Best Overall
Shark Wandvac Self-Empty Cordless Stick Vacuum
- Setup4.9/5
- Effectiveness4.6/5
- Noise Level4.2/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Ease of Emptying4.7/5
- This vacuum is equipped with a self-emptying feature that provides a nearly hands-free emptying experience.
This vacuum is equipped with a self-emptying feature that provides a nearly hands-free emptying experience.
- This vacuum’s level of suction is unable to be adjusted.
This vacuum’s level of suction is unable to be adjusted.
Even though this vacuum only has one suction setting, we still deem it to be the best vacuum for tile floors because of its overall convenience and self-emptying feature. We were able to quickly set up this vacuum thanks to its intuitive design and easy-to-read labels on each of the attachments.
When it came to its runtime, the battery allowed for about 30 minutes of vacuuming. When testing this vacuum at home, we were able to vacuum for five minutes every day for a week before needing to recharge. This vacuum was very easy to push and pull with a simple flick of the wrist since it's relatively lightweight at 13.85 pounds.
This vacuum's attachments are easily adjustable and have bristles that can be removed to prevent scratches, a feature we found to be a nice touch. When testing, this vacuum was able to glide seamlessly over tile floors.
The self-emptying feature of this cordless stick vacuum stood out and essentially provided us with a hands-free emptying experience. We didn’t need to manually scoop out any leftover debris, as the vacuum compressed the waste, making it easy to dispose of. The bin also has a see-through window which allowed us to quickly spot how much debris has been collected and when it was time to be cleaned out. We also liked how the top part of the stick could be removed and placed on the dock when not in use, making it easier to store, especially if you don’t have a lot of storage space.
Product Details: Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 13.85 pounds | Runtime: 30 minutes | Attachments: Self-empty charging base, duster crevice tool, pet multi-tool
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ELISE WANG
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / ELISE WANG
Best Splurge
Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum
- Ease of Setup4.5/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Ease of Emptying2.5/5
- Portability4.8/5
- This vacuum is great for cleaning small and hard-to-reach crevices thanks to its swivel head.
This vacuum is great for cleaning small and hard-to-reach crevices thanks to its swivel head.
- It has a shorter battery life and is better suited for smaller vacuuming jobs.
It has a shorter battery life and is better suited for smaller vacuuming jobs.
While Dyson vacuums are an investment, we found this vacuum to be worthwhile as it’s specifically designed to clean hard floors and tile floors. We were impressed by its quick assembly and high-end feel, down to the box it came in.
Weighing in at only 4.18 pounds, the vacuum was extremely easy to move and lift, even to the highest shelf of a bookcase. And thanks to its various crevice tools, it was simple to clean between tight spaces and corners.
It’s important to note that this vacuum does have a relatively short battery life, making it a more suitable option for vacuuming smaller areas and messes. When tested on its high power setting, the battery lasted for about eight and a half minutes. But on low power, it lasted 21 minutes—just over the maximum 20 minutes Dyson advertises. However, despite its shorter run time, this vacuum was able to successfully pick up hair as well as a blend of Cheerios and coffee grounds (the vacuum had a more difficult time picking up popcorn kernels) on tile grout in less than a minute and without being too loud. We were able to successfully engage in conversation while using it.
We also found the vacuum a bit challenging to empty, especially on our first try. Some hair got stuck on the brush head attachment, which made the emptying experience a bit more challenging than would be preferred. However, once we understood the emptying process, it became much easier to do each time.
Product Details: Type: Stick and handheld (convertible) | Weight: 4.18 pounds | Runtime: 8 minutes and 29 seconds (high power) and 21 minutes (low power) | Attachments: Double fluffy cleaner head, mini motorized tool, combo crevice tool, light pipe crevice tool
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best for Pet Hair
Tineco Pure One S15 Pro
- Effectiveness4.5/5
- Maneuverability5/5
- Ease of Emptying5/5
- Portability5/5
- Noise Level4/5
- You won’t experience any pet hair tangled or clogged in your vacuum because of its tangle-free brush head.
You won’t experience any pet hair tangled or clogged in your vacuum because of its tangle-free brush head.
- We found this vacuum quite loud, reaching between 75 and 90 decibels.
We found this vacuum quite loud, reaching between 75 and 90 decibels.
Looking for a vacuum that specializes in cleaning up pet hair? Look no further than this vacuum from Tineco. With no trigger button, we liked that we were easily able to vacuum without stressing out our fingers. Plus, we didn’t have to worry about losing any of the vacuum attachments as the base had storage areas for them.
While testing the vacuum, we appreciated features like its built-in light that illuminates hard-to-see pet hair and the displayed battery percentage that made it easy to see when it was almost out of power.
When used on max mode, we were able to clean up all of the kibble and hair during testing in only a few passes. However, keep in mind that the vacuum can get quite loud, especially on high power. Despite the noise, we were able to use the vacuum without agitating our pets. And even after six months of regular use, we didn’t encounter any clogs due to dog hair—an impressive feat.
Product Details: Type: Cordless stick | Weight: 6.8 pounds | Runtime: Up to 40 minutes | Attachments: Mini-power brush, 2-in-1 dust brush, crevice tool
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
Best Handheld
Shark Wandvac Cordless Handheld Vacuum
- Effectiveness4.3/5
- Ease of Emptying5/5
- Portability4/5
- Noise Level4.3/5
- This vacuum can be easily set up in just over 30 seconds.
This vacuum can be easily set up in just over 30 seconds.
- The debris container is small and needs to be emptied frequently.
The debris container is small and needs to be emptied frequently.
If you’re someone who doesn’t like reading lots of directions and wants a vacuum with minimal setup, consider this handheld vacuum from Shark. We were impressed that setup only took us just over 30 seconds as the vacuum already came assembled. The only steps we had to complete were charging the battery and attaching the attachment.
It is easy to suck up debris in tight corners with this vacuum since it’s long and narrow. We appreciated that all we had to do was point to the desired spot - making it a solid option for even the most relaxed of cleaners. It is important to note that this vacuum only has one suction speed so you are unable to alter it to try to preserve the battery.
As for battery life, it lasts slightly longer than eight and a half minutes, making it favorable for shorter cleaning sessions. Additionally, we ended up emptying our vacuum 12 times total throughout testing. However, we appreciated that the emptying process could be easily done with one hand. But if you’re looking for a vacuum with a large container for holding debris, this one is not it. It was unable to hold all of the Cheerios and cracker mixture we had laid down, therefore making it a less favorable option if you are shopping for a vacuum that can be used to clean up the messes of younger children.
Product Details: Type: Handheld | Weight: 1.4 pounds | Runtime: 8 minutes and 38 seconds | Attachments: Duster crevice tool, multi-surface pet tool, dual onboard accessory storage, and charging dock
Best Stick
Samsung Jet 75 Stick Vacuum
- Ease of Setup4/5
- Effectiveness4.8/5
- Maneuverability4.3/5
- Ease of Emptying4.3/5
- Portability3.5/5
- It successfully picked up debris, including pet hair and coffee grounds, from grout flooring during testing.
It successfully picked up debris, including pet hair and coffee grounds, from grout flooring during testing.
- The brush head is fairly tall, which can make it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces.
The brush head is fairly tall, which can make it difficult to maneuver in tight spaces.
We were extremely impressed with this vacuum’s ability to clean on grout flooring. The stick vacuum was able to pick up 100% of the wig hair, pet hair, and coffee grounds debris we had prepared for testing. The vacuum is equipped with a digital display that makes it easy to view important information while vacuuming, including the amount of power remaining and clog notifications.
When testing the battery runtime when vacuuming the highest setting, it lasted 10 minutes and 33 seconds. When vacuuming at its lowest setting, the battery runtime was just over 27 minutes. For a stick vacuum, it was fairly easy to clean out and empty without making a mess, which we appreciated.
It was somewhat challenging to maneuver the vacuum in tiny spaces as the brush head is fairly tall. We also experienced some tough tangles after cleaning up hair that prevented the brush from being dislodged, and since the vacuum doesn’t come with a tool to help remove the hair, we had to use a seam ripper to unravel it.
Product Details: Type: Stick | Weight: 6.2 pounds | Runtime: 27 minutes and 5 seconds (low), 10 minutes and 33 seconds (high) | Attachments: Turbo brush, mini motorized tool
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / HENRY WORTOCK
Best Robot
Roborock S8 Pro Ultra Robot Vacuum
- Setup4.3/5
- Effectiveness5/5
- Noise Level4/5
- Maneuverability4.8/5
- Features4.5/5
- This intelligent robot vacuum creates a map of your home and seamlessly maneuvers under furniture and around objects.
This intelligent robot vacuum creates a map of your home and seamlessly maneuvers under furniture and around objects.
- The self-emptying feature, while useful, is incredibly loud.
The self-emptying feature, while useful, is incredibly loud.
Robot vacuums can be expensive, but they are indeed worth the splurge if you want to increase the baseline cleanliness of your home. The Roborock S8 Plus impressed us with its intelligence. During testing, it quickly created a map of a one-bedroom apartment and seamlessly maneuvered into every nook and cranny.
Performance-wise, it did well on tile and wood floors (we didn’t test it on carpet, but it is also designed to be used on that surface), picking up lightweight debris like hair and dust and larger pieces such as cereal without issue. This vacuum also functions as a mop, which is great for tile floors as it can easily switch modes to tackle sticky messes—it made swift work out of a stubborn spot that we previously couldn’t clean with a paper towel.
While it’s not overburdened with techy features that might be too much for the average user, the smart features that do exist, such as 3D mapping, infrared imagery to aid in object avoidance, and the ability to empty itself, add to the overall value. The self-emptying feature is useful, but it’s also very loud. If you don’t want it to automatically self-empty, you can manually direct it to do so. The dust bag can store up to seven weeks of debris.
While we didn’t test in an environment with pets, we definitely think it would be useful for cleaning up after a shedding dog or cat. The spot clean mode is also useful, allowing you to quickly deploy the vacuum to a specific area outside of its regularly scheduled cleaning time.
Product Details: Type: Robot | Weight: 31.1 pounds | Runtime: Not listed | Attachments: None
- BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON
BETTER HOMES and GARDENS / DERA BURRESON