The best cordless vacuum cleaners now comfortably rival traditional uprights. They pack enough power to suck embedded pet hair out of thick carpets, feature HEPA filters to trap airborne allergens and easily convert into handheld car vacuums.
Having tested dozens of models on everything from muddy footprints to scattered cereal, I can confidently say the cord is obsolete for most homes. Whether you live in a compact flat or a busy family house, I’ve found the cordless vacuums that deliver serious cleaning power without the tangles.
From advanced attachments and LCD screens to particle sensors and lasers, prices can climb as high as £1,000, so it can be tricky to work out which vacuum is the best option for your home.I have buckets of experience testing vacuums, so after discounting lots of inferior models, I think these are the cordless models worth knowing about.
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The best cordless vacuum cleaners for 2026 are:
- Best overall – Henry quick pro: £399, Currys.co.uk
- Best budget cordless vacuum – Akitas cordless vacuum cleaner: £49.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best cordless vacuum for carpets – Miele duoflex HX1 totalcare: £499, Johnlewis.com
- Best cordless vacuum for hard floors – Dyson V15s detect submarine: £799, Currys.co.uk
How I tested
I have tested dozens of cordless vacuums over the years, but I revisited some of my favourites to see how they hold up against new launches from Dyson and Shark. Each vacuum was tested on multiple surfaces, including wood, vinyl, carpet and even my car to make sure that they’ll work in different homes. I considered power, manoeuvrability, battery life, versatility and any additional features. You can read my full testing criteria at the end of the guide.
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