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Honorable mentions
We haven’t tried the vacuum yet which we absolutely hate. These vacuums below are solid vacuums, and in some cases are much cheaper than our top picks, but we didn’t like them very much.
BISSELL IconPet Turbo Edge for $366: Bissell’s OG Stick Vacuum is a popular model that has been around for a while. It does a good job of picking up hair and cat litter, and easily converts into a handheld vacuum as well. The battery lasts a little longer, but Medea Giordano, a former WIRED reviewer, wasn’t impressed with its joy-gathering skills, and it can’t stand on its own.
Bissell’s PowerClean FurFinder for $210: It’s a great vacuum, and was our previous top pick. It does an all-around good job on all types of flooring, comes with a great range of accessories, and has a FurFinder to help with pet hair. It’s still a great vacuum, especially if you have pets, but unless you use the FurFinder frequently, you can get the slightly cheaper regular Bissell PowerClean for a similar experience.
Bosch Unlimited 10 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner for $699: This vacuum has six cleaning modes and can bend in the middle, but it doesn’t always keep debris inside the vacuum after you’re done cleaning. It has a 10-year warranty on the motor, which is more than what other brands offer.
Black & Decker Powerseries Extreme Max, priced at $209: The Black & Decker Powerseries Extreme Max is a great vacuum and is cheaper than most other vacuums. It stands on its own and has three power levels that you can easily control on the handle, and it handles well on different surfaces in my house. I liked this vacuum a lot, but it wasn’t as stable as the Bissell above, and the handle felt a little soft compared to it and other vacuums I’ve tested. However, it had a larger capacity trash can.
Dirt Devil Power Swerve Pet Cordless Vacuum for $72: We’ve previously recommended this as a budget pick. It’s a good vacuum for the money, but there are mixed results on how long the battery will last and build quality.
Dyson V12 Detect, $550: the Detect V12 It’s worth considering if you want something a little cheaper and lighter than the V15 (although it is less powerful and has a smaller trunk).
Eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20, $350: WIRED reviewer Adrian was excited to try Juve E20which is a stick vacuum, handheld vacuum, and robot vacuum all in one. It’s easy to use and well designed, but it’s only good for light cleaning.
Eureka Innova Cordless Multi-Surface Vacuum, $246: This is a good vacuum cleaner at a reasonable price. It cleaned trash rugs well, and there are specific settings for carpet and hardwood. However, to suck up larger pieces like Cheerios, I had to lift the vacuum up and place it directly on top of them.
Ryobi 18V One + HP Advanced Stick Vacuum Kit for $399: This is our second cordless vacuum pick for the best pet hair vacuums. It features powerful suction, cyclone filtration, a brushless motor, an easily removable swivel bar, and lights on the vacuum head to better see pet hair and dander.
Worx 20V cordless vacuum for $250: It’s a good vacuum, but cleaning the trash was more difficult than those of other models I tested.
Frequently asked questions
What is a cordless vacuum cleaner?
Cordless vacuums, also known as stick vacuums, are just what the name suggests: they don’t need a cord to operate. Instead, it has a battery that needs to be charged, and is designed with a battery and motor on top with a long, thin, stick-like body that connects that to the head of the vacuum. It is much lighter than an upright vacuum, and has become popular because it is easy to store and move around the house. I especially like using one of them as someone who lives in a three-story house. Stick vacuums can usually remove the stick portion to turn them into a handheld vacuum, although they are much heavier than a real vacuum. Portable vacuum (But the battery life is much better.)
How long do cordless vacuum cleaners last?
In general, a vacuum cleaner tends to last about five years, but this depends on how often you vacuum and the build quality of the vacuum. Some cheap vacuums may only last a year or two, according to Eufy, so it’s worth investing in a good quality vacuum. If you’re interested in learning about the signs that your vacuum cleaner may need to be replaced, check out our website A guide to how long vacuum cleaners can last. If you’re curious if you’re vacuuming enough, check out our guide to If You’re Vacuuming Enough How often should you vacuum?.
How does WIRED test cordless vacuum cleaners?
The best way to test a vacuum is to use it as you normally would. So, for a few months, we lived with these cordless vacuums, rotating through them to handle daily messes and weekly deep cleanings of hardwood floors, carpets, and rugs. We charged a fee for them, asked our partners to use them, and even took some to a retail store to clean antique and high-traffic furniture.
We also did a live test, comparing how each of them picked up piles of Cheerios and cat litter, to see if they blew debris around or needed multiple passes. We also took piles of already accumulated dust and dirt from inside the vacuum bins to see how easily they could be sucked back up in their thickened state.
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