Floor cleaning might not be your favorite chore but having the best vacuum cleaner can certainly make it easier as well as faster. And unlike some other household appliances, vacuum cleaner technology is continually being improved upon. With the most recent leaps in innovation bringing us robot vacuums as well as cordless models that offer powerful suction and the freedom to vacuum all areas of your home without tripping over a power cord.
Hoover was one of the first brands to offer electric floor cleaners and the brand name became a colloquial term used to describe all vacuum cleaners. But no matter what you call it, you’ll need a model that you can rely on to suck up dust, dirt and debris and leave your floors spotless.
Reasons to buy
+Powerful Suction+Laser highlights hidden dust+Informative LCD Screen
Reasons to avoid
-Average-sized dust canister-Noisy on full power
Dyson's latest cordless vacuum cleaner really is its most impressive yet. It’s more powerful and cleans even better on all surfaces, yet still lasts up to 60 minutes between charges - the same battery life offered by its predecessor, the Dyson V11, which has the same price tag.
However, in our review, we felt like the vacuum really stands out thanks to a built-in laser that shines a light (a green one in fact) on microscopic dust that's not visible to the human eye on hard floors. It also comes with an LCD screen that displays the remaining runtime, and when used on Auto mode conserves the battery by adjusting the suction power to suit the floor type and the amount of dust automatically.
While we found the V15 Detect Absolute noisy when used on full power, it has an average-sized dust canister, and is certainly pricey, but we think it’s worth the money if you want the best vacuum cleaner available today.
Read our full review: Dyson V15 Detect Absolute (opens in new tab)
2. Roidmi R10 cordless vacuum cleaner
Best budget cordless vacuum
Specifications
Power supply: CordlessWeight: 2.4kgBin size: 0.4LRun time: Up to 40 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Super lightweight+Quiet+Sleek Design
Reasons to avoid
-Suction could be stronger on carpet-Shorter runtime than rival vacuums
The Roidmi R10 doesn’t pack the suction punch of our top dust buster, but it comes in at fraction of the price, making it our pick for the best affordable vacuum cleaner.
We were impressed with its dust pick-up on hard floors, but it struggled to deep clean carpet. Similarly, its 40-minute runtime is no match for the Dyson V15 Detect. However, the R10 excels noise-wise too, as even though its decibel levels are similar to other cordless vacuums, its softer tone feels less intrusive, and you can chat while cleaning without having to shout.
Previously called the Roidmi S1E, we found it lightweight, and easy to use in both stick cleaner or handheld mode. It also comes with a good selection of tools, including a motorized mattress brush to make upholstery cleaning easy, making it a great everyday floorcare option for those on a budget.
Read our full review: Roidmi R10 cordless vacuum cleaner (opens in new tab)
3. Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog review
A good vacuum if you have pets
Specifications
Power supply: CordlessWeight: 4kgBin size: 0.5LRun time: Up to 60 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Powerful suction and pet hair tool+Can be used as a stick vacuum or a handheld cleaner+Swappable battery means fewer interruptions to your cleaning
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive compared to the rest of the market-Heavy to use as a handheld cleaner
The first cordless vacuum from floor cleaning stalwart Miele is the best vacuum cleaner for pet hair you can buy right now on the market right now. It matches Dyson when it comes to suction power, and a hefty price tag, but it has the addition of the pet-hair tool and a floor cleaner head with LED lights.
We were impressed that the main unit can be moved closer to the cleaner head converting it into a cordless upright cleaner. This makes the vacuum cleaner easier to maneuver and means it can be left free-standing. It can also be converted into a handheld mode, however, we found it heavy to use in this mode.
The battery lasts up to 60 minutes between charges and is swappable to reduce the interruptions to your cleaning session.
Read our full review: Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog (opens in new tab)
4. Dyson Omni-glide
Particularly good for hard floors
Specifications
Power supply: CordlessWeight: 1.9KgBin size: 0.02LRun-time: Up to 20 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Powerful suction+Dual soft brush bar protect hard floors+Can be steered in any direction
Reasons to avoid
-Only suitable for hard floors-Expensive compare to the rest of the market
Released just days after the V15 Detect Absolute (above) the Omni-glide is the best we've tested when it comes to cleaning hard floors.
Its main cleaning head has not one, but two soft brush bars, so they can clean your hard floors faster than other vacuums, without damaging them. Four 360-degree castors can also be found on the bottom of the cleaning head, which in conjunction with the articulating neck, ensure the vacuum can be steered in any direction. It can even lie flat on the floor so it can be easily maneuvered under low-lying furniture.
It impressed us with its powerful suction, and while the 20-minute runtime is measly compared to other vacuums, the fact the battery is swappable did appease us a little. However we found the vacuum cumbersome to use in handheld mode.
The Omni-glide is one of the most affordable vacuums Dyson offer, but it's still pricey compared to the rest of the market, especially when you consider it can't be used on carpet.
Read our full review: Dyson Omni-glide (opens in new tab)
5. Dyson V11 Outsize
Best premium cordless vacuum
Specifications
Power supply: CordlessWeight: 3.5kgBin size: 1.9LRun time: Up to 60 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Powerful suction+Much larger bin+Wider cleaning head speeds up vacuuming
Reasons to avoid
-Most expensive vacuum we've tested-Cumbersome to use in handheld mode
If you’ve got a bigger home, a larger dust canister is a necessity if you want to ensure your floor cleaning session isn’t interrupted, and thankfully the Dyson V11 outsize offers just this. At 1.9-liters it can hold 150% more debris than the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute (above), and the wider-than-usual cleaning head, means you’ll be able to vacuum your floors quicker than ever too.
On test, it offered powerful suction that whipped away discarded biscuit crumbs, ground-in dirt, and even cereal and cat biscuits, almost instantly. However, we found the larger size made the vacuum cumbersome to use in handheld mode.
Performance is top-notch but it’s also the most expensive vacuum we’ve tested, putting it out of reach of some.
Read our full review: Dyson V11 Outsize (opens in new tab)
6. Lupe Pure Cordless
Particularly good if you want a vacuum cleaner with a long hose
Specifications
Power supply: CordlessWeight: 4.6KgBin size: 1LRun time: Up to 60 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Powerful suction+Swappable batteries let you keep cleaning for longer
Reasons to avoid
-Not the most stylish of designs-Heavy and bulky compared to other cordless vacuums-Handheld mode requires two hands
The Lupe Pure Cordless, which is the first cordless vacuum from a firm founded by two former Dyson engineers, is ideal for those that want a hose attachment for their vacuum.
The modular design means it can either be used as an upright cordless vacuum or as the main body detaches from the main tube and floor head assembly, as a lightweight, portable vacuum for cleaning stairs or up high. Although, we did find you'll need two hands to use it in portable mode.
It's a powerful vacuum - on test it sucked up fine dust, biscuit crumbs, and cereal with ease while the swappable battery ensured we didn't suffer with interruptions to our cleaning sessions.
However, it's heavy and bulky and certainly not the most stylish vacuum on the market.
Read our full review: Lupe Pure Cordless Vacuum Cleaner (opens in new tab)
7. iRobot Roomba s9+
The best robot vacuum cleaner
Specifications
Power supply: CordlessWeight: 3.4kgBin size: 0.3LRun-time: Up to 60 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Good suction on hard floors+Cleans corners efficiently+Self-emptying
Reasons to avoid
-Expensive but worth every penny-Dust bags have an ongoing cost
If you prefer to outsource your floor cleaning completely, this really is the best robot vacuum cleaner you can buy right now.
On test, the S9+ made light work of collecting everything from fine dust and biscuit crumbs to cereal on hard floors, although its pick-up on carpets wasn’t quite as thorough. It's self-emptying, which means less maintenance and also has five angled arms on its brush to really get into corners and along walls.
However, as the robot vacuum deposits its debris into replaceable dust bags, there is an on-going cost with this robovac. That's on-top of its eye-wateringly expensive price tag - it's the most expensive robot vacuum we've tested to date.
Read our full review: iRobot Roomba S9+ (opens in new tab)
7. Dyson Ball Animal 2
The best upright vacuum cleaner
Specifications
Power supply: CordedWeight: 7.34 kgBin size: 1.8 litresCord length: 30 ft / 8 meter
Reasons to buy
+Powerful suction+Large dust canister+Glides well on carpet and hard floor
Reasons to avoid
-No LEDs on the floor cleaning head-Heavy and bulky
For those seeking an upright vacuum that doesn't run on battery power, this Dyson model is the best you can buy right now. It's a little older than many designs in this list - having been released in 2017, but this is because in 2018 Dyson said it had no plans to launch any more corded vacuums due to concentrating on the cordless market.
On test, it proved to be extremely effective at sucking up the surface and ground-in dust from carpets and hard floors, while the 1.8-liter dust canister is the largest on any of the vacuums in this list.
We were also impressed by the extension tube, as it reached the top of a flight of 13 stairs, meaning you don't need to carry the heavy floor cleaning appliance to clean the steps in your home.
However, it is a bulky appliance meaning it may be a problem to store. We were also disappointed there were no LEDs on the floor cleaning head - a feature offered by some vacuums in this list - which makes it easier when cleaning in dark spaces under furniture.
Read our full review: Dyson Ball Animal 2 (opens in new tab)
9. Shark WandVac
Particular good if you want to clean up small spills
Specifications
Power supply: CordlessWeight: 3kgBin size: 0.25LRun-time: 16 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Lightweight+Strong suction
Reasons to avoid
-Noisy-Much shorter battery life-Small dust canister
If you’re looking for a compact vacuum that you can grab quickly to clean up the odd spillage straight away, the Shark WandVac is the best stick vacuum for the job.
Relatively lightweight and simplistic, the Shark WandVac can be used as a stick vacuum or in handheld mode. In our review, we found it extremely easy to empty, too - although with a smaller than usual dust canister, you'll find yourself having to do this often.
The vacuum cleaner performed better at sucking up fine dust, but when we tried to pick up large debris it did take a few sweeps back and forth to scoop up all of the mess. The Shark WandVac is loud in use and the runtime is around a quarter of that offered by rival cordless cleaners.
Read our full review: Shark WandVac (opens in new tab)
10. Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology IZ300
Particularly good for cleaning in tight spaces
Specifications
Power: CordlessWeight: : 4.58kgBin size: : 0.7LRun time: Up to 60 minutes
Reasons to buy
+Flexible for reaching under furniture+Powerful suction+Anti-hair wrap technology
Reasons to avoid
-Heavy-Noisy in use-Flicked around large debris on hard floor
If you’re looking for a versatile vacuum that can clean up high as well as under furniture with low clearance, this is worth considering.
The Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology has a bendable wand that enables the cleaner to reach in tight gaps, while also making it more compact for easy storage. may be the answer.
Known as the Shark Vertex Pro Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with DuoClean PowerFins (IZ662H) in the US, we were impressed with just how powerful it was when sucking up dirt and debris from carpet and hard floors. It also includes Shark’s Anti Hair Wrap technology that prevents hair from getting tangled up, so you no longer have to spend hours picking out the strands yourself.
However it’s not perfect. It’s one of the noisiest vacuums we’ve tested, and we found the wheels on the back of the cleaner head flicked some of the oats around rather than collecting them, when we tested it on hard floors. It’s also heavier than many cordless vacuums on the market too.
Read our full review: Shark Anti Hair Wrap Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner with PowerFins & Flexology IZ300 (opens in new tab)
How we test vacuum cleaners
To find the best vacuum cleaner, we’ve assessed how well each model collects everything from fine dust and dirt to larger debris such as cookie crumbs and cereal. As well as evaluating how well floors are cleaned, we’ve also compared how easy the vacuum cleaners are to maneuver on carpet and hard floors, as well as whether fust pick up is evenly distributed across the cleaning head, or concentrated in one area.
We rated each design on how durable it is, as well as simplicity of emptying, how loud it is during use and how long the battery lasts - if it has one. For each model we wanted to know whether it was easy to convert into other modes; such as a handheld vac, the useful tools and accessories it came with to clean edges or remove pet hair, and that it didn’t require reading a thick instruction manual before use.
Best vacuum cleaner FAQs
What to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner
As we’ve mentioned already, knowing which type of vacuum to choose can end up leaving you confused. However, considering the type of property you have will help you decide.
These days, cordless vacuums are some of the most powerful vacuums when it comes to suction and they ensure you’re not restricted by the length of the wire. However they can also be some of the most expensive too. Check how long the battery will last between charges, and whether the battery is swappable, so you can simply replace it and carry on vacuuming, rather than the floor cleaner being out of action completely while it recharges.
Corded vacuums are often more affordable than cordless models, and many have wider floor headers, which can ensure vacuuming is a much quicker task. Although if you have nooks and crannies the vacuum may not be able to reach them. For those with stairs, consider models with extra-long hoses so you can clean the stairs without moving the vacuum.
Robot vacuums are good for regular cleans, however with suction that can’t match the best cordless vacuums they’re not suitable for a deep clean, and struggle to suck up dust embedded in carpets.
If you have hard floors, look for a vacuum cleaner that comes with a dedicated cleaner head, which has a softer brush roll to ensure the flooring isn’t damaged when vacuuming.
Whichever style you select, consider whether the dust canister is large enough to clean all of the floors in your home, without needing to stop and be emptied half way through.
Is Shark better than Dyson?
Shark and Dyson are two of the biggest names dominating the floor care market right now, so if you’re considering kitting your home out with a powerful new vacuum, it makes sense to opt for one of these brands. But which is best?
In a nutshell, Dyson vacuums are more expensive but this ensures you get a vacuum cleaner that’s extremely powerful but still lightweight and easy to maneuver around your home. Dyson vacuums are stuffed with cutting edge technology too, from lasers that highlight hidden dust to innovative floor heads that can be moved in any direction. If you prefer a cordless model, they also come with long-lasting batteries too.
Shark’s vacuum cleaners are more affordable than Dyson’s offering, but they can still match the stalwart when it comes to suction power. To keep the price tag low, Shark models are not as sleek and stylish as Dyson’s, and they’re often heavier too, but they do come with useful technology such as the ability to stop hair getting tangled around the brush air, and flexible wands to ensure you can clean in hard to reach places.
Shark vacuums tend to have larger dust canisters than most of Dyson’s models, but the battery doesn’t last as long. So are they better? It very much depends on the layout of your home and your budget. Read our Shark vs Dyson article for a more in-depth look at the two floor-cleaning brands.
How often should you vacuum?
“When the floor looks dirty” I hear you cry, but to keep your home allergen-free and your floors as clean as possible, you’ll need to vacuum more regularly than this.
We recommend vacuuming most floors once a week while increasing this to twice a week in high-traffic areas such as hallways and doorways. Especially, if you have carpet, as the longer dust is left, the more it becomes embedded in the fibres making it hard to thoroughly clean.
While this may seem like a lot, vacuuming this regularly will ensure there is less dust to suck up each time, making cleaning your floors a quicker process.
For more on this, head to our full feature on how often should you vacuum?
