The 10 best cordless vacuum cleaners of 2026

The Henry Quick brings the famous Henry hoover into the cordless era. Numatic makes it in Chard, Somerset, and it keeps one of Henry's best features: bags. Instead of emptying a dusty bin over the kitchen bin, you lift out a sealed HQ ProBag, which is a real plus for allergy sufferers and anyone who hates dust clouds.

It weighs just 2.9 kg, is well balanced and converts quickly to a handheld. The brush bar cleans carpets and hard floors well, and run time is up to 40 minutes on the low setting, enough for a typical three-bedroom house. It does not have the smart sensors or anti-tangle brush of the Shark, so long hair needs cutting off the brushroll now and then, and you need to keep buying bags. At around £199, though, it is excellent value. UK buyers trust the Henry name and praise the sturdy build and how easy it is to empty.

The Dyson Gen5detect Absolute is the most powerful cordless vacuum Dyson makes. Its Hyperdymium motor spins at 135,000 rpm, which translates into class-leading suction on deep carpets and rugs. The battery gives up to 70 minutes on the lowest setting, and it lasts long enough on Auto mode to clean most houses in one go.

The Fluffy Optic head projects a green laser across hard floors so you can see fine dust you would otherwise miss, and a piezo sensor counts the particles it picks up and shows them on the LCD screen. That feature sounds like a gimmick, but many owners say it changes how thoroughly they clean. The whole machine is sealed with a HEPA filter, which captures fine allergens. The Digital Motorbar head removes hair from the brush bar, though not every included tool has that. At around £649 it is a serious investment. UK buyers call it the best vacuum they have ever used, but say the price is hard to justify for a small flat.

The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute was Dyson's flagship before the Gen5 and remains one of the best cordless vacuums you can buy. The suction is still among the strongest in this list, and the Laser Slim Fluffy head lights up dust on hard floors so you can see what you are picking up. A piezo sensor measures particle sizes and adjusts the power on Auto mode.

Run time is up to 60 minutes, and the battery clicks out so you can buy a spare and double the time. The Digital Motorbar head has anti-tangle comb vanes that remove hair from the brush bar as it spins, and the Hair Screw tool is great for pet beds and stairs. The bin is emptied with a point-and-shoot mechanism that is quick, but it can puff a little dust, so do it outside if you have allergies. Since the Gen5 arrived the V15 has dropped to around £499, which makes it the smarter Dyson buy for most UK homes.

The Shark Stratos IZ400UKT was the top Shark cordless before the PowerDetect range and still offers outstanding cleaning for the money. The DuoClean PowerFins head combines a soft roller for hard floors with flexible fins that dig into carpet, and the Anti Hair Wrap Plus brushroll keeps long hair and pet fur from tangling.

A small cartridge of Odour Neutraliser in the head releases a fresh scent as you vacuum, which pet owners in particular appreciate. Clean Sense IQ measures how dirty the floor is and adjusts suction automatically. The Flexology wand bends at the middle so you can vacuum under the sofa or bed standing up, and folds for compact storage. With two batteries in the twin pack you get up to 60 minutes of run time. You empty the bin by hand, and the head is a bit wide for narrow stairs. UK buyers love how well it handles dog hair and say it feels as powerful as their old corded hoover.

The Samsung Bespoke Jet AI is one of the most powerful cordless vacuums on sale, with up to 280 W of suction power. Its AI cleaning mode detects the floor type and adjusts suction and brush speed automatically, which helps battery life when you move between carpet and hard floor.

The All-in-One Clean Station acts as a stand and charger, and when you dock the vacuum it automatically empties the bin into a bag, removing dust without a cloud. With two batteries you get up to 100 minutes of run time, the longest in this list. The vacuum also comes with a range of tools, including a pet tool and a flexible crevice tool. The bin itself is small at 0.5 litres, but because it empties automatically that is less of an issue. At around £549 it is pricey. UK buyers praise the suction and the clean station, and say it looks much smarter standing in the hallway than most vacuums.

The Miele Duoflex HX1 is built in the way you would expect from Miele: solid materials, tight fittings and a design meant to last. Its main trick is versatility. The handheld unit can sit at the top of the stick for normal vacuuming, at the bottom for a low-slung vacuum that slides under furniture, or be used on its own for stairs and the car.

The electric brush head has LED lights and cleans carpets and hard floors well, though suction is lower than the top Dyson and Shark models. At 2.6 kg it is one of the lightest vacuums here, which makes it easy to carry upstairs. Run time is up to 60 minutes in the Total Care version with a spare battery. The 0.5 litre bin is small and needs emptying often in larger homes. UK buyers praise the build quality and how easy it is to use, and Miele's reputation for long-lasting appliances is a big reason people choose it.

Vax is designed in the UK, and the Blade 4 Pet is one of its best-value cordless vacuums. The direct-drive brush bar works well on carpets and hard floors, and the included pet tool lifts fur from sofas, stairs and dog beds. At 2.8 kg it is light enough to carry around the house easily.

The ONEPWR battery is shared across Vax's whole cordless range, including carpet washers and handheld vacuums, so if you own one ONEPWR product you can swap batteries between them. Run time is up to 45 minutes on the lowest setting, but on maximum power it drops to around 10 minutes, so most owners use the standard mode for everyday cleaning. There is no anti-tangle brush, so long hair needs cutting off now and then. At around £169 it is a solid choice that cleans better than the price suggests. UK buyers with pets say it handles daily fur pick-up well.

The Dreame R20 offers many of the features of a Dyson V15 for less than half the price. Its soft roller head has a green light that reveals dust on hard floors, the anti-tangle brush cuts long hair as it spins, and a display shows the suction mode and remaining battery time.

Run time is generous at up to 90 minutes on the lowest setting with the floor head, and the battery is removable. Suction is strong enough for carpets and pet hair in most homes, though deep shag rugs are better handled by the top Dyson and Shark models. Dreame is newer to the UK than Shark or Dyson, so after-sales support is less well known, and some buyers find the bin release mechanism a bit fiddly. At around £239, however, it represents strong value. UK owners are impressed by the battery life and say the green light is surprisingly useful in kitchens and hallways.

The Levoit LVAC-300 is a well-specced cordless vacuum at a modest price. Its 1 litre bin is one of the largest in this list, so you can clean the whole home without stopping to empty it. Run time is up to 80 minutes on the lowest setting, and the battery is removable.

The floor head has LED lights to show up dust under furniture, and an anti-tangle comb helps stop hair building up on the brush roll. An LED display shows remaining battery and the suction mode, and an auto mode adjusts suction to the floor type. On hard floors and low carpets it cleans very well. On thick carpets and rugs it is noticeably less effective than the Shark and Dyson models. At 2.6 kg it is light, though the plastics feel cheaper than premium brands. At around £179 it is a solid buy for flats and homes with mostly hard floors, and UK buyers like the big bin and long battery.