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The 8 Best Cordless Vacuums of 2024, According to Testing

We tested 79 cordless vacuums–including models for the car, stick vacuums, and ones made for pet hair–to narrow down our list of the top picks.

group shot of three Cordless Vacuums in a living room, in front of a sofa

Better Homes & Gardens / Henry Wortock

Cordless vacuums have grown in popularity due their tendency toward sleekness and ease of use. If a cordless vacuum is your preference, then you’re in luck: we’ve done our due diligence and figured out which models are worth your time.

Your lifestyle will dictate what features are important to you in a cordless vacuum. For example, if you have pets, Melissa Homer, cleaning expert and chief cleaning officer at MaidPro, recommends looking for “strong suction, HEPA filtration, and powerful rotating brushes for the floor and the upholstery.”

Similarly, hard floors and tile can benefit from targeted “attachments to get in between tight spaces,” says Becky Rapinchuk from Clean Mama. Vacuums will come with varied attachments and tech features (think apps and LED lighting and displays) that make them better-suited for different needs.

What We Tested

We evaluated almost 80 cordless vacuums for effectiveness on hardwood, carpet, upholstery, and stairs by vacuuming a mix of debris types such as popcorn kernels, hair, and coffee grounds. We also assessed maneuverability around furniture and corners, ease of use, and overall value.

After testing in the lab, we took the vacuums home to test over a three-month period, noting any new insights or changes in quality after regular use.

Best Overall

Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum

Our Ratings
  • Effectiveness
    5/5
  • Maneuverability
    5/5
  • Ease of Emptying
    4.8/5
  • Portability
    4.3/5
  • Noise Level
    5/5
Why You Should Get It
  • The suction level and performance impressed even the cordless vacuum skeptics among us and rivaled corded models we’ve tried.

Keep in Mind
  • It’s one of the heavier models on our list.

This stick vacuum by Levoit received rave reviews during our tests for a variety of reasons. We found that it rivaled the best corded models we’ve tried in terms of suction power—an impressive feat for a cordless model that only weighs about 6 pounds. Even cordless vacuum skeptics will be convinced when they see how well the vacuum works.

We noticed that it picked up debris in seconds–dust, dirt, hair, coffee grounds, and cereal pieces were no problem for this model, whether we used it on hardwood or carpet (both high- and medium-pile). Though it’s not the lightest model we tried (in fact, it’s on the heavier side), maneuvering on stairs was pretty easy, and we loved how well the vacuum head got under the lip of each step and into the corners. 

Though it comes with several accessories, the vacuum head was enough to get all the debris during our floor tests. It also quickly turns into a handheld model when needed—when used this way, we found that it cleaned upholstery in one swipe. We noticed no difference in suction power as its battery dwindled and the dust cup filled with hair.

The vacuum features advanced sensors that allow it to adjust the suction power depending on the amount of debris it detects, and the floor type. It also includes LED lighting to help you see into tight crevices and dark areas. Overall this is an intelligent, high-performing vacuum that comes at a very reasonable price. The battery life left a bit to be desired (it only ran for about 8 minutes on high) but we felt that was a reasonable tradeoff for such a great device.

Product Details: Weight: 6.6 Pounds  | Battery Length (on High): 7 Minutes and 58 Seconds | Accessories: Telescoping Crevice Tool, 2-in1 Dust Brush, Charging Dock | Recommended Surfaces: Hard Floors & Carpets

Key Terms to Know
  • HEPA Filter: High-efficiency particulate air filters are included in some (but not all) vacuums and indicate a superior ability to capture small particles such as dust and other allergens.

Best Budget

Wowgo S108 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Wowgo S108 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner put together two ways

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Setup
    5/5
  • Effectiveness
    4.9/5
  • Maneuverability
    4.6/5
  • Ease of Emptying
    4.4/5
  • Portability
    5/5
Why You Should Get It
  • This vacuum cleaned up 100% of the debris on hardwood floors and medium-pile carpet in 30 to 60 seconds.

Keep in Mind
  • The vacuum head felt a bit loose at times, which made it harder to maneuver.

Finding the best cordless vacuum on a budget is a feat in itself, but the benefits of this Wowgo model don’t stop at the price. While it only has a run time of a little over 17 minutes on high power, it lasts around 44 minutes on low power—and we found it cleaned up small messes on hardwood and medium-pile carpet in 30 seconds to a minute, meaning that battery life will still go a long way when spills occur. 

The vacuum worked similarly well on high-pile carpet, but it did take a bit longer—a full minute to pick up about 95-98% of the debris. Hair, dust, and cereal pieces were no problem, but it did require a couple of passes for the coffee grounds. We appreciated the low-profile vacuum head, which made it easy to get into cramped spaces like underneath low cabinets. It’s also very quiet, to the point where we didn’t think it would disrupt TV viewing if it was running in the same room. 

Maneuverability was very smooth on all surfaces, but we had some difficulty getting around chair legs because the vacuum head felt almost too loose and made controlling the direction challenging. Emptying the dust cup was quick and easy, with most debris sliding right out of the canister and minimal hair clogging the brush roll. The attachments easily eliminated gathered debris in the crevices and cleaned off the upholstery.

Wowgo’s device is an incredible value. Priced right around $100, it performed similarly to the best cordless vacuum overall. Though we noticed marginal suction loss as the dust cup filled, it wasn’t enough to consider it a major con. It’s also incredibly lightweight, making it a great choice for households with lots of stairs.

Product Details: Weight: 4.62 Pounds   | Battery Length (on high): 17 minutes and 39 seconds | Accessories: 2-in-1 Motorized Brush, Crevice Tool, Wall Mount | Recommended Surfaces: Hard Floors & Carpets

Best Suction

Tineco Pure One S11 Vacuum

Tineco Pure One S11 Smart Stick/Handheld Vacuum

Tineco

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Setup
    5/5
  • Effectiveness
    5/5
  • Maneuverability
    5/5
  • Ease of Emptying
    4.8/5
  • Portability
    5/5
Why You Should Get It
  • This stick vacuum has a long battery life of about 30 minutes on the highest setting.

Keep in Mind
  • It’s on the heavy side, making it potentially difficult to maneuver up stairs.

This stick vacuum by Tineco received rave reviews during our tests for a variety of reasons. The battery lasted a whopping 31 minutes on high, and the vacuum was easy to slide under furniture and into corners with the appropriate attachments. The vacuum is made to work on both carpet and hardwood flooring and moves from one surface to the other smoothly. 

We noticed that it picked up debris in seconds–dust, dirt, and hair were no problem for this model—but it did struggle with larger items like cereal pieces. And, at nearly 6 pounds, it’s quite heavy. Still, unless you’re prone to spills or have a home with lots of stairs, the benefits likely outweigh the cons. We found that the accessories were easy to attach, it quickly turned into a handheld model when needed, and there was no significant difference in suction power as its battery dwindled. At its loudest the vacuum’s sound was around 84 decibels (compare this to the 60-70 decibels you can expect from the average conversation, according to Yale University). 

Then there are the tech features for the gadget lovers out there. An LED light at the base of one brush illuminates hard-to-see messes, and there is an option to connect your vacuum to an app that keeps track of battery life and filter replacement schedules. Bells and whistles aside, this is one of the best cordless vacuums simply because of how well it performs (it cleaned one of our living rooms in around a minute). Another bonus: we appreciated that it was the easiest to set up and had the battery already attached to the motor.

Product Details: Weight: 5.84 Pounds  | Battery Length (on High): 31 Minutes | Accessories: LED Soft Roller Power Brush, Mini Power Brush, 2-in-1 Dusting Brush, Crevice Tool   | Recommended Surfaces: Hard Floors & Carpets

Best for Carpet

Miele Cat & Dog Vacuum

Miele Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog Vacuum

Miele

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Setup
    5/5
  • Effectiveness
    4.8/5
  • Maneuverability
    4.3/5
  • Ease of Emptying
    2.5/5
  • Portability
    4/5
Why You Should Get It
  • This model is capable of removing deeply-embedded hairs in carpet, even on the lowest setting.

Keep in Mind
  • It’s harder to maneuver on high power due to the force of the suction.

While this Miele vacuum is pricey, we were incredibly impressed with its ability to eliminate hair from high pile carpet, making it our pick for best cordless vacuum for carpets. As a pet vacuum, it’s especially adept at catching hidden hair from cats and dogs that other vacuums might miss—the LED light on one of the attachments was especially helpful in catching missed strands on dark carpets.

While it does work on hardwood floors, carpet, and upholstery, it didn't catch hair as well on non-carpet flooring during our lab tests, although it did easily suck up larger messes like popcorn kernels. During our long-term testing, however, we were impressed with how well the vacuum transitioned between carpet and hard flooring.

As for battery life, it lasts just under 12 minutes on high and 33 minutes on the lower settings, far less than the manufacturer's 60-minute runtime claim. We found that it actually functioned better on the lower or eco modes, as the high setting could produce such forceful suction that the vacuum became harder to maneuver. As a testament to how well this performed on carpet, it removed hair that was deeply pressed into the carpet threads on those lower settings, too. 

If you haven’t deep cleaned your carpets in a long time, expect to empty the canister multiple times, and be prepared to wrestle with the hair that gets wrapped around the filter. This was the biggest downside we found, as emptying the canister was not intuitive, which became frustrating very quickly during long-term testing. Overall, we found that it cleaned a living room in 2 minutes and 40 seconds.

Product Details: Weight: 8 pounds | Battery Length (on high): 11 minutes and 57 seconds | Accessories: Crevice Nozzle, Dusting Brush, Upholstery Nozzle, Electric Brush, Multi-floor Electric Brush  | Recommended Surfaces: Hard Floors, Carpet, & Upholstery

Best for Hard Floors

Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum

Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum

Dyson

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Setup
    4.5/5
  • Effectiveness
    5/5
  • Maneuverability
    5/5
  • Ease of Emptying
    2.5/5
  • Portability
    4.8/5
Why You Should Get It
  • The swivel head makes cleaning in corners and around furniture much easier than with a typical vacuum. 

Keep in Mind
  • A small dust canister means you might find yourself emptying it more often than you’d like.

Dyson vacuums are well-known for good reason. This model stood out during testing as the best cordless vacuum to use on hard floors. A lightweight option at only 2.5 pounds, it works on hardwood floors and grout tiles with similar ease, getting rid of hair, popcorn kernels, and other messes in under a minute.

Stairs were also no issue: The Dyson Omni-Glide+ worked as smoothly and quickly on the stairs as it did on flat surfaces. And after months of regular use, we've never noticed a scratch on our hardwood floors.

One of its greatest attributes is its swiveling head, which worked wonders around corners and furniture when we tested it. The Dyson has a shorter battery life of 8 minutes and 29 seconds on high and lasts around 21 minutes on lower settings. While testing the vacuum for three months, we cleaned our home's entire first floor almost every day and never ran out of battery during operation.

Its biggest challenge is its smaller dust canister and the shorter battery life, but the ease of cleaning more than makes up for it. In fact, during our long-term testing, vacuuming became part of our daily routine, so we didn't mind emptying the canister after each use. Please note that this vacuum is only for hard floors, not carpet, so you will need a separate vacuum for carpet and rugs.

Product Details: Weight: 2.52 pounds | Battery Length (on high): 8 minutes 29 seconds | Accessories: Cleaner Head, Mini Motorized Tool, Combo Crevice Tool, Light Pipe Crevice Tool  | Recommended Surfaces: Hard Floors

Best for Pet Hair

Tineco Pure One Pet Vacuum

Amazon Tineco Pure ONE S15 Pet Smart Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Amazon

Why You Should Get It
  • A clever LED display removes the guesswork by telling you exactly when an area is clean.

Keep in Mind
  • Features like app connectivity bring up the price point and might not be necessary for the average user.

If you have pets, there are two things you’ll need to clean up often: hair and food. The Tineco Pure One model is the best cordless vacuum for both of those jobs, and has plenty of fancy upgrades that make it an impressive option. 

Perhaps the most essential feature that makes it a must for pet clean-up is a lever that allows you to remove hair trapped around the filter (a common problem with most vacuums on this list) without having to touch it. A mini power brush to clean hair out of pet beds and couches makes it clear this was designed with cat and dog owners in mind.

An LED light attached to the brush head combined with the option to lay the vacuum completely flat make it possible to get everything underneath the couch for once, including those balls of hair and dust that seem to magically end up there. There are thoughtful touches that, while not must-haves, are nice additions, such as a magnetic filter removal and an app with tracking capabilities and product support. That said, these features make this a pricier option. 

Finally, the LED screen lets you know when your job is done, glowing red when there’s unseen dirt and hair left in the area you’re working on, blue when it's all clear. Since pet hair can be quite hard to see with the naked eye, this feature is especially appreciated.

Product Details: Weight: 6.8 pounds | Battery Length (on high): 12 minutes | Accessories: Mini Power Brush, 2-in1-Dusting Brush, Crevice Tool  | Recommended Surfaces: Carpet, Hard Floor & Upholstery

Best Battery Life

Innova Cordless Stick Multi-Surface Vacuum

Innova Cordless Stick Multi-Surface Vacuum with parts

Walmart

Our Ratings
  • Ease of Setup
    5/5
  • Effectiveness
    4.8/5
  • Maneuverability
    4.8/5
  • Ease of Emptying
    5/5
  • Portability
    4.8/5
Why You Should Get It
  • The brush is designed to prevent hair from tangling and clogging up the vacuum.

Keep in Mind
  • The handle is not the most comfortable to hold.

The battery life alone (23 minutes and 30 seconds) makes this one of the best cordless vacuums, but there are some additional unique features that helped this Eureka multi-surface model stand out to us. It has a motorized pet brush to remove hair from upholstery, and the main brush is specifically designed to prevent hair tangles, a convenience and a welcome perk not seen in the other models. 

No hairs got stuck after completing the job on hardwood and carpet during testing, which served as a point of frustration for other vacuums. The vacuum also worked better moving forward than it did backwards, but functioned reasonably well on every surface tested. 

It works faster than many of our models, cleaning a living room in 2 minutes and 8 seconds, and it performs well around corners and furniture. The biggest drawbacks are the handle, which we found uncomfortable, and the vacuum’s tendency to push larger pieces of debris into corners. It’s also heavier, around 8.14 pounds, so keep that in mind if you think you’d prefer a lighter option.

Product Details: Weight: 8.14 pounds | Battery Length (carpet/hardwood setting): 23 minutes and 30 seconds | Accessories: Motorized pet hair attachment, crevice tool,  2-in-1 dusting/upholstery brush | Recommended Surfaces: Carpet, Hard Floor & Upholstery

Best for Cars

Black+Decker Flex Handheld Vacuum

Black+Decker Flex Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Amazon

Our Ratings
  • Setup
    5/5
  • Effectiveness
    5/5
  • Maneuverability
    5/5
  • Ease of Emptying
    5/5
  • Portability
    5/5
Why You Should Get It
  • The 4-foot hose and crevice tool make it perfect for getting into every nook and cranny.

Keep in Mind
  • It’s small and works better for upholstery than floors.

We were incredibly impressed by this Black + Decker’s ability to suck up all the dirt, dust, debris, and hair that tends to build up in a car. The features are made for detail work; there’s a 4-foot hose that helps you reach underneath the seats, a crevice tool to get between cushions, and the lightweight build makes it easy to hold and maneuver while you clean. 

We also liked how easy this was to clean out and were impressed by how much the canister held, cutting down on the need to empty it repeatedly during the process. We didn’t have any issues with decreasing suction as the battery ran out—another feature that makes this the best cordless vacuum for your car, since you won’t have easy access to an outlet for charging.

While it does have a floor head, this is better suited for upholstery, and could also work for getting rid of pet hair on your couch or carpeted stairs. 

Product Details: Weight: 3.2 pounds | Battery Length: 8 minutes | Accessories: Pet hair brush, floor head, 2-in-1 crevice brush | Recommended Surfaces: Carpet, Hard Floor & Upholstery

The Bottom Line

Overall, we recommend the Levoit VortexIQ 40 because of its suction power and ability to work on all surfaces. However, if you’re looking for a more affordable option, the Wowgo Cordless Vacuum Cleaner performed almost as well as our top pick, at an even lower price.

Our Testing Process

To find the best cordless vacuums featured, we tested 79 popular models in our testing lab in Des Moines, Iowa and in our own homes. We evaluated each vacuum based on these factors: effectiveness at cleaning, maneuverability, ease of emptying, portability, noise level, setup, and value. In the lab, we first measured how long set-up took from the moment we opened the package to when we started actively vacuuming.

We tested battery life by running the vacuum continuously on a low setting to completion on a medium-pile rug, then on a higher setting after we fully recharged the vacuum. We spent one minute each vacuuming up debris of different sizes, from hair to popcorn kernels to coffee grounds, and noting how well each model performed. 

Models were tested on hardwood, carpet, upholstery, and stairs, when applicable. We also took note of how easy it was to remove the dust from the canister, how easy it was to wash the filter, and how quickly the cup filled up to its maximum capacity.

For pet vacuums we focused on hair, testing how quickly it took to clean up 2 ounces of pet hair on upholstery, if hair remained after clean-up, and if it got tangled in the filter when cleaning. For car vacuums, we performed all tests in a car using common vehicle debris like cereal, hair, and sand. 

After testing in the lab, we took the vacuums home and tested them over a period of three months to evaluate how they held up over time. During this testing period, we used the vacuum at least once a week. We noted any new insights and challenges and changes in quality after regular use.

What to Know About Cordless Vacuums Before Shopping

Weight

Cordless vacuums vary in weight–the lightest vacuum on this list is the eufy by Anker HomeVac H30 Infinity at 0.12 pounds, and the heaviest is the Eureka/Innova NEC700 Cordless Stick Multi-Surface Vacuum at just over 8 pounds. For the most part, weight doesn’t seem to correlate much with price, suction power, or included features, though it can obviously impact maneuverability a great deal. Make sure you can easily move your cordless vacuum from room to room and up and down the stairs.

Battery Life

If you use your vacuum mostly for quick upkeep in heavily trafficked rooms or on active messes and spills, or live in a small home or apartment that doesn’t take long to get through, a shorter battery life won’t always be a problem. But those who prefer less frequent deep cleaning sessions or live in larger homes with multiple floors will want a vacuum whose battery goes the distance on a single charge. For the models on this list, it takes about 30 seconds to 1 minute of battery power to clean up a small mess like crumbs and under 3 minutes to clean a full room.

Accessories

Some accessories shouldn’t be considered a bonus when it comes to the best cordless vacuums—they’re more of a necessity. For instance, a crevice tool is a must-have for cleaning corners, and you won’t be able to get your house fully free from dust without one. Most cordless vacuums come with at least two brush heads—usually a crevice tool and a dusting brush to help you get stubborn messes. We think those are the basic accessories that should come with all models.

Others might be nice to have but are maybe not necessary depending on your home or lifestyle— upholstery tools or LED lights, for instance. What you think of as non-negotiable will depend on how you’ll be using your cordless vacuum. As is the case with the Tineco Pure One S11 Tango Smart Stick/Handheld Vacuum, you’ll pay a bit more for flashier features. On the other hand, our budget pick, Belife V12 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is pretty bare-bones but includes our essentials.    

Recommended Surfaces

Not all vacuums work on all surfaces. There are three basic categories: hard floors (hardwood, marble, tile, tile with grout, and linoleum), carpet (including rugs, wall-to-wall carpet, and kitchen or bath mats), and upholstery (couches, chairs, curtains, and anything with fabric). As noted, not all vacuums work equally well on each surface. For example, our favorite choice for hard floors, the Dyson Omni-Glide+, isn’t recommended for carpet at all, while the Miele Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog is especially adept at catching debris that is deeply-embedded in carpet fibers.

Other Cordless Vacuums We Tested

Samsung Jet 75 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

We found that the Samsung Jet 76 Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, while fairly easy to use on hardwood, grout, and low-pile carpet, was difficult to maneuver on thicker carpet. Additionally, while it sucked up hair and smaller dust and debris particles, it wasn’t particularly successful in vacuuming larger items like popcorn kernels. Given its price, we thought there were better options available.

Bissell 1984 Air Ram Cordless Vacuum

The Bissell 1984 Air Ram Cordless Vacuum is lightweight and we found it worked well on carpet and hardwood with some maneuvering, but the lack of crevice tool made it impossible to pick up debris pushed into corners. Additionally, without any included accessories, we don’t think it would work on high shelves or upholstery. However, the high-power battery runtime was an impressive 41 minutes, and it quickly sucked up hair and coffee grounds in seconds. In addition, the vacuum had a hard time transitioning between rugs and floors during our long-term testing. It would get stuck on the edges of our thin rugs, which forced us to restart the vacuum almost every time.

Your Questions, Answered

What features should I look for in a cordless vacuum?

According to Rapinchuk, size is one of the most important features to consider when thinking about a vacuum, especially if you have limited storage space. Rapinchuk also recommends checking out “the dirt container—how big is it and how easy is it to empty?” Essentially, think about the features that will make your life easier. For instance, if you have pets, look for a vacuum with tools designed to help pick up hair. If you’re going to be cleaning your curtains or furniture with the vacuum, make sure it works with upholstery. 

How long do battery powered vacuums last? 

You can expect most cordless vacuums to run for about 10 to 40 minutes on a single charge, depending on the settings used. Battery life for the vacuums on our list ranged from 8 minutes to 31 minutes on high. As for lifetime use, most vacuums can last five years without needing a battery replacement, according to Consumer Reports. This is the most common reason cordless stick vacuums start to lose functionality. Most manufacturers sell battery replacements if you notice your vacuum is losing suction power, and it will cost a fraction of what a new vacuum would.

Which cordless vacuum has the best suction?

In both our lab testing and at-home testing, we noted the suction power and effectiveness of each vacuum. Of the models we tested, the cordless vacuums with the best suction were the Tineco Pure One S11 Tango Vacuum, which offers 130 watts of suction power and the Dyson Omni-Glide+, which offers 50 air watts. Both of these vacuums received perfect effectiveness scores in our tests and had very few issues picking up debris.

Who We Are

Alida Nugent is a commerce writer who has extensive experience with vacuums and their functionalities, and also researched this piece by speaking to Becky from the Clean Mama website. Additional insight was provided by Melissa Homer, cleaning expert and chief cleaning officer at MaidPro.

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.

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