The best cordless vacuum for 2020: from Bissell, Shark, Dyson, Hoover, Moosoo and more

Chris Monroe / Tips Clear

The V11 is Dyson’s latest and greatest stick. It is also the most expensive machine in our test group. That said, this flagship model gave the best in-class performance to match its steep price. On hardwood floors, this Dyson vacuum literally cleaned bare floors from dust and dirt. The vacuum, which has a lithium-ion rechargeable battery pack, demonstrated near-flawless pickup of sand and black rice test samples (99.6 and 100%, respectively).

Pet owners will also appreciate the V11 in eliminating pet hair. During anecdotal tests, the vacuum completely removed hair fibers and dust from the mid-pile and low-pile carpet. Pet hair pickup on the hardwood floor almost went along. The only blockers strayed from the vacuum left at the top of our test area. She and some varieties were wrapped around the V11’s brush roll.

I definitely like how easy it is to empty the V11’s dust bin. Just aim for the vacuum in the trash, and push a release tab to open the lid of the dust bin. To turn it off, drag the tab in the opposite direction. The other models we tested were a nightmare in this regard. Hoover Bledmax gave us the most trouble. Hair and dust usually stuck deep inside her dirt cup. I opened it without difficulty. Worse, it is not always clear that the dirt bin is securely attached.

Dyson also binds several attachments to the box. Among them is a crack tool for cleaning tight spaces, a motorized tool for upholstery, a soft dust brush and a stubborn dirt brush head to pull dirt into the ground from a carpet with strong suction. All this can buy the Dyson V11 the obvious option for the best cordless vacuum money. Read more about the Dyson V11.

Chris Monroe / Tips Clear

The second best performance in our group of cordless spaces was the Shark Rocket Belly Pro Cordless. It came very close to cleaning the floor as well as the Dyson V11, but the cost is hundreds less. Rocket cordless and bagless vacuums received just as much sand from both the midpile carpet and hardwood floors. In fact, the only area where the Sharks overtook the V11 as the best cordless vacuum was on the low-pile carpet. There, cordless cleaners pulled more than 67.6% of our test sand. In contrast, the Dyson V11 removed a significant amount of sand from our low-pile carpet (78.4% on average).

Rocket did not have trouble handling pet hair. On both low-pile carpets and hardwoods, this handheld cordless vacuum erased all traces of animal drains. The results were also favorable for the middle carpet. Only a small tuft of hair remains after the vacuum passes over the dense, more challenging surface.

The design is one of the features of Rocket Pet Pro. Its dust cup is almost as easy as the Dyson V11. The dust cup is usually clean as well as dirt and debris, not stuck inside even after emptying. I also appreciate how the Rocket Pet Pro’s rod and upholstery equipment can stand upright on their own (disconnected from the main vacuum unit). LED lights on the nozzle help you see dirt and debris around your home, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes for easy charging. So, if you want a solid midrange cordless upright stick blank, Shark’s Rocket Pro is an excellent choice. Read more.

Chris Monroe / Tips Clear

If you own a Dyson, but don’t want to spend top dollar, consider the $ 300 Dyson V8 Absolute Hand. This step-down cordless model is a few years old, yet has powerful suction and performs like a champ. On our floor-cleaning tests, the V8 came in a respectable third. In our test group, only the Dyson V11 and Shark Rocket Pet Pro V8 bridged the floors better.

On a hard floor, the vacuum succeeded in taking an average of 98% of the sand we dropped. For low-pile carpets, this average dropped to 68.3%. On average the midpile slipped further on the carpet, though at a respectable 52%.

The pet hair V8 hand vacuum wasn’t too much either. This completely removed the hair from the midpile and low-pile carpets. It failed to remove even a small amount of hardwood. Additionally, some fibers were wrapped around vacuum brush rolls. But there was a washable filter.

And similar to the V11 torque drive, the V8 comes with a generous assortment of absolute upright vacuum add-ons. It includes gadgets for dusting, a crevice tool for accessing in a tight crevice, a soft cleaning head for bare floors, a motorized brush roll for grabbing ground-in dirt and debris, and docking stations for charging batteries. So for those who want to give a little less cash to a Dyson brand stick, the V8 Absolute is worth a look. Read more about the Dyson V8.

Chris Monroe / Tips Clear

Moosoo is not really a household name. Nevertheless, the Moosu M X6 Cordless Vacuum packs a respectable punch given its low price. The M X6 was the fourth-best performer in our test group of eight models, despite costing much less than competing vacant spots.

99% of our test sand was picked up by stick (on average) from hardwood. On low-pile carpets, the figure sank by 41.3%. However, the M X6 outperforms the coarse Xpile carpet, earning a high sand pickup average of 52.2%.

Black rice, our large particle testing soil, was a breeze for the Musu vacuum. It manages pickup averages above 90% on hardwood, low-pile and midpile carpets (95.4, 96.8 and 94%, respectively).

Do not buy Moosoo M X6 if you own a pet. The cons are that at least some visible scramble remained after vacuuming, no matter the test surface. The brush roll wraps strands of hair around.

If you want cordless vacuuming on a tight budget, consider the Moosu M X6. It can just fit the bill, and for very little cash. Read more.