The Best Cordless Vacuums for Your Whole House (2026)
Honorable mentions
We have yet to try a vacuum cleaner that we absolutely hate. The ones below are solid vacuums and, in some cases, are much cheaper than our top picks, but we didn’t like them as much.
Bissell IconPet Turbo Edge for $366: The Bissell OG Stick Vacuum is a popular model that has been around for a while. It does a good job picking up cat hair and litter and also easily converts into a handheld vacuum. The battery lasts a little longer, but former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano wasn’t impressed with its Cheerio-collecting abilities, and it can’t stand up on its own.
Bissell PowerClean FurFinder for $210: It’s a great stick vacuum, and it was our previous top pick. It does a good job on all types of flooring, comes with a nice range of accessories and has the FurFinder tool to help with pet hair. It’s still a great vacuum, especially if you have pets, but unless you use the FurFinder tool frequently, you can get the regular Bissell PowerClean slightly cheaper for a similar experience.
Bosch Unlimited 10 Cordless Stick Vacuum for $699: This vacuum has six cleaning modes and can fold in the middle, but it didn’t always keep debris inside the vacuum after it was finished cleaning. It comes with a 10-year warranty on the motor, which is more than what other brands offer.
Black & Decker Powerseries Extreme Max for $209: The Black & Decker Powerseries Extreme Max is a great stick vacuum that’s cheaper than most. It stands up on its own and has three power levels that you can easily control on the handle, and it performed well on the various surfaces in my house. I really liked this vacuum, but it wasn’t as stable as the Bissell above, and the handle felt a bit plastic compared to it and other vacuums I’ve tested. There was, however, a larger capacity trash can.
Dirt Devil Power Swerve Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum for $72: We previously recommended it as a budget choice. It’s good value for money, but the results are mixed on battery life and build quality.
Dyson V12 Detect for $550: The V12 Detect is worth considering if you want something even slightly cheaper and lighter than the V15 (although it’s less powerful and has a smaller bin).
Eufy 3-in-1 Robot Vacuum E20 for $350: WIRED reviewer Adrienne So was excited to try the Eufy E20, which is a stick vacuum, handheld vacuum, and robot vacuum all in one. It’s a handy and well-designed device, but it’s only suitable for light cleaning.
Eureka Innova Cordless Multi-Surface Vacuum for $246: This is a good stick vacuum at a reasonable price. It cleaned a litter mat particularly well, and there are specific settings for carpets and hardwoods. However, to vacuum larger pieces like Cheerios, I had to lift the vacuum and place it directly on top.
Ryobi 18V One+ HP Advanced Stick Vacuum Kit for $399: This is our second pick for cordless vacuums among the best vacuums for pet hair. It features powerful suction, cyclonic filtration, a brushless motor, an easily removable rolling bar, and lights on the vacuum head to better see pet hair and dander.
Worx 20V Cordless Stick Vacuum for $250: It’s a good vacuum, but the dustbin was harder to clean than other models I’ve tested.
FAQs
What is a cordless vacuum cleaner?
Cordless vacuums, also called stick vacuums, are what their name suggests: they don’t need a cord to work. Instead, they have a battery that you need to charge and are designed with a battery and motor at the top with a long, thin stick-shaped body connecting it to the vacuum head. They are much lighter than an upright vacuum and have become popular because they are much easier to store and move around the house. I especially like using one as someone who lives in a three-story house. Stick vacuums can also usually have the stick part removed to turn into a handheld vacuum, although they are much heavier than a true handheld vacuum (but the battery life is much better).
How long do cordless vacuum cleaners last?
Overall, vacuum cleaners tend to last around five years, but this depends on how often you vacuum and the build quality of the vacuum. However, according to Eufy, some cheaper stick vacuums only last about a year or two, so it’s worth investing in a good quality stick vacuum. If you’re curious about what signs your vacuum might need to be replaced, check out our guide to how long vacuum cleaners last. If you’re curious if you’re vacuuming enough, check out our guide on how often you should vacuum.
How does WIRED test cordless vacuum cleaners?
The best way to test a vacuum cleaner is to use it as you normally would. So for a few months we lived with these cordless vacuums, running them to handle daily messes and deep clean hardwood floors, area rugs, and carpets each week. We charged for them, asked our partners to use them, and even brought some to a retail store to clean old furniture and heavy foot traffic.
We also did head-to-head tests, comparing how each picked up piles of Cheerios and kitty litter, to see if they blew debris or required multiple passes. We also took piles of already matted dust and dirt inside the vacuum bins to see how easily vacuum cleaners could suck them up in their thickened state.
Power up with unlimited access to CABLE. Get best-in-class reporting and exclusive subscriber content that’s too important to ignore. Subscribe today.
