Dad’s short answer: Canisters are usually quietest, because the motor sits away from your head. Uprights are louder, cordless sticks vary a lot with the power setting, and handhelds are often louder than you'd expect for the size.

Why each type sounds the way it does

A canister keeps the motor in a body on the floor behind you, with a hose between it and your ears. That distance does most of the work, and canisters are typically the quietest full-size option.

An upright has the motor near chest or head height with a brush roll beating carpet right underneath. Louder by design.

A cordless stick depends heavily on mode. On eco it's genuinely quiet; on boost it isn't. Machines that auto-detect surfaces help, because they only get loud when there's a reason to.

Handhelds surprise people. A small motor spinning fast in a small plastic body makes a high-pitched noise that's more irritating than the raw volume suggests. On one handheld I rated highly, running a little loud was on my list of things to know.

What you can do about it

Use the lower power setting on hard floors. You rarely need boost on tile or wood, and the noise difference is substantial.

Keep the filter clean. A restricted machine works harder and whines.

Check for clogs. A partial blockage changes the pitch noticeably — if your vacuum suddenly sounds different, that's usually why, and it's costing you suction too.

If noise is a genuine concern in your home, a canister on a lower setting is the quietest route to a properly cleaned floor.

Dad’s Take: If noise matters, look at a canister. Putting the motor on the floor behind you does more than any sound insulation.