I’ve Tried Dozens of Stick Vacuums—These Are the Best of the Best

Save this storySave this storyFeatured in this articleThe Best Cordless VacuumShark PowerDetect SpeedRead more$430 Shark (Vacuum Only)The Best Dyson VacuumDyson Gen5DetectRead more$800 AmazonBest Budget VacuumBissell PowerClean Cordless Stick VacuumRead more$200 $160 (20% off) AmazonBest Affordable Dyson VacuumDyson V10 KonicalRead more$500 $400 (20% off) DysonIt may sound hyperbolic to claim the best cordless vacuums can improve your life. But they do hold that power. In addition to providing you the freedom you didn't know you needed, they also leave your home clean and tidy in a matter of minutes with no cord unraveling or heavy vacuum dragging required.

These machines are especially handy for me, as I live in a three-story home. Even the prospect of lugging a classic upright vacuum up and down the stairs leaves me unlikely to do the chore. And I can never seem to remember to take my robot vacuum to different floors to clean the whole house.

A stick vacuum, though? Because the form is light and mobile, these vacuums are a breeze to bring to every level and use on my two sets of stairs—and I only expend a tiny bit of sweat in the process.After testing nearly two dozen stick vacuums—including hard-floor–only models, powerful Dysons, and more—these are the best cordless vacuums I've tried. My new favorite is the Shark PowerDetect Speed Cordless Stick Vacuum ($430), which not only has impressive power but also bends to make vacuuming under furniture and low surfaces easier.

It also has the Clean & Empty version ($500), which features a self-emptying base station. If you've got room to splurge, you can upgrade to the Dyson Gen5Detect ($800) for the best power I've seen in a cordless vacuum.Looking for more cleaning gadgets? Don't miss our guides to the Best Dyson Vacuums, Best Robot Vacuums, Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, and Best Handheld Vacuums.

For extra intel about vacuums and how often to use them, check out our guides to How Often You Should Vacuum and How Long Vacuums Really Last.Updated July 2026: I’ve added the Shark PowerDetect Speed, the Dyson Gen5Detect, and the Dyson V10 Konical as picks. I've also added testing details on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Dyson V8 Cyclone, and Levoit Aero Cordless.Love WIRED? Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us.Jump to SectionAccordionItemContainerButtonHonorable MentionsOther Vacuums I’ve TestedFAQsThe Best Cordless VacuumPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistSharkPowerDetect Speed$430 Shark (Vacuum Only)$500 $400 (20% off) Amazon (Clean & Empty)Dyson isn't the only brand with a growing vacuum lineup this year.

Shark recently launched the Shark PowerDetect Speed, a new cordless vacuum in its beloved PowerDetect line. The Speed is cheaper than the main model, but it packs a ton of features I like, and it performed excellently in many of my testing rounds.The PowerDetect Speed is supposed to be a lighter, more agile version of the PowerDetect vacuum. It weighs about a pound less, has 60 minutes of battery life, and has 350 watts of power to the regular PowerDetect's 380 watts.

It also comes with the same two attachments as the regular model.The Speed moves smoothly over carpets and rugs while still picking up a ton of debris; I used this vacuum on my carpeted bedrooms the day after vacuuming with the V16 Piston Animal, and it pulled up tons of dust and cat hair from my rug. The vacuum can bend, too, so you can get underneath furniture without hunching over. The PowerDetect Speed can also determine if you're on carpet or hard floors (or on a messier spot of either type of flooring) and will switch modes accordingly.

The Clean & Empty version ($500) has lights to illuminate dust and will use a different light color to indicate its current mode. Most vacuums with a similar feature only light up for hard floors, but the PowerDetect Speed Clean & Empty uses a blue light to spot dust on hard floors and a brighter headlight on carpet to spot debris you might need to clear out of the way.The PowerDetect Speed performed better than most Dyson vacuums for vacuuming up sand on a rug, but it did take two or three passes to clean up a large pile of litter I put on my vinyl plank floors. Oh, and it has HEPA filtration.My only frustration is that the head of the vacuum gets stuck upright frequently when you're using it in handheld mode.

It also doesn't have the edge detection that the main model features. If you go for the Clean & Empty version, though, you’ll get a self-emptying charger base and prettier color options. Overall, either the Speed or the regular PowerDetect makes a great investment, but I prefer the lower prices of the former model.Capacity:0.5 quart (plus a 2-liter base station for the Clean & Empty version)Attachments:Crevice tool, upholstery tool (and base station if Clean & Empty version)Suction Power:350 wattsRun time:Up to 60 minutesFilter:HEPAWarranty:Two years for parts, five years limitedWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDDoes a near-perfect job vacuuming messes on carpets and rugsHas almost all the benefits of the regular PowerDetect model, but lighter-weight and slightly cheaperClean & Empty version includes debris-detection lights and a self-emptying base stationHas a HEPA filterTIREDNo dedicated hard floor cleaner attachment or edge-detection capability, so cleaning floor messes take a couple of extra passesVacuum head easily gets stuck upright in handheld modeThe Best Dyson VacuumPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellCourtesy of Best BuySave to wishlistDysonGen5Detect$800 Amazon$1,050 WayfairBefore Dyson became a household name in the world of hair tools, the brand was (and still is!) known for its vacuums.

I’ve got an entire guide to the Best Dyson Vacuums, and my favorite, after testing all of Dyson's current cordless devices, is the Gen5Detect.It has multiple heads for tackling different jobs, can take the form of handheld- or stick-style, and is lightweight and portable while still being powerful enough to suck up dander and pet hair on all types of surfaces. It has one of the most powerful levels on a Dyson vacuum, with 262 air watts of suction power. But it delivered similar results to a vacuum with 315 air watts.

It has HEPA filtration to keep particles from circulating back into the air as you vacuum. It comes with both a Digital Motorbar cleaner head that has 56 detangling vanes for carpets, and a Fluffy Optic cleaner head with fluffy roller bars made for getting every speck of dirt and dust on your hard floors. The Fluffy Optic head has a built-in light that’s brighter than the feature on previous models to help you spot debris, too.Overall, after comparing Dyson's own vacuums in a head-to-head, the Gen5Detect prevailed as the best overall.

It’s a bit loud but can handle piles of cat litter and messes of Cheerios, and it can pull a massive amount of hair and dust out of carpet after a weaker vacuum tried and failed to achieve the same job.Capacity:0.76 litersAttachments:Digital Motorbar cleaner head, Fluffy Optic cleaner head, hair screw tool, combination tool, dusting and crevice tool (built-in)Suction Power:262 AWRun time:Up to 70 minutesFilter:HEPAWarranty:Two years for parts and laborWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDHas a faster motor and brighter laser than other Dyson models to spot dust and debrisFantastic for pet hairHas a HEPA filterTIREDLouder than the V15 DetectBest Budget VacuumPhotograph: Kat MerckCourtesy of BissellSave to wishlistBissell PowerClean Cordless Stick Vacuum$200 $160 (20% off) Amazon$200 $160 (20% off) BissellThe non-pet–focused version of my previous top pick, the regular Bissell PowerClean, is basically the Fur Finder with fewer lights and a less fancy upholstery tool. As a result, it costs a little less. Like the Fur Finder, it can stand up on its own, has HEPA filtration, can convert to a hand vacuum, and features Bissell’s proprietary tangle-free brush roll. (My long hair did still get wrapped around it, but this never affected the roll’s performance and was easy to pull off.)It only has four lights on the front instead of the Fur Finder’s six, but I still found them extremely sufficient at spotting every bit of cat litter, dust, and hair on my hard floors and area rugs.

It comes with a crevice tool; a basic, smaller upholstery tool with some microfiber strips (which worked great on velvet, not so much on bouclé); and a wall mount. Even though the PowerClean is lighter than the Fur Finder, I still found it to be heavier than I expected, since there isn’t a charging station, and all the charging hardware is on the vacuum itself.It holds a three-hour charge and can run for 40 minutes, which was just long enough for me to clean all the rugs, bare floors, and upholstery in my 3,000-square-foot house. But I still think this hefty-feeling, easy-to-maneuver model is the best value out there for $200. —Kat MerckCapacity0.4 literAdditional attachmentsCrevice tool, upholstery toolPower200 WRun timeUp to 40 minutes (on low)FilterHEPA Sealed Allergen SystemWarrantyFive years limitedWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDHighly affordable, offering a great valueHas good battery lifeTIREDFelt heavy to our testerBest Affordable Dyson VacuumPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistDysonV10 Konical$500 $400 (20% off) Dyson$500 $400 (20% off) Best BuyIf you're set on getting a Dyson vacuum but you want a more affordable option, the Dyson V10 Konical (7/10, WIRED Recommends) left me more impressed than I expected.

You won’t get the LCD screen that shows battery life or debris level, and the machine is less powerful than other Dyson models. Even so, its 150 air watts of suction does a nice job on sand, Cheerios, and more. It felt just as strong on carpet as the more powerful V15 Detect (see Honorable Mentions).The V10 comes with a single cleaner head, the new All Floor Cones cleaner head, which has conical brush bars that ensure long hairs won't get tangled around it.

It's made for both hard floors and carpet, and has a built-in light to spot debris. It also has five-stage HEPA filters to keep the debris you pick up in the vacuum—historically, you've needed to spend a better part of a grand to get these features on a Dyson vacuum. There’s also a forthcoming self-emptying charging dock you’ll be able to buy for a fee.When I tested this vacuum against Dyson's primary lineup, the V10 did better than both the cheaper V8 Cyclone and former pick for favorite Dyson, the V15 Detect.

The Gen5Detect is more powerful and will do a better job if you need your carpet deep-cleaned, but if you're looking for something a little more affordable that still does an all-around great job (and you're set on getting a Dyson) the V10 Konical is the one for you.Capacity:0.87 literAttachments:All Floor Cones cleaner head, crevice tool, mini motorized toolSuction Power:150 AWRun time:Up to 60 minutesFilter:HEPAWarranty:Two years for parts and laborWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDAll Floor Cones cleaner head does a good job on hard and soft flooring alikeHad better overall performance than the more expensive Dyson V15Can add on a self-emptying docking stationTIREDNo dedicated cleaner head for hard floorsNot as powerful as other Dyson vacuumsNo LCD screen to know the battery life or debris levelsBest Cordless Wet Dry VacuumPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellSave to wishlistNarwalS30 Pro$550 $420 (24% off) NarwalIf you have hard floors, you might be looking for a cordless vacuum that can mop as well as suck up debris, like the high-performing Narwal S30 Pro. I loved the first generation, and this newer model is just as great. There are five cleaning modes (AI mode, wood floor mode, suction mode, max mode, and quiet mode), giving you the best clean for your specific space or needs.The clean and dirty water tanks are easy to manage.

The vacuum also did a good job at scrubbing away stains on my hard floors and sucked up cat food and other dry debris with ease as it went. It has 20,000 pascals (Pa) of suction and almost pulls away from me as I use it, so I'm more so guiding the vacuum than pushing it along my floors. It turns really nicely, making cleaning around rugs or furniture legs a cinch.There's a disposable dry-debris bag you can install (the S30 Pro comes with 10; you'll have to purchase more after that) if you want to keep dry debris away from the wet and make cleaning easier.

You do want to clean the vacuum immediately so it doesn't smell or grow mold, and you can toggle on self-cleaning mode afterward, too. My only complaint is that there is some setup to get started, and I don't think the instructions are clear enough. I had to pull up a YouTube video (I liked this one) to see where I was supposed to install the dry bag and deodorant block, since the instructions skipped the key step of specifying which piece I had to open up.

Besides that, the Narwal has been a breeze to use.Capacity0.72 liter for dirty water tank, 0.79 liter for clean waterAdditional attachmentsNonePower20,000 PaRun timeUp to 60 minutesFilterUnspecifiedWarrantyOne-year unless inside EU or Switzerland, which get a two-year warrantyWIRED/TIREDAccordionItemContainerButtonWIREDHas a wet floor cleaner that also picks up dry debrisFour cleaning modes plus a self-cleaning mode you can toggle on when dockedDisposing dirty water and waste is easyTIREDMore setup steps than a regular stick vacuumBest with a separate disposable wet-debris bag, which you'll have to purchase after using the initial 10 included (and you have to touch the dirty bag to remove it)Needs to be emptied after each useHonorable MentionsBissell's PowerClean FurFinder for $160: This is a great stick vacuum, and it was my previous top pick. It does an all-around good job on all kinds 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're using the FurFinder tool frequently, you can get the slightly cheaper regular Bissell PowerClean for a similar experience.Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones for $600: This vacuum is impressively lightweight and easy to use, and I really like it for quick daily cleans.

The Dyson PencilVac manages to fit its extra-small motor and dustbin into the handlebar, so this vacuum is free of the bulky top you'll find on just about every other cordless vacuum. The downside is that it has a low suction-power level of 50 air watts and only works on hard floors. It has started clogging frequently for me, too, after a few months of use.

It works well for quick sweeps, and I like the lightweight design for anyone with strength or mobility concerns, but it's a hefty price tag for a limited version of a cordless vacuum.Dyson V15 Detect for $850: This is another good Dyson vacuum, but while it has more powerful suction (240 AW) than Dyson's newer, cheaper models, it didn't do better in side-by-side tests against the V10 Konical. It is nice that the V15 vacuum comes with the Fluffy Optic head for hard floors, has a Submarine variant for mopping, and is still a solid all-around performer. I'd snag it on sale for the extra head, but I wouldn't buy it at full price.Dyson V16 Piston Animal for $850: This is Dyson's new top-of-the-line vacuum.

It packs the highest suction power I've seen on a Dyson cordless vacuum—315 air watts—and it does a good job overall with vacuuming several types of floors thanks to the All Floor Cones Sense head that's made for both hard floors and carpets. There's also the Fluffy Optic head included for hard floors, and you can upgrade to the Submarine version ($1,100) to make it double as a wet mop. Even so, I found the Gen5Detect to work just as well, if not slightly better in some tests.

So unless you want to add on the mop (or the forthcoming self-emptying base station that Dyson has coming out), you'll be just as happy spending a little less on the Gen5Detect. If you spot it on sale, though, it's worth grabbing over a full-price Gen5Detect.Levoit Aero Cordless Vacuum for $300: This stick vac comes with a self-emptying charging station, freeing you from the responsibility of manually emptying the vacuum. There's a five-stage HEPA filtration system that claims to capture 99.97 percent of particles (as small as 0.3 microns), making it ideal for people who want to reduce pet allergens around their home.

This vacuum also doubles as a hand vacuum for easier, lighter-weight cleaning and comes with a slew of handy attachments for those hard-to-reach places, including crevice and combination tools, a mini motorized brush, and an extension hose for longer reach. It works excellently on both high- and low-pile carpets, pulling up microscopic dust and dirt better than other vacuums I’ve tested. My main gripe is that it isn't nearly as effective on hardwood floors. —Molly HigginsShark PowerDetect Cordless Vacuum for $330: Shark's PowerDetect is a fantastic vacuum.

It was my previous top pick and is still an excellent buy, especially if you spot it on sale, or if you want a slightly longer battery life than the PowerDetect Speed I recommend above. There are three cleaning modes, lights on both the front and back of the vacuum head to spot debris, and detection technology to sense when you're cleaning edges or when a specific area is dirtier than other spots. You’ll also get 70 minutes of run time, a HEPA filter, and the central stick can even bend so you can vacuum under furniture without crouching on the ground.

It comes with two attachments, and you can upgrade to a model with a self-emptying docking station ($550).Other Vacuums I’ve TestedBissell IconPet Turbo Edge for $266: Bissell's OG stick vacuum is a popular model that's been around for a while. It does a good job at picking up hair and cat litter, and it easily turns into a handheld vac. The battery life is also nice, but former WIRED reviewer Medea Giordano wasn't impressed by its lacking Cheerios-gathering skills, and the machine also can't stand up on its own.Bosch Unlimited 10 Cordless Stick Vacuum for $529: This vacuum has six cleaning modes, can bend in the middle, and its motor has a long warranty.

When I recently retested it, it was better at sucking up cat litter on hard floors (using its main cleaner head) than Dyson's All Floor Cones head and Shark's PowerDetect Speed vacuum. Overall, it performed similarly to some Dyson vacuums, but didn't outpace Shark, which has a better price point.Black & Decker Powerseries Extreme Max for $199: A great stick vacuum for a lower-end price, the Black & Decker Powerseries Extreme Max stands up on its own, has three power levels you can easily control from the handle, and handles well on the different surfaces in my home. I liked this vacuum a lot, but it wasn't as stable as the Bissell above, and the handle felt a little plasticky compared to it and other vacuums I tested.

It did have a larger-capacity dustbin, though.Dirt Devil Power Swerve Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum for $89: I previously recommended this as a budget pick. It's a good vacuum for the money, but the battery life and build quality were questionable.Dyson V8 Cyclone for $400: I really wanted to like this new generation of the popular V8 vacuum, but if you're going to choose one of Dyson's new, more affordable vacuums, go with the V10 Konical. It outperformed the V8 in every test I ran and only costs $100 more.

They both have 150 air watts of power, but the V10 has the new All Floor Cones head and a built-in light to help you spot debris on hard floors.Dyson V12 Detect for $650: The V12 Detect has the same power level (150 air watts) as the newer V8 and V10, both of which are cheaper than the V12, so I'd pick those over this older model.Eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E2