8 Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners for Effortless and Quick Cleaning

Woman cleaning carpet with cordless vacuum

by Arabella Horspool |
Updated on

If you've got kids, you probably feel like your vacuum cleaner is attached to you 24/7 with the amount of crumbs and mess that needs clearing up, but thankfully there are cordless vacuums which make tidying the house that bit easier.

Generally speaking, cordless vacuums are lighter and more manoeuvrable than corded options, giving you more flexibility as you move it from room to room. All they need is charging and then they're ready to go.

Best cordless vacuum cleaners at a glance:
Best multipurpose cordless vacuum: Shark Stratos Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner - £299.99 on Amazon
Best cordless vacuum for pet hair: DYSON V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - £329.99 on Currys
•Best lightweight cordless vacuum: Henry Quick Cordless Vacuum Cleaner - £300 on Argos
Best affordable cordless vacuum: BOSCH Exclusive Series 6 Athlet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner-£129 on Currys

Whether you're looking for the best cordless vacuum for hard floors or the best cordless vacuum cleaner for cars, we have got you covered. Check out our buying guide below.

The best cordless vacuums 2024

Best multipurpose cordless vacuum

Cleaning is made easy with the Shark cordless vacuum. It comes with a car kit, as well as pet, crevice and multi-service tools, plus it has anti-odour and anti-hair wrap technology. A stand out feature is the Clean Sense IQ technology which will adjust the cleaning power as it automatically detects dirt.

A reviewer put: "The attachments are really easy to attach and use. It's easy and effective on stairs. You can pick it up suck up any cobwebs from the ceiling. It's really easy to empty too. I like the way it roars when it comes across any dirt (as it has a sensor on it). The two batteries mean that it's always ready to use - there's one on the vacuum and one on the charger. I'm impressed!"

Pros

  • An hour's runtime
  • Multiple tools included

Cons

  • Not lightweight

Best cordless vacuum for pet hair

Dyson - Best cordless vacuum cleaner
Price: £229.99 (was £329.99)

www.currys.co.uk

Ideal for small jobs, this Dyson cordless vacuum is great at removing ground-in dirt and pet hair. It's motor is nice and quiet and the advanced filtration catches 99.99% of particles. We love that it comes with a wall-mount to make storage easier.

A customer review: "I bought this a short while ago. It is perfect. I’ve tried others and I've not been happy with them. The difference is in the quality and the power. I’ve had upright Dysons for years and I just haven’t found better. I needed a cleaner that is easier to use light weight and still gives me the cleaning experience of my upright Dyson. I am more than pleased with my V8 stick rechargeable Dyson and actually love vacuuming now. Easy to get out use and put away. Would definitely recommend. Once a Dyson user always a Dyson user."

Pros

  • Quiet runtime
  • Specially-designed vanes for long hairs

Cons

  • Short runtime

Best for hard-to reach areas

The Bosch Unlimited 7 comes packed with smart solutions to make life effortless. With this cordless vacuum cleaneryou can take the guesswork out of cleaning with the Auto Detect function, and let the Flex Tube do the bending under low furniture.

Review: "The main feature of the Unlimited 7, and easily my favourite feature, is that the vacuum head tube can ‘fold’ so it’s flexible, to fit under sofas and other furniture. It’s so easy to use, you just press the button at the join and you hear it click, then it bends up to 90 degrees. I’m really impressed with the Bosch Unlimited 7 overall, I think for a cordless vacuum the suction and battery life is brilliant. They say it’s as powerful as a corded vacuum cleaner and I would agree. I absolutely love the flex tube function, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to own another vacuum that doesn’t have this feature!"

Read the full Bosch Unlimited 7 review on Yours.co.uk.

Pros

  • 10 year motor warranty
  • Strong suction
  • Great battery life
  • Flexible for easy cleaning

Cons

  • Bin capacity is quite small

Best lightweight cordless vacuum

Henry - Best cordless vacuum
Price: £250 (was £300)

www.argos.co.uk

Lightweight but with a large capacity, the Henry Quick Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is a must-have cleaning tool for busy households. It has a motorised brush head and a boost mode which speeds up the cleaning time and picks up stubborn dirt.

A reviewer put: "I'm so tired of carrying a large hoover upstairs, but now I have a Henry Quick charging upstairs ready for use when I get the urge (which is far more often than when I had to carry other one upstairs). It feels sturdy (not heavy) and it has good suction, plus it picks up 'sock bits' which always drove me mad. It's easy to assemble - I'm very pleased!"

Pros

  • Changeable pods for dust-free emptying
  • Has a low battery indicator

Cons

  • Noisy

Best cordless vacuum battery

The HONITURE S14 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner has a brushless motor, which lowers the noise level and increases its suction and battery life. To freshen up your home further, there's a filtration system, which emits a lavender fragrance and freshens the room as you clean.

A reviewer said: " I recently purchased the Honiture S14 Powerful Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, and I am beyond impressed! This vacuum has completely transformed my cleaning routine and exceeded my expectations in every way. First and foremost, the suction power is simply outstanding. It effortlessly tackles dust, debris, and even those pesky pet hairs with ease. The innovative design allows it to reach every nook and cranny, leaving my floors spotless in no time."

Pros

  • Clear OLED screen
  • Works well on hard floors

Cons

  • Suction isn't the strongest

Best cordless vacuum for carpet

The Samsung Jet 70 Turbo Cordless Vacuum Cleaner is a great device for cleaning cars or other small spaces. It works well on carpets and it has a low battery indicator and a dust bag indicator to let you know when you need to empty and recharge it. We like the washable HEPA filters which maintain suction and trap potential allergens.

One reviewer put: "This Samsung is very light has all the tools attached to the main body, a very nice colour and so easy to use. Also it is the cheapest one I have ever had and I am over the moon with it. I just slip the battery off the main body and it charges so quickly. I have a 2 bedroomed bungalow and the battery lasts until I have finished all the rooms. Thankyou Samsung, I now enjoy cleaning once again."

Pros

  • Comes with a range of nozzles
  • Lightweight and easy to manouevre

Cons

  • Short battery life

Best cordless vacuum for pets

VAX ONEPWR - best cordless vacuum
Price: £169 (was 259)

www.very.co.uk

If you have furry friends as well as little ones running around the house, the Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 is a must-have because it has antimicrobial protection and a a motorised pet tool, as well as DustVault technology which removes and filters dust.

One happy reviewer said: "It is easy to use and has a great battery life. You can keep it in continuous use with two batteries and you never have to worry about waiting for it to charge after use. Strong suction means it doesn’t miss a thing and the light on the head helps you to see even in darker corners of your home. It’s lightweight and easy to store, plus it’s easy to maintain and keep clean as it has lots of features to be able to take sections apart and clean easily. We strongly recommend this VAX, we bought this one after having another Blade for about 10 years and this new one completely surpassed our expectations. It’s moderately priced so if you’re looking for a new vacuum this has to be it!"

Pros

  • Strong suction power
  • Great battery life

Cons

  • Some users say that it's heavy

Best affordable cordless vacuum

BOSCH - Best cordless vacuum
Price: £129 (was 299)

www.currys.co.uk

Suitable for use on multiple surfaces thanks to the HighPower AllFloor brush, the BOSCH Exclusive Series 6 Athelt has up to 60 minutes of runtime and SmartSensor control to monitor the performance on the vacuum.

A reviewer said: "First of all this is my second Bosch and I have upgraded! The battery life so much better than before, as it's light and easy to carry upstairs and move around carpet to floors. I find it easy to empty and undo to move hairs from the brush too! I would like to see a second battery offered with it so could charge up when you need more quickly."

Pros

  • Works well on different flooring
  • Ideal for allergy sufferers

Cons

  • A bit bulky

FAQs

Are cordless vacuums worth it?

Those that are looking for a lightweight vacuum that can be manoeuvred around the home will benefit from a cordless vacuum. They can be safer than corded vacuums when you have young children or puts in the home, as there's no cable for them to grab.

Cordless vacuums often come with a wall mount, allowing you to store them and charge them with ease. A robot vacuum cleaner is another lightweight option that is easy to store, but they usually have a smaller capacity than corded and cordless options.

Are cordless vacuums as good as corded?

Yes, but it depends on how you're planning to use the vacuum. Cordless vacuums are ideal for those who like to hoover their homes in short bursts (only doing one room and then putting it away to do other tasks, for example). If you're covering a wide surface area, it's usually best not to put the vacuum cleaner onto full power the whole time as it can drain the battery faster, meaning you'll need to recharge it.

If you're planning on using the vacuum to go from room to room without stopping, you may prefer a corded vacuum cleaner as you won't need to replace the batteries

What to look for when buying a cordless vacuum cleaner

Battery life: Cordless vacuums rely on batteries to power them, as they obviously don't plug into the wall. If you've got a large surface area to clean, we recommend opting for a vacuum with a long battery life. Don't forget to check how long the battery takes to charge, or purchase a spare one so that you'll always have one ready when the vacuum runs out of power.

Suction: If you often have big messes to clean up, you will need a vacuum with powerful suction, but if your house only needs a light hoovering every now and again, high power isn't the be-all and end-all.

Weight: It's important to consider your physical capabilities, especially if you'll be pushing the vacuum around for long periods of time. You will want a lightweight cordless vacuum if you're needing to carry it to your car or up and down the stairs all the time or hold it up high to clean up cobwebs and crumbs on tables, for example.

Bin capacity: The size of the bin determines how much dirt and debris your machine will be able to pick up at any one time before it will need emptying. Bear in mind that a large bin may be heavier than a smaller one and therefore require more effort to lug around (especially if you fill it up to it's capacity).

Accessories: For optimum versatility, select an option that comes with multiple tools. Some cordless vacuum accessories include crevice tools, gap tools, extra brushes and pet cleaning devices. Charging docks and wall mounts are must-have accessories as they make storage easier.

How Mother&Baby selected the best vacuum cleaners

Our product recommendations are based on a combination of real-world testing from our burgeoning army of mum testers and the extensive knowledge of our experienced editorial team and product specialists. Where we can, we also consult experts who specialise in that field to ensure you get the right advice along with the right product, and we listen to what you say as well.

Our thriving mum community on our Facebook group #mumtribe also often hold great insights as to which products mums really like best and why, helping us highlight the products that meet what you really want.

For the essential products, our annual Mother&Baby Awards shortlist the top products tested, and you can find full reviews from our mum testers provided on the product page. The winners and runners-up for each category then will appear in our top picks article for that product, along with other products that were rated highly by our team.

Arabella Horspool is a Commercial Content Writer for Mother&Baby and Yours at Bauer Media. She's a bookworm who enjoys cooking and spending time with her many pets.

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