Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaner 2025: Tested and reviewed by our experts

Simply put, the Shark PowerDetect Clean and Empty (IP3251UKT) is easily one of the best cordless vacuum cleaners we have ever tested.

There are two versions available, one without the self-empty station and the other with. If you have the space then we’d recommend opting for the latter, which we tested, as it truly makes life that bit easier and costs just £50 extra. Otherwise, both vacuums are the same. 

The self-empty station means after cleaning, the vacuum’s 0.7-litre bin is automatically emptied. It also cleverly takes an odour capsule which releases a fragrance every time the bin is emptied, which is a nice touch that provides a clean feeling.

Included with the IP3251UKT is a DuoClean Detect floor head which has a brush for carpets alongside a soft roller for hard floors, a mini motorised pet tool for upholstery and pet beds, a two-in-one crevice tool and a stiff bristle brush. Although there’s no on-board storage, all tools can be clipped on the self-empty station.

Most notably, there are multiple technologies built into the floor head to improve cleaning including Floor Detection which adjusts the spin speed of the head’s rollers according to whether it’s on carpet or hard floor and Edge Detect for automatically increasing suction power when the floor head is at a room’s edge. 

There’s also Direction Detect, a seriously clever technology that means the IP3251UKT can pick up debris when it’s pushed forward and even pulled back too. 

When turned on, the IP3251UKT is automatically set to Detect mode which lets the vacuum determine the level of dust and adjusts its suction power accordingly. Otherwise you can also choose between Eco power mode, for gentle cleaning, or Boost mode when you need extra oomph. 

We found that in Boost mode, the vacuum reaches a massive 314AW, making it the second most powerful cordless vacuum we’ve ever measured, bested only by the Dyson Gen5 Detect. 

Overall we couldn’t fault the vacuum’s performance, and it was able to handle everything from general cleaning to picking up pet hair with ease. In fact, in our test we found the vacuum collected up a whopping 99.5% of dust which is the best result of any vacuum cleaner we’ve tested.

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full review: Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty IP3251UKT

If there’s one thing that Dyson knows, it’s how to make hugely powerful motors for cordless vacuum cleaners. The Dyson Gen5detect is the most powerful cordless vacuum cleaner that it has made yet. Putting this cleaner through our tests, we measured it at a massive 369AW on maximum power – the highest, by far, that we’ve ever seen from a cordless cleaner.

Otherwise, it runs at 30AW on its gentle power mode (good for dusting) and 75AW on medium. Well, kind of. As with previous Dyson vacuums, the Gen5detect has a piezo sensor for detecting dust, adjusting its power automatically based on how much dirt it has encountered. In automatic mode, the vacuum ups and downs its power on the fly, so that you get the best clean without having to worry about which power mode you’re in.

Cleverly, the LCD on the back shows the amount of dust being picked up, as well as the battery life remaining in minutes and seconds.

For hard floors, there’s an additional tool, the Fluffy Optic head, which uses a green laser to highlight dust. It works brilliantly, making it easy to see where you have and haven’t cleaned.

On maximum power, we found that this cleaner could collect grains of rice from more than 3cm away. If you’ve got the hand tools attached, this means you can quickly collect dust or suck it out of hard-to-reach areas.

Moving on to our regular tests, we found that this cleaner picked up 98.25% of dust on carpet, which is the best result that we’ve ever seen from a cordless cleaner. Edge performance was the same: 95.3% of dust collected. Hard floor collection was at 100%.

Moving to the anti-tangle tests with human hair, the Dyson Gen5detect refused to get any hair caught up in its brushes.

The only slight issue we encountered was when using the vacuum cleaner on a rubber-backed mat. Here, the Dyson Gen5detect produces too much power and suctions itself to the ground, stopping the brush bar from moving. We had to manually dial down the power. Still, it demonstrates just how powerful this cordless cleaner is.

Measuring battery life in auto mode, we found that the cleaner lasted 26m 13s. Given that you can clean thoroughly with a single pass, that’s more than enough time to tackle an entire home in one go.

Arguably, most people will find that the cheaper Dyson V15 Detect will suit their needs, but if you have the cash and want the absolute best, there’s no other cordless vacuum cleaner that comes close to this one for power.

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full review: Dyson Gen5detect review

For those smaller jobs where you need a grab-and-go cleaner, the Shark Premium Handheld Vacuum WV270UK is a great choice at a superb price. Delivering more power (we measured it at 75AW max, which is the same power as a regular cordless on its standard mode) via two selectable modes, and a decent 15-minute runtime, this is a compact vacuum cleaner with the power to compete with a full-sized model.

Although the vacuum can be used without attachments, Shark provides two additional tools in the box: a crevice tool with a flip-down brush for dusting, and an upholstery tool for cleaning soft furnishings. There’s no motorised pet tool, however. The small 0.1-litre bin doesn’t sound particularly big, but it’s actually roomy enough for the types of jobs for which the WV270UK is built.

Its power makes the WV270UK a super-capable cleaner. It’s useful for small jobs, such as picking up spilt food. The WV251UK picked up every grain of rice from a worktop, with the boost mode making the job even faster. It also performed admirably in our carpet tests, while the upholstery brush

Battery life on standard power was just over 15 minutes in my tests, while it lasts for 10mins 38secs on the highest power setting. That’s almost double the standard battery life of the original, which is impressive.

Reviewer: David Ludlow
Full Review: Shark Premium Handheld Vacuum WV270UK review

If you want a quick grab-and-go handheld vacuum cleaner that won’t break the bank, the Beldray Airlite Cordless Graphite BEL01096 is for you.

It certainly doesn’t skimp on features with a charging dock on offer (as opposed to a plug-in power adapter, which we were expecting to see), as well as a handy 2-in-1 tool for cleaning that works as both a dusting brush and crevice tool. Moreover, at just 580g, it’s also an especially lightweight option and one that made cleaning a pleasure. Getting started with the Airlite is as easy as ever, with a single power button that controls cleaning modes – press once to turn the vacuum on, press twice for high-speed mode, and pressing it a third time will turn the cleaner off.

There isn’t a battery indicator here to portray how much charge is left, which at this price, is a minor issue. A 0.1 litre bin is fine considering this cleaner is designed for smaller jobs, but the emptying process is a little fiddly given the mess it may create if not done properly.

High power suction of 19AW is comparatively low when pitted up against other cleaners, although don’t let that discourage you from considering this vacuum. In our real world testing, the Airlite offered decent performance for flour and rice, picking it up in smaller lots at a measured pace. It didn’t deal all too well with pet hair given the lower suction. A noise level of 74dB on average makes this a noisy vacuum, but that level isn’t too out of the ordinary for handheld options, while the 20-25 minutes of battery life is decent for tackling a good quantity of smaller jobs.

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full review: Beldray Airlite Cordless Graphite

The Samsung Jet 95 Pro is a powerful and versatile cordless vacuum that also boasts a gentle mopping attachment too. At just 2.7kg, it’s impressively lightweight too which makes it ideal for carrying around the house. 

Although it’s a more affordable alternative to the Samsung Bespoke Jet AI, the Jet 95 Pro still comes equipped with heaps of useful vacuuming attachments and mopping pads that suit a range of floor types.

These attachments include the main floor head which is made up of both a carpet brush and a soft roller for hard floors, a combination dusting tool, an extendible crevice tool and a mini motorised brush which Samsung coins Pet Tool Plus. 

In our tests we found the Jet 95 Pro’s vacuuming performance to be admirable and able to cope with everyday dust and debris. With four vacuuming settings, Min, Mid, Max and the extra strong Jet mode, the Jet 95 Pro unfortunately lacks automatic dirt detection which means you’ll have to manually select the vacuuming mode you want. 

Generally we’d suggest the mode households are likely to use the most is Mid, which is able to collect an impressive 94.4% of dust in one clean. Mid mode also boasts a solid battery life of just over 20 minutes.

Clip the included water bottle into the attachment and the Jet 95 Pro will automatically switch off its suction and enter mopping mode. Instead of an automatic spray, you will need to press the plus button on the device to wet the floors. 

You’ll also need to attach one of the two included mopping pads in order to mop.

We found that while the mopping system works well at cleaning up surface stains, as it’s not possible to vacuum and mop simultaneously, the pads do tend to spread any solid dirt particles around the floor, so this needs vacuuming separately.

Overall, if you’re looking for an affordable cordless vacuum that makes light work of cleaning and even boasts a gentle mopping function, the Samsung Jet 95 Pro is a great choice. Just be wary to vacuum before mopping to avoid dreaded wet clumps of debris during your clean. 

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full review: Samsung Jet 95 Pro

Equipped with numerous tools, compatible with Vax’s ONEPWR battery series and boasting a solid suction power, the Vax HomePro Pet-Design is a great choice for anyone who wants more bang for their buck.

Included with the Pet-Design are numerous attachments, including a crevice tool, stair tool, pet hair remover and a motorised pet tool too. If these tools don’t quite match your requirements then the HomePro comes with three different bundle options for you to choose from. 

There’s also a floor head with a motorised brush bar, akin to the DuoClean found on the Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty IP3251UKT, which is designed to work across hard floors and carpets. Not only that, but it’s fitted with Vax HairWrap Resist which stops long hairs from getting tangled in the head. 

While the main floor head’s LEDs are useful, they aren’t quite as effective as the laser on the Dyson Gen 5 Detect. Otherwise, the vacuum itself has a hinge in the middle which allows the vacuum to be pushed easily under furniture without having to bend down. 

Unlike other cordless models, there isn’t an automatic power mode on the HomePro Pet-Design and instead there are two options to choose from: Standard and Boost. We found that Boost mode reached a decent 164AW while the vacuum was able to collect up to an admirable 95.8% of dust in our cleaning tests.

We also found the vacuum made light work of picking up pet and human hair too, with the latter successfully avoiding becoming tangled in the floor head. With the motorised pet tool, dog hairs embedded in sofa cushions were cleaned with relative ease too.

Our biggest issue with the HomePro Pet-Design is its design. To empty its 0.7-litre bin, you simply need to press the button to open the flap and tip the mess out. However, this button is the same size and colour as the wand removal button, which is an accident waiting to happen. A clearer marking would avoid accidentally spilling any debris, but if you need an affordable cordless vacuum that can make light work of collecting pet hair then the Vax HomePro Pet-Design is a great choice.

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full review: Vax HomePro Pet-Design

Part of the ONEPWR family, the Vax ONEPWR Edge Dual Pet & Car uses the same batteries as other products in the line-up, such as the Vax ONEPWR Glide and Vax ONEPWR Cordless Hand Vac. That’s handy if you buy multiple tools, as you can swap batteries between them to give extended run-times.

Here, Vax provides two of its large 4Ah batteries. In our tests, the batteries lasted for 30m 18s each in standard mode, and just 11 minutes on boost. Still, that’s probably a good hour or so of cleaning, which is enough to tackle even a fairly large home.

This vacuum cleaner apes a standard upright cleaner. Just stick a battery in, turn it on and push it around to get cleaning. It’s very easy to push around, although the bulky dust bin means that you can’t get this model under sofas or some chairs, and there’s no flexible lift-away option on this model.

There’s a great range of tools that can attach to the wand and hose: an extendible crevice tool, motorised pet brush and dusting brush are standard. Buy direct from Vax and you’ll also get a angle tool (great for getting on top of cupboards), radiator tool, textile tool and a tech tool for cleaning keyboards and touchscreens. Sometimes, having a wider range of tools is better than raw power.

Not that this vacuum cleaner is weak: 42AW in our tests on standard power is enough for general cleaning, while the boost power of 148AW is enough to tackle bigger spills. Testing with real-world mess, we found that this cleaner does well on carpet and hard floors on standard power, although we did need short bursts of the boost power to suck up tougher mess.

There are more flexible cleaners and some with more power, but the Vax ONEPWR Edge Dual has lots of tools and cleans well for the price.

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full review: Vax ONEPWR Edge Dual Pet & Car

Although there has been a cordless version of the classic Henry, the Henry Quick is the first ‘proper’ cordless vacuum cleaner. A traditional stick cleaner, this model comes in red with Henry’s face on it. We quite like the personality that it gives.

What’s different about this model to most cordless ones is that the Henry Quick takes bags. These 1-litre pods (as they’re known), slide into the vacuum cleaner and eject safely, automatic sealing, when done. This is the cleanest cordless vacuum cleaner that we’ve emptied. There are six pods in the box, with replacements costing £12.99 per pack of 10. If you’re sensitive to dust, this is money well spent.

There’s a standard floor head with brush for agitating dirt, but it’s not an anti-tangle head, so it will need some maintenance. Otherwise, in the box, you get a crevice tool and a brush, but no mini motorised tool. Those with pets may be better looking elsewhere.

Performance is excellent. We measured the Henry Quick at a maximum of 192AW, which puts it close to much more expensive competitors. On regular mode, its 62AW power is more than sufficient for removing everyday messes, as our real world tests showed: it got everything on carpet and hard floors, although we did need to use Boost mode to complete the tough edge test.

There’s a scent disc that plugs into the filter, letting the Henry Quick blow out fragranced air as you clean. We found it refreshing, and it’s good to have a house that looks and smells clean.

Real-world battery life, assuming changes between modes, should mean that this vacuum cleaner will last an impressive 45-minutes on a charge, which should be enough to clean most homes.

If you want a bagged vacuum cleaner, this one is a great choice, but those who want a few more accessories in the box, particularly pet owners, may want to look elsewhere.

Full review: Henry Quick review

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Granted, this vacuum is certainly not the most powerful or feature-packed option on our list. However, if you struggle with heavier cordless models or want a secondary vacuum for spot cleans then you’d be hard pressed to find a better value choice than the Hoover HF2 Pet. 

At just 2.4kg, the HF2 Pet is one of the lightest vacuums available which makes it perfect for carrying around the house and reaching high areas, such as shelves and tops of cabinets. 

Included with the vacuum is a crevice attachment for hard to reach areas, a motorised pet tool for upholstery and a main floor head that’s designed for both hard floors and carpets. In fact, the latter is fitted with Hoover’s Anti-Twist technology, so pet and long hair won’t get tangled.

There are three power modes to select from: Eco which registers at just 23AW, Standard at 46AW and Turbo which offers a maximum of 95AW. These figures are fairly low, especially when compared to the beastly Dyson Gen5 Detect and Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty IP3251UKT, so the vacuum may struggle with bigger jobs.

Having said that, while we found the vacuum takes a few sweeps to clean a mess efficiently, we still found that over 70% of dust was collected, while pet hair was picked up without bother.

Another potential issue with the HF2 Pet is its small sized bin. At just 0.3-litres, it’s much smaller than the competition and is more akin to a robot vacuum cleaner instead. 

Still, if you struggle with a heavy cordless vacuum or want a secondary cleaner for smaller areas then the Hoover HF2 Pet is an affordable choice. 

Reviewer: David Ludlow

Full review: Hoover HF2 Pet