The 8 Best Cordless Stick Vacuums of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Shark Vertex IZ462H Ultra Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5

The Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum was a standout product in our testing. We found that it has the powerful suction of an upright vacuum paired with the maneuverability of a cordless stick vacuum. We recently tested the newest model in this series, the Shark Cordless Pro with Clean Sense IQ, but we found the performance of the PowerFins to be more impressive. It wasted no time sucking up all of the materials during our test and proving its power on every surface.

We gave it a perfect rating for its cleaning effectiveness, and we found that it's almost effortless to move and use. In fact, the vacuum almost pulls itself toward the messes before capturing them in a pass or two. No surface was left unclean in this vacuum's path. It was equally powerful on hardwood, low-pile, medium-pile, and high-pile carpet, so you can clean with confidence whether you're sucking up Cheerios off of the kitchen floor or pet hair from the living room carpet.

When it came to assembly, this vacuum was also pretty easy to put together, and we only docked its setup score because it needed to be charged and the pieces were wrapped individually. However, the vacuum quickly made up for the setup process with its amazing maneuverability. It easily slipped under the low-sitting couch and coffee table we set up in The Lab and was able to navigate all the tight corners. Its handle folds in half for easy storage, too. While the canister did fill up rather quickly, we were impressed with the movement and painless emptying process with this vacuum.

A downside of many stick vacuums is short battery life, but this one can run for a notable 60 minutes, which makes it suitable for spot cleaning and whole-house cleaning alike. In our testing, it was noisy when picking up the popcorn kernels, so it received a slightly lowered rating for its noise level. Still, we think this is an excellent pick if you're looking for the power of an upright vacuum and the ultimate convenience of a top-notch cordless stick vacuum.

Price at time of publish: $430

_{Dimensions: 46.46 x 9.65 x 10.24 inches | Weight: 9.04 pounds | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Bin Volume: 1.4 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 10.63 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet, hard floors}

Best Budget

Dirt Devil Versa 3-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  2/5

For a vacuum that's easy to use and easy on your wallet, look no further than the Dirt Devil Versa 3-in-1 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner—one of our favorite cheap vacuum cleaners. It boasts a simple, low-key design with no extra frills or attachments, and it's a breeze to use. We were especially pleased with its simple setup and maneuverability. Its lightweight design, nicely gliding wheels, and relatively small brush head make it easy to direct into tight spaces, including around furniture legs.

Overall, we were impressed with how well it picked up different debris types—though you should expect it to take a couple of passes to clean messes. In our testing, we found it took about three passes to suck up coffee grounds from carpet. But we think that's a fair trade-off at this price point. While this pared-down model doesn't come with additional attachments, you can remove the floor head and use this model as a handheld vacuum. The dust cup is also easy to remove and empty, adding to its overall efficiency.

There are some drawbacks to such a basic model, including its loud operation and the fact that hair did get tangled in the brush roll. But, based on the performance, ease of use, lightweight design, and price, we would recommend it. We also think it could be an especially great choice as a secondary vacuum for an RV or dorm room, or for anyone who wants to avoid heavier or more complex machines.

Price at time of publish: $90

_{Dimensions: 42.5 x 10 x 7.8 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Battery Life: Not listed | Bin Volume: 0.43 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 10 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hard floors, carpet}

Best Splurge

Dyson V12 Detect Slim Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

If your budget is a bit larger, the Dyson v12 Detect Slim is a great option. After using the vacuum for two months, some of our favorite features are its overall convenience, suction power, ease of use, and easy storage. We are also impressed by this vacuum's lightweight and compact design, which is 24 percent lighter than the Dyson v15 Detect.

In testing, we found that this vacuum not only prevents hair wrap on all of its motorized attachments, but it also sucks up every trace of hair within seconds. While it did spit popcorn kernels in every direction when used on hard flooring, we found that it had no trouble sucking up Cheerios, popcorn, and hair from carpet. It did take several passes to suck up the larger debris, but that's fairly common with vacuums with smaller motorized heads.

It also is powered by a button, so there's no need to consistently pull a trigger to operate it, unlike other Dyson models. The Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head shines a laser onto tiny particles that you might not usually see while cleaning and is composed of soft nylon and anti-static carbon fibers that help remove dust from small gaps and hard flooring. We also appreciated the point-and-shoot dust bin emptying mechanism but noted that some hair did need to be manually pulled out.

As may be expected, this vacuum's suction power does make it one of the loudest vacuums we tested. Even on its auto mode, the vacuum was loud to the point that we would avoid using it on boost mode for extended periods of time. The suction power also translated to some pulled-up corners of smaller area rugs, but it does have built-in sensors so the bristles stopped spinning quickly when this happened. The LCD screen on this vacuum offers insights into the run time, power countdown, and maintenance needs, but the instruction manual provided little insight into properly understanding these features. Despite these few design concerns, we were overall impressed by this vacuum's suction power, especially given the fact that we found zero hair wrap on any of the attachments after testing. It's worth the splurge.

Price at time of publish: $650

_{Dimensions: 49.1 x 9.9 x 9.8 inches | Weight: 5.2 pounds | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Bin Volume: 0.4 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet, hard floors}

Best Vacuum for Pet Hair

Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Setup
  4.3/5
• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5

To evaluate this vacuum, we conducted thorough lab testing, then we sent it off for three months of real-world testing in a home with pets. After all that, we can confirm that we're enthusiastic about the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum. Its suction power, ease of operation, and easy-to-empty design really make it feel like you're getting a deep clean.

We found the strong suction and brush roll on the detachable cleaner head to be effective in clearing pet hair and cat litter from hard flooring, including hardwood and tile. We were especially impressed with its performance on soft surfaces like rugs. We didn't notice any issues with battery longevity. In our testing, we were able to vacuum an apartment (which took about 15 minutes) twice a week without it losing steam, even when we used it on its Boost mode. We didn't have any issues with hair wrap in our testing, either.

We appreciate that in addition to a crevice tool and dusting brush, this vacuum comes with a small, motorized hair screw attachment for removing hair from surfaces, as well as a two-in-one combination tool with a wide nozzle and sliding brush. Since pet messes can be a little gross sometimes, we also appreciate that this Dyson model has a rubber "skirt" to push debris out of the dust bin, minimizing the need to reach in and get your hand dusty. If we had any complaints, it would be that it doesn't securely stand on its own, the attachments don't store on board, and it's a bit noisy. While this vacuum isn't the cheapest option out there, we're confident it's one of the best vacuums for pet hair after using it around a pet owner's home and on other pet-related debris.

Price at time of publish: $470

_{Dimensions: 48.74 x 9.84 x 9.53 inches | Weight: 5.71 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 35 minutes | Bin Volume: 0.8 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Compatible Floor Type: Hard floors, carpet, upholstery}

Best Wet-Dry

Shark VM252 Vacmop Pro Cordless Wet/Dry Stick Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

Wet-dry vacuums can only be used on hard surfaces. However, if your living space has even one large hardwood, tile, or laminate surface, then you'll want to consider investing in this VacMop Pro model, one of our top-rated Shark vacuums. This product earned perfect ratings across the board because it's designed thoughtfully and cleans easily. We were instantly impressed with how it glides over surfaces and picks up all the dirt, dust, and debris right on a disposable cleaning pad. To start using this vac, you just have to click the pieces into place. It took two minutes to do so, and we didn't even need to reference the instructions—it was that easy. From there, you need to fill the tank with the provided Shark cleaning solution and attach a cleaning pad.

We were slightly disappointed that you have to hold the power button for the entire time it is in use. This could get tiring and annoying over time, especially if you're cleaning a larger room. Plus, the battery only lasts for 20 minutes at a time. However, this vac does operate quietly, and changing its cleaning pad is straightforward and mess-free. To release the pad, you just tap a button on the floor head, which is also outfitted with a light. This vacuum is also very lightweight, so it won't tire you out carrying it from room to room. It's a must-have if you're looking to complete two tough jobs at once.

Price at time of publish: $80

_{Dimensions: 47.87 x 9.5 x 5.3 inches | Weight: 5 pounds | Battery Life: 20 minutes | Bin Volume: 0.03 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 10 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hard floors (hardwood, tile, laminate, and vinyl)}

Best for Small Spaces

Innova Cordless Stick Multi-Surface Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Maneuverability
  4.8/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  4.8/5

From Eureka's Innova line, this cordless stick vacuum was a worthy competitor in The Lab, proving itself with a simple setup, effective cleaning, and a stable battery. Using the machine's two surface settings (hardwood and carpet), we found that it effectively cleaned a variety of soft and hard flooring. Plus, at the end of our testing of this model, it still had 75 percent power left.

In our tests, popcorn kernels and Cheerios presented a challenge for the vacuum, and it ended up pushing some of this larger debris up to the wall. Reorienting the vacuum so it was perpendicular to the wall managed to gather some of the debris that was left behind—and detaching the vacuum head attachment allowed us to target all the remaining bits. Despite some slight hiccups with large debris, we found that it still accomplished the task and gave this vacuum a near-perfect effectiveness score.

This is a heavier model (8 pounds) than some of the others we're featuring, and we had to empty the dust bin after each test. With this in mind, we could see this model being a better fit for cleaning smaller spaces, where its weight and bin capacity won't be as likely to tire or frustrate the user. On a related note, we observed that after 23 minutes of vacuuming during our tests, the handle began to feel uncomfortable—so this likely isn't the best option for prolonged use. While individual grip and vacuum habits surely would factor in (and possibly help mitigate the issue), it also suggested that shorter sessions might be the way to go with this machine. If you're looking for an effective vacuum for a smaller space or smaller cleaning jobs, it's worth your attention.

Price at time of publish: $229

_{Dimensions: 45.7 x 9.8 x 10.9 inches | Weight: 7.8 pounds | Battery Life: Up to 60 minutes | Bin Volume: 1.06 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: 10.9 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet, hard floors}

Best Lightweight

eufy by Anker HomeVac H30 Infinity Cordless Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.3/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  3.5/5
• Portability
  5/5

From the first moments with it, the HomeVac H30 Infinity impressed us. We thought the packaging was streamlined (one of our testers even called it "beautiful"), and putting together the different parts was simple. Once it's ready for usage, the sleek, lightweight design proved to be efficient, too. We found it to effectively vacuum up all debris in its path—and the pet brush and crevice tool attachments came in handy around edges and crevices. We were also pleased with how easily it transitions between carpeting and upholstery. The incredibly lightweight design adds to its portability and maneuverability, and we were happy with the consistent power output of its battery during our tests.

One drawback to this model: It's very loud. We found that it emitted a lot of notice on both its low and high settings, making it difficult to carry on a conversation while it was running. If you're noise-averse, you might consider choosing a quieter model—or keep some earplugs on hand, just in case. The other potential downside we observed was its small dust bin, which was also finicky to remove. Throughout our testing, we had to empty the dust bin multiple times. But as long as you're OK with some noise and a few extra trips to empty the dust bin, we think the rest of the pros outweigh the cons, especially for smaller cleanup jobs or occasional use.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Dimensions: 16.73 x 3.5 x 2.87 inches | Weight: 1.78 pounds | Battery Life: 20 minutes | Bin Volume: 0.26 quarts | Cleaning Path Width: Not listed | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet, hard flooring}