The 8 best cordless vacuum cleaners of 2025 for carpet, hardwood floors, and pet hair

If you don't like being tethered by a power cord while cleaning, the best cordless vacuums deliver top-tier suction power and cord-free convenience. Cordless stick vacuums are also lightweight and easy to carry, and most transform into handheld vacuums, letting you reach all the nooks and crannies around your home.

Over the years, we've tested dozens of the best vacuums. Today's best cordless vacuums are as powerful and reliable as their upright counterparts, but much less bulkier and far more agile to maneuver. We evaluated them on cleaning performance, battery life, and overall ease of use. Our top pick is the Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System, which offers impressive suction in a compact, easy-to-use form with amazing battery life and has a self-emptying base (like in your favorite robot vacuums) that cut down on interaction with dirt. For a more budget-friendly option, the Levoit LVAC-200 costs under $200, and is delightfully lightweight and easy to maneuver with good pick up power.

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Our top picks for cordless vacuums

Best overall: Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty System - $599.99 $399.99 at Amazon

Best lightweight: Levoit LVAC-200 - $199.99 $129.99 at Amazon

Most powerful: Dyson V15 Detect - $849.99 $599.99 at Dyson

Best budget: Tikom V500 - $99.99 $75.96 at Amazon

Best midrange: Bissell PowerClean FurFinder - $229.99 $129.96 at Amazon

Best with auto-emptying base: LG CordZero All-in-One - $749 at Amazon

Best upright: Hoover OnePwr Evolve Pet Elite - $279.99 $249.99 at Walmart

Best wet-dry: Tineco Floor One S7 Pro - $699 $349 at Amazon

Best overall

We went back and forth about recommending a vacuum with an auto-empty base station as the best overall, but as more and more brands debut these easy cleaning docks that minimize your exposure to dust, and we put this cordless through months of regular use, the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty System found its way to the top.

Similar to our previous best pick, the Shark Stratos, this new cordless model has a dual-brush roll floor head that performs well across both hard floors and carpeting and the flexible wand to reach under low areas, but it also boasts the brand's new PowerDetect technology. Thanks to several sensors in the floorhead, the vacuum automatically adjusts suction based on the floor type, amount of debris detected, and even proximity to walls. It had no problem pulling up embedded pet hair and strands of hair did not get stuck around the brushroll, making it an ideal option if you're one of the best vacuums for pet hair.

In testing, we found the PowerDetect feature to be quite convenient, as we didn't have to manually adjust the suction as we cleaned, and the vacuum seemed to do a better job cleaning along baseboards than others. The brand also claims the vacuum offers better cleaning on the reverse stroke, but we didn't see a noticeable difference in this area. We also noticed some resistance in pushing on mid-pile carpet but had an easier time on low-pile and flat weave area rugs. The battery lasted just over an hour on the PowerDetect setting on hard floor, but mileage can vary, as another tester noted she got 25 minutes of cleaning.

The model feels a little bit top heavy, which is not an issue unique to Shark and can cause some arm strain after cleaning for a while. Despite this, the vacuum feels highly maneuverable, with a collapsing arm that makes it easier to toggle the vacuum under furniture and other hard to reach areas.

When you place this vacuum back on its base, the dustbin door automatically pops open, and strong suction power pulls debris out of the vacuum and into a 2-liter bin inside the dock. This saved us from having to manually empty the dustbin after cleaning, but we did notice that it only works when the wand and floor head are attached. If you place the vacuum on the base with one of the smaller attachments, its weight isn't heavy enough to trigger the self-emptying feature. When the indicator light goes on to tell you the base is full of debris, it's easy to pull off using a handle on top of the dust bin, and you simply empty its bagless design into a trash can. I've gone over two months before without having to empty the bin. Emptying the vacuum is loud, a bit like a jet engine taking off and louder than when generally vacuuming. There is a night lock feature you can keep on if you're concerned about noise. Detaching the dustbin to empty manually is possible, but not exactly intuitive.

If you want the power and performance of the PowerDetect, but don't care for the auto-empty base station or have the space to dedicate to a dock (there's no denying, this does take up some floor space) Shark also offers the PowerDetect Essential, which shaves a $100 off the retail price and has a standard bin.

We also compared the Shark PowerDetect and Dyson's Gen5Detect, which is its flagship model, in terms of performance, value, and ease of use, and the PowerDetect slightly edged out as a more well-rounded option thanks to its premium features including the auto-empty, LED lights, and dirt detection at a more palatable price, though the Gen5Detect delivered a more satisfying clean when evaluating performance.

Best lightweight

Cordless vacuums are almost always lighter than upright vacuums, but the Levoit LVAC-200 is particularly lightweight at just 3.2 pounds. It has a comfortable grip and easy-to-maneuver floorhead, and in testing, this lightweight cordless vacuum never caused arm strain, even when used for longer cleaning sessions. It's also a breeze to carry up and down stairs — a major bonus if you live in a multi-story home — and unlike most cordless vacuums, it can stand up on its own.

Despite its smaller form, this inexpensive vacuum did a good job in our cleaning tests, as well. It was able to pick up both large and small debris from carpeting and hard floors, and strands of hair didn't get tangled around its brushroll. Larger debris like cereal occasionally needed a few passes to pick up, but overall, we were impressed with its cleaning abilities, especially considering its price point. We also liked its sizable dust bin and quiet noise level, but its LED headlights could be brighter and the battery life is fairly short on the highest suction setting.

Read our Levoit LVAC-200 review for more details.

Most powerful

If you're willing to spend a little more for high-end features and top-tier cleaning power, the Dyson V15 Detect is worth the money. This cordless model is the best Dyson vacuum we've tested, boasting features like automatic suction adjustment, laser dirt detection, and an LCD screen that shows you exactly how much runtime is left. This model is lightweight and easy to drive around, and it comes with a variety of attachments to clean areas all around your home. It also has a long lasting battery, making it a good option for both deep cleaning and larger homes, though you may find yourself pausing to empty the dust bin based on the large amount of debris it pulls up.

The V15 Detect is also one of the most powerful cordless vacuums out there. Its "Fluffy Optic" head picks up fine particles, dirt, and dust from hard floors with ease, highlighting spots you might have missed with its green laser, while the "Digital Motorbar" attachment, which is the traditional cleanerhead found across the Dyson line up with stiff bristles and detangling veins that resist hair wrap, excels on carpeting thanks to its adjustable height setting. The downside is that you need to swap out the floorheads when moving from one type of floor to another, which is a bit inconvenient.

It's worth noting that this Dyson has a trigger-style power button, which can be tiring to hold down for longer cleaning sessions. If you prefer an on/off button, you may want to upgrade to the Dyson Gen5detect, which has similar features and accessories but the higher price point kept it from being a top pick when its predecessor is just as effective. If you can find it on sale, however, when it matches the price of the V15 Detect it's a no-brainer to pick up. Dyson also offers the V15 Detect in an Absolute version, which is a Dyson.com exclusive and features HEPA; sometimes it can be found on sale cheaper than the original edition. There is also the Dyson V15s Submarine Detect which incorporates an additional motorized mopping cleanerhead, which was very cool to use and effective at scrubbing the floors, but I did not like the aftercare process and it costs a whopping $1,049.

Best budget

After shopping around for the cheapest cordless vacuum cleaner for a small apartment with wooden floors and living with an ever-shedding cat, I settled on the Tikom V500. It costs a touch more than the cheapest models, but features more powerful suction than everything I researched under $100, and it's been a great buy so far.

Thanks to decent suction and a very maneuverable roller on the end of the stick, I've had no problems picking up loose hair, crumbs, cat litter, and kibble on hard floors, carpeted areas, and rugs, and I've noticed minimal hair wrap or clogs around the brush roll. It's quite heavy in handheld mode, but it works great between full cleans for grabbing loose tufts of cat hair drifting around the apartment, or crumbs from the sofa.

The bin is rather small, and hair clings to the filter inside quite easily, but this did not seem to hamper suction performance in regular or turbo modes. The battery performs well for the cost and is more than enough for a small apartment at 34 minutes in normal mode, or 19 on turbo. Charging takes roughly five hours from empty.

A quick shoutout to the LED light on the roller. It's a fantastic value and not the pointless gimmick I expected, as it shows up smaller debris I would have missed otherwise. It gets washed out in brightly lit rooms, but excels in lower lighting. The telescoping wand is also useful to acommodate the comfort of people of varying heights.

Tikom V500 isn't capable of free-standing, and is very top-heavy, so you'll likely want to install the wall mount, which also has accessory storage. That said, as a renter who doesn't want to add holes to my wall, I regularly just prop it up in a corner, and it hasn't fallen down yet. I'm a big fan of the white design as limited closet space and cleaning up constantly after the cat means I want to keep it handy, but it blends in well with the white walls compared to the range of colorful alternatives from the competition." — Brendan Griffiths, senior commerce director

Best midrange

For those with a moderate budget, Bissell's PowerClean FurFinder punches above its weight, retailing at $230, but frequently on sale for $180. It offers three cleaning modes and HEPA filtration, plus convenient design features like super bright LED lights and a self-standing design.

There were some trade-offs though: long strands of hair still wrapped around the brushroll, large pieces of debris, like cereal ending up clogging the dustbin, and I didn't love needing two hands to empty the dust bin.

The vacuum gets about 40 minutes on Eco, but I preferred using medium power, which was also sufficient on carpet, and lasted about 22 minutes. In our pick up tests, it failed at picking up large pieces of cereal, not only pushing it forward, but the curvature of the dustbin created a build-up that kept the pieces from entering the bin. On carpet however, it had no trouble. It also aced at smaller particles on both carpet and hard floors. It's also noteworthy that only pulled up 83% of fine flour into the bin on medium when on carpet. While it did clear the mess, the floorhead got caked in residue, which presented a separate clean up opportunity.

I recommend this vacuum for pet hair; though my long hair inconveniently wrapped around the brushroll, it had no issue pulling up embedded fur from the carpets. It also comes with a motorized brushroll attachment, what Bissell dubs its FurFinder tool, perfect for small jobs and upholstery.

For emptying the dustbin, you conveniently do not have to separate the handheld from the wand to empty, but it takes a few extra beats to empty the bin. It requires both hands to remove and empty, which entails ejecting the bin from the handheld portion, lifting a wire handle to separate the lid from the bin, which is gently suctioned to stay put, with grooves to click into place. A bright spot is that removable dust bin empties in a way that I rarely had to stick my hand into get any stuck debris out.

Best with auto-emptying base

The LG CordZero All-in-One is packed with useful features, from a height-adjustable wand to a powered mopping attachment, all conveniently anchored by a self-emptying base. However, what impressed us the most was its sheer suction power, which was comparable to that of full-size corded vacuums. The CordZero was able to pick up 100% of debris from thick rugs thanks to its carpet-agitator brushroll, and it quickly became our go-to vacuum to clean up what other models left behind during testing. It's not a one-trick pony, either: it performed equally well on hard floors thanks to its secondary soft roller, which captures fine debris and prevents particles from scattering around the floor. The mopping attachment was handy for scrubbing stains off hard floors — you just fill its water tank and add a little cleaning solution, and it works like a spray mop with two rotating microfiber mop pads.

The vacuum is well-balanced and easy to maneuver, and we love that it has a compression lever in the onboard dustbin that lets you tamp down the contents and clean for longer. The self-emptying base does a great job sucking debris out of the dustbin to minimize maintenance. It traps all the dirt and dust in a 33.8-ounce vacuum bag to keep it contained and easier to empty. However, the vacuum definitely doesn't run for 200 minutes, as the brand claims. On its regular suction setting with the floorhead attached, you get about 15 minutes of operation, for a total of 30 minutes between the two included batteries.

This all-in-one cordless vacuum comes with a variety of attachments, including a powered mini tool, combo tool, crevice tool, and spray mopping attachment, and everything stores nicely on its freestanding dock. We do wish that the vacuum was available without the mopping tool, which not everyone will need, but the brand's next model down, the A937KGMS, has less suction power.

Best upright

If you want the convenience of a cordless vacuum but the power of an upright model, the Hoover OnePwr Evolve Pet Elite offers the best of both worlds. It's essentially a smaller, lighter version of the best upright vacuums, weighing in at just 9 pounds, and it has a convenient freestanding design that's more stable than other cordless vacuums. This means it will stand on its own if you have to pause cleaning, unlike other models that have to be leaned up against something.

In testing, the OnePwr Evolve ran for around 20 minutes per charge, and it performed particularly well on carpeting, creating a good seal to pick up debris of all sizes. It has a no-tangle brushroll that fares well against pet hair, and its dustbin is larger than most cordless vacuums, as well. However, it's not the best at picking up fine particles on hard flooring, and it doesn't come with any attachments or a hose, so it can't be used for any above-floor cleaning.

Best wet-dry

You can simultaneously vacuum and mop with the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro, which is the best wet-dry vacuum we've tested. It has four cleaning modes — auto, max, suction only, and custom — and it uses fresh water and cleaning solution to remove stains and scruff from hard floors, all while picking up small debris. Its self-propelled design makes it easy to push around your home, and the head also swivels to reach around obstacles and under furniture for a thorough clean.

In testing, this wet-dry vacuum made quick work of all types of messes, picking up everything from flour to Cheerios and even liquids like syrup and barbecue sauce in just one pass. It continuously rinses off its brushroll as it cleans to avoid spreading dirt around the floor, and when you're finished cleaning, you can run the self-cleaning cycle to flush out the machine and clean and dry its mop bar. You will have to promptly empty the dirty water tank, though, which can get a little grimy depending on what you suck up.

Read our full Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review.

What else we tested

• Shark Stratos Cordless Vacuum: This is an all-around great vacuum, only to be bested by the Shark PowerDetect, and it's longer battery life and convenient auto-empty design. When you can find it on sale, its a great discount, but now that newer technology from Shark is available at comparable prices, it makes more sense to opt for the newer models. Read our Shark Stratos cordless review for more details.
• Shark Vertex Lightweight Cordless: This was a previous best overall pick with solid cleaning performance. Again, more current models like PowerDetect offer more refined features, like automatically adjusting suction power, more battery life and higher suction power. The Vertex Pro version introduces an LED display.
• Dyson Gen5Detect: The Dyson Gen5Detect is truly an incredible vacuum, and you read more on our full experience in our review. It is Dyson's most premium offering and introduces a convenient on-and-off power switch. However, at over $1,000, the marginally longer battery life and power are not quite enough to knock out our love for the V15 Detect unless you can find it on sale. Read our Dyson Gen5Detect review for more details.
• Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum: As Dyson's entry-level offering, its a powerful machine with up to 40 minutes of battery for those who want Dyson but don't care as much about the latest technology or bells and whistles. However, with its $500+ price tag, you can get a Shark or Tineco with auto-adjusting suction power, longer battery life and more features. Dyson marks down the V8 to around $300 when on sale, presenting a great bargain. Read our Dyson V8 review.
• Shark Cordless Pet Vacuum: This best-selling vacuum on Amazon caught our attention as one of Shark's most affordable cordless vacuums, but despite the name, fell short of being a top option for pet parents, as hair wrapped around the brush roll, did not have a particularly effective pet tool, and it struggled with fine particles. For the price, it is easy to use, has great suction, and the battery lasted as promised. Read our Shark Cordless Pet Vacuum review.
• Tineco S10 ZT: Tineco's $200 Walmart-exclusive is a decent vacuum, and there's not much out there at this price point that also automatically adjusts suction, further complimented by Tineco's visual dirt detection indicator. However, it's pretty bare bones in terms of attachments, just a crevice tool and a dusting brush and battery life was just OK. Read our Tineco S10 ZT review for more details.
• Electrolux Ultimate600 cordless vacuum: The Electrolux is a reliable cordless vacuum with great suction power and decent battery life, but hair did wrap around the brushroll and it's not HEPA rated. It's attachment rich Complete edition, comes with an additional soft-roller floorhead reminiscent of the Dyson that blew our reviewer away. Read our Electrolux Ultimate 600 review.
• RYOBI ONE+ 18V Vacuum Cleaner Kit: This battery-powered option from the electric tool brand has a lot of fans, but it's just not as comfortable to use as our top picks. We found it to be quite top-heavy and awkward to maneuver, and its performance on carpeting was lackluster. The battery lasted for 18 minutes on normal suction power, but if you have other ONE+ batteries from the brand, you can swap them in to extend your cleaning time.
• Tineco Pure One Station: This higher-end option from Tineco has a self-emptying base that helps streamline maintenance, but we ran into some issues with it during testing. The vacuum actually fell off the dock multiple times when it was preparing to self-empty, and it also struggled to pick up large debris like cereal. However, the vacuum itself is lightweight and easy to use, and its battery lasted for around 30 minutes on the auto setting.

What to look for in a cordless vacuum

Features to look for in a cordless vacuum

With so many cordless vacuums available, several key features should be considered when selecting the best model for your home.

• Battery life: Cordless vacuums run on rechargeable batteries, which means they offer a limited amount of runtime. Most brands will list their vacuum's battery life in the product specs, but it's important to remember that this is the maximum possible runtime on the lowest suction setting. In reality, most cordless vacuums only last for 20 to 30 minutes on standard suction, and if you put them on a boost setting, the battery life decreases even further.

  You'll want to keep battery life in mind as you compare different cordless vacuums. A shorter battery life may not be an issue if you just want to use the vacuum for quick clean-ups around the house, but if you're going to be cleaning large areas, it's worth looking for a model with a longer runtime and/or an extra battery that you can swap in. We prioritized options with removable batteries where you can buy extra batteries to keep on hand if your cleaning needs exceed beyond what's standard.

• Weight and size: Cordless stick vacuums typically weigh less than 10 pounds, making them a lightweight option that's easy to carry around. However, because their dust bins are generally located at the top of the vacuum, many models are top-heavy and can't stand up on their own. If you tend to pause frequently while cleaning, you may want to look for a cordless vacuum with a freestanding design.

• Dirt disposal: You'll want to check the size of the dustbin on your cordless vacuum, as they typically can't hold as much debris as full-size vacuums. Most cordless vacuums are also bagless and empty directly into a trash bin as opposed to a one-time use bag. If you have a large home or pets that shed, you'll want to look for a vacuum with a larger dustbin capacity — otherwise, you'll be making frequent trips to the trash can while cleaning.

  It's worth noting that some newer cordless vacuums have self-emptying bases. When you place the vacuum back on its dock, it automatically empties the on-board dust bin into the base. This saves you from having to empty the vacuum manually and helps to keep the dustbin clean and dust-free.

• Filtration: Vacuums with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters are the golden standard of air filtration, which means the filter can trap at least 99.97% of particles down to 0.3 microns in size. If you have allergies or are sensitive to dust, a HEPA filter will be of the utmost importance, but most can settle for the general filters designed by various brands, but they have not been tested to the same standard as HEPA. A fully-sealed design also keeps suctioned particles inside and does not push them back out into the air. Some vacuums require filter replacements, while others like Dyson or Shark can be washed with water. You'll want to clean the filter regularly to maintain suction performance.
• Attachments: If you want to use your cordless vacuums to clean different areas of your home, you may want to look for a model with special tools and attachments. Some options have separate floorheads for carpeting vs. hard floors, while others come with accessories like crevice tools, dusting brushes, and upholstery cleaners. It's also worth considering how you'll store the attachments — some vacuum docks have slots for accessories, which is handy for keeping everything organized.
• Docking: Your cordless vacuum will need to be charged after each use, and many models come with convenient freestanding or wall-mounted docking stations. When you place the vacuum back in the dock, it automatically recharges so it will be ready for next use. If the vacuum you choose doesn't come with a dock, you'll likely need to plug it in manually or remove the battery to charge it between uses, which is a bit more cumbersome.
• Budget: Cordless vacuums can vary significantly in price, ranging from $100 to upward of $1,000 for premium models. If you're looking for a supplementary cleaning tool, a more budget-friendly option will generally be fine for light-duty cleaning, but if you want a cordless model to be your home's primary vacuum, you may need to spend a bit more to get powerful suction and longer battery life.

How we test cordless vacuum cleaners

We've tested more than a dozen cordless vacuum cleaners from top brands like Shark, Dyson and Tineco, and our testers evaluate each model on the following criteria:

1. Cleaning performance: The most important factor when selecting a vacuum is its cleaning abilities, so we put each model through a series of tests to see how well it can pick up different types of debris. We measure out 30 grams of flour, ground coffee, Cheerios, and cat litter, then vacuum up each one, weighing the vacuum to see if it truly picked up all the debris. We repeat these tests on both hard floors and carpeting. We also use each vacuum to clean up pet hair, noting whether it gets wrapped around the brushroll, and we try out any attachments that come with the vacuum. I tested each of the vacuums against five materials (flour, ground coffee, cat litter, whole Cheerios, and dog hair) on three different surfaces (carpet/rug, hardwood, and tile).

An example of one of the test results:

2. Battery life: The battery life of cordless vacuums often varies significantly from the marketed runtime, so we test each vacuum to see how long the vacuum realistically lasts during use. Starting with a full charge, we run each vacuum on its normal setting until it dies. If the vacuum has a boost mode, we repeat the test to see the runtime difference between the two settings.

3. Comfort and ease of use: While testing each vacuum, we consider its ergonomics, weight, and overall comfort. Some of the factors we evaluate include: how tiring it is to hold, how easy it is to maneuver, and the effort required to activate the power button. We also note whether it can fit under low spaces and any additional helpful features like a headlight to illuminate your cleaning path.

4. Disposal method: During each cleaning session, we evaluate the size, cleanliness, and ease of emptying the dustbin. We note how often we had to empty the bin, how easy it is to open, and whether any debris gets stuck and needs to be fished out.

5. Storage: Finally, we consider how easy each vacuum is to store. For models that come with a dock, we consider ease of installation and stability, as well as whether there are storage slots for the vacuum's accessories.

6. Warranty and customer service: I registered each vacuum, noted warranty terms, and spoke to customer service reps to evaluate the ease of registration and quality of service.

Cordless vacuum FAQs

Are cordless vacuums worth it?

If you want a vacuum that's smaller and more convenient to use for day-to-day cleaning, a cordless vacuum is generally the way to go. These battery-powered models are lighter and more mobile than upright or canister vacuums, and because you're not tethered by a power cord, you can quickly suck up all kinds of messes, from small spills to spider webs in the corners of your home. Some of today's best cordless vacuums are even powerful enough to serve as your primary vacuum, especially if you live in a small home and only need 30 to 40 minutes of battery life.

Cordless vacuum vs. corded vacuum: how do they compare?

Are cordless vacuums as powerful as plug-in models?

Generally speaking, cordless vacuums don't offer the same suction power as corded models, but some particularly powerful models come close. For example, the Dyson V15 Detect and LG CordZero All-in-One are two of the more powerful cordless vacuums we tested, with 240 and 265 air watts of suction power, respectively. By comparison, Dyson's corded upright, the Ball Animal 3, offers 290 air watts, so the cordless models do deliver similar cleaning performance in addition to their convenient cord-free operation.

Which cordless vacuums are allergy- or asthma-friendly?

Look for cordless vacuums with HEPA filters, which are recommended for allergy and asthma sufferers. Without a HEPA filter, these tiny particles are likely to be released back into the air after being sucked up. All the vacuums we recommend are equipped with HEPA filters.

What does a HEPA filter do?

A true HEPA filter traps and removes at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, dirt, mold, bacteria, and other airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns. According to the EPA, 0.3 microns is the most penetrating particle size, so this specification refers to the worst case. If the particle is larger or smaller than 0.3 microns, it will be trapped with even higher efficiency.

What's the difference between amps, watts, and volts, and which matters most for cordless vacuums?

Amperage is the electrical current, wattage is the rate of power flow, and voltage is the speed at which electricity passes a point. Watts = volts x amps. None of these numbers are as helpful for evaluating a vacuum as how well it did sucking up debris in our tests, so we focus on our hands-on testing results.

When is the best time to buy a cordless vacuum?

Cordless vacuums tend to be more expensive than corded ones. The good news is that most brands discount their cordless vacuums around Federal holidays like Memorial Day, and shopping events like Amazon Prime Day and Black Friday/Cyber Monday. We typically see discounts of $50 to $200 off Dyson, Hoover, and Shark cordless vacuums, and an average discount of 40% off. If you're able to wait, your patience will pay off in considerable savings.

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