Best cordless vacuum for 2020: Bissell, Hoover, Moosoo, Shark, Dyson and more

Chris Monroe / CNET

The V11 is the latest and greatest stick vacuum from Dyson. It is also the most expensive machine in our test group. That said, this flagship model offered the best performance in its class to match its hefty price tag. On hardwood floor surfaces, this Dyson vacuum literally wiped bare floors of dust and dirt. The vacuum cleaner, which has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery, demonstrated near-perfect collection of the sand and black rice test samples (99.6 and 100%, respectively).

Pet owners will also appreciate the V11’s prowess at removing pet hair. In anecdotal testing, the vacuum cleaner completely removed hair fibers and dust from medium and low pile rugs. The collection of animal hair from the hardwood floors went almost as well. The only detractors were a stray tuft that the void lacked atop our testing area. That and a few strands ended up wrapping around the V11’s brush roll.

I certainly like how easily the V11’s dust bin empties. Simply aim the vacuum cleaner into the trash can and push a release tab to open the dust bin cover. To close it, pull the tab in the opposite direction. The other models we tested were a nightmare in this regard. The Hoover BladeMax gave us the most trouble. Hair and dust are usually trapped deep inside his dirt cup. I also found its bin difficult to open. Worse, it is not always clear that the dust container is securely attached.

Dyson also has a lot of accessories in the box. Among them are a crevice tool for cleaning tight spaces, a power tool for upholstering, a soft dusting brush and a stubborn dirt brush head for sucking encrusted dirt from a carpet with a strong suction. All of this makes the Dyson V11 the obvious choice for the best cordless vacuum the money can buy. Learn more about the Dyson V11.

Chris Monroe / CNET

The second best performer in our group of cordless vacuums was the Shark Rocket Pet Pro Cordless. It came very close to cleaning floors as well as Dyson V11, but costing hundreds less. The Rocket Cordless Bagless Vacuum removed as much sand from mid-height carpets as it did from hardwood floors. In fact, the only area where the Shark followed the V11 as the best cordless vacuum cleaner was on low-pile carpet. There, the cordless cleaner removed an excess of 67.6% of our test sand. In contrast, Dyson V11 removed more sand from our low pile carpet (78.4% on average).

The Rocket also had no trouble handling animal hair. On low pile carpets and hardwoods, this handheld cordless vacuum wiped away all traces of animal dander. The results were also favorable on the middle rugs. There was only a small tuft of hair left after the vacuum had passed over the thicker, harder surface.

Design is another of the strengths of the Rocket Pet Pro. Its dust container is almost as easy to empty as the Dyson V11. The dust bin generally stays free of dirt and debris, not stuck inside even after emptying. I also like how the Rocket Pet Pro’s wand and stuffing tool can stand on its own (disconnected from the main suction unit). LED lights on the nozzle help you see dirt and debris around your home, and a rechargeable lithium-ion battery makes charging easy. So if you’re looking for a solid mid-range cordless upright vacuum, Shark’s Rocket Pro is a great option. Read more.

Chris Monroe / CNET

If you want to own a Dyson but prefer not to spend the top price, consider the Dyson V8 Absolute hand vacuum for $ 450. This cordless buck-down model is a few years old, but still has a powerful suction and performs like a champ. In our floor cleaning tests, the V8 came in a respectable third place. In our test group, only the Dyson V11 and Shark Rocket Pet Pro scrub floors better than the V8.

On hard floors, the vacuum managed to pick up an average of 98% of the sand we dropped. For low pile rugs, this average fell to 68.3%. The average slipped through the middle carpet again, but remained at a respectable 52%.

Pet hair didn’t bother the V8 hand vacuum either. He moved the hair completely away from the medium pile and low pile rugs. It failed to remove a small amount of dander from the hardwood. In addition, some fibers have wrapped around the brush roll of the vacuum cleaner. But the washable filter was handy.

And similar to the V11 Torque Drive, the V8 Absolute Upright Vacuum comes with a huge assortment of accessories. This includes gadgets for dusting, a crevice tool for reaching a narrow crevice, a soft cleaning head for bare floors, a motorized brush roll to grab encrusted dirt and debris, and a docking station for charging the battery. So, for those who would like to own a Dyson brand stick vacuum cleaner for a little less money, the V8 Absolute is worth a look. Learn more about the Dyson V8.

Chris Monroe / CNET

Moosoo isn’t exactly a household name. Still, the Moosoo M X6 cordless vacuum packs a respectable punch, considering its low price tag. Although it costs significantly less than competing vacuums, the M X6 was the fourth best performer in our test group of eight models.

The stick vacuum recovered 99% (on average) of our test sand from hardwoods. On low-pile carpets, that figure dropped to 41.3%. The M X6 held up better on thicker carpet, however, gaining a 52.2% higher sand pickup average.

Black rice, our large particle test soil, was a cinch for the Moosoo vacuum. It achieved pickup averages greater than 90% on hardwood, low pile and mid pile carpet (95.4, 96.8 and 94%, respectively).

Do not buy the Moosoo M X6, however, if you are a pet owner. The downsides are that at least visible dander remained after aspiration, regardless of the test surface. The brush roll also tends to wrap strands of hair around it.

If you want cordless vacuuming on a tight budget, consider the Moosoo M X6. It might fit the bill well, and for a lot less money. Read more.