Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
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Credit:
Reviewed / Tim Renzi
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Premium 280AW suction and self-emptying dock make this Samsung the smartest, strongest cordless vac you can buy. Read More
The Dyson Gen5detect is a powerful cordless vacuum with a removable battery, multiple brush heads, and an LCD screen on the back. Read More
This upgrade cordless vacuum pairs powerful suction with a mop. Read More
A tech-forward stick vac with 270AW suction and smart sensors that adjust power for debris and floor type. Read More
Balanced power and portability make the Jet 75 Pet a top value pick for homes with pets and mixed floors. Read More
The best cordless vacuums give you the freedom to track down messes in your home regardless of how close they land to an outlet. You can fit one into spaces and under furniture that an upright vacuum will never be able to reach. You can actually carry one up a set of stairs and/or vacuum said set of stairs without worrying about falling down.
However, for power and suction, cordless and stick vacuums rely on a battery, which tends to be a bit weaker than that of traditional vacuum cleaners. But if you want something to help between major house cleans, a cordless vac is a great bet. In fact, the ones in this guide are pretty awesome. Our favorite is the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Lite (available at Samsung for $899.00) , which is ideal for users who prioritize top-tier performance and low maintenance. Need something priced lower? Try our best value pick, the Samsung Jet 75 Pet (available at Best Buy), a pared-down version of the winner.
The Gen5detect’s LCD screen shows how much battery life you have left.
The LG A949 is about more powerful suction and mopping to boot.
Strong pet-hair performance
Smart display and alerts
Easy maintenance with hair-cut feature
Lightweight handling
Modest bin capacity
Runtime drops significantly on higher settings
Lacks self-standing support (must lean or dock)
Good suction
No-tangle brushes
Long battery life
Bulky
Difficult storage
Dirt detection
Excellent handling
Long battery life
Small brush head
150AW suction
Auto surface detection
Kompressor bin compacts dirt
Sleek design
Single battery
Modest runtime on Turbo
Slightly heavy
Vacuums up large pieces of debris
Excellent filtration system
Great for pet owners
Has a light to illuminate floor dirt
Doesn't vacuum well on carpets
Self-empty function doesn't always work as advertised
Lightweight and maneuverable
Good filtration
Flexibility with handheld mode
Self-standing design
Modest suction on deep carpet vs flagships
Small dustbin
Shorter boost-mode runtime
Limited for whole-home deep cleans
Flexible design
Seamless cleaning
Heavy
When we test battery-powered vacuums, as all cordless stick vacuums are, we’re looking for stamina, ease of use, and powerful suction. To test battery life, we charge each model for 24 hours, then run it at its highest settings, timing it until it stops working. If the vacuum doesn't meet its manufacturer's advertised claim about its total runtime, we note it.
While most cordless vacuums don’t offer the deep-cleaning power of upright vacuums, they do have advantages, including maneuverability and convenience. Here are some other things to consider when purchasing a cordless vacuum.
There’s a cordless vacuum for almost any budget, and we’re talking from $50 all the way up to $1,000 for a fully kitted out AI model with a dock. Samsung will be on the high end of this price range, while Dyson and Tineco hover between $500 to $700, and others from Shark, LG, and Electrolux cost around $200 to $300. We don’t really recommend models at $50 … performance is probably not what you’re looking for.
A cordless vacuum is only as good as its battery. Using your vacuum on high setting does drain the battery quicker, but cordless vacs will run much longer—even 75 minutes or more—on lower settings.
Not all batteries recharge at the same rate, either. When you’re on a roll cleaning, you don’t want to lose power and have to wait until the battery is ready to go again. To combat this, some of the best cordless vacuums come with an extra battery, which can be swapped out when your other battery dies.
Cordless vacuums have smaller dirt bins than uprights, which is one reason some people prefer full-size vacuums. However, bin capacity on cordless vacuums varies wildly. Some of the models we tested hold almost a whole quart of dirt, while others have less than half a quart.
It’s essential to make sure your cordless vacuum comes with the tools you need. You may need to clean pet dander, vacuum dust from curtains and upholstery, or care for delicate hardwood floors. Whatever your needs, ensure you have the necessary attachments to meet them.
Cordless vacuums are great for cleaning all sorts of spaces, including cars, since you don't have to worry about a cord to plug in.
In many cases, the only difference between the best cordless stick vacuums and a hand vacuum is the cordless unit’s long extension, which allows the brush head to reach the floor.
Although rare, some two-in-one models come with a handheld mode that can be removed and used to clean without the floor extension—a real bonus when you're cleaning furniture or a flight of stairs.
Generally, the best cordless vacuums serve as supplementary tools to be used between heavier cleanings or in situations where a corded vacuum is too cumbersome, like on stairs. That said, if you’re willing to pay a higher price for the privilege, some of the best cordless vacuums can stand toe-to-toe with a full-sized model.
Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.
Leigh Harrington has 25 years experience as a writer and editor for myriad print and digital publications.
At Reviewed, Harrington manages Reviewed's overall content, including areas of focus like home improvement, cleaning, gardening, cooking, smart home, organization, and parenting. She focuses on developing and editing consumer ed content, product reviews and buying guides, but she also writes, too.
Harrington is also an experienced travel writer, and has authored books including Fodor's Boston, 100 Things to Do in Boston Before You Die, and Colorful Cities Boston, an adult coloring book. She was a respected, longtime regional editorial director at Where travel guide, and has written for other publications including the US News & World Report, USA Today, Boston Herald, Newport Life, Exhale magazine, Huffington Post, and many more. www.leighharrington.com
Christine Persaud is a freelance writer for Reviewed who has close to 25 years of experience writing in the tech space in both print and digital publications.
After spending more than a decade at a Canadian consumer tech trade publication, she switched to freelance in 2013 and began covering appliances, TV entertainment, home and lifestyle, commerce, and other related areas. She has decades of experience writing news, features, op-eds, blogs, gift guides, buying guides, and how-tos. She has reviewed hundreds of products over the years, from wireless earbuds to smartwatches, blenders to vacuums, and is ready to educate you on what to buy (and what not to buy).
With a deep passion for tech, Persaud knows her stuff when it comes to headphones, TVs, smartphones, wearables, and small appliances, covering these categories for outlets like WiFiHiFi.com (for which she also serves as editor), Android Central, Yahoo!, Engadget, and Costco Connection magazine.
She’s also an experienced TV entertainment writer, her work featured in Digital Trends, Movieweb, Collider, and CBR. Follow her @christineTechCA on Instagram and X.
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