The Best Cordless Vacuums for 2021

If you’ve ever wanted to get rid of the cord when you’re vacuuming, you’re in luck. A cordless vacuum gives you more flexibility when cleaning. Cordless vacuums are typically lightweight and easy to maneuver. You’re not tethered by a power cord and don’t have to stop vacuuming to switch to a different outlet.

You might be wondering which features are worth investing in, which manufacturer makes the best cordless vacuums, and what kind of battery life you can expect from a cordless vacuum. Here’s a list of our top picks for 2020 and what you can expect from them.

Looking for a different type of vacuum? Check out our picks for the best robot vacuums and best vacuums for pet hair to help you find the right model.  Also, look for the best vacuum deals ahead of Cyber Monday 2020.

Tineco Pure One S12

Tineco’s Pure One S12 is loaded with smart features and intelligent engineering. The S12 comes as a few different models, including the Pure One S12 Plus, Pure One S12 M, Pure One S12 Lite, and the Pure One S12V, but we like the regular Tineco Pure One S12 because it offers an ideal combination of features at a relatively reasonable price point (although all of the Pure One S12 models are somewhat pricey).

The S12 has an iLoop dust sensor, so it adjusts the suction power in real time based on how much dirt and debris it detects on your floors. This helps the unit preserve battery power. The S12 is able to get up to 100 minutes of run time, and it comes with two lithium-ion batteries. The S12 is extremely quiet and lightweight, operating at 71 decibels and weighing less than seven pounds. It has powerful suction (150 watts), and it picks up tiny particles on the first pass.

The Wi-Fi-connected vacuum includes a companion app, where you can manage your cleaning. It also has an LED screen, which displays battery level, power and Wi-Fi status, and more. The Tineco Pure One S12 comes with loads of helpful attachments, including a crevice tool, another long and flexible crevice tool, a soft dusting brush, a 2-in-1 dusting brush, a mini power brush, an LED multi-task power brush, two batteries, two pre-filters, and a dual charging wall-mounted dock. There’s even a filter self-cleaning tool.

Dyson V11 Torque Drive

The Dyson V11 Torque Drive offers exceptional performance and stellar suction power in a durable cordless unit. The V11 Torque Drive boasts a 125,000 rpm motor that delivers an exceptional 185 air watts of power (when set to Boost mode). It picks up even the tiniest dirt and debris, as it generates 79,000g of force to capture microscopic particles like pollen and bacteria.

For something exceptionally powerful, the V11 Torque Drive also has the smarts to detect surfaces and optimize its suction and run time. Need to empty the dust bin? The “point and shoot” mechanism is a super-easy process that hygienically rids the vacuum of dirt and debris. The V11 is quiet, too, as Dyson engineered the vacuum to absorb vibrations and dampen noise. This model comes with several accessories, including a wall mount, combination tool, crevice tool, mini motorized tool, and a mini soft dusting brush, making it easy to clean your home from top to bottom.

There are two main downsides to the V11 Torque Drive. The battery life (which maxes out at around 60 minutes), and the price. But even taking these factors into account, the Dyson V11 Torque Drive is still one of the best cordless vacuums out there.

Shark Rocket Cordless

If you want a more affordable option, the Shark Rocket Cordless is light and powerful. It weighs around seven pounds, and it does a good job of sucking up large and small debris on both hardwood and carpets.

While you won’t get the same power as you’d get from a vacuum that’s three times the price, the Shark Rocket is powerful enough to keep floors clean of dust, dirt, and pet hair, and it does a great job at maintaining its suction. It also transforms into a hand vac, making it an ideal car vacuum and home vacuum.

Bissell Air Ram 1984

The Air Ram is a unique machine — it’s one of the more ergonomic units in its price range. It weighs about eight pounds, but it feels like it weighs less than one pound while you’re cleaning. It swivels and maneuvers around so smoothly as you vacuum, gliding over carpets, hardwood, and tile with ease.

Its 40-minute battery life is pretty good considering the price range, and the 22-volt lithium-ion battery is removable. You don’t have to bend over to power on the unit, as you press the power button with your foot. And, as you’re cleaning, you can lay the vacuum completely flat when you want to reach under furniture. The Bissell Air Ram 1984 has exceptional suction power, and its head has LED lights that illuminate the dirt, so you can grab it up with the multi-surface brush roller.

Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum

The V8 Absolute is an excellent option for those who want a quality cordless vacuum from a well-known brand, but don’t want to pay for a newer model. This vacuum has a decent battery life (up to 40 minutes), so it’s a viable option for those who own large homes with many rooms to clean. If you’re efficient, you can probably get through your whole home in one go-around.

The vacuum only uses the battery when the unit is in suction mode, so the battery life won’t go down when the vacuum is standing idle. You can use the V8 to clean both hard floors and carpets, and the powerful suction and stiff nylon bristles can easily get rid of all the dirt, dust, pet hair, and cobwebs around the home. According to Dyson, the center of gravity is located in the grip, making the machine easier to maneuver. The Dyson V8 Absolute also has HEPA filtration, meaning it will pick up allergens in your home and is also sealed to ensure cleaner air.

Roborock H6

CES 2020 saw the premiere of the Roborock H6, a mighty cordless vacuum that includes every attachment you could ever need. This vacuum lets you reach high places with ease, trapping pet hair and dust rather than blowing it around.

The H6 unit only weighs three pounds, but it includes a strong motor that maximizes suction at 25,000 pa. The battery life is impressive and gives you up to 90 minutes of run-time if you put it on eco-mode. The five-stage filtration filters particles up as small as 0.3 microns, getting a deep-down clean on surfaces while clearing the air.

The Roborock H6 cordless vacuum is currently available at several retail stores, including Target, and costs $499. There aren’t many reviews yet since it’s so new, but it performed wonderfully during our product test. We found that the only issue is that the powerful suction pulls throw rugs right in, so you may want to avoid them — suction not being the worst problem to have in a vacuum.

Editors’ Recommendations