Features like soft brush rolls or dedicated hardwood attachments are crucial for effectively picking up fine dust and larger debris. Lightweight design, good battery life, and HEPA filters are also key for maintaining air quality and ease of use. When considering the best vacuum cleaners, these features ensure optimal performance on various surfaces. Out of over 100 cordless vacuums evaluated, only 5 made our buying guide.
We analyzed 150,575 reviews, filtering out the 10% that weren’t trustworthy. Our unique approach uses our AI-powered Trust Score, ensuring you get reliable recommendations. These winning models performed exceptionally well, certifying them as top choices for hardwood floor maintenance.
How Did We Rank the Best Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors?
Our evaluation of the best cordless vacuums for hardwood floors included rigorous analysis of over 200 sources. We assessed various testing methodologies and expert critiques alongside customer reviews to determine the key performance indicators. The resulting criteria comprised 2 required test results and 1 must-have spec, forming a comprehensive and reliable buying guide.
Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low-quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.
?️ Minimum Specifications
- Must be cordless
? Test Criteria
- Bare Floor Performance: The vacuum sucks up 95% of debris when cleaning bare surfaces such as tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
- Carpet Performance: The vacuum sucks up 70% of debris when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile.
Latest Updates
- 06/21/2024: Republished the list to include the best cordless vacuum cleaners for hardwood floors based on our True Score system.
Top Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Dyson V15 Detect
Best Cordless For Hardwood
Offering top-tier performance on various surfaces and hypoallergenic features, the Dyson V15 Detect excels but comes with a high price tag reflecting its premium status.
True Score
889119Experts
942kCustomers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $200$799.99$599.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Laser illumination technology
- Incredible performance on both carpets and hard floors
- Lightweight design
- Decent battery life
- Anti-allergenic HEPA filter
Reasons to Avoid
- Complicated maneuvrability on deep carpets
- Relatively low-capacity 0.45L dust cup
- Plastic construction
Specifications
Bagless Yes 
Bin Capacity 0.2 gal 
Brush Roll Shut-Off No 
Carpet Height Adjustments Yes 
Cleaning Path Width 10" 
Compatible Floor Type All floors 
Cord Length Cordless 
Corded/Cordless Cordless 
Filter Type Other 
Hypoallergenic Yes 
Pet Yes 
Product Weight 6.7 lbs 
Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums 
Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 92 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 73 All Retailers
- $599.99$800Save $200
- $624.99
- $638.99$750Save $111
Our Verdict
Dyson’s V15 Detect offers exceptional performance across floor types and cleaning jobs, including hardwood floors, successfully clearing 98.59% of debris. It doesn’t slouch on carpets or with pet hair either, hitting a best-in-class 91.77% and 100%, respectively. It’s also not ear-splittingly loud, with a max noise level of 72.5 dB, putting it closer to how loud an alarm clock is. It’s not quiet, but vacuums aren’t quiet.
This vacuum cleaner also has a hypoallergenic feature, which is great for allergies that might flare up when cleaning or emptying it out. However, its bin capacity of 0.2 liters is smaller, which may require frequent emptying during extensive cleaning sessions. On the bright side, being bagless, it’s easy to maintain without needing replacement bags.
At 6.7 lbs, it is easy to maneuver, especially on hardwood floors. The cleaning path width of 10 inches is also good enough for most cleaning tasks as long as you’re not trying to suck up anything wet.
The Dyson V15 Detect stands out no matter what you want it to do – but that comes with a price to match. It’s a premium option, but its impressive performance on bare floors, excellent pet hair removal, and fantastic carpet performance make it hard to argue against, even compared to other bagless, cordless vacuums. If you can afford it, it’s worth it.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Best Apartment
The Samsung Bespoke Jet combines impressive cleaning effectiveness with quiet operation, making it a strong contender for versatile home cleaning at a reasonable price.
True Score
85867Experts
92551Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $200$899.00$699.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- The cleaning station simplifies emptying the dust cup
- Two battery packs
- Lightweight design
- Turbo brush accessory
- Excellent performance on carpets and hard floors
Reasons to Avoid
- Doesn’t support wet cleaning
- Bulk two-in-one floor head
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.2 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off No Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 9.8" Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type 5-stage, Cyclonic, HEPA Hypoallergenic Unknown Pet Yes Product Weight 6 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 98 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 92 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 71 All Retailers
- $699.00$899Save $200
- $699.99
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner that cleans hardwood with ease and is light and quiet, the Samsung Bespoke Jet is a fantastic choice. With a noise level of 70.525 dB and a weight of just 6 lbs, it’s easy to maneuver and only a bit louder than loud conversations. Plus, it cleans up 97.71% of debris on bare floors, including hardwood, making it a phenomenal option for all types of bare floors.
The Samsung Bespoke Jet excels in pet hair performance, cleaning up 99.5% of debris, and also manages an exceptional 91.7% when it comes to carpets, meaning you can use the Jet for just about any surface in your home without issue. With a cleaning path of just under 10 inches, you won’t have to weave a huge zigzag across the floor to get everything.
The Jet also features a HEPA filter to prevent sneezing while vacuuming. However, its bin capacity is the same as the Dyson V15 Detect at 0.2 liters, which might require frequent emptying depending on your cleaning needs. It’s also quieter and less expensive than the Dyson, but it trades lower cost for slightly lower performance across the board.
The Samsung Bespoke Jet delivers impressive performance that matches its upper mid-range price point. If you’re looking for a vacuum cleaner that can handle any surface in the home without issue and clears up nearly all of the debris you’ll encounter, all in a relatively quiet package, it’s a great choice.
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Did you know that 78% of vacuum cleaner reviewers are untrustworthy?
Our research found only 27 of 125 vacuum cleaner reviewers as of July 2024 can be trusted. This is why Gadget Review is committed to calculating the most accurate product scores on the web.
To do this, we give every vacuum cleaner review site a Trust Rating, which measures how trustworthy the site and their testing claims are. We then leverage AI & a machine learning model to combine and calculate the Trust Rating with data from experts and consumers to deliver the True Score, the web’s most accurate product quality rating.
150,575Vacuum Cleaner Reviews Analyzed
100
Total Products Analyzed
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Stratos Cordless
Best Allergies
Despite being louder and heavier, the Shark Stratos Cordless excels in cleaning hardwood floors and pet hair, offering great value for those specific needs.
True Score
81866Experts
85726Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $129$499.99$371.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Impressive suction power
- Great bare floor performance
- Great Carpet cleaning performance
- Excellent pet hair cleaning performance
Reasons to Avoid
- Attachments are very limited
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.18 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Yes Cleaning Path Width 10" Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.9 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 89 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $371.00$500Save $129
- $399.00$400Save $1
Our Verdict
If the only thing that matters to you is clean hardwood floors, the Shark Stratos Cordless can’t be beaten. With a best-in-class bare floor performance of 98.83%, it’s a phenomenal choice for hardwood, tile, and other similarly hard surfaces. It doesn’t slouch with pet hair either and clears up 100% of pet dander in tests. It stumbles just a little bit with carpets, cleaning up 89.28% of debris. This is far from bad – it’s quite good, but there are better picks.
It’s less expensive than the Samsung Bespoke Jet and delivers superior performance on bare floors and pet hair, but it’s also much louder and does worse with carpets. With a noise level of 76.65 dB, the Stratos is closer to annoying than tolerable. It’s also got a smaller bin capacity of 0.18 liters, meaning you’ll be emptying it out more than any other cleaner on our list.
Weighing 8.9 lbs, the Stratos is also significantly heavier than some of the pricier picks. However, it does feature a HEPA filter, ensuring a hypoallergenic environment and high-quality air filtration.
Despite its higher noise level and weight, the Shark Stratos Cordless provides impressive value with its superb bare floor and pet hair performance, hypoallergenic feature, and competitive mid-range price point. Whether you have pets, suffer from allergies, or simply need an excellent vacuum for hardwood floors, the Shark Stratos Cordless is an easy pick.
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DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
For efficient home cleaning, a corded stick vacuum cleaner offers consistent power and is ideal for larger jobs, while a cordless stick vacuum cleaner provides mobility and ease of use. For pet owners, the best handheld vacuum for pet hair or a cordless vacuum for pet hair are essential tools to keep your home fur-free. Additionally, handheld vacuums are perfect for quick clean-ups and reaching tight spaces.
When dealing with tough stains, a great handheld steam cleaner can make a big difference. Understanding different vacuum types helps you choose the right tool for each task, including a cordless shop vac for heavy-duty cleanups. Pairing your vacuum with the best mop ensures your floors stay spotless and well-maintained.
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
Best Cordless
With exceptional bare floor cleaning and a large bin capacity, the Shark Vertex Pro offers great value for budget-conscious customers without compromising performance.
True Score
81832Experts
86328Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $1$399.99$399.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent performance on all floor types
- Good battery life
- Outstanding pet hair pick-up rate
- Low on-going costs
- LED headlights
Reasons to Avoid
- The brush roll is not removable
- Poor stain-removal performance
- Lacks a turbo brush
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.34 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off No Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 10" Compatible Floor Type Carpet, Hardwoods Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 12.4 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 89 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $399.00$400Save $1
- $399.99
Our Verdict
If you’re on a budget but still want clean hardwood floors, the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away has exceptional bare floor cleaning performance. It cleans up 98.565% of debris, setting it nearly imperceptibly behind the best of the best on our list. In addition to this excellent bare-floor performance, the vacuum also has perfect pet hair clean-up, sucking 100% of pet hair and dander. Its only hiccup is when it comes to carpet, but at 89.36% of debris cleaned, it’s still excellent at vacuuming carpets and rugs. The included HEPA filter also keeps the cleaning experience largely sneeze-free.
The Lift-Away also features a larger bin capacity of 0.34 liters, which means less frequent emptying during cleaning sessions and puts it ahead of the rest of the vacuums on our list regarding overall capacity. However, it’s important to note that the Lift-Away has a higher noise level of 77 dB; this is intrusive no matter how you cut it. You will know when this vacuum is on, and so will the rest of the house. The heavier build of the vacuum also makes it a little bit harder to maneuver – at 12.4 lbs might not be ideal if you’re elderly.
Shark’s Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away offers great performance and value. Its excellent bare floor cleaning ability, coupled with its lower price and larger bin capacity, make it an outstanding pick for cleaning hardwood floors on a lower mid-range budget.
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Category Snapshot
Vacuum Cleaners
- Total Brands/Products Tested
31 Brands, 100 Products
- Top 2 Brands
Dyson, Miele
- Price Range (Budget-Premium)
$50-$400+
- Average True Score
75.70
- Important Test Criteria
Bare Floor Performance (%)
Carpet Performance (%)
- Most Trusted Testers
- Typical Warranty
1 year
- Covered by Insurance
Yes – Amazon, Best Buy
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Vertex Pro
Best Cordless For Pet Hair
Loud but effective, the Shark Vertex Pro offers solid cleaning performance, especially on bare floors. It balances good bin capacity and pet hair removal for a mid-range price.
True Score
78813Experts
83341Customers
Mixed Reviews
SAVE $103$479.99$377.48Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Has an anti-allergen HEPA filter
- Low noise output
- LED screen for status display
- Large dirt canister
- Lightweight and easy to maneuver
Reasons to Avoid
- High maintenance requirements
- Struggles with fine debris on low pile carpet
- Long charge time
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.25 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Unknown Cleaning Path Width 10" Compatible Floor Type Carpet, Hardwoods Cord Length Unknown Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type HEPA Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 8.82 lbs Vacuum Type Stick Vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 83 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 82 All Retailers
- $377.48$480Save $103
- $429.99
- $449.99
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a lighter-weight vacuum with good bin capacity, the Shark Vertex Pro reliably cleans hardwood floors with minimal issues. With a bare floor performance of 98.5% debris cleaned, it’s a reliable choice for hardwood floors. Plus, the vacuum does a nearly perfect job with pet hair, cleaning up 99.66%, so you’re not stuck going over spots multiple times.
The vacuum compromises come through its carpet cleaning, though. At 82.61%, it’s good enough but noticeably worse than other picks. If you’d rather have a more carpet-friendly vacuum, the Samsung Bespoke Jet does a better job and is lighter in weight, but it’s also more expensive and has a smaller bin capacity.
The Shark Vertex Pro’s biggest drawback is its noise level of 82.35 dB, which puts it just below a lawnmower. In other words, it’s loud. It’s not too heavy, though, with a moderate weight of 8.82 lbs, keeping it maneuverable and easy to use for longer periods.
Still, despite how loud the vacuum is, the Vertex Pro is very effective, particularly if you’re trying to keep bare floors clean. With excellent cleaning power across bare surfaces, fantastic pet hair performance, solid bin capacity, and an included HEPA filter to minimize sneezing, it provides excellent value and is a great mid-range cordless vacuum.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Best Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors?
By focusing on these criteria (2 required), anyone can quickly and easily compare these vacuum cleaners and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a vacuum cleaner that will meet your needs.
| CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Floor Performance | > 95% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors. |
| Carpet Performance | > 70% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 120+ vacuum cleaner reviewers and found that 27 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for vacuum cleaner.
- Dagobiet Morales Alfaro – RTings, LinkedIn
- Derek Hales – Modern Castle, LinkedIn
- Sabine Heinlein – Wirecutter, LinkedIn
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every vacuum cleaner review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Vacuum Cleaner Test Data & Results
1. Bare Floor Performance Test Results
As the name suggests, bare floor performance references how well a vacuum does when it’s cleaning up tiles, vinyl planks, or hardwood flooring. Debris comes in a variety of sizes of course, and much of the testing revolves around picking up debris that ranges in size from cereal to bits of dirt to sand to a mix of everything above and more.
We recommend that a vacuum be able to pick up at least 95% of debris from a bare floor to ensure you end up with clean floors. Hitting a perfect score is obviously ideal, but the worse a vacuum performs here, the more work you need to do sweeping up or re-vacuuming. Missing debris is frustrating, and can invite pests if you miss bits of food, or annoyance if you step on something barefoot and hurt yourself.
Bare Floor Performance
> 95%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
A vacuum is supposed to clean, so if it can’t pick up most of the debris on a floor, it’s not doing its job.
Bare Floor Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
2. Carpet Performance Test Results
Carpet Performance
> 70%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning carpets, including low pile and high pile.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
If you have carpet, how well a vacuum cleans directly impacts how your carpet feels to walk on, and prevents pests from moving in.
Carpet cleaning ability is another important part of how your vacuum performs. Whether you have low-pile, high-pile, or rugs, how effectively a vacuum cleans up the dirt and debris left behind on the carpet is enormously important to keeping your carpet comfortable.
Generally speaking, we recommend a carpet cleaning performance of at least 70%. You might notice this is much lower than bare floors, and that’s because carpet is harder to clean. Short of devoting the time to actually shampoo and dry out a carpet, thoroughly cleaning out a carpet is very difficult, and good vacuums will reach deep between fibers and pull out long-forgotten crumbs.
Carpet Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
Best Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors: Mistakes To Avoid
- Overlooking Soft Brush Rollers: Hardwood floors can be easily scratched, so avoid vacuums that don’t have soft brush rollers or settings specifically designed for hard floors. Look for models with gentle brush rolls or rubberized rollers that won’t damage your flooring. For automated cleaning, consider a leading robot vacuum to clean hardwood floors, as these devices are designed to navigate and clean efficiently without causing damage.
- Ignoring Suction Power: Effective suction is crucial for removing dust and debris from hardwood floors. Choose a vacuum with strong suction power to ensure thorough cleaning without scattering debris.
- Disregarding Battery Life: Battery life is vital for cordless vacuums, especially if you have large areas to clean. Opt for a vacuum with a long-lasting battery to avoid interruptions during your cleaning sessions.
- Neglecting Filtration System: Good filtration is important to trap fine dust and allergens that can accumulate on hardwood floors. Select a vacuum with a high-quality filtration system, such as a HEPA filter, to maintain clean air in your home.
The Best Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 |
|
|
|
|  $599.99 $800 $200 |
| 85 |
|
|
|
|  $699.00 $899 $200 |
| 81 |
|
|
|
|  $371.00 $500 $129 |
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
| 81 |
|
|
|
| $399.00 $400 $1 |
| 78 |
|
|
|
| $377.48 $480 $103 |
