Best cordless vacuum cleaners

Full-size corded vacuums may offer the deepest and most powerful cleaning of all vacuums; but they are often cumbersome and a pain to use, clean, AND store. That’s why they’re better suited for a thorough cleaning once a month, whereas cordless vacuums are great for everyday maintenance. Do yourself a favor and buy the best cordless vacuum. This type of vacuum offers more convenience as it doesn’t have a cord, is much smaller and lighter hence it’s easier to maneuver around furniture and move in general. And, the greatest benefit of all – no more unplugging and re-plugging the cord every time you go from room to room. That’s why you need a cordless vacuum.

If you already love this vacuum, wait till you read our cordless vacuum reviews. Also, let us share with you how to actually choose the best cordless vacuum for your needs and means.

Best cordless vacuums in 2022

Cordless vacuum reviews

After going through our buyer’s guide, it’s time to put your knowledge into use and read our cordless vacuum reviews. We bring you 7 top-rated cordless vacuums and a quick overview of each model.

Dyson Cyclone V10 Motorhead – Best overall

The Dyson Cyclone V10 Motorhead is the most powerful cordless vacuum on our list and will tackle every cleaning task with ease. This model is a good choice for those who want high suction power, amazing battery life, and a good price. There are three models in V10 series – Cyclone Motorhead, Animal and Absolute. Compared to Dyson V 10 Absolute and Dyson V 10 Animal, this one offers the best price and battery life, but also has a smaller dust bin and is less versatile. Still, this is one of best cordless vacuums of 2022.

The reason why the Dyson V10 vacuums are so powerful is their innovative motor. Namely, these models feature the smallest, lightest and on top of all, the strongest motor of all Dyson handled units. The motor is made with a ceramic shaft and produces up to 125, 000 rpm. While these are not full-size models, they definitely clean like such.

Coming with a few attachments and with the ability to be used as a handheld vac, this Dyson cordless vacuum is a versatile unit. It has the most important tools you need to clean your home and your car. You can clean hard floors and carpets, furniture, stairs, tight spaces, and corners. This model cleans pet hair dirt, debris, Cheerios, and other dropped food or spilled ingredients (such as sugar or flour).

This Dyson model has an amazing battery life, ensuring up to 60 minutes of run time without using a motorized tool, and up to 35 minutes of run time when using it. So, you’ll have enough time to clean the home before the unit needs to be recharged.

Coming with a handy docking station and charger, you can keep a vac within reach and use it for quick clean-ups. But, this model is also great for the thorough cleaning of your home.

The Dyson Motorhead is lightweight and features an instant-release trigger so the battery is used wisely. In addition, a fully-sealed filtration system eliminates 99.97% of particles and expels cleaner air back into the room.

One of the biggest problems with V10 models, including this one, is that the weight isn’t well balanced. A dustbin is placed on top of the handle so the vac can easily tip over. While this is not such a big deal, having a vac that is difficult to control is. There is much more pressure on your hands and wrists when using the vacuum, so people with sore hands cannot use this unit.

Shark Navigator Freestyle SV1106 – Best cheap cordless vacuum for touch-ups

Our second choice is the Shark cordless vacuum – best cheap cordless vacuum. This unit is great for cleaning both carpets and hardwood floors at the fraction of cost. If you’re looking for a stick vacuum to add to your vacuum collection, this one would fit the bill.

The Navigator Freestyle Premium Cordless Vacuum has strong suction power and wide cleaning path (10 inches) so it cleans the larger surface and more debris in one go. With several passes, your floor will be clean. With a powerful motorized brush, this vac also makes a good choice for pet hair. However, it doesn’t come with any attachment, so you cannot use it for cleaning above floors. It also cannot be used as a handheld model for cleaning the car.

This unit has a relatively short run time (15 minutes for carpets and 17 minutes for hardwood floors) hence it works best for quick clean-ups. Use your regular canister vac for a thorough cleaning.

Since the motor is placed on the head, the vac is easy to use and control. And there is swivel steering so you can easily navigate around furniture, clean corners, and stairs.

What we (and everyone else) find impressive about this model is a large dustbin. At 1.2 liters, this model features one of the largest dustbins that a cordless vacuum can have. This is very handy as you won’t have to empty the bin so often. And when you do, you’ll definitely love the design of the dustbin. Simply press the button, and the bin will empty. Your hands will stay clean.

This vacuum is fairly heavy – weighing 7.5 pounds. While this model isn’t cumbersome, it’s still on the heavier side of stick vacuums. However, its weight shouldn’t be a problem, especially because of the short run time – your hands won’t even have the time to get tired.

This is one of the best cordless vacuums for this price range. If you don’t want to spend much, this is the way to go. However, with a low price comes less durable design. The Navigator comes with a 1-year warranty, and its parts aren’t so durable. The unit usually lasts about one year or so.

Deik – Best lightweight vacuum

This Deik vacuum is a decent unit, perfect for cleaning your car and keeping your floors clean without getting tired. This model doesn’t have strong suction power, but it does have a great battery life, a swivel neck and is cheap. If you don’t expect anything more than this, then take a look at the Deik vacuum.

At only 4.7 lbs., the Deik vacuum is one of the lightest vacuums on the market. Despite the fact that the motor and dustbin are installed on top of the handle, this model is still very easy to control. A swivel neck definitely contributes to this.

The vac can clean under desk, table, and even furniture, capturing dust and ultra-fine debris with ease. You can also capture dirt you thought it’s not there, thanks to the handy LED light. However, a low profile makes cleaning harder and much slower. In fact, food, pet hair and large debris seem to only get pushed around and in order to suck this debris, you actually have to lift the head. Doing so every few minutes is tiring. That said, this unit could be a good choice for vacuuming carpets and hard floors every day, as long as they aren’t really dirty and there is no large debris. If you live in an apartment and you only need a vac to slide over the floors and keep them clean, this one would do the job.

On a more positive note, this model easily converts into a handheld, so you can also use it to clean your car. The battery life is great, lasting about 25 minutes. Another good thing about this model is a slim design that makes it easy to store the unit. And the dustbin is easy to empty. What’s more, all parts in the dustbin are removable for thorough cleaning.

Just like a previous cheap model on our list, this one also comes with a 1-year warranty and doesn’t last long. In case something breaks, or the motor stops working, keep in mind that there are no replacement parts available.

Hoover BH51120PC – Best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors

The Hoover Air Lift vacuum is the best vacuum for hardwood floors on our list. If you don’t want to spend a bunch of money on a cordless vac, yet still want a good vac, you could give this model a try.

This Hoover cordless vacuum is lightweight and features swivel technology, making it easy to maneuver around furniture and obstacles. With this vacuum, you get a set of handy accessories to easily clean every inch of your house. A dusting and crevice tool will help you clean nooks and crannies, vents and furniture. A Hard Floor Brushroll features extra soft bristles to clean your hard floors without scratching them. Lastly, a pivoting dusting tool allows you to get into those hard-to-reach areas. The best part is that you can also use this vacuum for mobile cleaning, making it great for cars and stairs.

The battery life is great, lasting up to 50 minutes. But, what we really love is that the battery can be removed and switched with another one. You can clean your home without waiting for a battery to recharge. Simply switch batteries and continue cleaning. As far as the dirt cup capacity goes, it’s large; at 1.05 Liters.

Considering this is a low-price model, we find its 5-year warranty quite impressive and reassuring. Even if something breaks down, you can take a vac to the local vacuum store and have it fixed there.

This model does a good job cleaning hardwood floors as well as above floor. However, it doesn’t seem to work well on carpets. It won’t pick up large debris and pet hair.

BLACK & DECKER HSVJ520JMBF27 – Best cordless stick vacuum for hard floors

If you’d like to buy a cheap cordless vacuum, then this model may be just what you need. The Black+Decker cordless vacuum is a great choice for tiles, hardwood floors, and rugs.

Featuring swivel steering technology and auto suction adjustment, this vac makes regular clean-ups a piece of cake. If your house has a mix of rugs, tiles, and hardwood floors, the auto suction adjustment will seamlessly transition to each of these floors. You can move the vac from room to room without a limitation of a cord because this is a cordless model. In addition, you can use it to reach tight spaces, cleaning stairs, and corners. Oh, and you will definitely love a handheld vacuum that is attached to the body. It’s perfect for cleaning Cheerios, or a pile of dust and fine debris.

Another handy feature is a powered beater bar that removes stubborn dust and debris from rugs and provides a deep clean. However, this model isn’t suitable for fluffy carpets and medium and high-pile carpets; it’s just not that powerful.

The battery life is okay, up to 25 minutes on hardwood floors and tiles. With a SMARTECHTM sensing technology, you don’t have to wonder how much battery has left or when you should clean the filter – it will let you know that!

Bissell 1984 Air Ram – Best compact cordless vacuum

The Bissel Air Ram could be the best cordless vacuum for you if you’re looking for a compact yet powerful vacuum. It also comes at a great price, being a good choice for starters.

This model is designed with ease-of-use in mind. It’s lightweight and features swivel steering and a lay-flat handle. You will easily navigate it around obstacles and under furniture, and your hands won’t get tired. In addition, the battery holds up to 30 minutes so you’ll have plenty of time to vacuum your house. The vac comes with an easy-empty dirt bin for mess-free empty.

What you’ll appreciate about this model is its compact design. Not only the vac is lightweight, but it also has a collapsible handle. You can easily find a place for it and won’t have any difficulty storing it after every use.

This model does well on both carpets and hard floors, thanks to its multi-surface brush roll. Add to that LED Lights for hard floors, and you can see why this model is one of the top-rated cordless vacuums. It will catch fine dirt, debris and even pet hair, leaving your floors cleaner. However, the Air Ram doesn’t convert into a hand vacuum nor does it come with the attachments. Its cleaning performance is limited to the floor only. Also, the Air Ram doesn’t have the most quality parts and design. The parts can break easily, which is why this vac lasts only about 1 year. It’s also noisy.

SharkNinja DuoClean IF201 – One of the best stick vacuums for carpet

Our last model is remarkable SharkNinja – the best cordless stick vacuum in this price range. This one is a good choice for versatile cleaning.

What makes this model stand out from the crowd is the dual brush system that enables efficient cleaning on both carpets and hard floors. The DuoClean Technology features a bristle brush and an additional soft brush roll. No more snowplowing; this vac cleans small and large particles, dirt and dust, while also giving the hard floor a polished look. What’s more, MultiFLEX Technology gives you flexible reach so you can also clean under furniture. And with a variety of attachments such as Dusting Brush, Duster Crevice Tool, Wide Upholstery Tool, and Anti-Allergen Dust Brush this vac can confidently clean the entire house. Use it for the car and above-floor cleaning as a hand vacuum.

The battery life is good, ensuring up to 30 minutes of runtime with mixed usage, and around 10 minutes on the Max mode. This model features a removable battery and gives you the option to buy another one and use it while the first one is charging. However, keep in mind that a replacement battery isn’t cheap.

Since this is a stick vacuum, it takes up very little space, being easy to store.

Coming from Shark, this model won’t let you down. It’s well built and durable. However, it’s not perfect. Namely, it has a small dirt compartment so you’ll have to empty it frequently.

Final thoughts

Well, it seems that we came to the end of the article – what a shame! Time to say goodbye but before that, we’d like to say a few words on our Editor’s Choice vacuum – the Dyson Cyclone V10 Motorhead. We’d say this is the best cordless vacuum in terms of money, performance, durability, and battery life. This vac effortlessly cleans particles, dust, debris and pet hair on both carpets and hard floors. Its impressive 60-minute long battery life doubles run time compared to most other models allowing for better cleaning. If you’d like to invest in this baby, consider your money well spent.

How to find the best cordless vacuum?

Buying the cordless vacuum cannot be an impulsive decision, but rather a well thought through. Naturally, you’d want to get a good value for the money vacuum. In order to do so, you must learn what features to focus on. Without further ado, let’s get into details and help you choose just what you need.

Suction power

When we are choosing a vacuum cleaner, we always aim for high suction power. Well, the same goes for this type of vacuum. Buying the most powerful cordless vacuum sounds great, but let’s be realistic here – not all people have the money for that. – So, you’ll want as higher suction power as you can afford. High suction power will give a better, more thorough cleaning of floors, especially carpets. Another feature related to this is a Carpet Boost function. When a vacuum cleaner switches from tiles, or hardwood floors to a carpet, this function will activate.

Battery life

Cordless vacuum cleaners give you much more flexibility and are easier to maneuver around furniture because there is no cord to worry about. However, this advantage compromises on the length of cleaning sessions. Since cordless vacuums are operated on a battery, their usage is somewhat limited. Most models don’t have an impressive battery life – it usually lasts about 20-30 minutes. But some top-rated models can have a longer battery life or at least come with a removable battery so you can use a spare one to finish cleaning.

And with the battery life also comes charging time. Some batteries charge for 5 hours, others for 2-3 hours. Again, see what suits you and whether you even care about the charging time. For example, if you use a vac every other day or once a week, you shouldn’t be too concerned with this.

Noise

Some vacuums produce much more noise than others. And we can’t tell which one would be quieter – there’s no general rule. There are many features that contribute to the level of noise, including suction power and motor. However, you can ask a retailer how loud the vac is and they will help you decide which unit will be more appropriate for your home. If you usually vacuum at night (many people actually do this), look for a quiet model. If you live in a house and aren’t concerned about waking up your neighbors, your options are much wider.

Design

How about the design of the vacuum? Is it made of sturdy materials or the parts can break easily? Naturally, more expensive models have a better design. However, not everyone wants to invest in such a model, and feel much more comfortable buying a cheap cordless vacuum. It’s up to you, but checking how well a certain model is built can do no harm.

Weight and maneuverability

Weight and maneuverability are also related to a vacuum’s design. Even though cordless units are far lighter than their corded cousins, certain models that have a motor on top of the handle are awkward to use and also harder to control because the weight isn’t balanced. As a result, these models cannot stand on their own since they will tip over. So, you’ll have to lean them against a wall. These models can be difficult to use by people with arthritis or weak hands.

Size

Size is another thing you want to think about. Many people don’t consider this and then end up with a model that they hate using. If a vacuum is cumbersome and difficult to maneuver, probably the same will happen to you. If a model is lightweight and easy to control, you might even start to like vacuuming your house. Speaking of which, if you have a tiny house, perhaps the best stick vacuum would be better suited.

Dustbin capacity

How small or large is a dustbin? Naturally, a large one will help you capture all the dirt and finish the job without interruption. On the other hand, a small dust bin will probably need to be emptied 2-3 times when cleaning the entire house.

Type of filtration

HEPA filtration seems to be very popular. And how they wouldn’t be when they capture allergens, fine dust, and dander, at the same time preventing them to go back into the air? The hype about this type of filter is justified, especially for people who suffer from allergies, deal with asthma or are just too sensitive (like babies are). Since HEPA filtration captures bad guys and keeps them inside, the air expelled is much cleaner.

Putting away

Best cordless vacuums are designed with convenience in mind hence are easy to store away and use on-demand, and even can be mounted on a wall. You should definitely think about where you will store a vacuum.

Versatility

Versatility is another feature to keep in mind. Cordless vacuums that come with a variety of attachments allow for cleaning above floors – saving time and significantly facilitating the cleaning of your home. Upholstery and crevice tool, pet hairbrush, etc. – all these can make cleaning a breeze.

Budget

The best cordless vacuum may come with all the bells and whistles you need, but the model you will eventually opt for comes down to your budget. No doubt that investing in a high-end model will pay off in the long run. But, we all know that spending a thousand bucks on a vacuum is a big investment upfront.

With that in mind, we’d say find the right match you can afford and be happy with it.