I’m a vacuum expert, and these are the best cordless vacuum cleaners you can buy for grab-and-go cleaning

While corded vacuums offer unlimited runtime, they aren't always the most practical option. On the other hand, the best cordless vacuums are convenient, lightweight, and generally much easier to manoeuvre. However, choosing a cord-free cleaning companion can be challenging with so many models available.

As Ideal Home's Vacuum Expert, I know firsthand that a large portion of the best vacuum cleaners are cordless. This cord-free convenience means that you don't have to worry about the number of plug sockets you have in your house, tripping over the wire, or lugging what is generally a much heavier appliance from room to room.

Different cordless vacuum cleaners suit different needs, though, which is why my team and I have spent hundreds of hours assessing their suction power, battery life, and debris pickup. With this in mind, I'm confident that the best cordless vacuum cleaner options below will suit every home and budget.

Quick list

Short on time? You can find a quick run-down of the best cordless vacuum cleaners listed below. You'll find more information on each vacuum and why I recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

Best cordless vacuum cleaners 2026

Best cordless vacuum cleaner overall

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The Shark Stratos range was released and originally tested by our reviewer, Molly, back in 2022, but we don't keep vacuums in their top spots for years without proof that they're still up to the task. That's why the Shark Stratos IZ420UKT Cordless Vacuum was re-tested by our Certified Expert in Vacuums, Lauren, in January 2026.

Despite its age, the Stratos continued to show unbelievable suction power thanks to its 309W motor during testing (you can read more about the suction power you should expect from a cordless vacuum below), and left carpets visibly cleaner, with no issues with pet hair or human hair.

With easy-to-clean mechanisms and the option for a two-battery model, which will give you up to 120 minutes of runtime, you also won't need to worry about running out of charge midway through your cleaning session, offering you the reliability of a corded model.

Features we loved during testing

There's no doubt that both of our testing processes proved that the Shark Stratos is one of the best Shark vacuum cleaners. Even if you don't have pets, the ease with which this vacuum does away with hair and other debris is astounding. In fact, I found that it was able to pick up coffee grounds and rice on hard flooring in one pass, and porridge oats in two passes. On the carpet, every type of debris was sucked up in a single pass.

The vacuum's ability to transform into a smaller handheld model is also handy, and you'll reach for the smaller attachments all the time to quickly resolve messes around your home. One non-essential item that we are obsessed with is the anti-odour capsules that you can pop into the dustbin. These mean there are no more musty odours when you're emptying your vacuum.

You will need to pay more for the two-battery model if you expect it to be useful; however, it's not necessary if you live in a small or medium-sized home, and you can pick up the Shark Stratos Anti Hair Wrap Plus Pet Pro Cordless Vacuum [Single Battery] IZ400UKT for £429.99 at Shark when it's not on sale for less.

Read our Shark Stratos IZ420UKT cordless vacuum review for more details.

Best value cordless vacuum cleaner

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The Dyson V8 Cyclone Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is Dyson's newest budget-friendly vacuum cleaner and an updated version of the much-loved Dyson V8. And while it's not technically the cheapest cordless vacuum cleaner you can buy, the high-end brand still offers a lot for the £350 price tag.

It offers 150 Air Watts and new cyclone technology that aids the impressive suction power, and it couldn't be easier to use and manoeuvre around the home for everyday cleaning. In short, it's a budget vacuum cleaner that gets the job done without any fancy bells and whistles. And it does it exceptionally well.

Features we loved during testing

I was lucky enough to test this particular model in my home, which I share with my shedding cocker spaniel, and I was seriously impressed by this value vacuum's ability to pick up dog hair from my rugs and carpets. It even tackled embedded pet hair and dust from my wool carpets, which is no mean feat.

The 70-minute run time is also more than enough to vacuum the average UK home, but the swappable battery means that you can buy a spare and utilise up to 140 minutes if you need it. And while the Dyson V8 Cyclone only comes with two tools (a crevice tool and mini motorised tool), both are a welcome addition to a cleaning routine.

For the £350 price tag, you get a lot for your money - especially from a brand like Dyson. However, it's worth noting that while this is one of the best Dyson vacuum cleaners you can buy, it's not the best. If you want something more powerful and less basic, I'd suggest either the Dyson V16 Piston Animal or the Dyson Gen5detect - if you're willing to pay a bit extra.

Read our Dyson V8 Cyclone review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for pet hair

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After testing the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum, I can confidently say that it should rightfully take its place as the best cordless vacuum for homes with pets.

This modern vacuum has been designed with pet owners in mind, offering up to 55 minutes of non-stop vacuuming time, auto-adjusted suction power, and a sleek design. And while it may not be as cheap as other cordless options on this list, it's worth it for the impressive German engineering.

Features we loved during testing

The Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum is well-equipped to deal with everything from pet hair to dander and everyday dust and debris. I even tested this model on different flooring and fabric types, and nothing seemed to get in the way of its power.

With 99.99% dust retention capacity and an additional hygiene filter, this cordless vacuum will not only remove these pollutants from the air - but will keep them out of your home, too. It also comes with numerous attachments to get into every nook and cranny of your home.

It’s this focus on pet ownership and pet-specific problem-solving that has allowed this model to replace the Halo Capsule X. Although the Halo was once our best cordless vacuum for pet hair, the non-pet-specific model just couldn't beat the pet-specific qualities of the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum. My only real niggle with this model is that the dustbin is on the smaller side, which may not suit smaller homes.

Read our full Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog Cordless Vacuum review for more details.

Best premium cordless vacuum cleaner

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The Dyson V16 Piston Animal is officially Dyson's most powerful cordless vacuum cleaner, and it scored extremely highly during testing. In fact, I would have given it 6 stars if I could. Its 315 Air Watts of suction power is so far unmatched, and the new conical head is ideal for tangle-free cleaning - although a bit tricky to get flush with flat surfaces.

The main selling point, though, is the new CleanCompaktor technology, which allows you to compact the debris in the dust chamber to create more space - drastically reducing how often you need to empty it. You can also buy the Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine, which comes with an extra floorhead for wet floor cleaning.

Features we loved during testing

During testing, I found the Dyson V16 Piston Animal to be extremely effective. The multi-floor cleaning head transitioned from hard flooring to carpets with ease, and Dyson's famous lasers meant that I could see every speck of invisible dust on my hard flooring.

It's also extremely easy to use, the new Hyperdymium 900W motor lends itself to a lot of power, and the app connectivity means that you can assess stats from your cleaning sessions to learn more about your home. The dust compactor was also a big help, as I could simply push the debris into the chamber and keep vacuuming without having to empty it after each use.

Of course, the elephant in the room is the fact that this new vacuum cleaner is an investment appliance. It's not cheap, and some people might not be able to justify spending so much on a vacuum cleaner. If you can, though, I don't think you'll be disappointed.

Read our Dyson V16 Piston Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for carpet

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The Gtech AirRAM Platinum was tested by Jullia, and sports a sleek, stylish, compact design with impressive cleaning technology - especially on carpets. This power is thanks to its innovative AirLOC technology, which Gtech describe as such: 'It collects large debris as you push forward and then forms a seal on the backstroke, tackling embedded hair and fine dust to ensure nothing is left behind.'

Manoeuvring the AirRAM Platinum takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you've got the technique down, it makes for a very impressive clean. And while we especially love it for carpet, it performed just as well across other floor types in our tests.

Features we loved during testing

On top of the vacuum's impressive suction power, we're big fans of the quality-of-life features Gtech considered when making it. These include simple foot-powered controls, an adjustable carrying handle, and a mess-free emptying system. This makes it ideal for those who struggle with bending down and the strict movements required with other cordless vacuum cleaners.

Unfortunately, the AirRAM Platinum just falls short of a 5-star rating because it doesn't include hand tools or floorheads (yes, it's just the one floorhead and unit in the box, unless you get the bundle with the Multi Platinum handheld vacuum).

However, in some ways, we think this is also a strength because you don't have to store extra accessories or switch out floorheads. You simply plug and play and get to cleaning. Just make sure that you're willing to invest in a cordless vacuum that isn't a stick model, as vacuums like this do take a while to get used to - but this one is worth it if you have a lot of carpets and rugs in your home.

Read our Gtech AirRAM Platinum Anti Hair Wrap cordless vacuum review for more details.

Best dust bin capacity cordless vacuum cleaner

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The Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty System is a very handy appliance - and while the auto-empty base needs to be plugged in at all times, the vacuum itself is completely cordless. Then, when you've finished using the vacuum, you can pop it back on the dock, where it'll automatically empty the debris into a 2L dust bin and start charging it.

It also comes with many of the features we know and love from Shark, including four-detection technology, anti-odour technology, and DirectionDetect technology. So, you can't scoff at its cleaning ability.

Features we loved during testing

Our reviewer, Jullia, was seriously impressed with this Shark vacuum during testing. She found the Detect technology extremely effective as she made her way around the house, as it intuitively adjusted its cleaning power to suit the room, floor type, and debris on each floor.

Alongside this, it was extremely easy to manoeuvre, and she often felt as though the vacuum was moving of its own accord, self-propelling itself in the direction she wanted it to go. So, it would be a great option for those who struggle with heavier cordless vacuums.

Of course, the pièce de résistance was the auto-empty base, which took the hassle out of emptying the vacuum by hand after each use. However, she did find that it wasn't perfect. The dock ultimately does take up a lot of space, and it often struggled to empty the smaller on-board dust bin entirely.

Read our Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review for more details.

We've also tested

The Ideal Home team and I have tested almost 100 vacuum cleaners over the years, and it would be impossible to include them all in this cordless vacuum guide. However, here are some other notable mentions that are still worth considering.

Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute (★★★★)

A lightweight cordless vacuum cleaner

At just 2.2kg, this cordless vacuum cleaner is officially the lightest model we've ever tested. It's also powerful, with 150 Air Watts of suction and a 60-minute run time to boot. However, you do have to sacrifice a larger dust bin for a lighter weight.

Read our full review here

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Shark PowerPro Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum(★★★★)

A budget Shark vacuum cleaner

If you want a Shark vacuum but have a smaller budget, this one is a bit more basic than its competitors - but great for quick, everyday cleaning. The Flexology wand also helps you clean every nook and cranny in your home.

Read our full review here

Henry HVB160 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (★★★★)

A cylinder cordless vacuum

Most people associate Henry cylinder vacuums with a cord, but this cordless model is ideal for those who want a huge 6L bagged capacity. It comes with attachments for fiddly cleaning jobs, too.

Read our full review here

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Lakeland Lightweight 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum(★★★★)

A budget cordless vacuum cleaner

At under £100, this Lakeland model is the cheapest cordless stick vacuum we've ever tested. The dust bin is pretty small, and it's not as well-made as other models, but it is still impressively powerful.

Read our full review here

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Comparison table

How we test cordless vacuum cleaners

At Ideal Home, we know how important it is to have hands-on experience with the products we recommend to you in our buying guides. That's why, as part of our rigorous testing protocol, we've tested every cordless vacuum in this guide for at least two weeks (and sometimes up to two months) in real homes before deciding whether it's worthy of a place on this list or not.

Our in-depth explainer on how we test vacuum cleaners has the full details, but to give you a brief overview, this is the cordless vacuum cleaner testing process we follow:

• First, we perform the debris test and throw a mixture of debris (such as rice, crushed cereal, flour, coffee grounds and pet hair) on both hard flooring and carpets to assess how many passes it takes for the cordless vacuum to suck up every last piece.
• We incorporate the cordless vacuum into our home's cleaning routine to measure its run time and charging time (and whether they match the manufacturer's claims).
• We measure how long it takes for the dust bin to fill up, and how easy (and messy!) it is to empty it.
• We consider the weight and manoeuvrability of the cordless vacuum cleaner, to see how practical it is for vacuuming stairs and smaller nooks and crannies.

• We use a decibel meter app to accurately measure the noise levels of these cordless vacuum cleaners.
• We test all of the accessories and tools that come with the cordless vacuum to see how they improve the overall effectiveness and ease of use.
• We assess the overall size and storage of the cordless vacuum. Stick vacuums generally have wall docks, while upright models are often freestanding.
• We compare the model to other cordless vacuum cleaners to see whether it's worth the price tag or whether another model is more affordable.

With all of this information in tow, we can assign the cordless vacuum cleaners a dedicated Ideal Home star rating from 1 to 5 stars. When a cordless vacuum doesn't achieve a 5-star review, we will always outline where we think the model falls short to ensure you have all the relevant information you need to make an informed purchase.

After testing the best cordless vacuums for at least two weeks, the models are then either returned to the brand, given to charity, or kept by the reviewer because they loved it so much.

Meet our cordless vacuum experts

Lauren Bradbury

I'm Lauren, Ideal Home's Content Editor for House Manual and Certified Expert in Training for Vacuums. I'm currently working my way through the motions to become a fully certified vacuum expert, and this means I've tested A LOT of vacuum cleaners. My favourite so far has been the Dyson V16 Piston Animal - but I also have a soft spot for the older Dyson V8 Absolute.

At the time of writing, I've spent over 300 hours testing vacuums, and even more researching the ins and outs of vacuuming - from tips to use a vacuum cleaner more efficiently to effectively vacuuming pet hair (something I do on a daily basis thanks to my shedding ...

Molly Cleary

I'm Molly, and I'm currently Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor, but was formerly Ecommerce Editor, covering vacuum cleaners and other cleaning products.

During my time in the role, I tested dozens of cordless vacuums, including those in my own home and at Future's test facility. I was also invited to visit Dyson and Shark's offices to get a behind-the-scenes look at how they design and produce their vacuums. My vacuum of choice is the Dyson Gen5detect, as once you go Dyson, you can't go back.

Jullia Joson

Jullia worked as a Junior Writer and Certified Expert in Training for Vacuums from 2022 until 2024 and spent over 60 hours testing vacuums - many of which have made their way into this best cordless vacuums buying guide.

She had hands-on experience with both corded and cordless vacuums from leading brands such as Dyson, Shark, Henry, Gtech and Bosch. She particularly loved the Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty.

How to choose a cordless vacuum cleaner

Our guide on how to choose a vacuum cleaner should help you decide on the best cordless vacuum for your home. But most cordless models on the market fall within two popular categories: stick cordless vacuums and upright cordless vacuums. Understanding the differences between stick vacuums and upright vacuums can help you determine which is the right fit for you.

You also need to consider runtime because cordless vacuums aren't connected to the mains, so they rely on the battery to clean your home. And while this means that cordless vacuums use less electricity than corded offerings, it can also hinder your cleaning efforts - especially as most of the best corded vacuum cleaners only offer between 30-70 minutes of run time, and even less when 'Boost' mode is used regularly, as that is one of the things that drains a cordless vacuum battery.

This is echoed by Katie Lilywhite, floorcare expert at AO.com, who says, 'While some models of cordless vacuums can allegedly match corded models in terms of suction power, this will drain the battery quickly. Bear in mind this all comes down to you charging the battery between cleaning – so be careful to ensure your vacuum is never out of juice.'

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It's also well worth taking stock of the size of your home (and how long it takes you to vacuum it) and choosing a cordless vacuum cleaner that can vacuum every room in your house without needing to be charged mid-way through. Of course, you'll then need to wait for it to charge, which can be up to 5 hours in some cases.

However, some brands offer the option to purchase a spare battery, so you can still make the most of your chosen cordless vacuum cleaner without the shorter run time getting in the way.

Before making your purchase, it's also a good idea to check out the tools or attachments available (if any) with your chosen cordless vacuum. Then, our guide to what vacuum tool is right for each job can help you make the most of these attachments and your cordless vacuum investment as a whole.

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