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Nov 02, 2024

Best cordless vacuum cleaners 2024 UK, expert tested

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article. Make light work of cleaning up with the GHI's top-rated stick vacuums Cordless vacuum cleaners, also known as stick

We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.

Make light work of cleaning up with the GHI's top-rated stick vacuums

Cordless vacuum cleaners, also known as stick vacuums, free you from the frustrating faff of wires. They're lightweight, easy on the back and run on rechargeable batteries, which means no more irksome plugging and unplugging as you move around the house.

Features vary between models; some have far more power than others, better attachments and, crucially, longer battery life. Before you buy, consider the size of your home, its occupants (including cats and dogs!) and any extra tools that may come in handy.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we put over 60 stick vacuums to the test to find the best for tackling pet hair, cars, carpets, hard floors and more. There's a model for all households and budgets in our top 17:

If you’re replacing an existing vacuum, there are plenty of places for you to safely recycle your old one. Find your nearest electrical recycling point, or read our guide on how to donate or dispose of your appliances and tech for extra guidance.

There are several types of vacuum cleaner on the market, including upright, cylinder, robot, handheld and stick. A cordless stick option offers the most convenience and manoeuvrability, typically featuring a slim ‘stick’ body and a smaller canister that's regularly emptied. They’re compact to store (some can be mounted on the wall) and lighter than upright and cylinder vacuums, making them generally more comfortable to use.

Sticks tend to come with a range of useful attachments, such as a crevice tool for awkward spaces like cars, an upholstery tool for de-crumbing sofas and a motorised brush for collecting stubborn pet hair.

You can usually recharge batteries within a few hours and some models let you buy two at once for twice the running time. The suction power of sticks is also getting stronger as technology develops, making the top-end performers a brilliant investment.

From Dyson to Shark and Vax, we've tested all of the latest models to find the top ones for you. Scroll on to read our expert verdicts.

Behind the scenes of our vacuum testing in our dedicated floorcare room at the Good Housekeeping Institute lab.

We test each cordless vacuum cleaner on three different floor types: carpet, laminate, and floorboards. First, we assess general pick-up using a formulation of dust designed by the GHI experts. We lay down an exact amount and weigh out exactly how much each vacuum has collected after a set number of sweeps.

Does it make light work of picking up pet hair? Well, we call in plenty from our own four-legged friends to find out. We grind the pet hair into the carpet before vacuuming, to create the worst-case scenario. We also test performance when picking up small residue, such as crumbs, particularly when using in handheld mode.

On top of this, we run an interior car cleaning test to assess how well each vacuum tackles crevices, before trying it out on a set of stairs to see how easily it manoeuvres.

We assess the design, ease of use, instructions and any innovative features. Then, we award each vacuum a final score to find the very best you can buy.

Score: 98/100

This intuitive vacuum from Shark solves a problem you may not know existed; it’s designed to pick up dirt as it moves backwards as well as forwards. Many vacuums struggle with this due to the way their heads are typically designed, but when we tried this one, it captured lots of dust and debris – so it should speed up your cleaning!

Its suction was excellent too, picking up 99.9 per cent of dust from all the surfaces we tried it on. The auto detection also deserves a shout-out for boosting power quickly as the vacuum passed over dirtier areas. It also performed well in handheld mode, and when cleaning our car.

Then there’s the docking station. You can buy a version without it, but it charges the vacuum and automatically empties the bin (which testers found easy and swift). Plus, an anti-odour cartridge keeps everything smelling fresh.

Battery life varied, lasting up to 60 minutes in eco mode but running out in 15 when we cleaned the car on max. It wasn’t the most well-balanced either; our expert found the head sometimes wouldn’t go in the desired direction. But as you can see by its near-perfect score, this is a hard-working cleaner and we struggled to find fault.

Score: 97/100

The Gen5 Detect is Dyson’s newest stick vacuum, and it excelled on test. It’s the brand’s most powerful cordless vacuum yet, with its longest running time (up to 70 minutes, although testers found it generally lasted 15 minutes when on boost mode). It also boasts souped-up cleaning head lights that highlight hidden dirt, and an LCD screen that tells you about the particles you’re cleaning and updates you on battery life.

There’s a lot of substance behind its bells and whistles, too – testers reported excellent suction power that picked up all debris laid on carpet and hard flooring (plus some residual dirt from previous tests). Even pet hair was lifted in one sweep, tangle-free.

It’s simple to use with parts that fit together easily and quickly, a built-in crevice tool and a comfortable handle. It glides smoothly across all surfaces, while its dust bin empties cleanly. Note though that when used as a handheld, it is heavy and only the boost setting was powerful enough to clean our car. It also took four and a half hours to recharge the battery on test. But that’s worth planning around, as this is an outstanding all-rounder.

Score 97/100

If you don't have space to store your vacuum in a cupboard, this sleek design would look neat on display. It glided over all surfaces and lifted 96 per cent of dust on test. It also removed all biscuit crumbs and pet hair with ease. On stairs, it reached into all corners and proved effortless to use overall.

It only takes two hours to charge but its battery life (two are included) varied in use – it lasted 19 minutes moving between speeds and surfaces, while on its lowest setting it lasted for over an hour. The digital battery display will keep you informed though.

You can handily empty its contents into the accompanying 2L docking station at the push of a button and its thin extension nozzle is long, reaching awkward spots easily. It’s expensive but innovative.

Score: 96/100

We’ve got two vacuums from Tefal’s new range on our list – this one, and the 15.6 below. Not much separates them performance-wise – but this one is its more entry-level (and therefore better value) model, with a 45-minute run-time and lower suction power.

In reality, this difference doesn’t mean you’re sacrificing on its cleaning abilities; its dust and crumb pick-up across carpet and hard flooring was faultless, and it only dropped marks for pet hair due to slight tangling on the brush.

Testers found it lightweight (apart from after extended car cleaning), and once they got used to it, they liked the way its flexible hose helps you reach under furniture. There’s a wall mount for neat storage, and its tools helped achieve a more thorough clean. For such a high-performing vacuum, it’s a snip.

Score: 96/100

Miele’s latest stick vacuum is sleek and lightweight. Testers found it easy to carry around the house, including up the stairs, and it moved smoothly. Attachments fitted seamlessly, too, with the ‘electro compact brush’ standing out for its effective pet hair pick-up.

Miele claims this model rivals its traditional cylinder vacuums, and it didn’t disappoint on test, scoring full marks when it came to lifting dust and crumbs from all floor surfaces. It was a bit bulky when using in the car, but it still managed to clean most of the dust we laid. Both fans of the brand and newbies will love this vacuum.

Score: 95/100

With a 1.2-litre dustbin, this sleek Hoover has the biggest onboard capacity of all the stick vacuums we’ve tested, which is ideal for whizzing round your home without needing emptying mid-clean. When you do need to clear it, it’s quick and easy to do. All the controls are intuitive, too.

As for its actual cleaning power, it performed well on test, no matter the dirt or flooring it faced. Even pet hair vanished in one sweep. It was just as effective in handheld mode too, although it struggled to pick up bigger debris in our car test. It comes with three accessories – a 2-in-1 dusting/upholstery tool, a crevice tool and a turbo brush – but you can’t store them on board. That’s a minor qualm though, and it doesn’t detract from this cordless vacuum’s overall reliability.

Score: 95/100

Tefal hasn’t skimped on the design of this vacuum, catapulting it onto our list of best buys. Our experts were impressed with its dust pick-up, especially on long pile carpet where it lifted every speck. Its suction meant that some extra effort was required to push it along, but the results were worth it. Elsewhere, it picked up most other debris, and lifted 80 per cent of pet hair in one sweep, with a swift second finishing the job nicely.

Testers liked using it to clean the car, as its well-designed crevice nozzle reached into every nook and cranny. Boost mode was best for cleaning stubborn dirt, but the battery didn’t last quite long enough in this mode to complete a whole car clean.

It’s intuitive to use, with a comfortable handle, and a tube that bends in half, making it easy to reach tricky spots. While testers found it a bit top heavy after extended cleaning, four power modes give you plenty of choice for tackling every vacuuming chore life throws your way.

Score: 95/100

Bringing its signature smiley face to stick vacs for the first time, this offering from Numatic impressed on test. It’s nimble to use, felt well-balanced and light, and glided effortlessly across every surface we tried it on. It comes with an extra, roomier handle too.

Surprisingly for a stick vacuum, this one is bagged, and we found the bag captured all dust well. It also comes with plenty of replacements. Pick-up was outstanding – on carpet and when tackling pet hair, it proved to be a top performer. It only lost marks on laminate floorboards, although it still collected 92 per cent of the dust laid.

The battery only lasted 14 minutes on the speed boost setting but when using a mix of speeds across different surfaces, it ran for a respectable 34 minutes. It charges quickly in two and a half hours, too.

Score: 94/100

Designed specifically for pet owners, this cordless Vax comes with all the necessary bits and bobs to keep your home fur-free. The main floorhead collected all dirt in one swipe, leaving our carpets looking spick and span, while the mini motorised pet brush proved similarly effective.

It impressed as a handheld performance-wise, but be sure to angle it correctly as it pushed crumbs away if held flat to the floor. We found the boost mode especially powerful and loved how speedy the canister was to empty. It’s a shame that it can't stand up on its own, but it's otherwise hard to fault for everyday household use.

Score: 94/100

This is a serious bit of vacuuming kit. It boasts plenty of tools, including a wet brush for mopping floors and an extending crevice nozzle. It picks up all dust, grime and pet hair brilliantly, but the battery runs out in under 10 minutes on full power.

It also doesn’t stand up on its own, which can be a pain if you need to move something out of its path. Still, it’s certainly versatile, and it glided well as a mop, leaving our floors sparkling and only lightly damp. If you can justify the spend, you won’t regret the purchase.

Score: 94/100

If you’ve got children or grandchildren who run around leaving biscuit crumbs in their wake, this vacuum will suck them up in a flash. In fact, it lifted the biscuits and then some on test – we measured 107 per cent of the debris we’d laid.

It proved a similarly powerful cleaner on hard floors, short pile carpet and floorboards, consistently lifting most dirt in just one sweep. It struggled a tad on long pile, but still fared respectably. It’s nimble and also proved impressive in the car.

On eco mode, the battery life lasted for over an hour, while on multiple speeds it gave us 21 minutes of use. Its quick charger will give you more juice in an hour’s time – although the first charge took us over four hours. We didn’t find it that comfortable to use, and it’s fiddly trying to fit the accessories onto the base. The dust canister, however, empties effortlessly.

Score: 94/100

Though not as advanced as the brand's pet-specific model above, this simpler Vax is a smart choice if you don’t have any furry friends. The intuitive design has controls that are easily accessible on the handle and it has LED lights on the front of its floorhead to show up every speck of dirt.

The dust canister is a breeze to empty, the motorised brush can be turned off when vacuuming delicate floors and the boost mode wowed us with its excellent pick-up on all surfaces. It manoeuvres well as a stick but the handheld unit proved trickier in tight spaces.

Score: 93/100

We were intrigued by the AI promise in its name, and this vacuum didn’t disappoint. It detects the floor type it’s cleaning and adjusts its brush speed and suction power accordingly for optimum performance and efficiency.

On a practical level, it cleans as effectively as you’d expect for its price tag, lifting all dust, debris and pet hair from every surface we tried it on, tangle-free. It moves smoothly too. While its sleek docking station (where the dust canister self-empties!) makes it one of the most aesthetically-pleasing vacuums around, it takes up more space than some. That said, the only reason this vacuum lost points on test was for its cleaning prowess in handheld mode; it didn’t perform badly but a few more sweeps were needed than we’d ideally like.

Don’t be put off by its tech-y sounding name either – our tester found it easy to use with accessible controls. It also has an LCD screen that keeps you updated about its battery life and dustbin capacity, while it connects to a Samsung app should you want to see that info on your phone.

Score: 92/100

This offering from Dyson takes the effort out of your cleaning routine. It comes with a comprehensive selection of tools (everything from a hair screw tool to a wand clip) and an LCD screen that keeps you up to date on battery life. It excelled across all floor types and its notably powerful suction picked up pet hair quickly.

There’s no continuous power button, so you do have to keep your finger on the trigger throughout use, and it can be bulky to move around, especially when used as a handheld. You’ll also have to use it on eco mode to vacuum long pile carpet, as its high power can make it hard to manoeuvre.

We love the impressive laser feature, which shows up the tiniest of dirt as you go, but it only works on hard floors. While still pricey, it’s a good pick if you like the sound of our Gen5 winner but want to spend less.

Score: 92/100

This Shark model features a specially designed brush and four different settings (including one that detects the floor surface to adjust suction and another that senses room edges and corners) to achieve deeper cleans throughout your home. And it aced every cleaning challenge our experts put it through, picking up more dust than we laid, tackling crumbs with ease and lifting all pet hair in just one sweep.

It’s also lightweight and moved smoothly across all our test flooring, including long pile carpet, which is no mean feat. Testers liked its flexible head and the crevice tool it came with, but would have liked more attachments to help speed up handheld jobs such as car cleaning. The dust canister was also a bit fiddly, but otherwise, it should prove a trusty buy.

Score: 92/100

Looking for a high-performing vacuum that doesn’t have the big price tag of some other models on our list? Enter the Hoover HF4. Testers found this lightweight vacuum easy to set up, use and empty, praising the battery life, which lasted for 30 minutes on average, dropping down to 15 minutes on turbo. It will warn you when it’s running low, too.

As for its housekeeping skills, it aced our pick-up tests on carpet and hard floors, no matter how much dust or debris our experts laid in its path. And that includes pet hair, which disappeared within two sweeps, without tangling in the brush as it went. You can’t store the accompanying tools on board, and if you don’t want to use the wall mount provided, storage may prove slightly tricky as you can’t leave it freestanding. But you could dismantle it, which shouldn’t take long. And given its more affordable price and power, it’s probably worth the trade-off.

Score: 92/100

Mounting a vacuum on the wall isn’t for everyone, especially if you’re renting (or just don’t want to display your vacuum). And that’s why we liked the discrete docking station this model comes with – slotting it into the tray takes a bit of getting used to, but it means you don’t need to worry about balancing it somewhere safely, which is often the case with those that aren’t freestanding. There’s room for the accessories too.

Testers found it easy to move around and were impressed with the cleaning power across the board; it aced our tests, capturing nearly everything laid. Hair didn’t tangle either. The battery only lasts for ten minutes on maximum power though, which wasn't quite enough to clean our car. You’d need to be speedy in bigger homes too.

Yes, is the short answer. But whether they will work as well for your home is another question – if you live somewhere bigger and like to do all your cleaning in one go, then you may find that stick vacuums’ smaller capacity and limited battery life isn’t quite right. If this is the case, a cylinder vacuum could be a wise alternative.

If you take a more room-by-room approach and don’t mind having to empty the canister or recharge your batteries more frequently, then there’s little reason why a stick vacuum wouldn’t suit your home just as well as a corded one, if not better.

The technology behind cordless vacuum cleaners has come a long way in the past few years, with lots of options to choose from. We've listed some of the latest innovations to look out for below.

There’s plenty of choice at the top of our article, and not much separating the vacuums. Because they are all standout cleaners, we recommend that you choose based on your budget.

If you want to go all out, then the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Pet, Dyson Gen5Detect and Samsung Bespoke Jet Pro Extra are premium box-tickers with all the latest tech. They are investment buys though, costing over £500.

Or we have two slightly more budget-friendly options. There’s the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog, which comes in under £500. And the Tefal X-Force Flex 12.60 Pet & Car (from the brand’s first vacuum cleaner range), which has an RRP below £400. For even more affordable options, we have a dedicated guide to vacuum cleaners below £200.

Blossom Boothroyd, our homes testing manager, has been reviewing vacuums since she started at the Good Housekeeping Institute in 2021. Now she helps oversee their testing, using our rigorous protocols, which have been developed off the back of the GHI's 100 years of trusted reviews.

Similarly, homes editor Hannah Mendelsohn has reviewed tens if not hundreds of vacuums and floor cleaning products, so knows all the important questions to ask to bring you detailed reviews.

Hannah is our homes editor, specialising in reviewing the latest kitchen appliances, cleaning products, mattresses and bedding, and crafting equipment. Hannah has written about hundreds of products, from air fryers to smoothie makers to pillows, and is committed to finding the most reliable and best value for money buys.

Hannah is also interested in sustainability in the home and has completed a course with the University of the Arts London in sustainable textiles, so she can help cut through the noise on what’s green and what’s not. Hannah has an MA in Magazine Journalism and has previously worked as a freelance lifestyle and women’s sports journalist, working for Stylist, Sky Sports and more.

Hannah has also previously worked in a florist and can normally be found caring for her house plants or sewing something new for her home or wardrobe.

Blossom is passionate about finding the best home products and appliances for GH readers. As head of the homes testing team, she has led reviews across multiple categories, from pizza ovens, and smart plugs to portable fans and hobs. She enjoys delving into the intricacies of products and refining testing protocols to ensure we’re testing them against their claims. Her aim is to find the top-performing products on the market, to help take the hard work out of housework. Blossom’s most notable accomplishment in the lab has been toasting 528 slices of bread in her quest to find the best toasters money can buy. In her free time, she openly admits to being a music geek and indulges her creative side through crocheting, baking, singing and writing.

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