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Some people love to clean. For others, it’s a dreaded chore.
Yet no matter how much you enjoy or despise cleaning your home, running a vacuum at least once or twice a week is a must if you want to keep your home as clean as can be.
Whether you have hardwood floors, thick, plush carpeting, low-pile area rugs, or other hard floors, like tile and laminate, all floors can benefit from a good vacuum cleaner. Vacuuming keeps them free of dirt, hair, and all sorts of nasty indoor allergens, such as dust mites and pet dander.
If you’re in the market for a new vacuum to keep your house clean and tidy, a cordless vacuum is the way to go (we’ll explain why in a minute).
From top-of-the-line Dyson models to more affordable models priced under $100, here are the 11 best cordless vacuums to make cleaning your floors a little bit easier.
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The Pros and Cons of Cordless Vacuums
When the original Black+Decker Dustbuster hit the market in 1979, it was mostly used in addition to a traditional corded vac. It was perfect for quick clean-ups, it was lightweight enough to hold in one hand, and as long as it was charged up when you needed it, it was awesome!
But the one thing it lacked was strong suction power.
Some people still think that corded vacuums are better than their cordless counterparts – but that’s just not the case anymore. Here are a few of the biggest pros to buying a cordless vacuum:
- Their suction power is strong
- They tend to be quite lightweight, which makes them easy to maneuver
- Many come with all sorts of attachments, such as crevice tools and dusting brushes
- You can use them anywhere, including on stairs, in your car, and on outdoor couches and upholstery
- Some come with different brush heads to clean different floor types
- Cordless vacuums have bagless designs, so there’s no need to buy replacement vacuum bags
The main drawback of cordless vacuums is that their dustbins tend to be smaller than those of corded vacuums. That means more trips to the trash bin to empty out the dust cup, which can get pretty annoying if you have a large home.
With a cordless vac, you also need to make sure it’s charged when you’re ready to use it. An uncharged cordless vacuum is absolutely useless!
Overall, cordless vacuums are the better option for most people, but there are a few things you’ll want to consider before buying one.
Things to Consider When Buying a Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
When shopping for a cordless vacuum, there are five key things to keep in mind:
- Style
- Battery life
- Storage space
- Suction power
- Price
Cordless vacuums come in various styles, such as upright, stick, handheld, and robot. With the exception of robot vacuums, many upright and stick models come with different attachments and adapters that allow you to push them around the house in the traditional manner or use them as a handheld model.
All cordless vacuums have a rechargeable battery, but battery life varies by model and manufacturer. The bigger your home, the more important it is to choose a vacuum with a better battery and a longer runtime.
It’s also important to consider how the vacuum stores and where you’ll store it while it’s charging. In a small home or apartment with limited storage space, a stick vacuum or a robot vacuum can save precious space.
For pet owners in a constant battle with pet hair and shedding fur, look for a vacuum with great suction power and the ability to pick up hair with ease. Many are designed with detangling brushes so that hair doesn’t get trapped around the brush.
While the newest, most expensive cordless model might be on your wishlist, keep your budget in mind. Just because a vacuum is more expensive doesn’t mean it will suit your needs any better than one at a lower price. Before you drop a week’s paycheck (or more) on a sleek new cordless vacuum, compare prices and features to make sure you’re getting the best value for a price you can afford.
The 11 Best Cordless Vacuums
Ready to find the cordless vacuum that’s best for you? Here’s our roundup of the 11 best models on the market to suit your needs, your home, and your budget.
1. Dyson V15 Detect
There’s no doubt about it – Dyson makes superior products, and as we all know, superiority doesn’t come cheap. The Dyson V15 Detect will set you back a cool $750, but it’s loaded with features that make it one of Dyson’s smartest and most powerful cordless vacuums.
An awesome choice for homes with pets, this cordless vac comes with all sorts of tools and attachments, but it’s the laser technology built into it that makes it something extra-special. It’s built with angled lasers that make invisible dust visible. With this cordless design, you’ll be able to pick up every speck of dust and dirt – including those that you can’t even see.
To quote Ferris Bueller, “if you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”
RELATED: Homemade Carpet Cleaner: Will It Really Work? [Full Review]
2. Dyson Cyclone V10
If the Dyson V15 Detect is out of your price range, the Dyson Cyclone V10 is an excellent alternative. With different brush heads to clean both hard floors and soft carpets, this vacuum includes three power modes, so you can save battery life by putting it in a lower mode when you have less mess to clean.
Detangling technology makes it a favorite amongst people with long hair or shedding pets. This stick vacuum also converts easily into a handheld design for effortless cleaning anywhere in the home.
3. Dyson V11 Outsize
Pricey yet powerful, the Dyson V11 Outsize vacuum offers the largest canister of any cordless Dyson model, which means fewer trips to the trash can to empty the dust bin. It also has a larger cleaning head than comparable models, so it covers more surface area with a single pass than most other Dysons.
With 2 hours of runtime, Dyson’s most powerful motor yet, and a handheld conversion option, this is one of the most impressive models that Dyson offers. It features all sorts of tools and attachments, and it’s built with DLS™ Technology that automatically senses changes in floor types to make it easier to switch between hardwood, tile, and carpet.
4. Shark Stratos Cordless
The Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum is powerful when it comes to picking up both pet hair and human hair – that means you won’t have to stop in mid-vacuum to detangle hair from the brush.
This cordless vac includes Shark’s Duoclean Powerfins Haripro self-cleaning brushroll system, a flexible wand that makes it easier to clean under tables and sofas, and a Clean Sense IQ infrared sensor that automatically increases power to pick up the dirt you can’t even see.
5. Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away Cordless Vacuum
The Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away Cordless Vacuum is a deep cleaning upright vacuum with a Hepa filter, so it’s great at capturing and removing dust, dirt, and other allergens from your home.
This upright stick vacuum includes LED lights that improve the visibility of those not-so-obvious dust particles, plus a self-cleaning brushroll, so you won’t have to waste time removing hair wrapped around the brush. It also converts to a lightweight handheld vac for easy cleaning of high surfaces.
6. Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
At under $180, the Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner is one of the more affordable vacuum cleaners to make this list. This powerful design features three built-in speed controls for seamless vacuuming from hardwood to carpet to area rugs and other types of floors.
Turn it into a detachable handheld vacuum with ease and enjoy how simple it is to empty with its one-touch dustbin. It also includes a detachable battery pack so you can store the vacuum in a small closet and charge the battery in any outlet that’s convenient. On a full charge, the battery runs for 55 minutes.
7. Black+Decker Dustbuster Advanced Clean Cordless Handheld Vacuum CHV1410L
Like the original dustbuster from the ‘70s, the Black+Decker Dustbuster Advanced Clean Cordless Handheld Vacuum CH1410L isn’t ideal for cleaning entire floors or massive rooms, but it’s perfect for sucking up small spots or piles of dirt. If you have hard floors throughout your home or apartment, this hand vacuum might be all you need – just sweep the dust and dirt from your floors into a small pile and then use this affordable design to suck it up!
This handheld vacuum includes a flip-up brush to clean upholstery, a crevice tool to clean in tight spaces, and a slim rotating nozzle. It’s also super lightweight and includes a washable filter.
RELATED: The 7 Best Handheld Vacuum Cleaners [Small and Mighty]
8. iRobot Roomba S9+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
It’s pretty cool that you can activate a robot vacuum with a simple voice command or a press of a button. But you know what’s not so cool? Having to stop the robot in the middle of a cleaning cycle to empty out the dustbin.
With the iRobot Roomba S9+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum, that’s a thing of the past.
A Clean Base® Automatic Dirt Disposal system is both a docking base for recharging as well as a self-emptying dustbin sized to hold up to 60 days’ worth of dust and dirt. With this robot vacuum, you can go two months at a time without ever having to empty the bin.
9. Dirt Devil Versa 3-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
At less than $100, the Dirt Devil Versa 3-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner offers excellent value. It has multi-floor capacity that makes it easy to clean all types of floor surfaces, it includes a rinsable filter, and it’s lightweight – perfect for cleaning up small messes in any room of the home.
The lightweight design makes it easy and safe to use on stairs. Remove the bottom, and it converts within seconds to a handheld vac for cleaning items overhead.
10. Bissell CrossWave X7 Cordless Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac
Designed with pet owners and furry friends in mind, the Bissell CrossWave X7 Cordless Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac vacuums and washes floors at the same time. Safe for use on sealed hard floors and area rugs, this vacuum includes plant-based cleaning ingredients to eliminate pet odors, two-tank technology to keep clean water and dirty water separate, and a convenient docking station for recharging.
This Bissell vacuum is lightweight, includes three different cleaning modes, and has a self-cleaning cycle that flushes out pet hair, dirt, and dust with ease.
11. Tineco Pure One S15 Pro Smart Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
With a five-stage filtration system, the Tineco Pure One S15 Pro Smart Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner cleans your floors and keeps your air cleaner. A contactless dustbin means you’ll never have to touch any dirt to empty it out, while a series of different brushes and tools make it easy to clean every nook and cranny.
Like many of the other great vacuums on this list, this cordless stick vacuum converts to a handheld model and includes a detangling brush roll so that human and pet hair don’t coil around the brush.
Are Cordless Vacuums Better Than Vacuums With Cords?
Corded vacuums are kind of a pain in the butt, simply for the fact that you have to plug and unplug them over and over again as you clean from room to room. They can be quite heavy, and the cord can be a dangerous tripping hazard, especially if you have to vacuum stairs.
Cordless vacuums are powerful, often lighter in weight than corded models, and they offer more flexibility. If you’re in the market for a new vacuum, a cordless model is the way to go!
You might also be interested in: The 7 Best Vacuum Cleaners for Apartments
The 11 Best Cordless Vacuums:
- Dyson V15 Detect
- Dyson Cyclone V10
- Dyson V11 Outsize
- Shark Stratos Cordless
- Shark Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away Cordless Vacuum
- Black+Decker Powerseries Extreme Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
- Black+Decker Dustbuster Advanced Clean Cordless Handheld Vacuum CHV1410L
- iRobot Roomba S9+ Self-Emptying Robot Vacuum
- Dirt Devil Versa 3-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner
- Bissell CrossWave X7 Cordless Pet Pro Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vac
- Tineco Pure One S15 Pro Smart Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner