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Best cordless vacuums.
No cord. No excuses.

51 expert reviews and 3,055 comments from owners, researched, analyzed and cross-checked. No lab, no sponsors, no paid placement. Updated October 2026.

Best for pet hair →Best for carpet →Best for hardwood →
The leaderboard ↓Comparisons ↓How we score
Cordless vacuums

The leaderboard

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  1. 01Dyson V15 Detect

    Dyson V15 Detect

    A powerful, clever cordless vacuum that's pricey and tiring to hold

    EXPOWNREL83
  2. 02Dyson V12 Detect Slim

    Dyson V12 Detect Slim

    Light, easy, and great on hard floors, but the bin is tiny

    EXPOWNREL78
  3. 03Dyson Gen5detect

    Dyson Gen5detect

    A superb, powerful cleaner, but it's heavy and very expensive

    EXPOWNREL76
  4. 04Shark Stratos Cordless

    Shark Stratos Cordless

    A strong, smart cleaner on any floor, but heavy with short battery

    EXPOWNREL69
  5. 05Dreame Z30

    Dreame Z30

    Strong, affordable Dyson alternative, with questions about battery life and durability

    EXPOWNREL68
  6. 06Dyson V8

    Dyson V8

    A light, easy Dyson for smaller homes, with short battery life

    EXPOWNREL66
  7. 07Shark Wandvac System

    Shark Wandvac System

    Light, handy grab-and-go vacuum for quick messes, not whole-home cleaning

    EXPOWNREL64

Category champions

Highest scoreDyson V15 DetectDyson V15 Detect83 overallMost reliableOwners' favoriteBest for pet hairBest for carpetBest for hardwoodDyson V12 Detect SlimDyson V12 Detect Slim57 for this need

If you only read one thing

For most homes, the Dyson V15 Detect is the one to beat: it suits you if you have pets or long hair in the house and want floors and furniture cleared quickly.

We researched 51 expert reviews, analyzed 3,055 owner ratings and comments across 22 sources for 7 cordless vacuums, and cross-checked them into one verdict, so you don't have to.

Popular face-offs

Dyson V12 Detect Slim vs Dyson V15 Detect→Dyson Gen5detect vs Dyson V15 Detect→Dyson Gen5detect vs Dyson V12 Detect Slim→Dyson V15 Detect vs Shark Stratos Cordless→Dreame Z30 vs Dyson V15 Detect→Dyson V15 Detect vs Dyson V8→Dyson V15 Detect vs Shark Wandvac System→Dyson V12 Detect Slim vs Shark Stratos Cordless→Dreame Z30 vs Dyson V12 Detect Slim→Dyson Gen5detect vs Dyson V12 Detect Slim vs Dyson V15 Detect→Dyson V12 Detect Slim vs Dyson V15 Detect vs Shark Stratos Cordless→Dreame Z30 vs Dyson V12 Detect Slim vs Dyson V15 Detect→

Brand showdown

4 models · avg 761 model · avg 682 models · avg 66
Dyson vs Dreame→Dyson vs Shark→Dreame vs Shark→

Questions people actually ask

What is the best cordless vacuum?

The Dyson V15 Detect, for most homes. It suits you if you have pets or long hair in the house and want floors and furniture cleared quickly.

Based on: Highest score of the 7 cordless vacuums we rank.

What is the best cordless vacuum for hardwood?

The Dyson V12 Detect Slim. It suits you if you live in a smaller home or apartment with mostly hard floors.

Based on: Top of our best cordless vacuums for hardwood floors ranking (57 for this need).

What is the best cordless vacuum for carpet?

The Dyson V15 Detect. It is also our top pick overall.

Based on: Top of our best cordless vacuums for carpet ranking (79 for this need).

What is the best cordless vacuum for pet hair?

The Dyson V15 Detect. It is also our top pick overall.

Based on: Top of our best cordless vacuums for pet hair ranking (85 for this need).

How much should I spend on a cordless vacuum?

The top-rated ones start around $249 and go up to about $900. The Dreame Z30 is the lowest-priced of the leaders.

Based on: US prices quoted in expert reviews and at Amazon.com for the six highest-scoring models.