We score every machine the same way, so the leaderboard is a fair comparison.
- Cleaning 40% — pet stains, coffee, mud and ground-in dirt, on the same carpet
- Drying 20% — how dry the carpet is after cleaning, and dry-only passes
- Ease of use 20% — weight, tank filling/emptying, hose, tools, stairs
- Value 20% — price, warranty, solution cost, owner ratings
Scores also use published specs, manuals, warranties, and Amazon owner aggregates where available. Prices change — check current price before buying.