Best Cordless Stick Vacuums of 2023, Tested by TheHousewire

It may be a nightmare dragging a bulky vacuum around, always looking for a power outlet. We all know it needs doing, but it feels like such a burden.

A cordless stick vacuum is a painless way to clean your home. They’re lightweight, easy to use, and have rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Say goodbye to your power cable!

Plus, their compact size makes them easy to store when you’ve finished.

If you want to learn more, then this list of the best cordless models will help you to choose the right cord-free cleaner for you.

Is a Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner Worth it?

Yes, we think so.

Cordless vacuum cleaners are flexible and fast to use as they don’t need to be plugged into the mains. They’re small and agile enough to get into tricky areas that bulky corded cleaners can’t reach.

And without a power cord to maneuver, you won’t need to stop to find an outlet or drag an extension cord around.

Stick vacuum cleaners are also versatile bits of kit. They can often be converted into a handheld vacuum, making it a lightweight option for multi-surface cleaning.

And even if you choose one without many accessories, the main wand gives easier access to tight corners and high-up places. They can be used in various setups to cover all your cleaning bases.

The simple and lightweight design of stick vacuum makes them straightforward to use. They’re easy to hold with one hand and whizz around your home. It makes vacuuming a quick and painless job.

Being able to grab your stick vacuum in a flash makes those quick clean-up jobs much easier.

And if you’ve got a busy family home, you can sort out the mess without any fuss or disruption to the daily routine.

What to Look for in a Cordless Stick Vacuum

Let’s take a look at the features to consider when choosing the best cordless vacuum cleaner.

How We Test Cordless Vacuum Cleaners

We’ve put several cordless vacuum cleaners to the test in our homes to determine whether they are worth it.

First, we evaluated how each model is effective at cleaning on various surfaces. For example, we laid down flour on hard floors and checked the state of the floor.

Then, we cleaned dirty carpets and checked how they were cleaned after each testing session. We tested their performances at picking up crumbs on a couch thanks to their handheld mode.

We also looked at their designs and any extra features. We rated how they are easy to maneuver on hard floors as well as on carpets.

And to determine if the battery was long lasting, we used the maximum of power.

Finally, for each model, we wanted to know whether they were easy to maintain, to store and if the accessories were useful.

The Best Cordless Stick Vacuums Of 2023

Now you know what to consider before buying a cordless stick vacuum, let’s get to the list.

We’ve put the effort into researching and testing the best cordless stick vacuums on the market, so you don’t have to.

We’ve looked at expert advice, real user reviews, and our own experience from years of vacuuming!

1. Dyson V11 Animal Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Read Full Review: Dyson V11 Animal Vacuum Review

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Nobody wants to spend ages vacuuming the house. Well, the Dyson V11 Animal makes quick work of dirt.

The high torque cleaner head is wider than most other cordless vacuums, so it’s fast at covering large areas. And it picks up dust with ease thanks to its powerful suction from the jet cyclone technology.

It has a decent battery to power it, too. You could get a whole hour of run time from one battery charge, which is one of the best for a cordless vacuum. And the digital display is handy to show you how much run time you have left.

This cleaner is a great choice for some speedy dust busting. It’s one to consider if you’d rather go about enjoying the rest of your day.

What We Like

Good For Deep Cleaning

The powerful suction of this stick cleaner will pull out dirt you didn’t even know was hiding in your carpets. Users love how clean their home is after whizzing it around.

It’s Smart

The automatic cleaning mode will change the settings to suit the floor type. The power and spinning brushes adapt to carpets or hard floors. It makes for easier clean-ups and has the added bonus of making the battery last longer.

Long Run Time

The Dyson V11 Animal has a unique battery system, including 7 mini lithium-ion batteries. This makes it one of the most long-lasting on the market.

It’s super useful if you have a big house. You don’t have to wait for the battery to recharge halfway through cleaning the house.

What We Don’t Like

It Has a Trigger Switch

The trigger switch needs to be pressed the whole time you’re cleaning. If you let go, the power turns off. Some users find this awkward, particularly when doing a long cleaning session.

2. BLACK+DECKER PowerSeries Extreme

A clean home shouldn’t cost the earth. That’s where this nifty stick vacuum comes in! This budget cleaner is still packed with useful features for keeping your home fresh and tidy.

It has V-shaped bristles to tackle debris on a range of floor types. And the anti-tangle brush stops hair from wrapping around, so the suction power stays strong.

The LED headlights are a bonus, too. They make it easy to see the dirt you’re clearing up, even in those dark corners. And for really hard-to-reach areas, the vacuum converts to a handheld cleaner.

When you’ve finished vacuuming, the freestanding design makes this simple to store away. So you can enjoy a nice clean home again!

What We Like

It’s Quiet

People love how quiet this cordless vacuum is. Some other brands sound like a jet engine taking off, but this one is low-key enough to use all the time. It’s useful if you have anxious pets.

Good Build Quality

Even though it’s a budget cleaner, it doesn’t feel cheap to use. It’s made with sturdy plastic and a metal shaft that feels secure when cleaning.

Swappable Batteries

It’s useful to have batteries that you can swap over to extend the run time, but this stick vacuum goes one better. It uses the same batteries as other Black+Decker products, so you can swap between all your gadgets.

What We Don’t Like

Easy to Knock the Dust Cup

The dust bin attaches in a way that it’s easy to catch when cleaning. And if you knock it off the spring system pops open, so you end up with the dirt all over the floor again. Make sure the dust cup is properly attached before you use this stick vac.

3. Tineco A11 Hero EX Cordless Stick Vacuum

Carpets seem to fill up with dirt quicker than you can clean them. One minute they’re spotless, then the next there’s mud and dust all over them. This Tineco cordless stick vacuum cleaner makes light work of getting them clean again.

The three suction modes cover all sorts of dust busting, whether it’s your daily whizz round or a deep clean. The max mode has powerful suction to pull out stubborn dirt that often gets left behind.

And when all that dust gets into the filter, you can use the suction power of the vac to clean it! This handy feature saves you from making more mess trying to clean it out.

Best of all, the trigger switch on this stick vacuum can be locked into place. It’s a big complaint with Dyson models, so this adaptation is something many people will be pleased to see.

What We Like

Picks up Debris of All Sizes

In a busy home, it’s easy for all sorts of things to get spilled. From fine dust particles to pretzel crumbs, this cordless stick vacuum cleaner picks up mess with ease.

Useful Storage

You get a wall mount included with this stick vacuum that’s handy for storing the cleaner when not in use. It can also store accessories and charge both the batteries at the same time.

Good For Pet Hair

The mixture of strong suction power and accessories makes this a good option for pet hair. Even with long-haired animals, like Huskies, it picks up all the mess.

What We Don’t Like

MAX Mode Eats the Battery

Unlike a corded vacuum, you’re relying on battery power for this cordless stick vac. Users have found the MAX mode drains the battery quicker than they were expecting.

4. Eureka Rapid Clean Pro Cordless Vacuum

Wood floors look sleek and stylish when they’re clean. To keep your hard floors free of dust bunnies and debris, you need a cordless stick vac that can handle the dirt from everyday life.

The Eureka Rapid Clean excels on hard flooring. There’s a setting to make the brush rolls spin slower to stop you from sending debris scattering across the bare floors.

And the dust cup is on the front, so you can lay the vacuum flat for easy cleaning under furniture. The design of the narrow nozzle with a swivel head makes it a breeze to get in hard to reach places.

We love the easy rest feature, too. It allows you to prop it up on the kitchen countertop, so it’s perfect for when guests pop by and you need to pause for a moment.

If you’re looking for other models check out our guide to hard-floor vacuums.

What We Like

It’s Lightweight

This lightweight stick vacuum is easy to move around when you’re cleaning hard floors. It seems it’s most useful when you’re getting down low to clean under tight spaces.

Easy to Put Together

It’s not a big chore to assemble this stick vacuum. And seeing as cordless vacuums are meant to be about convenience, this is a real plus point for the Eureka.

It Moves Well

Users love the swivel head on this cleaner. It’s not hard to push around or change direction. It makes a daily chore much easier to tackle than a heavy corded vacuum does.

What We Don’t Like

No Swappable Battery

Most stick vacuums have a removable battery that you can swap out, but this one doesn’t. It means you’ll have to wait for it to recharge before you can carry on cleaning.

5. Shark Cordless Anti-Allergen Pet Power

Pets can make a house feel like a home, but their fur gets everywhere. It can be a nightmare to clean up, so you need a stick pet hair vacuum cleaner that won’t get clogged.

The Shark Cordless Anti-Allergen Pet Power comes with a self cleaning brushroll to prevent this. The powerful suction whips it straight off the silicone fins and into the dust bin. The fins disturb the carpet fibers more than bristles, so it picks up more pet hair as well.

In our opinion, this makes it better than the Shark Rocket Pet Pro, which uses a traditional brush roll. The Pet Power also has a longer run time and more accessories.

This is one to consider if you want to enjoy having your furry friends and keeping a clean home at the same time.

What We Like

Useful Attachments

The accessories included with this cordless stick vacuum cleaner cover a range of surfaces. There’s an accessory for every job, from edges to sofas and getting pet hair off car seats.

It’s Low Maintenance

Cordless stick vacs tend to require a bit of upkeep, but this one is easy to maintain. The filters are accessible and are simple to clean. Other than that, there’s very little you need to do to keep a strong cleaning performance.

Suction Stays Good When the Battery Gets Low

The suction power on this lightweight cordless vacuum stays strong, even when the battery is getting low. Some other models lose suction and don’t pick up as much dirt. With this stick vac, the power stays good right until the battery dies.

What We Don’t Like

Struggles With Large Debris

Some users have found this cordless vacuum cleaner struggles with larger debris, like kitty litter or cereal. Instead of sucking the mess up, it pushes it around in front of the floor head.

6. Miele Triflex HX1

Vacuuming is a chore that can give you aching arms and a painful back. Well, the Miele Triflex HX1 is a versatile vacuum designed to ease this pain.

You can swap where the weight sits by moving the power unit around. This makes it more comfortable to use for longer cleaning sessions.

It can be set up like a standard stick vacuum with the power unit at the top, or like an upright with the weight at the bottom. You can even use it on its own as a handheld vacuum.

The wide brush head allows for faster cleaning and you don’t need to strain your hand holding the power button down, either. If you want a more comfortable cleaning experience, this is one to think about.

What We Like

Moves Across Surfaces With Ease

You won’t need to change any settings on this cordless vacuum cleaner when moving from carpets to hard floors. The automatic surface detection does it all for you!

It’s Freestanding

This vac can stand up on its own without needing to be propped up or clipped into something. It makes life much easier when you need to pause vacuuming to move furniture or answer your phone

It’s Sturdy

Some vacuum cleaners are made with flimsy parts that don’t take much to break. But the Miele is made from high-quality materials that feel sturdy to use. You can vacuum with confidence knowing this machine can handle frequent use.

What We Don’t Like

The Dust Bin Doesn’t Fill Evenly

It seems the dust doesn’t go into the bin evenly. It can gather on one side, so it needs to be emptied more often to stop it from clogging the filters. When it already has a small dust bin this is frustrating.

Taking Care of Your Cordless Stick Vacuum

There are a few core things you need to do to keep your cordless stick vacuum running smoothly. These basic bits of maintenance will help to extend the lifespan of your cleaner and prevent problems from developing.

These are general guidelines, so always check your manufacturer’s instructions first.

Keep This in Mind Before Investing in a Cordless Stick Vacuum

There are a few downsides of cordless stick vacuums.

First, cordless vacuum cleaners rely on battery power, which limits their run time.

Most offer between 20-45 minutes, but the higher the power setting, the shorter the run time. An average battery lasts around 30 minutes.

Some models have swappable batteries to extend this run time, or you can pay more for a battery with longer life. Even so, a cordless vacuum isn’t always the best option for large areas.

Also, cordless vacuums are twice as likely as corded ones to develop problems within the first 5 years⁽¹⁾.

Reduced battery life is one of the main issues people have with their cordless vacuums. Or the battery can die altogether, which happens to 15% of stick cleaners by the fifth year.

Cordless vacs don’t offer the same suction power as corded cleaners do. On average a corded vacuum will pick up around 70% of dust, but a cordless vacuum only manages 41%⁽²⁾.

Of course, this will vary depending on the model you choose. But in general, suction power is weaker with cordless models. They may not be the best choice if you have lots of thick carpets or if you suffer from dust allergies.

Finally, you may need a wall mount near a charging point to store your cordless vacuum. Most models won’t stand on their own, so a docking station is a must.

And you’ll need a plug nearby to charge the battery. If your closet doesn’t have an outlet, you’ll have to think about where you’re going to keep it.