The best cordless vacuums for every cleaning task

A vacuum cleaner can be a big investment, so you want it to be worth the spend by choosing a versatile machine that works on different surfaces. Enter the Gtech Pro 2. Best of all: it’s not even that big an investment. The Gtech Pro 2 gives you all the benefits, but it’s also one the lowest-cost vacuums on our list.

This easy-to-afford workhorse handles all the usual vacuuming tasks on multiple floor surfaces — carpets, rugs, and hard floors. It features an innovative power head and multi-surface brush roll — for superior carpet and scratch-free hard floor cleaning.

Another perk of this cord-free vacuum is its manoeuvrability. Need to reach under and around furniture? No problem. The slim, long design is either to get under furniture and up into tight corners. One unusual feature — unusual for cordless stick vacuums, that is — is that it uses bags instead of a bin. But bear in mind the cost of replacing the bags.

The Dyson Cyclone V11 will make all of your dreams come true — particularly if those dreams include incredible vacuum action on both carpet and hardwood floors. Not to mention cleaning blinds, ceiling fans, and hard-to-reach spots with absolute ease. It has serious power, maxing out at a seriously sucky (in a good way) 185 airwatts.

The High Torque cleaner head is impressively versatile, featuring Dynamic Load Sensor technology that adjusts to whatever type of floor you’re cleaning. It also comes equipped with extra attachments — a soft roller head, mini motor head, crevice tool, and a mini dusting brush with quick-release action.

There are three power settings — eco, auto, and boost. An LCD timer keeps you up to date with blockages and battery power. 

What if your car needs cleaning? No problem. The Dyson Cyclone V11 also transforms into a handheld. And emptying the bin is a breeze. A “point and shoot” mechanism hygienically ejects dust and debris straight into your bin. No need to touch any dirt.

It takes a special kind of person to own pets — and a special kind of vacuum to clean up after them. Our pick for that particular job is the Miele Triflex HX1. Its three-mode function puts the “tri” in Triflex. It switches between cordless stick, cordless upright (meaning it can stand all on its own), and handheld. 

There are nice features too, including sensors that auto-adjust on carpets and hard floors, three power settings, and even headlights on the brush head. There’s a good selection of tools too — an upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, and dusting brush.

As you’d expect with a pet-specific model, it has plenty of power — good enough to match some Dyson vacuums. It comes with two batteries, which you can swap mid-clean, so there’s less time waiting around for a recharge. 

It does suck up pet hair with ease, but the relatively small bin will fill up fast. Be prepared to empty this one frequently. If you feel like really splashing out, try the all-new — but also mega-expensive — Miele Triflex HX2.

Shark is chomping at the heels of Dyson as one of the most popular vacuum brands. So check out the Shark IZ201UK — the brand’s latest cordless stick model. It ups the suction power by 50% but still boasts a more affordable price than many competitors. 

This Shark has a DuoClean two-brush system with an all-new innovation called “PowerFins” — little spikes which dig into the carpet and ensure an even deeper clean. It also comes with two attachments – a crevice and multi-surface tool.

There’s another innovation that impresses us — a flexible wand that allows you to bend the vacuum and reach right under furniture and into tight spaces. That means you can also completely fold the vacuum in half and tuck it away in the corner for easy, unobtrusive charging. Which, while we’re on the topic, maxes out at a best-in-class one-hour runtime.

The Shark IZ201UK doesn’t quite match the performance of the best Dyson but for ingenuity and practicality, it’s up there with the best.

There aren’t many electrical goods that Samsung doesn’t deliver well. Here’s another first-class example — the Samsung Jet 90 Pro. Most noticeable — and arguably most impressive — is its selection of tools. These include a turbo action brush, spinning sweeper brush, mini motor tool, flexible connection, and crevice tools.

In other words, this vacuum will tackle all dust and dirt — and from any surface and any difficult spots. This includes mopping hard floors with its reusable microfibre mop pads. The mop head attachment is designed to clean right up to the wall, so you can even get under those tricky kitchen cupboards.

That’s all helped by a multi-level filtration system and a seriously impressive 200 airwatts of cyclone-powered suction. We also like the Z-station — a charging dock that you can stand anywhere, without drilling it into the wall, to charge the vacuum wherever and whenever is convenient. 

It’s worth noting that the Samsung Jet 90 Pro is not cheap, though it's cheaper than plumping for one of Samsung’s robot vacuum cleaners.

It would be remiss of us to not include a Vax vacuum in this rundown. Vax has been one of the leading brands since long before Dyson became the biggest name on the block.

The Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 performs on a similar level to Dyson models, but there’s a bonus — it won’t cost you anywhere close to the same amount.

The Vax ONEPWR Blade 4 is made with pet owners in mind. Featuring two power modes, it has the right kind of oomph for getting deep into carpets and rugs — even those shag pile rugs that get all-too-easily matted with pet hair.

The battery packs a slightly underwhelming 45 minutes, but it has dual batteries for a quick-and-easy swap. It has extra tools, including a mini motorised pet tool. There are LED headlights, so you won’t miss any dirt or debris while on your cleaning rounds. 

There are a few small downsides — it isn’t exactly quiet and the bin capacity is average.