The Best Cordless Vacuums (2026): My Brand-New Top Pick

Nena Farrell GearAug 4, 2026 7:01 AMThe Best Cordless VacuumsClean your house without the constraint of a power cord, thanks to these stick vacuums.CommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyCommentLoaderSave StorySave this storyFeatured in this articleThe Best Cordless VacuumShark PowerDetect SpeedRead more$430 Shark (Vacuum Only)The Best Dyson VacuumDyson Gen5DetectRead more$800 AmazonBest Budget VacuumBissell PowerClean Cordless Stick VacuumRead more$200 $160 (20% off) AmazonBest Affordable Dyson VacuumDyson V10 KonicalRead more$500 $400 (20% off) DysonIt may sound hyperbolic to claim the best cordless vacuums can improve your life. But they do hold that power. In addition to providing you the freedom you didn't know you needed, they also leave your home clean and tidy in a matter of minutes with no cord unraveling or heavy vacuum dragging required. These machines are especially handy for me, as I live in a three-story home. Even the prospect of lugging a classic upright vacuum up and down the stairs leaves me unlikely to do the chore. And I can never seem to remember to take my robot vacuum to different floors to clean the whole house. A stick vacuum, though? Because the form is light and mobile, these vacuums are a breeze to bring to every level and use on my two sets of stairs—and I only expend a tiny bit of sweat in the process.After testing nearly two dozen stick vacuums—including hard-floor–only models, powerful Dysons, and more—these are the best cordless vacuums I've tried. My new favorite is the Shark PowerDetect Speed Cordless Stick Vacuum ($430), which not only has impressive power but also bends to make vacuuming under furniture and low surfaces easier. It also has the Clean & Empty version ($500), which features a self-emptying base station. If you've got room to splurge, you can upgrade to the Dyson Gen5Detect ($800) for the best power I've seen in a cordless vacuum.Looking for more cleaning gadgets? Don't miss our guides to the Best Dyson Vacuums, Best Robot Vacuums, Best Vacuums for Pet Hair, and Best Handheld Vacuums. For extra intel about vacuums and how often to use them, check out our guides to How Often You Should Vacuum and How Long Vacuums Really Last.Updated July 2026: I’ve added the Shark PowerDetect Speed, the Dyson Gen5Detect, and the Dyson V10 Konical as picks. I've also added testing details on the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, Dyson V8 Cyclone, and Levoit Aero Cordless.Love WIRED? Add us as a preferred source on Google to see more of us.Jump to SectionAccordionItemContainerButtonLargeChevronHonorable MentionsOther Vacuums I’ve TestedFAQsThe Best Cordless VacuumPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellPhotograph: Nena FarrellChevronChevronSave to wishlistSave to wishlistSharkPowerDetect Speed$430 Shark (Vacuum Only)$500 $400 (20% off) Amazon (Clean & Empty)Dyson isn't the only brand with a growing vacuum lineup this year. Shark recently launched the Shark PowerDetect Speed, a new cordless vacuum in its beloved PowerDetect line. The Speed is cheaper than the main model, but it packs a ton of features I like, and it performed excellently in many of my testing rounds.The PowerDetect Speed is supposed to be a lighter, more agile version of the PowerDetect vacuum. It weighs about a pound less, has 60 minutes of battery life, and has 350 watts of power to the regular PowerDetect's 380 watts. It also comes with the same two attachments as the regular model.The Speed moves smoothly over carpets and rugs while still picking up a ton of debris; I used this vacuum on my carpeted bedrooms the day after vacuuming with the V16 Piston Animal, and it pulled up tons of dust and cat hair from my rug. The vacuum can bend, too, so you can get underneath furniture without hunching over. The PowerDetect Speed can also determine if you're on carpet or hard floors (or on a messier spot of either type of flooring) and will switch modes accordingly. The Clean & Empty version ($500) has lights to ill