The best cordless vacuums for every cleaning task

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

Cordless vacuums are sometimes pegged as inferior, but here's the truth: Cordless vacuum cleaners have reached a new level. Thanks to ever-developing tech, they’re more powerful, more convenient, and longer-lasting than ever before. And they stack up pretty well against their corded, clunkier, upright counterparts.

So, who can argue with the convenience of a cordless vacuum? No plugging and unplugging — and plugging and unplugging again — as you clean different rooms. And no struggling to chase down pet hair or dust bunnies hiding in the trickiest, hardest-to-reach spots of your home. Plus, they’re easier to store away.

The best stick models are also just fun (yes, really) to use. Some transform into handheld vacs with one easy click. It's enough to make cleaning a chore that you actually look forward to. Or at least, make it less of a pain.

What are the benefits of a cordless vacuum?

We’ve already mentioned the big ones. A cordless vacuum is generally more convenient — easier to store, lighter to carry around the hone, and more dexterous. They can reach overhead spots with little effort and often come with useful attachments too.

The other thing worth noting is that they’re often best suited to smaller homes and spaces, or homes with less carpets. That’s because the capacity is generally smaller and the lighter handling makes it easy to whizz around the place in no time. That doesn’t mean they’re only for small homes, of course. Some cordless models have a bigger capacity. If you need more, look out for vacuums that have around a 1-litre capacity.

Is Dyson the best cordless vacuum brand?

In a word, yes. Or, more precisely, Dyson is the standard — the standard that other manufacturers try to match or beat. That doesn’t mean that Dyson is the only name in town. Oh no. Shark, Vax, and Samsung are all solid choices with lots of features. We’ve included examples from each of those brands in the list below.

How long does a cordless vacuum battery last?

This is one important feature to consider. Average battery power will last around 40 minutes and top-end batteries max out at 60 minutes. Be warned, however: That’s usually when the cordless vac is on its lowest power setting. When on the highest power setting — in other words, when the vacuum is doing its hardest sucking — around 20 minutes from a single charge is average.

Some models come with two batteries, so you can swap them mid-clean and save waiting for the vacuum to recharge. Something to bear in mind is that these cordless vacuums can take a surprisingly long time to recharge — anything up to an hour.

As well as good battery power, there are other things that cordless vacuums might include:

LED lights — Some cordless vacuums have mini headlights so you don’t miss dirt.

Digital display — Look out for vacuums that give you real-time information on battery power and other vitals.

Attachment tools — Crevice tools, brushes, pet hair tools, or even mini mop heads are among the extra attachments you might find.

Charging stand — These can be wall mounted or free standing, allowing you to dock and safely store the vacuum while it charges.

You should also keep price and storage in mind, but these features are a good place to start when searching for cordless vacuum cleaners.

What is the best cordless vacuum?

We get it, that’s a lot of information to keep in mind when researching and choosing a cordless vacuum cleaner. To make it easier, we’ve done the hard work of searching the internet and sucking up all the relevant information on your behalf. All you need to do is read on and choose one that suits you and your home.

These are the best cordless vacuum cleaners in 2025.

Dyson cyclone technology
Converts to handheld
Selection of bonus tools
Asthma and allergy friendly
Helpful LCD display
Three power settings

Misses more advanced features
Feels a little top heavy
Dyson tech comes at a price

The Dyson V11 Absolute Extra will make your dreams come true. Particularly if those dreams involve incredible vacuum action on both carpet and hardwood floors. Not to mention cleaning blinds, ceiling fans, and hard-to-reach spots with absolute ease. Indeed, Dyson is the name in cordless vacuums, with its range of precision engineered vacuums.

Using 14-cyclone technology and allergy-friendly filtration system, this powerful vac boasts three power modes (eco, auto, and boost) and has Dynamic Load Sensor technology that adjusts to whatever type of floor you’re cleaning and adjusts the power accordingly. There's also an LCD display for keeping you up to date with blockages and battery power.

It's worth noting that the "extra" in its name refers to the selection of bonus tools. It comes with five extra attachments, which combine with its easy-to-covert handheld mode for all cleaning situations.

Sure, it's not the latest Dyson — there's also the updated V15 Absolute Detect, which adds a little more power and laser for illuminating dirt — but based on the price we rate this as this best Dyson for most people. However, we've listed an even more advanced Dyson below.

Weight: 3 kg
Battery Time: Up to 60 mins
Handheld Mode: Yes
Capacity: 0.76 litres

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Bendable 'Flexology' neck
Clean Sense IQ technology
Folds in half for storage
DuoClean multi-surface bars
Good for pet owners

A bit heavier than Dyson
Emptying is a bit clumsy
Not quite as powerful

Shark has been chomping at the heels of Dyson for several years and the US manufacturer is now among the most popular names producing cordless vacuums (it's the same company that makes Ninja kitchen appliances), and we seriously rate the Shark Stratos for its range of features. In fact, the Shark Stratos has the edge on Dyson in several areas and it costs a bit less.

The most obvious feature is its bendable Flexology neck, which helps you reach under furniture and get into other tricky areas. Not to mention converting into a handheld version. It also bends in half for easy storage.

This Shark has a DuoClean two-roll system — one roll for carpets, one for hard floors — so you can easily switch between surfaces. Meanwhile, Clean Sense IQ technology detects dirt and cranks up the power wherever its needed. And while its battery runtime is a standard 60 mins, this vac comes equipped with two batteries so you can swap them and extend the time to 120 mins.

There are great features for pet owners too. It detangles hairs from the brush rolls as it cleans, savng you the mucky job of doing it yourself, and it uses a cartridge system that neutralises pet odours.

Weight: 4.1 kg
Battery Time: Up to 60 mins
Handeld Mode: Yes
Capacity: 0.71 litres

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Superb cleaning all-round
Comprehensive tool selection
Five levels of suction
Mops hard floors
Pleasingly lightweight
Advanced filtration

One of the priciest vacs
Can get loud
Slightly lower runtime

There aren’t many electrical goods that Samsung doesn’t excel at. And here’s another first-class (albeit expensive) example — the Samsung Jet 95 Pro. The big sell of model is exactly what you want from any vacuum, stick, upright, or otherwise: Phenomenal cleaning performance.

With multiple levels of suction power, it has no problem picking up anything in its path. It can also mop hard floors with its Dual spinning sweeper attachment, which mists your floors then cleans them with anti-bacterial micro fibre pads. On the subject of attachments, the Jet 95 Pro has a comprehensive arsenal, which also includes a pet tool, crevice tool, and flexi tool for awkward spots.

That’s all helped by a multi-level filtration system and an LCD display that keeps you up to date of performance, battery, and maintenance needs. We also like the Z-station — a charging dock that you can stand anywhere, without drilling it into the wall, to charge wherever and whenever is convenient.

Ultimately, this one’s among the very best cordless vacuums around. The only drawback is the price but you’ll reap the rewards of its performance.

Weight: 2.8 kg
Battery Time: Up to 50 mins
Handheld Mode: Yes
Capacity: 0.8 litres

Vax Blade 4 Classic cordless stick vacuum

Power 'boost' mode
LED highlights
Two bonus tools
Affordable price point

Shorter runtime
A bit more basic
Not the biggest capacity

It would be remiss of us to not include Vax in this rundown. Vax has been one of the leading brands since long before Dyson instigated the bagless revolution. If you want value for money, check out the Vax Blade 4 Classic, which offers (almost) everything you want from a cordless vacuum, with the added bonus that it costs under £150.

The Vax Blade 4 Classic is great for everyday use does the basics very well indeed. It has a boost mode for when you need it, giving you 3x the regular power. It also comes equipped with two bonus attachments — crevice and stair tools — plus bonus headlights that help you see dirt in darker corners or under furniture. You won’t miss any dirt or debris while on your cleaning rounds.

You will have to make some sacrifices at this lower price point. For instance, the battery packs a slightly underwhelming 45 minutes — though that's not a problem if you keep it well charged — and while there's no pet tool, Vax does offer a more expensive version for pet owners.

Weight: 2.5 kg
Battery Time: Up to 45 mins
Handheld Mode: Yes
Capacity: 0.6 litres

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Lights up invisible dirt
Displays dust data
Packs serious power
Advanced HEPA filter
One-click conversion
Sucks up 0.1 microns

Premium price point
Heavier handling
Cheaper Dysons offer more value

We know we’ve recommended another model as the best available Dyson, but that’s based on value for money alone. The Dyson Gen5detect represents a generational leap and offers the very latest in Dyson’s cordless vacuum technology. In fact, Dyson calls the Gen5detect its most advanced vacuum yet, which is saying something. And who are we to argue?

It has increased suction power plus a HEPA filtration system that traps microns as small as 0.1, which means this vacuum can tackle all kinds of nasties. An LCD display that keeps you up to date with your dirt particle intake, plus your remaining battery time and any filter notifications.

The Gen5detect has two heads — one for carpets, one for hard floors — and emits a blade of light to show up any dust and dirt that the human eye wouldn’t ordinarily see. It ain't cheap, of course — that’s always the kicker with this level of tech — and it’s a bit heavier than competing.

It does, however, transform into a handheld vacuum with the click of one button, allowing you to whizz it around a little easier.

Weight: 3.5 kg
Battery Life: Up to 70 mins
Handheld Mode: Yes
Capacity: 0.77 litres

Pet and car tool
Reduces hair tangling
Flexible neck design
Manual power control
Or auto adjusts power

Average battery life
Limited attachment options

If you’re a pet owner, you’ll know full well that it takes a bit of extra power and innovation to get pet hair out the carpets. All the cordless vacs on this list are reliable enough, there’s no substitute for one designed specifically for the job. That’s why we recommend the Tefal X-Force Flex, a cordless bendable stick vacuum that’s designed for getting pet hair out of your home and your car.

The key to its pet hair performance is an animal turbo brush, which aggressively collects hair. The main brush head is also equipped for pets and reduces hair tangling. You’ll also be able to suck up pet hair from any corner or crevice thanks to the flexible neck and handheld conversion.

The vacuum itself is smart enough to detect the type of floor you’re cleaning and automatically optimises the power level. You can also manually cycle through four levels of power. And while we’re not bowled over by the 45 minute battery, which is at the lower end of what you’ll find on this list, but an LCD display tells you when it’s time to recharge.

Weight: 3.2 kg
Battery Life: Up to 45 mins
Handheld Mode: Yes
Capacity: 0.9 litres

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Minimal fuss design
Great for pet hair
Quick car cleaning
Washable filter
Gets into nooks & crannies

Needs constant recharging
No charging dock

All the vacuums on this list convert from stick to handheld. And as simple as that is — just a few clicks and twists — you don't always want the faff. Sometimes you just need a regular Dustbuster-style vac that you can pick up and whoosh around any messy patches. That's why we're recommending the Shark Cordless Handheld vacuum, a useful tool that throws in a few extras.

Coming from Shark, you can rely on the quality and power of this vac. But it also comes well equipped for various cleaning scenarios, thanks to a crevice, dusting brush, and motorised pet tool. And yes we've recommended another model specifically for pet hair but this Shark is arguably just as good.

With just ten minutes of runtime (standard with handheld vacuums) you'll need to make sure it's charged. Normally you'd just sit a handheld in its charging dock, but this one charges via a charging cable (which is included) so you'll have you remember to keep it topped up. It has a one-touch easy-empty bin and a washable filter, which you can pop out and run under the tap.

And while there are cheaper handheld vacs available, it's not a bad price. Shark offer premium handheld models too, such as the Shark WandVac.