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The Best Cordless Vacuums

Last updated on November 5, 2023
Best Cordless Vacuum

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Cleaning the house can be a real drag, especially because you’ve likely got much better things to do with your free time. But gone are the frustrating days of tripping over your vacuum cord or trying to maneuver the vacuum in one hand while keeping ahold of the cord in another. Thanks to a little ingenuity, you can now buy a cordless vacuum, which means you never have to worry about the cord getting tangled or sucked into the vacuum again (nor do you have to worry about your new puppy pretending the vacuum cord is a chew toy!).

Cordless vacuums also make it so that you never have to stop cleaning to unplug the cord, then replug it into a closer wall outlet, which can be super frustrating if you’re short on time and just need to get the job done in a flash. Most cordless vacuum models attach to a docking station for charging. Then, when you’re ready to clean your floors, you simply remove the vacuum from the docking station and start vacuuming. Some models, for example, have a removable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts about 32 minutes before you’ll need to recharge it again, which many people say is enough time to vacuum several rooms in your home, depending on their size.

MORE: The Best Cordless Vacuum For Your Workshop

If you’ve never seen a cordless vacuum up close, you’ll notice that they look a bit different than a standard vacuum. Many of these vacuums are long and slender with a dirt bin and a motorhead on top. Others look very similar to a traditional vacuum cleaner with a cord. Some cordless vacuums can also easily become handheld vacuums by simply removing the motorhead from the vacuum stick, which makes for a quick and painless transition. Some cordless vacuums have a rotating or swivel head that makes it easy to clean tough corners or get into tight spots, such as under the couch or the bed.

Cordless vacuums tend to be lighter and smaller than other vacuums, which makes them super useful if you’re short on time and just need to zip around to clean before guests arrive. They’re also helpful if you can’t lift heavy objects or your home has lots of stairs — no more lugging a heavy vacuum around.  Cordless vacuums also tend to take up less space than other vacuums, so they’re perfect for smaller spaces such as apartments and condos.

Our Picks For The Top Cordless Vacuums

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Product Overview
Our Take
 Best Handheld

Bissell 1782 Cordless Vacuum

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Bissell

1782 Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Hand and Car Vacuum

This handheld pet vacuum is surprisingly powerful for its size. It also provides pet owners with the ability to reach remote areas and heavy traffic zones, such as staircases.

Overall Take

Best HandheldA pet vacuum that can handle difficult spaces like closets, stairs, cars and more.

Tineco S3 Upright Self-Propelled Cordless Vacuum

Tineco

S3 Upright Self-Propelled Cordless Vacuum

If you're looking for a reliable wet dry cordless vacuum to keep your sealed hardwood floors looking their best, this model is an excellent choice. It's lightweight and easy to maneuver and can run for up to 25 minutes on one charge. It also runs quietly, so you'll be able to clean while your little ones nap.

Overall Take

Top ChoiceThanks to the two-tank technology used on this cordless vacuum, you don't have to worry about your clean and dirty water mixing.

 Also Great

Hoover Compact Rechargeable Cordless Vacuum

Hoover

Compact Rechargeable Cordless Vacuum

Not only does this cordless vacuum work on both carpet and hardwood flooring, it's also lightweight and easy to maneuver. Pet owners will appreciate the oversized dirt cup, which can hold plenty of pet hair. The powerful motor is also a plus, as it makes quick work of your daily chores.

Overall Take

Great for Small ApartmentsThe compact design of this cordless vacuum makes it perfect for dorm rooms or small apartments.

  The Best Value

INSE 6-In-One Rechargeable Stick Cordless Vacuum

INSE

N5 6-In-One Rechargeable Stick Cordless Vacuum

With a 45 minute runtime, you'll be able to use this cordless vacuum to clean your floors without having to stop for a recharge. The vacuum comes with six attachments and has a 180-degree swivel to help you clean those hard to reach areas. The high-efficiency filtration system is another awesome feature, as it captures up to 99% of the microscopic ...

Overall Take

Great for Pet OwnersThanks to the powerful suction on this cordless vacuum, you won't have any trouble cleaning cat or dog hair from the surfaces in your home.

What to Look For

  • One of the key factors you’ll want to consider when purchasing a cordless vacuum is battery life since this will determine how long you can run your cordless vacuum before it needs to be charged. Cordless vacuums can run, on average, between 15 and 45 minutes between charges, depending on the type of vacuum and the setting you select. You won’t be able to use your cordless vacuum for very long if you select the highest-power mode, so keep that in mind when you start cleaning. For example, some models can run for up to 30 minutes, depending on which mode you’re using to clean your house.
  • Cordless vacuums typically use one of three types of batteries: lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride and nickel-cadmium. Each battery type has its own pros and cons, and they all have varying levels of power, shelf life, replacement cost and charge capacity. Lithium-ion batteries, for instance, tend to be more expensive than nickel-cadmium batteries and you may have to be careful not to overcharge them. Generally speaking, nickel-cadmium batteries tend to need to be replaced more often than the other types, while nickel-metal hydride batteries are more expensive but they hold a lot of power from each charge. Typically, your battery will not be covered under a limited warranty if it fails because of normal wear and tear. Over time, you can likely expect to have to replace the battery for your cordless vacuum.
  • You’ll also want to consider the weight of the vacuum. If being lightweight is important to you, you’ll want to take a look at the product specs for each cordless vacuum. They typically range from 2 to 7 pounds.
  • Most cordless vacuums come with washable filters, which means you’ll need to keep an eye on how dirty this filter becomes and clean it periodically to keep the vacuum running properly.
  • Cordless vacuums come with an array of accessories and attachments. Some of the most common accessories are crevice cleaners, mini brushes and extension heads. One model, for example, includes a duster crevice tool, a dusting brush, a wide upholstery tool, an anti-allergen dust brush, a battery and a charger.

More to Explore

You can thank NASA for your cordless vacuum — yes, NASA. The reason we have cordless vacuums in our homes today is because NASA needed a company to design a special drill so that Apollo astronauts could extract core samples from the moon in the early 1960s. Since they were on the moon with no power source, the drill had to be cordless, lightweight and small. NASA asked The Black & Decker Manufacturing Company to design something and the company pulled through by developing a battery-powered technology, which was the precursor to today’s modern cordless power tools and vacuums. Thanks, NASA!

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