The 6 Best Cordless Stick Vacuums - Black Friday 2024

The Dyson V15 Detect is the best stick vacuum we've tested. It delivers superb overall performance on bare floors and low- and high-pile carpets. It can automatically adjust its suction power to adapt to the surface you're cleaning, and it also has a dirt sensor that measures and counts the size of debris sucked into the vacuum, which is helpful if you want to know about the presence of fine particles in your home. The downside with its strong suction force is that it can make it hard to push around on some rugs. Battery life depends on the setting; it can run for over 70 minutes in its most energy-efficient mode, but that drops to under 10 minutes when using its 'Boost' suction, so you'll need to work fast when cleaning stubborn messes. Unfortunately, the vacuum does feel fragile in places, which is disappointing for a vacuum at a premium price point.

If you're looking for a stick vacuum that feels considerably more robust, the Miele Duoflex HX1 is a wonderful alternative with a similar automatic power adjustment system and great overall performance. It also allows for a few different configurations thanks to the inclusion of an extension hose and flexible XL crevice tool (depending on the variant), making it ideal for cleaning hard-to-reach places or tasks like cleaning your couch. That said, its tiny dustbin, which is just under half the size of that of the Dyson, can be a significant annoyance, as you'll need to empty it out at the end of almost every cleaning session.

The best stick vacuum in the upper mid-range price bracket we've tested is the Shark Stratos Cordless. Compared to the Dyson V15 Detect, this vacuum is noticeably heavier and has a larger twin-roller floorhead, so maneuvering in tight areas can be more of a hassle. That said, it's cheaper and still delivers strong overall performance on most surfaces. Its Clean Sense IQ system uses an infrared sensor to measure the amount of debris you suck up and automatically adjusts the suction power to match the required load. Its dustbin is bigger than that of the Dyson, so you won't have to empty it as often. Another nice feature is its hinged wand, which makes cleaning under most tables and chairs much easier, as you don't have to crouch too much.

A replaceable cartridge in its floorhead emits a detergent-like scent to mask unpleasant odors as you clean, though that can become overwhelming if you vacuum often. Its max battery life of about an hour is good; however, recharging takes over four hours, which is much longer than the Dyson. This leads to a lot of downtime between cleaning sessions if you don't have a second fully charged battery on hand. The Shark also gets bogged down on thick carpeting. Alternatively, if you want a more powerful stick vacuum and don't mind losing out on the Shark's automatic power adjustment system, the Samsung Jet 75 is worth a look.

The Samsung Jet 60 Pet is the best stick vacuum we've tested if you're shopping for a mid-range model. Despite a shorter runtime of around 40 minutes and a less sturdy build than the Shark Stratos Cordless, this model still offers a pretty impressive range of features at a lower price point. It boasts a five-stage filtration system that traps allergens as you clean, and it comes with a miniature turbo brush that's very effective in dealing with pet hair on fabric.

Performance is okay on bare floors, though it's worth noting that the bundled Jet Fit floorhead can push some larger pieces of debris around instead of sucking them up, and it struggles with lifting away stubborn debris on carpeted surfaces. Another downside is that emptying its dustbin can still release a cloud of dust and debris. This model can't automatically adjust its suction power; if that's a must-have feature, check out the Tineco PURE ONE S11, but know that it's a little harder to find from most retailers than the Samsung vacuum.

The Wyze Cordless Vacuum is the best stick vacuum cleaner in the budget range that we've tested. It offers strong overall debris pickup performance on both bare floors and carpets, easily clearing away solid debris and pet hair. Unusual for a vacuum in this price range, it also features a HEPA exhaust filter that's fairly effective in trapping fine particles like dust or pet dander as you clean. Battery performance is also strong for a budget-friendly cordless vacuum; it lasts almost an hour in its most energy-efficient mode, exceeding the pricier Samsung Jet 60 when running in a similar setting.

Unfortunately, the Wyze's build quality falls short compared to the Samsung vacuum, with the plastic used in its construction feeling somewhat thin and toy-like in places. Thankfully, maintenance is relatively easy, as you can disassemble and reassemble the vacuum without too much effort.

If you're looking for a cordless stick vacuum that's lightweight and easy to carry around, the Dyson Omni-Glide is worth a look. At a little over four pounds, this vacuum weighs less than most conventional cordless stick vacuums like the Wyze Cordless Vacuum. Its twin-roller head can also pivot in almost any direction, making it much easier to clean tight spots or around obstructions like furniture legs. However, unlike more conventional alternatives, the vacuum's floorhead has a pair of soft rollers that don't provide any surface agitation on carpets, so the Omni-Glide is only suitable for cleaning surfaces like hardwood or tile. 

Battery life is on the shorter end of the spectrum; it'll run for almost half an hour in its default power mode or a bit less than 10 minutes in its higher-intensity 'MAX' mode. Its compact design has a few other downsides, like a relatively narrow suction inlet that can get clogged with bulkier debris and a tiny dirt compartment. Thankfully, it does a good job of handling smaller debris, roughly the same size as grains of rice, as well as pet hair.

Check out the Samsung Bespoke Jet if you're searching for a cordless stick vacuum and are sensitive to pollen or pet dander. Generally speaking, bagless vacuums like this aren't the best if you have allergies; regardless of how advanced their filtration system is, shaking out a dustbin still releases a cloud of dust, which isn't as hygienic as tossing out a sealed dirtbag. However, the Bespoke Jet differs from most other bagless vacuums: it comes with a charging dock that doubles as a self-emptying station, similar in concept to self-emptying robot vacuums like the Roborock Qrevo. This dock transfers debris from the vacuum's dustbin through an airtight seal into a disposable dirtbag inside the stand-up station, meaning you don't have to worry about emptying its dustbin manually. The vacuum itself also has a five-stage filtration system that's effective in trapping allergens as you clean.

Performance-wise, it does a good job dealing with debris on low- and high-pile carpeting, though it falls short of the Dyson V15 Detect on bare floors, with its bulky twin-roller head pushing around some larger debris. One point in its favor is that it comes with two batteries that you can charge simultaneously, effectively doubling your potential runtime and making it a great option for longer cleaning sessions. However, its dual-roller floorhead is considerably bulkier than the Dyson vacuum's single-roller head, making it harder to maneuver.