When you’re choosing a new vacuum cleaner, suction power is one of the first things you look at. It decides how well the machine can pick up everyday dust, crumbs, and pet hair, after all. But the numbers can get confusing fast.
One model shows 100 air watts, another claims 3,000 Pa, and it’s hard to tell what any of it means. Before long, you start wondering: what is good suction power for vacuum cleaner performance?
This guide keeps things simple. You’ll learn what the common ratings mean, how to judge real cleaning power across different vacuum types, and how to choose the right level for the floors in your home. No jargon. No fuss.
How Is Vacuum Suction Power Measured?
Vacuum specs can look confusing at first. You’ll see several different units—watts, air watts, kPa, Pa, and sometimes “water lift”. They don’t describe the same thing, and only some of them relate to real suction.
Here’s how each one works:
Motor power (watts) vs suction power
Some listings highlight motor power in watts (W). This shows how much electrical power the motor uses, not how strongly the vacuum can pull air through the system. A vacuum can have a high-watt motor yet produce weak suction if the airflow design isn’t efficient.
Air watts (AW)
Most upright, canister and cordless stick vacuums now use air watts (AW).
Air watts combine two things:
- How hard the vacuum pulls (suction pressure)
- How much air it moves (airflow)
Because it includes both factors, AW gives a clearer idea of real cleaning power than plain motor watts. As a simple rule: higher AW usually means stronger pickup, assuming the vacuum’s airflow path, filters and floorhead are well designed.
Water lift (inches of water) and kPa
Some vacuums list water lift, which measures how high the vacuum can pull water up a tube. More lift means stronger raw suction. The same idea can appear as kilopascals (kPa), which is another way to show suction pressure. Many household vacuums sit around 15–25 kPa, which is enough for general floor cleaning and moderate carpet lift.
You’ll see water lift and kPa most often on canister vacuums or wet/dry vacs.
Pascals (Pa)
Most robot vacuums use Pascals (Pa). It’s the same type of pressure unit as kPa, just scaled differently. Higher Pa means stronger measured suction, although real cleaning also relies on the robot’s brushes, airflow and how well the body seals against the floor.
Why a bigger number isn’t always “better”
Different brands use different units, and some choose whichever number looks more impressive. Suction also depends on design factors like:
- The floorhead and brush bar
- Whether the vacuum is properly sealed
- How clean the filters are
- How freely air can move through the system
So, you can use the numbers as a guide, but the full picture comes from how well the vacuum maintains airflow as it cleans.
What Is a Good Suction Power for Vacuum Cleaner?
There isn’t one universal “good” number. The right suction level depends on the type of vacuum, the floors you have, and the amount of dirt or pet hair in your home.
Below is a simple table you can use as a starting point.
Typical “good” suction levels by vacuum type
|
Vacuum type |
Common unit |
Useful everyday range |
Best for |
|
Upright |
Air watts |
180–250 AW |
Medium–large homes, carpets, mixed floors |
|
Canister |
AW / kPa |
200–300 AW |
Hard floors, rugs, deeper carpet cleaning |
|
Cordless stick |
Air watts |
80–150 AW (normal) 150–250 AW (high) |
Flats, small homes, carpets with pets |
|
Handheld |
Air watts |
15–30 AW (light) 30–80+ AW (strong) |
Cars, upholstery, stairs, quick clean-ups |
|
Robot |
Pascals |
2,000–4,000 Pa (light) 4,000–8,000+ Pa (strong) |
Hard floors, rugs, daily scheduled cleaning |
Upright vacuums
Upright vacuums are the classic all-in-one machines with a fixed body and a cleaning head at the base. They’re popular in carpeted homes because they combine suction with a powered brush bar.
Most uprights use air watts. Typical household models sit around:
- 180–220 AW for mixed hard floors and low-pile carpet
- 220–300 AW for thicker carpets, embedded dirt, and pet hair
Canister vacuums
Canister (or cylinder) vacuums have a separate body that sits on wheels, with a hose and wand out front. This design often allows better airflow, which helps them reach strong suction without needing a huge motor.
Typical canister suction sits around:
- 200–300 AW or more for strong household cleaning
- 18–25 kPa for vacuums that list suction pressure
These levels work well for hard floors, rugs, and deeper carpet cleaning, especially when paired with the right floorhead.
Cordless stick vacuums
Cordless sticks are slim, lightweight vacuums designed for quick daily cleaning. They run on batteries, so their suction is usually split into normal and boost modes.
So, what is a good suction power for cordless vacuum cleaner?
Typical suction ranges include:
- 80–120 AW in standard mode for everyday dust and crumb pickup
- 150–250 AW in high mode for carpets, rugs, and pet hair
Handheld Vacuums
Handheld vacuums are compact, lightweight tools for small messes—crumbs on the sofa, car seats, stairs, and quick spill clean-ups. They aren’t made to replace a main vacuum, so their suction numbers are lower.
Typical ranges include:
- 15–30 AW for simple tasks like surface dust
- 30–80+ AW for stronger handhelds that tackle pet hair and embedded dirt
Robot vacuums
Robot vacuums are small, low-profile machines that drive themselves around your floors. They use brushes, wheels and sensors to handle day-to-day dust without you needing to push a full-size vacuum. Robot vacuums mainly use Pascals (Pa) for suction, and the range varies widely.
Common suction levels include:
- 2,000–4,000 Pa for hard floors and light dust
- 4,000–8,000 Pa for rugs and low-pile carpets
- 8,000–10,000+ Pa for stronger pickup and heavier debris
Since robot vacuums clean on a schedule, you often get great results without pushing suction to the limit. Daily passes handle most of the dust for you. Still, if your home has plush carpets or pets, stronger models can help. Some powerful suction robot vacuums now reach 20,000 Pa or more for deeper pickup, which is useful when you want a cleaner home with very little work.
At the very top end, the eufy Robot Vacuum Omni S2 is pushing what a robot can do. It’s built around a 30,000 Pa AeroTurbo™ Deep Cleaning System 2.0 (rated at 100 air watts) and is designed to maintain peak suction for up to 90 days while handling rugs with fibres up to 5cm deep.
On paper, that puts its suction in the same bracket as many strong cordless and even some corded setups, so it’s a good example of how far robot power is now going.
The S2 also folds in a HydroJet™ 2.0 roller mop, ozonated water for 99.99% germ removal, and a 12-in-1 UniClean™ station that empties the dustbin, washes and dries the mop, and manages clean and dirty water. Combined with the CleanMind AI navigation and edge-to-corner coverage tools, it’s aimed at homes that want near “main vacuum” cleaning without giving up automation.
How Much Suction Power Do You Need?
You see, there isn’t a single “right” suction number for everyone. You match the power to your floors, your layout, and what you deal with day to day. Use the ranges below as a simple way to narrow things down.
Mostly hard floors (wood, laminate, vinyl, tile)
Hard floors don’t trap dust deeply, so you can stay on the lower end of each range.
- 100–150 AW on an upright, canister or cordless stick is usually enough.
- For robot vacuums, 2,000–4,000 Pa handles day-to-day dust and grit.
If you do only light weekly cleaning, these levels work well. For daily cleaning, you may not need more power—frequency does the heavy lifting.
Mixed floors (hard floors plus a few rugs)
Rugs need a bit more pull to lift debris from the fibres.
- A stick, upright, or canister with 150–200 AW gives solid results.
- For robots, 4,000–8,000 Pa covers mixed layouts with low-pile rugs.
Here, floorhead design matters as much as suction. A good brush bar helps more than a small jump in power.
Mostly carpet (especially medium or deep pile)
Carpets hold dust and pet hair deeper down. Stronger suction helps pull it out.
- Uprights and canisters work well around 200–300 AW.
- Robot vacuums need 8,000 Pa, and 10,000 Pa or more is helpful for thicker carpet.
Using boost mode occasionally also helps lift older grit without needing extreme suction all the time.
When you have pets and allergies
Pet hair and allergens need more power and better filtration.
- For uprights and canisters, aim for 200+ AW or 20–25 kPa, plus a good brush bar.
- Robot vacuums do better from 6,000–8,000 Pa, especially with anti-tangle brushes.
- If you’re sensitive to dust, choose a vacuum with a sealed system and strong fine filtration (often HEPA or similar).
Best High-Suction Vacuum Cleaners from eufy
If you're looking for strong suction without overthinking the specs, eufy has a few standout options. Each one fits a different style of home and cleaning routine, from flexible all-rounders to high-power robot systems.
eufy Robot Vacuum E20
The eufy Robot Vacuum E20 is a 3-in-1 system: the main unit docks as a robot, or you can lift it out and clip it into a stick or handheld body. In robot mode, it delivers up to 8,000 Pa of suction for everyday floor cleaning. In stick and handheld mode, it pushes up to 30,000 Pa, which is closer to the kind of pull you’d expect from a very strong cordless or corded vacuum.
The robot uses Triple-Laser obstacle avoidance with LiDAR and dual laser sensors to map rooms and dodge common clutter, while the AeroTurbo™ five-stage filtration captures up to 99.7% of fine particles down to 0.3 microns for cleaner air. The E20 also auto-empties into a 3L dust bag that can last for around 75 days, so day-to-day robot cleaning stays hands-off.
Section power: Up to 8,000 Pa in robot mode and 30,000 Pa in handheld/stick mode
Best for: Homes that want one system to handle everything: robot cleaning for floors, plus strong handheld and stick cleaning for stairs, furniture and the car.
What’s good:
- 3-in-1 design: robot, stick and handheld in one body
- 30,000 Pa max suction in handheld mode for deeper spot cleaning
- Five-stage filtration captures up to 99.7% of fine particles for cleaner air
- Triple-Laser obstacle avoidance for precise mapping and fewer bumps
- Auto-empty station with up to 75 days between bag changes
- Auto-detangling roller brush to deal with hair after each run
eufy X10 Pro Omni
The eufy X10 Pro Omni is a high-end robot vacuum and mop designed for busy, mixed-floor homes. It pairs 8,000 Pa suction with a MopMaster™ system that uses dual rotating mop pads to scrub hard floors and then lifts the mops by around 12 mm when it moves onto carpet.
The all-in-one Omni station empties the onboard dustbin into a 2.5L bag, washes and dries the mop pads with heated air, and refills the clean-water tank so you don’t have to handle dirty pads or frequent bin trips.
AI-based obstacle avoidance helps it steer around cables, shoes and toys, while LiDAR mapping creates detailed floor plans and supports room-by-room cleaning in the app.
Section power: Up to 8,000 Pa suction
Best for: If you have mixed floors and pets and want a robot to handle most of the vacuuming and mopping without much intervention, this fits well.
What’s good:
- 8,000 Pa suction for carpets and hard floors
- MopMaster™ dual pads with auto-lift to keep carpets dry
- All-in-one station that empties the bin and washes and dries the mops
- AI obstacle avoidance and LiDAR mapping for more reliable navigation
eufy E25 Robot Vacuum & Mop
The eufy E25 is a 2-in-1 robot vacuum and mop that pushes hard into high-suction territory. It offers up to 20,000 Pa Turbo suction, which is significantly higher than most everyday robots, and is designed to pull dust and hair out of both hard floors and carpets in a single pass. Its HydroJet™ system spins and rinses the roller mop up to 360 times per minute and applies about 1.5 kg of downward pressure to tackle dried-on marks and sticky patches.
The CornerRover™ side arm and DuoSpiral™ detangle brushes are designed to clean along edges and limit hair wrap, while AI.See™-style obstacle recognition uses an RGB camera and LED lighting to identify and steer around common objects. An Omni-style station empties the dustbin and manages clean and dirty water, so maintenance stays light.
Section power: Up to 20,000 Pa suction
Best for: Homes that want deep cleaning from a robot, especially larger or open-plan spaces with a mix of hard floors and rugs where strong suction and more aggressive mopping are useful.
What’s good:
- 20,000 Pa Turbo suction for deeper pickup on carpets and hard floors
- HydroJet™ roller mop with 1.5 kg of downward pressure for stuck-on stains
- CornerRover™ edge arm and DuoSpiral™ detangle brushes to reach edges and reduce hair wrap
- AI-driven obstacle recognition plus RGB camera and LED for more aware navigation
- All-in-one station with dust bag and clean/dirty water tanks for long stretches of hands-free cleaning
How to Maintain the Suction Power of a Vacuum?
A vacuum only performs well when air moves through it freely. Dust, hair and fine debris can build up in the bin, filters and airflow path, so a little routine care goes a long way.
- Empty the bin or change the bag often: A full bin or bag restricts airflow and weakens suction. Bagless vacuums work best when you empty the bin before it reaches the “max” line, and giving the bin a quick tap or wipe helps remove fine dust stuck to the sides. Bagged vacuums hold their suction longer, but the bag still needs changing once it’s around two-thirds full.
- Clean or replace the filters: Filters trap fine dust, and they lose efficiency as they clog. Washable filters should be rinsed with lukewarm water and dried completely before going back in. Non-washable filters can be tapped clean or brushed lightly, then replaced on the schedule in your manual—often every 6–12 months.
- Clear blockages in the hose and air paths: Even a small blockage in the hose, wand or bends can cut suction sharply. Detach the parts, check for trapped debris and push out anything stuck. A crushed or split hose can also leak air and reduce power, so inspect it from time to time.
- Keep the brush bar and floorhead clean: Hair and fibres wrap around the brush bar and slow it down, which makes carpets harder to clean. Removing the buildup restores the brush’s movement and helps the vacuum lift dirt more easily. It also helps to clear grit from the floorhead channels and keep the wheels rolling smoothly.
- Check seals and gaskets: Air leaks weaken suction at the floorhead. Look at the seals around the bin, filters and hose connections; if you notice cracks or flattened sections, replacing the seal usually restores proper airflow.
- Protect the battery on cordless vacuums: Cordless models rely on a healthy battery to reach full power. Avoid running the battery flat every time, store it in a moderate temperature, and consider a replacement if run time drops sharply. This often brings suction back to its original level.
Conclusion
Understanding what is good suction power for vacuum cleaner performance makes choosing the right model far easier. Once you match the suction levels to your floors, home size and habits, the numbers start to make sense. Whether you prefer a strong upright, a flexible cordless, or a high-suction robot, the key is steady airflow, good filtration and simple upkeep. With the right balance of power and design, any vacuum can keep your home cleaner with less effort—and work the way you need it to every day.
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FAQs
Is 20 kPa suction power good?
Yes, 20 kPa is generally considered good suction power for everyday cleaning. It’s strong enough for hard floors and low-pile carpets, picking up common dust and debris with ease. However, it may struggle with deep-pile carpets or heavy pet hair, where higher suction levels make a noticeable difference. For homes with tougher messes, choosing a vacuum with stronger suction and an effective brush system will give more reliable results.
Is 200W suction power good?
Yes, 200W of suction power is considered strong for most household cleaning needs—as long as the figure refers to air watts (AW). Around 180–200AW is typically enough for effective cleaning on hard floors and standard carpets, easily tackling everyday dust and pet hair. If the 200W figure describes electrical motor power instead, it doesn’t guarantee strong suction, since efficiency, brush design and filter condition also play a major role in real-world performance.
Which vacuum has the strongest suction?
If you’re looking for the strongest suction in the robot vacuum range, the eufy Omni S2 sits at the top with up to 30,000 Pa, putting it close to corded-level power. The eufy E25 also delivers standout performance with up to 20,000 Pa, making it well suited to mixed floors and carpets. The eufy E20 is more versatile, offering strong suction (up to 30,000 Pa in handheld or stick mode) as part of its 3-in-1 design.
Is 4000 Pa suction good for carpet?
Yes, 4000 Pa is generally considered sufficient for low- to medium-pile carpets, effectively removing dust, crumbs, and pet hair. Pascal (Pa) measures suction pressure, indicating how strongly a vacuum pulls debris into its dustbin. While 4000 Pa is strong enough for most carpets, very thick or high-pile carpets may require higher suction for deeper cleaning. Combining this suction with an efficient brush roller or airflow system ensures that dirt is lifted from fibres effectively without overworking the vacuum.
