If you hate moving around a heavy vacuum, a cordless stick vacuum will be a dream come true. Shark and Dyson stand out for their powerful suction, lightweight designs, and versatile features. Both brands offer strong performance on various surfaces, including carpets and hardwood floors, making them ideal vacuums for a range of cleaning needs.
We analyzed 99 vacuum models and evaluated 151,810 customer reviews. Four vacuums earned a spot on our buying guide. Our process certifies products as tested, ensuring reliability and filtering out fake and low-quality reviews. Winning vacuums excelled in our criteria, providing robust suction, long battery life, and easy maneuverability, which are critical for maintaining a clean and healthy home.
How Did We Rank the Best Cordless Stick Vacuum?
Finding the best cordless stick vacuum involved a deep dive into over 200 sites, examining everything from testing methodologies to user reviews. We distilled the essential criteria into 2 required test results and 2 vital specifications. Our analysis of expert and customer reviews ensures our guide highlights the top performers based on the most critical factors.
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 a stick vacuum.
- 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
- 06/25/2024: Republished the list to include the best cordless stick vacuum cleaners based on our True Score system.
Top Cordless Stick Vacuum For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Samsung Bespoke Jet
Best Cordless
For a quiet, robust cordless stick vacuum, the Samsung Bespoke Jet excels with impressive cleaning and adaptability across various surfaces.
True Score
88867Experts
90567Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $150$699.99$549.99Read 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
$549.99$700Save $150
$661.60$700Save $38
$699.00$899Save $200
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a quiet yet robust cordless stick vacuum, the Samsung Bespoke Jet is a standout choice. Its best-in-class noise level of 70.5 dB sets it apart from other options on our list, providing a decently quiet cleaning experience ideal for homes that need frequent maintenance without the disturbance often associated with powerful vacuums.
The Bespoke Jet excels with a remarkable cleaning effectiveness of 97.71% on bare floors like hardwood, laminate, or tile. It also delivers strong performance on carpets by removing 91.7% of debris. This adaptability makes it a perfect fit for managing the varied flooring types found in many homes. Additionally, its ability to clean up to 99.50% of pet hair reinforces its position as an all-around cleaning solution for pet owners.
This cordless stick vacuum boasts a HEPA filter system, improving air quality by trapping fine particles, essential when moving between dusty hard floors and allergen-rich carpeted areas. Its lightweight design, weighing just 6 lbs, ensures easy navigation around furniture, between rooms, and up and down stairs, with a practical 0.2-gallon bin capacity. If a higher noise level isn’t a concern, the cheaper Shark Vertex Pro offers a noise level of 82.4 dB and a larger 0.25-gallon bin capacity, though it is heavier at 8.82 lbs.
With its streamlined form factor, the Samsung Bespoke Jet is powerful and exceptionally user-friendly for daily cleaning tasks. Its ability to glide smoothly over multiple surfaces and its quiet, efficient operation make it a top contender for anyone seeking a versatile, high-performing cordless stick vacuum.
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Category Snapshot
Vacuum Cleaners
- Total Brands/Products Tested
31 Brands, 99 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 Stratos Cordless
Best Cordless For Pet Hair
The Shark Stratos Cordless excels across floor types with its lightweight design and powerful performance, making it a versatile cleaning solution.
True Score
86876Experts
86664Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $71$399.99$329.00Read 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
- $329.00$400Save $71
- $332.50$500Save $167
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a versatile cordless stick vacuum that performs exceptionally across various floor types, the Shark Stratos Cordless is a standout option. It features an impressive bare floor cleaning performance of 98.83%, making it perfect for handling hardwood, tile, and other hard surfaces. Its ability to achieve 100% pet hair removal is particularly advantageous for homes with pets, and a solid carpet cleaning performance of 89.28% makes it well-suited for various home environments.
Weighing just 8.9 lbs, this vacuum’s lightweight and cordless design enhances its ease of movement across different rooms and flooring types. Eliminating the constraints of a cord increases its utility as a flexible cleaning tool. Though the Shark Stratos Cordless operates with a noise level of 76.7 dB, slightly higher than some other models, its impressive cleaning capabilities more than make up for it.
While modest, the 0.18-gallon bin capacity is typically sufficient for regular cleanups, though homes with heavier foot traffic might find it needs more frequent emptying. The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away has a much larger bin capacity at 0.34 gallons and is cheaper if you have a larger home. However, it is also heavier at 12.4 lbs, which may affect maneuverability.
Despite minor trade-offs, the Shark Stratos Cordless shines as a cordless stick vacuum, excelling in maneuverability and multi-surface cleaning efficacy. Whether tackling long hair, pet fur, or general household debris, it provides a powerful and adaptable cleaning solution for any modern home.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
Best Carpets
The Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away is efficient for larger homes with its generous bin capacity and versatile cleaning performance.
True Score
85842Experts
87340Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $80$399.99$319.99Read 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
- $319.99$400Save $80
- $399.00$400Save $1
- $525.00$599Save $74
Our Verdict
If you’re searching for a cordless stick vacuum that can handle the demands of a larger home, the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away stands out, particularly for its generous bin capacity of 0.34 gallons. This allows for extended cleaning sessions without frequent interruptions to empty the bin, making it highly efficient for homes with a lot of ground to cover.
This model removes 100% of pet hair from surfaces and boasts an impressive 98.57% cleaning efficacy on bare floors, making it particularly effective on hard surfaces like hardwood, laminate, and tile. Although designed with hard floors in mind, it also achieves a respectable 89.36% on carpets, showcasing its adaptability, though it may perform slightly less optimally on very plush carpets.
Despite a noise level of 77 dB, akin to a running garbage disposal, the Vertex Pro’s robust cleaning capabilities justify the noise for many users. Weighing 12.4 lbs, it’s heavier than some models, potentially hindering its maneuverability during prolonged use in large areas. If you’re looking for a lighter option, the pricier Shark Vertex Pro offers similar cleaning performance but is easier to handle at 8.82 lbs, although it is louder at 82.4 dB.
Featuring a HEPA filter, the Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away excels in cleaning and enhances indoor air quality by trapping fine particles and allergens. Its robust performance on various floor types, substantial bin capacity, and allergen-trapping capabilities make it an excellent choice for anyone needing a powerful, versatile cordless stick vacuum for extensive cleaning tasks in large living areas.
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Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Vertex Pro
Best Long Hair
The Shark Vertex Pro offers powerful cleaning results and exceptional pet hair management on hard floors despite its higher noise level.
True Score
81813Experts
82355Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $80$479.99$399.91Read 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
- $399.91$480Save $80
- $434.99
- $449.99
Our Verdict
If you can overlook its higher noise level, the Shark Vertex Pro is an exemplary choice for a cordless stick vacuum. It is particularly adept at managing pet hair on mostly hard flooring. Despite registering a noise level of 82.35 dB, the highest among our models, it delivers outstanding cleaning results. With a 99.66% effectiveness rate in pet hair removal, it ensures floors are kept free from long hair accumulations.
The Vertex Pro excels with a bare floor cleaning rate of 98.50% and a carpet performance of 82.61%, making it ideal for homes with noticeable long hair, even on carpets. Its cordless design boosts usability, enabling easy movement across large spaces or multiple rooms. However, if better carpet cleaning is needed, the pricier Samsung Bespoke Jet offers an impressive 91.70% efficiency and is quieter at 70.5 dB.
While its 0.25-gallon bin capacity is generally sufficient, it might require more frequent emptying in larger homes or during heavy cleaning tasks, particularly with long hair. At 8.82 lbs, the Vertex Pro is somewhat heavy, potentially impacting maneuverability. Despite this, its design and performance typically compensate for these drawbacks, presenting a practical choice for those needing a robust cordless stick vacuum. It is also equipped with a HEPA filter, which helps maintain a cleaner, allergen-reduced environment by capturing fine particles, including small fragments of pet hair and dander
The Vertex Pro beautifully balances efficiency and versatility, standing out as a fantastic choice for anyone needing a potent, adaptable cordless stick vacuum to manage pet hair on hard floors despite its louder sound and moderate weight.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Cordless Stick Vacuum?
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 Stick Vacuum: Mistakes To Avoid
- Ignoring Battery Life: Overlooking the importance of battery life can result in a vacuum that dies mid-cleaning. Choose a model with sufficient battery life for your cleaning sessions. Look for vacuums with a minimum of 30 minutes of runtime on a single charge, and consider models with removable batteries for extended cleaning time. Alternatively, if you don’t want to worry about battery life at all, consider a great corded stick vacuum, which provides continuous power without the need for recharging.
- Overlooking Suction Power: Focusing solely on the convenience of cordless without considering the suction power can lead to poor cleaning performance. Ensure the vacuum has strong suction power to effectively clean various surfaces. Check the vacuum’s specifications and read reviews to gauge its performance.
- Not Considering Your Flooring Type: Choosing a vacuum without considering your specific flooring type can result in inefficient cleaning. Make sure the vacuum is suitable for your flooring, whether it’s carpet, hardwood, tile, or a combination. Some models come with adjustable settings for different surfaces.
- Forgetting About Dustbin Capacity: Overlooking the dustbin capacity can lead to frequent interruptions to empty the bin. Opt for a vacuum with a dustbin capacity that matches your cleaning needs. Larger capacity bins are beneficial for larger homes or more extensive cleaning tasks. When comparing a stick vacuum vs an upright, consider that stick vacuums generally have smaller dustbins, which may require more frequent emptying, but offer greater maneuverability and convenience. Upright vacuums, on the other hand, often come with larger dustbins, making them suitable for bigger cleaning jobs and reducing the need for frequent emptying.
The Best Cordless Stick Vacuum Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88 |
|
|
|
|  $549.99 $700 $150 |
| 86 |
|
|
|
|  $329.00 $400 $71 |
Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away
| 85 |
|
|
|
| $319.99 $400 $80 |
| 81 |
|
|
|
| $399.91 $480 $80 |
