The 7 Best Stick Vacuums of 2024, According to Testing

Best Overall

Levoit VortexIQ 40 Cordless Stick Vacuum

View On Amazon $230 View On Target $320 View On Wayfair $300

This vacuum earned the spot as the best overall vacuum because it out-performed most vacuum cleaners during our testing, whether stick, or traditional. This vacuum impressed us at every level of testing and surpassed most of our expectations. 

While operating, the vacuum’s noise level was very low, which was a delightful surprise. The vacuum performed exceptionally well on hardwood and on stair steps, which can be difficult to clean. We were thoroughly impressed with how it picked up all debris on the stairs, in corners, and even under kitchen cabinets. All hard floors in our testing area were completely clear of any hair and debris in 34 seconds.

During the medium pile debris testing, it vacuumed the medium pile of debris quickly and almost faster on the carpet than on the hardwood. It continued to impress us during the high pile debris test as it completely sucked up all debris with no remnants left.

Despite being full of hair from all three hair tests, the vacuum never stalled or pulled, and the highest setting had the most powerful suction of all our tested vacuums. The crevice tool picked up all small debris and crumbs on upholstery, and we found there was never an issue with the fullness of the dustbin capacity. 

The vacuum was incredibly easy to maneuver as it only weighed 7 pounds, though the vacuum head did catch on tight corners, such as a chair leg, when being pulled back. Otherwise, it operated efficiently and successfully every time.

While we found the battery life wasn’t as long as we would have liked, the power the vacuum supplied more than made up for it. At less than $200, this is more than a bargain for such a powerful cleaning tool that is sure to impress.

Product Details: Weight: 7 pounds | Dustbin Capacity: 0.6 liters | Accessories: One battery, one telescoping crevice tool, one charging dock with accessory holder, three wall anchors, one two-in-one dusting brush, one charger | Battery Life: 40 minutes

Best Budget

Wowgo S108 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

View On Amazon $100

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.9/5
• Maneuverability
  4.6/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.4/5
• Portability
  5/5

The Wowgo S108 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner surpassed our expectations for what a budget-friendly stick vacuum can do. 

During testing, we found the vacuum’s noise level was tolerable and would not disrupt any television viewing or conversation. The lowest power setting on the vacuum was more than efficient at picking up debris during tests A and B on the hardwood floors and stairs (test A being a combination of orzo pasta, coffee grounds, and crushed up cheerios, and test B being a combination of hair debris).

We found it took about a minute to completely remove all debris, which impressed us thoroughly. On the high pile areas, the vacuum did a fantastic job picking up cheerios and pasta.. We were particularly impressed with how effectively it picked up the coffee grounds as it picked them up in one sweep. 

It took the full allotted minute to vacuum the four stairs and the carpeted floor section, however most of the debris was collected by the end of the minute. The remaining debris was primarily concentrated in the angles of the steps which was easily picked up by using the crevice tool.

For the Test B hair debris, it took a full minute to vacuum the four stairs plus the floor section, but it picked up 98% of the debris. During this portion of testing we used both the lowest and highest settings with no noted difference between the two settings. We were equally impressed with the vacuum’s performance during the high pile testing, as it continued to pick up most of the debris with little to no trouble.

The battery life of this vacuum made it through all of our tests without a noticeable drop in power or suctionability, though we did note that the suction of the vacuum depleted as the dustbin filled up.

This vacuum was very easy to maneuver as it was very lightweight, and the low profile head made it easy to get to hard to reach areas such as underneath cabinets. The long, angled attachment was the ideal length for reaching high areas. Overall, this is a high-quality vacuum for an affordable cost.

Product Details: Weight: 4.62 pounds | Dustbin capacity: One liter | Accessories: One battery, HEPA filter, one brush | Battery life: 40 minutes

Best Splurge

Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum

View On Amazon $699 View On Target $950 View On Lowe's $800

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5
• Portability
  4.8/5

If you’re looking to splurge on a vacuum, you’ve likely considered a Dyson vacuum. It’s a buzzy brand, and for very good reason—several Dysons are among the best stick vacuums. A newer release, the Gen5Detect Cordless Stick Vacuum, massively impressed us during testing. In fact, it was one of the highest-scoring models that we tried overall, though the high price tag might be a limiting factor for some shoppers. 

In our lab, the Dyson picked up most types of debris in just one pass, and it worked similarly well on grouted tile, hardwood floor, and carpet. Larger debris, such as bigger pieces of cereal, took a bit more effort depending on the attachment, but the vacuum still managed to get everything, no matter the setting. We also appreciated how easily the vacuum whisked up debris from around the base and legs of furniture without adding an attachment.

But speaking of attachments, there are plenty. The vacuum includes a “fluffy optic” head for hard floors, which features a light to illuminate dust and smaller debris, a hair screw tool ideal for cleaning pet hair off of cushions, a combo tool with a nozzle and brush, a crevice tool, and a cleaner head with vanes to detangle hair from the brush as you work. It also includes a dock that can be mounted to the wall for easy storage, and a charger.

A handy digital display shows you in real-time the volume of particles and debris that the vacuum has sucked up, plus a summary after each cleaning. While this is a nice feature to have, we didn’t think we’d use it all that often during regular cleanings. The vacuum stood out far more for its effectiveness and maneuverability.

The battery life was fairly impressive, lasting 51 minutes on the low setting and 13 on the high setting. The vacuum still had significant charge left after the tests were complete, so it should easily last you through a few quick cleaning jobs. When you do need to recharge, it takes four hours.

As far as downsides go, aside from the price, we did find that it felt pretty heavy. We needed two hands to maneuver it at times, and by the end of the testing period we were more fatigued than we would’ve liked.

Product Details: Weight: 7.72 pounds | Battery Life: 51 minutes | Recommended Surfaces: Hard floors, carpet, upholstery | Attachments: Combination tool, crevice tool, fluffy cleaner head, hair screw tool, digital motorbar cleaner head

Best Wet/Dry

Tineco Floor One S5 Wet/Dry Vacuum

View On Amazon $500 View On Tineco.com

You can vacuum the carpet and wash hard floors without swapping out devices thanks to the Tineco Floor One S5 Wet/Dry Vacuum. As you clean, the vacuum’s smart sensor can automatically adjust suction, speed, and also water flow as needed to ensure efficient and powerful cleaning. It has two large water tanks—one for the clean water being dispensed, and another one to hold the dirty water being sucked up into the machine—to help you clean large areas without pausing to refill.

The sleek brush roll at the bottom of the device can provide edge cleaning while vacuuming, allowing you to get right up to those baseboards and walls for a more thorough clean. This smart vacuum automatically detects the debris on your floors, then displays it on the LED screen along with the debris already cleaned up and the remaining battery life.

In addition to the Tineco app, the vacuum cleaner also has built-in voice assistance and both can be used for maintenance notifications and to get helpful tips. These prompts to let you know when the clean water tank is empty or the dirty water tank is full.

After you finish mopping or vacuuming, the Tineco Floor One S5 device can then clean itself in the docking station. This consists of straining pet hair and flushing the brush roller and inner tubing. When it finishes, simply pour out the dirty water.

This wet-dry vacuum packs a lot of features in one device, which is why it’s a little more bulky than others on our list of the best stick vacuums. At 17 pounds, this device will take up more space when stored, and you may notice more fatigue when pushing it across your floors compared to other stick vacuums on our list.

Product Details: Weight: 17.37 pounds | Battery Life: 35 minutes | Recommended Surfaces: Hard floors, area rugs | Attachments: None

Best Lightweight

Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum

View On Amazon $253 View On Target $300 View On Walmart $195

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  2.5/5
• Portability
  4.8/5

The Dyson Omni-Glide+ is so lightweight, it’s almost like moving a toy vacuum around the room—but the high-quality, dual brush bars covered in soft nylon are far from child’s play. Powered by a powerful motor that picks up everything from large debris to fine dust on hard floors and carpet alike, the lightweight vacuum weighs a mere four pounds.

Most notable about this vacuum is its articulating neck and four 360-degree castors which allows the device to glide in every direction to remove debris without missing a spot. The omni-directional soft roller cleaner head can vacuum around objects, and it can lie completely flat on the floor to slide underneath chairs, sofas, tables, and other low furniture.

The lightweight vacuum can also transition to a handheld vacuum. In addition to the double fluffy cleaner head, there’s also a mini motorized tool that can clean everything including mattresses and stairs.

You can also use the combination crevice tool and light pipe crevice tool to access hard-to-reach corners and other tight spaces. The wall-mounted charging dock holds the vacuum when charging and stores it out of the way.

No one likes to clean vacuums, but this one is easy: simply press the bin’s eject button to release debris into the trash. In addition, the filter and fluffy roller can be washed, as can the dust bin and any of the tools that don’t have electronic parts.

Keep in mind that this vacuum’s battery life is very short—only 20 minutes. This is what allows the vacuum to be so lightweight, but if you prefer to clean your entire house in one stint, the Dyson Omni Glide+ vacuum won’t be the best option for you.

Product Details: Weight: 4.19 pounds | Battery Life: 20 minutes | Recommended Surfaces: Hard floors, carpet, upholstery | Attachments: Double fluffy cleaner head, mini motorized tool, combination crevice tool, light pipe crevice tool

Best for Hard Floors

Tineco Pure One S11 Vacuum

View On Amazon $300 View On Walmart $329 View On Tineco.com $350

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5
• Portability
  5/5

The Tineco Pure One S11 Tango Smart Stick/Handheld Vacuum thoroughly impressed us with its ability to clean hard floors just as thoroughly as it cleans carpet. With its efficient operating system and easy to maneuver body, this is the best vacuum for hard floor surfaces.

During both the medium pile and high pile testing, the vacuum was able to successfully pick up all debris in just 25 seconds. Though it did initially struggle with the Cheerios, we found the attachment sucked up all remaining debris quickly and efficiently. We found that the suction was powerful even at the lowest setting. 

Attachments were needed to efficiently clean stair edges and corners, but nothing about this vacuum was difficult to use. During the upholstery testing, all of the debris was collected without having to dig through cushions or pillows.

Throughout testing, the vacuum was very light and easy to maneuver. It glided across all floors and was able to reach under furniture without any straining and transitioned easily between hardwood and carpet.

We determined the high-power battery life of the vacuum was approximately 31 minutes. The battery life lasted throughout the whole test without needing to be charged, and there was no noticeable reduction in suction power as the testing went on. We also found the dustbin canister was easy to open and clean. Though hair did wrap around the canister filter during use, it was easy to clean and debris came out with no resistance.

We loved this vacuum for several reasons, but notably how light and easy it was to use. There was no difference in how the vacuum operated on hardwood or carpet as the vacuum worked efficiently on both. We noted that it even out-performed higher priced vacuums across the board.

Product Details: Weight: Not listed | Dustbin capacity: 0.6 liters | Accessories: One crevice tool, one 2–in-1 dusting brush, one mini-power brush, one full-size LED multitask power brush,  | Battery life: 40 minutes