The 7 Best Cordless Stick Vacuums of 2019

• 01 of 07

  Best Overall: Dyson V8 Absolute Cord-Free Vacuum

  

  Excellent

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  Willing to spend a little more money to get a top quality vacuum? You can’t go wrong with this high-powered one from Dyson. Its powerful suction will last for about 40 minutes on a full charge, or up to 25 minutes if you’re using the motorized floor tool attachment. The on/off mechanism is a finger trigger, which allows you to instantly start and stop the machine. The vacuum has a HEPA filtration system that captures allergens and expels cleaner air than the air you breathe, according to the company’s description.

  Customers overwhelmingly love this lightweight (5.8 pound) vacuum and say it’s worth the money. One even called it life-changing, noting how much dirt and dust it was able to pick up. While some of the cordless stick vacuums are best for daily maintenance and quick pickups, this one seems to be much more than that thanks to its powerful suction strength. Some have had issues with the charge lasting less than desired, but most haven’t had any problems with that and would recommend it to others. 

• 02 of 07

  Runner-Up, Best Overall: Hoover Linx BH50010 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

  

  Excellent

  Buy on Amazon

  

  This vacuum from Hoover claims our top pick for customer satisfaction and sheer power and performance. The 18 volt lithium-ion battery is able to give the machine a big boost, even without being plugged into the wall. You can use it on hardwood floors or carpet, plus it’s easy to switch settings—just one push of a button. The vacuum has Hoover’s famous Wind-Tunnel Technology which lifts deep down dirt from carpet to hard floors.

  Customers say the suction is great. One person said that even with multiple pets and plenty of mess around the home, the vacuum gets the job done. Although, you might want to pick up large pieces of trash before swiping it across the floor—they might clog the machine. However, one did say that even if it gets clogged, it’s a pretty easy fix. Also, people were pretty happy with the battery life. Plus there’s a handy fuel gauge on the handle that shows you how much battery life is left. The overall weight of this vacuum is about 10 pounds.

• 03 of 07

  Best 2-in-1 Model: Black+Decker Cordless 20V Max Lithium 2-N-1 Stick Vacuum

  

  Very Good

  Buy on Amazon

  

  Want two vacuums in one? Here's a great option! You not only can vacuum floors with the stick version, but it comes apart to create a hand vac that's perfect for picking up smaller messes too. Weighing nine pounds, the full vacuum has swivel steering so that you can get around furniture more easily. The company says you'll be able to vacuum up to 2,500 square feet on a full charge, so you won't have to worry about recharging mid-clean. They also say that the strong suction will pick up dirt and debris in a single pass. 

  So, do the customers agree? Mostly, yes. Many have praised the suction and said that this vacuum is totally worth the money. They also love how quickly the battery charges and the versatility of the hand vac. Some things owners would change would be the size of the dust cup (bigger is always better) and the fact that it's very loud when in use. But most people were happy with it and would recommend it to others. 

• 04 of 07

  Best Budget: Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik Lightweight Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum

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  If you are looking for a vacuum to pick up after a busy day at home, then this Dirt Devil Simpli-Stik is just the thing. Weighing in at less than 4 pounds you can easily push this along the carpet in the living room and the tile in the kitchen to pick up life's messes. If you want to get in deep say under the couch or on a windowsill you can remove the handheld vacuum part for extra cleaning or use the included crevice tool. 

  Reviewers say this is easy to put together and great for everyday cleanups, though this doesn't provide enough suction for more deep cleanings at home. One reviewer even said this is a great vacuum for kids since it is lightweight and affordable so you can put your kids to work! 

  Continue to 5 of 7 below.
• 05 of 07

  Runner Up, Best Overall: Shark Navigator Freestyle Cordless Stick Vacuum

  

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  Weighing in about seven pounds, this powerful cordless stick vacuum is loved by many of its owners. It's got a two-speed brushroll that works well on carpet and bare floors, plus a high capacity dust cup that's easy to empty and clean. You can recharge the whole thing in about four hours, and it conveniently charges on a storage dock. The company says it's also great for picking up pet hair, so if you've got a furry family member, you should be set.

  Those who have purchased it are mostly happy with the performance. One customer even went so far as to say the vacuum changed their life because of how quick and easy it makes the process of cleaning up the house. It's a great product to have on hand for upkeep, but if you have high pile carpets or wool area rugs, you might need a heavier duty vacuum for deeper cleaning. 

• 06 of 07

  Best For Pet Hair: Dyson V6 Animal Cord-free Vacuum

  

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  If you’ve got a pet at home, you know just how necessary a good vacuum is. From hair to litter, it seems like there’s always something that needs to be picked up. A cordless stick vacuum is great for this because it’s easy to get out of storage, lightweight, and can get the job done fast. We recommend the Dyson V6 Animal Cord-free Vacuum for homes with pets. The five-pound machine can be used for up to 20 minutes on a full charge. It’s got a direct-drive cleaner head that push the bristles even deeper into carpet to help remove more dirt. There’s also a mini motorized tool that removes pet hair and ground-in dirt.

  So, does it get the job done? Customers say yes! A majority of reviewers said that it’s got great suction and removes pet hair well. They also enjoy the fact that you can hang the charger on the wall and store the vacuum on it for easy storage and to guarantee a full charge every time you take it out to use. Just a warning, though: some have had issues with the battery not lasting long enough to clean their whole house so if you’ve got a big space, this might not be for you. But if you want something quick, easy, and powerful, it comes highly recommended.  

• 07 of 07

  Best for Hard Floors: Dirt Devil 14.4 Volt Cordless Bagless Stick Vacuum

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  Looking for an inexpensive vacuum that can get the job done? Here’s a great option from Dirt Devil. It weighs a 6.67 pounds and is ideal for quick pickups on hard floors. This stick vacuum is the ideal companion for busy households that need to do a quick vacuum at the end of the day. 

  It has a 10 Amp motor that will suck up stuff like Cheerios and more without losing suction. An 11-inch cleaning path lets you clean up faster with its wide space. A bagless disposal takes away the hassle of having to buy vacuum bags while the one-touch removal ensures your hands stay away from the grime. 

  Reviewers say this has taken away the chore of nightly sweeping and many say this can handle hardwood floors with ease. A few mention this isn't great with pet hair so for those looking to clean up after their furry friend they might want to opt for our pet hair pick below. 

Products Tested by The Spruce

How We Tested

We bought three top-rated cordless stick vacuums and our reviewers tested them for 27 hours. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using these vacuums, including their battery life, power, and noise level. We've outlined what matters most here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

What to Look for in a Cordless Stick Vacuum

Battery Most cordless stick vacuums have run times between 15 and 40 minutes. Look for lithium or lithium-ion batteries, which charge faster and last longer. A vacuum that runs for 20 minutes or more will sufficiently clean a small apartment or roughly 1,000 square feet.

Power Voltage indicates power, which affects the machine’s ability to suck up dust, dirt, and other debris. A vacuum with 18 volts will suffice, but you’ll notice the difference in a 20-volt vacuum.

Noise level Vacuum noise is rated by decibels. A typical conversation has a decibel rating of about 60, while the standard vacuum clocks in between 70 to 80 decibels. Some premium models have decibel ratings as low as 65.

Test Results: Dyson V8 Absolute Cord-Free Vacuum (Best Overall)

Excellent

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What We Like

• Powerful

• Many useful attachments

• Impressive runtime

What We Don't Like

• Have to hold down on/off switch

• No way for vacuum to stand up on its own

“This vacuum is incredibly powerful, especially for a cordless model,” declared one of our testers. “It did a great job vacuuming a thick shag rug, which many of its competitors couldn't handle.” Our reviewers also loved that it came with a variety of attachments (including two floor heads, a crevice head, and mini motorized head) and one tester was especially impressed with its 40-minute charge time. On the other hand, one tester did not like its “trigger” on/off switch: “This means you have to hold down the trigger the whole time you're vacuuming,” she explained, “which can be uncomfortable.” Our reviewers also noted that this vacuum doesn’t stand up on its own, so if you have to move a piece of furniture while you're using it, you’ll have to prop it up.

Test Results: Hoover Linx BH50010 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (Runner-Up, Best Overall)

Excellent

Buy on Amazon

What We Like

• Maneuverable

• Compact size

• Great for hardwood floors

What We Don't Like

• Not as effective on uneven surfaces

• Small dirt cup

This vacuum worked very well on hardwood floors, according to our testers. Plus, one reviewer thought it was ideal for cleaning up after her cat: “It was powerful enough to suck up cat litter on the floor,” she observed, “which is great as it's more effective and less tedious than sweeping.” On the flip side, our testers noted that this vacuum doesn't perform nearly as well on uneven surfaces and wished that the dirt cup was slightly larger.

Test Results: Black+Decker Cordless 20V Max Lithium 2-N-1 Stick Vacuum (Best 2-in-1 Model)

Very Good

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What We Like

• Versatile

• Great at cleaning hardwood and short carpets

• Two different power levels

What We Don't Like

• Tough to steer

• Dustbin has trouble trapping particles

• Not heavy-duty enough to clean thick carpets

This vacuum’s versatility made it a hit with one of our testers: “You can push it around like an upright vacuum or you can detach the dustbuster to clean up small messes by hand,” she explained. Our reviewers also liked that you could choose between two different power levels. Although one tester thought that it cleaned both hardwood floors and short carpets effectively, she found that it wasn’t heavy-duty enough to clean thicker carpets and was slightly difficult to steer. Lastly, according to one reviewer, the dustbin occasionally had trouble keeping particles inside: “After I vacuumed up cat litter with it,” she said, “a good number of the little pebbles fell back out of the vacuum when it was in an upright position.”