The Best Cordless Stick Vacuums, According to Our Experts 2025

The Shark Stratos Cordless delivered impressive suction in our testing — its 0.96 kPa force made pet hair and embedded dirt vanish, which helped it score 7.5/10 for performance. We found the HEPA filtration and pet-friendly features handy, but battery life can be limiting — while specs claim up to 60 minutes, our testing in standard mode yielded nearer 30 minutes. If you need strong pickup for short sessions or apartments, the Stratos is a smart pick, but larger homes will likely require recharges.

The Shark IZ362H scored 6.5/10 in our roundup and stands out for being lightweight and easy to maneuver, with HyperVelocity Accelerated Suction and a self-cleaning brushroll that helps prevent hair wrap. We found the HEPA filtration helpful for allergies, but suction struggles on deep carpet and the 40-minute runtime may be tight for larger homes. For quick daily cleans and pet hair maintenance it’s convenient, yet its smaller dust cup and limited suction mean it’s not the best pick for heavy-duty jobs.

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim scored 7.5/10 in our guide and impressed us with a powerful 150AW motor and laser illumination that exposes hidden dust during cleaning. We found the lightweight 5.2-pound build downright nimble for everyday use, but the small 0.35L dustbin forces frequent stops to empty during deeper jobs. For conscientious cleaners who value visibility and suction, it’s a high-performing tool in our testing, yet the higher price and relatively limited bin capacity make it less ideal for large homes.

The Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty System earned a solid 7/10 in our testing thanks to noticeably strong suction and the convenience of an auto-empty dock that removes debris hands-free. During our review the multi-directional cleaning head picked up well, but battery runtime felt shorter than advertised in Boost mode and Detect mode could be too aggressive for thin rugs, sometimes lifting them. Also note the dock’s auto-empty only functions when the wand and floorhead are attached, which limits how you can use the system for quick spot jobs.

The Dyson V8 Absolute scored 7/10 in our review and remains a reliable, well-rounded cleaner thanks to 115 AW suction, multiple handy attachments, and an easy-to-empty dustbin. We found it light and versatile for routine cleaning, yet our experience shows its max-mode battery life is short — under ten minutes — and it sometimes struggles with larger debris on hard floors. For those who value ergonomics and accessory variety, it’s a solid midtier pick, but heavy-duty or long sessions will require pacing.

The Shark Detect Pro earned an 8/10 in our guide thanks to excellent day-to-day pickup and a large dustbin with an auto-empty system that reduces manual maintenance — in our testing the QuadClean brushroll handled transitions between rugs and hard floors smoothly. We found the HEPA filter reassuring for allergy households, but our experience shows battery life falls short in higher power modes and suction can struggle on embedded dirt. If you want hands-off upkeep and solid everyday performance, it’s a strong contender.

The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute is our top-rated choice, earning 9/10 for outstanding performance on carpets and hard floors thanks to a 230 AW motor and HEPA filtration. In our testing the laser dust detection exposed hidden grime and it handled pet hair without tangling, though the 6.8-pound weight and holding the trigger can make long or overhead sessions tiring. If you prioritize top suction and precision and can tolerate the $749.99 price tag, this model earned its high rating in our experience.

The Gtech AirRAM Platinum is a very light option we recommend for quick daily maintenance — its maneuverable design (about 3.3 kg / 7.3 pounds) makes tidying effortless. We found it glides across floors with a useful 60-minute runtime, but limited suction (about 100 AW) and no handheld attachments hurt its deep-cleaning versatility. So it’s great for light, daily touch-ups, yet our experience shows households needing strong carpet pickup should look to more powerful models.

The Dyson Gen5outsize impressed us with class-leading 250 AW suction and an unusually large dustbin, earning an 8/10 for heavy-duty cordless cleaning. We found its 140-minute battery life and multiple attachments made it versatile across carpets and hard floors, but the 8.6-pound weight can be fatiguing for long or overhead work. Priced around $1,049, it’s a great choice if suction and capacity matter most, but the premium cost and long recharge time are important trade-offs in our testing.

We found the Dyson V11 Extra delivers about 220 AW — roughly 60% more suction than older V8s — earning it a 7.5/10 for strong everyday and detailed cleaning. During our testing the nine included tools made cars, stairs, and upholstery easy to clean, but the small 0.2-gallon dustbin requires frequent emptying and trigger operation can fatigue your finger. At about $449.99 it’s a pricier but versatile option if you want Dyson-level suction.

The Miele Duoflex HX1 earned 5.5/10 in our testing — it performs very well on hard floors and the motorized pet-hair tool is genuinely effective for shedding animals. During our review the non-removable dustbin made cleanup awkward, the battery on high power was short, and we saw occasional scattering of larger debris. Given the low listed price, it’s worth considering for simple hard-floor and pet maintenance, but our experience shows it’s not ideal for deep or heavy-duty jobs.

This Samsung Jet Soft Brush attachment is a premium, pet-focused accessory that earns a 7/10 in our view — it excels at lifting pet hair thanks to a mini motorized brush and strong motor design, but it comes with a steep $860 price tag. In our testing it handled fine debris well, yet we found it less effective on larger crumbs and struggled to deliver the same carpet performance as top-tier models. If you already own a compatible Jet and prioritize pet hair pickup, it’s useful, but expect limited versatility for the price.

Samsung’s Bespoke AI Jet Ultra is our standout tech-forward pick (8.5/10) with class-leading suction — the HexaJet system delivers up to 400W — and the option of dual batteries that can push total runtime significantly for whole-home cleaning. During our testing the All-in-One Clean Station® made maintenance nearly effortless by auto-emptying and charging, though our experience shows the AI Cleaning Mode isn’t perfect across every floor type and the unit is heavier than some rivals. If you want top power and smart features and can handle a premium price, this is a top contender.

The S11 Reach handstick is a lightweight, budget-friendly option we found handy for quick tidying and earned a solid 7/10 thanks to its 120 AW suction and helpful LED lights on the brush head. In our testing the removable battery is handy and the 5.5-pound build makes it nimble, but the 40-minute runtime falls on max and it lacks a motorized brush for upholstery. We also found the continuous-trigger operation tiring on longer jobs, yet for spot cleans this Reach is a practical, affordable choice.

The Shark WANDVAC Pet is an ultra-light stick we found perfect for quick grab-and-go cleanups, earning a 6/10 for convenience. During our testing the washable filter and compact build make spot jobs easy, but the 16.5-minute battery and tiny dustbin confine it to short sessions. If you need a quick tool for crumbs and pet touch-ups it’s ideal, yet our experience shows it won’t replace a full-size cordless for extended cleaning.

Levoit’s cordless cleaner earned an 8/10 in our testing by balancing strong suction and convenient features like auto-emptying, plus a HEPA filter that captured 99.99% of 0.3μm particles in our experience. It’s lightweight and offers up to 60 minutes of runtime for longer chores, but during our review the smaller dustbin and a long five-hour charge time were notable drawbacks. If cleaner air and hands-free emptying matter for small-to-medium homes, this is a practical pick, though it isn’t as strong on hardwood as some pricier rivals.

The POWERSERIES Extreme MAX is a budget-friendly, lightweight stick that we found surprisingly effective for everyday crumbs and hair, earning it a practical but modest 6/10 in our roundup. It offers decent suction for small spaces and LED headlights to reveal hidden dirt, yet during our review the dust bowl proved awkward to empty and the battery required over three hours to recharge. If you live in an apartment or need a grab-and-go tool, it’s a cost-conscious option — just don’t expect stellar performance on high-pile shag rugs.

The LG CordZero scored 8/10 in our guide and delivers strong 210 AW suction with an impressive 60-minute runtime for whole-home tidying. During our review we liked the seamless storage and easy-to-maintain washable filter, though the 5.95-pound weight can cause fatigue for longer or overhead cleaning. Priced around $520, it’s a good pick if you prioritize battery life and tool integration, but the small dustbin and premium price kept it from a higher rank in our testing.

The Samsung Jet 75 Pet is a strong midrange pick (8/10) that felt light and easy to use in our testing — at just 5.7 pounds it’s one of the more maneuverable stick vacuums for stairs and tight spots. We found the removable battery and 60-minute runtime excellent for extended sessions, and the 5-layer HEPA system captured allergens impressively. That said, the max-suction runtime falls to about five minutes and hair wrapping on the brush requires occasional detangling, and charging from the wand is slower than we expected.

The Dyson Digital Slim is a nimble, versatile stick that scored 7.5/10 — in our testing its strong suction and lightweight design made quick cleans and handheld conversions easy. While specs list up to 40 minutes, we found battery life closer to about 25 minutes under typical use, and the very small dustbin required frequent emptying during longer sessions. If you want a compact, powerful daily driver for short jobs, this is a great choice, but be prepared for tight runtime and more stops to empty.

The Bissell ICONpet Edge is a solid midrange pick (7.5/10) for pet owners — in our testing the tangle-free brush roll cut hair wrap and made quick touch-ups easier. We found its 700W suction and 50-minute runtime handled everyday messes well, but our experience shows the vacuum’s small dustbin requires frequent emptying and its top-heavy design won’t let it stand upright on its own. If you value hair-free brush maintenance and strong pickup but don’t mind extra stops to empty, it’s a practical choice.

Hoover’s ONEPWR Evolve Pet is a budget-minded cordless that scored 6.5/10 in our roundup and shines most for its lightweight build and interchangeable battery — during our review we liked how easy it was to carry and how swapping batteries extended cleaning sessions. However, our experience shows the lack of attachments and absence of a HEPA filter limit its versatility and air-filtration performance, and the bulky plastic construction can make sliding under furniture awkward. If you need a simple, easy-to-handle vac for quick touch-ups, it’s a reasonable value.

The Kenmore DS1020 is an affordable, lightweight option (6.5/10) that we found handy for everyday touch-ups — its detachable hand vacuum and LED headlight make above-floor and low-light cleaning straightforward. During our review it proved easy to carry up stairs, but our experience shows it struggles on thick, high-pile carpets and the dust-cup emptying process is clunky because you must remove the handheld unit. Expect decent suction for quick jobs, but plan on regular filter care to keep performance steady.