Best cordless stick vacuum cleaners in 2026

The HomePro Detect Pet-Design is the budget pick here, and Vax packs in more practical extras than the price tier suggests. The battery is a removable 18V, 4.0Ah pack that charges in about three hours, and Vax also sells a dual-battery version with a longer claimed runtime. Vax lists up to 45 minutes from the single battery, which is the shortest claim in this group but enough for a small or medium home.

The dust bin holds 0.7 L, the largest of the five, which means fewer trips to the kitchen bin. Two-stage filtration is rated by Vax at 99.9% of particles down to 0.3 microns, and Debris Detect sensors raise the suction up to three times when they sense dirt. Vax does not publish a suction or motor figure, so we cannot compare power directly.

The pet-focused tool set is broad: a crevice tool, a stair tool, a pet hair remover and a motorised pet tool all come in the box, plus a wall mount for storage. The Vax guarantee is a notable plus, at five years for the product and three years for the battery when registered.

At 3.5 kg and 1160 mm tall it is the heaviest of the group apart from the Shark, so it will feel less nimble overhead and on stairs than the lightest models.

The PowerDetect IP1251UK leads on claimed runtime, with Shark quoting up to 70 minutes in ECO mode without the motorised tool. It uses a 21.6V lithium-ion battery and a 380 W motor, and the PowerDetect system tells the motor to work harder on carpet and ease off on hard floors. Shark says this boosts power by up to 75%, which is a claim about automatic adjustment, not a suction rating.

Where the model is less convincing is the paperwork. Shark Ireland's page gives the bin as 0.38 L in the specification table and 0.7 L in the FAQ, and the weight as 3.71 kg in one place and 3.6 kg with the floor nozzle in another. If bin size matters to you, confirm the figure with Shark or the retailer.

The filters are washable, with a 24 to 48 hour air-dry, and no HEPA filter is listed, so it is a less obvious choice for allergy sufferers than the Dyson or Samsung. A duster crevice tool is listed as included, and the FAQ adds a multi-surface tool and a motorised hand tool.

The battery needs around six hours for a full charge and Shark does not say it is user-replaceable. The guarantee is five years when registered, though the page is unclear about battery cover.

The Unlimited 7 ProAnimal is Bosch's pet-focused cordless stick. It weighs 2.9 kg, so it feels lighter than the Vax or Shark, and the 18V, 3.0Ah battery is exchangeable, which means you can buy a second one to extend a cleaning session. Bosch quotes up to 40 minutes without an electric accessory.

The bin is bagless but small at 0.3 L, so you will empty it more often in a larger or pet-heavy home. Bosch does not publish a suction figure, but it highlights its TurboSpin motor and gives it a ten-year guarantee. Noise is listed at 82 dB(A).

The accessories reflect the pet theme. In the box you get a mini ProAnimal turbo brush, a 2-in-1 upholstery brush, a long radiator nozzle, a flexible hose and a wall dock for charging and storage. A five-hour charge is slow, which is where a spare battery earns its keep.

The Bosch page we checked is Bosch France's listing for the BBS711ANM, and Irish and UK retailers may sell this machine under a different code, so match the model and its included accessories carefully. Bosch does not list the dimensions on that page.

The V12 Detect Slim Absolute is the lightest stick in this comparison at 2.2 kg, and that low weight is its main attraction. It suits people who find larger cordless vacuums tiring overhead, on stairs or when cleaning the car. The listing shows a 150 AW boost rating, a 60-minute maximum runtime and a four-hour charge. The battery is a click-in pack that can be swapped.

Two floor heads come in the box: the Motorbar head and the Fluffy Optic head. Other attachments include a hair screw tool, a crevice tool, a combination tool and a low reach adaptor, and a docking station stores and charges the machine on the wall.

Filtration is described as whole-machine, trapping 99.99% of particles down to 0.3 microns, which will interest allergy sufferers. The bin is smaller than most here at 0.35 L, so expect to empty it more often.

Dyson's own site was not accessible to us, so these figures come from an Irish retailer listing for the model code 470521-01. The listing does not show dimensions, and it is silent on dust-sensing features, so we make no claims about them. The warranty is two years.

The Bespoke Jet AI is the only stick in this comparison with a station that empties the dust bin for you. Samsung says the All-in-One Clean Station uses Air Pulse technology to clear the bin and claims a 99% hair removal rate in its own testing, so you handle dust less often than with a stick that you empty by hand.

Samsung lists up to 280 W of suction from its HexaJet motor and up to 100 minutes of runtime on the large 3970 mAh battery with a non-motorised tool. A second, lighter battery is supplied for quick daily jobs. An AI Cleaning Mode detects the floor type and adapts power, and Samsung says this can cut battery use by up to 14% in its test.

Filtration is described as a multi-layer system rated at 99.999% for fine dust, and the machine connects to SmartThings over Wi-Fi for self-diagnosis. The Active Dual Brush and the Slim LED Brush+ are named, but Samsung's launch material does not give the bin size, weight, charge time or a full accessory list, so we have not filled these in.

The specs here come from Samsung's UK launch announcement from 2023. Samsung may have since updated the range, so check the current model codes and what is in the box.