The best cordless, upright, and robot vacuum cleaners for every home

Vacuuming is a chore, but choosing a vacuum doesn't have to be.
By Joseph Green , Miller Kern , Dalvin Brown , and Matt Ford  on 
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Overview

Best For Power

Dyson Absolute V15

Jump to Details
Best For Converting

Miele Triflex HX1

Jump to Details
Best For Small Homes

Roidmi R10

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Best For Pet Hair

Shark Upright NZ850UKT

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Best For Smart Tech

iRobot Roomba s9+

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Best For Convenience

Eufy BoostIQ 30C

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Best For Car Cleaning

Black + Decker Dustbuster Flexi

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See 2 More

Table of Contents

This content originally appeared on Mashable for a US audience and has been adapted for the UK audience.

A clean house. Sounds nice, doesn't it? But we all know it's the chore that never ends. So, having a great vacuum that can handle it all is essential. Especially if you have pets or kids. You can de-clutter, tidy, and wipe down as much as you like, but until those carpets and rugs are properly vacuumed to shift dirt and debris, it just doesn’t feel like a clean home.

If you haven't bought a new vacuum in a while, you'll be impressed at the sheer amount of tech and features on offer. From robot vacuums to handheld mini vacuums that collapse down to store away more easily, there’s a huge range available. All to help with your everyday cleaning tasks.

In fact, there’s almost too much choice. What you need is someone to do the hard work of researching modern vacuum cleaners to present you with all the information. That’s where we come in. Here’s everything that you need to know.

Corded vs. cordless vacuums — which is the best?

It’s rarely a case of which is better — more a case of what suits you best. Corded vacuums — the classic style vacuum that plugs into the wall — provide more suction power, which means a more powerful cleaning job, and have a larger capacity. That means they’re better for larger homes and houses. They are, however, heavier and harder to lug around.

Cordless vacuums are lighter, more portable, and easier to carry around the house. They also reach overhead spots and tricky areas under the furniture more easily.

The other thing to note is that they have smaller capacity — usually between 0.5 and 1 litre — so are usually best suited to smaller homes and spaces, or homes with less carpet and more hard floors.

Do vacuums still use a bag?

Corded vacuums tend to use a bag, which needs changing. Cordless vacuums usually use a bin which can be unclipped and emptied much more easily. If you're an allergy sufferer, be warned: Bagless vacuums can sometimes let dust re-enter the air, both while vacuuming or while emptying the bin's contents.

Is Dyson the best vacuum brand?

Pretty much. When it comes to the latest, most technologically advanced vacuums, Dyson is the standard to match or beat. But Dyson isn’t the only impressive brand. Shark, Miele, and Samsung offer excellent vacuums — not to mention old favourites such as Hoover and Vax. We’ve included examples from various brands in the list below.

What is the best type of vacuum cleaner for you and your home?

There are plenty of vacuum types out there, with something for everyone:

Upright vacuums — A longtime favourite and for good reason. Aside from being cheaper on average, uprights are great for covering large carpet areas and can clean deep using motorised brushes. On the other hand, they generally aren't as easy to store in small homes, and they require a bit more elbow grease.

Canister vacuums — If you don't have any carpet in your home and need a versatile vacuum that is good at cleaning bare floors and then some, you may need a canister vacuum. These are known to be less noisy than their upright counterparts, but can also be even harder to store since they're bulkier and have long attachments. But if you want something versatile enough to clean curtains, blinds, and other spaces that aren't just the floor — or something you can roll outside to use for your car — a canister is a good choice.

Handheld vacuums — If you want a lightweight, easy-to-store defence against messes, we strongly suggest keeping a handheld vacuum around. Although they tend to have less power due to their compact size, handheld vacuums are great for quick pick-ups.

Robot vacuums — These vacuums clean for you, while you can just sit on the couch or go about your business. Robot vacuums use sensors and lasers to move around. You may not have to control the vacuum once it's going manually, but you will have to pick up things like socks and other small household items that can get stuck. 

The best type of vacuum will really depend on your lifestyle and home. Consider all of these options and think about how they would match with your circumstances.

What is the best vacuum cleaner?

We read reviews, looked at customer ratings, and compiled a list of the best vacuums based on what users have to say. We'll tell you the good, the bad, and the ugly to help you pick out a machine that really sucks — but in a good way.

These are the best vacuum cleaners in 2024.

Who doesn’t want a vacuum cleaner that looks and works like a ray gun? Do you really need one though? Yes, absolutely. Because the Dyson Absolute V15 is probably the best cordless stick vacuum available at the moment. 

It even beats competing models from Dyson’s own range, with more power and battery life — a whopping 230 airwatts and 60 minutes at full charge. You can swap the battery to save charging too, but you’ll need to buy the other battery separately. 

There are three power settings though it’s smart enough to save power, too — Dynamic Load Sensor technology adjusts the suction to suit the type of floor you’re cleaning. The High Torque cleaner head is also impressively versatile.

It comes equipped with extra tools, including a Laser Fluffy Head that uses a laser pointer to show up dust and dirt the human eye won’t normally see. An LCD timer keeps you up to date with blockages and battery, and tells you how much dirt you’ve sucked up so far.

The Good

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Do you need variety and versatility? Look no further than the Miele Triflex HX1. It’s a 3-in-1 vacuum that converts from a cordless stick to cordless upright (meaning it can stand all on its own) and handheld. It combines convenience, power, and accessibility.

There are other features too, including sensors that help auto-adjust between carpets and hard floors, three different power settings, and headlights on the brush head, which ensure you don’t miss any dirt or dust on your cleaning rounds. It comes with a selection of tools too — an upholstery nozzle, crevice nozzle, and dusting brush.

It’s made with pet owners in mind, so it packs plenty of power — powerful enough to match top Dyson models, in fact. There are two batteries included, which you can swap mid-clean, so there’s no waiting for a recharge. It does have a relatively small capacity, so you could find yourself emptying this one as you go, in case that’s a deal-breaker.

The Good

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Roidmi R10 vacuum

Roidmi R10

Best For Small Homes

Not every vacuum purchase needs to suck your bank account dry. The Roidmi R10 is an affordable option that delivers power and performance well beyond its price point. 

It's not just light on the wallet, it’s light in the hand too. That makes it especially handy for converting into a handheld and reaching overhead spots with minimal effort. 

A magnetic charging station ensures it’s always fully charged and ready to go — which is good because it has less battery power than other, more expensive models. That's to be expected: Going affordable does mean skimping on some hi-tech features. 

But the Roidmi R10 still excels with some lo-fi tech basics. These include anti-tangle teeth that prevent hair from getting caught. That ensures an always-smooth action and makes it a good, low-cost choice for pet owners. There’s also a magnetic brush feature that eliminates dust mites, plus a multi-stage filtration system.

The Good

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Shark has been chasing down the likes of Dyson and Vax for a while now, looking to fight its way into being one of the premier brand names. With innovations like the Shark Upright NZ850UKT, it’s little wonder the company has become increasingly popular. 

It has a lift-away action, which means it doubles up as a 2-in-1 model. Just lift the wand and it transforms into a portable cylinder-style vacuum. Though being on the heavier side does sometimes negate the portable aspect.

More than just a gimmick, it’s easy to get under furniture, into overhead spots, and up the stairs — and that’s all combined with the impressive Shark power and performance. While it skimps on variable power settings — it has just the one — you’ll have few problems with the Shark Upright NZ850UKT doing your dirty work. 

It boasts a DuoClean system in the head — a bristle brush and soft roll brush that go to work at the same time. Plus, three floor modes and anti-hair wrap technology that will prevent the head from getting clogged with hair. 

The Good

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The robot vacuum is a gamer changer. More than that, it’s a lifestyle choice. Just throw out the daily chores and put your feet up. Let technology do the hard work. If that sounds like a change you’d like to make in your life — and let’s be honest, it does — meet the iRobot Roomba s9+, among the best, most hi-tech robot vacuums.

You can start, schedule, and monitor the performance of the iRobot Roomba s9+ from just about anywhere using the iRobot app. It uses an advanced navigation system to move around your home, keeping track of its own location and learning as it goes. The cleaning head also adapts to multiple surfaces automatically. 

Perhaps best of all: once it's finished, the iRobot Roomba goes back to its charging station to re-juice, so it's ready for when you need it next.

It works with voice control via Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. In fact, just tell it as soon as you spill something and it gets to work right away. PerfectEdge Technology also gets it easily into the trickiest corners.

The Good

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One clean sweep with the Eufy BoostIQ 30C and you’ll be wondering how you ever managed without a robot vacuum. At the budget end of the price scale, it’s pleasingly affordable — but without cheaping out on the technology.

It connects with either Alexa or Google Assistant for easy voice control and cleans where and when you want. Just give the command, or programme the vac via the EufyHome app. 

It's reasonably quiet, so it won’t interrupt your relaxation time. (Because what’s the point of getting a robot vacuum if you can’t relax?) 

It works on both hardwood floors and carpet and automatically increases suction power where extra vacuuming strength is needed — so you always get the best clean. Special tech keeps it within the borders of any pre-designated area and prevents it from falling off steps or ledges. And with 100 minutes of battery, it beats more expensive robot vacuums.

The Good

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When it comes to cleaning the car, you need something a bit special — a vacuum cleaner that not only does the trick of cleaning, but can also reach every nook, cranny, and corner of the car interior. For all of that, meet the Black + Decker Dustbuster Flexi Hand Vacuum

It’s easier to carry than the clunky design suggests, with a flexible hose that extends from the main body and gets around corners and into difficult spots. It comes with extra tools, which include a crevice tool, a flip-out brush for delicate surfaces, and a pet tool for shifting stubborn hairs. That's especially useful if your dog rides in the car with you. 

A battery life of just 15 minutes means you might have to recharge mid-clean — depending on the size of the car, of course — but at this price it’s hard to beat. It’s also not just for the car. That flexi hose will get into all awkward spaces around the home.

The Good

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Photo of Joseph Green
Joseph Green
Global Shopping Editor

Joseph Green is the Global Shopping Editor for Mashable. He covers VPNs, headphones, fitness gear, dating sites, streaming services, and shopping events like Black Friday and Prime Day.

Joseph is also Executive Editor of Mashable's sister site, AskMen.

woman with short blonde hair smilling
Miller Kern
Deputy Editor, Shopping and Reviews

Based in New York City, Miller Kern is the Deputy Editor, Shopping and Reviews at Mashable, where she writes and edits reviews, roundups, and deals about tech products including headphones, skincare devices, laptops, sex toys, e-readers, robot vacuums, and more. She has five years of experience writing buying guides, gift guides, and deals, and covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday. Miller can tell you which products are actually worth your money. She also explores trends in the shopping sphere, such as dupes and viral TikTok moments.

Mashable Image
Matt Ford

Matt Ford is a freelance contributor to Mashable.

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