Main trade-off
Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
Using the dedicated bare-floor brush means swapping it for the Ultra Plush head
Head-to-head
Kenmore 81714 Ultra Plush vs 21814 CrossOver: 21814 changes floor switching without buying more cord or bag capacity
The short answer
Choose 81714 when thick carpet is the surface you struggle with. Choose 21814 when you repeatedly move between carpet and bare floors and will use its nested CrossOver nozzle and fan tool. Both have a 2.8-liter bag, 26-foot cord and motorized Pet PowerMate, so the 21814's higher positioning does not buy a larger bag or longer cord.
Before you choose
The reasoning and the trade-offs
The upgrade does not extend the cleaning route
Both list 26-foot cords and 2.8-liter bags. Choosing 21814 for a supposed larger-home capacity boost would miss the actual distinction. Its added value lies in the CrossOver workflow and tools, rather than extra cord or bag volume.
What this is based on
26 minus 26 equals 0 feet. 2.8 minus 2.8 equals 0 liters. This says nothing about usable bag fill or pickup speed.
Main trade-off
Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
The dirt sensor can need cleaning and is not proof that a carpet is hygienically clean
Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Choose it for
- Thick carpet that is hard to push across
- You want the Ultra Plush nozzle
- Main trade-off
- Using the dedicated bare-floor brush means swapping it for the Ultra Plush head
Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Choose it for
- Repeated carpet-to-hard-floor transitions
- Ceiling fans are part of the regular cleaning route
- Main trade-off
- The dirt sensor can need cleaning and is not proof that a carpet is hygienically clean
About this comparison
Compare Kenmore 81714 and 21814 for thick carpet, floor transitions, fan cleaning and pet upholstery. Understand which Elite package earns the upgrade.
The strongest distinction is plush-carpet handling versus changeover convenience. Several headline specifications are identical.
Winner by situation
Start with what you need it to do
Thick carpet that resists the floorhead
81714 has the purpose-built vented Ultra Plush nozzle.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Better fit
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Good
Carpet and bare flooring alternate throughout the route
21814 keeps its bare-floor nozzle nested inside the main head.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Good
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Better fit
Pet hair on furniture and stairs
Both include a motorized Pet PowerMate.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Good
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Good
Regular ceiling-fan dusting
21814 includes the fan tool.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Good
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Better fit
Wanting fewer bag changes because of capacity
Both published bags hold 2.8 liters. Actual fill depends on debris.
- Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Similar
- Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Similar
What matters in practice
The differences that matter
The upgrade does not extend the cleaning route
Both list 26-foot cords and 2.8-liter bags. Choosing 21814 for a supposed larger-home capacity boost would miss the actual distinction. Its added value lies in the CrossOver workflow and tools, rather than extra cord or bag volume.
How we reached this conclusion
26 minus 26 equals 0 feet. 2.8 minus 2.8 equals 0 liters. This says nothing about usable bag fill or pickup speed.
Mixed floors plus high fixtures favors CrossOver
21814 combines a bare-floor tool nested inside the main nozzle with a fan attachment. A cleaning route covering hallway flooring, a rug and ceiling fans can use both extras. 81714's vented nozzle is more relevant when a large thick-carpeted area is the obstacle.
How we reached this conclusion
Crossover task analysis from exact nozzle mechanisms and attachment lists.
An electronic indicator is not a hygiene test
21814's sensor detects debris during vacuuming. Kenmore also explains that dust on the sensor can leave the light on. Use it as feedback about another pass, not confirmation that allergens, stains or pet waste are removed.
How we reached this conclusion
Inference constrained by the manufacturer's sensor-maintenance instructions.
Choice A
Kenmore, 81714
Elite Ultra Plush 81714
A bagged canister whose vented electric floorhead is designed around the pushing resistance of thick carpet. A motorized Pet PowerMate also covers smaller fabric surfaces.
- Best matched use
- Thick carpet that is hard to push across
Checked facts
- Floorhead purpose: Vented Ultra Plush nozzle
- Bag capacity: 2.8 liters
- Power cord: 26 feet with rewind
- Furniture tool: Motorized Pet PowerMate
Choice B
Kenmore, 21814
Elite CrossOver 21814
The CrossOver floorhead keeps a bare-floor nozzle nested inside the carpet head. Its motorized hand tool and fan attachment make sense when the same cleaning session covers floors, furniture and high fixtures.
- Best matched use
- Repeated carpet-to-hard-floor transitions
Checked facts
- Floorhead purpose: CrossOver nozzle with nested bare-floor brush
- Bag capacity: 2.8 liters
- Power cord: 26 feet with rewind
- Furniture tool: Motorized Pet PowerMate
Meaningful differences
What changes the fit
| What changes | Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714 | Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814 | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Floorhead purpose | Vented Ultra Plush nozzle | CrossOver nozzle with nested bare-floor brush | Choose the head whose mechanism addresses your awkward surface or repeated changeover. |
| Bag capacity | 2.8 liters | 2.8 liters | 21814 does not add bag volume over 81714. |
| Power cord | 26 feet with rewind | 26 feet with rewind | There is no published cord-length gain. |
| Furniture tool | Motorized Pet PowerMate | Motorized Pet PowerMate | Both cover smaller fabric surfaces with a powered attachment. |
| High fixtures | Dusting and crevice tools | Dusting, crevice and fan tools | 21814 includes a dedicated attachment for fan blades. |
| Cleaning feedback | No electronic dirt sensor specified | Electronic dirt sensor | The sensor can guide extra passes, but dirty sensor ports can produce a false indication. |
What you give up
Every choice has a cost
If you choose Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
- Needs replacement bags and filters
If you choose Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
- Its 20 percent airflow claim does not establish a pickup margin over another exact model
Recommendation switch
The decision flips if...
The expensive problem is a head that drags on plush carpet
Choose Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714. 81714 targets that surface with vent inlets.
Switching tools and dusting fans interrupt your routine
Choose Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814. The CrossOver nozzle and fan tool directly address those tasks.
What matters in practice
How to make the call
Check which interruption you want to remove
81714 addresses difficult movement over plush carpet. 21814 changes the transition to hard flooring through its nested CrossOver nozzle. Those are different conveniences. If most of the route is one continuous thick carpet, the floorhead interaction deserves priority. If rugs and bare flooring alternate, the changeover arrangement may matter more.
The larger feature list does not add cord or bag volume
Both specifications list the same cord length and nominal bag capacity. The purchase should therefore turn on the heads and attachments you will use. A fan tool is useful if ceiling fans are part of your routine, but it is not an improvement to sofa hair removal. Both packages already include Pet PowerMate for that smaller brushing task.
What this comparison cannot tell you
- No pair-matched test establishes a 20 percent pickup advantage for 21814. Its airflow marketing uses a broader conventional-motor reference.
- Neither sensor feedback nor HEPA filtration establishes sanitizing performance.
What the facts say
What the comparison shows
Useful conclusions from the current canister vacuums comparison, followed by the checked facts used to reach them.
See the checked facts and calculation notes
| Product | Needs matched | Checked facts | Source records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714 |
|
| |
| Kenmore Elite CrossOver 21814 |
|
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Ready to choose?
Check the price. Read the owner reviews.
Open either model on Amazon to check the current price, customer reviews and delivery options.
Kenmore Elite Ultra Plush 81714
Thick carpet that is hard to push across
See price & reviews on AmazonKenmore Elite CrossOver 21814
Repeated carpet-to-hard-floor transitions
See price & reviews on AmazonLinks open in a new tab.