To see how vacuums deal with pet hair, we use a mixture of clippings sourced to us through our local pet groomer. The dustbin is a cinch to empty and clean, and the battery is removable, too. Replacements are priced at , which is pretty reasonable by cordless vacuum standards. There’s also a handy trigger lock lever to keep the vacuum running without constant finger pressure. Say hello to the best Dyson cordless vacuum, the Dyson V15 Detect.
All of the cordless vacuums we tested were between 4 and 7 pounds, but none was so heavy that it affected our recommendation. All of the vacuums on this list were also very similar in height and overall size. The Dyson models are both roughly 49 inches, while the Tineco A11 is shorter at just 43 inches tall. To simulate small particle size, we use a mix of play sand and landscaping sand.
BISSELL® cordless vacuums are perfect for quick pickups of everyday dirt and debris on hard floors and area rugs. Our stick vacs are lightweight and easy to maneuver throughout your home. That said, there are plenty of other perfectly capable cordless vacuums that we can recommend, too. To find them, we’ve spent countless hours testing the top models from brands like Shark, Bissell, Dyson, Tineco, Eureka and Samsung at the CNET Home product testing lab in Louisville, Kentucky. Specifically, we run a rigorous slate of tests to determine each cleaner’s capabilities when it comes to picking up a variety of messes on a variety of different floor types.
Use upright for large areas, and slide off the handheld attachment for stairs and tight spaces. If you’ve got furry friends at home, this cordless vacuum is an investment you won’t regret. The Bissell Featherweight is appropriately lightweight, weighing in at only 4 pounds. This is significantly less than other stick vacuums on the market.
However, some BISSELL models are a little easier to maintain—many new Shark models use non-removable brushrolls that can be a hassle to clean properly. There are only a few things I didn’t swoon over, and they’re not dealbreakers. It’s not too noticeable for quick clean-ups, but if you plan on tackling the whole house, your arm may need a break (or perhaps I should join a gym).
Run TimeTo test battery life, we run the cordless vacs on high and then again on low until the battery is depleted, then we note the times. If the vacuum has a medium setting (not every vacuum does), we test that too. For Pet HairWe embed 1 gram of Maine coon cat hair in a medium-pile carpet and then see how many strokes it takes to remove it, with a maximum of five. We note the number of strokes and see how much fur, if any, is left behind on the carpet or in the brush roll. As their capabilities have increased, so has the toughness of our tests. Portability
If you have stairs, you know what a pain (literally) it can be lugging a vacuum up and down.
Large wheels on the canister make the vacuum easy to pull along as you clean, too. Credit to Dyson for pioneering the cordless vacuum category with a series of capable — yet pricey — Cyclone bissell vacuum cleaner V series stick vacs. Many years and many models later, Dyson remains a fixture of the category in 2023, but it’s not quite as dominant in our cleaning tests as it was five or 10 years ago.