Best cordless vacuum cleaners 2023 from Dyson to Shark, Vax and Henry
We spent weeks home-testing light, bagless cleaners, sometimes called stick vacuums. So which are the best cordless vacuums right now?
While still not as powerful as their mains-powered counterparts (especially the most powerful cylinder vacuum cleaners), new technology such as long-lasting lithium-ion batteries means that the best cordless vacuum cleaners now offer enough cleaning power for most homes, in a much lighter and more manoeuvrable format. Cordless vacuums are far more portable than traditional vacuum cleaners and certainly easier to use than a robot vacuum. If you need a vacuum for pet hair removal, especially from sofas and beds, a light and handy cordless makes a lot of sense.
Another factor in their popularity is that they're often discounted. Here's a quick look at our favourite models this year. The full reviews are further down:
The best cordless vacuum cleaners for 2023, at a glance
- Best overall – Dyson V15 Detect Complete
- Best cordless vacuum for pet hair – Shark Anti Hair-Wrap
- Best value cordless vacuum – Vax Blade 4
- Most powerful cordless vacuum – Halo Capsule
- Lightest cordless vacuum – Hoover H-Free 300
- Best bin capacity – Henry Quick
- Best budget cordless vacuum - Proscenic i10
How to choose the best vacuum cleaner
There are a few factors to consider when shopping. The first is suction power. Cordless models are low on suction power compared to plug-ins, but some are more powerful than others. Most can tackle most dirt, grime and surface stains. For more persistent staining you may need a carpet cleaner or a steam cleaner.
The second factor is weight, as some of the heavier cordless vacuum cleaners make hoovering your sitting room seem like an upper-body workout.
The third is battery life: the vacuum cleaner you choose will need to last long enough to get round your home on one charge, otherwise it will take just as much effort to clean with as a corded model. Don't expect to get much more than quarter of an hour's use when cleaning carpets. Always use less energy-intensive hard floor modes where possible to extend the run-time.
It’s also worth bearing in mind any extra features you want – we consider extra tools, such as a dust brush and crevice tool, to be essential. And, as you’ll see below, some models offer extra batteries, light-up floor heads and other extras to make cleaning easier than ever before. For these, though, you’ll likely pay a premium.
How we tested the best cordless vacuum cleaners
We compared them for weight, battery life, ease of use and power on wooden floors, carpet, linoleum and tiles. We also conducted a 'flour test' on a grey rug, spilling flour and then hoovering it up to test performance (you can see one result above). All the vacuum cleaners that have made it onto this list performed well in this test, by which we mean they were able to remove all traces of flour in one sweep.
we also took value for money and any extra features they offer into account. Here’s what we found on our hunt for the best cordless vacuum cleaners, starting with our favourite…
Best cordless vacuum cleaners
1. Dyson V15 Detect Complete cordless vacuum cleaner
Best for performance, 9/10
We liked: it's quite simply the most impressive cordless vacuum cleaner on the market
- Power: 660 Watts
- Weight: 3kg
- Battery life: up to 60 minutes
- Recharge time 4hr 30mins
- Bin Capacity: 0.77 litres
Reviewed by Abigail Buchanan
To address the elephant in the room, the Dyson V15 Detect Complete is a significant outlay – just shy of £600, to be exact. But – and I say this without any doubt – it really is worth it.
At just 3kg, it’s extremely lightweight without compromising on suction power (which is an impressive 230 AW in Boost mode).
The first significant development that the V15 has on previous Dyson models is the addition of a laser in the head that illuminates dust (even the smallest, microscopic particles) as you clean. It works a charm. The laser hunts out dust in nooks and crannies, and then the motor auto-adjusts to ramp up the power for dustier areas and lessens it to save battery life in cleaner areas. Smart.
The LCD screen at the top of the handle shows you how many particles have been sucked up, displaying real-time ‘scientific proof of a deep clean.’ It also has a sophisticated battery indicator that tells you when to charge. It’s the first Dyson vacuum to have an upgraded HEPA filter to trap microscopic particles as small as 0.1 microns – that’s as small as pet dander and diesel soot.
The V15 has three power modes: ‘Auto,’ which intelligently adapts to different floor types, ‘Eco,’ which saves power, and ‘Boost,’ for intensive cleaning. It also races ahead of competitors when it comes to battery life, with a maximum run time of 60 minutes. The battery is removable – spares are available to buy from Dyson should you wish to double your run time.
Additionally, it comes with a wide range of seven attachments including a dedicated tool for long hair and pet hair that I didn’t know I needed, but now can’t live without, and a fluffy brush bar which makes light work of hard floors. It even comes with a LED-lit crevice tool for getting behind appliances and in between furniture. Every feature is well thought out, from the easy-to-empty 0.7 litre bagless bin to the lower-profile floor head for reaching under low-lying furniture.
If you've got a pet, you can also buy the pet grooming kit for £65, which I tried out on my two labradors. It attaches to most cordless Dyson vacuums via a provided extension hose, and sucks the hair straight into the bin. You work it by pushing down on the button to release the bristles, brush your dog's coat, then release your thumb at which point the dog hair is sucked inside the handle and into the vacuum bin. It is a two handed job, if you don't have a lock on and off button on your vacuum, which isn't ideal for a nervous dog who may need to be petted at the same time. But the sound is quiet enough that it should be fine for most dogs, mine definitely loved the attention.
None of this negates the fact that £600 is an awful lot to spend on a vacuum cleaner. I do believe it’s worth it – but if that’s out of budget, Dyson’s other models are well worth a look. I’ve owned a Dyson V7 (£249, Dyson) for several years and highly rate its cleaning power, decent battery life and reliable performance.
2. Shark Anti Hair Wrap cordless vacuum cleaner
Best for pet hair, 8/10
We liked: the flexible wand
- Power: 175 Watts
- Weight: 4.74kg
- Battery life: up to 40 minutes
- Recharge time: 4 hours
- Bin Capacity: 0.7 litres
Reviewed by Abigail Buchanan
So, this vacuum cleaner’s full name is: 'Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins, Flexology & TruePet.' Slightly wordy, but don’t be put off – behind it is some very clever tech. Shark is the favourite brand of celebrity cleanfluencer Mrs Hinch; if you want a home as clean as hers, I’m confident that this Shark vacuum is the way to get it. It’s powerful, flexible, comes with an excellent range of accessories, and is especially good for cleaning up pet hair.
Back to that technology: the ‘PowerFins’ are specially angled ‘fins’ on the dual brush roll to pick up extra dirt and ‘Flexology’ is a genuinely very innovative feature whereby the vacuum bends at the mid point, so you can get under furniture without having to bend over (a lifesaver for getting right under the sofa). It also has Shark’s famous anti hair-wrap technology, which is remarkably good at stopping hair from wrapping round the brush roll.
After trying it for myself, I can say with confidence that it’s deserving of the hype. This was the last model I tested, so I (naively) thought there would be no more dust in my flat for it to remove, but the powerful suction vacuumed up more dust and hair than any of the others in just a few seconds (bar the Dyson). Shark says it’s 50 per cent better at sucking up dirt and debris than previous models, and I saw this in action.
While most vacuum cleaners have one motorised roll in the brush head, this one has two, plus a light, so you get extremely efficient performance. It comes with a great range of attachments: a crevice tool, an anti-allergy brush, ‘multi surface’ dusting tool and dedicated pet tool.
The fact that it comes with two batteries is a particular advantage, as you get up to 120 minutes of run time (it also comes with a dual charging dock). It also has an LED display that shows battery level and allows you to switch between suction level and floor type. I found it very easy to set up and use, although slightly more cumbersome than my top choice, the Dyson, as it weighs a reasonably hefty 4kg.
3. Vax Blade 5 Dual Pet & Car Cordless vacuum cleaner
Best cleaning on the first pass
We liked: it comes with two batteries
- Power:
- Weight: 3.25kg
- Battery life: up to 45 minutes
- Recharge time: 3 hours
- Bin Capacity: 0.7 litres
Reviewed by Rebecca Astill
The Vax Blade 5 Dual Pet & Car is the latest model from Vax's Blade series and the most high tech to date. With current pricing, it's more than £100 more than the previous model (below) - so is it worth the extra money? There's a brand new floor head with two brush bars, it's the first Blade with a digital display and it comes with two removable battery packs for double the run time.
Let's zone in on the head for starters. The two brushes means the size of the overall head is bigger, which has made it slightly harder to manoeuvre than previous versions but far more efficient at picking up mess on its first swipe, on both floor and carpet. It's especially efficient on the boost setting, though that setting is noisy and goes through the battery in around 12 minutes.
As for the digital display, which has become a staple of cordless vacuums these days, with Dyson, Miele, Samsung and Shark all using the feature, you can use it to see how much run time you have left based on the mode you're using. It also shows maintenance pop ups, like whether you need to clean or replace the feature. It's a handy upgrade, but isn't as advanced as displays on the likes of Dyson, with some models telling you how much dust you've sucked up.
We still rate the Vax Blade 4 highly, as you can read below. The Blade 5 sees Vax venturing into the luxury vacuum market but, although the price has gone up, it's still affordable compared to its counterparts.
4. Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 cordless vacuum cleaner
Best value for money, 8/10
We liked: the easy to empty bin
- Power: 72 Watts
- Weight: 3.1kg
- Battery life: up to 45 minutes
- Recharge time: 3 hours
- Bin Capacity: 0.6 litres
Reviewed by Abigail Buchanan
This cordless vacuum cleaner has lots to offer – I was hugely impressed with its 45 minute battery life (and the fact that it comes with an extra battery to double runtime), powerful suction, easy-empty bin and extra features. Put simply, it rivals more expensive models for a far better price.
It performed exceptionally well on hard floors and carpets alike, and it has a handy illuminated floor head and hardy brush mode that made light work of leeching dust and debris from my rugs. At 3.1kg, it’s a touch heavier than some of the other models on this list, but still plenty light enough to use for cleaning surfaces and corners as a handheld device.
It only comes with a crevice tool, but if you order from Vax direct they throw in an extra £50 worth of attachments including an upholstery brush and an extended crevice tool. It has an extra-powerful ‘Turbo’ mode, but I didn’t find I needed to use it often as it offers ample suction even on the standard setting.
Also of note is how incredibly easy it is to use and empty. You can charge the 4.0Ah battery in a charging dock – no need to plug the whole machine into the wall – and the 0.6l bin has an easy release mechanism that makes emptying quick and tidy.
It is also worth mentioning that Vax offer a two-in-one cordless vacuum and floor cleaner: the Vax ONEPWR Glide hard floor cleaner (£199.99, Vax). It gets the whole job done in one go, but its actual vacuuming performance is slightly lacking compared to the Blade 4, with 30 minutes battery life. You simply pull the trigger to coat the roller in antibacterial cleaning solution and vacuum as you would normally. It does a great job of cleaning my kitchen floor, sucking up dust and grime then scrubbing it clean in a fraction of the time such a job would normally take.
5. Henry Quick Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Best for bin capacity, 8/10
We liked: the disposable bin pods: no dust when you empty it into the bin
- Power: 300 Watts
- Weight: 3.2kg
- Battery life: up to 60 minutes
- Recharge time: 2hr 30mins
- Bin Capacity: 1 litre
Reviewed by Rebecca Astill
The Henry Quick is everything the UK loves about the traditional cylinder model, transformed into a cordless design which comes in Henry red, Hetty pink, or graphite. It's reliable, sturdy and considerably more powerful than most (only the Halo Capsule below outperforms it), but for many the standout feature will be the removable dust pod which gives dust-free emptying.
With one click, you release it directly into a bin and then fit another one. Each standard purchase of the vacuum comes with 26 Henry pods which are made of up to 65 percent recycled material and carbon offset, so you can go through them relatively guilt-free.
The Quick comes with three detachable heads for the floor and carpet, upholstery and crevices and a power boost for the more trying messes. The pack does only come with one battery, which takes two and a half hours to fully charge and only lasts between 14 and 60 minutes, depending on the mode. That being said, during my testing, I found the standard mode picked up everything I needed it to on carpet, so the battery life will usually be nearer to the 60 minutes.
The Henry is not the heaviest we tested, but the weight distribution means it is quite taxing on your wrist, especially in handheld mode. That's justified by the high suction power and the dust capacity of one litre. It definitely packs a punch in what is a compact design. Considering the traditional Henry vacuum is pretty substantial, this new Henry Quick is versatile, powerful and easy to use. You can currently find it on either Henry, Argos or Currys.
6. AEG Ultimate 8000
Best for attachments, 8/10
We like: the excellent carpet-cleaning power (although it drains the battery very quickly)
- Power: 153 Watts
- Weight: 2.9kg
- Battery life: up to 60 minutes
- Recharge time 2hr 30min
- Bin Capacity: 0.6 litres
Reviewed by Simon Lewis
A lovely bit of German engineering, the AEG is like a Mercedes in a world of Vauxhalls, although that is certainly reflected in the price. I loved the motorised Brush Roll Clean feature for intense carpet cleaning. Used in high power mode, it worked almost as well as the much more powerful Dyson, although you only get about 10 minutes out of it in this setting. (A second battery is available separately.) It makes the vacuum much harder to push around, but that's a sign of its intensity.
Swap it out for the hard floor cleaning attachment and you get similarly impressive results for a longer run time. Actually the range of attachments was one of the things I like the most. Mine came with hard and soft motorised heads for carpet and hard floors, a Pet Pro motorised head with rubber bristles, which really worked, and various crevice and brush tools.
They all fit beautifully on the storage stand. A pet peeve of mine is vacuum attachments with nowhere to put them, so I loved this feature more than I probably should. The stand also recharges the vacuum on contact, like an electric toothbrush.
One black mark is the small bin, which fills up very rapidly and is not easy to get on and off. In its favour, the AEG 8000 is extremely light (not much more than half the weight of the Shark) and extremely well-balanced, with simple buttons making it very easy to use. And it simply looks lovely – like having a sports car in the cupboard under the stairs. I should probably get out more.
7. Hoover H-Free 300 cordless vacuum cleaner
Lightest cordless vacuum cleaner, 7/10
We liked: the easy manoeuvrability
- Power: 65 Watts
- Weight: 2.5kg
- Battery life: up to 40 minutes
- Recharge time: 5 hours
- Bin Capacity: 0.7 litres
Reviewed by Abigail Buchanan
Though distincly underpowered, I loved the compact design of Hoover's cordless model, its simple controls and its easy-empty dust container. It’s the lightest one we tested, is suitable for all types of floor and can be converted to a handheld Hoover for spot cleaning or use in a car. You can also switch between 90 and 180-degree cleaning angles to get around furniture and into tight corners and click it into a vertical position for temporary storage. I was similarly impressed by the premium features that punch above its price tag, including LED lights in the head to illuminate hidden dust.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it on price and ease of use – but on recharge time and suction power it doesn’t quite cut it. This was reflected in the flour test – it was able to suck up the flour efficiently, but didn't quite get every trace at the edges of the brush head.
8. Halo Capsule cordless vacuum cleaner
Most powerful cordless vacuum cleaner, 9/10
We liked: the large dust capacity
- Power: 400 Watts
- Weight: 2.6kg
- Battery life: up to 66 minutes
- Recharge time: 3 hours
- Bin Capacity: 1.6 litres
Reviewed by Abigail Buchanan
The Halo Capsule isn’t like the other cordless vacuum cleaners on this list as it has a removable dust bag, rather than an easy-empty bin. It differs from the leading brands in that respect but, despite the faff and expense of having to replace the bag every so often, I really rate it. It offers the capacity and almost the power of a full-size upright vacuum (1.6 litres) with the manoeuvrability of a cordless design and replacement bags aren’t pricey (they can be purchased from Halo for £25.99 for 26, and don’t need to be replaced often).
It has an ultra-lightweight 2.6kg carbon fibre construction. I was struck by the excellent battery life (60 minutes in eco mode) and easy-to-use controls, but was most impressed by how well the rotating brush head performs on carpets and rugs. It doesn’t only pick up dust from the surface but seems to get deeper, for a more thorough clean.
It comes with two additional attachments – a dust brush and a crevice head – but given its price tag, it would be nice to have a few more. The other thing to note is that, due to its top-heavy design, it’s just slightly more cumbersome to use than some of the other vacuums on this list – especially as a handheld cleaner for getting into nooks and crannies.
9. Miele Triflex HX1 Pro cordless vacuum cleaner
Best looking cordless vacuum cleaner, 7/10
We liked: much greater suction than the power rating suggests
- Power: 170 Watts
- Weight: 3.6kg
- Battery life: up to 120 minutes
- Recharge time: 4 hours
- Bin Capacity: 0.5 litres
Reviewed by Abigail Buchanan
The first thing that struck me about this vacuum cleaner is the design, with its grey pearlised body and metallic accents. Of course, you wouldn’t spend this much on a vacuum for looks alone – but, luckily, this model has impressive performance credentials too.
It’s a 3-in-1 design that allows you to switch between an extra-long vacuum for getting into corners and under furniture, a standard length for everyday cleaning and a handheld option for surfaces and nooks and crannies. It comes with a great range of attachments: an upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, dusting brush and floorhead with light are all included, along with an extra battery, which doubles the cleaning time to an incredibly impressive 120 minutes.
It’s among the heaviest of the models I tested, at 3.6kg, and you do notice the difference. But it more than makes up for it in suction power: despite being cordless, this vacuum has the same Vortex Technology technology as the most powerful of the conventional Miele vacuum cleaners. On testing, it is tangibly more powerful than most other cordless vacuums and sucked up more dust and grime than I thought possible across linoleum and wooden floors and carpets alike. The only reason it doesn’t rank higher on this list is cost.
10. Proscenic i10 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Best budget vacuum cleaner, 8/10
We like: It’s affordable but still powerful
- Power: 300 Watts
- Weight: 4kg
- Battery life: Up to 50 minutes
- Recharge time: 2hr 30min
- Bin Capacity: 0.65l
Reviewed by Rebecca Astill
Proscenic is a lesser known brand but certainly not one to be dismissed, as the i10 brings everything you know and love about bigger brands at a cheaper price. It even has a 28 volt motor, equalling the standard for bulky plug in vacuum cleaners, making it one of the most powerful stick vacuums money can buy.
The vacuum cleaner comes with three brush heads, a standard primary brush head mounted on a rotating ball point for flexibility, a smaller upholstery brush which can be attached directly onto the handle, without the stick, and a long thin crevice tool. More expensive brands come with a few extra bells and whistles but there are very few situations where one of these won’t be adequate.
You do only get one battery, and at the highest setting that can be exhausted within 10 minutes, but on the lowest setting you’ll easily get 45 minutes. Looks wise, the Proscenic i10 is an attractive electric blue, and slim and compact enough to fit a small flat like mine.
So why is it so cheap? The battery life is low compared some of the other brands, and the material feels slightly cheaper. However, in my rigorous testing, I’m yet to come across anything this powerful budget vacuum cleaner struggles to pick up.
FAQ
Why should I get a cordless vacuum?
When cordless vacuum cleaners first came out, they weren't very good: they had a low run time and poor suction. Over the past few years, however, they have improved dramatically. These days, you can get suction as effective as a corded device; battery life of up to an hour; and a whole host of attachments for versatile cleaning – but you do have to pay a little more to do so.
However, the biggest draw is convenience – a cordless vacuum cleaner allows you to clean little and often rather than doing one weekly deep clean, and to easily spot-clean dust or spillages without the faff of dust bags and cables.
A good cordless vacuum cleaner should come with further attachments like crevice tools for skirting and other tight corners; dusting brushes; and a docking and charging station. You could use a brush for table tops, for example. Just attach it to the handheld section and get rid of all those crumbs in no time at all.
The best I tested were equally comfortable on thick carpet, wood, sofas and skirting; and the very best were just as efficient as corded varieties.
What's the battery life like?
There's quite a big range in battery life. While some last under 10 minutes on the maximum setting, others go for much longer. The Dyson V15, for example, will function for an hour on the lowest setting, without losing power as the battery life diminishes. And, for what it's worth, the lowest setting on the best devices was more than enough: I didn't really find the need to use any on the max setting.
Charging the batteries is straightforward. You'll get a plug to charge wherever you like, but you can also connect it to a wall mount (which has to be attached to your wall, and will become your charging station). Trickle charging ensures the battery won't be depleted by being left on the charger like, say, an iPhone.
You'll also get useful lights on the handheld section of the machine, to tell you how long you've got left. If you're worried about the battery life, unless you have a huge home which you want to clean in one go, you should be fine. Never did I run out of battery, albeit in a small three-bed flat.
Do they have good dust capacity?
Aside from the Halo Capsule, the machines I used are all bagless. Instead, they have dust canisters. A smaller canister can fill up quickly if you're cleaning your whole house, but emptying is as simple as flicking a switch or clicking a button.
A bagged option might be better for dust allergy sufferers, or asthmatics, as there is a danger of breathing in particles when emptying the canister. It is also important to maintain your device properly by taking the filter out and cleaning it to prevent blockages and a decline in performance. Cleaning the filter is as simple as running it under the tap and leaving it to dry.