The Best Cordless Vacuums

Buying Guide

Cleaning the house can be a real drag, especially because you’ve likely got much better things to do with your free time. But gone are the frustrating days of tripping over your vacuum cord or trying to maneuver the vacuum in one hand while keeping ahold of the cord in another. Thanks to a little ingenuity, you can now buy a cordless vacuum, which means you never have to worry about the cord getting tangled or sucked into the vacuum again (nor do you have to worry about your new puppy pretending the vacuum cord is a chew toy!).

Cordless vacuums also make it so that you never have to stop cleaning to unplug the cord, then replug it into a closer wall outlet, which can be super frustrating if you’re short on time and just need to get the job done in a flash. Most cordless vacuum models attach to a docking station for charging. Then, when you’re ready to clean your floors, you simply remove the vacuum from the docking station and start vacuuming. Some models, for example, have a removable and rechargeable lithium-ion battery that lasts about 32 minutes before you’ll need to recharge it again, which many people say is enough time to vacuum several rooms in your home, depending on their size.

MORE: The Best Cordless Vacuum For Your Workshop

If you’ve never seen a cordless vacuum up close, you’ll notice that they look a bit different than a standard vacuum. Many of these vacuums are long and slender with a dirt bin and a motorhead on top. Others look very similar to a traditional vacuum cleaner with a cord. Some cordless vacuums can also easily become handheld vacuums by simply removing the motorhead from the vacuum stick, which makes for a quick and painless transition. Some cordless vacuums have a rotating or swivel head that makes it easy to clean tough corners or get into tight spots, such as under the couch or the bed.

Cordless vacuums tend to be lighter and smaller than other vacuums, which makes them super useful if you’re short on time and just need to zip around to clean before guests arrive. They’re also helpful if you can’t lift heavy objects or your home has lots of stairs — no more lugging a heavy vacuum around.  Cordless vacuums also tend to take up less space than other vacuums, so they’re perfect for smaller spaces such as apartments and condos.

• One of the key factors you’ll want to consider when purchasing a cordless vacuum is battery life since this will determine how long you can run your cordless vacuum before it needs to be charged. Cordless vacuums can run, on average, between 15 and 45 minutes between charges, depending on the type of vacuum and the setting you select. You won’t be able to use your cordless vacuum for very long if you select the highest-power mode, so keep that in mind when you start cleaning. For example, some models can run for up to 30 minutes, depending on which mode you’re using to clean your house.
• Cordless vacuums typically use one of three types of batteries: lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride and nickel-cadmium. Each battery type has its own pros and cons, and they all have varying levels of power, shelf life, replacement cost and charge capacity. Lithium-ion batteries, for instance, tend to be more expensive than nickel-cadmium batteries and you may have to be careful not to overcharge them. Generally speaking, nickel-cadmium batteries tend to need to be replaced more often than the other types, while nickel-metal hydride batteries are more expensive but they hold a lot of power from each charge. Typically, your battery will not be covered under a limited warranty if it fails because of normal wear and tear. Over time, you can likely expect to have to replace the battery for your cordless vacuum.
• You’ll also want to consider the weight of the vacuum. If being lightweight is important to you, you’ll want to take a look at the product specs for each cordless vacuum. They typically range from 2 to 7 pounds.
• Most cordless vacuums come with washable filters, which means you’ll need to keep an eye on how dirty this filter becomes and clean it periodically to keep the vacuum running properly.
• Cordless vacuums come with an array of accessories and attachments. Some of the most common accessories are crevice cleaners, mini brushes and extension heads. One model, for example, includes a duster crevice tool, a dusting brush, a wide upholstery tool, an anti-allergen dust brush, a battery and a charger.