Bagged vs bagless vacuums: Which should you pick?

Bagged vacuum cleaners can feel a bit old fashioned, but they're making a come back and for good reason. These vacuums hold more than bagless vacuums, they're tidier, and better at capturing and holding on to small particles. All around they make for less work.

Still it's not all sunshine and roses. Suction can suffer as the bag fills up, and lets not forget the extra cost of bags to your wallet and the environment.

These days bagless vacuum cleaners are easy to find at any price point, which makes them a simple choice. On the surface they also seem cheaper since you don't have to pay for bags, and they don't create any extra waste.

Both of these points are double-edged swords though. While bagless cannisters don't create extra waste, emptying them out is messier than bagged options. Although consumers miss out on the extra cost of the bags, those bags generally hold most of the filtration system and as such users needs to bear the cost of replacement HEPA filters instead.

At peak performance both bagged and bagless vacuum cleaners will have excellent suction - as long as you don't opt for one that is too cheap. However as time goes on the suction on both will deteriorate.

Bagged vacuums have the strongest suction when the bag is totally empty while bagless vacuums perform best when the filter is clean. Both will lose overall performance as dust particles fill up the bag or the filter, blocking the airflow.

Since vacuum bags are so large, the chances are you'll need to deal with lower suction for longer. You don't want to throw out a half-used bag afterall. Conversley, filters in bagless units generally need to be replaced every six months, but can be cleaned throughout that time to better performance.

For those with allergies, or dust sensitivies bagged vacuum cleaners will always be the better choice.

In bagged devices the bag itself holds the majority of the filtration system. Every time you replace a bag, you get an almost new set up that is ready to capture tiny dust particles llike PM2.5. Removing a full bag also won't release any of the already captured particles back into the air, saving you both physical and mental irritation.

Bagless vacuums also use filters to capture small particles, but emptying the cannister releases many of them again. The filters also need to be replaced twice annually to stay at optimum efficacy which is not only a larger expense, but harder to remember to do. If a HEPA filter isn't replaced, it stops blocking the harmful particles and decreases the machine's suction.

Whether a bagged or bagless vacuum cleaner is easier to use will depend on a few factors, and that ultimately comes down to a personal preference.

I, for example, do not like bagless stick vacuums, but most of that boils down to laziness. I don't want to empty out the cannister every time I vacuum, so the device ends up getting overly full and I have to struggle to get the debris out of the tank. Other people I know don't have this problem, and they find the devices to be simple, and never think about throwing the whole thing out in a fit of frustration.

For those on my side of the fence, bagged vacuum cleaners will be easier to use because you can forget about maintenance for long periods of time. For those on the other side, bagless may be the way to go since its easy to keep on top of.

Although it may be counterintuitive, bagless vacuum cleaners are actually more expensive to maintain in the long run.

Vacuum bags tend to last between two to three months between changes. Replacement costs vary, but on average you're looking at around $13 for three bags on the low end, or $30 for three on the high end. On average that is about $21 for the set, or $7 per bag. Assuming you're on top of things, and change the bag once every two months that should set you back around $42 for the year.

HEPA filters on the other hand need to be replaced every six months. Yes replaced, not washed. Many of them may say they can be washed, but studies have shown that washable HEPA filters simply don't match the performance of disposables. We wouldn't recommend them.

Assuming you want to take our (and many other people's) advice, you'll need to source replacement filters from the vacuum manufacturer. Prices vary, but Shark sells filters for between $29.99 - $37.99 depending on the vacuum model. Two of those per year and you're already over the cost of bags.