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Before the vacuum cleaner was invented, people often used carpet sweepers. Though technology has rendered them almost obsolete, their lightweight, compact design and affordable price tag are helping these cleaning tools make a comeback.
Unlike vacuum cleaners, which use mechanical suction, carpet sweepers employ a revolving brush to collect hair, dirt, crumbs, and debris from floors. Pushing the sweeper across a surface causes the brush to rotate quickly and create static, which attracts dust and hair.
Though carpet sweepers aren’t for deep cleaning, they’re still useful household tools, particularly for quick carpet touch-ups between weekly vacuumings. We tested some of the best on the market to find out which ones work best for specific situations. Our favorite was the Bissell Natural Sweep Carpet and Floor Sweeper thanks to its light weight, user-friendliness, and easy maintenance. Keep reading to learn what to look for when shopping for a carpet sweeper, along with recommendations for some of the best carpet sweepers on the market based on our hands-on testing.
- BEST OVERALL: Bissell Natural Sweep Carpet and Floor Sweeper
Jump to Review - BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Bissell EasySweep Compact Manual Sweeper
Jump to Review - UPGRADE PICK: Fuller Brush Electrostatic Carpet and Floor Sweeper
Jump to Review - BEST RUBBER BLADE: Rubbermaid Executive Series Mechanical Sweeper
Jump to Review - BEST FOR MULTI-FLOOR USE: Alpine Industries Superior Pick Up Carpet Sweeper
Jump to Review - BEST FOR PET HAIR: Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo Cordless Floor Sweeper
Jump to Review - BEST POWERED: Karcher KB 5 Cordless Electric Broom
Jump to Review - BEST MANUAL: Eyliden Carpet Sweeper
Jump to Review - BEST LIGHTWEIGHT: Shark Cordless Floor and Carpet Sweeper
Jump to Review
How We Tested the Best Carpet Sweepers
We assembled each carpet sweeper and put it through a variety of tests, sweeping along edges, under furniture, corners, area rugs, carpeting, and hard flooring. We noted how well each product picked up bread crumbs (to simulate dust), dog kibble, and pet hair on all surfaces. We then rated each sweeper based on how well it picked up. We also noted the sweeper’s maneuverability.
Finally, we cleaned out the dirt bins, noting the ease with which each compartment emptied. We then used these discoveries to assess whether each model was a good value for the money.
Our Top Picks
The best carpet sweeper usually can clean multiple types of flooring, hold an entire round of cleaning’s worth of dirt and debris in its canister, and pick up the messes unique to your home. Top-quality sweepers work well and last a long time. The following recommendations are based on our hands-on testing and include a range of categories to help you find the right carpet sweeper for your home.
Best Overall
Bissell Natural Sweep Carpet and Floor Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 2
- Electric: No
- Weight: 3.5 pounds
What We Like
- Easily accessible dirt cup allows for simple maintenance; simply hold over a garbage can and release debris and dirt
- Lightweight at just 3.5 pounds and comfortable to use; can be carried up and down stairs
- Fast, intuitive assembly; ready to use in minutes for peak user-friendliness
What We Don’t Like
- Can struggle with picking up small debris; may not be the best for crumbs
The Bissell Natural Sweep Carpet and Floor Sweeper is a manual sweeper with dual rotating brush rolls and two corner brushes. One brush gathers larger debris, while the other picks up smaller particles. The brush design is effective in picking up hair, dirt, and crumbs on a variety of floor surfaces, including carpets, rugs, and hard floors like wood and tile. Fairly lightweight at 3.5 pounds, it has a 9.5-inch cleaning pad.
This carpet sweeper is comfortable to use and compact. It worked impressively on larger debris like dog kibble on both carpeting and hard floors. However, small debris such as bread crumbs took a few tries to sweep up, especially on wood floors. Still, we like how it removed dog hair from area rugs.
Get the Bissell Natural Sweep carpet sweeper at Amazon, Walmart, or Bissell.
Best Bang for the Buck
Bissell EasySweep Compact Carpet & Floor Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 1
- Electric: No
- Weight: 2.85 pounds
What We Like
- Ideal for area rugs as well as low-pile carpeting; perfect for picking up pet hair and dander
- Compact and easy to carry up and down stairs and store in supply closets and garages
- Simple assembly; does not come with a lot of small parts to put together
What We Don’t Like
- Not the best for large debris on hard flooring
The Bissell EasySweep manual sweeper can be used on area rugs, low-pile carpet, and hard floor surfaces. Its short sweeper head and low profile make it a good option for parents, pet owners, and others who frequently clean the floors under furniture.
This carpet sweeper has a single removable brush roll that can gather dirt, hair, and other debris. Once cleaning is complete, the EasySweep’s dual canisters are easy to empty. At only 2.85 pounds, it’s one of the lightest—and most affordable—sweepers on the market, and its handle loop makes it easy to hang in the storage closet when not in use. Fast to assemble and easy to use, the Bissell EasySweep lives up to its name. However, users may need to add a little extra elbow grease to cleaning routines. Picking up small bits of debris required multiple sweeps on all surfaces. It also isn’t the best choice for large bits of debris such as dog kibble. Still, we were impressed with how well it picked up pet hair on delicate area rugs. So, while it might not check every box, the Bissell EasySweep may be adequate for some households.
Get the Bissell EasySweep carpet sweeper at Amazon, Target, or Bissell.
Upgrade Pick
Fuller Brush Electrostatic Carpet and Floor Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 1
- Electric: No
- Weight: About 3 pounds
What We Like
- Compact size makes it easy to maneuver, transport, and store after use; folds down into a compact unit
- Openings on both sides to empty the dustbin; simple cleanup after use
- Assembly is relatively quick and pain-free for peak user-friendliness
What We Don’t Like
- Not as efficient at picking up large debris on hard flooring
The Fuller Brush electrostatic carpet and floor sweeper, a manual sweeper, has two rollers. One includes an electrostatic brush that can tackle messes like hair, crumbs, dust, and debris. The other roll contains a vinyl blade that can pick up larger items, including paper clips, glass, and even wet food spills.
This sweeper weighs about 3 pounds, folds flat, and is easy to store. The Fuller sweeper works well on low-pile carpet and hard floors like tile, wood, and laminate. Though this sweeper is more expensive than many carpet sweepers, this product’s quality and thoughtful construction are evident. Both its housing and handle are constructed of metal rather than plastic, and it has a vinyl bumper to prevent the sweeper from damaging furniture and walls.
We found this sweeper works a little harder than most and requires less effort to use, because pushing it back and forth creates an electrostatic charge, which helps attract dirt, dust, and debris. Therefore, we suggest rolling a few times before using this carpet sweeper.
Impressive on floors, it picked up small and large debris quickly. Because it doesn’t work quite as well on hard flooring as it does on carpeting, it’s an ideal choice for spaces with lots of rugs or wall-to-wall carpeting.
Get the Fuller Brush carpet sweeper at Amazon or Fuller.
Best Rubber Blade
Rubbermaid Executive Series Mechanical Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: None
- Electric: No
- Weight: 19.6 pounds
What We Like
- Durable construction; made with galvanized steel and ABS plastic for long-term use
- Dirt cup flips up with a 1-touch button for easy access when removing hair, dust, debris, and large materials
- Clear window on top makes it easy to know when to empty the dustbin
- Excels at picking up small debris; perfect for homes with children and pets
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly noisy when operating compared to similar options
- Significantly heavier than other options on our list (19.6 pounds)
Rubbermaid’s brushless carpet sweeper isn’t exactly brushless; instead, it contains small brushes on each corner to pick up even the smallest bits of debris. However, the main brush has a large, non-marking rubber blade that’s also capable of picking up semi-liquid messes.
Constructed of galvanized steel and ABS plastic with a soft-grip handle, Rubbermaid’s slim sweeper—its sweep path is just 7.5 inches wide—can maneuver into and under tight spaces. The windows on its two debris canisters allow the user to observe fill levels and empty it promptly. With its one-touch emptying doors, debris disposal is easy.
A great all-around sweeper, we were impressed at how well this sweeper worked at picking up large pieces of debris on both carpet and hard flooring. While getting all the small debris on hard floors took multiple passes, it still worked better than many other sweepers. A true winner for rooms with wall-to-wall carpeting, the Rubbermaid Executive Series sweeper picked up a shocking amount of deeply embedded pet hair. Cleanup is fast and easy. While this is one of the pricier models, it may be worth the splurge.
Get the Rubbermaid carpet sweeper at Amazon, Wayfair or Grainger.
Best for Multi-Floor Use
Alpine Industries Superior Pick Up Carpet Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 3
- Electric: No
- Weight: 2.93 pounds
What We Like
- Made of durable steel and plastic; great for frequent or professional use
- Large handle makes it more comfortable to use than some comparable options
- Suitable for use on all types of flooring, including hardwood floors, tile, vinyl, and carpeting
- Comes with a cleaning tool for removing debris and hair from the internal components
What We Don’t Like
- Is not the most efficient tool to use for large debris on hard flooring
Alpine Industries’ carpet sweeper effectively cleans messes on multiple surfaces, including tile, vinyl, hardwood, area rugs, and carpet. Constructed of steel and plastic, it weighs just 2.93 pounds and maneuvers around furniture and into corners and other tight spaces.
A few features set this sweeper apart from its competition. Its easy-glide rubber wheels help ease the transition between one type of flooring and another. Its brush roller can pick up hair, dust, dirt, crumbs, and even glass, and the vinyl bumper protects walls from scratches and scuffs. It contains four corner brushes and two smaller rolls on each side, so it can pick up a larger area with every sweep.
This sweeper is one of the easiest models to clean. It has an easy-to-open door and includes a comb accessory that simplifies cleanup, especially if hair is wrapped around the roller.
While this sweeper worked best on carpet for both large and small debris, it can be used on all types of flooring, making it a solid choice at an excellent price. Moreover, it’s compact and easy to store.
Get the Alpine Industries carpet sweeper at Amazon, Walmart, or Office Depot.
Best for Pet Hair
Bissell Perfect Sweep Turbo Cordless Floor Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 1
- Electric: Yes
- Weight: 4 pounds
What We Like
- Bright charging light clearly indicates when it’s ready to use; battery lasts for over 60 minutes
- Large dustbin can hold 480 milliliters of debris; requires less frequent emptying than comparable options
- Large power button can be activated easily with your feet for ample user-friendliness; perfect for those with limited mobility
- Great quality build with powerful dirt pickup; long-term reliability
What We Don’t Like
- Might be cumbersome to store; larger than most models
- Louder than the manual options on this list at 80 decibels
Bissell’s Perfect Sweep carpet sweeper can pick up pet hair from hard floors, carpets, and area rugs. Its rechargeable battery lasts for up to 60 minutes, and it operates quietly enough not to disrupt other household members.
The Perfect Sweep’s dirt canister, which holds up to 480 milliliters of debris, lifts out of the sweeper for easy emptying. This sweeper weighs just 4 pounds and lays flat for compact storage and has easy-glide rubber wheels and an adjustable handle.
This sweeper swept everything quickly, including large bits of debris, dust, bread crumbs, and deeply embedded pet hair, faster than manual options. However, users may need to empty it often since it picks up so much dirt. It contains a large clear dirt compartment, so users don’t have to second guess when it’s full. The tray slides in and out with minimal effort.
Get the Bissell Perfect Sweep carpet sweeper at Amazon or Walmart.
Best Powered
Karcher KB 5 Cordless Electric Broom
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 1
- Electric: Yes
- Weight: 2.6 pounds (without accessories)
What We Like
- Suitable for whole-house use; works on hard flooring varieties as well as low-pile carpet and rugs
- Large 8-inch rotating brush roll head picks up a lot of dust/dirt with every pass
- Easy-to-slide dirt tray makes cleanup fast and emptying easy
- Large handle can be folded flat; easy storage in closets or garages
What We Don’t Like
- Slightly flimsy charging cord may not be very durable; should be kept away from foot traffic
- A bit loud compared to other options (68 decibels)
With a slick yellow design that looks like a remote-controlled race car, the Karcher cordless electric broom starts up quickly and easily. Pull back the handle, and the Karcher powers up and will stay on for about 30 minutes after a 3-hour charge. At only 2.6 pounds, the Karcher KB 5 is also one of the lighter sweepers on this list.
The KB 5 runs on a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, and it picks up dirt and debris from both hard floors and low-pile carpets. Its brush roll is easy to clean, and the dirt cup empties easily. The package contains a charging cord for the battery.
With a handle that can move both horizontally and vertically, this model stands out for maneuverability. The handle can be folded flat for storage or for better reach when pivoting under furniture, especially low pieces. This is a smart choice for small spaces like tiny homes, RVs, and studio apartments. It picks up both large and small debris impressively on both hard floors and carpeting, cleaning quickly and efficiently.
Get the Karcher carpet sweeper at Amazon, The Home Depot, or Target.
Best Manual
Eyliden Carpet Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 1
- Electric: No
- Weight: 2.6 pounds
What We Like
- Compact and low-profile model fits almost anywhere; can sweep up in small spaces and be stored with ease
- Built with a 180-degree head and 4 rollers for effective and reliable use
- Available in multiple colors to suit user preferences: black, blue, mint, and red
- Easy to assemble with only a few parts to put together
What We Don’t Like
- So lightweight that it requires a bit of “elbow grease” to work effectively
- Somewhat flimsy handle compared to other more robust options
- Does not work on any hard flooring varieties; only made for carpeting
Eyliden’s manual hand-push carpet sweeper contains dual rotating brushes that pick up everything from hair and nutshells to waste paper. One of its best features, its corner-edge brush, allows it to grab dirt from tough-to-reach spots.
This sweeper rotates 180 degrees and has four rollers that help it glide over both carpet and hard floors. Though the Eyliden doesn’t have a telescoping handle, users can add or remove segments from the handle’s assembly to make it longer or shorter. It’s lightweight—only 2.6 pounds—and is small enough to stow under the sofa or bed.
This model picks up a variety of debris on carpeting fairly fast, making it a smart choice for quick cleanups in between deep cleanings. Moreover, it’s compact, making it ideal for homes without much storage. The Eyliden comes in four colors, black, red, mint, and blue, and it can be used on most floor surfaces.
The Eyliden might have been our best overall pick if it weren’t designed only for carpets.
Get the Eyliden carpet sweeper at Amazon.
Best Lightweight
Shark Cordless Floor and Carpet Sweeper
Product Specs
- Number of brushes: 1
- Electric: Yes
- Weight: 5.25 pounds
What We Like
- Assembly is quick and hassle-free; simply connect the handles together and attach to the brush head
- Swivel head can access hard-to-reach areas and maneuver easily
- Works well when used on carpeting and area rugs
- Brand has a good reputation for quality and reliability
What We Don’t Like
- A bit flimsy once put together; may not be suitable for professional use
- Slightly loud during operation compared to the manual options available
For a lightweight model, the Shark rechargeable floor and carpet sweeper is powerful. It offers two speeds and can clean everything from area rugs to stairs. Its swivel head allows it to easily maneuver around furniture. The bristles gather up tiny pet hairs from carpeting and area rugs, and it also picks up large pieces of kibble with ease.
The clear brush compartment sets this carpet sweeper apart, allowing users to see if something gets caught in the brush roll or is too large to get sucked in. Like the brush roll, the dirt tray is also clear, making it easy to monitor its contents. Because it has a 1.8-quart capacity, it doesn’t need to be emptied often. The tray slides out easily, ensuring everything lands in the garbage instead of back on the floor.
Get the Shark carpet sweeper at Amazon or Walmart.
Jump to Our Top Picks
What to Consider When Choosing a Carpet Sweeper
A good carpet sweeper is not a huge financial investment, but shoppers still must make a few decisions before purchasing one. The size and weight of the sweeper as well as its intended use determine how useful it will be. Keep reading to learn additional considerations when choosing a carpet sweeper.
Manual vs. Battery-Powered
Carpet sweepers are either manual or battery-powered.
- Manual carpet sweepers don’t require electricity; instead, as they’re rolled back and forth across a surface, they create static that attracts dirt. They’re good for quieter cleanups or minor messes.
- Battery-powered carpet sweepers require electricity to operate, either via a cord or a rechargeable battery. Homes with pets or those who clean frequently may prefer a battery-powered sweeper because the brushes turn faster than on a manual model. The greater the static, the better a sweeper can attract pet hair and dust.
Blades vs. Bristles
Carpet sweepers have two types of rolls: rubber or bristles. At one time, bristles were the most common type of roll in carpet sweepers, and while some sweepers still have them, bristles are more likely to get clogged when picking up hair. When that happens, the user must remove the roll and manually detangle the hair. However, bristles do a good job of grabbing dust and dirt.
Rubber rolls look a bit like blades, and they can pick up hair, dust, and debris just as well as bristle rolls. Moreover, hair is less likely to get caught in it. Both rubber and bristle rolls work well on multiple floor surfaces, such as carpet, wood, and tile floors.
Dirt Canister
Carpet sweepers have a container, also called a dirt canister, to hold the dust and debris that’s picked up by the roller. Look for a canister that’s easy to open, so dust doesn’t disperse when the container is emptied.
The larger the dirt canister, the more area that can be cleaned in one sweep, which makes that type ideal for large homes. However, carpet sweepers with roomy canisters can be bulky and are more difficult to pivot around tight corners, in between cabinets, and under furniture. Easy maneuverability is one reason people buy carpet sweepers in the first place, so look for a model that strikes a happy medium between canister capacity and maneuverability.
Sweeper Width
A few elements factor into a carpet sweeper’s overall size, first of which is the width of the roll, or roller. The average carpet sweeper measures about 5.5 by 17.8 by 13 inches. A wider roller covers more floor area in less time; however, it requires more storage space. Those with a small apartment or home may prefer a smaller, narrower model.
Wand Length
The length of the wand also impacts a sweeper’s overall size. Most sweeper handles are slim, much like a broomstick. Others have a rubber handhold to make pushing the sweeper more comfortable.
Wand lengths typically range from 42 to 52 inches. If several people will use one sweeper, look for a carpet sweeper with a telescoping adjustable wand.
Overall Weight
Unlike bulky, heavy vacuums, carpet sweepers generally weigh less than 5 pounds because they don’t have motors. Some models weigh as little as 2 pounds.
Battery-powered carpet sweepers are slightly heavier than manual carpet sweepers. The size of the sweeper’s dirt canister also affects its overall weight.
Accessories
Some carpet sweepers come bundled with additional accessories to help clean a variety of messes. One common accessory, a squeegee attachment, affixes to the sweeper to clean walls, floors, and even bathtubs. Other models have a brush to clean the sweeper’s rotating bristles to maintain the bristles and prevent hair and debris buildup.
Because the bristles are susceptible to bending and breaking over time, some sweepers come with a replacement brush. If not, check that replacement brushes are available.
Meet the Tester
Amanda Lauren is an interior design, lifestyle, and cleaning expert who has written for many publications, including Forbes, Real Simple, and Better Homes and Gardens. She has tested a variety of products for Bob Vila—vacuums, mops, shower squeegees, and more. She prefers to clean with vinegar and water whenever possible, and pet stains are the bane of her existence.
