10 Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners: Say Goodbye to Annoying Cords

In this buying guide, we’ve hunted down the best cordless vacuums on the market so you can get the best. Do you want an awesome cordless stick vacuum for your home? Read more about stick vacuums below.

Are you tired of finding an outlet in every corner of your house to plug in your vacuum? If so, this is the list for you! Here are the ten best cordless vacuums available today. Gone are the days of the door-to-door vacuum salesman. It is hard to picture now, especially when you consider the earliest model of the personal vacuum cleaner weighed in at a whopping 40lb! The trend since that time has been to improve the overall maneuverability and ease of use. What is the best cordless vacuum? That depends on your budget and needs. Peruse our list below to find one that’s right for you.

The 10 Best Cordless Vacuums in 2020

Below you’ll find our top picks for the best cordless stick vacuums currently available.

1. Hoover Linx Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

This vacuum is the current owner of the “Amazon’s Choice” tag for the best cordless vacuum. Hoover has a long-standing tradition in the vacuum industry and this vacuum has the same black and red logo/design that people associate with the brand.

• Weight: 7.3lbs
• Battery: 18v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 43.5″
• Motor Warranty: 2yrs
• Stars on Amazon: 4 stars (9,000+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $99.99

2. Dirt Devil Power Swerve Lithium Cordless Stick Vacuum

Probably best known for their small, handheld vacuums this model is a nice entrant for them into the world of stick vacuums. It easily made our list of the best cordless vacuum cleaners thanks to its Swerve technology.

• Weight: 5.2lbs
• Battery: 16v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 44″
• Stars on Amazon: 3.8 stars (90+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $63.99

3. Shark Navigator Freestyle Cordless Stick Vacuum

One of the newest companies in this comparison, Shark has still been around for more than two decades. You may be aware of them because of their many blenders, but they also have a nice assortment of daily use gadgets.

• Weight: 7.5lbs
• Battery: 14.4v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 46″
• Stars on Amazon: 3.8 stars (4,500+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $89.99

4. Eureka Powerplush Cordless 2-in-1 Handheld Cleaner

As we nearly reach the half-way point in our list of the best rated cordless vacuum cleaners, this model by Eureka should not be overlooked. Stylistically, it has the most in common with the Dysons on the list.

• Weight:5.5lbs
• Battery: 21.6v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 43.7″
• Motor Warranty: 2yrs
• Stars on Amazon: 5.0 stars
• Ballpark Price: $149.99

5. Deik Vacuum Cleaner Cordless Lightweight 2 in 1

Deik is a division of the Aicok home and appliance company. They are quickly gaining a reputation for quality in small home appliances with a modern, Ikea-like feel to them.

• Weight:4.7lbs
• Battery: 22.2v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 45″
• Motor Warranty: 2yrs
• Stars on Amazon: 4.1 stars (1,400+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $301.97

6. Dyson V8 Absolute Cord-Free Vacuum (Great for Pet Hair)

Back to our friends at Dyson for a look at the features of the V8. This model came after the V6, and although it boasts a more robust motor, it also has the price tag to go with it. This is our top pick for the best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors. Combo this with a carpet cleaner and you’ve got a force to be reckoned with when battling the chaos and joys of pet ownership.

For those of us who need a slimmer vacuum cleaning model, the Dyson V8 is the best option. With its robust battery, it can run for forty minutes consistently. Two-tier cyclones work in parallel massively increasing airflow and effectively capturing dust and even the smallest particles.

• Weight: 5.75lbs
• Battery: 21.6v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 40min
• Height: 49″
• Motor Warranty: 2yrs
• Stars on Amazon: 4.5 stars (1,600+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $444.44

7. PERAGO QuickVAC Cordless StickVAC PQV700

This model doesn’t impress stylistically, but it does stand out amongst the list for one of the most impressive runtimes. Runtime, so critical when considering the best cordless stick vacuums because it helps free you from those wall outlets as you move from room to room.

• Weight:7.05lbs
• Battery: 18.5v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 35min
• Height: 27.5″
• Stars on Amazon: 4.8 stars (10+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $129.99

8. Hoover BH50020PC Linx Signature Cordless

Hoover is deserving of another look as we get to the end of the list. This one was a frontrunner for the best cordless vacuums of 2017. One of the most popular features of this series is the battery life display that is clearly visible on the handle.

• Weight:7.3lbs
• Battery: 18v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 43.5″
• Motor Warranty: 2yrs
• Stars on Amazon: 4 stars (270+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $109.99

9. Dyson V6 Animal Cord-Free Vacuum

If the terms classic and historic come to mind with Hoover, it’s likely the mind conjures words like innovative and quality when thinking about Dyson. Actually, they may be even more innovative than you know!

• Weight:5lbs
• Battery: 21.6v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 46.4″
• Motor Warranty: 2yrs
• Stars on Amazon: 4.3 stars (1,500+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $279.99

10. Proscenic P8 Cordless Stick Vacuum

Proscenic is a company based in China that makes the vacuum highlighted here as well as robot vacuums and robot mops. Very similar to the Dyson or Deik vacuums on the list.

• Weight:4.5lbs
• Battery: 18v, Lithium-Ion
• Average Runtime: 20min
• Height: 27.6″
• Motor Warranty: 1yr
• Stars on Amazon: 3.7 stars (150+ reviews)
• Ballpark Price: $127.00

A Short History of the Cordless Vacuum

To better appreciate the luxuries of the cordless, here is a snapshot of how far the industry has come:

• 1901 – The first motorized vacuum cleaner. It weighed so much they were forced to carry it by horse and buggy
• 1908 – Hoover buys a patent from James Murray Spangler for the first truly portable vacuum. It had an electric fan and collected dust in a pillow-like bag that had to be replaced or emptied
• 1910 – A smaller motor was invented that could be run on the standard AC/DC electricity we use today
• 1930 – Plastic is introduced to the industry and the first plastic vacuum is made
• 1963 – The first upright vacuum is made and the trend towards decreasing the overall weight continues
• 1978 – James Dyson begins development on the bagless vacuum and his experiments continued into 1993
• 1979 – The first cordless vacuum is introduced to the market. That’s a pretty significant milestone for this list, but it may come into the picture sooner than you thought!

Fast-forward to today and we see cordless vacuums and even robot vacuums.

Top 4 Types of Vacuums

Parents who have a couple of dogs, some kids, know the house can get a little….. ok, a lot messy. However, we have been lucky over the years to get the chance to check out the most different kinds of vacuum cleaners that have come on the market. There are four main types of vacuum cleaners, corded, cordless, handheld, and as we are living in the future — now robot vacuum cleaners.

We are sharing with you today what the pros of each of these different kinds of vacuums are. To be fair though, we will also highlight a couple of things that you have to watch for with each style of vacuum.

Corded

Corded is the basic kind of vacuum that people have been using in their homes since vacuum cleaners became a thing!

Pros:

• Corded vacuums tend to be the cheapest of any kind of vacuum cleaner that is on the market. This makes them ideal if you are on a tight budget.
• One other thing that is pretty good about a corded vacuum and something that often goes overlooked is how much garbage they can handle. We have used all kinds of vacuums over the last few years and corded vacuum cleaners, due to their design tend to have a larger “bin” in them than their cordless counterparts.
• You know what you are getting with a cordless vacuum cleaner. Some may have different settings that you can use, but for the most part, they are very easy to just pick up and use. So if it is something quick and easy you are after, you do not get much easier than a corded vacuum.
• Corded vacuums do not need a charging dock, point, or anything like that. As a result, you do not have to worry about battery life.

Cons:

• If you buy a cheap corded vacuum, you have to expect it to not offer the most powerful suction in the world.
• Some people find the power cable very annoying as it can get caught on chair legs, tables and knock things over! Once some people have experienced the freedom of a cordless vac, there is no going back.

Cordless

One of the biggest annoyances when it comes to vacuuming is dealing with the power cable, cordless vacuums take that pain away as well as offer many other features.

Pros:

• Having no power cable gives you the freedom you never realized you wanted until you have actually used it. You can use a cordless vacuum to get under the sofa, on top of the curtains and all kinds of hard to reach areas.
• One thing that often takes people by surprise when they use a cordless vacuum is the weight. Cordless “stick” style vacuums are all the rage these days, most of which weigh very little so they are easy to take all over the house.
• Versatility is something that you get with a cordless vacuum. Many models allow you to remove the stick part and put different attachments onto the canister. This allows you to literally vacuum the whole house, the sofa, the beds, and anywhere else the kids or pets make a mess is easily reached.
• While a cordless vacuum cleaner does require a charging point, these tend to be quite small and invasive these days. So overall a cordless vacuum takes up very little space in your home.

Cons:

Battery life is something of a concern when it comes to cordless vacuums. However, we counter this by saying that most cordless vacuums have roughly a 40 minute cleaning time. As they tend to be much more powerful than a standard vacuum, this is usually more than enough time. Using a cordless vacuum on the carpet will generally cause the battery to run out quicker, and it will last longer on the hardwood floor. There are plenty of guides online to help you find the best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors.

While the price of cordless vacuums has come down a great deal over the last few years, they still tend to be more expensive than corded vacuums. One little pro-tip we have for you is that do not just go straight to Dyson, Dyson’s are great, but Shark also make some great cordless vacuums, but at a lower price.

Handheld

Handheld vacuums or if you are one of the cool kids, a hand vac is a great way to be able to clean the whole house from top to bottom.

Pros:

• Handheld vacuum cleaners come in all shapes and sizes. You can purchase a more expensive Dyson one if you want it to handle a lot of the heavy cleaning in your house. Heavy traffic areas that the kids or pets like to use for example. At the same time, you get plenty of handheld vacuums that are cheap and cheerful and ideal if you need something to clean the sofas, the car, or a spill every and now again.
• Handheld vacuums tend to be quite light so you can take care of high and hard to reach areas without getting tired. Depending on the model you get, you might even get some extra attachments that come in handy when dealing with more stubborn messes and things like pet hairs.
• While there are some corded handheld vacuums on the market, the majority of them do tend to be cordless so you do not have to worry about a power cable getting in the way.
• As they are so compact, you have no worries about a handheld vacuum taking up a lot of space. They can fit in a drawer, or you can even hang it up somewhere. This makes a handheld vac worth thinking about if you are short on space.

Cons:

• As handheld vacuum cleaners come in all shapes, sizes and with different variations of suction power, you will have to do some homework to make sure the one you are interested in is ideal for your needs.
• Handheld vacuum cleaners rely on batteries and as there are small in stature, they also do not have the best ability when it comes to how much garbage they can handle.

Robot

A robot vacuum can be a real lifesaver. You can program it to have a regular cleaning schedule and they are far more powerful than many people think.

Pros:

• A robot vacuum will literally go and clean the house by itself. Sure you have to program it, but once you do this it will go and clean where you want, for how long you want and if a mess is really bad, you can activate a special cleaning mode to take care of it. A robot vacuum is great if you are sick of vacuuming!
• While you may have to still use a regular vacuum cleaner. Using a robot vacuum cleaner means that the times you do have to break out the regular vacuum cleaner are far less. It makes your life much easier and vacuuming far less of a chore.
• While a robot vacuum is round, it can get right up to the edges of the skirting board, and thanks to the very slim body, it can get under things like the coffee table and the sofa. No one likes to clean under the sofa, especially if you have to move it. With a robot vacuum cleaner, you can send it in to do the job for you.
• Robot vacuums are very smart, they can detect when they are near the stairs and they will 9/10 know when there is an obstacle in their way.

Cons:

• Robot vacuums are fantastic and will certainly make your life easier, but some spots like the stairs and the curtains will not be able to be vacuumed by a robot vacuum cleaner.
• While robot vacuum cleaners are very smart, they can sometimes get stuck behind a table leg, or like a regular vacuum cleaner they can vacuum up things like phone chargers that can get stuck. This is not a major problem, but something worth knowing about.

As you can see each kind of vacuum has its own advantages and disadvantages. We find that having some kind of combination of both like a cordless with a robot vacuum keeps the house spotless and is ideal if you have kids and pets.

What Makes the Best Cordless Vacuum? Top 3 Features to Look For

The best cordless vacuum cleaners, sometimes called stick vacuums, usually have the following features. If this is a new arena for you, here are some of the critical features of this growing niche.

• Lightweight. Of the vacuums we reviewed, the average weight is just under 6lbs. 34lbs lighter than the original and 5-10lbs lighter than most corded models.
• Easy to store. Most can be stored on a hook in your closet or garage. If stored upright, the footprint in your closet will be much smaller.
• Maneuverability. Great for hard to reach places that your old vacuum couldn’t reach without an attachment. And, if we’re honest with ourselves, we probably can’t find the attachment anyway.

Of course, you can always consider turning to a robot for your vacuuming needs. But if you prefer a hands-on approach, take a look at our list above.