Many long-time Dyson users love their upright and even larger canister vacuums, but have wondered why this flagship company hasn’t made a nice, small version for quick cleanups or for those who live in much smaller homes or apartments with limited area to clean and limited storage space. Enter the Dyson DC47 Review.

The Dyson DC47 Review
Is it easy to use?
First, with the company’s proprietary ball technology, the Dyson DC47 Animal has all its motorised components housed in an enclosed ball at the base of the unit. Not only does it mean all the most important parts are protected, but it also keeps the bulk of the vacuum’s weight in the perfect place – close to the ground. This central steering system also makes steering very easy.
The upgraded 5-roller ball wheels on this little machine also make it easier to steer and follow you around better than other canisters on the market. The 5 wheels also contribute to its stability, allowing it to make very short turns and helping it stay upright instead of tipping over as it rolls along.
Another convenience many users don’t even know about is that the extension wand is adjustable, so it’s just as easy to clean up close as it is from afar. Combined with its very compact, easy-to-pull design, the Dyson DC47 Animal canister vacuum is easy to use.
What about allergies and dirt?
One really fancy feature of Dyson vacuums is that the dirt container is not only clear, but it’s also made of the same ABS polycarbonate used to make riot shields. Some people who haven’t owned a Dyson wonder if the plastic materials used will withstand the test of time. What they don’t realise is that these plastic compounds really are meant to last. Consumer Reports rates Dyson vacuums highly for reliability.
As for allergies, the entire line of these high-end vacuum cleaners is certified as allergy and asthma-friendly by the Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America. This not only means they pick up more dirt but also suck up finer particles you may not even see, which could make you sick.
But is it a good vacuum?
The Dyson DC 47 is not only easy to use, but it works really well. It has advanced technology compared to older models. While all vacuums from the company have great suction, this new technology features 32 cyclones across 2 tiers, making them much more powerful than previous models, which have only 1 tier and half as many cyclones or fewer.
To further support its cleaning, this cutting-edge vacuum cleaner combines carbon and nylon fibres in its cleaning head brush. Most vacuums only offer nylon bristles, which do a good job of cleaning carpets but also build up static, so much of the dust and dirt stick to them instead of getting sucked into the machine for disposal.
By combining nylon and carbon fibre in the bristles, the nylon works well to dig into carpet fibres, while the carbon fibre is best for getting dirt and dust from bare floors.
The Dyson DC47 Animal also comes with Dyson’s patented turbine tool, specifically engineered to pick up pet hair without the hair getting tangled in the brushes. Instead of a single big roller brush for animal hair to wrap around, it uses two individual brushes that rotate in opposite directions to catch hair and dirt from all directions.
This tool is also flexible, so it’s really good for getting into uneven surfaces, like upholstery, whether in your home or your car.
Do I need a lot of room to store it?
This is one of the smallest canister vacuums on the market so that you won’t need much storage space. Additionally, the hose attachment hooks onto the front of the unit, so you won’t have to worry about it falling over or finding a place to hang it up for storage.
Tools & Accessories: What comes with it?
- Tangle-free turbine tool: for pet hair on carpet and upholstery
- Carbon fibre floor cleaning head: great for bare floors
- Stair tool: a smaller cleaning head, great for stairs or smaller spaces
- Combination tool: small nozzle that converts to a brush for dusting or upholstery
What is the warranty?
Dyson provides an excellent parts-and-labour warranty when you purchase from an authorised reseller.
Dyson DC47 Animal Canister Vacuum Specifications (specs)
- Cleaning path width: 8.4″
- Dust container capacity: 0.153 gallons
- Cord length: 16.4′ with an automatic rewinder (push a button, and it goes back into the vacuum)
- Filters: Washable lifetime filters
- Power: 170 air watts
- Weight: 13.84 pounds
- Maximum reach: 27.36′
- Dimensions: 11.5” x 8.7” x 17.6”
Pros
- In more than one Dyson DC47 Animal review, people who bought the vacuum repeatedly comment that they love the attachments, which are really easy to use: they are easy to put in and take out, and they fasten securely. Hence, they are stable and don’t detach during use.
- Users love that this Dyson canister is compact and portable.
- It is fantastic at reaching hard-to-reach places.
- The automatic cord is something most users never thought they’d care about, but now they can’t live without it.
Cons
There are two things people complain about in Dyson DC47 reviews. First is the small capacity of the dirt container. If you have a larger home, a lot of dirt, or pets, you’ll need to empty it more often. Of course, this is to be expected from such a compact model Dyson canister vacuum, as there really isn’t room to hold more.
The second area of concern is the length of the cord. Even though the vacuum has a 27.36-foot reach, the cord is only 16.4 feet. This means if you have a larger home, you’ll be unplugging and replugging a lot more than with other vacuum cleaners.
If either of these items is a concern for you, or if you have quite large spaces to clean, looking into the Dyson DC39 Animal might be a good idea. It’s a very similar unit but larger with a longer cord.
Consumer Ratings
In reviews of this little powerhouse, it gets an overall score of 4.5 out of 5 stars, and most users would highly recommend it to their friends. There is no question that this qualifies as a vacuum.
Price
The Dyson DC47 Animal compact canister vacuum currently retails for about $$$; however, if you shop online, you’ll definitely get the best price. Amazon offers many Dyson vacuum cleaners on sale, and it’s currently offering a big discount: you can get this machine for about $$$ with free shipping.
Also, if the price is still too steep for your budget, you can sometimes get refurbished Dyson vacuum cleaners at a lower cost than newer models.
The Bottom Line
Overall, the DC 47 is a great machine that performs exactly as advertised, making it one of the top-rated vacuum cleaners in its class. If you have a small apartment or home and have pets, this might be the perfect pick for you. This would also be a good choice if you have a full-size upright and need a small canister for in-between cleanings or smaller jobs.
However, suppose you are concerned that this vacuum cleaner would overload and that you would have to empty the small canister repeatedly every time you clean. In that case, we recommend the Dyson DC39 Animal. It performs well. The biggest difference is the size.

I have a DC 47 vacuum AJ one you SGAA0525 a it came with no directions on how to clean it does anybody have any idea how I can clean this vacuum cleaner I take it out and I emptied the case but it’s got a screen around it and I can’t get it off any suggestions or how I can get directions to cleaning