6 Best Cordless Vacuums in 2025, Tested and Reviewed by AD

In addition, the Dyson Gen5 Detect Absolute has a Digital Motorbar cleaner head (which has 56 detangling vanes to remove wrapped hair) and a hair screw tool attachment (for car seats, pet beds, and stairs). However, Williams finds herself using the built-in dusting and crevice tool, which fits in tight spaces to pick up debris, and the combination tool, which has a wide nozzle and brush for cleaning vents and other areas. This is one of the best Dysons, one of the best vacuum cleaners, and one of the best cordless stick vacuums (but wall-mounted storage is your only option).

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More AD-Approved Cordless Vacuums

There’s a difference between a cheap vacuum and a budget-friendly vacuum that’s still a good value. The Eureka Stylus Elite Cordless Vacuum Cleaner falls into the latter category. Usually hovering around the $200 mark, it’s a great choice for the price, especially when you can find it on sale. The self-empty station for hands-free dust bin emptying is a particularly desirable feature in this price range. To be clear, the vacuum does not have the same high-quality feel as, say, a Samsung, LG, or Dyson. However, it doesn’t feel cheaply made either: Think of it as a Toyota, instead of a Mercedes Benz.

The 350W motor provides sufficient power to effectively remove dust and debris from both hard floors and carpet. The crevice tool and two-in-one upholstery tool also increase the vacuum’s functionality, since it can used as a handheld to clean my car, or with the tube/pole to clean Williams’ ceiling vents and more. There are three modes: low, mid, and high, with the battery life hovering around 60 minutes. (Keep in mind that with all cordless stick vacuums, battery life is stated for the lowest mode, and using a higher mode decreases how much time is left before you’ll need to stop and charge the battery.)

A self-emptying feature is becoming more popular with the newest vacuum models, and Shark, always a step ahead in vacuum technology, already included one in an earlier model which we’re replacing with this Shark Cordless PowerDetect Clean & Empty. It has an anti-allergen complete seal with True HEPA filtration. This self-empty system eliminates dirty hands, clouds of dust, and allergens. It’s bagless, for those who don’t like to replace bags. Instead, the container holds up to 45 days of dust and debris. There’s also an odor neutralizer cartridge that can be placed into the vacuum’s brush roll and is designed to keep foul odors out of the air while cleaning.

Shark vacuums are always rated highly on our list, and it was a toss-up between this model and the Shark Stratos to wind up on this list, but we chose this one because it’s Shark’s strongest cordless suction vac, and includes the auto-empty system.

While the vacuum does not have a LED light on the brush roll, it has something most vacuums don’t: two brush rolls. So, whether I’m going in a forward motion or in reverse, the vacuum does an excellent job of picking up hair and other debris on any floor type – whether bare floors of carpet. This is a result of the direction detect feature. There’s also another “detect” feature. Powerdetect automatically boosts suction power when I’m on carpet or when dirt is detected on hard floors. In addition, the multiflex wand bends in half, making it easy for me to vacuum far under couches. The 70 minute runtime is also impressive and accessories include a crevice tool and pet multitool to pick up any pet hair on upholstery.

Bissell is known for vacuums geared toward pet owners, and the Bissell CleanView XR Pet continues the tradition. We chose its inclusion for several reasons—the tangle-free brushroll keeps hair from getting wrapped around it and the LED lights on the floor head make it easy to see into dark spaces on both hardwood floors and carpet, where hair and other debris could be hiding. One of the attachments is a deep cleaning fur brush, which can be used to remove pet hair from upholstery, cars, stairs, and other areas (wall mounted storage is your only option for this vacuum cleaner).

Williams doesn’t have pets, but she’s found the vacuum does a good job when it needs to pick up hair, dirt, and other items. The 40-minute runtime is average, but the three cleaning/suction power modes (standard, medium, turbo) make it easier to choose the most effective setting, depending on the floor surface.

German manufacturer Miele is known for vacuum cleaners built to last, and the Miele Triflex HX2 is no exception, warranting it a spot on our list of the best cordless vacuums. While most of the cordless vacuums on this list can transform into a handheld vacuum, the Miele Triflex HX2 is unique: The power unit can be attached at the top of the vacuum cleaner (convenient when Williams wants to clean under furniture), but the power unit can also be attached near the bottom, which takes the weight off of the top making it easier and faster to cover large areas.