10 Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners

Buying guide

Not sure which cordless vacuum cleaner to buy? In this buying guide, you can learn more about what to look for before picking a cordless vacuum cleaner.

Design

Cordless vacuum cleaners are typically designed as stick, handheld, or a combination of both (2-in-1).

2-in-1 cordless vacuum cleaner

Suitable for

Can be used as both a stick vacuum cleaner for floors and carpets and a handheld vacuum for small cleaning tasks.

Price

£169-749 (Avg.: £374)

Cordless stick vacuum cleaner

Suitable for

Suitable for regular cleaning of floors and carpets.

Price

£79-749 (Avg.: £359)

Handheld vacuum cleaner

Suitable for

Suitable for smaller, more precise cleaning tasks such as cleaning upholstery, car interiors, stairs, and hard-to-reach areas.

Price

£59-153 (Avg.: £102)

Battery

Most cordless vacuums use lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, known for their long lifespan and high energy density. Other cordless vacuum cleaners use a nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery, which has a shorter lifespan but is also cheaper. Typically, NiMH batteries are found in budget cordless vacuum cleaners.

Runtime

When choosing a cordless vacuum, it’s important to consider the battery life. The battery life will determine how long the vacuum can run on a single charge, so you’ll want to look for a model with a battery life that meets your cleaning needs.

The runtimes vary from 8 to 70 minutes across the cordless vacuum cleaners we have compared. It’s worth noting that the battery life of cordless vacuums can be affected by factors such as the suction power and the attachments used.

These are the five cordless vacuum cleaners with the longest runtime:

The distribution in runtime across the vacuum cleaners is shown in the following chart:

Interchangeable battery

With a cordless vacuum cleaner with interchangeable batteries, you can easily remove and replace the battery. This means multiple batteries can be charged and kept on hand so that when one battery runs out of power, another can quickly swap in to continue cleaning. This allows for uninterrupted cleaning and is handy for more extensive cleaning tasks or larger living spaces.
68% of cordless vacuum cleaners are built with interchangeable batteries.

You can find the best cordless vacuum cleaners with interchangeable batteries here.

Number of batteries

Some cordless vacuum cleaners come with two batteries, which doubles the runtime because you can replace the battery when it has depleted.

The best cordless vacuum cleaner with two batteries is the Shark IZ251UK, which costs £419.92. You can read more about cordless vacuum cleaners with two batteries here.

Price

When buying a cordless vacuum cleaner, the price is one of the most important factors to consider. The price varies widely depending on the brand, attachments, and other features.

A budget cordless vacuum cleaner typically has lower power suction and battery life and may have fewer attachments or accessories. While they are a budget-friendly option, they may not be as effective at cleaning larger spaces or tackling tough messes.

High-end models often have strong suction power, long battery life, a wide range of attachments, and advanced features like HEPA filtration, LED lights, and LCD screens. They are an excellent option for larger living spaces or pets.

The price of the cordless vacuum cleaners varies from £59 to £749. The distribution in price is shown in the following chart:

The cheapest cordless vacuum cleaner is the Shark CH950UKT, priced at £59. These are the five cheapest cordless vacuum cleaners: