Henry vs George Hoover: Which Numatic Should You Buy?

Last Updated on May 10, 2026 by Ashley

The original Henry and the green George are two very different vacuums that serve different purposes. Henry is a dry vacuum cleaner and has a good reputation around that. The bigger green George on the other hand includes, dry, wet, and carpet-shampooing all-in-one.

So it really depends on what you actually need cleaning on a daily or weekly basis.

Here at Henry Range, we’ve tested the original Henry extensively and used him daily for years. We’ve also reviewed the Charles wet-and-the-dry vacuum, which basically shared much of George’s mechanical design.

So in this post, I’ll be breaking down how they compare with one another.

A note on this comparison: We haven’t personally tested George in our own home. He uses the same motor, wet filter mechanism and chassis design as the Charles, which we did test in full. Where George’s unique carpet shampooing function is concerned, we rely on Numatic’s specifications and verified UK owner reviews.

The fundamental difference

Henry is a dry-only hoover. So if you’re looking for a very strong vacuum that can achieve one specific purpose, which is to suck dirt into a bag, either from carpet, hard floors, stairs, or cars, then Henry does it very well.

George does everything Henry does, plus wet pickup (spills, leaks, washing machine overflows), plus carpet and upholstery shampooing. Three machines in one body. The trade-off is size, weight and storage.

I also want to note that Henry is already quite heavy, which means George will be heavier. So if you have mobility issues, then this hoover is not for you.

Suction power

Henry runs a 620w motor producing 2300mm H20 of suction. This is plenty for everyday cleaning, when we tested him, his combi floor tool sucked up an outrageous amount of dust and debris in just two strokes on carpet.

George runs a much bigger 1060w motor. We saw that same 1060w motor in action when testing Charles, and the suction was strong enough that we had to use the air bleed valve on the wand to stop it lifting the carpet. Expect George to be similarly powerful, almost overpowered for everyday dry vacuuming.

What each one cleans

If you need a machine for your home and just need dry-vacuuming, then Henry is more than enough!

But if you’ve got carpets that need regular shampooing a few times a year, for any particular reason, then George would be the right choice.

Size, weight and manoeuvrability

This is where Henry pulls ahead for most UK homes.

• Henry: 7.5kg, compact (320 x 340 x 345mm). Easy to drag around. Has a rubber buffer ring that stops him scuffing skirting boards.
• George: 11kg, much larger. The extra weight comes from his water tank and shampoo system. He still rolls fine on his casters, but you’ll feel the difference when lifting.

When we tested Charles (9kg), we already found him harder to move around than Henry. George is heavier still.

Stair cleaning

Both these machines are heavy, which means you’ll need to carry it up the stairs and not the best to navigate. But Henry is the lesser evil.

At 7.5kg, you can carry him in one hand while you vacuum with the other, which we did across the runs in our three-bedroom Victorian terrace.

George is 11kg, which as you can imagine, is much harder to manage on stairs unless you are very strong. I also see many owner reviews that consistently flag this problem.

Storage and practicality

Henry tucks under the stairs or fits inside a small wardrobe. George does not. He’s bulky, comes with 15+ attachments, and really needs a dedicated cupboard or utility room. If you live in a flat or smaller home, this is a genuine consideration before you buy.

Cable and reach

Henry has a clean 10m cable, which was long enough to vacuum an entire floor of our terrace without changing plug socket, which is very ideal. George’s marketing reach figure of 26.8m includes the cable, hose and extension wand combined.

 

Final verdict: which should you buy?

I hope by now, you have a much clearer picture of both vacuums, and their specific purpose. If you are going back and forth, and deciding whether you’ll be shampooing your carpets, or need wet pickups, then I would recommend to just go with George.

But I’ve listed out a few points below to help you decide.

Buy Henry if:

• You only need a dry vacuum
• You live in a regular home (especially with stairs)
• You want something light, simple and built to last decades
• You want the lowest running cost in the range

Buy George if:

• You specifically need wet pickup (leaks, spills, accidents)
• You want to shampoo your own carpets and save on professional cleaning
• You have proper storage space
• You don’t mind the extra weight and bulk

For most UK households, Henry is the smarter buy. He covers 95% of what people actually need a vacuum for, weighs less, stores easier and costs less to run. George earns his place when you genuinely need wet and shampoo capability, and if you do, he replaces several machines in one.

Still undecided? Our full Henry review and Charles review both go into far more detail on the hands-on side.