Best cordless vacuum cleaner 2025 — the 9 models I’d pick after rigorous testing and real-world home trials

If you prefer to remain cord-free when cleaning your home, the best cordless vacuum cleaners are a worthy investment. But as you should expect to use this handy appliance for at least the next five years, choosing the right option can be difficult.

Of course, some of the best vacuum cleaners are indeed corded, but as Ideal Home's expert in vacuums, I've tested more cordless offerings deserving of a 5-star review than corded ones. In fact, a qualified team of testers and I have followed our rigorous vacuum testing process to review and compare over 30 different cordless models to provide you with the most reliable recommendations.

We've spent months measuring suction power, battery life, and debris pickup through controlled tests and everyday cleaning. As such, I'm confident that the 9 options below are the best cordless vacuums on the market today.

Quick list

Best cordless vacuum cleaners 2025

Best cordless vacuum cleaner overall

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The Shark Stratos range was released in 2022 but is undoubtedly still one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners you can buy as it goes further than. It showed unbelievable suction power during testing and left carpets visibly cleaner, with no issues with pet hair or human hair.

With easy-to-clean mechanisms and the option for a two-battery model, which will give you up to 120 minutes of runtime, you also won't need to worry about running out of charge midway through your cleaning session, offering you the reliability of a corded model.

Features we loved during testing

There's no doubt that our testing process proved that the Shark Stratos is worth the large price tag. Even if you don't have pets, the ease with which this vacuum does away with hair is astounding, and our Kitchen Appliances Editor, Molly, found that it was unmatched when it came to suction.

The capacity of this vacuum to transform into a smaller handheld model is also phenomenal, and you'll be reaching for the smaller attachments all the time to resolve smaller messes all over your home quickly. One non-essential item that we are obsessed with is the anti-odour capsules that you can pop into the dustbin. These mean that there are no more musty smells when you're emptying your vac.

You will need to fork out more for the two-battery model if you reckon it'll be of use to you; however, it's not necessary if you live in a small or medium-sized home.

Read our Shark Stratos IZ420UKT cordless vacuum review for more details.

Best value cordless vacuum cleaner

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The Dyson V8 Absolute has been in Dyson's roster for over 8 years now, having been released all the way back in 2016, but it's safe to say, it's aged like fine wine and only gotten better through the years.

The V8 Absolute is one of the brand's oldest (and thus, cheapest) cordless vacuums still in circulation today. Available to purchase from anywhere between £249-£399, it offers fantastic suction power, a wide range of handy attachments, and the sought-after premium feel of a Dyson – sans the hefty price tag.

Features we loved during testing

The Dyson V8 Absolute exceeded my expectations and more. I loved the different floorheads for carpet and hard flooring, which both visibly made my floors so much cleaner and seamlessly picked up hidden dust and debris. It also did a fantastic job at picking up pet hair (and human hair alike) without getting tangled or having any hair stuck in the blades, which is a huge plus.

It's also the lightest vacuum in this guide, weighing just 2.54kg. Sure, it's not kitted out with the latest cleaning technology like the Dyson Gen5detect and dustbin capacity may be a bit on the smaller side if you have a bustling home.

However, if you're after a no-frills-attached vacuum cleaner that'll do what it says on the tin (and reliably at that), we think the Dyson V8 Absolute is still a worthwhile product to pick up, even in 2025.

Read our Dyson V8 Absolute review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for pet hair

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After testing the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum, I can confidently say that it should rightfully take its place as the best cordless vacuum for homes with pets.

This modern vacuum has been designed with pet owners in mind, offering up to 55 minutes of non-stop vacuuming time, auto-adjusted suction power, and a sleek design. And while it may not be as cheap as other cordless options on this list, it's worth it for the impressive German engineering.

Features we loved during testing

The Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum is well-equipped to deal with everything from pet hair to dander and everyday dust and debris. I even tested this model on different flooring and fabric types, and nothing seemed to get in the way of its power.

With 99.99% dust retention capacity and an additional hygiene filter, this cordless vacuum will not only remove these pollutants from the air - but will keep them out of your home, too. It also comes with numerous attachments to get into every nook and cranny of your home.

It’s this focus on pet ownership and pet-specific problem-solving that has allowed this model to replace the Halo Capsule X (which you'll also find on this list). Although the Halo was once our best cordless vacuum for pet hair, the non-pet-specific model just couldn't beat the pet-specific qualities of the Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog cordless vacuum. My only real niggle with this model is that the dustbin is on the smaller side, which may not suit smaller homes.

Read our full Miele Duoflex HX1 Cat & Dog Cordless Vacuum review for more details.

Best high-tech cordless vacuum cleaner

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The Gen5detect Absolute is a vacuum that's as good at cleaning up as it looks. With two floorheads (one for hard floor, and one for carpet which we absolutely love) you feel like you have more options for deep cleaning with this vacuum.

With this premium model, you're shelling out for innovation, with the hard floor head boasting lasers that illuminate dirt and dust that you'd never usually see.

However, what makes it a standout option for cleaning carpets is its game-changing anti-tangle feature on the Digital Motorbar (the head for carpet cleaning). It works as well as similar offerings from Shark and revealed a huge amount of sunken-in dirt during our at-home tests. The three modes are perfect for toggling between everyday and deep cleaning, too.

Features we loved during testing

It's the fine details that make a vacuum better to use than others on the market, which is why you can't overlook the magic of a Dyson bin mechanism. Point the dust bin, pull the trigger, and everything will come out the first time without a fuss – something that pretty much no other vacuum brand has achieved.

The LCD control panel is also incredibly intuitive, featuring indicators showing exactly how many microscopic dust particles you've eradicated from your home, adding to the experience that you're paying almost £900 for.

Read our Dyson Gen5detect Absolute vacuum cleaner review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for carpet

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The Gtech AirRAM Platinum sports a sleek, stylish, compact design with unmatched cleaning technology - especially on carpets. This power is thanks to its innovative AirLOC technology, which Gtech describe as such: it collects large debris as you push forward and then forms a seal on the backstroke, tackling embedded hair and fine dust to ensure nothing is left behind.

Manoeuvring the AirRAM Platinum takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you've got the technique down, it makes for a very impressive clean. And while we especially love it for carpet, it performed just as well across other floor types in our tests.

Features we loved during testing

On top of the vacuum's impressive suction power, we're big fans of the quality of life features Gtech considered in its making. Namely, the simple foot power controls, adjustable carrying handle, and the mess-free emptying system.

Unfortunately, the AirRAM Platinum just slightly falls short of a 5-star rating because of its lack of hand tools or floorheads (yes, it's just the one floorhead and unit in the box, unless you get the bundle with the Multi Platinum handheld vacuum). However, in some ways, we think that this is also a strength because you don't have to deal with storing extra accessories or switching out floorheads. You simply plug and play and get to cleaning.

Read our Gtech AirRAM Platinum Anti Hair Wrap cordless vacuum review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for hard floors

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The Shark Detect Pro instantly met our expectations and more. This is largely because of its unbelievably lightweight build, coming in at just 2.76kg, meaning you can wave goodbye to the days of lugging around a heavy appliance during what is already considered a pretty laborious task.

This vacuum has four detection technologies, meaning cleaning your home is more thorough than ever. During testing, we found dealing with high-traffic areas much easier thanks the the amped up suction and the FloorDetect technology makes transitioning into different rooms across your home much easier too.

Features we loved during testing

The cleaning performance of this vacuum very much impressed us during testing, thoroughly cleaning floors but especially excelling on wooden and hard floors where dust and debris are the most problematic. You gain design points too with this newer release, which is available in a swish-white colour scheme and has a stripped-back LED control panel for that super sleek look.

It performed excellently in our at-home tests, and the new detection features go a long way to improve day-to-day vacuuming sessions. We're a huge fan of the stand system, too, even though it comes at an additional price, and would be keen to try out the self-emptying bin system next, which seems like a lifesaver for streamlining cleaning.

Read our Shark Detect Pro cordless vacuum cleaner IW1511UK review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for attachments

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While it may not have the biggest dust bin capacity or as long of a running time as other cordless vacuums on the market, the Hoover HFX CornerGenie really shone during testing thanks to its impressive attachments and ability to clean every nook and cranny in our reviewer's home.

It's also powerful enough for any home with three modes to suit your flooring type - hard floor, carpet, or turbo. It was particularly impressive on carpet, cleaning our tester's carpet with just one simple pass despite the hair and debris that regularly collects within the fibres.

Features we loved during testing

Our freelancer, Katie, was already a Hoover fan when she tested this particular model, having religiously used her Hoover HF9 cordless vacuum for the past few years. But after being so impressed with the new technology this model offers, she's officially replaced her beloved Hoover with another from the brand. Her favourite feature? The Corner Genie functionality.

To use, simply detach the main floor panel and reveal the triangular-shaped brush underneath to clean corners and harder-to-reach areas of the room. The Hoover HFX also comes with a variety of other attachments including a flexible crevice tool, a 2in1 Dusting & Furniture tool, handheld vacuum container, wall mount with screws, and a drawstring bag to keep everything in. Katie also found it incredibly small, lightweight, and easy to store. Of course, the dust bin is small and won't suit everyone.

Read our Hoover HFX Corner Genie review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for everyday cleaning

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The Vax HomePro Pet-Design Cordless Vacuum cleaner is the brand's latest release. Ideal for everyday cleans, quick whip-arounds, and more targeted vacuuming, it's a perfect all-rounder for those who want a mid-range vacuum cleaner that's not Shark or Dyson.

As this model also comes with a variety of tools (including pet-specific ones), it's also suitable for pet owners and non-pet owners alike. And the FlexiClean pole makes cleaning under furniture a breeze.

Features we loved during testing

During testing, our reviewer, Katie, was impressed with the suction power of the Vax HomePro. And while it doesn't have separate carpet and hard flooring cleaning heads like the Dyson Gen5detect, she found the single floor head to be more than enough for both the hard flooring and carpet in her flat.

It excelled during the flour test on both flooring types, and while it had no problem picking up larger debris on hard flooring, it did struggle with the spilt cereal test on her carpets. However, it only took a couple of passes to pick everything up and restore her floors to their former glory.

The 45-minute run time also directly competes with the likes of the Shark Stratos (if you just had the one battery), and the 0.7L dust canister is almost double the size of the Shark Detect Pro. Her only niggles were the mechanical noise it made while on its highest setting and she found that emptying the bin was a little messy. But this isn't uncommon when it comes to emptying cordless vacuum cleaners.

Read our Vax HomePro Pet-Design Cordless Vacuum Cleaner review for more details.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner for dust bin capacity

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While it's fair to say that some people have well and truly moved on from bagged vacuums, I found the Halo Capsule X to be refreshing, modern, and extremely powerful.

Far from old and clunky, the Halo Capsule X truly combines the style and practicality of a cordless stick model with the dust bin capacity of traditional bagged vacuums - like the best Henry vacuum cleaners. The bagged element also makes it ideal for allergy sufferers or pet owners, as the bag will collect and seal potential pollutants from re-entering your home. Not only that, but it's also extremely lightweight at just 2.8kg, standing just behind the Dyson V8 Absolute.

Features we loved during testing

Although some cordless vacuums can struggle with suction power, this one could easily tackle my human-and dog-hair-filled home. In performance mode and with the normal floorhead, it was able to pick up visible dust and debris as well as deep-rooted hair in my thick carpets, and the attachments also made it possible to clean every nook and cranny.

At 2L, it also offers the biggest dust canister size out of any other cordless vacuum we've tested and something you rarely get from a vacuum - unless you're willing to go bigger and opt for the Henry Pet200, which has a capacity of 9L. The bagged system is also a huge benefit for those who struggle with allergies. However, these new bags do come with an extra cost you need to consider.

Read our Halo Capsule X review for more details.

Cordless vacuum cleaner comparison at a glance

How we test cordless vacuum cleaners

At Ideal Home, we know how important it is to have hands-on experience with the products we recommend to you in our buying guides. That's why, as part of our rigorous testing protocol, we've tested every cordless vacuum in this guide for at least two weeks (and at times up to two months) before deciding whether it's worthy of a place on this list or whether it doesn't make the cut. Our in-depth explainer on how we test vacuum cleaners has the full details.

To ensure a thorough evaluation, we employed a combination of controlled tests with real-world home trials. We measured the vacuums' performance by testing them on weighted amounts of common debris, including flour, cereal, coffee grounds, and pet hair (when testing cordless vacuums for pet hair). We also measured battery run times to compare against the models' advertised run times and used decibel meter apps to test the noise levels of these cordless vacuum cleaners accurately.

Following these controlled tests, we moved to real-world scenarios, testing the vacuums on various floor types and in replacement of the tester's normal vacuum cleaner. We assessed ease of use, how the suction power fared against everyday messes, storage and cleaning.

We also made sure to test every attachment on stairs, in hard-to-reach areas, on sofas, in cars, and on pet hair (where necessary). This allows us to see whether they add to the overall appeal of the cordless vacuum.

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Another important aspect of our reviewing process includes comparing these models to other cordless vacuums on the market, where possible. This may be different models from the same brand with different functionalities and at a different price point, or it could be a model from a different brand with similar functionalities.

With all of this information in tow, we can assign the cordless vacuum cleaners a dedicated Ideal Home star rating from 1 to 5 stars. Our star rating system reflects these results, with 5 stars indicating flawless performance and 1 star indicating significant shortcomings. When a cordless vacuum doesn't achieve a 5-star review, we will always outline where we think the model falls short to ensure you are equipped with all of the relevant information you need to make an informed purchase.

After testing the best cordless vacuums for at least two weeks, the models are then either returned to the brand, given to charity, or kept by the reviewer because they loved it so much.

Meet our testing team

Lauren Bradbury

I'm Lauren, Ideal Home's Content Editor for House Manual and Certified Expert in Training for Vacuums. I'm currently working my way through the motions to become a fully certified vacuum expert, and this means I've tested A LOT of vacuum cleaners. My favourite so far has been the Dyson Gen5detect - but I also have a soft spot for the older Dyson V8 Absolute.

At the time of writing, I've spent over 110 hours testing vacuums, and even more researching the ins and outs of vacuuming - from tips to use a vacuum cleaner more efficiently to effectively vacuuming pet hair (something I do on a daily basis thanks to my shedding cocker spaniel).

Molly Cleary

I'm Molly, and I'm currently Ideal Home's Kitchen Appliances Editor but was formerly Ecommerce Editor, covering vacuum cleaners and other cleaning products.

During my time in the role, I tested dozens of cordless vacuums, including those in my own home and at Future's test facility. I was also invited to visit Dyson and Shark's offices to get a behind-the-scenes look at how they design and produce their vacuums. Like Lauren, my vacuum of choice is the Dyson Gen5detect as once you go Dyson you can't go back.

Katie Sims

I'm Katie, a freelance reviewer and contributor for Ideal Home. I specialise in all things homes and gardens and have reviewed countless home appliances, including vacuums and the best dehumidifiers.

After testing the Hoover HFX for this guide, it's since become my go-to vacuum for everyday cleaning. So far, nothing has come close to beating it.

Jullia Joson

Jullia worked as a Junior Writer and Certified Expert in Training for Vacuums from 2022 until 2024 and spent over 60 hours testing vacuums - many of which have made their way into this best cordless vacuums buying guide.

She had hands-on experience with both corded and cordless vacuums from leading brands such as Dyson, Shark, Henry, Gtech and Bosch. She particularly loved the Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty.

How to choose a cordless vacuum cleaner

Knowing how to vacuum starts with choosing the right machine for the job. Many cordless vacs on the market – with the exception of the best handheld vacuums – fall within two popular categories: stick and upright. Understanding the differences between stick vacuums and upright vacuums can help you determine which is the right fit for you.

Stick vacuum cleaners are handhelds that you add a wand to, to extend the reach – then add a brush head to clean floors or a smaller tool for cobwebs and other hard-to-reach spots. They're fast, manoeuvrable and good for getting under furniture. But the weight is all in your hand, which can be tiring after a while. They often can't stand up by themselves if you want to pause to move something.

Upright vacuum cleaners, on the other hand, look more like traditional upright vacuum cleaners. The weight is fairly low down, but the middle section pops out and doubles as a handheld cleaner for small stuff. Often the upright's handle also pops off and doubles as a wand, giving the handheld extra reach for high-up stuff like cobwebs.

As cordless vacuums aren't connected to mains power, they rely on the battery to clean your home. And while this means that cordless vacuums use less electricity than corded offerings, it can also hinder your cleaning efforts - especially as some vacuums only have a run-time of 30 minutes.

Because of this, it's well worth taking stock of the size of your home (and how long it takes you to vacuum it) and choosing a cordless vacuum cleaner that can vacuum every room in your house without needing to be charged mid-way through. Of course, you'll then need to wait for it to charge - which can be up to 5 hours in some cases.

However, some brands do offer you the chance to purchase a spare battery, so you can still make the most of your chosen cordless vacuum cleaner without the shorter run time getting in the way.

Before making your purchase, it's also a good idea to check out the tools or attachments available (if any) with your chosen cordless vacuum. Then, our guide to what vacuum tool is right for each job can help you make the most of these attachments and your cordless vacuum investment as a whole.

Then, you should feel confident enough to purchase and start using your new cordless vacuum cleaner. Just make sure you don’t forget the places you're probably forgetting to vacuum.

FAQs

How much should I spend on a cordless vacuum?

We would recommend budgeting around £200 for a good-quality cordless with decent cleaning power. But you can spend more than three times as much on premium models. More money can buy you powerful suction, longer battery life or better tools.

Some of the best cordless vacuums we tested came in at the £250-300 mark, with some of the higher-tech models reaching prices of as much as £750. If you can afford it though, it's often worth spending the extra money. More power and longer battery lives will pay off in the long-run, and the convenience of a cordless vacuum won't be outweighed by limited power.

However, we will say that a higher price tag doesn't always mean it's better, as everyone will have different preferences and priorities when choosing a vacuum. It's always worth thoroughly doing your research, considering whether the vacuum you have in mind comes with additional accessories; and if it's equipped with special technological features, if they actually matter to you. Sure, higher-end brands like Dyson and Shark offer advanced cleaning technology and smart features, but if you're only concerned with getting the job done and don't care for all the extra bells and whistles, it's not necessary to fork out over £400 for functions you won't utilise when a £150 model can do everything you need and more.

When is the best time to buy a cordless vacuum?

You can find cordless vacuums on sale during every month of the year, but right now you can enjoy extra savings with Amazon Prime Day, which will be live 8-9th October, so if you're a Prime member then it's a great time to score money off on a top-rated cordless vacuum.

There's one period that's more advantageous than any other if you want to get a really great price on this cleaning must-have.

Yep, we're talking Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals, which always fall on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the US. Now this shopping event is huge on this side of the pond too, and last year we saw cordless vacuums start to benefit from discounts from the start of November. Our cordless vacuum deals page is always up to date with the best deals, including the best Boxing Day and January sales prices.

Do vacuums go on sale for Black Friday?

Yep! We've been covering sales at Ideal Home for years now and can confidently say that big-time discounting happens on vacuums during the November sales period. Last year saw discounts from Shark, Dyson, Vax and more, so it's most definitely a good time to save up and spend.