Best Cordless Stick Vacuums 2026
Best cordless stick vacuums for whole-home cleaning with powerful suction and long battery life.
Our Top Picks
Full Rankings
Dyson V15 Detect
Best OverallBest overall balance with 240 AW suction, laser dust detection, and piezo sensor. At $635, it undercuts newer flagships by $300-400 while matching performance.
Pros
- ✓Best overall balance
- ✓Laser dust detection
- ✓240 AW suction
Cons
- ✗4.6 lbs handle weight
- ✗Premium price
- ✗Trigger hold required
Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty
Best ValuePerfect 4.8/5 carpet score with auto-empty dock at $430. DuoClean dual-roller handles both fine dust and large debris.
Pros
- ✓Perfect carpet scores
- ✓Auto-empty dock
- ✓DuoClean head
Cons
- ✗4.0 lbs handle weight
- ✗Large dock
- ✗No laser detection
Dyson Gen5detect
Best PremiumMaximum 262 AW suction with push-button control. 9% more suction than V15 but doesn't justify 50% price premium for most users.
Pros
- ✓262 AW maximum suction
- ✓Push-button control
- ✓70 min battery
Cons
- ✗5.0 lbs handle weight
- ✗$959 price
- ✗Marginal improvement over V15
Shark Stratos Cordless
Lightest top performer at 3.6 lbs with unique odor neutralizer. Perfect carpet score despite lower weight.
Pros
- ✓Lightest at 3.6 lbs
- ✓Odor neutralizer
- ✓Perfect 4.8/5 carpet score
Cons
- ✗60 min battery shorter
- ✗No auto-empty
- ✗No laser detection
Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra
Longest 100 min runtime with dual batteries and highest 400 AW suction. Premium all-in-one station.
Pros
- ✓400 AW suction
- ✓100 min with dual batteries
- ✓All-in-one station
Cons
- ✗$1,100 price
- ✗Large dock footprint
- ✗Complex system
Levoit LVAC-200
Best BudgetGenuine capability at $180 with sealed HEPA, 50-min battery, and 3.2 lbs weight. Nothing else offers sealed HEPA at this price.
Pros
- ✓$180 price
- ✓Sealed HEPA filtration
- ✓3.2 lbs lightweight
Cons
- ✗Hard floor score 2.2/5
- ✗Non-removable battery
- ✗Basic features
Comparison Table
| Product | Cleaning Performance | Battery Life | Weight & Handling | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
#1Dyson V15 Detect | 9.5 | 9 | 8 | 10 | $635 |
#2Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty | 9.5 | 9 | 8.5 | 8 | $430 |
#3Dyson Gen5detect | 10 | 9 | 7 | 10 | $959 |
#4Shark Stratos Cordless | 9.5 | 8 | 10 | 8 | $430 |
#5Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra | 10 | 10 | 8 | 9 | $1100 |
#6Levoit LVAC-200 | 7 | 7 | 9 | 6 | $180 |
Buying Guide
The cordless stick vacuum market has matured with Dyson's V15 Detect still dominating despite being released in 2021. For whole-home cleaning, prioritize suction power, battery life, and weight. The V15 Detect delivers best value at $635 while newer flagships like Gen5detect offer marginal improvements at significantly higher prices. Removable batteries allow extended cleaning with spares.
What We Evaluate
Cleaning Performance
Suction power and debris pickup
Battery Life
Runtime per charge
Weight & Handling
Handle weight and ergonomics
Features
Laser detection, displays, modes
Value
Performance per dollar
Our Testing Methodology
Rankings based on independent testing from Vacuum Wars, RTINGS, and Consumer Reports. We evaluate suction power, battery life, weight, and value proposition.
Learn more about how we test →Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Dyson Gen5detect worth the upgrade from V15?▼
How do cordless vacuums compare to corded?▼
Related Comparisons
Best Cordless Vacuums for Pet Hair
Best cordless vacuums with anti-tangle technology and pet-specific tools.
Best Robot Vacuum Cleaners
Vacuum-only robots for automated floor cleaning without mopping complexity.
Best Robot Vacuum + Mop Combos
All-in-one robots that vacuum and mop with advanced docking stations.
Best Robot Vacuums for Pets
Robot vacuums with superior pet hair handling and waste avoidance.