Henry vs Henry Xtra: Is the Xtra Worth the Extra Money?

Last Updated on May 26, 2026 by Ashley

The Henry is the most popular vacuum in the entire Numatic range, and the Henry Xtra is the upgrade many buyers consider next. On the surface they look almost identical. Same red body, same grin, same iconic shape. So what does the Henry Xtra actually get you? We have tested both models thoroughly and the differences come down to two things: the AiroBrush and the dust capacity.

Here is exactly what changes when you upgrade, and who actually needs to upgrade.

If you want a quick answer: If you have pets, stubborn dirt to deal with, or your home is mostly carpet, buy the Henry Xtra for the AiroBrush. If you have hard floors or mixed flooring and no animal in the house, save the £20 and go for the original Henry.

Specifications side by side

	Henry	Henry Xtra
Dust capacity	6 litres	6 litres
Weight	7.5 kg	7.5 kg
Dimensions	320 x 340 x 345mm	320 x 340 x 345mm
Cable length	10 metres	10 metres
Motor	620 watts	620 watts
Suction	2300mm H2O	2300mm H2O
Floor tools	Combi only	Combi, AiroBrush, dedicated hard floor tool
Price (MyHenry)	Lower	Around £20 more
Warranty	3 years direct, 2 years Amazon	3 years direct, 2 years Amazon

What is the same on both

The Henry and Henry Xtra are now mechanically identical. Both share the same 6 litre dust capacity, the same 7.5kg weight and the same 320 x 340 x 345mm body. Both run the same 620 watt motor with 2300mm of water suction, and both come with the same 10 metre retractable cable.

The three core attachments are identical too: upholstery brush, crevice tool and soft dusting brush. Both have the rubber buffer ring around the body, rubber coated wheels and casters to protect your hard floors, and the same storage caddy on the back for two attachments. Numatic has brought the Xtra body in line with the standard Henry, so the only thing you are really paying extra for now is the additional floor tools.

Where the Henry and Henry Xtra differ

This is where the £20 price gap is justified, or not.

The AiroBrush is the headline feature

The Xtra ships with an additional floor tool called the AiroBrush, with a rotating brush roll powered by a small fan that spins as the motor runs. The AiroBrush is built for two jobs: lifting stubborn dirt out of carpets, and dealing with pet hair. In our direct test using a mix of cat hair, human hair and household lint, the AiroBrush noticeably outperformed the regular combi floor tool.

It also handled dried on mud from the kids shoes very well. If you have a dog, a cat that sheds heavily, or carpets that pick up a lot of ground in dirt, this is the single biggest reason to spend the extra £20.

One thing to know. The AiroBrush has a fairly delicate plastic fan inside, so it is not suitable for cleaning up after DIY. Stick to the combi floor tool for anything hard or sharp.

A dedicated hard floor tool is included

Honest answer, this one is not essential. We ran a flour test (you can read more in our Henry Xtra detailed review) on laminate against the combi floor tool and the difference was marginal. The combi tool handles hard floors perfectly well on its own. The dedicated hard floor tool is a nice extra to have in the box, but it is not a reason to upgrade on its own.

The price gap is around £20

The Henry Xtra typically sits around £20 above the regular Henry on MyHenry. That is the going rate for the AiroBrush plus the dedicated hard floor tool. The two are otherwise the same machine, so this is the cleanest way to think about the upgrade: are those extra floor tools worth £20 to you?

Which Henry should you buy

Buy the Henry if:

• You have hard floors, laminate or tile across most of your home
• You do not have pets, or you only have an animal that doesn’t shed
• You use the vacuum mainly for car cleaning and general household dust
• You want to save the £20 and the AiroBrush is not essential

Buy the Henry Xtra if:

• You have pets, particularly a dog or a heavy shedding cat
• You have carpets that pick up stubborn dirt or mud and want better lift than the combi tool gives you
• You want the dedicated hard floor tool included in the box

If you already own a Henry and you are tempted by the Xtra purely for the AiroBrush, you can buy the AiroBrush as a separate accessory from MyHenry and use it on your existing machine. That route makes more sense if you are happy with everything else about the original.

Final verdict

The Henry Xtra is the same machine as the regular Henry, plus an AiroBrush and a dedicated hard floor tool, for around £20 more. If you have pets or carpets that pick up stubborn dirt, that £20 is well spent because the AiroBrush genuinely outperforms the combi tool on both.

If you mostly clean hard floors and do not need that extra lift on carpets, save the £20. The standard Henry will do exactly the same job in every other respect.

FAQ

Is the Henry Xtra worth the extra money?

Yes, if you have pets or heavy carpets. The £20 price gap gets you the AiroBrush, which is much better than the combi floor tool at lifting stubborn dirt and picking up pet hair on carpets. If you do not have pets and you mostly clean hard floors, the regular Henry does the same job for less. Numatic has brought the Xtra body in line with the standard Henry, so dust capacity, weight, dimensions and motor are now identical between the two models.