Best Vacuum Cleaner (2026): Cordless Vacuums, Robot Vacuu…

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We’ve tried every kind of vacuum here at WIRED, and we’ve put together this list noting the best vacuum cleaner for every category we’ve tried. That testing range covers powerful Dysons, compact handheld vacuums, automated robot vacuums, vacuums designed for pet hair, and even the best vacuums to keep your car clean.

If you’re looking for one place to find all of our top vacuum recommendations, this is it. From our favorite stick vacuums, the Shark PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum and the Dyson V15 Detect, to the Eufy X10 Pro Omni, our favorite robot vacuum, and great handheld vacuums the Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum, there’s a vacuum here for every kind of cleaning task. Check out all of our favorite vacuum cleaner for every cleaning style below.

Looking for our guides that dive into each category? Check out our guide to the Best Dyson Vacuums, Best Robot Vacuums, Best Cordless Vacuums, Best Handheld Vacuums, and Best Pet Hair Vacuums.

Updated February 2026: We’ve added the Shark PowerDetect, our new cordless vacuum pick, and the Eufy X10 Pro Omni, our new robot vacuum pick.

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• Comparing Our Favorite Vacuum Cleaners
• Honorable Mentions
• Which Style Vacuum Is Right for You?
• Do You Need a Stick Vacuum and a Handheld Vacuum?
• How Often Should You Replace Your Vacuum?

• Best Cordless Stick Vacuum

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    Photograph: Nena Farrell

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    Photograph: Nena Farrell

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    Photograph: Nena Farrell

  Shark

  PowerDetect Cordless Stick Vacuum

  $450 $379 (16% off)

  Amazon

  $450

  SharkNinja

  In my latest round of cordless vacuum testing, Shark’s PowerDetect has risen to the top with a great mix of features at an accessible price. It has your classic range of three power levels and comes with only two accessories, but the stick of the vacuum actually has a bendable point, so you can click to bend it and easily vacuum underneath surfaces without ending up on the floor to do it. It has impressive power levels and did the best job vacuuming up debris sand and cereal on carpet, and it did a solid job getting dust out of carpet-covered stairs.

  I think this is especially a great cordless stick vacuum if you have a mix of hard floors, rugs, and carpet in your home. If your home is primarily carpet, I’d recommend a Dyson for a deeper clean, but otherwise this Shark model will do fantastic. There’s a version with a self-emptying docking station, too.

  Capacity	0.70 liter
  Additional attachments	Crevice tool and pet hair multi-tool
  Power	380W
  Run time	Up to 70 minutes
  Filter	HEPA Filter
  Warranty	Two-year parts warranty, five-year limited warranty

• Best Robot Vacuum

  

  Courtesy of Eufy

  Eufy

  X10 Pro Omni

  $700 $500 (29% off)

  Amazon

  A great robot vacuum can easily cost over a grand these days, but the smartest way to get a powerful robot vacuum without spending so much is to go with a slightly older model. WIRED reviewer Adrienne So recommends the Eufy X10 Pro Omni as the best robot vacuum to buy for its combination of features and a reasonable price, even though it came out in early 2024.

  This vacuum has aged well, though, with a self-emptying bin that lets you change the emptying frequency in the app. It has multi-floor mapping for those who live in two- or three-story home. It’s both a vacuum and a mop, and the mop can apply downward pressure to scrub up sticky messes and the . It uses lidar and camera navigation with AI-enabled RBG cameras to identify obstacles in your house. The AI doesn’t always label items correctly, but even if they’re marked something wrong, the vacuum will avoid it while it cleans.

  Capacity	2.5 liter dust bag, 3 liter clean water tank
  Additional attachments	N/A
  Suction	8,000 Pa
  Run time	110 minutes for the vacuum and mop, 180 minutes for just the vacuum
  Filter	Not specified
  Warranty	1-year warranty

• Best Dyson Stick Vacuum

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    Photograph: Nena Farrell

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    Photograph: Nena Farrell

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    Courtesy of Dyson

  Dyson

  V15 Detect

  $750 $679 (9% off)

  Amazon (V15 Detect)

  $850

  Best Buy

  $850 $788 (7% off)

  Amazon (V15 Detect Plus)

  $850

  Dyson

  There are a lot of Dyson vacuum models, but the V15 Detect is the best in Dyson’s lineup with a reasonable price—for a Dyson, that is—and a good mix of features. Time and time again, though, the power of a Dyson vacuum can’t be beat, especially the power and attachments the V15 Detect has.

  It gets a deeper clean in my carpet than cheaper vacuums, and the sensor in the vacuum can actually tell you how many particles it’s picking up if you want to get into the data. There’s a nice range of attachments, including the Fluffy Optic cleaner head that has a green laser to find dust and debris on hard floors. It does have a trigger-style power button, so you’ll have to hold it down the entire time you use it. That can be annoying if you know you want to use it on a lot of carpet or hard floors, but it’s handy for target-cleaning areas staircases. It’s an all-around great vacuum and noticeably more powerful than cheaper options if you have the budget to splurge.

  Capacity	0.8 liter
  Attachments	Fluffy Optic cleaner head, Digital Motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, combination tool, and crevice tool
  Power	240W
  Run time	Up to 60 minutes
  Filter	Whole-machine filtration
  Warranty	2-year parts and labor warranty

• Best Stick Vacuum for Pet Hair

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    Photograph: Molly Higgins

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  Ryobi

  18V One+ HP Advanced Stick Vacuum Kit

  $399

  Home Depot

  $399

  Ryobi

  I love this affordable stick vacuum from Ryobi. It has powerful suction of up to 89 IOW with cyclonic filtration, an easily removable roller bar for cleaning, and lights on the vacuum head to better see the debris. It has both plush and brush rolls for hard and carpet flooring, where they move together to suck up pet hair without getting tangled. The vacuum uses two HEPA filters, the dust cup is convenient to empty, and the vacuum stands upright unsupported. Plus, its easily removable and rechargeable battery makes it easy to charge separately (without having to lug the whole vacuum to an outlet), and the battery is compatible with Ryobi’s line of various other tools. It also doubles as a handheld vac, and it comes with crevice tools and a dust brush for cleaning in smaller areas and furniture. This cordless vacuum far exceeded my expectations for this relatively low price point. —Molly Higgins

  Capacity	1 liter
  Attachments	Mini-motorized beater bar, crevice tool, dust brush, micro crevice tool, accessory holder and docking station
  Power	140W
  Run time	60 minutes
  Filter	Two HEPA filters
  Warranty	3-year limited warranty

• Best Handheld Vacuum

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    Photograph: Molly Higgins

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    Courtesy of Ryobi

  Ryobi

  18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum

  $58 $50 (14% off)

  Amazon

  $99

  Home Depot

  $99

  Ryobi

  This powerful, lightweight hand vacuum comes with brush and crevice tool attachments, and although the vacuum is powerful on its own, the dust brush worked well for cleaning fabrics and effectively brushed up pet hair, and the crevice tool was small enough to fit between upholstery and hard-to-reach places in my car. Emptying the vacuum’s debris was simple, with a button to eject the dust cup, and the vac has a dual HEPA filter system that untwists when it’s time to be cleaned.

  Plus, other Ryobi tools, it attaches to a rechargeable 18-volt lithium-ion battery pack for power (which also helps to conserve space), and the battery works with other Ryobi tools. This multifunctional tool boasts 37-inch sealed suction IOW (inches of water) suction power, holds almost three cups, and has a three-year warranty. I consider it a great value at less than $100. —Molly Higgins

  Capacity	0.7 liter
  Attachments	Crevice tool and dust brush
  Power	26W
  Run time	25 minutes
  Filter	HEPA and standard filters
  Warranty	3-year manufacturer’s warranty

• Best Handheld Car Vacuum

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    Photograph: Nena Farrell

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    Photograph: Nena-Farrell

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    Courtesy of Worx

  Worx

  20V Cordless Cube Vac

  $120 $90 (25% off)

  Amazon

  $120 $90 (25% off)

  Worx

  I have a toddler, which means I’m constantly battling messy cars. I’ve tried a slew of car-designed vacuums, with longer hoses and promises of easier cleans. My favorite by far is the cube-shaped Worx vacuum, which proves something can be both adorable and incredibly useful.

  The handle on top of its boxy form is comfortable to hold, and the hose wraps around that handle when it’s in storage. I found it most comfortable to hold the square base in one hand and the hose in the other as I moved around my car cleaning it, but the three-foot hose does mean you could put it down and reach plenty of spots in the car. It has a small dustbin, but it was plenty for the sand and Cheerio debris that haunts our vehicles. It uses a power tool-style battery that pops off and charges in a base, and is a great choice if you have other Worx tools (and batteries!) in your garage.

  Capacity	0.2 liter
  Attachments	Crevice tool, brush attachment
  Power	Not specified
  Run time	Up to 25 minutes (on low speed)
  Filter	HEPA filter
  Warranty	3-year limited warranty

Comparing Our Favorite Vacuum Cleaners

Honorable Mentions

Bissell PowerClean FurFinder for $210: This was our previous top pick for cordless vacuums, and it’s still a great affordable stick vacuum. But if you’re looking for a cheap option, the regular Bissell PowerClean ($200) is a touch cheaper since it doesn’t come with the FurFinder upholstery attachment, while Dyson and Ryobi’s vacuums have more powerful suction for pet hair.

Black and Decker Dustbuster Flex for $95: This is another cool handheld vacuum that’s great for cars, or even indoor areas staircases. It has a 4-foot hose, longer than most compact vacuums, and has a handy little charging mount that the accessories clip into. And thank goodness for the charging mount, since the battery only lasts 15 minutes.

Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum for $290: Dyson’s latest handheld vacuum was designed specifically for cars (and boats!) in mind, so if you have a vehicle to clean, this is made for it. It’s got a fantastic battery life compared to other handheld vacuums.

Dyson Gen5 Detect Cordless Vacuum for $800: This is Dyson’s current top-of-the-line stick vacuum, and it’s fantastic, especially for homes with a lot of pet hair. But it’s expensive and rarely on sale, making it a hard upgrade when you’ll still get a great experience with the Dyson V15 Detect. But this vacuum does have a HEPA filter, while the V15 Detect does not.

EcovacsDeebot X11 Omnicyclone for $999: If you want a newer robot vacuum, the Ecovacs Deebot X11 Omnicyclone has a unique design with no dust bag. Instead, it has a rounded canister a Dyson or stick vacuum, circling the debris to keep it from tangling. It’s a good design and this is overall a great robot vacuum, especially if you don’t want to buy dust bags over and over.

Roborock Qrevo S for $350 (used): This was our previous top robot vacuum pick, but Roborock updated the Qrevo line with new models that aren’t shipping to the United States, and the model we d best is only available secondhand.

Tineco Pure One Station 5 for $459: If you want a cordless stick vacuum but don’t want to deal with emptying it all the time, this Tineco vacuum comes with a self-emptying docking station. You’ll eventually have to empty the station, but it’s a great bonus feature and keeps the vacuum from falling over around your home since it’s stored safely in the docking station.

FAQs

Which Style Vacuum Is Right for You?

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Here’s what makes each style of vacuum great to help you choose which one you should buy.

• Cordless Vacuums or Stick Vacuums: These vacuums look the latter name suggests, with a long, stickarm that connects the vacuum head to the canister and controls. You’ll need to hold this up in a way you wouldn’t have to with an upright vacuum, but these are powerful and super mobile. They make for a great main vacuum, and are especially great if you have multiple floors to vacuum since it’s easy to carry these up and down stairs.
• Robot Vacuums: Robot vacuums are great for cleaning for you, and are controlled with an app. There are several models that double as a mop, too. You’ll have to spend time moving furniture for the best clean possible, and you usually still want a regular vacuum of some kind in your home. But these are great for frequent cleans with kids and pets.
• Handheld Vacuums: Handheld vacuums are great for targeted cleans, or cleaning specific places stairs and cars. Most stick vacuums can transform into a handheld vacuum, but true handhelds are much lighter and have a more compact design (but also sacrifice battery power and dustbin capacity).

What About Upright Vacuums?

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An upright vacuum is the classic, original vacuum style that sits straight up on its own and is much heavier than a cordless stick vacuum, and requires an outlet connection to work. We currently don’t have an upright vacuum we recommend, since cordless stick vacuums have become the main focus for most shoppers (and as frequent vacuumers ourselves, we usually reach for cordless and robot vacuums anyway). We’re considering upright vacuums to test in the future, however, so feel free to comment on this guide with models we should consider.

Do You Need a Stick Vacuum and a Handheld Vacuum?

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Do you need a handheld vacuum if you already have a cordless vacuum? ly no, because most stick vacuums can transform into a handheld vacuum already. Stick or cordless vacuums usually allow you to remove the stick part from between the vacuum head and canister base and instead connect those two pieces directly, making it into a handheld vacuum. It’ll be much heavier than a vacuum designed to always be handheld, and might be irritating if you have a specific use case you want it for, but you don’t need both unless there’s a specific reason. A handheld is a good add-on if you already have an upright vacuum you love that doesn’t need replacing.

How Often Should You Replace Your Vacuum?

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Vacuums last about five years, depending on the use frequency and build quality. Some cheaper stick vacuums might only last about a year or two, though, so it’s worth investing in a better vacuum than finding a cheap dupe. If you’re curious what signs might indicate your vacuum needs replacing, check out our guide to how long vacuums can last.

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Nena Farrell is a writer and reviewer at WIRED. She primarily covers home and sleep products, smart home tech, gift guides, and parenting gear. She’s been a reviewer at WIRED since 2023, and before that was a smart home updates writer at The New York Times’ Wirecutter and an associate … Read More

Writer and Reviewer

TopicsShoppinghouseholdbuying guidesvacuumsrobot vacuum

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