Looking for a new vacuum? There’s a lot of choices on the market.
I’ve put a number of models to the test: read on for my pick of the best vacuum cleaners to buy in 2024.
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WE all need to keep our homes dust-free but the best vacuum cleaners will make the job less of a chore.
However, with so many vacuum cleaners on the market, it’s not easy to know which one is best for your needs.
Cordless models are handy for a speedy whip-round without needing to worry where the nearest plug is.
They can often also be converted into handheld machines, making it a cinch to keep stairs, sofas and car upholstery looking shipshape.
Corded vacuum cleaners may be better suited to anyone with a large house or a pet owner who needs to vacuum more regularly without worrying about charging the battery.
You should then consider whether you prefer a stick, handheld, cylinder or upright model. Before deciding, it’s worth thinking about whether you have lot of stairs, how much space you have to store the vacuum cleaner, and whether you’ll be mainly cleaning hard floors, carpet or both.
Other useful features include anti-hair-wrap brushes to blitz pet hair, LED lights to reveal hidden dust under furniture, digital displays and additional accessories for tackling corners, upholstery and even dusty furniture.
Be sure to also check the weight of the vacuum to guarantee you won’t struggle lugging it around your house.
Best vacuum cleaner at a glance:
Best vacuum cleaners, tried and tested
Shark Anti Hair Wrap Corded Stick Vacuum HZ500UK, £139.99 (was £179.99)
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Shark Anti Hair Wrap Corded Stick
Vacuum HZ500UK, £139.99 (was £179.99)
Pros: LED lights to help spot dust, easy to manoeuvre, bends for cleaning under furniture, corded so the battery won’t run out, comes with a 5-year guarantee
Cons: Small capacity, needs plugging in
Rating: 5/5
If you’re committed to corded vacuum cleaners, they don’t get much better than this one.
Lightweight and super easy to handle, this stick vacuum is a breeze to use, with a DuoClean floorhead that glides from carpets to hard floors without needing to change attachments.
There’s a whole host of clever features to make vacuuming easier.
A long 10-metre cable means there’s no need to change plugs every few minutes, an LED headlight shows lurking dust and the power button doesn’t need to be pressed continually while you clean.
Plus, it can be changed into a handheld for cleaning awkward places, while it was one of the best vacuum cleaners I tried for tackling long hairs on carpets.
Even after a whole-house blitz, there were no hairs tangled around the brush bar which is nothing short of miraculous with a long-haired teen in the house.
I particularly loved the fact that the stick bends in half so it really is simple to get into every nook and cranny, even under low-down sofas.
My only gripe is that the small capacity means I did end up emptying this vacuum before I’d finished cleaning my house.
If that’s a deal-breaker, choose the Hoover Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner with Anti-Twist Blue HL4 instead.
Type: Stick; Corded: Yes; Cable length: 10m; Dust capacity: 0.3L; Bagless: Yes; Weight: 3.9kg
Dyson Gen5detect, £599.99 (was £749.99)
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Dyson Gen5detect, £599.99 (was £749.99)
Pros: HEPA filter, good anti-tangle technology, excellent for revealing hidden dust
Cons: Pricey, on the heavy side
Rating: 5/5
Want to know if your house is really clean? If you don’t mind the hefty price tag, this is the cordless vacuum for you.
It comes with a wide green laser on the front that magically reveals otherwise invisible dust on hard floors and you’ll be appalled at how much you otherwise miss.
I’ve never vacuumed as much as when I was testing this machine, as there seemed to be new dust to suck up every time I looked.
There’s also a sensor that counts dust particles as it goes, increasing the vacuum’s suction power when needed and displaying – horror! – real-time results of how much dirt has been collected on an LCD screen.
It’s a touch heavier than Dyson’s earlier v15 detect absolute, but there are other clever upgrades.
The crevice tool is now built-in so you can change the machine into a handheld in seconds without carrying an extra tool around.
Best of all, there’s no longer a need to press the trigger constantly while vacuuming with just one power on/off button instead.
Suction is also unbeatable, and the vacuum automatically adapts to suit hard floors and carpet as it cleans.
With excellent anti-tangle technology and an hour’s running time on Eco mode, I was seriously wowed by this vacuum’s impressive overall performance.
Type: Stick; Corded: No; Dust capacity: 0.77L; Bagless: Yes; Battery life: Up to 70 minutes; Weight: 3.5kg
Shark Stratos IZ400UK, £168.98
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Shark Stratos IZ400UK, £168.98
Pros: Deals with hair efficiently, stylish, excellent power boost when required
Cons: On the pricey side, heavier than most other cordless vacuums
Rating: 5/5
There’s not much this attractive rose-gold stick vacuum can’t tackle. It has an automatic sensor that boosts cleaning power by 50% when needed, even if you can’t see the dirt.
Mine kicked in to eliminate dried in mud, breadcrumbs and dust without any extra effort on my part.
It’s particularly good at dealing with hair, even when embedded into the carpet, which is vital in my house with a long-haired teen on the loose.
The vacuum’s DuoClean floorhead has two motorised brush-rolls working as one, with an Anti Hair Wrap Plus brush-roll to clean deep into carpets and ensure nothing gets tangled.
Cleaning power is as good as the Dyson Gen5detect,yet it’s worth noting that the Shark is half the price.
Dust lurking under the furniture stands no chance either, as the flexible wand bends at the touch of a button to reach under almost anything: I loved the fact that I didn’t have to struggle to move my low sofa every time I cleaned.
The vacuum can also change into a handheld for easy use on the stairs or on car upholstery.
As an extra bonus if you have a bigger house that takes longer than an hour to clean, it’s possible to buy an additional battery so you can always have one charged and ready to go.
Type: Stick; Corded: No; Dust capacity: 0.7L; Bagless: Yes; Battery life: Up to 60 minutes; Weight: 4.1kg
Beko PowerClean Pro, £148.37
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Beko PowerClean Pro, £148.37
Pros: Good price, useful digital display, great at vacuuming under furniture
Cons: Battery life runs out quicker on higher settings, bin can get blocked
Rating: 4.5/5
I had to double check the price of this sturdy, no-nonsense vacuum cleaner, which is less than a quarter of the cost of some of the other models I tested yet can hold its own when it comes to cleaning.
There’s even plenty of usually-pricey features, including an LCD screen displaying the battery level, automatic power adjustment when dirt is sensed, LED headlights and a motorised pet turbo brush head.
Like the Shark Stratos IZ400UK, the wand also flexes to reach under furniture which I found really useful.
The battery life is excellent. It lasts for around an hour on the lowest setting, though I did find the vacuum more efficient on higher settings, which significantly cuts the running time.
The dust bin was also a little tricky to empty and despite the decent capacity, I founded it needed emptying every time I cleaned or the filter tended to get blocked.
But for this price? I really couldn’t complain.
Type: Stick; Corded: No; Dust capacity: 0.9L; Bagless: Yes; Battery life: Up to 60 minutes; Weight: 3.1kg
Dyson Ball Animal Complete, £429.99
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Dyson Ball Animal Complete, £429.99
Pros: Never runs out of power, can reach under furniture, good capacity, hairs don’t tangle on floor head
Cons: Corded, pricey, could be too heavy for some people to manage easily
Rating: 4.5/5
This is a corded vacuum cleaner that means business.
Though it’s heavier to use than almost all the other vacuums I tested, it also works like a wonder, gobbling up everything from toast crumbs to cornflakes without hesitation.
It’s especially effective on carpets and mine really felt like they’d been deep cleaned after a once-over with this machine. Hairs pose no problem either.
The vacuum detangles as it goes and I didn’t find any hair trapped on the brush bar, even after a full house clean.
I’ve used (and liked) a Dyson corded vacuum in the past but struggled to reach under sofas and beds using it.
That’s not a problem with this machine. The flat-out head is a real game changer, with an ultra-low profile for reaching under furniture without having to struggle to move it.
I also liked the dusting brush, which lifts dust from furniture and sucks it away, and the telescopic handle that rotates in three directions to clean the hardest-to-reach places.
It was also so easy to steer, I didn’t find the vacuum’s extra weight a problem. However, if you’re devoted to Dyson but fancy a lighter model, check out the Dyson Gen5detect instead.
Type: Upright; Corded: Yes; Cable length: 10m; Dust capacity: 1.8 litres; Bagless: Yes; Weight: 7.4kg
Hoover Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner with Anti-Twist Blue HL4, £139 (was £219)
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Hoover Upright Pet Vacuum Cleaner with
Anti-Twist Blue HL4, £219 £139
Pros: Labelled for easy use, huge capacity, steers well, long cable
Cons: Limited tools, must be used near a plug
Rating: 4/5
If – like me – you forget how to use an appliance the minute you’ve finished reading the instruction book, this is the vacuum for you.
Every button on this clever Hoover model is plainly marked with what it does so you won’t be stood scratching your head mid-clean trying to remember how to switch between hard floors and carpet.
Though it’s not the lightest vacuum I tested, it’s surprisingly nifty to use.
It whizzes round corners, moves smoothly between rooms and tackles any long hairs without the merest hint of a tangle thanks to anti-twist technology, which removes hair from the brush bar as it cleans.
If you need extra help with ground-in pet hair, there’s a mini-turbo brush to lift out every last strand, while the LED lights on the front guarantee you blitz every last speck of dust.
Best of all, the huge dust capacity means you won’t need to empty it with every use – and anything that cuts my time cleaning gets a thumbs-up from me.
Type: Upright; Corded: Yes; Cable length: 7.6m; Dust capacity: 2.5 litres; Bagless: Yes; Weight: 5kg
Henry Quick, £199.99 (was £299.99)
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Henry Quick, £199.99 (was £299.99)
Pros: Cheery design, uses bags which allergy sufferers may prefer
Cons: Bags need replacing at an ongoing cost
Rating: 4/5
It almost makes cleaning bearable if you use a Henry vacuum, thanks to its iconic cheery face decoration.
Better known for its corded vacuum, the brand also makes a cordless option and it has all the no-messing power of its wired big brother.
It glides through even ground-in dirt, sucking up everything in sight, and dealt with everything from stray Coco Pops to scattered toast crumbs in my house.
The motorised brush head also manages to handle long hair well without ending up a matted mess.
It’s worth noting that this vacuum does use bags.
If you don’t want the faff (and cost) of replacing these, it might be best to consider the similarly-priced Hoover HF4 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap instead.
However, if you suffer with allergies and would prefer the dust was sealed cleanly away, this cordless vacuum is a great buy.
Type: Stick; Corded: No; Dust capacity: 1L; Bagless: No; Battery life: 60 minutes; Weight: 3.2kg
Hoover HF4 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with Anti Hair Wrap, £169 (was £229)
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Hoover HF4 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner with
Anti Hair Wrap, £229 £169 from Hoover
Pros: Useful LED screen, good at getting into smaller places
Cons: Short running time
Rating: 4/5
If you struggle with the weight of other cordless vacuums, this super stick cleaner was the lightest I tested and I found it remarkably easy to manoeuvre.
However, it’s possible to go lighter still if you don’t mind a wire, and choose the Beldray BEL0770N-GRY 2-in-1 Multifunctional 1L lightweight 600W Vacuum Cleaner instead.
The 360-degree steering angle makes using this one even easier and I was genuinely wowed at the difference this small feature made.
The brush head can swivel so it’s easy to vacuum right up to furniture and in small gaps without having to switch to a smaller accessory.
It’s worth noting that the run time is only around 30 minutes so this may not be the best choice for someone with a bigger home that takes longer to clean.
But for smaller houses or those looking for an efficient vacuum for everyday tidy-ups, this vacuum won’t let you down.
Type: Stick; Corded: No; Dust capacity: 0.7L; Bagless: Yes; Battery life: 30 minutes; Weight: 2.63kg
Beldray BEL0770N-GRY 2-in-1 Multifunctional 1L lightweight 600W Vacuum Cleaner, £27.99 (was £29.99)
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Beldray BEL0770N-GRY 2-in-1 Multifunctional 1L
600W Vacuum Cleaner, £27.99 (was £29.99)
Pros: Doesn’t take up much room, extremely light, cheap
Cons: Not sturdy enough to manage a larger house, small capacity, needs plugging in
Rating: 3.5/5
If you don’t want (or need) a hefty vacuum worth several hundred pounds, this is a good option.
Like the Tower Platinum Corded 3 in 1 Vac, it’s ridiculously well priced around the £30 mark and would be a great choice in a smaller property.
It’s also a wise buy for anyone who finds heavier vacuums hard to handle.
At just 1.38kg, it was the lightest model I tested, making it a doddle to carry around or use on the stairs.
Its compact floor head makes it particularly good at squeezing into smaller spaces and right up to the plinths underneath my kitchen cupboards, which I found larger vacuums struggled with.
It can also be easily changed into a handheld for smaller areas or even to clean a car, if you’re within reach of a plug.
Handily, there’s a crevice tool to get right into all those tricky corners of car seats where crumbs tend to gather, especially if you have snack-chomping kids in the family (just me?)
I did find some longer hairs tangled on the brush bar that I needed to pull off after cleaning to keep the vacuum working well.
I also had to empty the machine before I’d cleaned the entire house, meaning this model is definitely better suited to someone with a smaller area to clean and who doesn’t have long-haired pets.
Type: Stick; Corded: Yes; Cable length: 5m; Dust capacity: 1 litre; Bagless: Yes; Weight: 1.38kg
Tower Platinum Corded 3-in-1 Vac, £34.99
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Tower Platinum Corded 3-in-1 Vac, £34.99
Pros: Easy to manoeuvre, corded so won’t run out of battery, can be used as a handheld to clean cars, excellent price
Cons: Capacity is only one litre, not best suited to pet owners
Rating: 3.5/5
Proof there’s no need to break the bank to keep your house spick and span, this fantastically priced stick is a doddle to use.
It even comes with an anti-allergy HEPA filter, usually found in more expensive vacuums.
It can be used as a handheld model for stairs and upholstery, while it flies over both carpets and hard floors when used as a stick, thanks to the 2-in-1 head.
The convenient telescopic pole can be extended to reach corners and ceilings, though I did find it marked the wall if it dragged against the paintwork.
The downside (for some) is that it is corded so you will need to stay within five metres of a plug to use it, but that means the vacuum will keep working on full power during even the longest spring clean.
I also did find that hairs occasionally tangled on the brush bar, so if you have a long-haired person – or pet – in the house, you’d be better off choosing the Shark Anti Hair Wrap Corded Stick Vacuum HZ500UK.
However, this is a great choice if you’re short on space, as it’s one of the smallest vacuum cleaners I tested and can even be wall-mounted to make life easier.
Type: Stick; Corded: Yes; Cable length: 5m; Dust capacity: 1 litre; Bagless: Yes; Weight: 1.8kg
How we tested these vacuum cleaners
I used each of these vacuum cleaners in my home, testing them on carpet and hard floors, seeing how well they reached under furniture and the sofa, and how convenient they were for vacuuming the stairs.
I noticed how effective they were on cleaning ordinary dust, hairs and crumbs, but also purposely spilt flour and cereal to see if they could be relied on to blitz proper mess.
I made a note of how regularly I needed to empty the dust bin and whether hairs tangled on the brush bar while cleaning. I also judged how long the cable was or how long the battery lasted if it was a cordless model.
Where to buy vacuum cleaners
Both cordless and corded vacuums are easy to pick up online or in a wide variety of shops including supermarkets and even garden centres.
Keep an eye on prices as they can fluctuate, especially on the manufacturer’s own site, so you can nab a good deal. Decide on the model you want by reading the reviews above then shop on these sites:
How much does a vacuum cleaner cost?
Vacuum cleaners typically range from under £40 to several hundred for the top models and biggest brands.
Spending around £150 is enough to nab a reliable, long-lasting vacuum from a well-known make, though it’s worth spending more if you have pets or a larger, busier house that needs more cleaning.
The more expensive models tend to have additional features such as extra attachments and LED headlights, but cheaper – and often smaller – models can be useful for those with limited storage space or anyone looking for a lighter vacuum.
Head to The Sun’s Shopping section for more buying guides and product reviews.
For more tips for keeping your home sparkling, head to our cleaning hacks hub.
