The catch
Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
The dedicated bare-floor brush goes on in place of the Ultra Plush head
Side by side
Kenmore 81714 Ultra Plush vs 21814 CrossOver Compared: 21814 changes floor switching, with no extra cord or bag capacity
Quick verdict
Both have a 2.8-liter bag, a 26-foot cord and a motorized Pet PowerMate, so the 21814's higher positioning does not buy a larger bag or longer cord. Choose 81714 if thick carpet is the surface you struggle with. Choose 21814 if you keep moving between carpet and bare floors and will use its nested CrossOver nozzle and fan tool.
Before you buy
Why, and what it costs you
Upgrading does not stretch the cleaning route
Each lists a 26-foot cord and a 2.8-liter bag. Picking 21814 for a supposed capacity boost in a larger home would overlook the real distinction. What it adds is the CrossOver workflow and tools. Cord length and bag volume stay the same.
Where this comes from
26 minus 26 leaves 0 feet. 2.8 minus 2.8 leaves 0 liters. Nothing here speaks to usable bag fill or pickup speed.
The catch
Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
The dirt sensor may need cleaning itself, and it does not prove a carpet is hygienically clean
Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Why pick it
- Pushing across thick carpet is a struggle
- The Ultra Plush nozzle is what you want
- The catch
- The dedicated bare-floor brush goes on in place of the Ultra Plush head
Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Why pick it
- You go back and forth from carpet to hard floor
- Your regular cleaning route includes ceiling fans
- The catch
- The dirt sensor may need cleaning itself, and it does not prove a carpet is hygienically clean
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money
What this page compares
Kenmore 81714 against 21814 for thick carpet, floor transitions, fan cleaning and pet upholstery. Find out which Elite package is worth the upgrade.
Plush-carpet handling against changeover convenience is the biggest difference. Several headline specifications are the same.
Which one fits
Pick the situations that sound like you
Thick carpet that fights the floorhead
The purpose-built vented Ultra Plush nozzle is on 81714.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Better fit
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Good
Along the route, carpet and bare flooring keep alternating
The bare-floor nozzle on 21814 is nested inside the main head.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Good
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Better fit
Pet hair on stairs and furniture
A motorized Pet PowerMate comes with each.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Good
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Good
Dusting ceiling fans regularly
The fan tool comes with 21814.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Good
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Better fit
Wanting to change bags less often thanks to capacity
The published bags on both hold 2.8 liters. Actual fill depends on debris.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Similar
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Similar
In practice
Differences you will notice
Upgrading does not stretch the cleaning route
Each lists a 26-foot cord and a 2.8-liter bag. Picking 21814 for a supposed capacity boost in a larger home would overlook the real distinction. What it adds is the CrossOver workflow and tools. Cord length and bag volume stay the same.
How we worked this out
26 minus 26 leaves 0 feet. 2.8 minus 2.8 leaves 0 liters. Nothing here speaks to usable bag fill or pickup speed.
CrossOver is favored by mixed floors and high fixtures
21814 pairs a bare-floor tool nested inside the main nozzle with a fan attachment. A cleaning route that covers hallway flooring, a rug and ceiling fans can use both extras. The vented nozzle on 81714 is more relevant when a large thick-carpeted area is the obstacle.
How we worked this out
A crossover analysis of tasks, based on exact nozzle mechanisms and attachment lists.
An electronic indicator does not test hygiene
The sensor on 21814 detects debris while you vacuum. Kenmore also explains that dust on the sensor can leave the light on. Treat it as feedback on whether to make another pass, not confirmation that allergens, stains or pet waste are removed.
How we worked this out
An inference limited by the manufacturer's sensor-maintenance instructions.
Option A
Kenmore, 81714
Elite Ultra Plush 81714
Thick carpet resists pushing, and this bagged canister’s vented electric floorhead is designed with that in mind. A motorized Pet PowerMate handles smaller fabric surfaces too.
- Best for
- Pushing across thick carpet is a struggle
Facts we checked
- What the floorhead is for: A vented Ultra Plush nozzle
- Bag holds: 2.8 liters
- Cord for power: 26 feet, with rewind
- Tool for furniture: Motorized Pet PowerMate
Option B
Kenmore, 21814
Elite CrossOver 21814
When a single cleaning session takes in floors, furniture and high fixtures, this model’s tools make sense: a motorized hand tool, a fan attachment and the CrossOver floorhead, which nests a bare-floor nozzle inside the carpet head.
- Best for
- You go back and forth from carpet to hard floor
Facts we checked
- What the floorhead is for: A CrossOver nozzle with a nested bare-floor brush
- Bag holds: 2.8 liters
- Cord for power: 26 feet, with rewind
- Tool for furniture: Motorized Pet PowerMate
Spec by spec
Where they really differ
| Spec | Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714 | Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814 | In practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floorhead purpose | Vented Ultra Plush nozzle | CrossOver nozzle with nested bare-floor brush | The head to choose is the one whose mechanism fits your awkward surface or your repeated changeover. |
| Bag capacity | 2.8 liters | 2.8 liters | Bag volume on 21814 is no greater than on 81714. |
| Power cord | 26 feet with rewind | 26 feet with rewind | No gain in cord length is published. |
| Furniture tool | Motorized Pet PowerMate | Motorized Pet PowerMate | A powered attachment handles smaller fabric surfaces on both. |
| High fixtures | Dusting and crevice tools | Dusting, crevice and fan tools | A dedicated attachment for fan blades comes with 21814. |
| Cleaning feedback | No electronic dirt sensor specified | Electronic dirt sensor | The sensor can tell you when to make extra passes, but dirty sensor ports can give a false indication. |
Trade-offs
What each pick costs you
With Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- You will need replacement bags and filters
With Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- A 20 percent airflow claim does not translate into a proven pickup margin over another exact model
Change of plan
When the answer changes
A head that drags on plush carpet is the expensive problem
Go with Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714. Vent inlets are how 81714 targets that surface.
Tool swaps and fan dusting keep breaking your rhythm
Go with Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814. Those jobs are what the CrossOver nozzle and fan tool are made for.
Decision guide
How to decide
Decide which interruption you most want gone
The 81714 tackles hard movement over plush carpet, while the 21814 eases the move to hard flooring with its nested CrossOver nozzle. These are different conveniences. When most of the route is one continuous stretch of thick carpet, the floorhead interaction should come first. When rugs and bare flooring alternate, the changeover arrangement may count for more.
A longer feature list does not mean more cord or bag volume
The cord length and nominal bag capacity are listed as the same in both specifications, so the heads and attachments you will use should decide the purchase. A fan tool earns its keep if ceiling fans are on your routine, but it does nothing to improve sofa hair removal. Pet PowerMate already comes with both packages for that smaller brushing task.
What this page can’t tell you
- A 20 percent pickup advantage for 21814 is not established by any pair-matched test. The airflow marketing compares against a broader conventional-motor reference.
- Sanitizing performance is not established by sensor feedback or by HEPA filtration.
By the numbers
What the data shows
What we found across the canister vacuums we compare, plus the checked facts behind each finding.
Show the facts and the math
| Product | Needs it meets | Facts we checked | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714 |
|
| |
| Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814 |
|
|
Ready to buy
See today’s price and what owners say
Open either model on Amazon for the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
Pushing across thick carpet is a struggle
See price & reviews on AmazonKenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
You go back and forth from carpet to hard floor
See price & reviews on AmazonEach link opens in a new tab.
We may earn a commission from qualifying Amazon purchases. How we make money