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The best cordless vacuums are convenient to have around for quick tasks in hard-to-reach spots while also handling heavier-duty whole-house cleanings on all surfaces. Cordless stick vacuums are usually lighter and take up less space than your standard upright. Plus, you don’t have to deal with a cord trailing behind you. However, they have a limited battery runtime and a compact dustbin.
Most cordless vacs perform well on carpeting and hardwood, while others will only excel on one surface type. When shopping for a vacuum, consider what surfaces you will be using it on. Also, keep in mind the weight, dustbin size, and battery life. At the end of our guide, learn more about what to look for when shopping for a vacuum and check out our cordless vacuum FAQs.
Before choosing our top six picks, we put eight cordless vacuums through a series of tests to evaluate their ease of use, battery runtime, and cleaning ability. Check out our methodology for more details on how we test.
Learn more about how Insider Reviews tests and researches home products.
Best cordless vacuum overall: Shark Vertex IZ462H DuoClean Cordless Vacuum, $499.99 on Shark
The Shark Vertex IZ462H DuoClean Cordless Vacuum is a strong performer all around, picking up particles of most sizes on various surfaces smoothly and efficiently.
Best value cordless vacuum: Hoover OnePWR BH53420PC Evolve Pet Cordless Vacuum, $169.10 on Amazon
This affordable Hoover BH53420PC OnePWR vacuum impressed us with its quiet but strong cleaning power.
Best cordless vacuum for pet owners: Dyson V11 Animal 298746-01 Cord-Free Vacuum, $619 on Amazon
The powerful suction of the Dyson V11 Animal 298746-01 picked up all of the pet hair in our tests, and emptying the dustbin was easy and clean.
Best cordless vacuum for hardwood floors: LG Cordzero A9 A929KVM Compressor Stick Vacuum with Power Mop, $701.99 on Amazon
The LG Cordzero A9 is a vacuum that can turn into a mop, letting you clean your hardwood floors gently but thoroughly with just one appliance.
Best cordless vacuum for carpet: Hoover OnePWR BH55500PC HEPA+ Vacuum, $309 on Walmart
The Hoover OnePWR HEPA+ vacuum has all the advantages of a trusty bagged vacuum cleaner: large cleaning head, large dust bag capacity, and powerful suction that easily takes on high-pile carpet and rug.
Best midrange cordless vacuum: Tineco Pure One X Cordless Vacuum, $229 on Walmart
The lightweight yet powerful Tineco Pure One X is an excellent midrange option that excels at removing debris, including pet hair, from an array of surfaces, including furniture, car seats, and delicate decor.