6 Best Pool Vacuum Cleaners for a Clear and Sparkling Pool

For this report, experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab collaborated with pool industry professionals to identify the main types of residential pool cleaners and the most widely available brands and models.

Our engineers began by reviewing product specs, features and user manuals, evaluating factors like power source, filter design and cleaning coverage. For select models, we conducted hands-on evaluations, observing performance and ease of use in real-world conditions. These trials took place in the home swimming pools of consumer testers, who shared feedback on setup, operation and cleaning effectiveness. We also evaluated some models in the Lab for ease of assembly, construction quality and, for cordless options, battery charge time.

The type of pool and your budget are two key factors in determining which pool cleaner is best for you. To help narrow the field, consider the following:

✔️ Type: Thanks to a slew of new technologies, the product category has become much more diverse over the last decade. Here are the main types to choose from:

• Suction-side pool cleaners: These cleaners integrate with your pool’s dedicated suction line or connect to the pool’s skimmer. They use the suction power of the pool pump to vacuum all pool surfaces, sending debris to the pool filter, where it must be removed by hand. Suction-side cleaners are relatively inexpensive, but they tend to struggle with leaves and other large debris.
• Pressure-side pool cleaners: These systems operate independently of the pool’s filtration system. Pressurized water propels the cleaner through the pool, where it collects debris and deposits it in a separate filtration bag. These powerful cleaners can handle large and small debris, plus they don’t put any added strain on the filtration system. But they tend to cost more than suction-side cleaners.
• Robotic pool cleaners: Similar to robotic vacuums, these autonomous cleaners run off a low-voltage motor; most have a cord that plugs into a standard GFCI outlet. Debris is collected in an on-board canister that must be emptied periodically. They’re good at capturing all kinds of debris, but they’re pricey, and the cord is another tangle hazard. Cordless robotic pool cleaners eliminate the issue, but run time is still on the shorter side with many units.
• Manual pool cleaners: These cleaners typically feature a vacuum that attaches to a long pole (many models will work with the pole of a standard pool skimmer). You actually guide the cleaner throughout the pool, making it more labor-intensive than automatic cleaners. But they cost the least out of all cleaner types.
• In-ground pool cleaners: At the opposite end of the price spectrum, in-ground pool cleaners are a luxury system that consists of nozzles that pop up from the bottom and sides of the pool, stir up debris, and send it to a main collection drain. They’re extremely effective and low-maintenance, but they’re expensive and can only be installed when the pool is first being built.

✔️ Manual vs. automatic: If you’re on a tight budget, choosing a manual cleaner will get you the lowest price. But you’ll need to supply power to guide the cleaner throughout your pool, which might take 30 minutes to one hour, depending on the pool's size and complexity. Automatic pool cleaners, whether plug-in or battery-powered, navigate the pool floor and walls, so all you need to do is put them in the water and take them out. But you should expect to spend $500 to $1,000 more on an automatic pool vacuum cleaner.

✔️ Cleaning coverage: The size and configuration of your pool are determining factors here. Some cleaners can only cover a certain size pool, for example, based on the length of the power cord with automatic models or the pole length with manual cleaners. Most cleaners work both horizontally and vertically, though some are only for floors and can’t climb walls. If your pool has many cutouts and corners, look for a cleaner with a tail scrubber that kicks up debris in tight spaces.

It’s definitely worth investing in a pool vacuum cleaner. In fact, pool professionals say it’s an essential piece of maintenance equipment because it keeps the pool looking good and operating smoothly. Plus, our testers all told us that using a pool vacuum cleaner reduced the frequency of professional pool cleaning.

Given that the average annual cost for professional pool cleaning is between $1,200 and $1,800, according to the home services marketplace Angi, a capable pool vacuum cleaner could pay for itself in just a few years.

A high-quality pool cleaner, like those featured in this roundup, could deliver up to 10 years of service. Pressure-side cleaners tend to last the longest, since they're not integrated with the filtration system (hence fewer moving parts). Because cordless robotic cleaners are so new to the market, they haven't stood the test of time; a good one should last at least five years.

Proper maintenance is essential to maximizing the lifespan of any pool cleaner. That includes emptying the bag or canister regularly to prevent sand and hair from adding unnecessary wear and tear to the motor.

When the cleaner is not in use, avoid storing it in direct sunlight, which can accelerate aging and degradation. And if you winterize your pool, be sure to drain the cleaner's water so it won't freeze and damage internal parts or connections.

Dan DiClerico has covered the home improvement market for more than two decades. He has written dozens of how-to articles on the installation and maintenance of swimming pools, both in-ground and above-ground versions, working closely with professional installers to understand the latest techniques and innovations. DiClerico is a regular at trade shows and industry events, where he keeps up with market trends. In his role at the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Improvement & Outdoor Lab, DiClerico oversees all pool equipment testing, working closely with our team of engineers and product experts. He also manages any consumer surveys designed to capture homeowners' experiences with various building products and materials.