Best Vacuum Cleaner (2026): Cordless Vacuums, Robot Vacuums, Dysons

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Every kind of vacuum, from robot vacuums to cheap stick vacs, is sent to my doorstep to find the best vacuum cleaner. You can find me vacuuming near daily with powerful Dysons, automated robot vacuums, and even vacuums made for car cleaning as a toddler mom plagued by sand and snacks. And I'm not alone in this quest; you can find many of the WIRED staffers testing vacuums in their homes too, to help find the best of the best.

If you're looking for one place to find all of our vacuum cleaner recommendations, this is it. From my favorite stick vacuums from Shark and Dyson to a powerful budget robot vacuum from Eufy and even an adorable car vacuum from Worx, there's a ton of great models to consider for your home. There's a vacuum cleaner here for every kind of cleaning task, and you're sure to find one that works best for your home.

Looking for our guides that dive into each category? Check out our guide to the Best Dyson Vacuums, Best Robot Vacuums, Best Cordless Vacuums, Best Handheld Vacuums, and Best Pet Hair Vacuums.

Updated May 2026: I've updated this story with our new robot vacuum picks, updated details about our hand vacuum and cordless picks, and ensured links and prices are up to date.

Comparing Our Favorite Vacuum Cleaners

| Model | Capacity | Power | Run Time | Filter | Warranty | |---|---|---|---|---|---| Shark PowerDetect Cordless | 0.7 liter | 380W | Up to 70 minutes | HEPA Filter | Two-year parts warranty, five-year limited warranty | Dyson V15 Detect | 0.8 liter | 240W | Up to 60 minutes | Whole-machine filtration | Two-year parts and labor warranty | Bissell PowerClean Cordless | 0.4 liter | 200W | Up to 40 minutes (on low) | HEPA Sealed Allergen System | Five years limited | Shark PowerDetect UV Reveal | 0.4 liter (dust cup) | Not stated | Up to 180 minutes | Washable filter | Two-year limited warranty | Eufy Omni C28 | 3 liters (base station) | 18,000 Pa | 123 min (vacuum and mop); 216 min (vacuum only) | Washable filter | One-year limited warranty | Dyson Car+Boat | 0.5 liters | 110,000 rpm; 115AW | Up to 40 minutes | Whole-machine filtration | Two-year parts and labor warranty | Ryobi 10V One+ | 0.7 liters | Up to 37" sealed suction IOW (inches of water) | Not specified (when Molly tested, it was around 25 minutes) | HEPA and standard filters | Three-year manufacturer's warranty |

Honorable Mentions

Bissell PowerClean FurFinder for $200: This was our previous top pick for the best cordless vacuum, and it's still a great affordable stick vacuum. But the regular Bissell PowerClean ($150) is a touch cheaper since it doesn't come with the FurFinder upholstery attachment, while Dyson and Ryobi's vacuums have more powerful suction for pet hair.

Black and Decker Dustbuster Flex for $110: This is another cool handheld vacuum that's great for cars or even indoor areas like staircases. It has a 4-foot hose, longer than most compact vacuums, and a handy little charging mount that the accessories clip into. And thank goodness for the charging mount, since the battery only lasts 15 minutes.

Dyson Gen5 Detect Cordless Vacuum for $800: This is Dyson's current top-of-the-line stick vacuum, and it's fantastic, especially for homes with a lot of pet hair. But it's expensive and rarely on sale, making it a hard upgrade when you'll still get a great experience with the Dyson V15 Detect. This vacuum does have a HEPA filter, while the V15 Detect does not.

Dyson PencilVac Fluffycones for $450: This is a unique take on a stick vacuum. It's an impressive feat with the motor and dustbin built into the slender handle. There's both a Fluffycones version, which I tested, that has four fluffy cone-shaped rollers in the head, and a cheaper Fluffy version. I was impressed with the maneuverability of the PencilVac Fluffycones and often find myself grabbing it between runs of my robot vacuum to keep debris and cat litter under control. It's also lightweight and easy to push, and it has a freestanding charging mount. But it's a little pricey for being meant only for hard floors.

Ecovacs Deebot X11 Omnicyclone for $999**:** If you want a newer robot vacuum, the Ecovacs Deebot X11 Omnicyclone has a unique design with no dust bag. Instead, it has a rounded canister like a Dyson or stick vacuum, circling the debris to keep it from tangling. It's a good design, and this is overall a great robot vacuum, especially if you don't want to buy dust bags over and over.

Eufy X10 Pro Omni for $480: This was our previous top pick for a robot vacuum. It's still a great choice and well-priced for a robot vac that can vacuum and mop, and has a solid 8,000 Pa of suction power. But Eufy does have a newer model that you can pick up for just a little more if you want a self-cleaning roller mop instead of roller pads, with almost double the suction power.

Roborock Saros 20 for $1,600: Roborock's latest robot vacuum is overall pretty good, but WIRED reviewer Adrienne So noticed it left debris behind on her hard floors, specifically on the divider when it moved from her carpet onto hard flooring. This could be a fault of the super-high suction, which hits 36,000 Pa. There are a few other features she hoped would work better, too, including the AdaptiLift and beta stain-detection feature. We're in touch with Roborock about these issues, but overall it's a solid robot vacuum.

Tineco Pure One Station 5 for $459: If you want a cordless stick vacuum but don't want to deal with emptying it all the time, this Tineco vacuum comes with a self-emptying docking station. You'll eventually have to empty the station, but it's a great bonus feature and keeps the vacuum from falling over around your home since it's stored safely in the docking station.

FAQs

Which Style Vacuum Is Right for You?

To help you choose which one to buy, here's what makes each vacuum style great.

**Cordless Vacuums or Stick Vacuums:**These vacuums look like the latter name suggests, with a long, sticklike arm that connects the vacuum head to the canister and controls. You'll need to hold this up in a way you wouldn't have to with an upright vacuum, but these are powerful and super mobile. They make for a great main vacuum, and are especially great if you have multiple floors to vacuum since it's easy to carry these up and down stairs.**Robot Vacuums:**Robot vacuums are great for cleaning for you and are controlled with an app. There are several models that double as a mop, too. You'll have to spend time moving furniture for the best clean possible, and you usually still want a regular vacuum of some kind. But these are great for frequent cleans in homes with kids and pets.**Handheld Vacuums:**Handheld vacuums are great for targeted cleans or for cleaning specific places like stairs and cars. Most stick vacuums can transform into a handheld vacuum, but true handhelds are much lighter and have a more compact design (but also sacrifice battery power and dustbin capacity).

What About Upright Vacuums?

An upright vacuum is the classic, original vacuum style that sits straight up on its own, is much heavier than a cordless stick vacuum, and requires an outlet connection to operate. We don't have an upright vacuum we recommend, since cordless stick vacuums have become the main focus for most shoppers (and as frequent vacuumers ourselves, we usually reach for cordless and robot vacuums anyway). We're considering upright vacuums to test in the future, however, so feel free to comment on this guide with models we should consider.

Do You Need a Stick Vacuum and a Handheld Vacuum?

Do you need a handheld vacuum if you already have a cordless vacuum? Likely not, because most stick vacuums can transform into a handheld vacuum. Stick or cordless vacuums usually allow you to remove the stick part from between the vacuum head and canister base and instead connect those two pieces directly, making it into a handheld vacuum. It'll be much heavier than