6 Best Cordless Vacuum 2025

You can clean your entire house with one of the greatest cordless vacuums without tripping over a power cord or having to switch between outlets all the time. In the past few years, cordless vacuum technology has advanced significantly. Previously, going cordless meant having inadequate suction, limited cleaning intervals, and lengthy waits for the battery to recharge. The majority of the greatest vacuum cleaners available today are cordless types, and the best models have powerful suction and long battery lives.

Over the past nine years, we have examined more than 185 vacuum cleaners, including 41 new models that were released last year. We evaluate each model’s cleaning capabilities on carpet and hard floors, its ability to handle various cleaning duties (including pet hair), battery life, mobility, and comfort, the usefulness of any additional accessories, and value for money.

The Shark Detect Pro Cordless is the greatest cordless vacuum for the majority of consumers, according to our tests and experience. For a fair price, it offers a lot of pickup power, a nimble design, and several helpful smart features. It won’t be ideal for everyone, though, so this guide also offers a variety of options to suit various requirements and price ranges.

1. Dreame R20

For the majority of consumers, the Dreame R20 is the greatest cordless vacuum. It is also among the best vacuums we have evaluated. Even if you might not be familiar with the company, Dreame’s appliances have continuously amazed us during testing; it’s definitely worth seeing. During testing, we discovered that the suction performance was excellent, providing dependable cleaning on both carpet and hard floors while effortlessly handling sticky pet hair, tiny dust, and huge debris.

With features you wouldn’t expect at this price range, this vacuum is one of the best-value models available. It sits close to the bottom of the mid-range category and performs far above its reasonable price tag. One example is the Auto mode, in which the vacuum decreases its power when there is less dirt present and increases it when it detects that the floor is very dirty. The Dreame version of the technology will function perfectly for the majority of users, but the slightly more sophisticated automation functions are offered by the (pricier) Dyson at #3 and Shark at #4.

To increase the versatility, a large variety of accessories is available. This contains a small motorized furniture cleaning tool and a special fluffy floorhead for fragile hard floors, which are typically not included at this price point.

With a wand that can bend forward to 90 degrees for cleaning under furniture, the unique carbon fiber wand helps keep the weight down and makes it easy to maneuver. It operates via a trigger, which is a touch too simple to inadvertently activate, though that isn’t a big problem. In order to prevent finger fatigue when cleaning the entire house, Dreame has at least considered including a switch to enable continuous running. Although the runtimes are so long that you might not need one, we were startled to see that there isn’t actually a low-powered option for when you want to conserve battery.

All things considered, the Dreame R20 is difficult to top if you’re looking for a really competent cleaner with useful extra features at a reasonable cost.

2. Shark Stratos Cordless vacuum

The greatest cordless vacuum for pet owners is the Shark Stratos. Although it weighs more and has fewer features than other models in its category, it offers more power, which is essential if you’re trying to remove pet hair that won’t come out of your carpets. The floorhead’s design directs hair into the dust cup, preventing it from tangling and clogging the rollers. This is more beneficial for long human hair than short pet hair, but it’s still important to note.

The integrated odor neutralizer puck, which keeps the machine smelling good, is one extra function. Additionally, it can swivel in the horizontal plane and, in our test, provided good agility, even though it lacks the dragonfly-like movement possibilities of a Dyson model like #3. Our tester was especially impressed with the forward-bending wand, which is great for getting right under furniture.

You won’t have to go to the trash nearly as frequently because the dust cup is larger than the one on Shark Detect Pro (#4). You will have to manually empty it because, in contrast to that model, there is no compatible self-empty base. (If you’re still undecided, our Shark Stratos vs. Detect Pro post thoroughly compares and contrasts the two devices.)

It’s important to keep in mind that a corded vacuum—and frequently even a large upright vacuum—will almost always have more power than a lightweight cordless model when making your purchase. Therefore, you should consider whether usability or power is more important to you. For a variety of options, see our guide to the best vacuums for pet hair.

The battery for the vacuum is kept in the handle’s rear. Although it’s not necessary, you can charge it by taking it out of the vacuum if that’s more convenient for you.

The battery takes three hours to charge, and when fully charged, you can use the lowest Eco setting for up to 60 minutes. That is comparable to the majority of other vacuums on the market that are priced similarly. Even though there are longer-lasting choices, most people will find it sufficient to clean their entire house at once.

The Clean Sense IQ mode, which detects the amount of filth on the floor and increases the suction force as needed, is one of the modes that drains the battery more quickly than others.

3. Dyson V15 Detect

The V15 Detect is the greatest Dyson cordless vacuum. (In actuality, Dyson eliminated wires some time ago; thus, the entire line is cordless save for the Dyson Ball Animal.) This brand is well-known in the vacuum cleaner industry for a reason: its cleaners are carefully designed to deliver optimal performance, and it also sets the standard for innovation.

The V15 Detect is of superior quality, has been painstakingly designed, and has features that no other brand can match. In this case, real-time dust reports are combined with automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels. The vacuum detects the size and volume of particles being sucked up and displays the information on its screen in a vibrant, moving graph. In this manner, you can determine when the area of the floor you’re cleaning is clear of particles.

This vacuum has a second soft floorhead for hard surfaces, just like the Dreame (#1). Here, though, a laser light is installed to draw attention to dust that may otherwise go unnoticed. (It ranks first on our list of the best vacuums for hardwood floors.)

Even without the extra features, this vacuum is still really good. During testing, we discovered that this cordless vacuum effortlessly completed every cleaning task we gave it, even when using the Eco mode, which has the lowest power. With a floorhead that can pivot in any direction, it’s exceptionally easy to use, much like the rest of the Dyson line. You shouldn’t run out of juice unexpectedly because the battery life is great, and the screen will show you how much juice is left. It’s important to note that the design is a bit top-heavy, which makes it seem cumbersome when used in handheld mode.

The V15 Detect is a stunning machine to look at, in keeping with Dyson’s aesthetics. The motor under the hood produces 230 air watts of suction power and has been improved over its predecessor (and again for its sequel). The motor, cyclone array, and dust canister are all arranged in line, giving it a similar appearance to other contemporary V-range vacuums. Although we would have liked a larger dustbin on this model, it is only the Cyclone V10’s normal 0.2-gallon/0.75L canister.

The V11’s interchangeable battery pack is an inherent feature. If you have a big house and would rather vacuum all at once rather than recharging at the mains, which might take many hours, this can be helpful (more on that later).

However, the V15 Detect’s weight distribution is somewhat lopsided because of its battery. Despite its 3 kg weight, it seems top-heavy and is exhausting to use for extended cleaning sessions. After around 30 minutes of use, our testers noticed that their arms were becoming fatigued, and if they wanted to clean for much longer, they had to keep swapping hands.

4. Shark Detect Pro Cordless Auto-Empty System

The Shark Detect Pro with Auto-Empty System is an excellent option if you’re searching for a low-effort alternative. The unique selling point is that when you dock your vacuum, all of the dust will be whooshed out into a much larger dustbag in the base using a closed system. As long as you have room for the foundation, it saves a ton of work. It’s also good news for allergy sufferers because there are fewer opportunities for dust and debris to return to the atmosphere.

The vacuum itself is also rather powerful. It is small and light, and when it gets close to the edge of a room where dust can gather, it will increase suction on the appropriate side of the floorhead and activate an auto mode that reacts to the level of dirt. Although the suction isn’t as good as that of the Stratos (#2) or Dyson (#3), most people will find it enough, particularly if they don’t have a lot of carpet or pet hair to deal with. (If you need greater suction but still want the auto-empty, consider the Shark PowerDetect Cordless vacuum.)

The main device effortlessly transforms into a handheld for cleaning above and furniture, much like the majority of cordless stick vacuums. There aren’t many other attachments available, though; you might only acquire a Crevice tool or perhaps a Pet Tool. This vacuum used to be available without a base, but these days it’s getting harder to find and is frequently more expensive than the base-equipped model. Check out our guide to the top Shark vacuums to see how the Detect Pro stacks up against other models from this brand’s lineup.

It’s not exactly extraordinary, but the 60 minutes the Shark Detect Pro Cordless can manage is rather amazing. Of course, that’s 60 minutes in Eco mode. For example, after around 20 minutes of running the vacuum in Detect mode, the LED display showed only one bar of battery life. If the area you need to clean is large and really filthy, you may need to work in shifts.

The self-emptying function draws the contents of the dustbin into the bag in the basestation, and does it fast and discreetly. (It is quieter than the real vacuum (69 dB for emptying compared to 76 dB for use.)

The base station also has odor neutralizer technology. In Shark vacuums, the odor neutralizer cartridge is plugged into the base station instead of the floorhead, which is why it isn’t included in models without the base station. We don’t know how the vacuum still spreads the perfume to leave floors smelling good, but it does.

5. Roidmi S2

Our suggestion for the greatest low-cost vacuum available is the Roidmi S2, which is also a fantastic option if you’re space-constrained. A smart selection of robust, well-made attachments is included with this fashionable, matte white cordless vacuum. Even the wall-mounted charging port is small and unobtrusive, and it has three suction settings that can be chosen via a button on the handle. Because of this, it’s a suitable choice for locations with limited space.

The Roidmi S2 can be a bit noisy to operate, but it has good suction and mobility. Due to its small size, there will unavoidably be a trade-off: you will need to clear the dust container somewhat regularly. It’s fairly easy, but if you have a big house, pets that shed, or both, this is probably not the vacuum for you.

Avoid paying the full asking price because this vacuum is nearly always on sale, frequently for significant savings. This vacuum is the greatest low-cost vacuum available if it is available for less than $175. The Henry Quick (#6) is a better option if you live in the USA, where it’s quite difficult to find the S2.

Specifications

• Price: $359/ £419
• Bin volume: 0.1 gallon/ 0.4 liters
• Speeds: 3
• Filtration: Five-stage filtration system including one HEPA filter
• Suction power: 435W/ 2.35kPa
• Battery: up to 60 minutes’ runtime
• Weight: 3.3lbs/ 1.5kg
• Additional tools: 2-in-1 crevice nozzle and dusting brush, mattress brush

The battery ran out in about ten minutes when vacuuming carpet at maximum suction, but that’s quite typical when a cordless vacuum is operating at its highest power level. You may maximize the battery’s 60-minute lifespan by cycling through the suction levels as needed.

Four tiny lights show the battery level; as the battery drains, the lights gradually fade out. The last light flashes as a warning when it is about to cut out. Then, as it recharges, the opposite occurs, with each light remaining on until the battery is fully charged and all four are lit. I discovered that it takes about 2.5 hours to fully recharge, which is quite quick.

6. Samsung Jet 85 Pet

The finest vacuum for hard floors is the Samsung Jet 85 Pet. The balance of the design makes it feel light in the hand, comfortable to use, and has strong pickup power on hard floors, even though it’s actually one of the heaviest versions offered. There are four different suction modes, and the lowest one will clean for a respectable forty-four minutes. The ‘Jet’ mode, from which this vacuum gets its name, can be used if you really need to release the big guns, although our tester thought it could be a bit too strong.

We were really pleased with how efficiently a little motorized pet tool that is intended for upholstery removal removed hair from furniture; it is on par with the Dyson tool of the same name. The main vacuum cleaner’s performance on carpet, however, didn’t please us, so if your home has a variety of floor types, you’d be better off with something like the Dreame (#1). Regretfully, the US does not currently have access to it either.

When using a stick vacuum on carpet, airflow and brush design are more important than suction force. In actuality, pushing the vacuum—or any vacuum, really—on carpet becomes more difficult the more force is used on the brush head. Additionally, no vacuum cleaner with a motorized brush can handle thick piles without the brush grinding to a halt, so you can forget about using any level higher than the lowest.

The superb Gtech AirRam 2 is a perfect illustration of brush design and air flow against suction. Although the upright model’s suction doesn’t seem to be comparable to that of the Dyson Gen5 or this model, its brush design and extremely small airway channel can fill the Gtech’s bin with dog hair in a little more than a minute, and it costs a fraction of what a Dyson does.

As a result, the Samsung Jet 85 was capable enough on medium-pile carpet, but it lacked the sheer lifting force of the Gen5 or AirRam 2. However, while operating in Min mode, the Samsung performed well in our test of flour and biscuit crumbs on medium-pile carpet, utilizing its single motorized brush roller. I had to make a few more runs in the higher Mid mode to get rid of the flour from the carpet, but it only took one forward pass to get rid of all biscuit remnants.

During the hard floor test with flour and biscuit crumbs on Min mode, the Jet 85 pushed the remaining crumbs forward while sucking up half of the debris. I switched it to Mid power, and it sucked up the remaining material without any issues. Fortunately, even in Minimum mode, the oats test on carpet and hard floors was a huge success.

The Jet 85’s running times in all four power modes have largely impressed me; nonetheless, they are not among the longest available.

I was able to vacuum for 21 minutes on Mid mode and a respectable 44 minutes in Min mode. Max mode, as anticipated, used more juice but vacuumed for 11 minutes.