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Henry Hoover Range
Henry the Hoover has become a mainstay in British households since his introduction in the early 1980s, meaning the original Henry Hoover has now been cleaning UK households and workplaces for more than fourty years. Famed for this smiling face and red colour, Henry has become a firm favourite and a vacuum of choice.
British manufacturer Numatic International has expanded the Henry Hoover range over the years to provide their first vacuum cleaner with some much needed company. There’s now fourteen different products in the Henry range, including a number of different Henry Hoover names which make up the Henry Hoover family. There’s Hetty, who’s also known as the female Henry Hoover, as well as James, Harry, George and Charles, the latter two which are wet and dry vacuums.
There’s also a number of different Henry versions, including the popular Henry Xtra, Henry Allergy, Henry Pet, Henry Eco and Henry Micro. There’s even now a Henry Cordless option too.
What this means is there’s now a large range when we’re talking about Henry, so deciding which is the best Henry Hoover is not as straightforward as it used to be. Some of the vacuum cleaners within the range are very similar, but others do have some key differences. Below we provide further detail about the types of Henry Hoover, so you can identify the key differences and understand which is the best for your needs.
Compare the Henry Range
| Henry Hoover | Hetty Hoover | Henry Xtra | George Hoover | Charles Hoover | Harry Hoover | James Hoover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 620W motor | 620W motor | 620W motor | 1060W motor | 1060W motor | 620W motor | 620W motor |
| 6 Litre bag capacity | 6 Litre bag capacity | 9 Litre bag capacity | 15 Litre dry capacity | 15 Litre dry capacity | 9 Litre bag capacity | 8 Litre bag capacity |
| 7.5 Kg weight | 7.5 Kg weight | 8 Kg weight | 14 Kg weight | 9 Kg weight | 8 Kg weight | 6 Kg weight |
| HENRY PRICE | HETTY PRICE | XTRA PRICE | GEORGE PRICE | CHARLES PRICE | HARRY PRICE | JAMES PRICE |
Henry Hoover
The head of the family, Henry is certainly the most well known cleaner from the range. First introduced in 1981, Henry’s smiling face has been helping people to clean their homes ever since. Traditionalists will tell you this is the best Henry you can get, and if you’re looking for a reliable and affordable vacuum it’s hard to argue with this view. There’s actually two main models of this Henry, the Henry Hoover 160-11 and the Henry Hoover 200-11. The main difference between the two is the 160-11 has a bag capacity of six litres, whilst the 200-11 has a larger capacity at 9 litres.
Key features (160-11 details first / 200-11 details second)
– Red and black colour
– 620 / 580 Watts
– 6 Litre / 9 Litre capacity
– 7.5 Kg / 8.1Kg weight
– Requires dust bags
Probably best known for this appearance – something which has helped to make this vacuum cleaner something of a celebrity and household name – it shouldn’t be forgotten that he is also a very capable vacuum. Whilst the look and feel has remained pretty similar over the years, a number of tweaks have been made to improve his performance, ensuring that this vacuum continues to be the go to choice for many homes and workplaces.
Despite a significant reduction in suction power, improvements in efficiency means he remains a powerful and reliable vacuum cleaner, suitable for cleaning all types of services. Henry has also been built to be long-lasting, meaning he should last in your home for years to come. With a number of useful accessories included in the box, no cleaning job should be too hard. Like nearly all Henry vacuums the traditional Henry Hoover is corded and requires bags, so that’s something to bear in mind as he’ll need to be plugged in and have his bag changed from time to time.
You can’t really go wrong with the Henry. As an affordable vacuum cleaner we don’t think you’ll be disappointed. For a more detailed look, check out our Henry Hoover review.
Hetty Hoover
The female equivalent to Henry or also known as the female Henry Hoover, Hetty Hoover is another popular vacuum cleaner from the Henry family. A common question we see is what’s the difference between Hetty and Henry? The answer is not much at all. Apart from her appearance, Hetty is exactly the same vacuum so it’s not a case of Henry vs Hetty. The only real difference is that Hetty is pink compared to the traditional red. She also comes complete with eyelashes to add to her more feminine appearance. Hetty shares the exact same specifications as the Henry Hoover 160-11.
Key features
– Pink and black colour
– 620 Watts
– 6 Litre capacity
– 7.5 Kg weight
– Requires dust bags
Hetty smiles just as much as Henry, and in terms of performance is just as able. Hetty has a highly efficient motor, a 10 metre cable and rewind storage system, and comes with a host of useful accessories.
With a six Litre capacity, Hetty is the same size as the Henry 160-11, but is smaller than the Henry 200-11 which comes in at 9 litres. So is Hetty smaller than Henry? It all depends on which model you’re comparing against.
But if you’re after a very capable hoover that comes complete with a feminine appearance, Hetty the Hoover should be perfect for you. For a more detailed look, check out our Hetty Hoover review.
Henry Xtra Hoover
The Henry Xtra (sometimes known as Henry Extra Hoover) is an enhanced version of the original Henry Hoover. You may be wondering what’s the difference between Henry and Henry Xtra? The Xtra takes all the fantastic features from the original machine and adds some added extras on top. Without doubt the stand-out Xtra is the unique Airobrush, which is great with pet hair and also helps to provide a pristine clean on soft surfaces like carpets. However, just like Henry, the Xtra is also more than capable on hard floors too, with an additional hard floor brush great at tackling all types of hard surfaces including laminate and wood flooring.
Key features
– 620 Watt Motor
– 9 Litre Capacity
– 8 Kg Weight
– Airobrush and hard floor tool
The added accessories do make the Henry Xtra an attractive vacuum, especially for those with pets and hard and soft flooring. It is slightly more expensive than the original, but if you want an upgrade on your Henry then it may well be the ideal vacuum for you. Read our comprehensive Henry Xtra review.
George Hoover
George Hoover is the ultimate all-in-one vacuum, more than capable with both dry and wet vacuuming. Like the rest of the Numatic International range, George is great at cleaning dry floors and picking up all sorts of dirt. But what really helps George to stand out is his ability with wet floors. Great at sucking up spills or just cleaning wet floors in general, George is also adept as a deep cleaner for all types of surfaces, including carpets and upholstery. Want to give your carpets a real clean with special shampoo? No problem if you’re using George.
Key features
– 1,060 Watt Motor
– 15 Litre Dry Capacity
– 9 Litre Wet Capacity
– 14 Kg Weight
– Wet and dry vacuum
George is also much more powerful than the standard Henry vacuum, in fact along with Charles he’s the most powerful Henry Hoover in the range. With strong suction power, he’s great at picking up stubborn dirt that a less powerful vacuum might struggle with. With a huge 15L bag capacity for dry cleaning, and a more than adequate 9L capacity for wet cleaning, George also has plenty of room so you don’t need to be emptying him too regularly. He is slightly heavier than most of his family, but it’s worth it for the extra capacity and more powerful motor.
So if you’re looking for a wet and dry vacuum vacuum that’s great at cleaning both surfaces, we really think George is your man. Read our in-depth George Hoover review.
Charles Hoover
George’s younger brother, Charles Hoover is another all-in-one vacuum that can tackle both dry and wet surfaces with ease. With the same powerful motor as George and the same dry and wet bag capacity, other than his blue appearance the differences between George and Charles aren’t obvious.
Key features
– 1,060 Watt Motor
– 15 Litre Dry Capacity
– 9 Litre Wet Capacity
– 9 Kg Weight
– Wet and dry vacuum
However, Charles is quite a bit lighter than George and doesn’t come with as many accessories as his older brother. The main thing missing with Charles when compared to George is the extra carpet / upholstery cleaner. If this is something you require, then you’d be better off going for George, but if it’s something you don’t feel you need, then Charles is the man for you as he’s generally cheaper than George and lighter.
If you decide Charles is the wet and dry vacuum for you, you’ll be getting a great all-in-one vacuum cleaner with plenty of bag capacity. The fact he’s also lighter than George means he’s easier to manoeuvre and carry around.
Read our in-depth Charles Hoover review.
Henry Pet
With similarities to Harry Hoover which has been around for a lot longer, the Henry Pet vacuum cleaner is a great choice for those who have pets running around their home. Henry Pet has all the great features of Henry Hoover, with the added bonus of additional tools which are purrfect if you have pets. The HairoBrush is great at picking up stubborn pet hairs which can be hard to remove from carpets and furnishings, and the charcoal-activated MicroFresh filter helps to reduce lingering pet odours that can make a house smell funny. .
Key features
– 620 Watt Motor
– 9 Litre Capacity
– 8 Kg Weight
– HairoBrush and MicroFresh filter
With a large 9 litre capacity and a motor that is the same as the Henry, the Henry Pet really is a great pet vacuum when you factor in the additional tools. It can really help to eradicate pet odours and make the home smell fresh again.
Harry Hoover
If you have pets in your home or workplace, then Harry Hoover is a good option – alongside the Henry Pet – as he’s been built with pets in mind. Despite being very similar to Henry in terms of performance, where Harry really comes into his own is the additional changes that have been made to help him specifically tackle stubborn pet hair.
Key features
– Green and black colour
– 620 Watt Motor
– 9 Litre Capacity
– 8 Kg Weight
Green in colour, Harry comes with an additional Hairo brush which is perfect for picking up pet hair from both floors and upholstery. He also comes with a special Micro Fresh filter which helps to minimise odour that pets can create.
Harry has a large bag capacity but many similarities to Henry, he’s just got some extra pet tools that makes him an option if you have furry friends in your home.
For a more detailed look at Harry, check out our Harry Hoover review.
Henry Wash
Something of a novelty in the Henry range, the Henry Wash is a wet-only vacuum. Great at carpet cleaning, washing hard floors, freshening up furniture and the car, the Henry Wash is great for both everyday wet cleaning as well as emergency cleans when there’s been a spill. Carpet cleaning is quick and easy, leaving carpets smelling fresh and removed of dirt. Hard floor cleaning is much the same, with the added bonus that the vacuum will leave your floors touch dry after a thorough clean.
Key features
– 1,060 Watt Motor
– 6 Litre Wet Capacity
– 12.8 Kg Weight
– Wet vacuum
Where Henry Wash especially comes into his own is emergency cleans, be it spills, blocked sinks or household leaks. With a large capacity and long reach, with Henry Wash you can prevent spills turning into stains. He’s a life-saver when you need him to be.
Henry Allergy
Another relative newcomer to the Henry Hoover family, the Henry Allergy has been built to reduce exposure to dust and pet related allergens. One in three people suffer from dust-related allergies, but thanks to an advanced three-stage filtration system, allergens have nowhere left to hide when the Henry Allergy is in use. Approved by the British Allergy Foundation, the Henry Allergy is scientifically proven to reduce allergens around the home.
Key features
– 620 Watt Motor
– 6 Litre Wet Capacity
– 7.5 Kg Weight
– Approved by British Allergy Foundation
The three-stage, HEPA filtration system traps particles up to 800 times smaller in width than a human hair, meaning the Henry Allergy does a lot more in this regard than a normal vacuum cleaner, including others in the Henry range.
Henry Micro
Another vacuum built to tackle allergens, the Henry Micro is also scientifically proven to reduce exposure to allergens around the home. Using an advanced, multi-layer MicroTex filtration system, like the Henry Allergy the Henry Micro is great at picking up particles and preventing allergens from spreading around the home.
Key features
– 620 Watt Motor
– 8 Kg Weight
– 9 Litre capacity
– Multi-layer MicroTex filtration system
With seven times the capacity of many bagless vacuums and a large 10m cable, there’s less need to stop and empty the vacuum, which also lends itself well to reducing the chances of allergens spreading. The Henry Micro is a great option for allergy sufferers and those with pets in their home.
Henry Cordless
Something of a maverick in the Henry Hoover range, the Henry Cordless is the only cordless Henry you can buy. Unlike all other Henry vacuums, the Henry Cordless runs off batteries so does not need to be plugged into the wall when using. With a thirty minute run time he’s not the longest-lasting cordless vacuum ever invented, but that should be long enough to clean an entire home, especially when you don’t need to worry about switching plug sockets.
Key features
– 30 minutes run time
– 3.5 hour charge time
– 6.4 Kg Weight
– 6 Litre capacity
Henry Cordless will take three and a half hours to be fully charged, and has got a large capacity for a cordless of six litres. He’s not quite as powerful as a corded Henry, but he’s a very able machine and comparable to other cordless vacuums on the market. If you want the charm of Henry in a cordless, here’s your chance.
James Hoover
The frugal member of the family, James Hoover is a slightly smaller vacuum cleaner and comes with a couple of other alterations.
Key features
– Yellow and black colour
– 620 Watt Motor
– 8 Litre Capacity
– 6 Kg Weight
– Requires dust bags
Yellow in colour, James has a slightly smaller bag capacity – eight litres rather than nine – than that of the Henry 200-11, his more famous family member. But in terms of performance there is no noticeable difference with the same motor size as Henry and Hetty; it’s once again a very capable machine built by Numatic International.
Another factor that allows James to be smaller is the cable tidy that can be found on the top of his head, which means you can manually wind the cable by hand. Where James stands out over the rest of the Henry Hoover range is the unique caddy tray that can also be found on the top of his head, providing a great storage place for his attachments that includes the crevice tool and the upholstery brush.
If you want a slightly smaller Numatic vacuum that still packs the same punch as its larger compatriots, then James Hoover could well be the one for you. For more on James, see our full James Hoover review.
Henry Hoover Range accessories
With such a range of Henry vacuums, it’s no surprise that there’s also a lot of choice when it comes to accessories and attachments. Whilst you will find yourself needing replacement bags from time to time, there are a range of tools you can purchase to enhance the capability of your machine. This is often the cheapest way to get that little bit extra out of your vacuum without needing to purchase a new one. Here’s some of the best Henry accessories you can buy:
Henry Range replacement bags
Sold in packs of 10, five or three, the Henry dust bags are a much needed accessory when you own a Henry. Despite having large capacities and strong, durable dust bags, there will come a time when you will need to replace the dust bags within your hoover to ensure they don’t start leaking dirt into the vacuum drum. Whilst the standard Henry HepaFlo bags suit the likes of Henry, Hetty, James or Harry, you can also pick up larger bags which are needed for George, Charles, Henry XL and Henry XL Plus.
AiroBrush
The brush of choice if you want a powerful carpet cleaner, the AiroBrush picks up stubborn dust, dirt and pet hairs from carpet fibres. Simply replace the standard brush with an AiroBrush and you’ll have a more powerful carpet vacuum without needing to change the vacuum itself.
ProKit
To enhance your Henry machine’s performance over both carpets and hard floors, the Henry ProKit is a great option. You’ll get an AiroBrush, AiroBrush140 – which is great for cleaning small spaces such as the car, stairs and sofa – and a specialist hard floor tool. The ProKit fits any Henry or Hetty vacuum.
Flexi crevice tool
The Flexi Crevice Tool bends under and around objects, helping you to clean the places that a standard vacuum may struggle to reach. It’s flexible and lightweight and fits any Henry or Hetty vacuum.
Henry MicroFresh filter
The Henry MicroFresh filter is a great option if you have pets in your home, as the charcoal-activated MicroFresh filter helps to remove pet odours and leave your home smelling fresher.
Henry Hoover Range FAQs
What’s the difference between Henry and Numatic Henry?
There are some notable differences between the standard Henry vacuum cleaner and the commercial version. The commercial version has a 12.5m long power cable compared to a 10m cable for the standard Henry. The commercial vacuum also has larger wheels for improved stability and mobility, as well as stronger drum design to provide extra protection.
Is Henry better than Hetty?
Other than the colour, there is no difference in terms of Henry and Hetty. Henry is red and black, whereas Hetty is pink and black.
How many different types of Henry Hoovers are there?
We make it that there are currently 14 vacuums in the Henry range. By name these are Henry, Hetty, Henry Xtra, Harry, James, George, Charles, Henry Pet, Henry Allergy, Henry Wash, Henry XL Plus, Henry Micro, Henry Cordless and Henry Eco.
What’s the difference between Henry Hoover and Henry Xtra?
The difference between Henry and Henry Xtra is that Henry Xtra comes with two additional tools, the AiroBrush – which is great for carpet cleaning – and a hard floor cleaning tool.
Can you use a Henry Hoover without a bag?
You should always use bags when vacuuming with a Henry. Whilst you can vacuum without bags, it really isn’t a good idea as dust and debris will get sucked up into the filter and it will become clogged very quickly. This will also result in a much worse suction power and ultimately decrease the lifespan of the machine.
Are Henry Hoovers made in the UK?
Henry Hoovers are produced by Numatic International and made in the UK. Numatic has been selling Henry Hoovers since the 1980s, with over 10 million units sold to date.
Can Henry Hoover filters be washed?
Henry Hoover filters are not washable. If the filter becomes smelly, you can use bag fresheners to improve the smell of the air, or alternatively you can purchase a replacement filter.
Are Henry Hoovers good for pet hair?
Whilst there are better vacuums on the market than the standard Henry Hoover when it comes to pet hair, both Henry Pet and Harry are popular pet vacuums that help to remove stubborn pet hairs and remove lingering pet odours.
Summary – which is the best Henry Hoover from the Henry Hoover range?
With so much choice within the Henry Hoover family, it’s difficult to say which is the best Henry vacuum as it all comes down to what you require.
The standard Henry and Hetty vacuums are great machines that will get almost any vacuum job done with little fuss, but there’s now lots of other options, some of which may be more appealing depending on what you need.
For people with pets in their homes both the Henry Pet and Harry would be better options than the original Henry, whilst George and Charles are also more favourable than Henry if you want a wet and dry vacuum.
There’s also a number of Henry models with their own selling points, such as the Henry Xtra – a slide upgrade on Henry due to his extra tools – Henry Allergy, Henry Wash and Henry Micro. And then there’s the wildcard Henry Cordless option, the only cord-free vacuum available from the Henry range.
With such a large range it is tough to pick an outright favourite, but with all these hoovers coming from Numatic you’ll be getting a fantastic vacuum whichever you decide to go with.
If a Henry vacuum doesn’t float your boat, then try best Vax hoovers or best Dyson vacuums for more inspiration.
Charles Hoover review
Charles Hoover is one of two wet and dry vacuums from the Henry range. But is he the best?
Hetty Hoover Review
She may not be as famous as Henry, but Hetty Hoover can certainly pack a punch when it comes to cleaning.
Henry Xtra Review
The Henry Xtra is Numatic’s upgrade on the traditional Henry Hoover. But is the Xtra is really worth the extra cost?
George Hoover Review
George Hoover is an all-in-one, wet and dry vacuum cleaner that is capable of almost any cleaning job thrown at him.
James Hoover Review
James Hoover has many similarities to Henry but he has some differences too, and and it’s not just his colour.
Harry Hoover Review
Numatic’s Harry Hoover is less well-known than the famous Henry, but is the Numatic vacuum of choice when it comes to pet hair.
Henry Hoover Review
Numatic’s Henry Hoover is one of the best-known vacuums around. Read our Henry Hoover review about the vacuum UK households have come to love.
