The 16 best cordless vacuum cleaners of 2024, tried and tested

In our last test of 19 handheld vacuums, we found the Shark WandVac to be compact and super lightweight and ideal for quick cleanup jobs. The accessory caddy attaches to the charging dock, keeping the combination duster/crevice tool and multi-surface pet tool right where you need them. It performed very well in our cleaning tests and was especially good at picking up large debris and pet hair with its multi-surface pet tool, though fluff did get caught on the brush and had to be removed by hand. We like its washable filter and that it recharged faster than other slimline handheld vacuums we tested.

Mine came with hard and soft motorised heads for carpet and hard floors, a Pet Pro motorised head with rubber bristles, which really worked, and various crevice and brush tools. Halo claims it can last up to 60 minutes, although I found it didn’t last that long. However, the recharge time is an impressively short two hours, much less than most cordless batteries and Halo has introduced interchangeable batteries so you can continue vacuuming even after the first battery runs out.

This Cleaning & Organizing Awards winner has a few new advancements from its previous model, including AI technology and sensors to better detect floor type to automatically adjust the suction and brush roll accordingly. Seamlessly switch from soft carpets to hard floors without any extra work on your part — welcome to the new age of tech. We tested four cordless stick vacuums under $200, and all of them were terrible, with the exception of the Kenmore Elite CSV Max Cordless Stick Vacuum DS4095. It’s the only cheap cordless stick vacuum we’ve considered recommending—and we’re doing so with major caveats. This vacuum does a great job of handling pet hair on fabric furniture with its upholstery tool, as it easily clears away the vast majority of short and long strands of hair within a few passes. Since the dirt-detecting sensors are inside the upper part of the wand, the ‘Clean Sense IQ’ system still works when you use the vacuum handheld, allowing it to ramp up power when passing over an area with a lot of hair.

shark stick vacuum

Our testing team has three years of combined experience testing and evaluating everything from the best toasters to the best flower delivery services. Our product testing experts spend around 40 hours conducting firsthand research in our Testing Lab, including sourcing and researching products. We strive to recommend the very best products using honest and fair testing practices and never recommend a product we don’t love, regardless of how popular it is or how big the brand is. While the Shark Stratos performed the best overall, it also comes at the highest price point.

A bagged option might be better for dust allergy sufferers, or asthmatics, as there is a danger of breathing in particles when emptying the canister. It is also important to maintain your device properly by taking the filter out and cleaning it to prevent blockages and a decline in performance. Cleaning the filter is as simple as running it under the tap and leaving it to dry. Despite weighing 4.4kg, it actually felt like one of the lightest and most comfortable vacuums to use. This is partly due to the weight distribution but also, I suspect, because the suction isn’t quite as good as others, you don’t get the same friction along the floor. A pet peeve of mine is vacuum attachments with nowhere to put them, so I loved this feature more than I probably should.

That convenience used to come at the cost of power, but not anymore. Modern cordless vacuums have the right balance of convenience and capability. When picking the best cordless vacuum for yourself, you’ll want to pick an option that’s light and easy to move around but still has enough power to shark handheld vacuum remove as much filth from the floor as possible. CNET tested dozens of models to find the cordless vacuums, considering cleaning power, value and ease of use. After more than 50 hours of testing cord-free models, our top pick of the best cordless stick vacuum of 2024 is the Tineco Pure One S11.

It’s reliable, sturdy and considerably more powerful than most, but for many the standout feature will be the removable dust pod which gives dust-free emptying. As if all that tech wasn’t enough, the Roidmi vacuum can also charge wirelessly, by leaning against a charging port designed to be stuck on your wall. If you have a lot of carpet, or already own a decent mop, you probably don’t need all the bells and whistles offered by the Roidmi X30 VX. If you like fancy tech, the Roidmi is a worthy investment and a plausible rival to Dyson. Firstly, you’ll have to buy a separate handheld vacuum if you have stairs or are prone to spider webs, as it comes with no extra attachments. Secondly, it’s incredibly expensive for a household vacuum so it might better suit the commercial use for which it was intended.

Experience the convenience of cordless cleaning without compromising on performance. Enjoy a clean and tidy home with the power and versatility of Shark technology. The advanced swivel steering allows for easy maneuverability, ensuring you can navigate around furniture and obstacles effortlessly. The LED headlights illuminate hidden debris, making it easy to spot and clean even in low-light areas. As standard, you get a crevice tool, a dusting brush and an upholstery tool. Among the Shark’s other clever features is the flexible stick, which means you can bend the vacuum in half to reach underneath sofas and beds without getting on your hands and knees.