We’ve tested and reviewed some of the best vacuum cleaners from the biggest names, as well as smaller and independent brands. If your current vacuum is coming to the end of its life, you’ll find a much better replacement here.
When you check out our round-up, you’ll notice that the majority of our top-rated vacuum cleaners are cordless. Cordless cleaners are where companies are focusing their energies – so that’s where the innovations are. But we’ve chosen a best corded and best compact corded cleaner for households that need them.
If you want some tips on specs, features and terminology to help you make your choice, have a look at the guide that follows our top ten rundown.
If you’re looking for a mopping vacuum, see our recommended wet and dry vacuums round-up. If you think you’d like a Dyson, check out our dedicated Dyson chart, which compares the brand’s best cordless models.
The best vacuum cleaners 2025
1. Halo Capsule X – Best for allergies
Pros
- Two-litre dustbin
- HEPA filter
- Great on all surfaces
- Excellent accessories
Cons
- Basic battery indicator
- Challenging to use holding overhead
The Capsule X is the independently made follow-up to the excellent Halo Capsule and it’s unlike any other cordless on the market. It’s an exceptionally light (2.6kg) bagged vacuum cleaner that uses biodegradable dust pouches to capture dust and dirt, so you don’t have to deal with it. It has a 2-litre dustin, which means you won’t have to empty it often either. It’s also our top recommendation for people with allergies or asthma.
It has a running time of up to 60 minutes and its battery recharges from flat to full in a phenomenally fast two hours.
The Capsule X has a host of great new features and accessories, including swappable batteries, headlights and motorised cleaning tools for carpets, hard flooring and upholstery – it’s great on all surfaces. Our one quibble with the design is that the way it’s weighed makes it tougher to use holding overhead, although you can use the hose attachment to get around that.
To get all the tools and the extra battery, you’ll need to go for the Ultimate Accessories bundle. But there is another option. As it’s a completely modular vacuum, you can buy any accessories or parts separately (and all parts are reasonably priced). If a part fails or is damaged later on, you can easily replace it. This makes it a sustainable choice as well as a sensible option for anyone who wants to buy a vacuum once and keep it for years.
Sadly, it’s not available in the US.
2. Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty (Pet) – Best auto-emptying vacuum
Pros
- Self-emptying dock
- Jointed to fit under furniture
- Anti-hair wrap
- Detects cleaning direction
Cons
- Dock takes up floor space
- Additional tools to store
- Pricey
Shark’s latest model is self-emptying, so not only is the dustbin clean every time you vacuum, you’ll only have to empty the main dock every so often: it’s a great choice for busy families, pet owners and anyone with a dust sensitivity.
This model also has a floor head that vacuums in both directions for faster cleaning, a detect mode that senses dirt and ramps up suction, and a jointed design that lets it get right under low pieces of furniture. All of these features make vacuuming a quicker and less fussy job. We also really liked the colour-changing floor lights that serve as a suction indicator, and the scent capsule in the stand that neutralises odour: necessary if you won’t be emptying it for 45 days.
We found it to be a powerful and effective vacuum as well, but this does mean that it’s power-hungry and you may have to charge it more often than is ideal. The battery is removable but it doesn’t come with a spare. The stand is also bulky and you’ll need to find a spot for it near a power socket.
3. Dyson Gen5detect – Best Dyson vacuum
Pros
- Incredible suction
- Great design
- Excellent cleaning accessories
- No trigger
- Long battery life
Cons
- Heavier than earlier models at 3.5kg
- Wildly expensive
- Pricey spare batteries
There are two problems with this cordless cleaner: the price and its weight. But everything else is pretty close to vacuum cleaner perfection.
We were blown away when testing it. It’s hugely powerful – with 262AW of suction versus the V15’s 230 – something that’s evident when you’re testing it.
It has all of the features of the V15 Detect, including the green laser and piezo sensor – and some new clever bits of design. One of the best is the crevice tool built into the top of the wand for instant handheld cleaning. But you’ll also get all the other accessories you’ll need, including the hair screw tool and the jointed low reach adapter that lets the Gen5 lie flat to get under sofas.
But all this tech means that it is Dyson’s heaviest cordless yet at 3.5kg/7.7lbs. And then there’s the matter of its extraordinary price. But we think if you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.
If you’d like a Dyson, but don’t know which one to choose, you can see how we rate all the brand’s cordless cleaners in our round-up of the best Dyson vacuums.
4. Vax HomePro Pet-Design vacuum cleaner – Best budget all-rounder
Pros
- Simple controls
- Flexible to fit under furniture
- Anti-hair wrap
- Easy to maintain
Cons
- Heavy to use as a handheld
- Single battery
- Needs wall mounting for storage
For under £200, you get a lot for your money with the HomePro. It’s powerful, it comes with an armful of accessories and it has thoughtful design features you’d expect to see on a much pricier model.
We especially liked the bendable wand, which lets you get right under furniture, the simple controls, the easy-empty bin, and the fact that it can stand up by itself if you pause while you’re cleaning.
We found it to be an effective cleaner on both hard flooring and carpet, and it’s comfortable to use and easy to manoeuvre. However, its large floorhead means it’s less well suited to cluttered spaces and it’s heavy as a handheld.
Its main limitation, however, is its battery life. Vax says it’ll run for 45 minutes but that’s without a motorised attachment, on the lowest suction setting. For most cleaning jobs, you’re likely to get around 25 minutes. That means that you’ll need to charge it between even fairly short cleaning sessions, which isn’t ideal if you prefer to do one long deep-clean at the weekend.
The battery is removable but it doesn’t come with a second. You can buy one from Vax for £79.99 – but that’ll significantly bump up its cost.
5. Hoover Handheld UV Mattress Vacuum Cleaner – Best for mattresses
Pros
- Four cleaning technologies
- Long 5m cord
- Easy to use — just plug in, press the button and go
- Dirt sensor tells you when it’s done cleaning
- Value for money
Cons
- Will require regular filter cleaning
- Bin on the smaller side (but more than big enough for 1/2-bed households)
- Single function vacuum
This specialist handheld vacuum won’t be any use on floors but it’s perfectly designed to give your mattress – and sofa, cushions and other upholstery – a deep clean. This makes it a great buy for households with allergies.
It uses four cleaning methods: strong suction, UV light, agitation and heating. Together these will ensure that dust, dirt and dead skin is removed from deep in your mattress, that dust mites are wiped out and that any damp patches are dried up.
Even better, it has dust detection indicators that’ll show you whether you need to keep cleaning (a red light will display) and when you can move on (the indicator glows green).
Although it’s a corded model, it has a long cord, and it’s light in the hand. We think it’s well-priced for what it does but you’ll still need a regular vacuum for floors and hard surfaces.
6. Tefal X-Force Flex 15.60 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner – Best features
Pros
- Can bend easily under furniture
- Comes with a neat docking station
- Intuitively adjusts the amount of suction needed
- Battery lasts for up to 1 hour 20 minutes in eco-mode
Cons
- Comes in multiple parts you’ll have to put together
- Only lasts for up to five minutes in boost mode
- Average size 0.9L bin
Much like the Vax HomePro Pet-Design, Tefal’s X-Force Flex comes with a truckload of accessories and a bendable wand. It’s pricier than the Vax model, however, but what you will get is a longer running time in day-to-day use – of over 70 minutes in eco mode, and half an hour in eco+. However, bump it up to max, which is what you might need for muddy, deep-pile carpets, and you’ll only get a brief 5 minutes. In our testing, we found that eco and eco+ give you plenty of power for hard flooring and medium-pile carpets.
A big advantage of the design is how easy it is to use, with tiny wheels on the base that make vacuuming much less of a workout. Meanwhile, a handy little latch makes it very easy to make the wand bend under furniture while you’re using it.
But what really impressed us was the host of well-designed accessories that make it possible to clean every part of your home and car, including the sofa brush, mini flex, and animal turbo brush.
It comes with a handy stand to keep everything organised too.
7. Samsung Bespoke Jet AI – Best luxury vacuum
Pros
- Beautifully designed Clean Station, which automatically empties and charges the vacuum
- Cleaning tools for every surface
- Powerful suction
- Swappable battery
Cons
- Expensive
- AI features aren’t life-changing
Samsung’s new flagship cordless vacuum is named for its AI features. It has a sensor-based system that adjusts the vacuum’s suction power and roller speed to handle the surface and dust level it detects. Use it in the AI mode and you won’t need to adjust any settings while you clean. It makes vacuuming simpler but it’s only one of the many excellent features the Bespoke Jet AI offers to simplify and streamline its use.
Its best feature, without a doubt, is the slim, elegantly designed Clean Station, into which you dock the vacuum. It’ll empty and charge it, so that every time you pick it up, the Jet AI is ready to go.
Still, its running time is as good as anything on the market at over 100 minutes (on its lowest setting, without a motorised tool) but in day-to-day use, you’ll get over 40 minutes before it needs to charge. And, as it comes with a second battery and separate charger, you can double that running time for marathon cleaning sessions.
It’s powerful, lighter than the Gen5detect (although I found it slightly heavy to use overhead, in handheld mode) and comes with all the cleaning tools and attachments you could want. Altogether, this is the ultimate luxury vacuum and if price is no object, we can’t see how anyone would be disappointed with it.
If the price is prohibitive, have a look at the Samsung Bespoke Jet. It doesn’t have the AI tech of the newer model, or a few of its upgrades, but it’s much more reasonably priced and has most of the same features, including the auto-empty Clean Station.
8. Shark Detect Pro – Best features for its price
Pros
- Very lightweight & compact
- Detection features a genuine plus
- Headlights
- Easy to empty bin
Cons
- Runtime far less than 60 minutes if you use detection features
- No HEPA filter
- Combi tool ineffective
- Small bin
What we love about the Shark Detect Pro is that it’s so easy to use. If you hate vacuuming, this is definitely one to consider. Stick it in auto mode and all you need to do is steer it around the house. When it spots more dust or needs to vacuum along a wall, it’ll increase suction; when it hits carpet, it’ll automatically increase the roller speed; and when it encounters a dimmer spot, it’ll switch on its headlights. It’s lightweight as well, and the bin is very easy to empty.
However, you won’t get anywhere near 60 minutes of running time if you use it in auto mode and the one additional cleaning attachment that comes with it is pretty feeble. The bin is small as well, but you can buy spare batteries and an auto-empty station, which will obviate these shortcomings – although it will cost you more. Speaking of price, its UK sale price is £279. Buy it for this amount and you’ll get a very good deal.
9. Miele Boost CX1 – Best compact corded cleaner
Pros
- Well-priced
- Compact
- Manoeuvrable
- Powerful
- Quiet
Cons
- Hard work on carpets
- Difficult to use on stairs
- Basic accessories
Corded vacuum cleaners are making it back into this round-up as brands are releasing more innovative designs. That’s certainly the case with Miele’s Boost CX1, a corded vacuum cleaner with many of the design features of a cordless, including a bagless system, adjustable wand length and 360° manoeuvrability.
It’s a very compact canister vacuum (its body can sit within the footprint of an open magazine) with impressive suction and an automatically retracting cord.
It telescoping wand means you’ll be able to remove cobwebs from your ceilings with the vacuum on the floor. However, even though it has a useful carry handle on top, it’ll still feel heavy if your stairs aren’t deep enough to stand it on while you vacuum. And, although it has the power to clean carpets, it’s not as easy to use as it is on hard flooring, and there’s no brush bar for deep cleaning.
Still, if you have a smaller place and are looking for a compact alternative to a corded vacuum, with better cleaning power, this well-made, well-priced appliance should be a contender. Don’t buy it if you have acres of carpet though.
10. Shark Stratos Pet Pro Upright – Best for pet hair
Pros
- Amazing cleaning performance
- Modular design
- Three suction levels
- Effective anti-hair & anti-odour tech
Cons
- Somewhat cumbersome
- Heavy (6.7kg)
- Not the most aesthetically appealing vacuum
If you’ve had your fill of stick vacuums and need something with more power, this is our recommendation. The Stratos Pet Pro Anti Hair Wrap Plus Anti-Odour Upright Vacuum NZ860UKT (to give it its full, and very long, name), can tackle just about anything from muddy floors to dusty carpets to fur-covered pet beds. We’d recommend this model as the best for tough to remove pet hair.
It has a host of excellent features as well, including headlights, impressive anti-hair wrap tech, and anti-odour technology that leaves a pleasant fragrance behind.
For a very reasonable price, you’ll get a highly versatile cleaner with astonishing levels of performance. The only downsides are that it’s heavy at 6.7kg, not hugely manoeuvrable and not the most attractive vacuum around. But if you have a busy household, it’s well worth the trade-off.
11. Hoover HFX – Best for cluttered homes
Pros
- Excellent corner cleaning mode
- Display with remaining cleaning time in minutes
- Storage mode
- Effective headlights
Cons
- Heavy with main vacuuming head attached
- Learning curve for use
- Dustbin can jam
If you have a cluttered home, or lots of awkward spots that need cleaning and you’re tired of shifting furniture around, Hoover’s HFX could well be the vacuum you’re looking for. It’s a modular cordless vacuum, with three cleaning modes: as a regular carpet or hard flooring cleaner, with an anti-tangle brush bar and LED headlights; as a handheld, with either a combi brush or crevice tool; and as a full-size vacuum optimised for corners, edges and difficult bits.
This last mode – the Corner Genie – is really the reason to buy it. Just use the foot pedal to remove the main cleaning head and you can whip it around to deal with difficult spots like down the side of the fridge or behind the sofa, without having to stoop or shift furniture.
Other advantages of its design are its display, which shows the minutes left in each cleaning mode, its headlights and its large, 1.2-litre dustbin. But it has its downsides as well. With the main cleaning head attached, it’s heavier than the Gen5detect at a hefty 3.65kg/8lbs. You’ll also only get 30 minutes of running time in normal mode, although its charging time is a fairly speedy 3.5 hours.
12. Bissell SpotClean Cordless/Little Green Cordless – Best spot cleaner
Pros
- Turbo and eco modes
- Easy to use and clean
- Portable
- Useful tools
Cons
- Not as powerful as corded models
- No storage for tools
- Limited run time in turbo mode
In the UK, it’s called the Bissell SpotClean Cordless. In the US, it’s the Little Green Cordless. The difference between the two is that the UK model comes with a two-in-one sliding crevice tool, as well as the the Tough Stain tool and the HydroRinse tool (for self-cleaning) that both models have. Wherever you buy it, it’s a handy cordless portable vacuum that’ll help you to wet clean carpets, sofas, car interiors and more.
The chief problem of spot cleaners is that they can be heavy and bulky, especially when they’re filled with water. But this one weighs just 7.2lbs/3.4kg and is compact as well, which means it’s easy to take out to the car or use on stairs.
This vacuum can be used with cleaning fluid as well as water, for tough stains and messes. As it has a dirty water tank, it’ll suck up and store the wastewater produced during cleaning.
It has two cleaning modes: Eco and Turbo. We found that the Eco mode was sufficient for day-to-day cleaning, but you’ll need to switch to Turbo for serious stains. This does limit the running time to 20 minutes, after which you’ll need to let it charge for 4 hours.
We especially liked its HydroRinse tool, which allows you to flush out the vacuum’s interior, for easy maintenance.
Why you should trust Tech Advisor
Tech Advisor has been reviewing vacuum cleaners since 2018. In 2019, I joined the team to focus on home tech. I recruited two experienced floor care reviewers and we ramped up our coverage, testing dozens of vacuum cleaners in the years since. This means that we’re in a strong position to compare models and brands.
We don’t rely on manufacturers’ specs or use a testing centre. Instead, we take the vacuum cleaners home and use them for several weeks, just like you would. We think that the best way to test how well a vacuum cleaner performs in day-to-day life is to use it in day-to-day life.
FAQ
How do we test our vacuum cleaners?
Rather than performing a series of tests in lab-style conditions, we take the vacuum cleaners home and try them out. We keep products for several weeks and use all of their functions in as many situations as we can, so we can give you an honest evaluation of how well they’ll work in your life.
We think that’s how you get to know the advantages and annoyances of each model.
We then compare the vacuum cleaners and come up with an overall rating that reflect their price and specs, our experience using them, where we believe they sit in the marketplace and how much easier they’ll make your life.
Which vacuum has the best suction?
Of all types of vacuum overall, a corded cylinder is likely to have the strongest suction. Miele makes some of the best and most reliable of these. They’re reasonably priced, as well. An even more budget-friendly option is the ever-reliable Henry. He is an icon for a reason, after all. But this level of power does mean dragging a heavy cylinder and cord around after you.
Still, cordless cleaners have ramped up so much in the last few years that a high-quality cordless will provide as much suction as most people need. If you’re after a cordless cleaner, newer models from Dyson (including the V15 Detect and the Gen5detect), Samsung (the Jet 90 and Bespoke Jet) and Miele (TriFlex) are among the most powerful.
However, it’s difficult to compare them using on-paper figures alone. For a start, manufacturers can be cagey about it, which is understandable, as suction power can be hard to quantify. Measurements have traditionally been in watts (W), which is only rating the power behind the suction. However, cleaners with a long distance between the motor and the vacuum head will use more power to create the same amount of suction.
Dyson has since pioneered the use of air watts (AW), which measure the suction itself. But it’s still a somewhat controversial measurement. And some brands prefer Pascals (Pa), a unit of pressure that is also used as the standard for measuring robot vacuum suction.
Given the fact that comparing different units of measurements isn’t straightforward, and that design plays a big part in how well a vacuum cleaner works, figures alone shouldn’t be used to judge effectiveness.
Which vacuum cleaner is the lightest?
The lightest cordless vac we’ve tested is the Halo Capsule X, at 2.6kg, but anything below 3kg is likely to be comfortable to use. Now that cordless vacuums have more tech and features packed in, they’re becoming a bit heavier. The Gen5detect, Dyson’s latest at 3.5kg/ 7.7lbs, is heavier than its previous flagship vacuum, the V15 Detect. That will be too heavy for some.
Should you buy a bagged or bagless vacuum?
Bagless is characteristic of most high-end cordless cleaners now. It’s certainly the more environmentally-friendly choice. However, if you are dust-sensitive, go for a bagged vacuum cleaner as it means much less contact with dust and dirt.
We’ve tested two cordless, bagged vacuum cleaners. The Halo Capsule X and the Henry Quick. One of the advantages of the Halo Capsule is that its dust pouches are environmentally friendly and can be composted at home.
But there’s another option to minimise your contact with dust. Samsung’s cordless and bagless Bespoke Jet range comes with an auto-emptying dock. When you return the vacuum to charge, it uses suction to empty the onboard bin into a bag in the dock. So does the Ultenic FS1. Meanwhile, you can buy the Shark Detect Pro with or without one.
If you have an earlier Samsung Jet vacuum, you can upgrade it separately with a suction bin, called the CleanStation. Bear in mind that this suction bin won’t be compatible with other makes and models.
How long does a cordless vacuum battery last?
The best cordless cleaners, using lithium-ion batteries, will promise up to an hour on a single charge – perhaps up to 70 minutes in the case of the Gen5detect. This will be on the lowest setting, without motorised attachments. On a medium setting, you’ll be lucky to get half an hour. On a high setting, your charge will probably last less than 10 minutes.
One of the innovations in high quality cordless cleaners like those from Dyson, Samsung and Miele, are removable lithium-ion batteries that can be charged separately. With another battery ready to go, you can instantly double your cleaning time.
The snag is that additional batteries tend to be pricey, so check their cost before you invest in a cordless if a swappable battery is a key reason you’re buying.
How long does the battery take to charge?
In more budget-friendly models, charging time could be as much as 5.5 hours. Three to four hours is normal for a more expensive model. Anything less than this is very good. The Capsule X charges in around two hours.
What is a HEPA filter and do I need one?
This is the current industry standard for a filter in a high-quality vacuum cleaner. HEPA (high efficiency particulate air) filters must trap 99.97% of particulates that are 3 microns or larger. (A human hair is 50-70 microns thick.) If you have a HEPA filter with a bagless cleaner, don’t forget that although it’s useful, it’s not perfect. When you empty it into your kitchen bin, you’ll still release some of the dust back into the air, which is where a bagged system comes in handy.
from Tech Advisor
via The best vacuum cleaners 2025