Hey, cleaning company owners. I’m going to lay out the bare bones differences between the types of backpack vacuum cleaners on the market. This post includes everything I’ve personally used to help me choose the best backpack vacuum cleaners for each of my RESIDENTIAL and COMMERCIAL cleaning companies.

This is your chance to get a peek under the hood to see how we picked the best performing and cost-effective vacuums that helped get our quality ratings to the top of the industry.

BTW, after you read this article you might want to check out my 7 Best Backpack Vacuum Recommendations for 2022. Whether you are in the market to buy right now, or not, these two articles fit together to give you a thorough perspective that I think you’ll find helpful as you consider your options.

What are the different types of backpack vacuums?

Corded versus Cordless Backpack Vacuums

A corded backpack vacuum, as the name suggests, is powered by a cord that plugs into an outlet.

A cordless backpack vacuum is powered by batteries. You aren’t tethered to a power source.

• A cordless backpack vacuum cleaner is not as powerful, i.e. suction power, as a corded backpack vacuum cleaner. A typical corded backpack vacuum has 100 – 160 CFM whereas a cordless vacuum will range from 55-70 CFM. This doesn’t mean a cordless backpack vacuum is bad, it just has less suction power, and that means it may not be as effective when you have excessive dirt to deal with or need to vacuum thicker pile carpets.
• A cordless backpack vacuum is not tethered to a power source, so you have more freedom of movement.
• Most cordless backpack vacuums have a runtime of 40 – 55 minutes, with a battery recharge time of 2.5 – 3.5 hours. Unless you have only one short job per day, you will need more than one battery.
• Cordless backpack vacuums (battery powered backpack vacuums) are more expensive than corded backpack vacuums due to the cost of the battery. They can cost up to 50% or more than higher-end corded backpack vacuums. The cost increases if you purchase more than one battery.
• Cordless vacuums are heavier than corded versions, again, due to the battery weight. If the typical corded backpack weighs in the 10-12 lb. range, the its cordless counterpart might be upwards of 15 – 17 lbs., on average. If you go with a cordless backpack vacuum, then want to make sure the harness is well padded and has a waist belt that does its job of keeping the extra weight on your hips, and not your shoulders.

One of the main advantages of getting a backpack vacuum is to increase cleaning efficiency. Better cleaning efficacy means less time cleaning which equates to more jobs in the same amount of time at less cost (labor).

Backpack vacuums are HIGHLY efficient compared to traditional upright vacuum cleaners, particularly if you pair them with the right cleaning attachments, such as ProTeam’s ProGlide Tool, which is an innovative wand and floor tool that puts your commercial cleaning abilities on steroids.

I have a lot of personal experience with the ProGlide. The best comparison I can make is like going from a medieval sword to a light saber in terms of the gain in speed and efficiency. Yes, it’s that good!

Check out my post The 7 Best Backpack Vacuums to learn more about the ProGlide tool.

However, the increase in efficiency in moving from a corded to cordless backpack vacuum is more difficult to quantify. The gain here is less, but it certainly is more convenient to not have to go back and change the plug in as you move about the space.

The Types of Backpack Vacuums Based on their Configurations

Backpack vacuums are used for either residential or commercial (office) cleaning , or both.

The main difference between the best backpack vacuums for residential versus commercial has to do not as much with the design of the backpack vacuum itself, but of the attachments required for these different types of settings.

The best backpack vacuums offer a variety of attachments so you can get the most out of your investment.

• Commercial office spaces typically have hard floors and low-pile carpet, thus a power motor head may not be necessary.
• Residential spaces often have deep, thicker carpet that needs to be vacuumed. If you want to use an upright backpack vacuum for cleaning homes then you need to make sure you have a power nozzle, or motorhead attachment that allows you to clean thicker carpeting.
• Most backpack vacuums, including the best backpack vacuums, tend to be specialized towards either residential or commercial.
  
  This means they are sold with or without the power nozzle. It’s important to know whether the power nozzle can be added as an attachment, if you think you may need to do thicker carpeting.
• Many of the backpack vacuum cleaners that have power nozzles as part of their package often do not have the two types of hard floor nozzles that are needed, and these will need to be purchased separately.
• Be aware that while many backpack vacuums are marketed as MULTI-SURFACE capable, this is ALWAYS defined by the tools they come with, so you HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THE TOOLS THAT ARE REQUIRED FOR THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SURFACES YOU ARE CLEANING..
  
  When companies say multi-surface cleaning they are ALMOST ALWAYS referring to low-pile carpets, like what you’ll find in offices. For homes (residential) look for the ability to add-on a motor head attachment, which is a MUST-HAVE for vacuuming the thicker residential-style carpeting.

Specialty backpack vacuums

Wet/dry commercial backpack vacuums can handle both wet and dry messes.

• These backpack vacuums can be good options for hard flooring in homes with pets or small children.
• They may not be as powerful as corded vacuums.
• Like a multifunction printer/fax/copier machine they are often more expensive. You usually give up something in terms of quality by adopting a multi-function tool versus having two specialty tools that each perform at the top of their purpose.

Are backpack vacuum cleaners worth the money?

There is a reason why so many professional cleaning companies use backpack vacuums. Backpack vacuums are faster and, with greater suction power, provide high quality cleaning which means more jobs at higher quality can be done in a shorter period of time.

• A backpack vacuum can be, but is not always more expensive than a traditional upright vacuum.
• Commercial backpack vacuums are faster and provide high quality cleaning. This means more jobs at higher quality can be done in a shorter period of time.
• Make sure your commercial backpack vacuum comes with additional attachments so you get the versatility you need in order to drive the efficiency you expect. Look for one with a hepa filtration system.
• Cordless backpack vacuum cleaners are more convenient to use because you don’t have to go back and change the plug in as you move about the space.
• The return on investment for a commercial backpack vacuum is based on the operating cost of the vacuum as well as the increase in efficiency from going from a traditional to backpack vacuum. Operating cost includes repair and maintenance costs, which should be lower, as backpack vacuums are often more durable than traditional models.
• The return on investment (ROI) may not be as high as some people expect, especially if you are running smaller jobs in commercial spaces where the efficiency factor isn’t that much different between a commercial backpack vacuum and a traditional vacuum cleaner.
• The ROI in going from a corded commercial backpack vacuum to a cordless commercial backpack vacuum is less so than moving from a traditional upright or canister vacuum cleaner. The real value is in the added convenience of not having to deal with a cord.

What are the Most Important Factors to Consider When Choosing a Backpack Vacuum Cleaner?

• What type of space will you be vacuuming and what are the specific needs in those spaces (residential, commercial, or both).
• What kind of flooring do you have in your home or office (hardwood, carpet, tile).
• What is the height and weight of the vacuum (most people want a lightweight backpack vacuum cleaner!)
• What level of durability do you require? (Used and put away in a janitoral closet OR moved around from location to location by multiple cleaning crews).
• Do you want/need a hepa backpack vacuum cleaner (hepa filtration system)?
• What features are most important to you (e.g. cordless, powerful suction, detachable power nozzle, etc.)?
• What brand do you prefer?
• Do you want a bagged backpack vacuum cleaner? That’s what I recommend for ease of cleaning and better performance. Don’t settle for bagless vacuums without a hepa filtration system. Get a bagged hepa backpack vacuum.
• What size commercial backpack vacuum do you need? Typically 6-quart is fine, but 10-quart vacuum cleaners are available for larger volume cleaning needs.
• What cleaning attachments do you need and what comes with the vacuum cleaner (e.g. crevice tool, dusting brush, upholstery tool, motor head)?
• Can you purchase additional cleaning attachments, like a floor brush, for your backpack vacuum cleaner?
• What is the backpack vacuum cleaner warranty? You want a vacuum that is durable and will last you for many years, and you want to see the company stand behind their marketing claims.
• What is customer service like for the company? (for when, NOT if you need repairs to your vacuum cleaner)
• Is local service available, when you need a fast turnaround because you will! What is the local distributor’s customer service like and what is their response and turnaround time for vacuum cleaner repairs?
• What is the company’s vacuum cleaner return policy?
• What are the reviews saying about the backpack vacuum cleaner?
• What is the best solution for your BACKUP backpack vacuum cleaner? Should you purchase two of the same backpack vacuum cleaner model or a cheaper backup?
• Are parts and cleaning attachments easily available? Can you get a replacement floor brush quickly when you need it? Can you easily make minor repairs on the backpack vacuum yourself for the fastest turnaround time?
• AND FINALLY – What is your budget?

How Did I Choose the Right Vacuum for My Company?

Check out my Are Backpack Vacuums Any Good? article to learn the FIVE ESSENTIAL CRTIERIA I used to decide if I wanted to go with a backpack vacuums versus traditional uprights in my businesses.

Wrap-Up

In conclusion, there are many factors to consider when choosing a backpack vacuum.

The most important thing to do, in my opinion, is to take the time to clearly define your needs.

I do believe backpack vacuums are the most efficient vacuuming cleaning tool for the professional cleaning company.

Even so, because there are many different configurations of backpack vacuum cleaners available, it is REALLY important to figure out what you need upfront.

And then to take the time to map out how you will keep your vacuum cleaner(s) up and running in your business.

Everyone has a budget.

But don’t be penny safe and pound foolish.

When you take time and carefully consider and weigh these alternatives you stand the best chance of making the right backpack vacuum choice, one that’s tailored to your needs.

I hope this post was helpful in pointing out the key considerations to take into account as you choose the right backpack vacuum cleaner for your needs.