10 Best Stick Vacuums That Effortlessly Clean Your Floors

If you’ve been relying on a traditional upright vacuum that plugs into the wall, you’re truly missing out. Stick vacuums are life-changing and will make such a substantial difference in your willingness to vacuum.

Compared to traditional upright vacuums, stick vacuums are taller, thinner, more lightweight, and easier to move around without any fuss from cords. Powered by rechargeable batteries, they're perfect for quick cleanups, and most double as handheld vacuums, thanks to their included attachments that help you clean surfaces, remove pet hair on furniture or suck up debris in hard-to-reach spaces.

If you’re ready to make the switch to a cordless cleaner or upgrade your vacuum, we’ve compared, scrutinized, and tested the latest models from the likes of Dyson, Tineco, and Shark to help determine the best stick vacuums worth buying,

Best Stick Vacuums of 2022

What to Consider

Floor Type

It may sound like a given, but the most important factor to consider when it comes to buying a stick vacuum is what types of floors you have. If you primarily have hard floors, you’ll want a vacuum that has a soft roller cleaner head. For those who have carpets or a mixture of both types, opt for a stick vacuum that has a brush bar with bristles, which will help dislodge dirt that’s embedded deep in your carpets or in between the crevices of your hard floors.

Some models, like the Shark Vertex, have dual brush rollers, and a few Dyson models, like the Dyson V15, include multiple cleaner heads that you can swap between as you encounter different floor types throughout your home.

Attachment Set

Pay attention to what attachments are included with the vacuum cleaner. Most include a crevice tool that's useful for cleaning between your furniture cushions and hard-to-reach areas, the best cordless vacuums include a mini-motorized brush roll. In case you’re unfamiliar, this is an accessory that’s designed to agitate upholstery, mattresses, and stairs to effectively remove pet hair and dirt. The attachment will also come in handy for cleaning your vehicle.

Battery Life

Although it’s true that you can clean as long as your heart desires with a corded vacuum cleaner, I firmly believe the convenience of cordless models is worth the tradeoff of not having an unlimited run time. Plus, you don’t have to wrap up any super long, easy-to-tangle cords when you’re finished cleaning. A cordless stick vacuum lets you roam freely without being tied to a wall outlet so you can clean in tight spaces and cover more ground.

A good rule of thumb for figuring out how long you need your vacuum’s battery to last is to measure the square footage of your home and divide it by 50. Most cordless models will recharge in just over an hour. I recommend opting for a model with a run time of at least 15 minutes. Most stick vacuums will last between 30 minutes and an hour, but if you use them on their highest suction setting, their batteries will run out of juice sooner.

Size and Weight

Stick vacuums double as a handheld vacuum and can be used to spot clean furniture or floors (both hard floors and carpet), so you’ll want to pay attention to how much they weigh so you know they’re comfortable to lift and handle.

How We Chose

When it comes to shopping for a new vacuum, there are endless options to choose from. To separate the best stick vacuums from the rest, we’ve spent hundreds of hours researching different models. We compared their feature sets, reading and watching countless reviews from other publications and owners. In the five years we’ve been actively updating this guide, the editors at Best Products and our sister sites Good Housekeeping and Popular Mechanics have tested over two dozen different stick vacuum cleaners.

Besides factoring in price and the included accessories to determine our top picks, we also took into account the following:

• Overall runtime
• Ability to suck up crumbs, debris, dust, and hair on both carpet and hard floors
• Loudness
• How easy and comfortable they are to use and empty
• How well their included attachments work
• Filtration ability
• Overall reliability and repairability
  

We’re here to help you find the best stick vacuum that suits your needs and budget constraints so that you can keep your home looking its absolute best. Here are the best stick vacuum models that you will be satisfied with for years to come.