Best Commercial Carpet Extractors: Portable, Heated and High-PSI Picks by Job Size

How we made this guide: picks, prices and specs come from our catalog and the makers' published specs, owner quotes come from customer reviews on our product pages and every guide is checked and edited by Trevor Hall.

The best professional carpet extractor for most carpet cleaners is a heated 10 gallon portable like the Mytee 2002CS Contractor's Special at $2,366: a 120 PSI pump, a 1,200 watt heater and a single 25 ft cord. For heavier commercial work, step up to the Mytee 2008CS at $3,270, which lists a 220 PSI pump, a 2,000 watt heater and two 50 ft cords. For stairs and small rooms, the 45 lb Mytee 8070 Mytee Lite at $1,475 is the entry-level heated pick.

One honest line first: a homeowner who cleans one house a year does not need a pro machine. Everything below is for people who clean carpet for a living or for a facility, where tank size, heat and recovery decide how many rooms fit in a day.

Quick picks table

Power draw matters as much as the pump when you plan a job. This table lists the cords and amps as given on each listing.

What decides how well an extractor cleans

Four numbers do most of the work, and a fifth one decides how long your day is. Read them in this order.

Water lift and airflow decide how dry the carpet comes back

Water lift is the vacuum strength in inches, and airflow in CFM is how much air moves through the hose. Lift pulls water out of the pile and airflow carries it to the recovery tank, so a machine with both leaves less moisture behind. In this list the Galaxy Pro lists the highest water lift at 190 in. The 2002CS, 2008CS, 1003DX and 8070 all list 130 in while the Pulsar lists 125 in. For airflow, the 2008CS, 1003DX and Supernova list 200 CFM, against 100 CFM on the 2002CS and 8070. Drying time still depends on the room, so see how long carpet takes to dry after cleaning.

PSI is agitation and hose reach, not cleaning power on its own

Pump pressure pushes solution into the fiber and keeps the spray strong at the end of a long hose. A 120 PSI pump is plenty for routine work. A 220 or 500 PSI pump earns its price on long hose runs, stairs, heavy traffic lanes and stubborn soil. Pressure can also be turned too high for upholstery, which is why the 1003DX's adjustable 500 PSI pump matters. Our PSI and heat guide goes through what the numbers mean.

Heat helps break up soil

A heated machine warms the solution on the way to the wand. The Mytee heaters here are 1,000 W (8070), 1,200 W (2002CS), 1,600 W (1003DX) and 2,000 W (2008CS). Mytee's spec sheets and manuals rate all four heaters at 210°F maximum. That figure is the heater's maximum, so the solution is cooler at the wand on a long hose. The Galaxy Pro is sold heat-ready, with the 2,000 W external heater listed as removable and not built in. Heat is a power draw too, so a bigger heater means a bigger amp load.

Tank size decides how many refills you make

A 10 gallon solution tank holds 2.5 times what a 4 gallon tank does (our calculation). On a small job that does not matter. On a 3,000 square foot office it decides whether you spend the day cleaning or walking back to the sink. Matched solution and recovery tanks, like the 12 gallon pair on the Sandia, keep the machine from running out of one before the other.

Weight and cords decide whether it fits your van and your job

The listed weights run from 45 lb for the 8070 to 135 lb for the 1003DX and 136 lb for the Pulsar, and the Sandia's 137 lb is a shipping weight. You carry that up steps and into vans, so weight is a real cost. Cords matter just as much: Mytee's manuals say a two-cord machine needs each cord on its own circuit, and two outlets in one room are often on the same circuit.

Best overall: Mytee 2002CS Contractor's Special

The 2002CS is the sensible starting machine for a working carpet cleaner. Specs: 120 PSI and 1.3 GPM at the pump, a 1,200 W heater, 10 gallon tanks and one 3-stage vacuum motor giving 100 CFM at 130 in of lift. The listing covers residential and commercial carpet plus hard-surface extraction. A 15 ft hose combo and a 12 in dual jet wand come in the package.

The body is roto-molded polyethylene with 10 in foam-filled rear wheels and built-in loading wheels, so one person can get it into a van. It runs on one attached 25 ft cord drawing 20 A, and Mytee's Contractor's Special user manual calls for a grounded 20 amp outlet, so check the circuit before you plug in.

Skip it if your jobs are mostly heavy commercial glue-down carpet or long hose runs. Look at the 2008CS or the 1003DX instead. Mytee's own film on the line shows what ships in the box.

Best for heavy commercial work: Mytee 2008CS

The 2008CS keeps the 2002CS body and upgrades what matters on big jobs. The pump is rated at 220 PSI and 1.35 GPM, the heater at 2,000 W, and two 3-stage vacuum motors give 200 CFM at 130 in of water lift. The package holds a 25 ft hose combo, an 8300-EZ stainless wand, the 8400P Air Lite upholstery tool and a jug of descaler.

It is also one of our best-selling extractors in this list, second only to the 8070. The one owner review on file is five stars:

“Awesome Extractor!”

Mytee 2008CS Contractor's Special 220PSI Heated Extractor Package owner · 5 out of 5 stars

The trade-off is power. It has two 50 ft cords drawing 20 A and 18 A, and it weighs 104 lb. According to Mytee's Contractor's Special user manual, the 2008CS must have each cord on its own circuit, and a tone with an indicator light confirms it. Find two 20 amp circuits before the job starts.

Skip it if you clean mostly light residential carpet. The 2002CS does that for less.

Best for high pressure and long hoses: Mytee 1003DX Speedster

The Speedster is the pick when pressure is the problem. The pump is an adjustable 500 PSI piston pump at 1.5 GPM, and the heater is 1,600 W. Dual 3-stage vacuum motors list 200 CFM at 130 in of lift, and Mytee's spec sheet lists 10 gallon capacity (the user manual gives the recovery tank as 9 gallons). Because the pressure adjusts, one machine can clean hard commercial carpet and then be dialed back for upholstery.

It weighs 135 lb and runs on two 50 ft cords, 20 A and 18 A, so it is the heaviest Mytee here. Mytee's Speedster user manual says each cord goes on its own 20 amp circuit, and an indicator light and tone confirm it. Mytee's film on the Speedster family is worth watching before you buy.

Skip it if you rarely use pressure above 220 PSI. The 2008CS gets you most of the way for a lower price.

Best 500 PSI value: Sandia Sniper 80-2500

Sandia builds the Sniper around an adjustable 500 PSI pump and two 12 gallon tanks, with twin 2-stage vacuum motors for recovery. Two models are sold: the unheated 80-2500 at $2,499 and the heated 80-2500-H at $2,799. Power is 115 V on a 25 ft cord with a shipping weight of 137 lb (141 lb heated).

The two owner reviews on file are both five stars. One is a fair mixed line on weight:

“little heavy if needing to be lifted a lot, but amazing product.”

Sandia Sniper 12-Gallon Carpet Extractor owner · 5 out of 5 stars

Skip it if you carry the machine up stairs on most jobs. Choose a lighter portable such as the 2002CS.

Best for the biggest tanks and strongest lift: EDIC Galaxy Pro 2700IX-HRH

The Galaxy Pro has the largest tanks in this list: 17 gallons of solution and 15 of recovery. It also lists the highest water lift here at 190 in, from dual high-performance 3-stage vacuums. The pump is rated at 220 PSI, power runs through 50 ft detachable cords, and EDIC's owner's manual says the 2700IX-HR's two cords must each go on a separate 15 amp circuit. The machine weighs 95 lb, light for its tank size.

It is sold heat-ready. The listing shows a 2,000 W removable external heater, but a heater is not built in. Coverage is 5 years on parts and labor with a lifetime housing. Choose between the Glidemaster wand and hose set at $4,166 and the Triton set at $4,546.

Skip it if you want the heater built into the body and a lighter, more compact machine. The Mytee portables have in-line heaters inside the housing.

Best self-contained machine: EDIC Supernova

The Supernova is a different kind of machine. It is self-contained, so you walk it down the carpet instead of dragging a wand. The spec rows give a 19 in cleaning width, a 2,100 RPM brush and an 8 gallon solution tank at 85 PSI, with 200 CFM from dual 2-stage bypass vacuums. Electrical draw is 15 A through a 50 ft detachable cord. It weighs 113 lb and carries 5 years parts and labor.

It suits halls, offices and big open floors. For other brush-driven options, read about counter-rotating brush cleaning. The one owner review on file is five stars:

“It’s a powerhouse, no doubt.”

EDIC Supernova Self-Contained Carpet Extractors owner · 5 out of 5 stars

Skip it if your jobs are rooms, stairs and furniture. A wand machine fits that work better.

Budget 15 gallon pick: Powr-Flite Pulsar+

The Powr-Flite Pulsar+ 15 gallon at $2,079 is the lower-priced way into 15 gallon tanks in this list. It lists a single vacuum motor rated at 625 (the listing gives it in airwatts) with 125 in of lift and 133 CFM, a solution pressure of 100 PSI, a 25 ft cord and a 20 ft hose. The warranty is 2 years on parts, 1 year on labor and 10 years on the housing.

It weighs 136 lb and the listing says a wand is not included, so budget for one. It has no heater listed.

Skip it if you want heat built in or need a lighter machine. See all Powr-Flite carpet extractors for other sizes.

Best compact pick: Mytee 8070 Mytee Lite

The 8070 is the entry-level heated machine in this list and our best-selling extractor here. The pump is 120 PSI at 1.3 GPM with a 1,000 W heater, 4 gallon tanks, 130 in of lift and 100 CFM. The cord is a single 25 ft one drawing 19 A, and the machine weighs 45 lb. Uses on the listing run from vehicle and boat detailing to upholstery, spotting and small carpeted rooms.

It has 9 reviews on our product page at 5.0. One owner who replaced an older unit wrote:

“Replaced my aging unit with this. Nice improvements like the dirty water drain, which means one doesn’t need to lift the lower unit off the ground to empty it.”

Mytee 8070 Lite Heated Carpet Extractor owner · 5 out of 5 stars

Another wrote:

“No doubt, this takes your business's interior cleaning to the next level!”

Mytee 8070 Lite Heated Carpet Extractor owner · 5 out of 5 stars

Skip it if you clean whole floors of carpet every day. For car interiors, see the best extractors for car detailing, and for furniture see the best upholstery cleaning machines.

How to choose by job

If you are building a business around one machine, read how to start a carpet cleaning business for the startup math, and carpet cleaning price per room for how pros price a job. Once you own a machine, how to use a carpet cleaning machine walks through technique. For heavy traffic lanes that rinse alone does not fix, see rotary carpet extractors.

Price bands

Our carpet extractor range runs from under $600 for a small spotter to over $8,000 for the largest multi-surface machine. The eight picks here sit in five bands, at today's prices.

More ways to narrow the list: 5 to 10 gallon extractors, 10 to 15 gallon extractors and high pressure (500+ PSI) extractors. Fixing an odor on a job? See how to get rid of carpet odor. Weighing extraction against encapsulation? Read hot water extraction vs low moisture cleaning.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a commercial carpet extractor cost?

The eight machines here run from about $1,500 to over $7,000. A heated 10 gallon portable like the 2002CS or 2008CS sits between $2,000 and $4,000. In our range, compact heated machines come in under $1,500 and self-contained machines run from about $2,100 to over $7,000.

Which carpet cleaner has the strongest suction?

In this list, the Galaxy Pro lists the highest water lift at 190 in. The 2008CS, 1003DX and Supernova list the highest airflow at 200 CFM. Lift and CFM are measured differently by each maker, so compare them as listed.

Which carpet cleaner do professionals use?

Pros who cannot run a truck mount hose to the job use heated portables like the 2002CS, 2008CS or 8070. High-rises, offices and apartments are typical, and many startups begin with one. Truck mounts are a separate class, covered in truck mount vs portable.

Is a carpet extractor better than a carpet cleaner?

For deep cleaning, yes: an extractor sprays solution and pulls it back out with a vacuum, while shampooers and steamers work differently. Carpet shampoo vs steam cleaning explains the differences.

What is the most effective stain remover for carpet?

The machine matters less than the method. Pre-treat, then extract. Our carpet stain removal chart lists the steps by stain type.

Are carpet sweepers any good for commercial carpet?

A carpet sweeper picks up dry debris and does no extraction, so it sits outside this guide.

Related guides

• How to Use a Carpet Cleaning Machine: The Pro Extraction Steps, Passes and Settings
• Best Extractor for Car Detailing: 7 Heated Picks by Shop Size and Budget
• Best Upholstery Cleaning Machines for Pros and Detailers: 8 Picks by Job
• How to Start a Carpet Cleaning Business: Equipment, Startup Costs and Pricing Math