Figuring out the best cordless vacuum for your needs can be tricky. There’s no widely used spec to indicate suction power – and regardless, numerous other variables play into how efficiently a vacuum will get your floors clean – and brands are full of lofty promises that you have no way of verifying.
I review vacuum cleaners for my job, and I decided to get some definitive answers. I gathered together eight of the best cordless vacuum cleaners on the market, with a range of features and at a range of price points, and ran one big group test.
Ruth Hamilton
I’m a Homes Editor at TechRadar, and have been reviewing consumer tech for more than five years. I’ve spent the past 19 months focusing on home appliances, and vacuum cleaners of all kinds in particular.
Quick summary – the top 3
1. Dreame R20 cordless vacuum
✅ Highest total score, no score below 3
✅ Very affordable pricing
✅ Comfortable and maneuverable
❌ Not the highest cleaning scores
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2. Shark PowerDetect Cordless
✅ Best scores in all cleaning tests
✅ Excellent on hard floor and carpet
✅ Best vac for pet hair
❌ Heavy and bulky
Read more
✅ Advanced features and very usable
✅ Strong runtimes and cleaning performance
❌ Very expensive
❌ Heavy and unwieldy
Read more
The runners-up in my tests were the Shark Detect Pro (ultra-lightweight but less-effective cleaning) and the Dyson V11 Advanced (excellent cleaning but rather pricey).
I also tested the Dyson V8 Cyclone, Roborock H60 Hub Ultra and Dyson V16 Piston Animal, but none were good enough to make my top five best cordless vacuums.
The best cordless vacuum overall
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The Dreame R20 earned the highest overall score in my group test, and was the best all-rounder too – it didn’t score below a 3/5 in any category. This vacuum was especially strong on battery life, and comfort and maneuverability. This is all the more impressive given it’s the cheapest vacuum in my group test.
Cleaning performance
The Dreame R20 earned solid cleaning scores across the board, but performed especially well in my deep-pile carpet and pet hair tests. The mini motorized tool was excellent at clearing hair from upholstery. The R20 did a decent job on mid-pile carpet, too, clearing large and small particles well, but required a few passes to get everything completely clean. The slightly lower score on hard floor was due to the floorhead causing debris to pool up when the vacuum was pulled backwards over the spillage.
|
Test |
Average score |
|---|---|
|
Hard floor |
3.5 / 5 |
|
Medium-pile carpet |
3 / 5 |
|
Deep pile carpet |
4 / 5 |
|
Pet hair |
4 / 5 |
Comfort & maneuverability
The R20 is lightweight for a stick vacuum, which means it’s relatively comfortable to use, despite a lack of any padding or shaping on the handle. In handheld mode I appreciated that the main body was compact in shape, making it easier to wield, although I did find the finger rest could dig in.
The combination of trigger-operation and a lock button for continual running makes it great for both quick cleanups and longer sessions (surprisingly, it was the only vacuum in my test to offer this user-friendly setup). Although the floorhead pivots extremely well, the connections on my test model were incredibly stiff, making changing attachments a major challenge.
The Dreame R20 uses a flashy-looking screen to convey information, including battery status (shown as a percentage) and any error messages. The modes aren’t the most intuitive to understand, but after some use I ascertained that a green fan meant ‘regular mode with auto-adjustment based on dirt detected’ and a white fan meant ‘boost mode’. You get a separate soft head for delicate hard floors, but oddly Dreame hasn’t included headlamps here – instead, they’re on the general floorhead, and they’re not that bright in any case.
Dreame promises a maximum of 90 minutes of cleaning per charge, which is the longest runtime I’ve heard quoted on the market. However, you’ll only achieve this on a relatively clean, hard floor – there’s no ‘Eco’ mode, so the lowest suction option is the auto-adjusting Standard mode. I timed seven minutes of cleaning in Boost mode, which is good but not great.
The best cordless vacuum for cleaning
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The Shark PowerDetect Cordless offers the best outright cleaning performance, and is equally impressive on hard floors, medium- and deep-pile carpet, and when tackling pet hair. The compromise is that it’s also the heaviest, bulkiest and least comfortable to use of the vacuums I tested.
Cleaning performance
The Shark PowerDetect came top in every single cleaning test, scoring a perfect 5/5 in every pet hair test and every medium-pile carpet test. Its excellent performance is down partly down to outright power, and partly to a clever floorhead design.
Shark has added a flap that lifts to enable the vacuum to suck up particles when it’s pulled backwards over them, rather than causing them to pool up, as is the case with every other vacuum I tested here. This feature is especially useful on hard floors.
|
Test |
Average score |
|---|---|
|
Hard floor |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Medium-pile carpet |
5 / 5 |
|
Deep pile carpet |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Pet hair |
5 / 5 |
Comfort & maneuverability
Now for the bad news. The Shark PowerDetect is the heaviest vacuum in my group test, and feels noticeably chunkier and less nimble than the rest of the bunch. The weight is more evenly distributed than it is on the Gen5detect – which is heavy and also top-heavy – making it a little easier to use in both handheld and floor-standing modes than that model.
To its credit, Shark has also made a big effort to improve comfort, by shaping the handle ergonomically and adding a rubberized grip and padding. Nothing digs in or sits awkwardly as you clean, which is more than can be said for a number of other models I tried here.
Shark has excelled at the special features, but dropped the ball when it comes to basic usability. The vacuum switches on with a one-press button (good for long sessions but annoying for quick cleanups, because the button isn’t reachable from the handle, so you’ll need to use your other hand) and it takes a second or so to kick into gear each time, rather than responding immediately, as all the other vacuums did.
When switched on, the screen cycles though various icons representing the suction modes – a leaf for Eco, a boost icon, a target representing the Auto mode, and a water droplet to represent… actually, I have no idea what this is for. I’ve scoured the product manual for clues, but it’s not mentioned anywhere (it’s notably absent under “Instructions for use” and “Error codes”).
Initially, I couldn’t find any way to manually switch between the modes, so I ended up stuck in Auto, which fortunately is the most useful mode. Eventually, I discovered there’s a button for mode-switching where the trigger would usually sit – a setup that took some getting used to, and felt especially counter-intuitive as I was moving between the PowerDetect and other vacuums that are trigger-operated. There’s a colored ring to indicate how much dirt has been detected, but it’s not immediately clear which color means what.
Usability niggles aside, this vacuum has one of the most comprehensive feature lists of any vacuum I reviewed. It can auto-adjust suction based on floor type and dirt levels, but also boost suction on the relevant side of the floorhead when the vacuum approaches the edge of a room, and brighten the headlamps in particularly dark areas. There’s also an optional auto-empty dock, complete with odor-neutralizing puck.
My battery-life tests were scuppered somewhat by the fact that I couldn’t find any way to manually change to suction mode for this vacuum. However, Shark promises a maximum of 70 minutes cleaning per charge, which is a very solid runtime. The caveat, of course, is that that figure is for relatively clean, hard floors, and runtimes will decrease for anything more challenging.
The best premium cordless vacuum
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The Gen5detect is the best premium option. It has the best design of all the vacuums I tested, offering advanced features paired with outstanding usability. It managed the joint-longest runtimes, and was a runner-up in all the cleaning tests. However, it’s the priciest vacuum of the bunch, and also one of the heaviest.
Cleaning performance
The Gen5detect was a close second behind the Shark PowerDetect in all my cleaning tests. It suffered from being slightly too powerful in Auto mode on deep-pile carpet, but the suction was strong enough in Eco mode that it cleared spillages very effectively while being much easier to push.
Usefully, Dyson has added an air intake slider to the floorhead to help release some pressure as required (this was missing the Dyson V11 that I also tested, to its detriment). It also proved excellent at handling pet hair, both with its main floorhead and its mini motorized tool.
|
Test |
Average score |
|---|---|
|
Hard floor |
4 |
|
Medium-pile carpet |
4.5 |
|
Deep-pile carpet |
4 |
|
Pet hair |
4.66 |
Comfort & maneuverability
The Gen5detect is the second-heaviest vacuum I tested, with the heaviest top section. The fact that the weight is concentrated in the top section, which is really rather long, makes it unwieldy to use, with or without the wand attached.
Dyson has added some welcome padding above the handle, but I still found the battery casing could dig into my wrist when I used the vacuum as a handheld. This model switches on and off with a one-press button, which is great for long cleaning sessions but annoying for quick cleanups as it requires both hands to be free (as with the Shark PowerDetect, the button can’t be reached from the handle).
The Gen5detect is packed with special features, but unlike with the Shark PowerDetect, Dyson hasn’t neglected basic usability factors. A screen near the handle conveys information in an unambiguous way – it’ll spell out exactly how long you have left on the battery in your current cleaning mode, as well as flagging any issues and telling you how to fix them. This screen will also tell you, in words, which mode you’re using, which after trying to decipher various icons and color-coding systems on other machines, I truly appreciated.
Like a number of vacuums in my group test, the Gen5detect can auto-adjust suction depending on how much dirt it detects on the floor, but this model goes a step further and will report the size and number of particles being sucked up as you clean via a colorful, animated on-screen bar graph. You’ll also get a soft floorhead for delicate hard flooring, and it’s equipped with a nice, bright laser to illuminate dirt.
You’ll get a maximum of 60 minutes of cleaning time in Eco mode, which is not as long as some competitors, but still very decent. (Also factor in that the Eco mode here is powerful enough to still be very useful.) I managed 15 minutes of cleaning in the ultra-powerful Boost mode, which is excellent.
Runners-up
These two models didn’t make my top-three best cordless vacuums, but both are still strong options, and worth considering.
The best lightweight cordless vacuum
|
Section |
Score |
|---|---|
|
Cleaning performance |
2.96 / 5 |
|
Comfort & maneuverability |
5 / 5 |
|
Design & features |
4 / 5 |
|
Battery life |
3 / 5 |
Reasons to buy…
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✅ Very lightweight: The Detect Pro is the lightest of all the vacuums in my test, as well as being compact and streamlined in design. It was a dream to use, with or without a wand.
✅ Super-comfortable to use: As well as being lightweight, Shark has added shaping to the handle, and a rubberized grip that makes it even more comfortable to use.
✅ Fine for light / everyday cleaning: Although far from the most efficient cleaner I tested, the Detect Pro achieved a perfectly acceptable score in my medium-pile carpet, and was fine on hard flooring too.
Reasons not to buy…
❌ Weaker overall cleaning scores: The Detect Pro didn’t perform well in my deep carpet tests, and it wasn’t great at clearing pet hair, either.
❌ Short and none-too-sturdy: The Detect Pro is shorter than the rest of the vacuums in my test, so possibly one to avoid if you’re tall. And the flip-side of it being so light is that it doesn’t feel that robust.
❌ Potentially difficult to find: This model isn’t available to buy direct from Shark any more, and prices can fluctuate quite a bit. Also be aware that the Shark Detect is a different, though largely similar, vacuum.
The second-best premium cordless vacuum
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|
Section |
Score |
|---|---|
|
Cleaning performance |
3.9 / 5 |
|
Comfort & maneuverability |
3 / 5 |
|
Design & features |
2.5 / 5 |
|
Battery life |
4.5 / 5 |
Reasons to buy…
✅ Excellent on pet hair: The V11 was a joint runner-up on the pet hair tests, second only to the Shark PowerDetect.
✅ Great cleaning in general: This vacuum performed well across the board in my cleaning tests, only struggling a little on deep carpet due to having too much suction, and lacking an air intake slider to make it easier to push.
✅ Long runtimes: The V11 will last a full hour in Eco mode, and the runtimes in Boost mode are long too, at 15 minutes per charge.
Reasons not to buy…
❌ Not the best value at full price: The V11 is a premium vacuum but lacks the special features (in particular, automatic suction adjustment) I’d expect at that price. So while it’s much cheaper than the Gen5detect, and the cleaning performance is similar, the Gen5 arguably justifies its price better with all those special features.
❌ Annoying trigger operation: The V11 uses a trigger for operation, which is fine, but what’s not fine is that there’s no continual running lock for when you want to embark on a longer cleaning session.
❌ Not the most comfortable to use: The V11 is one of the weightier vacuums I tested, with the same top-heavy distribution as the Gen5detect. There’s no padding or shaping on the handle to make it more comfortable to use.
Also tested
Comparison charts
Testing methodology
Finding the best cordless vacuum isn’t all about testing suction power – there are multiple factors that play into how well a vacuum performs. Here’s a rundown of the key areas I focused on in my group test, why they’re important, how I test the vacuums, and which models came out on top in each area.
Carpet cleaning performance
Carpet cleaning ability is of course a key factor in a cordless vacuum cleaner’s performance. To efficiently clean carpet, a vacuum needs a good amount of suction, but there’s more to it than that. If the suction is too strong a vacuum will be difficult to push, so an air intake slider on the floorhead can help here by reducing the suction pressure. A well-designed beater bar (the roller in the floorhead), with bristles to agitate the carpet fibers and release ground-in dirt, is also a must for efficient carpet cleaning.
How I tested
For the carpet cleaning test, I used dry tea to represent fine particles, and a dry rice and lentil mix to represent chunky particles. I sprinkled a set amount of each on the carpeted floor, then ran over it once with each vacuum on its ‘medium’ setting, or dropping to its low setting if that proved too difficult to push. I then assessed how much of the spillage had been picked up, and I continued cleaning until the spillage was clear. I ran these tests on medium-pile carpet and deep-pile carpet.
I made notes on each vacuum’s performance in each test, and gave it a score out of five for its fine particle clearing ability and for its chunky-particle clearing ability. The average score for each floor type is the two scores divided by two.
Highest scorer: Shark PowerDetect
Runner up: Dyson Gen5detect
Hard floor cleaning performance
Cleaning a hard floor requires less suction than tackling carpet, because all the dust and debris is sat on top of the surface. Great hard floor head cleaning performance relies on a floorhead that doesn’t cause particles to ping about or pool up. It may also be kitted out with headlamps that illuminate debris that might get missed, and/or a separate soft floorhead designed specifically to buff and clean hard floors without risking scratches.
How I tested
For the hard floor cleaning tests, I used fine particles (dry tea) and chunky particles (a mix of dry rice and lentils). I sprinkled a pile of each on my vinyl floor floor, then approached it forwards with each vacuum in its ‘medium’ setting to see how efficiently it cleared the mess and if there was any pinging or pooling. I also reversed the vacuum backwards over each spillage to see if it cleared it or simply pushed the particles about. I checked my findings on the studio’s own wood laminate flooring.
I made notes on each vacuum’s performance and awarded each a score out of 5 for each particle type. The overall score for hard floor cleaning is the two scores divided by two.
Highest scorer: Shark PowerDetect
Runner up: Dyson Gen5detect
Pet hair cleaning performance
Pet hair can be one of the trickiest substances to clean from carpet and upholstery. Great pet hair cleaning relies on strong suction and a floorhead that can effectively lift the hair from carpet fibers so it can be vacuumed up. I also look for a mini motorized tool that can effectively tackle pet hair on furniture.
How I tested
I took bags of dog clippings from a friendly local groomer, and rubbed the hairs into my deep-pile and medium-pile carpet samples. I then passed over it once with each vacuum on its ‘medium’ mode to see how much hair was removed. I adjusted the setting if required, and continued cleaning until the carpet was clear.
I made notes on performance, and I awarded each vacuum a score out of five for medium-pile carpet and for deep-pile carpet. The overall pet-hair score is an average of these two scores.
To test furniture-cleaning performance, I rubbed hair into a velvet cushion, and used each vacuum’s mini motorized tool (if included) to clear it. I made notes on how efficiently it removed the hair, and I’ve used this information to influence my recommendations. However, I didn’t score this element or include it in the overall average for pet hair because not every model I test came with a mini tool included, but most have a compatible tool that’s included with some bundles.
Highest scorer: Shark PowerDetect
Runners-up: Dyson Gen5detect and V11 Advanced (tied)
Design and features
In this category I look at the basic design of the vacuum, plus any special features that have been added. I want a vacuum that boasts useful advanced features, but is still user-friendly and doesn’t neglect the basics.
For usability, I’m looking at how the machine relays information like remaining battery life and charge level, blockages, which mode is in use, and (if relevant) how much dirt has been detected. I’ll also consider the process for emptying the bin and switching attachments.
In terms of special features, I’ll look for things like automatic adjustment capabilities (to account for factors like dirt levels, floor type, proximity to room edges, or light levels), a second soft floorhead for delicate hard flooring, a compatible auto-empty dock, and lasers or LED headlamps to light the way or illuminate dust.
How I tested
I scored each vacuum out of five for its interface design, with the highest scores going to machines that present plenty of information nice and clearly, and the lowest going to machines that show minimal information or are confusing in their presentation.
I then scored each vacuum based out of five based on how many special features it offers, and how well those features are executed. The total ‘Design and features’ score is an average of these two marks.
Highest scorer: Dyson Gen5detect
Runners-up: Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Shark Detect Pro, Shark PowerDetect (tied)
Comfort and maneuverability
One of the big benefits of going for a cordless stick vacuum over a bulky upright is that it’s easy to maneuver. That benefit is undermined if the vacuum is too heavy, uncomfortable to hold, or won’t maneuver smoothly.
Things that play into this section are the weight of the vacuum and how that weight is distributed, whether the handle is shaped or padded, how ergonomic the design of the handheld section is, and how easily the floorhead pivots. I’ll also look at how the machine switches on and off, and if that’s conducive to both quick cleanups and longer sessions.
How I tested
I weighed the handheld section of each vacuum (with no wand and no attachments) and then added the wand and primary floorhead to assess the weight in general upright use. I scored each model out of five based directly on these weights, with lower scores going to the heaviest models and higher scores going to lighter ones.
I then gave each vacuum a subjective score out of five for comfort and maneuverability. To gauge this I used each vacuum in floorstanding and handheld mode. The total score for this section is an average of those two marks.
Highest scorer: Shark Detect Pro Cordless
Runner up: Dreame R20
Battery life
The joy of going cable-free can quickly turn sour if your cordless vacuum doesn’t have enough battery power for a whole-home clean without you having to stop to recharge. Battery life is a more complicated metric than you might first imagine, though. Many of the models I test these days have an Auto mode, where suction (and thus battery use) increases or decreases based on dirt levels or floor type, making it impossible to give a runtime for this mode.
It’s important to consider how much power is tied to that runtime – an Eco mode might last 90 minutes, but if the suction is too weak to pick anything up, that’s not useful to anyone. If you’re dealing with really ground-in dirt, an ultra-powerful Boost mode that drains the battery quickly is arguably better than one that lasts longer but isn’t powerful enough to pull the dirt up.
You’ll also want to factor in that a vacuum’s runtimes will likely deplete as time goes by. I’d prioritize a removable and swappable battery when choosing a cordless vacuum, as the battery is often the first thing to go – all the vacuums in this group test have a removable battery.
How I tested
I recorded the maximum runtime for each battery (i.e., in its lowest-powered mode). I also recorded how long each model lasted in its highest suction mode. I scored each vacuum out of five in each of those tests based on a set scale – so in Max mode, 3 for 10 mins or less, 4 for 11-15 mins, and 5 for 16+ mins. The overall Battery score is an average of the two scores.
Highest scorers: Dyson Gen5detect, Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Dyson V11 Advanced (tied)
Runners up: Dreame R20, Shark PowerDetect, Roborock H60 Ultra (tied)
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