If you’re shopping for the best Miele vacuum, you’re focused on premium German engineering and durability. Miele has a rich history that spans over a century and includes award-winning designs. Because of this, the brand is known as a leader within the consumer appliances division.
Miele is known for its comprehensive home appliances portfolio that tackles everyday concerns in nearly every room in the house. Within its vacuum niche, they’re best known for creating solutions that offer powerful suction, robust cleaning support thanks to multiple attachments, and versatile vacuum designs to tackle a wide range of cleaning needs.
Keep reading our best Miele vacuum buying guide to learn more about this storied German appliance brand. And if you want to compare them against other vacuum brands, start with our picks for the best vacuum cleaners.
Top Miele Vacuums
#1 Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction Vacuum Cleaner
Award: TOP PICK
WHY WE LIKE IT: A powerful 1200W motor provides excellent dirt pickup power. This vacuum cleaner has a 29.5-foot power cord, which along with a sizable bagged canister makes the device a good choice for large homes and commercial premises.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Outstanding 1200W proprietary motor
- Large-capacity canister
- On-board accessory clip
- High-maintenance bagged system
- Not ideal for deep-pile carpets
The Miele Classic C1 Pure Suction vacuum cleaner is a canister model suitable for cleaning domestic and commercial premises. This device has a dual brush system suitable for both hard floors and low-pile carpets. This unit comes with a dusting brush for cleaning up on tables and other pieces of furniture. A crevice tool comes in handy when cleaning ceiling fans and window or door louvers. It has a bagged system that enables hygienic cleanup, although it needs a regular supply of disposable bags.
This vacuum cleaner has a 1200W Miele proprietary vortex motor that provides incredible suction power. With six different suction settings, this device enables precise customization and it has a rotary design that supports changing settings easily. A VarioClip system holds the hose and includes accessories for easy access. This device has several filters, so it cleans up the air in the room. Featuring a 29.5-foot power cord, this vacuum offers mobility during cleaning.
#2 Miele Blizzard CX1 Pure Suction Vacuum Cleaner
Award: HONORABLE MENTION
WHY WE LIKE IT: The washable HEPA filters trap dirt and microscopic particles. This device has a bagless system with an easy-empty dustbin that offers sustainability. The vacuum has wheels that provide mobility.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Washable HEPA lifetime filter
- Low-maintenance bagless dust system
- Wheeled design
- Accessories are not very accessible
Featuring premium construction, the Miele Blizzard CX1 Pure Suction vacuum cleaner is built to last. This device has a bagless system that won’t require investing in disposable vacuum cleaner bags. It uses vortex technology, removing coarse and fine dust particles efficiently. A hygiene maintenance-free lifetime filter eliminates dirt from the air, making this vacuum a good choice for people with allergies. It has onboard accessory storage, although the accessories are not very easy to access.
The vacuum has wheels, so it easily moves around from place to place. It boasts four suction power settings, allowing users to adjust the power as needed, and it also features a Gore CleanStream fine dust filter to remove macroscopic dirt particles. With a combination floorhead, this device cleans on low-pile carpets and hard floors, and it also comes with a dusting brush, crevice tool, and upholstery tool. This vacuum cleaner has a detachable dustbin that simplifies emptying and cleaning.
#3 Miele Triflex HX1 Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST FOR SENIORS
WHY WE LIKE IT: Featuring a compact, lightweight construction, this device is easy to carry around. This model is cordless, so it can be used both indoors and outdoors. It runs for up to 60 minutes before requiring recharging.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Remarkably lightweight design
- Cordless construction
- Replaceable battery runs for up to 60 minutes
- Battery-based design will struggle in very large homes
Featuring a stick design, the Miele Triflex HX1 vacuum cleaner is the device of choice for seniors and people with physical limitations. The vacuum is remarkably lightweight, offering floor-to-ceiling cleaning. This model is cordless, so it supports cleaning both in indoor and outdoor locations. With a rechargeable VARTA lithium-ion battery, this device runs for up to 60 minutes on a single charge, and this battery is exchangeable. However, cleaning will be interrupted when it runs out of battery.
The vacuum has a self-standing position, allowing users to resume work easily after a pause. It has an innovative switch-based system that doesn’t require constantly depressing the throttle. With the included extra-wide multi-floor tool, this unit is effective on carpets and hard floors. An included maintenance-free hygiene filter removes up to 99.9% of dirt particles in the room. This vacuum cleaner has a compact mode, allowing users to detach a portable pod for cleaning in cars.
#4 Miele Turbo Team Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST FOR PET OWNERS
WHY WE LIKE IT: This device has a motorized floor brush, which is effective at removing pet hair and threads from carpets. It has six suction settings, enabling fine-tuning, and the included soft brush cleans effectively on hard floors
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Motorized brush is effective with pet hair
- Six suction settings
- Handy accessory clip
This Miele Turbo Team vacuum cleaner was designed for both hard floors and carpets. It has a powerful 1200W motor, providing enough suction to pick up small and large dirt particles. This device has a turbo brush that agitates medium-pile carpets, removing pet hair and dirt particles, while a soft parquet brush is useful on all sorts of hard floors. A stainless steel telescopic tube extends the reach of the vacuum. However, this model doesn’t swivel.
This device has a 29.5-foot operating radius, making it a good choice for cleaning large living rooms and business premises. It uses vortex tech for efficiency and fast performance. With a six-setting rotary dial, users can change the suction power as needed. This device has a VarioClip that keeps accessories handy. It comes with a dusting brush for cleaning on tables and a crevice tool for louvers and ceiling fans. This unit is also equipped with an upholstery tool for cleaning sofas.
#5 Miele Complete C3 Marin Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST FOR CARPETS
WHY WE LIKE IT: With a high-quality Electro bush, this device is suitable for carpets. It has LED headlights, simplifying cleaning under furniture, and it uses 4.5-liter filter bags that offer hygienic dirt removal.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Automatic hard floor and carpet detection
- LED headlights
- Swivel steering
- High-maintenance bagged design
Equipped with large 4.5-liter filter bags, this vacuum supports cleaning for extended periods before requiring changing bags. It has an electro brush that’s effective on low-pile and medium-pile carpets. With a swiveling neck, this device is remarkably maneuverable, gliding effortlessly around furniture. This unit includes a Parquet Twister that works effectively on various smooth surfaces. It automatically detects when the brush moves between hard floors and carpets and adjusts suction power accordingly. However, the bagged style needs a regular supply of disposable bags.
A HEPA AirClean filter removes small dirt particles, making this device a good choice for pet owners and people with allergies. This device has incredible suction power and it boasts a stainless steel telescoping wand that increases the reach of the vacuum. With a 36-foot power cord, this device is effective in large homes, offices, and commercial establishments. It has LED headlights to enhance visibility. This vacuum has six different suction settings and it can be customized conveniently with a footswitch.
#6 Miele Compact C2 Electro+ Vacuum Cleaner
Award: BEST FOR PEOPLE WITH ALLERGIES
WHY WE LIKE IT: Equipped with both a Pure Suction brush and electric floorhead, this device performs well on both hard floors and carpets. It has a sealed air cleaning system with a HEPA filter, so it’s good for users with allergies.
[su_row][su_column size=”1/2″][su_box title=”Pros” box_color=”#4DB227″ radius=”0″][su_list icon=”icon: check” icon_color=”#4DB227″]- Fully sealed air cleaning system with a HEPA filter
- Has both hardfloor and carpet floorheads
- Handy onboard accessory storage
- Lacks foot switches
With a sealed air cleaning system, the Miele Compact C2 Electro+ vacuum cleaner prevents dirt from spilling back into the air. This model uses a 1100W motor, providing excellent suction. A vortex cleaning system removes dirt fast and efficiently. This device has six different suction settings, allowing users to adjust as needed. It comes with a HEPA air clean filter that traps microscopic particles, including allergens, pet hair, and dust. However, this model doesn’t have footswitches.
This vacuum cleaner uses 3.5-liter filter bags, offering hygienic cleaning. It has an Electro Plus floorhead ideal for removing deeply embedded particles from carpets, while an included Pure Suction floorhead is excellent on tiles, hardwood, and other types of hard floors. A five-level wand lets users clean from the floor to the ceiling. This device has a VarioClip for keeping accessories at the user’s fingertips, and it comes with a dusting brush, crevice tool, and an upholstery tool for wide-ranging use.
Introduction to Miele Vacuums
Miele is a German home appliance manufacturer. Founded in 1899, this family-owned firm was spearheaded by Carl Miele and Reinhard Zinkaan. Initially known as Miele & Cie Company, the firm is now formally trademarked as Miele. Before the brand got a name for premium vacuums, it started with humble beginnings, creating butter churns, tub washing machines, and cream separators under the Meteor brand.
Vacuums wouldn’t become an option until 1927, later followed by the first electric dishwasher in 1929 and even motorcycles in 1930. Except for the firm’s involvement in wartime production during World War II, Miele has almost exclusively focused on the home appliances niche.
Upholding the brand slogan “Immer Besser,” which is German for “forever better,” Miele continues to focus on developing cutting-edge appliance solutions that make life easier. While the brand is a median range appliance manufacturer in Europe, they are promoted as a high-end appliance brand in North America. In the United States, Miele is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey.
This puts it in competition with other premium global brands such as Küppersbusch, Wolf & Cove, Sub-Zero, Gaggenau, Fagor, Dacor, JennAir, Thermador, Asko, and Viking Range. It’s important to note that vacuums are a small subset of the company’s core competencies.
You can also find Miele competitively placed in the kitchen appliances segment. This includes oven ranges, ventilation hoods, coffee and espresso makers, freestanding and built-in refrigerators and freezers, and dishwashers. The brand also produces washers, dryers, and ironing appliances.
And within the floor care department, Miele creates several types of vacuums. However, it’s best known for its bagged and bagless canister vacuums, but it also produces stick vacuums and robot vacuums comparable to the best iRobot vacuums. As of the publishing of this article, the brand doesn’t offer any upright vacuums in the United States.
How Miele Vacuums Compare to Other Brands
(Pro 1) A Freestanding Cordless Vacuum: This might not seem like a big deal. But anyone who’s ever had to pause their cordless vacuuming task to grab a large item from the floor knows that a freestanding cordless stick vacuum is a huge plus. Unlike other brands — and especially Dyson, their biggest competitor in this niche — the Miele Triflex HX1 won’t tip over if you have to pause your cleaning job.
(Con 1) Miele Vacuums are Expensive: Unsurprisingly, premium German engineering isn’t a bonus feature that comes at a bargain-basement price. Even though these vacuums are designed to last for several years, expect to spend a serious investment for their canister or cordless vacuums that start at $300 or more.
(Pro 2) Bagged Canister Vacuums Ideal for Controlling Allergens: Anyone with allergies — whether dirt, pet hair, dander, or pollen — will appreciate that Miele’s bags are made from a self-closing cloth material. This ensures that allergens stay trapped inside the vacuum. The bags are intended to hold up to four quarts of material. Also, note that their bagless vacuum canister alternative also features a mechanism for touch-free emptying. That said, you’ll find similar features with our Bissell Cleanview upright bagless 2252 review.
(Con 2) Swapping Accessories Can Be Difficult: A common complaint with all Miele vacuums is that changing attachments, such as crevice or upholstery tools, to tackle specific cleaning tasks can be frustrating, similar to what you’d see with a Bissell Canister Vacuum. While this might not be a serious dealbreaker, it can still be a pain point for someone who has to frequently swap nozzle attachments during regular vacuuming sessions.
(Pro 3) Long Cordless Battery Life: Cordless vacuums are convenient. But if you have extended vacuuming jobs, you may need to stop to let your vacuum batteries recharge. The Miele cordless vacuums offer long battery life. With three cordless models, you get 60 to 120 minutes of run time on a full charge.
(Con 3) Longer Charging Time for Robotic Vacuums: This may not be a dealbreaker for most robotic vacuum owners since you usually run it while you’re not home. But, if you invest in the Miele Scout RX2, be prepared for it to need two and a half hours to recharge fully if the battery dies.
Why You Should Buy a Miele Vacuum
While most vacuums have a fairly long shelf life, if you’re concerned about premium engineering or features that will make your vacuuming jobs more effective and easier to complete, Miele should be at the top of your shortlist. There’s no denying that this brand comes with a matching premium price tag. But with a lifespan that more than doubles even their top competitors, the initial investment more than pays for itself. Even their leading canister vacuums — which helped build their reputation in the floor cleaning space — are known to outperform competitors.
Especially if you have carpeting in your home, you can’t go wrong with a Miele vacuum. Across all of their floor cleaning appliance models — even high-pile carpets. In particular, Miele vacuums offer key features like automatic height adjustment to quickly shift between floor types, such as hardwood floors and carpets, without having to readjust the device manually. More importantly, Miele vacuums effectively control pet hair, making them competitive with the best Bissell vacuums targeting this niche.
Similarly, longer runtimes for their cordless and robotic vacuums allow you to finish cleaning tasks without having to stop because a battery dies. And the lightweight design of the cordless vacuums means you won’t have to struggle to navigate across the floor.
Meanwhile, Miele’s robotic category features lower heights of just 8.4 centimeters, meaning they can easily slide under low-clearance furniture. Additionally, key aspects like obstacle detection, Alexa voice control support, fall protection, four intensity steps (speed settings), and two side brushes allow for a more thorough cleaning process.
And, of course, their classic entry — the canister — is ideal for anyone who wants to achieve a thorough clean that traps the most common types of dirt and allergens: pet dander, dust, dirt, and pollen. A self-closing bag ensures that people with allergies or respiratory conditions are less likely to be impacted when replacing the bag. And a cloth material construction guarantees that dust particles don’t leak back into the environment.
How Long Will Miele Vacuums Last
Most people are used to vacuums having a lifespan of around eight years. But Miele crushes that expectation with a 20-year average lifespan that’s proven through lab testing and real-world experiences. The higher cost of acquiring a Miele vacuum makes more sense with this information. Yes, they are sometimes double or triple what a median vacuum may cost, but it’s worth it if you can keep it for two decades.
Still, as with any other appliance or product, individual mileage will vary and depend heavily on user behavior. There’s no denying that Miele’s German engineering means that the manufacturer is using premium materials like motors and components to craft an excellent cleaning machine.
But you still need to do your part to keep your Miele vacuum working properly. This means you don’t purposely abuse your vacuum, such as allowing it to fall from heights or exposing key components like the motor (or battery for cordless and robotic models) to water. Failing to routinely empty the dust bin or replace the bag will also impact your vacuum’s lifespan.
Miele Vacuum Warranty
Unsurprisingly, Miele USA (the North American division of Miele) offers limited warranties for their vacuums. You’ll get a one-year limited warranty that will begin from the date of purchase.
Keep in mind that the warranty is optional, and for it to take effect, you must register your product through the warranty portal on their website. However, for your warranty to be valid, you must have purchased a vacuum either directly through the brand or an authorized retailer. Note, though, that you have the option to extend your warranty up to five years through their warranty extension program.
