Bagged vs bagless vacuum - A woman vacuuming at home with a bagged vacuum cleaner while her cute dog watches

Bagged vs bagless vacuum: Which type is the right choice?

Comparing bagged and bagless vacuums based on their allergy protection, waste disposal, suction power, and more.

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Key Facts

  • A bagged vacuum uses disposable bags with sealed designs to collect dust and dirt, making them ideal for dust-sensitive homeowners.

  • A bagless vacuum uses a transparent canister or bin for collecting dust and dirt and for easier monitoring of fill levels. 


When shopping for cleaning appliances like vacuums, choosing something convenient can make your cleaning routine faster and more efficient. Fortunately, you can find some models with various convenient features, such as cordless and bagless vacuum cleaners. 

But remember that just because they are convenient to use, it doesn’t automatically mean they suit your daily cleaning needs. So, it would be best to consider and evaluate other vacuum variations, like bagged vs bagless vacuum cleaners. 

What is a bagged vacuum? Bagged vs bagless vacuum - A person taking out a full dust bag from a bagged vacuum cleaner

A bagged vacuum cleaner uses a disposable bag to collect dust, dirt, and other allergens. The bag also has a sealed design that can help trap allergens, so it’s perfect for homeowners sensitive to dust. Additionally, you don’t have to replace and dispose of the bag frequently because it has a large capacity. 

What is a bagless vacuum? 

Bagged vs bagless vacuum - A bagless vacuum cleaner in the living room

A bagless vacuum cleaner uses a removable bin or canister to collect dust and dirt. It’s convenient to use because the removable canister has a clear and visible appearance, making it easier to see if you need to empty your vacuum cleaner. Moreover, it’s more environmentally friendly because it doesn’t use disposable vacuum bags. 

Vacuum cleaner bagless vs bagged: Which one should you go for?

Choosing between a bag and a bagless vacuum cleaner may be one of the many things you have in mind when shopping for a vacuum cleaner. After all, it’s an essential aspect to consider because this can affect your daily cleaning routine. 

That said, here’s a more in-depth comparison guide to explain their differences further so you can easily make an informed decision. 


In terms of allergy protection

Bagged vs bagless vacuum - An allergic woman covering mouth with napkin and cleaning modern living room with vacuum cleaner

Are you constantly putting off cleaning because the dust triggers your allergy? If that’s the case, choosing vacuum cleaners with bags is best. The disposable bag is more than just a container to collect dust and dirt; it also serves as a sealed container to prevent allergens from escaping into the air.

Some bagless vacuum cleaners also have built-in filters, but remember that it only uses a canister to collect dust instead of a sealed disposable bag. Although all vacuum cleaners can help improve indoor air quality, cleaning the canister of a bagless vacuum can get messy, increasing your exposure to allergens.   


Recommendation: Choose bagged vacuums for minimal allergen exposure. 


In terms of waste disposal

When it comes to waste disposal, both bag and bagless vacuum cleaners are relatively easy to handle. For bagged vacuum cleaners, you only have to remove the bag from the vacuum machine and throw it right into the trash can. Although convenient, this can contribute to growing landfill waste as you may frequently have to replace and dispose of the bag once it’s full. 

A vacuum cleaner without a bag is a more sustainable choice because you only have to dispose of the contents of its dustbin. Plus, it has a clear, transparent bin, so you’ll quickly know when it’s full and needs to be emptied. 


Recommendation: For a more sustainable waste disposal, choose bagless vacuum cleaners.


In terms of suction power

Bagged vs bagless vacuum - A person cleaning the house with a vacuum cleaner

Both vacuum cleaners’ suction power depends on their disposal systems. Simply put, if their bag or canister is full, then their suction power will most likely decrease.

Even though this is the case, bagged vacuum cleaners still have an edge over bagless models because their bags have pores that allow air to flow while trapping dust particles. This helps the vacuum machine to maintain a consistent suction power.

On the flip side, since bagless vacuums lack disposable bags, dust and debris can get stuck on the filters, affecting their suction power. 


Recommendation: Bagged vacuum cleaners have more consistent suction power. 


In terms of filtration

Both have a reliable filtration system, like a standard wet and dry vacuum cleaner. However, bagged vacuum cleaners have an advantage because their disposable bags also act as a filter to catch dirt, dust, and allergens.

Moreover, most bagged vacuums come with HEPA filters that can trap fine particles, which is one of the reasons why many homeowners use them for carpet cleaning

Although some bagless vacuum cleaners also have HEPA filtration, you may find them less effective in filtering dirt and dust because, as mentioned earlier, allergens can still escape when cleaning the canister and disposing of its contents in the trash bin. 


Recommendation: In terms of filtration, it’s best to select a bagged vacuum cleaner.  Apart from having a built-in HEPA filter, it also has a disposable bag that acts as a filter to catch allergens.  


In terms of maintenance

Bagged vs bagless vacuum - A person removes garbage and cat's hair from dust filter of vacuum cleaner

Maintaining a bagged vacuum is easier than a bagless one because it uses a disposable bag. You just have to remove the bag from the vacuum machine and throw it in the trash can. 

Additionally, you don’t have to replace the filters of a bagged vacuum often. The bag acts as a protective barrier between the collected debris and the vacuum’s filtration parts, helping prolong the life of the filters. 

Meanwhile, you may have to regularly clean the filters for a bagless vacuum cleaner to prevent them from clogging and maintain efficient suction power. Not to mention, cleaning its dustbin can be messy and inconvenient compared to replacing a bag. 


Recommendation: For easier maintenance, choose a bagged vacuum. 


In terms of cost

The price of bagged and bagless vacuums depends on their brand and features. For example, the cost can significantly vary if it has other features like corded or cordless vacuums. But, between the two, bagless vacuum cleaners are more cost-effective because you don’t have to buy disposable bags frequently, which can be costly in the long run. 

Just keep in mind that the filters of bagless vacuums require periodic replacement. This can add to the overall cost of owning one. 


Recommendation: Bagless vacuum cleaners are more cost-effective. 

Streamline your vacuuming chores with Airtasker 

Vacuuming can still take time and effort, whether you have a bag or a bagless vacuum cleaner. If you’re too busy to do these menial tasks, why not let some cleaning experts handle them? 

At Airtasker, you can find professionals who provide vacuuming services. They can help you save more time cleaning your home so that you can allot extra time for other important tasks.

Bagged vs bagless vacuum


Bagged Vacuum
Bagless Vacuum
Allergy Protection
Provides better allergen protection due to its sealed bag design
Provides less allergen protection since it requires you to cleaning its canister after use, allowing dust to escape
Waste Disposal
Convenient to clean, but disposable bags contribute to landfill waste
Also convenient to clean and  more environmentally friendly
Suction Power
Consistent suction power due to airflow through disposable bags
Can suffer from reduced suction power due to filter clogs
Filtration
More effective filtration system as it has HEPA filters & disposable bags
Filters are less effective due to the messy dustbin cleaning
Maintenance
Easier maintenance with disposable bags
Requires more maintenance as filters need frequent cleaning 
Cost
Less cost-effective due to the need of frequently buying disposable bags
More cost-effective since you don’t have to buy disposable bags

FAQs on bagged and bagless vacuum

Yes, you can use a vacuum without a bag since this type usually comes with canisters or bins to collect dust. However, remember that it requires more maintenance as you must periodically replace their filters. 

No, you can’t put a bag in a bagless vacuum cleaner because they don’t have the compartment to accommodate a bag.

A wet and dry vacuum is a versatile cleaning tool that can help clean both indoor and outdoor surfaces. It can pick up dust, dirt, and other debris as well as tackle wet spills.

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