner

This Robot Vacuum cleaner is a very thin shaped appliance with a quiet operation mode of only 56 dB. The strong suction power can collect dirt and dust in any corner of your apartment. With its sensor, it will notice the edge of the stairs, preventing it from falling over. It has a decently large canister with 0.6 liters, which is excellent for its slim size.
This robot vacuum will clean for 100 minutes or with its special boost operation mode, and it will clean medium-high pile carpets for about 60 minutes. When the battery is nearly empty, it will return to the base to charge itself. It can be controlled via a remote controller. See on Amazon
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· Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
There are two vacuums in one with the Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum. The power of this upright can be in your hand for quick, portable cleanup and ultimate versatility. Swivel steering makes it easier to maneuver around your home or office and it features a power nozzle with LED headlights to be able to see what you’re doing.
Its HEPA filtration system traps up to 99.9 of dust and allergens and includes two foam filters to prevent those 0.3 to 0.5 micron pollutants from getting back into the air. Its operation is exceptionally quiet so you won’t disrupt your entire household when you’re cleaning. See on Amazon
· ECOVACS DEEBOT N79 Robotic Vacuum Cleaner
With over 5million+ units sold and trusted in 60+ nations, Wi-Fi-connected ECOVACS DEEBOT N79 robotic vacuum cleaner has industry-leading technology offering strong suction.
Measuring 13″x13″x3.1″ and weighing 6.7lbs., attractive round-shaped ECOVACS DEEBOT N79 has black color finish. It has Smart Motion navigation & 3-tier cleaning system with direct-suction cleaning, helix brush-roll, two-sided brushes blended with Smart Motion steered auto-clean & 3 dedicated cleaning modes.
Innovative helix-structured main-brush allows for a deep-reach cleaning, and twin wide-reach nylon fiber side brushes enhance suction. It has 1-year warranty, and includes instruction manual, 1 power adapter, remote control w/ batteries, sponge and high-efficiency filter, 4 side brushes, 1 docking station. See on Amazon
EDITOR’S RECOMMENDATION:
Shark Rotator Professional Lift-Away Upright Vacuum
The lightweight design and filtration system are both pluses on this vacuum cleaner. In addition, it is pretty simple to change out cleaning heads and accessories. The lift-out feature for a powerful handheld is nice as are the brush roll controls. It has decent maneuverability and does well cleaning edges also. See on Amazon
Upright VS Canister Vacuum – Which Vacuum Has Lesser Noise?
The best way of choosing the quietest vacuum is to know the differences between upright and canister vacuums.
The upright models have large capacities and are also heavier. Additionally, the fact that they operate with a motorized brush you’ll quite understand why they make so much noise. By and large, then, upright vacuums that are silent too are hard to find.
What aggravates the noise issue, in the case of upright vacuums, is the due to the fact that their motors (which are quite large), work at some distance from the ground, making the sound to dissipate over large areas.
Canister vacuums, on the other hand, are known to be lighter and operates with smaller motors. A small motor basically means less noise. And due to the fact that the motor in this case works closer to the ground, the sound remains confined to a smaller area, and doesn’t disturb the entire household.
Also read: Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner
How to Differentiate Between Quiet and Noisy Vacuums
There’re lots of ways to differentiate between a quiet and noisy vacuum. But amongst all, they’re basically two ways, which we’ll discuss below.
Bagged Vs bagless vacuums
A good way to differentiate between noisy and quiet vacuums is the construction. Whether it is a bagged vacuum or a bag-less model can go a long way in defining the amount of noise it puts out while working. The bagless varieties are generally known to be much noisier compared to the bag variety.
In the bagless model, the motor is usually attached closer to the casing, which creates more noise. On the other hand, bagged vacuums comes with improved acoustic features to muffle the sound, together with a better filtration that makes the entire operation quieter and less noisier.
Type of motor
The motor design is another key factor to consider when choosing your vacuum. The power of the motor to a large extent is what makes the difference in this regard. You’ll mostly find high-powered motors noisier, and also being not necessarily as effective as the low-powered ones.
More than its power, it is the suction quality of a machine, as well as the rate of airflow it produces that influences the sound quality. So rather than simply choosing for a high-powered motor (power being measured in watts or W) you should go for one that has a better suction (measured in air watts or AW) and airflow, with by low noise levels.
Manufacturers these days are now coming out with battery-operated vacuums since these are discovered to be quieter. There’re usually compact and less power consumer, making the task of vacuuming much more easier and quieter.
Why Buy a Quiet Vacuum?
Quiet vacuums are particularly useful if you have young children who are still napping or if you want to clean during “unsocial hours” and don’t want to annoy your neighbours at the same time. Quiet vacuum cleaners are also a great choice if you have pets that gets easily scared on hearing unusual sounds.
No vacuum is completely silent, but the ones with least noise are more bearable than others and less likely to cause any disturbance.
Of course, there are cons to quiet vacuums. The technology used to reduce the noise may increase the cost of buying a silent model, so there might be trade-offs in price or other features. Less powerful engines, while quieter, results to reduced suction power. Most of the quietest vacuums are also cylinder models, this may be a problem if your preference is uprights.
This doesn’t mean there aren’t some exceptional silent vacuums on the market though. The vacuums reviewed on this article, for example, are excellent as they come.
Also read: Best Vacuum Cleaner With Adjustable Height
What to Lookout for When Buying a Vacuum With Less Noise
The key factor to watch out for when choosing a quiet vacuum is the decibel rating (usually denoted as as dB).
The higher the dB rating, the more noise the vacuum produces. Decibels is a logarithmic scale, meaning a vacuum with a noise rating of 65dB is ten times more silent compared to a model with a rating of 75dB.
There’s no such thing as a noiseless vacuum cleaner (at least not yet), but there’re some models available in the mary with noise ratings as low as 64dB.
Make sure you go for a vacuum for its overall feature set and how it matches your requirements – not just based on a single feature, such as a quiet motor. Other considerations include the suction power, capacity, included accessories and tools, costs and filtration system. Also, beware that vacuums with different suction settings will definitely vary in noise output depending on which is selected.
How Does a Quiet Vacuum Work?
Despite their subtle design differences and lower noise levels, quiet vacuums works in the same way as standard vacuum cleaners.
Each product comes with an electric motor, which powers a fan. They also contain intake and exhaust ports for facilitating airflow through the vacuum. Lastly, each vacuum cleaner contains some kind of debris container, which is also referred to as a dust or dirt cup.
Once powered on, a quiet vacuum cleaner will start the motor and spins the fan blades. This process is responsible for creating air movement throughout your vacuum and creates a pressure drop in the intake port. The pressure drop results to a vacuum effect, which you can now use for sucking up debris as you pass over them.
After collecting the debris, it’ll travel through the vacuum using the airflow until it passes over the dust cup. At that point, the debris will be caught in the canister and the air continues out of the exhaust port.
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FAQs
Do I Really Need a Quiet Vacuum?
If you’re conscious about how noisy vacuuming your house can be, getting a quiet vacuum is the best choice for you. Whether you need for cleaning at odd hours or you don’t want to disturb your kids or pets, a quiet vacuum will make an excellent addition to your arsenal of cleaning tools.
Is a Quiet Vacuum Worth Buying?
Yes, it is. If your schedule doesn’t allows you to clean at regular hours, you may need to vacuum while others are sleeping. In this case, you’ll need these vacuums since they most likely won’t wake anyone up.
Furthermore, living in an apartment where you share walls with neighbors can make you conscious of how much noise your movements produces. Using a quiet vacuum will help in reducing the noise coming from your apartment. If you’re renting your place, you may also want to check out the best renters insurance policy for protecting your belongings in the event of theft or disasters.
Moreover, if you desire to clean up pet hair and pet dander, but you don’t want to scare your little friend, a quiet vacuum is an excellent choice.
Also read: Best Vacuum Cleaner with Water Filter
How Long Will a Quiet Vacuum Last?
According to research by top vacuum companies, you should expect to reach anywhere from five to seven years of lifespan from a quiet vacuum. Due to their moving parts and the constant intake of dust and debris, a vacuum cleaner can only last so long.
Of course, you can either lessen or prolong your vacuum’s overall lifespan based on the way you maintain it. Strive to follow the manufacturer’s operation recommendations and maintain your vacuum regularly to get the most life out of it as possible.
Why Does a Vacuum’s Noise Level Matter?
It’s a plain fact that most vacuums are incredibly loud. Most people have accepted this fact of life and as a result don’t give it a second thought. Moreso, a vacuum that’s too loud can ultimately result to lasting hearing damage, disrupt the calm order of your home, and scare away your pets. This and other related reason is why purchasing a quiet vacuum may be important.
Also read: Best Vacuum Cleaner with Retractable Cord
How do You Know a Loud Vacuum?
Vacuum cleaners that makes lesser than 70 decibels (dB) of noise are known to be quiet vacuums. Of course, these vacuums still produce some sounds, but it’s significantly lesser than loud models, which makes 70+ dB of noise.
CONCLUSION
A quiet vacuum can be a great choice if you want to clean without waking the kids, scaring your pets or annoying your neighbours. While choosing a silent vacuum cleaner does limit your options significantly, most models come with a high noise rating. However, there’re still some excellent vacuums available in the market, such as those listed in this post.
In addition to the factors discussed in this article, you should also check how much cleaning and maintenance your machine requires, and how easy or difficult it is to maintain your vacuum. Remember, regular cleaning and proper maintenance of your vacuum can also help in keeping the noise in check by ensuring a smoother operation.