The 3 best cordless vacuums for running time, suction, and ease of use – they’re so good, I’m ditching my corded appliance for good

Ditching the power cord for good might seem too good to be true (and often, that is the case), but cordless vacuums are now much more advanced than ever and capable of handling more than just light, quick cleans. Some can even match the performance of your full-sized, corded cleaner.

The most capable cordless vacuums we've tested are the Dyson V15 Detect and the Shark Cordless PowerDetect – but not for the same reasons. And if you're on a budget, the Ultenic U12 Vesla offers surprising cleaning power and costs under $200, and it's the only vacuum we'd ever recommend at that price point.

After testing 48 of the world's best vacuum cleaners, these are the only three cordless sticks you need to consider.

The best cordless vacuum cleaners in 2024

Here's a quick summary of my favorite cordless vacuums, but there's plenty more in-depth information further down the page. Read on, or click the navigation links for more details.

The best cordless vacuum

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The Dyson V15 Detect is undoubtedly one of the strongest vacuum cleaners we've ever tested at H&G. Vacuuming dust, debris and hair was no problem whatsoever on carpet or hard floors, and it remains one of the most enjoyable cleaning experiences we've had during testing.

The V15 Detect is part of Dyson's flagship series of cordless vacuums, including the Gen5detect and V12 Detect Slim, that provide unique cleaning features like a green laser (that genuinely reveals dust that the naked eye can't normally see) and suction power that responds to your floor's surface and dust volume. I spoke with Dyson engineers about this feature, and they explained that it makes this automatic adjustment within a fraction of a second; on test, we've found this to be true.

It works so well partly because of the two main floor heads: the FluffyOptic and the Motorbar. The FluffyOptic, with its green laser, has soft brushrolls for safe use on hard floors, capturing super-fine particles into the vacuum's HEPA filtration system. The Motorbar is better suited to carpets and rugs, with anti-tangle veins that avoid the annoying task of manually removing fur or hair from the brushroll.

The V15 Detect also happens to be our best vacuum for pet hair, and it comes with another attachment, the anti-tangle hair screw tool, that's perfect for this purpose. Using this attachment on her dog bed, tester Jaclyn Turner concluded, 'It is one of the only vacuum tools I've tried that not only revived the faux-Sherpa bottom that is an absolute magnet for dirt, but brightened the fleece top from a dusty blue back to its original turquoise.'

I use the Dyson V12 Detect Slim myself, which is the smaller, lighter version of the V15 Detect. It's become the primary vacuum in my home and, on top of everything listed here already, I love how little space it takes up in my home, how easy it is to empty, and how easy it is to maintain (the filters and most of the parts are washable). This makes a huge difference when regularly cleaning your vacuum cleaner.

It's usually around $100 cheaper than the V15 Detect (though this can vary during sales), but it comes with a smaller dustbin, which might not be best suited to larger homes, unless you fancy emptying it more often.

But if you're looking for the best of the best, the Dyson Gen5detect offers a slightly longer run time (70 mins compared to the V15's 60) and higher suction power (262 air watts compared to the V15's 230). It is almost $1,000 however, but our experienced product tester, Helen McCue has tested more than 100 vacuums – and this is the best one.

Read more in our full Dyson V15 Detect review.

The alternative best cordless vacuum

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I have tested a fair few of Shark's cordless vacuums and their latest model, the Cordless PowerDetect, is their best to date. It brings together some of our favorite features we know and love from Shark: a flexible wand, an odor-neutralizer, the option of a cleaning station, and powerful suction at a reasonable cost. Its 380 watts of power is an upgrade from the Shark Detect Pro's 240 and the Shark Vertex Pro's 309.

'As far as cordless vacuums go, it’s hard to ask for more from the Shark Cordless PowerDetect,' reviewer James Holland wrote after testing. It had no issues at all vacuuming dust, debris and hair across all floor types, and it was even able to fill a quarter of its dustbin on two floors with no visible dirt.

It's also an impressive cleaner on carpet, which is rare from a cordless stick. 'I used this vacuum on the carpet in a room where our cat likes to spend most of her time, and it pulled up a good amount of hair out of the carpet that I didn’t even see,' James wrote, highlighting its ability to deal with pet hair and carpets – famously two of the most difficult things to vacuum.

It's not quite as impressive as the Dyson V15 Detect, but it does share some similar features. Instead of Dyson's green laser, the PowerDetect's floorhead uses LED headlights to illuminate the floor. They don't reveal invisible dust but they still provide a great help when vacuuming, particularly in low-light areas like under furniture. It also has automatic suction power, just like the Dyson, where it'll respond to different floor types or dustier parts of the floor and up the power when needed.

But, although the Dyson provides stronger suction and more advanced smart features, the PowerDetect has an odor-neutralizing puck that leaves a fresh scent after vacuuming, and a flexible wand (called the telescopic tube) that can fold to easily reach under furniture. This is hugely beneficial for anybody with limited mobility, making the cleaning process much less strenuous.

You also have the option of a Clean & Empty System (adding $120 to the price) that acts as a dock for the vacuum, with a self-clean feature and a 2 liter dust capacity to minimize how often you're cleaning and emptying yourself. And, unlike the Dyson, the vacuum has a 70-minute battery life, which is one of the longest I've ever seen in a cordless stick.

The main downside is that its performance is much weaker when reversing. Usually, pulling forwards and back offers similar cleaning power, but the Shark Cordless PowerDetect seems to excel only when pushing forward.

Read more at our full Shark Cordless PowerDetect review.

The best budget cordless vacuum

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Usually, I don't recommend vacuum cleaners at this price point. It might seem like an easy way to save money on an essential appliance, but they never really vacuum that well, and will likely break in no time at all. That was until we tried the Ultenic U12 Vesla.

The U12 Vesla is clearly a budget-friendly recreation of a cordless Dyson vacuum. It looks very similar to the Dyson V15 and has many of the same features, namely a handy digital display, a laser on the brush head, and plenty of cleaning accessories.

But even though it's a dupe, tester Laura Honey was pleasantly surprised. It's compact, quick to assemble and a breeze to use. Unlike the V15 Detect, you don't need to hold down a trigger the whole time you use it. The LED dashboard is different to the screens we're used to, displaying battery life, cleaning mode and suction power in an easy-to-read format.

Laura noted a 'totally faultless performance' when cleaning large debris (cereal and pet kibble) from carpets, linoleum and hardwood floors. When vacuuming hair, even on eco mode, it successfully cleared everything. That's a stronger performance than some of the more expensive models we've tested.

However, at this price, it doesn't come without its drawbacks. Hair wrapped around the brushroll, and the filter got clogged with flour on test, affecting the airflow when vacuuming. It was restored once the filter was cleaned, but it's certainly worth noting.

It also feels much cheaper than other cordless vacuums, which I imagine helps to justify the price. I can't vouch for its longevity, so bear in mind that you may have to buy another vacuum earlier than you would with the Dyson V15 Detect or Shark Cordless PowerDetect.

Read more at our full Ultenic U12 Vesla review.

Other options

Cordless sticks aren't for everyone. Some homes will need something better-suited to the environment.

If your home is heavily carpeted, you might want to consider one of the best upright vacuums instead. These corded models aren't restricted by battery life so offer greater power, with more relentless brushrolls that can dig deep into the carpet fibers. The Shark POWERDETECT Upright Vacuum is the best we've ever tested on carpet.

If you have a busy home with kids and/or pets, consider either an upright vacuum or a wet/dry vacuum. Wet/dry vacs are excellent choices to cover your home for more varied messes, like sauce spills, cereal, pet messes and more. They can handle what your regular vacuum can while also being able to handle liquid spills. The Shark MessMaster is a great compact and portable option.

If you struggle to stay on top of the pet hair cleaning, one of the best robot vacuum cleaners is your new friend. From extensive conversations with pet owners, I've learned this is actually one of the most effective ways to stay on top of the fur on a day-to-day basis.

If your home only has hard floors, a floor washer like the Dyson WashG1 or Tineco Floor ONE S7 PRO will vacuum and mop your floors at the same time. Hard floors don't need powerful suction power, so a cleaner like this should be all you need.

How to choose a cordless vacuum cleaner

Knowing how to choose a vacuum cleaner involves understanding your home's needs. From my time extensively testing 12 vacuums at H&G, these are the main points you need to consider when making your decision, think about your home's size.

Suction power: Cordless vacuums are known for not being quite as powerful as their corded counterparts thanks to the reliance on a battery, so make sure you investigate and find one that's capable. You'd be surprised how many of these 'budget' cordless vacuums are actually shockingly weak, and won't even pick up the easiest debris. Suction power can be measured in two ways:

• Watts: The amount of power the vacuum uses as it's cleaning, does not represent the real-world airflow conditions.
• Air watts: A true, accurate reflection of the vacuum's suction power, considering airflow for each floorhead and attachment.

So, while the wattage may seem higher on some models, it's the air watts you want to look out for. Vacuum manufacturers will often not list this, so read reviews and seek out expert tests to find out. For a cordless stick, it's best to aim for 150-200 air watts as a minimum, but anything higher than that is even better.

Battery life: If a vacuum has a low battery life, say 40 minutes max, you likely won't be able to clean a large home in that time. But if you have a small apartment, that should be plenty. Remember: when a vacuum claims 60 minutes runtime, that'll be on its lowest suction power. So, at auto or standard power, that might be around 30-40 minutes in total, or less if you're using any boost mode. If you have a large home, consider a cordless vacuum with a longer battery life (the best we've ever seen is 70 minutes, like the Dyson Gen5detect or the Shark Cordless PowerDetect in this guide).

Dustbin capacity: This can affect how long you can clean before having to stop, similarly to battery life, except you can continue once you've emptied the dustbin. If you can easily dispose of the dust mid-clean, then this shouldn't be too much of a factor, but if your trashcans are a bit of a walk from your home, you might want to consider a larger dustbin.

Weight: Cordless sticks are the most lightweight vacuum type out there, but there's still variation among them. Most will range between 6 to 7.5 lbs but you can get some, like the Shark Vertex Cordless, that weight over 9 lbs. That's still pretty light, but it's worth considering if you have a comfort limit.

Attachments: Cordless vacuums are modular, meaning they come apart and reassemble in different forms. You can remove the wand and attach the floorhead or cleaning tools straight onto the vacuum to make it handheld, or you can attach wide heads to the wand to clean high above your head. If your home requires different cleaning needs, like shelves, curtains, upholstery and tight spaces, make sure the vacuum comes with a variety of tools. Crevice tool, dusting brush, anti-tangle brushrolls are all great to have. Plus, if your home has a mix of floor types, you might benefit from a vacuum with dedicated hard floor and carpet floorheads, like the Dyson V15 Detect.

Pet features: Continuing from the last point, not all vacuums are designed with pets in mind. To make sure you can truly keep on top of the fur across your home, you're going to need a vacuum with HEPA filtration (to avoid spreading allergens), and anti-tangle floorheads or attachments to minimize how often you're removing hair. You'll also benefit from a dustbin that's easy to empty, or a bagged system to avoid the dust altogether. An odor-neutralizer will help combat those pet odors too.

Filter: Bottom line, get a vacuum with a HEPA filter. Rigorous standards have to be met for a filter to be labelled 'HEPA' as it means they're capable of capturing 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. This includes many dust, pollen and dander particles – without a HEPA filter, you'll send these particles flying back into your home where they'll become airborne (then, you'll need one of the best air purifiers to capture them). It also won't hurt to look for filters that are washable, to help with the long-term maintenance of your vacuum and ease the cleaning process.

Maintenance: Looking after your vacuum is important to preserve its longevity, and this can be made easier with a vacuum that's easy to clean. Most cordless vacuums are able to be taken apart, cleaned, washed, dried, and reassembled. But some cheaper models might not be equipped to handle thorough cleaning, and will likely not last as long as the dirt build-up can cause the parts to wear.

Smart features: If you're on a budget, you don't need any advanced smart features in your vacuum. But if you're happy to spend a little more, these features can genuinely make a huge difference to your cleaning routine. You can get vacuums with automatic floor detection that'll adjust suction power when needed (for example, if the floor is particularly dusty or if you pass onto rugs or carpet). Dyson's bests like the V15 Detect have a green laser to illuminate invisible dust and a sensor to count each individual particle, so you can learn more about your home and including where and how dust typically accumulates. This is handy so you can learn the areas in your home that are in need of more regular mini-cleans.

Storage: Luckily, cordless vacuums take up very little space, but it's still worth considering what storage options you have available. Most cordless vacuums come with a wall dock for easy, off-the-ground storage, but this isn't renter-friendly and often requires some DIY installation. Some vacuums, like the Tineco Pure One Station, come with a dock that'll clean and empty your vacuum, minimizing how often you need to do so yourself. And, some can simply lean against the wall or go under the bed or in a closet.

How we tested these cordless vacuums

At Homes & Gardens, we will only include vacuums in our buying guides which we have had personal, hands-on experience. You can learn more about the process in our detailed guide about how we test vacuums. We want to vouch for every product we feature, so that you can trust us to be truthful and critical, where necessary.

My team of experienced home tech and product testers and I rigorously test cordless vacuums on different floor types, as well as conducting household challenges over a number of weeks, sometimes months. This means that we can pick up on quirks, extra features, operational snags, and the longevity and durability of each product. We pay great attention to the practicalities of using each vacuum in our guide: how easy they are to maneuver around small spaces, how long they run for, and how easy they are to empty, clean and maintain.

We test cordless vacuums in our standardized test center and in our own homes, to learn how they fare against a set and comparable amount of dust, debris and hair, as well as how well they perform in real-world conditions.

When testing cordless vacuums, we assess their weight, maneuverability, suction power, dustbin capacity and battery life. We look for how well all of the attachments work, and how well they perform across carpet, linoleum and hardwood flooring.

We also find out how easy they are to clean, taking note of how easily we can take them apart, clean the parts, and reassemble them. This is a vital factor when considering the longevity of a vacuum cleaner.

Meet the team

Dan Fauzi

I am the home tech editor and cover vacuum cleaners on a near-daily basis. So far, I've spent 40+ hours testing 12 vacuums, robot vacuums and carpet cleaners for Homes & Gardens, but I've been testing products for the past three years on titles like Top Ten Reviews, BBC Countryfile and BBC Science Focus.

Jaclyn Turner

Jaclyn is our former eCommerce editor for Homes & Gardens, where she covered product content. She's spent around 300 hours testing more than 16 vacuum cleaners of all types, including our standout top pick, the Dyson V15 Detect.

James Holland

James has been testing products for over three years, including a number of vacuums for H&G like the Shark Cordless PowerDetect. In his time as a product tester since 2022, he's reviewed around 20 vacs, spanning at least 100 hours.

Laura Honey

Laura is our former eCommerce editor, where she spent 100+ hours testing 21 vacuums for us, including the Ultenic U12 Vesla in this guide. She's been an expert product tester for two years across all sorts.

Cordless vacuums FAQs

What cordless stick vacuum is comparable to Dyson?

Dyson's vacuums use patented cyclone engineering, so really there aren't any alternatives that are quite like Dyson. But there are others that offer similar features, like the Ultenic U12 Vesla in this guide, for a fraction of the price (the Ultenic also has a green laser and floor detection).

But if you're looking for a vacuum with similar suction power, Dyson is unfortunately the best. Instead, consider what other vacuum brands offer that Dyson doesn't, like the allergen-trapping self-cleaning dock of the Samsung Bespoke Jet or the odor-neutralizer found in Shark's vacuums. These vacuums still offer impressive cleaning performance, too, and you can avoid paying the Dyson premium.

How much should a cordless vacuum cost?

Vacuums are one of those products where the more you spend, the more you get. There isn't a way around that, but you can weigh up what features are deal breakers for you, your home, and your specific cleaning needs, and go from there.

The best cordless vacuums will start around the $300-400 mark. If you want the absolute best suction power, smart features, long battery life and large dustbins, you're looking at parting with $600-900.

Any vacuums less than $200 are typically poor at what they do, and will leave an almost-unbelievable amount of mess behind after cleaning. The only one I can recommend at this price is the Ultenic U12 Vesla in this guide.

How long should a cordless vacuum cleaner last?

If looked after properly, cordless vacuum cleaners can last for years. See it as an investment: if you regularly clean it, avoid vacuuming the wrong things like glass and liquids, wash and replace your filters when needed, it could last anywhere between three to six years.

To help determine longevity, look for the manufacturer's warranty. Most will offer one to two years limited warranty which will provide temporary peace of mind against any faults or damages. For more protection, Shark offers an impressive five-year limited warranty on all vacuums.

Are cordless vacuums worth it?

Cordless vacuums are certainly worth it. In a smaller home, they can replace a corded vacuum cleaner, especially if you choose a model with good suction. In larger homes, they are perfect for quick clean-ups – having one on the upper floor can make cleaning bedrooms quickly a real boost.

Some cordless vacuums are even as powerful, if not more, than standard uprights, and are also built to tackle pet hair. Plus, they're typically half the weight of your traditional corded model, for easier use and mobility.

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