Why you can trust Ideal Home
- 100 years of industry expertise
- 100s of hours of vacuum cleaner testing
- Behind-the-scenes insights from Dyson HQ
- Interviews with senior Dyson vacuum engineers
As Ideal Home's Vacuum Expert, I've tested more vacuum cleaners than you can shake a stick at. And while it's my job to stay impartial and judge each make and model accordingly, I'm also the owner of multiple Dyson vacuums, so it's safe to say that I have a soft spot for the best Dyson vacuum cleaners.
Now, as you can imagine, Dyson is a brand that's regularly topping the charts in our best vacuums guide. But after spending hundreds of hours testing vacuums, I know better than most just how daunting choosing a new vacuum cleaner can be. From run times to dust bin capacities and Air Watts, all of the Dyson options can muddle together on the screen in front of you. And when you're paying for a premium product, you don't want to waste your money.
That's why I've decided to make the process easier for you, and whittle down the Dyson vacuum cleaners myself and the Ideal Home team have tested to my three top choices (including the ones I choose to use in my own home!). And if you're in the market for one of the best cordless vacuums, you'll be happy to know that my top choices are all cordless, stick options.
Quick List
Short on time but still want to bag the best Dyson vacuum cleaner? I've got you. This quick list will give you a brief overview of each top-rated model, with more information just a scroll away.
Best Dyson vacuum overall
This Dyson vacuum cleaner has sat at the top of our main vacuum guide for a couple of years now - and so far, no other vacuum has come close to beating it. This high-tech and powerful model offers up to 70 minutes of run time, a wide range of cleaning tools, a dust and allergy-busting HEPA filter, and more.
Best budget Dyson vacuum
If you're on a tighter budget, the Dyson V8 is an older model that still packs a punch (but at an affordable price). It's extremely lightweight and one of the easiest Dysons to manoeuvre around the house, and has a 40-minute run time. The trigger function may irritate you, but there's a hack for that - which I'll talk about more below.
Best Dyson vacuum for everyday
If you want a 2-in-1 cleaning tool or don't have space to store a vacuum and one of the best mops, this is my top choice. At its core, it's a powerful Dyson vacuum cleaner with a generous 0.77L dust bin and up to 60 minutes of run time. However, it also has a Submarine head for mopping your floors.
Best Dyson vacuum cleaner 2025
Best Dyson vacuum overall
The Dyson Gen5detect is the vacuum cleaner I now choose to use in my own home, as I was thoroughly impressed when I re-tested it 18 months after its initial review (after all, we like to ensure our top-rated models can maintain their place amidst growing competition).
It has a 70-minute runtime, which is the longest of all the best Dyson vacuum cleaners, and I find that it's more than enough time for me to clean my whole house from top to bottom a few times before I need to charge it again. When testing, I also found it extremely efficient at picking up both smaller dust particles and larger debris. The famous Dyson piezo sensor and laser technology also ensure that no speck is left behind.
As I'm also a dog paw-rent and constantly on the lookout for the best vacuum cleaners for pet hair, I also find it to be incredibly efficient at picking up dog hair and locking away pet dander, thanks to the De-tangling Digital Motorbar head and the whole-machine HEPA filtration system. Of course, the stickler is that this model is one of the most expensive Dyson vacuum cleaners on the market, but it is one of the brand's best sellers for a reason. So, I do think it's well worth the investment.
Read our full Dyson Gen5detect Absolute vacuum cleaner review for more details
Best budget Dyson vacuum
One thing I do appreciate is that the best Dyson vacuum cleaners are often out of many people's price range - but after testing (and loving) the Dyson V8 Absolute, I've realised that the older models are often just as good as the newer ones. In fact, I still keep the V8 (which was released in 2016) on hand for quick clean-ups around the house, as I'm reluctant to part with it.
Although it offers only 40 minutes of runtime compared to the 70 minutes of the Gen5detect, and the dust bin is slightly smaller, it is also significantly cheaper, which is a major plus point in my books. Additionally, those with smaller homes or larger homes with less foot traffic should still be able to vacuum their entire house on one charge and without needing to empty the dustbin regularly. I was able to in my three-bedroom house, after all.
It's worth noting that the Dyson V8 Absolute is less powerful and doesn't have an on/off button, but rather a trigger system that may irritate some people. However, there is a Dyson vacuum trigger lock hack that can solve that problem for just a few pounds. So, I'd say that was a small price to pay for such a budget Dyson vacuum.
Read our full Dyson V8 Absolute review for more details
Best Dyson vacuum for everyday
A growing trend in the floorcare world is the rise of the vacuum mop, and the Dyson V15 Detect Submarine was one of the first iterations of this handy 2-in-1 appliance. After all, having the ability to vacuum and mop with a single cleaning tool can save time, energy, and storage space.
Although I didn't personally test this particular model, my colleague Molly had nothing but good things to say about it. That's because this vacuum mop doesn't sacrifice either the vacuuming aspect or the mopping aspect of floor cleaning, as the interchangeable heads mean that you can use the powerful vacuum functionality before switching.
It still offers up to 60 minutes of vacuuming time, and the 0.77L bin volume is exactly the same as what you'd find on my top-rated Gen5detect model. Then, you can fill the tank on the Submarine head and let the rollers mop your hard floors to finish. Of course, this does mean that you have three cleaning heads to switch around for your cleaning needs - the Submarine wet roller head, Fluffy Optic cleaner head and the Digital Motorbar cleaner head - which could be a bit annoying for some, but it's ideal from a storage point of view.
Read our full Dyson V15 Detect Submarine review for more details
I've also tested
I've tried a wide array of Dyson vacuum cleaners, so if one of my top 3 doesn't quick tickle your fancy, there are some alternative I'd recommend instead. I've added a brief description of the Dyson vacuum and added a link to the full review below.
How I tested
At Ideal Home, we take how we test extremely seriously, which is why we've come up with a rigorous vacuum cleaner testing process to ensure we're able to provide you with all of the information you need, both good and bad, to make an informed purchase. As the best Dyson vacuum cleaners are typically on the more expensive end of the spectrum, I want to ensure you make the right decision for your home and budget.
That's why I, or my Ideal Home-approved testers, always start every review assessing the unboxing and setting up process to determine how easy (and how quickly) you'll be able to start vacuuming your home after your Dyson delivery.
Then, I put each Dyson vacuum cleaner through a series of pre-approved debris tests - typically including smaller debris like flour and sugar, before moving onto larger debris such as cereal and rice. I always note how many passes it takes the Dyson vacuums to suck up this debris. If it's advertised as a Dyson vacuum for pet owners, I also follow the pet vacuum testing process and sprinkle hair on the floor, too.
Alongside this, I always ensure that I or another reviewer replaces their regular vacuum cleaner with the Dyson vacuum they're testing for at least two weeks, using it as naturally as possible to mimic how the everyday customer would use it. I use all of the tools and accessories provided, and focus on manoeuvrability, noise levels, weight, storage, dust bin emptying, and any other features I believe customers need to know.
However, as Ideal Home's resident vacuum expert and someone who tests both new Dyson models and older veteran vacuums, it's also my job to understand everything there is to know about the build quality and engineering behind the best Dyson vacuums, too. This also includes understanding the common Dyson vacuum problems.
So, I interview industry experts - including Senior Design Engineers behind some of the best Dyson vacuum cleaners in this guide - and aim to get as much behind-the-scenes knowledge as I can.
In June 2025, I also had the pleasure of visiting the Dyson HQ in Malmesbury to check out some very exciting new products launching in the next year or so, and to explore the labs where they design, engineer, and build their prototypes before deciding which ones come to market.
Meet our testing team
I'm Lauren, Ideal Home's Content Editor and Certified Expert in Vacuums.
In this guide, I tested the Dyson V8 and re-tested the Dyson Gen5detect 18 months after it was originally reviewed to ensure it still met our exacting (and very high) standards and to check if it still deserved its place in the top spot. Spoiler alert: It does!
I've also written a guide on the things I wish I knew before buying a Dyson vacuum, which should hopefully help your Dyson decision-making, too.
Molly is currently the Kitchen Appliances Editor at Ideal Home, but before that, she served as an Ecommerce Editor, testing a wide range of appliances - including the Dyson V15, featured in this guide.
She's also the proud owner of a Dyson vacuum cleaner herself, so it's safe to say that the testing process won her over, too!
FAQs
Which Dyson has the most suction power?
At the time of writing, the most powerful Dyson vacuum cleaner you can buy is the Dyson Gen5detect, which offers 262 AW (Air Watts) of suction power.
Air Watts is the best way to tell how much suction a vacuum cleaner has, but it's important to note that this isn't everything. You also need to make sure that the Dyson vacuum cleaner you choose also offers other features that suit your home.
This could include the vacuum type (i.e stick cordless or upright), tools and accessories, anti-tangle technology, a dedicated on/off button instead of a trigger, or a lengthy run time.
Should I buy Dyson V11 or V12?
The V11 and the V12 are ultimately two very different Dyson cordless stick vacuums. Because of this, it's worth understanding how to choose a vacuum cleaner and weighing these up before you make your decision - and while you're at it, it's also worth checking out the Dyson V12 vs Dyson V15 debate.
While the Dyson V11 Advanced offers up to 200 Air Watts of suction power, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute is slightly less powerful at 150AW. However, they both have the same run time of up to 60 minutes.
The V11 has a much larger dust bin (0.76L) compared to the V12 (0.35L ), but it does come with a few more tools and accessories for more targeted cleaning.
And if weight is an issue, it's worth noting that the V12 is much lighter than the V11 at just 2.4 kg compared to the V11's 3kg.
Is there a better vacuum than Dyson?
Ultimately, this is completely subjective. As an expert vacuum tester, I've come to really appreciate the build quality, engineering, and the power of the best vacuum cleaners, but they do come at a price, which is often significantly higher than that of competitors.
That said, it's well worth comparing Dyson vacuum cleaners to other brands, and the Shark vs Dyson debate is often a common one. If you prefer upright models, it's well worth assessing whether Dyson vs Gtech would suit you better.