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May, 01 2025 20:28 PM
With spring in full swing, allergy season is here but that doesn’t mean you have to suffer indoors. A powerful vacuum can help eliminate dirt, crumbs, pet hair, dust and pollen, keeping your home fresh and clean. Plus, a cordless vacuum eliminates the hassle of tangled cords while you tackle the mess. At CNET, we’ve been testing vacuums for decades, evaluating cordless and corded models in everyday situations -- far beyond the claims made by brands. To date, we've tested 34 cordless vacuums and counting. Whether you’re on a budget or need something high-performance, here are our top cordless vacuum picks for spring 2025, from carpet champs to all-around winners. Our Picks Best overall and best on carpets Shark Stratos Jump to details $360 at Amazon Jump to details Best vacuum and mop combo Dyson Detect Submarine V15S Jump to details $889 at Amazon Jump to details Best value cordless vacuum Levoit LVAC-200 Jump to details $149.99 at Amazon Jump to details Best Dyson and best for finding dust Dyson V15 Detect Jump to details $624.95 at Amazon Jump to details Best cordless vacuum with auto-emptying dock Shark Clean & Empty Jump to details $280 at Target Jump to details Best for hardwood, best lightweight and runner-up best budget Dirt Devil BD57000V Jump to details $149.99 at Amazon Jump to details Best midpriced cordless vacuum Shark Pet Plus Jump to details $300 at Amazon Jump to details Best splurge and runner-up best for mopping LG CordZero A949 Jump to details $748 at Amazon Jump to details Show 3 more ROBOT VACUUM DEALS OF THE WEEK Shark AV2501S AI Robot Vacuum with HEPA Self-Empty Base:  $300 (save $250) Roborock Q8 Max 5500Pa Robot Vacuum and Mop (Black):  $300 (save $300) Eufy Clean L60 5,000Pa Robot Vacuum Cleaner:  $200 (save $80) Shark RV2820AE Detect Pro Self-Empty Robot Vacuum With 60-day Capacity Base:  $300 (save $300) Roborock Qrevo Plus Robot Vacuum and Mop With FlexiArm Design:  $600 (save $300) Deals are selected by the CNET Group commerce team, and may be unrelated to this article. Table of Contents Best Cordless Vacuums of 2025: Shark Dominates Our Latest Testing What is the new best cordless vacuum? Best 8 cordless vacuums of 2025 Shark Stratos Dyson Detect Submarine V15S Shark Clean & Empty Dirt Devil BD57000V Shark Pet Plus Recent updates How we test cordless stick vacuum cleaners at CNET Inside CNET’s Testing Labs: How we test cordless vacuums and why the sand scores matter What about handheld vacuums? Keeping your cordless vacuum clean so it can clean better Cordless vacuum FAQs What is the new best cordless vacuum? Our brand-new top pick for the best cordless vacuum is the Shark Stratos, which outperformed the competition during lab testing, bumping our previous top choice, the LG CordZero A949. The Stratos was a clear standout, excelling on every surface we tested it on, well above 90% on hard flooring and carpet. The Stratos easily earns our best overall with its relatively light weight, easy-to-use attachments and generous five-year warranty. Best of all, it costs less than $500 -- much cheaper than our former best pick the LG CordZero. Other Shark vacuums also earned high marks but our recommendation for those focused on value is the Levoit LVAC-200. It costs $200 (even less when on sale) and offers most of the Shark Stratos' performance for half the price. Best Robot Vacuum of 2025 See at CNET Best 8 cordless vacuums of 2025 Photo Gallery 1/1 Best overall and best on carpets Shark Stratos 9.0 /10 SCORE Pros Powerful suction and excellent cleaning performance on hardwood and carpet (95%) Five-year warranty Half the price of most top competitors Replaceable batteries Cons No self-emptying dock Odor neautralizing cartridges need replacement Best for: The Shark Stratos is the best cordless vacuum you can buy, regardless of flooring type. We were blown away by its excellent performance on hardwood and carpet. Combined with its 60-minute runtime, five-year warranty, replaceable batteries, anti-allergen HEPA filter and $450 price ($299 as of this writing), this is the highest-scoring cordless vacuum on our list and an easy pick for Editors' Choice. Why we recommend it: The Stratos generated some of the highest test scores we've seen on a cordless vacuum. It picked up 97.2% of sand from hardwood, 94% from less plush, low-pile carpet and 94.4% from mid-pile carpet. On average, it was able to pick up 95% of sand during our testing, beating out our previous best overall, the LG CordZero A949 (89.8%). "The Stratos is definitely the standout," said Schylar Britenstein, associate lab technician. "I use it to clean the floors in between pick-up tests because it picks up the most debris by far." The Stratos comes with a very capable DuoClean PowerFins HairPro brushhead, a two-brushroll system that's able to dig deeper into the carpet to remove dust and pet hair. Unsurprisingly, we didn't have many problems getting pet hair out of our test carpet, and the self-cleaning brushroll never tangled. It's worth noting that for more deeply embedded hair, you may require more than one pass. Interestingly, there's also some smart chops under the hood. Shark's Clean Sense IQ is able to detect dirt and automatically boost suction power for better cleaning, although you can also manually change the cleaning modes if you prefer. There are also some useful quality-of-life features, like LED illumination lights for highlighting dust in dim areas, an LED display that shows you the runtime you have left, and a multi-flex wand attachment to help you get the vacuum under furniture and other tight spaces. It also folds up so you can put it away easily for storage, a blessing if you live in a cramped apartment like I do. The Stratos comes with a washable anti-allergen HEPA filter and odor neutralizing cartridges so gross things you suck up don't fester. Last, but not least, whether you buy it at its $450 full price or $299 sale price, it's still half the price of flagship cordless vacuums from competitors like Dyson and LG. It's almost hard to believe what a good value the Shark Stratos is.Who shouldn't buy it: If you want a self-emptying dock, the Shark Stratos doesn't come with one. It also doesn't support mopping. The odor-neutralizing feature requires cartridge replacements every 6 months, which will cost you an extra $24.99 and are currently out of stock. Get it now $360 at Amazon $329 at Walmart $500 at Best Buy Specs & Configurations Battery life/runtime 60 minutesWeight 9 poundsBin capacity 0.68 litersAnti-allergy filter (HEPA) YesVacuum type Cordless stickReplaceable battery YesSelf-empty dock NoMopping functionality NoApproximate price $450 Score Breakdown Performance 9.5 Value/Price 9.3 Runtime 9.5 Features 7 UX (Comfort, ease of use) 8.5 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best vacuum and mop combo Dyson Detect Submarine V15S 8.1 /10 SCORE Pros Strong hardwood floor performance (91.4%) and very capable on carpet (84.8% and 74.02%) Variety of useful cleaning attachments Capable of vacuuming and wet mopping Cons Fairly expensive at $800 full price Two-year warranty could be longer No self-emptying dock Best for: If you need a capable cordless stick vacuum that can also double as a mop to wet clean your hard floors, the Dyson Detect Submarine V15S is the vacuum for you. At $799.99, it's one of the more expensive cordless vacuums you can buy but there's a good reason for it. During our testing, it showed strong performance on hardwood floors and was capable of tackling carpet too. It comes with a variety of cleaner heads to keep your space spick and span. Why we recommend it: The Dyson Detect Submarine did great in our test of removing sand from hardwood, tackling 91.4% of the sand. Carpet performance was also quite strong, removing 84.8% of the sand from low-pile carpet and 74% from mid-pile. It's also no slouch at pet hair, removing fur from hardwood and carpet with ease. The performance isn't as good as our best overall, the Shark Stratos, but it's still better than many other cordless vacuums we've tested, and the Detect Submarine has other features to make it a strong contender. For one, it comes with the Submarine Wet Roller Head, a brushed attachment that lets you wet mop hard flooring using water and floor cleaning solution. Think of it as a Swiffer with extra power. There's also your standard Digital Motorbar cleaner head for standard vacuuming and the same Fluffy Optic cleaner head that illuminates dust that comes with the Dyson V15 Detect. Runtime is a solid 60 minutes and the battery is user-replaceable, which isn't always the case with some cordless vacuums. Who shouldn't buy itIf you don't need a jack of all trades that can tackle wet messes, and just need an excellent vacuum, we like the Shark Stratos for most people. If you're a Dyson loyalist and need to bust dust, the V15 Detect offers similar excellent performance without the mopping functionality. Get it now $889 at Amazon Specs & Configurations Battery life/runtime 60 minutesWeight 8.3 poundsBin capacity 0.75 litersAnti-allergy filter (HEPA) YesVacuum type Cordless stickReplaceable battery YesSelf-empty dock No Mopping functionality YesApproximate price $800 Score Breakdown Performance 8.3 Price 7 Runtime 9.5 Features 8.5 UX (Comfort, ease of use) 7 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best value cordless vacuum Levoit LVAC-200 8.2 /10 SCORE Pros Usually costs less than $200 Excellent performance across flooring types Comes with 5-stage filtration for particles Cons 25 minute runtime on the short side Attachments are limited No docking station or self-empty dock Best for: The Levoit LVAC-200 proves that you don’t have to spend much money to get a quality cordless vacuum. At just $200 at full price and $150 on sale, it's almost hard to believe that a vacuum this affordable offers such excellent performance. Why we recommend it:The LVAC-200 excelled at cleaning on hardwood floors, capturing 98.7% of sand. It also handled low-pile carpet with aplomb, suctioning 80.2% of sand. Mid-pile was slightly lower at 74%, but still very impressive. Levoit isn’t using a HEPA filter in this unit; it does use a 5-stage filtration system, capturing 99.9% of particles as small as 0.3 microns.A feature typically found on more expensive cordless vacs is LED lights on the front of the vacuum head to help ensure you don’t miss a speck of dust. Levoit LVAC-200 also comes with a 2-in-1 crevice tool and a 2-in-1 pet tool to help clean up any and every mess, although it would have been a nice to have some additional attachments for cleaning upholstery or digging deeper into carpet for pet hair. The one downside is battery runtime, which is not very impressive at just 25 minutes (although this can vary depending on your mode). On the plus side, the battery is user replaceable and additional units can be purchased from Levoit for $70. Who shouldn't buy it: If you need a longer runtime, the LVAC-200 isn't the cordless vacuum for you. It only lasted 25 minutes during our testing so you'll want to take a look at our Shark and Dyson picks for cordless vacuums that can last an hour or more. If you're sensitive to allergies, this also doesn't have a HEPA filter. And obviously, at this price, you won't get a docking station or mopping functionality. Get it now $149.99 at Amazon $149.99 at Levoit Specs & Configurations Battery life/runtime 55 minsWeight 10.45 poundsBin capacity 0.65 litersAnti-allergy filter (HEPA) NoVacuum type Cordless stickReplaceable battery YesMopping functionality NoSelf-empty dock NoApproximate Price $180 Score Breakdown Performance 8.4 Ease of Use 8.5 Features 7 Handling and Comfort 8.75 Value/Price 8.5 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best Dyson and best for finding dust Dyson V15 Detect 8.5 /10 SCORE Pros Useful Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head finds more dust Excellent sand removal performance on hard floors and carpet Banished pet hair with ease Lots of useful cleaning attachments Cons On the more expensive side from a cordless vacuum No self-empty dock or mopping functionality Best for: Say hello to the best Dyson cordless vacuum, the Dyson V15 Detect. Like its predecessor, the V11, the V15 ripped through our suite of vacuum cleaner tests with ruthless power and completeness. I was also impressed by the 60-minute battery runtime.The dust detection feature is also no gimmick. It actively highlights dust you can't easily see and helps ensure you don't miss any spots. Why we recommend it: The trick up this Dyson's sleeve is the impressive 230 air watts of suction power from the cleaning head. That suction translates into performance. The V15 Detect was able to remove 88% of sand from mid-pile carpet, as well as 95% from a low-pile carpet. We consider anything above 50% to be good but the best cordless vacuums can often do even better. The V15 is a great cordless vacuum for pet hair too. Whether vacuuming across hardwood floors or low- or mid-pile carpeting, the V15 barely left a tuft in its wake.Several features set the V15 Detect apart, including its Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head. Designed for hard floors, it projects a green laser onto the surface as you clean, making it easy to spot dust and small debris that would otherwise be hard to see. It isn't much help under strong indoor lighting or sunlight but it's still a unique feature that we found helpful as we cleaned. The readout on the back of the vacuum, which lists the ratio of dirt collected by particle size, was also interesting.Bundled with the vacuum are seven cleaning attachments. Along with the Laser Slim Fluffy, you'll get a high-torque cleaner head, a hair screw tool and a crevice tool, just to name a few. It also comes with a wall-mounted charging dock. Who shouldn't buy it: The V15 is still a fairly expensive vacuum, at $749.99 MSRP. It also lacks mopping functionality or a self-emptying dock. Unless you're a true Dyson loyalist, the Shark Stratos will give you more or less the same performance, minus the dust illumination head, for half the price. However, Dyson also has some newer models in its lineup, including the Dyson Detect Submarine V15s, which earned a spot on our list for its strong vacuum and mopping functionality. It also comes with the Fluffly Optic cleaner head. Get it now $624.95 at Amazon $750 at QVC $749.99 at Dyson Specs & Configurations Battery life/Run time 60 minutes Weight 6.8 poundsBin capacity 0.76 litersVaccums type Cordless stickSelf-empty dock NoMopping functionality NoReplaceable battery YesFilter type WashableApproximate Price $750 Score Breakdown Performance 9.4 Ease of Use 8.5 Features 8 Handling and Comfort 8.5 Value/Price 8 Learn more Dyson V15 Detect review Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best cordless vacuum with auto-emptying dock Shark Clean & Empty 8.2 /10 SCORE Pros Excellent performance on all flooring types (91.4%) Includes self-emptying charging dock Generous five-year warranty period Cons Slightly more expensive than better-performing Shark Stratos Tested runtime on the shorter side at 26 minutes No mopping functionality Best for: If you want the power and cleaning performance of the Shark Stratos with the benefits of a self-emptying dock, the Shark Clean & Empty is the cordless vacuum for you. It boasts powerful suction on all flooring types and the included dock will automatically charge and empty the dustbin after every use. At just $349.99 at full price and currently on sale for $279.99, it's even cheaper than our best overall, the Shark Stratos, while offering similar great performance. It also comes with the same generous five-year warranty. Why we recommend it: The Shark Clean & Empty performed exceptionally well on all our tests, putting it within spitting distance of our best overall, the Shark Stratos. It removed 96% of sand from a hardwood floor, 90% from low-pile carpet and 88% from mid-pile carpet, resulting in an average performance of 91% in suction testing. This is just a few percentage points shy of the Stratos, which hit a 95% average on sand removal across floor surfaces. The vacuum automatically adjusts the brush roll speed depending on flooring type, although it doesn't have the same intelligent dirt detection feature as the Shark Stratos. As you might have guessed, pet hair was also no problem. The Clean & Empty was able to remove pet hair from hardwood and carpet without much difficulty, and the self-cleaning brush roll is designed to minimize the hair that wraps around it. The big selling point for picking the Clean & Empty over the Stratos is the included charging dock with the auto-empty base. The base station lets you dock the freestanding cordless vacuum and it'll automatically charge and empty the dustbin. You can go up to 30 days without needing to empty the dock's bin. The vacuum and dock have a HEPA filter that Shark claims can lock away dust, dirt and allergens.Like other vacuums in Shark's lineup, the Clean & Empty comes with the company's generous five-year warranty and accessories including a dust crevice tool and pet multitool. Who shouldn't buy it: If battery runtime is important to you, the Clean & Empty doesn't last as long as the Stratos. We tested it to 26 minutes of cleaning on medium suction, rather than 40 minutes claimed by Shark. The Stratos, by contrast, lasted for 60 minutes of cleaning. That said, this will depend on the suction and the charging dock does help make up for this as it'll keep your vacuum topped up every time you dock it. Get it now $280 at Target $280 at Best Buy Specs & Configurations Battery life/runtime 40 minutes (26 minutes tested)Weight 12.3 poundsBin capacity 0.74 litersAnti-allergy filter (HEPA) YesVacuum type Cordless stickReplaceable battery YesSelf-empty dock NoMopping functionality NoApproximate price $350 Score Breakdown Performance 8 Price 9.5 Runtime 7 Features 8.5 UX (Comfort, ease of use) 7 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best for hardwood, best lightweight and runner-up best budget Dirt Devil BD57000V 7.9 /10 SCORE Pros Very affordable price at less than $200 Excellent performance on hardwood floors (99%) Lightweight and easy to use Cons Battery doesn't last long (23.5 minutes) Average performance on carpet Small dustbin capacity (0.48 liters) Battery not user replaceable Best for: For those with primarily hardwood flooring, the Dirt Devil BD5700V delivered one of the highest scores we've seen on a cordless vacuum, removing nearly 100% of sand from a hardwood floor. Most impressive of all, it only costs $149.99 at full price. The only thing holding it back from being our best budget pick is middling carpet performance compared with the Levoit LVAC-200. Why we recommend it: The Dirt Devil BD5700V is notable for its classic bright red accents and remarkably lightweight body. At just 7 pounds, it's easy to maneuver around the home but it doesn't compromise on suction strength. It did incredibly well on our test that measures the ability of a cordless vacuum to remove sand from a hard floor, removing 99% of sand. It did quite well removing pet hair from hardwood, leaving no traces, but struggled more with carpet, leaving traces of fur despite a few swipes. The Dirt Devil is also freestanding and has LED headlights on its primary cleaning head, a nice feature not always found on more affordable cordless vacuums. There isn't a HEPA filter, but it is washable. The big selling point here is the price. Without any sales or discounts, the DirtDevil start at $150, making it $50 cheaper than the LVAC-200 when it's not on sale. Who shouldn't buy it: If you have a lot of carpeting at home, the BD5700V isn't for you. It didn't do too badly on carpet, scoring 69% removal on less plush low-pile carpet and managing 70.1% on more plush mid-pile, but you can do better for the price. For $50 more at full price, the Levoit LVAC-200 outperformed it in both categories with 80% and 74%, respectively, while still hitting a 98.7% score on hardwood. Dustbin size could also be bigger; it's only 0.48 liters meaning more frequent emptying during cleaning sessions. The battery is also not user replaceable. Get it now $149.99 at Amazon $149.99 at The Home Depot $149.99 at Dirt Devil Specs & Configurations Battery life/runtime Weight 7 poundsBin capacity Anti-allergy filter (HEPA) Vacuum type Replaceable battery Self-empty dock Mopping functionality Approximate price $149 Score Breakdown Performance 7.9 Price 9.5 Runtime 6.5 Features 7 UX (Comfort, ease of use) 8 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best midpriced cordless vacuum Shark Pet Plus 8.5 /10 SCORE Pros Excellent hardwood performance and strong suction on carpets Long five-year warranty period HEPA filter and anti-allergen seal Cons Didn't actually do well at removing pet hair Small dustbin capacity (0.32 liters) No self-empty dock or mopping Best for: Surprise, another Shark vacuum makes the cut. We recommend this one for those who want a good vacuum without spending more than $400. It boasts strong suction on all our test surfaces, has HEPA filtration, and comes with Shark's generous five-year warranty. Why we recommend it: The Pet Plus excelled on hard flooring, removing 94% of sand. It was no slouch on carpet either, tackling 90% of sand from low-pile and 84.3% from mid-pile carpets. The scores put it right up there with some of our top performers like our current best overall, the Shark Stratos and our previous best overall, the LG CordZero A949. There's no dock or mopping functionality but the vacuum is freestanding, which is a nice feature we look for because you can leave it in a corner if something calls your attention. It's also easy to maneuver, weighing a little less than eight pounds, putting it on par with the lightweight Dirt Devil BD5700V. Battery runtime is middle of the pack at 40 minutes, which is less than the 60 minutes we got on the Stratos but the battery is removable. The Pet Plus comes with several useful cleaning tools. You get a multi-angle dusting brush, pet multi tool and wide upholstery tool. If you're more sensitive to allergies, you'll be pleased to know that the Pet Plus does have a HEPA filter and an anti-allergen seal. Last, but not least, we get to the price. The Pet Plus falls firmly in the middle of the pack, costing $329.99 at full price but it's currently on sale for $249.99 on Shark and at other retailers. This makes it quite the steal and one of the few high performing cordless vacuums you can get for less than $300. Who shouldn't buy it: Believe it or not, despite the name, the Shark Pet Plus didn't do as well at removing pet hair. While it did fine sucking it up from hardwood, it left quite a bit of pet hair on our low-pile and mid-pile test carpets. The dustbin is also quite small at just 0.32 liters. It's actually one of the smallest capacities we've seen on a cordless vacuum that didn't come with a self-empty dock. Get it now $300 at Amazon $384 at Walmart $320 at Best Buy Specs & Configurations Battery life/runtime 40 minutesWeight 7.94 poundsDustbin capacity 0.32 litersAnti-allergy filter (HEPA) YesVacuum type Cordless stickReplaceable battery YesSelf-empty dock NoMopping functionality NoApproximate price $330 Score Breakdown Performance 8.9 Price 9 Runtime 8 Features 8.5 UX (Comfort, ease of use) 7.5 Add to compare Photo Gallery 1/1 Best splurge and runner-up best for mopping LG CordZero A949 8.7 /10 SCORE Pros Excellent overall performance at nearly 90% sand removal Works great on hardwood and carpet Self-emptying and power mop accessory included Cons Pricey at nearly $1,000 Best for: LG CordZero A949 is a do-it-all cordless vacuum for those who want vacuuming and mopping in one device. It’s packed with high-tech features, such as self-emptying, a Kompressor, Power Mop Pro and more, but don’t let all the buzzwords and impeccable design fool you. In CNET’s testing, it outperformed most of the other vacuums we tested. It used to be our best overall pick but now it loses the crown to the Shark Stratos, which outperformed it in testing and comes in at half the price. Why we liked it: During testing, the LG CordZero A949 suctioned nearly 90% of the debris from carpet and hardwood flooring. This can be chalked up to a powerful 265 air watts (a measure of suction) and intelligent, automatic suction adjustments. It did great in testing, scoring 95% sand removal from hardwood, 87.8% from low-pile carpet and 86.8% from mid-pile carpet. Pet hair was also no challenge, with the A949 pulling it out of hardwood and carpet with ease. Aside from the impressive cleaning power, the LG CordZero A949 also has a charging dock that stores the accessories, charges the vacuum and the extra battery, and the base automatically empties the vacuum. The accessories include a crevice tool, an adjustable wand, a power mini nozzle and a combination tool. It also has a power mop attachment with spinning pads to clean up wet messes.A small but much-appreciated feature of the LG CordZero A949 is that it's freestanding. This means when you need to pick something up that’s in the way of cleaning, you don’t have to lean the vacuum against something or lay it on the ground. An underrated feature is also the dustbin capacity: it can hold a full liter before you need to make use of the self-emptying dock. Who shouldn't buy it: This is one of the most expensive cordless vacuums we recommend at $1,000 at full price (although it's currently $749.99 on sale). If you're price sensitive, this may not be the cordless vacuum for you as there are options with similar capabilities for half the price, including our current best overall, the Shark Stratos. Get it now $748 at Amazon $698 at The Home Depot $700 at Best Buy Specs & Configurations Battery life/runtime 40 minutesWeight 6 poundsBin capacity 0.6 litersAnti-allergy filter (HEPA) YesVacuum type Cordless stickSelf-empty dock YesMopping functionality YesApproximate Price $350 Score Breakdown Performance 9.75 Ease of Use 8.75 Features 9 Handling and Comfort 8.75 Value/Price 7 Add to compareRecent updates April 2025: We eliminated our testing that evaluated the ability of a cordless vacuum to pick up black rice from hardwood and carpet because almost every vacuum was scoring near 100%. We've kept our testing for sand on all three test surfaces and reweighted our scoring to take this into account. We also reweighted our scoring to increase the importance of runtime and consolidated the ease of use and comfort into UX as a measure of user experience. The Levoit LVAC-200, Dyson V15 Detect, and LG CordZero A949 still use our older scoring methodology, so you may see some discrepancies in score breakdown compared with our newer additions, but they are in the process of being updated with our new methodology. We removed the Tineco Pure One S15 Pet, Dirt Devil Grab & Go Plus and Samsung Jet 90. We added the Shark Stratos as our new best overall pick, replacing the LG CordZero A949. We added the Dyson Detect Submarine V15S, Shark Clean & Empty, Shark Pet Plus and Dirt Devil BD5700V. The Shark Stratos and Levoit LVAC-200 both received an Editors' Choice award. Other cordless vacuums we tested DysonDyson V8 Absolute: The V8 Absolute is one of the more affordable Dyson vacuums you can buy. Normally $519.99 at full price, it's currently on sale for $349.99. While the price isn't bad, the performance doesn't live up to expectations. While it did great on hardwood, removing nearly 98% of sand, it didn't do as well on carpet. The Absolute was able to remove 68.3% of sand from low-pile and 52% from mid-pile carpets, falling short of many competitors, including the Levoit LVAC-200 and Shark Stratos. Dyson V11 Torque Drive: With a motor that automatically adapts to the type of floor it's cleaning and a fancy LCD screen, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive might feel like an upgrade. It typically retails for about $600 but you can often find it on sale closer to $475. While the Dyson V11 lived up to the hype with highly consistent cleaning power across all of CNET Lab testing, it was, however, outperformed by newer models like the Dyson V15 Detect and other competitors on our best list.Dyson Gen5 Detect: The Gen5 Detect is one of Dyson's latest and greatest cordless vacuums. It's also one of the most expensive at $949.99, although you can currently get it on sale for $749.99. The performance you get is fairly good, with 95.4% of sand removal from hardwood, 65.3% from low-pile carpet and 66.7% from mid-pile carpet. Unfortunately, this performance falls short of our current best overall, the Shark Stratos, which offers even better scores for less than half the price. If you like the dust detection feature, we're also partial to the Dyson V15 Detect, which offers stronger performance on carpet and hardwood, and the Dyson Detect Submarine V15S, which has all-in-one capabilities, including mopping. SamsungSamsung Jet 75: Nearly identical to the Jet 90, the Samsung Jet 75 offers comparable cleaning power, a similarly attractive build, the same 60-minute battery life, the same HEPA filtration and the same 200 air watts of suction. The main difference is that the docking station needs to be drilled into the wall while the Jet 90 uses a freestanding dock. The Jet 75 didn't perform as strongly as the Jet 90 in the CNET Testing Labs mid-pile sand test but because it's at a lower price point, that might be worth the deal for some consumers.Samsung Jet 90 (Update: Out of Stock): Our former best cordless vacuum for carpets, the Samsung Jet 90 is no longer in stock. One of the toughest cordless vacuum cleaning challenge is the mid-pile sand test, where we see how much sand each vacuum can suck out of the thick, plushy carpet. Only three of the 15 cordless vacuums we've tested in recent years have been able to average pickup percentages better than 80% in that test: the Dyson V15 Detect, the Tineco Pure One S15 Pet and the Samsung Jet 90, which led the way overall with an outstanding mid-pile sand pickup percentage of 98%. The Samsung Jet 90 is one of the lighter models we tested and sports a sleek, futuristic look. It's a splurge at a retail price of about $600 but it's the best HEPA cordless vacuum option if you have a lot of thick carpets in your home.SharkShark Rocket Pet Pro: Typically retailing for less than $350, the Shark Rocket Pet Pro remains a solid budget option provided you can find it in stock. It offers excellent cleaning performance with crumbs and other small bits of debris on hardwood floors and satisfactory pickup power on carpets and with dust. It features HEPA filtration and a self-cleaning, anti-tangle brush head (helpful for preventing pet hair clogs) and converts to a convenient handheld cleaner when needed.TinecoTineco A11 Hero (Update: Out of stock): The Tineco A11 Hero is no longer available but it was a solid and reasonably affordable cordless vacuum when we tested it. It scores 98.5% removing sand from hardwood, 82.5% from low-pile and 72.5% from mid-pile carpets. It's traded spots with the Tineco Pure One S11 and S15 Pet in terms of performance and value. Tineco Pure One S11: The Tineco Pure One S11 is a high-performing cordless vacuum with impressive suction power on hard floors and carpets. Versatile attachments, HEPA filtration and a dirt-detection feature add to its value. The design is basic and battery life is moderate and its excellent cleaning performance makes it a great choice.Tineco Pure One S15 Pet (Update: Currently unavailable): This is our former pick for the best cordless vacuum for pet hair. Tineco does great work with cordless vacs and the Pure One S15 Pet is fantastic. A 500-watt motor and cyclonic dust collection system creates 120AW of suction power. This adds up to a solid cleaning experience. When cleaning up the smaller sand particles, the vac did a wonderful job of getting them all off the hardwood. As expected, pulling the sand from carpets was tougher. The Pure One S15 Pet still got more than 88% from low-pile carpets and more than 81% from mid-pile carpets. Tineco's specially designed brush did a good job of removing hair from the brush as it cleaned, resulting in nearly zero tangles. You'll also find LEDs on the front of the brush head to help see what you're cleaning up and an iLoop Smart Sensor built in. This sensor helps the vacuum to automatically ramp up its suction power when it detects more debris on the floor. You can see its progress on the LED display on top of the handle.Other cordless vacuumsMiele Triflex HX2: Priced at about $1,100, we had high hopes for the Miele Triflex HX2. The three-in-one stick vac performed poorly in the sand test with low- and mid-pile carpets bringing down its overall performance score.Greenworks 24V Cordless Vacuum: This vacuum is a true contender, able to match the performance of some $500 or more hand-held stick vacuums while coming in around $320. In addition to all the tools it includes, it touts a fast 30-minute recharge time and a solid 45-minute runtime.Moosoo XL-618: It wasn't a strong performer in our toughest tests, but the Mooso XL-618 proved perfectly capable of basic cleaning, particularly with crumbs and on hardwood floors. It also converts to a handheld vacuum that you can use to clean your car or furniture. Frequently on sale for less than $80, the XL-618 is about as inexpensive as cordless vacuums get. If you're willing to sacrifice some cleaning power to save some cash, it's worth a look.Black & Decker PowerSeries Extreme Max: The Black & Decker PowerSeries Extreme Max is a budget-friendly cordless vacuum that offers strong cleaning performance and a long runtime. Its ability to convert into a handheld vacuum adds to its versatility, making it a standout option for its price.Lubluelu 23Kpa cordless KB-H009 (Update: Out of stock): It was mouthful, but the Lubluelu KB-H009 was a solid, if unexceptional, cordless vacuum. Priced about $400, it did great in our testing on hardwood, scoring nearly 98% sand removal. It did decently on low-pile carpet, removing 68.3% of sand, but had middling performance on mid-pile at 52%. Bissell IconPet Turbo: Designed for tackling pet hair, the Bissel IconPet Turbo offers solid overall performance for a reasonable $199. It did reasonably well in testing, scoring 89.7% in sand removal from hardwoood, 66% from low-pile and 54% from mid-pile carpets. However, despite the reasonable price and decent performance, it was outperformed by our value picks, the Levoit LVAC-200 and Dirt Devil BD5700V. Eureka RapidClean Pro: The RapidClean Pro from Eureka is another affordable cordless stick vacuum that you can get for less than $200. It offers generally solid performance, removing 94% sand from hardwood, 64.8% from low-pile and 60% from mid-pile carpets. However, like many vacuums in this price range, it's edged out in performance by other picks that earn a spot on our best list. Cordless stick vacuums compared ManufacturerMakeModelRetail PriceWeight (lbs)Wattage (W)Suction Power (air watts)Dustbin Capacity (L)Battery Capacity (mAH)TX - Battery DurationCleaning Time (minutes)Replaceable BatteryBattery Replacement CostFilter TypeCharging DockDock TypeAdditional Brushes and AccessoriesWarranty (years)Percentage of sand removed from hardwood floorPercentage of sand removed from low-pile carpetPercentage of sand removed from mid-pile carpetOverall Sand Average Tineco Pure OneS15 Pet5006.85001200.47250040Yes90HEPAYesFree-standingAnti-Tangle Brush, Mini Power Brush, 2-in-1 Dusting Brush, Crevice Tool210088.3381.4389.92Shark RocketPet Pro3007.218140Yes89HEPANon/a510067.5972.4180Moosoo TC1M Cordless VacuumXL-618A109NoNon/a199.0741.352.2264.19666667Miele TriflexHX2749NoNon/a98.8981.3367.5682.59333333Tineco Pure OneS114005.84501300.6250040Yes90HEPAYesWall-mountedMulti-Tasker Power Brush, Mini Power Brush, 2-in-1 Dusting Brush, Crevice Tool298.7793.3878.4390.19333333Dyson V8Absolute412NoNon/a97.9468.352.1272.78666667Dyson V11Torque Drive700NoNon/a99.5978.4371.5783.19666667Greenworks 24V Deluxe Cordless Stick Vacuum‎SVW24L410306NoNon/a98.7285.9481.7788.81Tineco A11Hero2605.34501200.6250040Yes80HEPAYesWall-mountedPower Brush, Mini Power Brush, 2-in-1 Dusting Brush, Crevice Tool298.4782.572.4584.47333333Dyson V15Detect7506.82300.76285060Yes150ClothYesWall-mounted296.9395.2888.4393.54666667Black+Decker PowerSeriesExtreme Max229NoNon/a98.9281.8266.2382.32333333LG CordZeroThinQNoNon/a97.1280.8867.9781.99Lubluelu 23Kpa Cordless Vacuum CleanerKB-H00999.992250.845HEPANon/a95.6566.6759.273.84Samsung Jet756006.25502000.8285060Yes150HEPAYesWall-mountedTurbo Brush, Long-Reach Crevice Tool, Combination Tool, Flex Tool198.6190.5678.8989.35333333Samsung Jet906506.25502000.8285060Yes150HEPAYesFree-standingTurbo Brush, Combo Brush, Soft Action Brush, Mini Powered Brush, Long-Reach Crevice Tool, Flex Tool193.0585.7197.7392.16333333Samsung BespokeJet8995.77002100.5285060Yes150HEPAYesWall-mounted294.8781.2577.0884.4Bissell IconPet Turbo31781366NoNon/a89.7466.1654.0469.98Eureka RapidClean ProNEC186155NoNon/a94.4464.8160.3773.20666667Aposen Cordless 4-in-1 Stick VacuumH22S124NoNon/a67.0927.9537.6744.23666667Prosenic P11 Lite139.994.71800.55220036YesHEPAYesFree-standingWall mount, 2 in 1 brush, crevice brush292.7545.9848.2862.33666667Cuckoo A1410NW349.996.84001400.6200033Yes70.93HEPAYesFree-standingBedding Brush, 2 in 1 Brush, Crevice Tool, Dusting Brush, Flex extension pipe, Accessory holder189.7479.880.3183.28333333Shark Pet IX141H259.997.631810.7840HEPANoFree-standingpet multi tool, wide upholstery tool, duster crevice tool588.8983.8284.3185.67333333Shark Power Direct Clean & Empty 499.9918.484500.74375026Yes54.99HEPAYesFree-standingDuster Crevice tool, Pet Multi tool 596.1590.188.0291.42333333Dirt Devil DB57000V199.9971500.48250023.5NoOtherNoFree-standing2-in-1 Crevice Tool & Dusting Brush,Upholstery Tool298.7769.1270.179.33LG CordZero A9 Kompressor749.997.054002651384010.5Yes113.95ClothYesFree-standingPower mop Pro nozzle, 2 quick release batteries, Combination tool, Crevice tool, extra filter, Power mini nozzle 195.0687.7586.7689.85666667Levoit LVAC-200199.993.2180700.75220025Yes69.99OtherNon/a2 in 1 crevice tool, 2 in 1 Pet tool 298.7280.2173.9684.29666667Shark Ninja Pet Pro (red) UZ351H2997.921810.7840HEPANoFree-standingcrevice tool and dusting brush91.3681.4780.3984.40666667Shark Ninja VERTEXIZ492H379.9928160HEPANon/aflex wand, duster crevice tool, upholstery tool597.5378.4380.3985.45Shark Ninja Pet Plus (blue)IZ361H329.997.941810.32HEPANoFree-standingmulti-angle dusting brush, pet multi tool, wide upholstery tool593.8389.7184.3189.28333333Shark Ninja Stratos AI499.998.93090.6860YesHEPANoFree-standingduster crevice tool and anti-allergen dusting brush597.2293.8994.4495.18333333Dyson Gen5 Detect949.997.723500.7570HEPANoFree-standingCombination tool, Built-in dusting and crevice tool, Hair screw tool, Digital Motorbar cleaner head, Fluffy Optic cleaner head295.465.366.6775.79Dyson Detect SubmarineV15s799.998.312000.7560HEPAYesWall-mountedSubmarine wet roller cleaner head, Combination tool, Digital Motorbar cleaner head, Hair Screw tool, Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Crevice tool291.3684.874.0283.39333333Shark Clean and Empty 2025 IP3251499.997.963800.7HEPAYesFree-standing565.3888.5485.9479.95333333 How we test cordless stick vacuum cleaners at CNET All the vacuums on CNET's best lists are tested and evaluated in our state-of-the-art test labs. CNET Testing Labs go beyond product specifications to test in real-world conditions with real-life messes. Over the years, our experts have tested 34 cordless vacuums and counting. Here's a breakdown of how we measured cordless stick vacuum performance.Cordless stick vacuum scoring methodology Subrating categoryWeightWhat we looked for Performance 30%Performance score extrapolated from the average sand score on hard flooring, low-pile carpets and midpile carpets.Value/price 25%Retail price rating considering all other features. i.e. Does this price seem fair for the value offered?Runtime 20%How long does the battery last when cleaning at medium setting? (No ECO, turbo, MAX, etc.) Features 15%Overall comfort and handling of the product (e.g. weight, comfortable grip handle).UX (Comfort. ease of use) 10%UX - All aspects of comfort. Did it have a good grip/handle? Was it heavy to operate/lift? How easy was the setup? Did it come with smart home functionality? Smartphone app? Voice assist? Inside CNET’s Testing Labs: How we test cordless vacuums and why the sand scores matter Our team of experts and engineers uses play sand and landscaping sand to mimic dirt and dust. Each vacuum is tested on a low-pile carpet, mid-pile carpet and a hard surface with sand. This test reveals exactly how much physical debris a vacuum is able to pick up off of the floor. Enlarge Image We test vacuums on three types of floor surfaces. Tyler Lizenby/CNETPerformanceDuring testing we set controls in place to make sure each vacuum faces the same test. For example, each vacuum is set to the same nozzle width and we measure and lay down the exact same amount of debris each time. We run tests in a straight line across all three floor types. Brian Bennett/CNETWe conduct three cleaning runs (at minimum) on each floor type. We also conduct separate cleaning tests with pet hair on each surface type where we photograph and visually evaluate how much pet hair (if any) is left after running the vacuum over it. We weigh the dustbin before and after each run. From there, we can calculate the percentage of debris pickup for every cleaning run and the average amount of soil a vacuum manages to remove. The Bissell IconPet features headlights and a nice-looking black and green build, but it wasn't a top performer in our tests. Ry Crist/CNETCordless vacuum battery life and runtimeTo test battery life, we fully charge the vacuum battery to full, then run it at the medium setting until drained (no Max or Eco mode). We do this three times and take the average of the three tests. The longer the duration, the better the score. Most of the vacuums on our list have a runtime of 25 to 40 minutes before needing another charge, although many models are starting to offer higher-capacity batteries with runtimes of 60 minutes per charge. In truth, it's a rare occasion that one would need more than 40 minutes of runtime for a single vacuuming session, and the prevalence of charging docks makes it easy to recharge in between cleaning runs. Most cordless vacuums we recommend also have replaceable batteries these days, meaning you can buy an extra if you need more runtime or you're worried about battery degradation over time. Because of this, battery life was not weighted as heavily as other features.Cordless vacuum weight, size and bin capacityMost of the cordless vacuums we tested weighed between 4 and 8 pounds. When a vacuum weighs 10 pounds or more, we consider it more unwieldy. Most of the vacuums on this list were also very similar in height and overall size. They also come with accessories that can be attached and detached to give you flexible cleaning options. For instance, a common tool is a crevice cleaning attachment that lets you fit the vacuum nozzle into tight spaces and corners to clean in places where a larger brush head wouldn't reach. For dustbin size, we consider anything of 0.6 liters and more to be good. Generally, anything less than 0.5 liters will require you to empty it after every cleaning session. A large dustbin means you can go longer without emptying. However, if the cordless vacuum comes with a self-emptying charging dock, it can often store dust and debris for 30 days or more, minimizing the amount of dust you're faced with when vacuuming. Cordless vacuum warrantiesCordless vacuum warranties will vary by manufacturer and model, but the majority of models we've tested offer at least a year of coverage if not two. The best warranty we've seen is from Shark Ninja, which offers five-year limited warranties on its cordless vacuums. A longer warranty period is good, because it means your vacuum is covered if a part breaks or something is defective. Filters and air qualityMost cordless vacuums have some kind of filter that stops the exhaust from putting dust back into the room while you're vacuuming. This can be a simple washable cloth filter to an anti-allergy HEPA filter (commonly found in air purifiers) that can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns. Most of the best cordless vacuums come with replaceable HEPA filters, while cheaper models may have a more basic cloth filter. One recent innovation we're also seeing from Shark Ninja is incorporating an anti-allergy seal and anti-odor capsules that keep your vacuum and dustbin from festering. User experience (Ease of use and comfort)While it's not necessarily a factor that weighs heavily, the ease and comfort of using a cordless vacuum and emptying its dustbin does play a role. We now consider this category as user experience. We like when a cordless vacuum is freestanding, meaning you can leave it upright and unattended without having to worry about it tipping over. We also like when it has a charging dock or self-empties because it means you need to do less maintenance on your end. Strong bonus points go to a vacuum docking station that empties dust into a bag rather than a bagless dust canister because it means that dust is less likely to get all over your newly vacuumed floors when you empty it into the trash. Other featuresAs new cordless stick vacuum models emerge, we are seeing the ability to detect dirt types and floor types and adjust suction power accordingly. "This means that when a large amount of dirt is detected, suction increases, and when less dirt is present, suction decreases," says CNET's Lab Engineer Gianmarco Chumbe. Chumbe, who's been testing home tech products at CNET Labs for 8 years, says the latest vacuum tech can sense floor type and boost suction power in response. "The main benefit of this feature is increased battery efficiency, resulting in a more effective and longer-lasting cleaning experience."Consumers shopping for vacuums today, Chumbe says, should consider the cost-to-value ratio. "Ask yourself, does the price justify the performance, features and comfort it offers?" CNET writers and editors use price and value in our vacuum scoring just for this reason. What about handheld vacuums? Most, if not all, of the cordless vacuums on this list can be broken down into a handheld vacuum, making it possible to use them to clean your car or upholstery. However, we use a slightly different testing methodology when testing handheld vacuums, so we recommend looking at our recently updated list of the best handheld vacuum to see our recommendations for use cases ranging from cleaning cars to pet hair. Many handheld vacuums can weigh as little as 1.2 pounds, putting them in a different weight category from these cordless vacuums. Keeping your cordless vacuum clean so it can clean better Cordless vacs are getting really good at cleaning floors all around, but even the best need help sometimes. Chris Wedel/CNETIt’s easy to forget that the very tools that help us clean (like vacuums) also need to be cleaned from time to time. This is true even if they have a charging and self-emptying dock since the main dustbin still needs to be emptied. Issues like hair tangled around the brushes or clogged filters need occasional attention to ensure your cordless vacuum continues performing at its best.Some of the routine cleaning that needs to be done for your cordless vacuum is daily, while other aspects can be done weekly or even monthly.Daily: Emptying the bin, checking brush for stuck debris.Weekly: Cleaning brush rolls, filters and wheels.Monthly: Cleaning any sensors, replacing the filters, removing and deep cleaning the brushes.Some of the maintenance will depend on how often you use your cordless vacuum. If you only use it once or twice a week, you may not need to replace the filters every month. Checking with your particular vacuum model's manual to determine when to replace the filter is a wise idea. Also, some filters are washable, which means you can get more life out of them before it's time to replace them.Most of these tasks take just a few minutes but offer great returns in keeping your home cleaner. Cordless vacuum FAQs How important is suction power in a cordless vacuum? Suction matters because it's a good measure of how well a cordless vacuum cleans on different surfaces. Not surprisingly, Shark Stratos was a powerful performer in our tests, particularly in our sand tests, where it removed the largest cumulative amount of sand from our hardwood, low-pile carpet and mid-pile carpet test floors. Are pricey Dyson vacuums worth the money? Credit to Dyson for pioneering the cordless vacuum category with its capable -- but pricey -- Cyclone V series stick vacs. Years and models later, Dyson remains a key player in 2025 but it’s not as dominant in our cleaning tests as it was five or 10 years ago. Now, several competitors can go head-to-head with Dyson on our test floors including Shark Ninja, Levoit and others. Even so, Dyson vacuums consistently perform well and often include unique features like dust-revealing lasers and auto-adapting brush rolls, thanks to the British company’s years of in-house research and design improvements. For many households, these innovations make Dyson a worthwhile splurge. What is good suction power for a cordless vacuum? Manufacturers will often boast about their vacuum's suction power in terms of air watts, a figure that quantifies airflow in terms of power use. Generally speaking, more air watts means a more powerful vacuum cleaner but the actual design of the vacuum head plays a significant role too. The tighter a vacuum is against the floor, the greater the suction. If it's too tight against the floor, larger bits of debris won't be able to make it underneath the cleaning head at all. The type of flooring you're trying to clean makes a big difference, too.That's why CNET puts each vacuum we review through rigorous and controlled cleaning tests to get a better sense of how their cleaning capabilities compare across different surfaces and concerning different-sized bits of debris. What's the difference between upright and stick vacuums? Upright vacuums are the traditional options that most likely come to your mind when thinking of a vacuum -- sturdy, with a large canister and a wide cleaning head. They often come with various attachments and sometimes even have adjustable settings. Because these are more powerful, they are ideal for deep cleaning carpets.Stick vacuums, on the other hand, are sleek, modern and lightweight. They are fantastic for quick cleanups, especially if you have a smaller living space or a mix of flooring types. Picking between upright and stick will come down to various factors, including flooring type and size of the space. What's the best cordless vacuum for pet hair? The best cordless vacuum for pet hair is our best overall, the Shark Stratos. With a brush designed to dig deep into carpet and powerful suction on all surfaces, it proved great at removing fur from hard and soft surfaces. What's the best cordless vacuum for carpets? The Shark Stratos is CNET's top pick for cleaning carpets. It has outstanding mid-pile efficiency, with a 98% pickup when sucking sand out of thick carpet. For other options, take a look at our list of the best vacuums for carpets. What's the best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors? The got one of the highest scores on our testing for hardwood floors. It picked up 99% of sand from hard flooring, although it didn't fare as well on carpet.
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