Best Stick Vacuums of 2019

“In the past few years, stick vacuum suction has gotten a lot stronger, especially in battery-powered stick vacuums,” says Frank Rizzi, a senior Consumer Reports test-lab engineer. “If you don’t have wall-to-wall carpet, these machines can do a lot of cleaning.”

Stick vacuums are taking over. According to the marketing research firm Gap Intelligence, more than 100 different cordless stick vacuums are currently on sale at major retailers compared with less than 30 corded stick vacuums.

Run times for cordless stick vacuums, which are powered by rechargeable batteries, vary widely. In Consumer Reports’ tests, some stick vacs lost power in as little as 15 minutes and others ran for 47 minutes. Some manufacturers provide an extra battery with their cordless stick vacuum so you can have one charging while you’re cleaning with the other.

Consumer Reports has tested dozens of stick vacuums from such brands as Bissell, Black+Decker, Shark, Dirt Devil, Hoover, and Dyson, plus newcomers from Tineco and LG.

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How We Test Stick Vacuums

Because stick vacuums don't have the same deep-carpet cleaning capability as full-sized models, CR conducts a carpet surface cleaning test, evaluating how well the appliances pick up sand, rice, and cereal in a certain amount of time. (In the more challenging embedded-dirt test for full-sized vacuums, our engineers try to clean up sand that's been ground into pile carpet.)

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In our bare-floor cleaning test for cordless stick vacuums, we scatter litter on a tiled floor with grout grooves, which increases the difficulty. We also conduct a pet-hair removal test on medium-pile carpet as well as a clean emissions test to see whether a vacuum is releasing the dust that was just sucked up. 

Read more in this handy guide about how CR tests vacuums. Below are the best cordless stick vacuums from CR’s tests, listed in alphabetical order.

Best Stick Vacuums From CR's Tests

Bissell Air Ram 1984

CR’s take: For an affordable price you get a top-notch and self-standing cordless stick vacuum. The Bissell Air Ram 1984 scores an Excellent rating on our carpet cleaning test and is just as good at bare floors. It has the longest run time among the cordless vacuums in our labs, with a charge that lasts 47 minutes. Even though it's a basic model, the Bissell Air Ram has held its place near the top of our ratings for some time. But unlike other stick vacs, it doesn’t convert to a hand vacuum or come with any accessories.

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Bissell Air Ram 1984

Price: $209.99 - $249.99

Carpet

Bare floors

Pet hair

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Dirt Devil Power Stick SD12530

CR's take: The well-priced slim Dirt Devil Power Stick SD12530 is no slouch when it comes to cleaning carpet and bare floors, and picking up pet hair, and it earns an Excellent in all three tasks. The corded model gracefully glides along edges, picking up dust as it goes, and it operates quietly. But its emissions aren't as clean as some of the other stick vacuums we've tested.

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Dirt Devil Power Stick SD12530

Price: $98.00 - $122.45

Carpet

Bare floors

Pet hair

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Kenmore Elite Complete 10441

CR's take: The cordless Kenmore Elite Complete 10441 receives top scores in our bare-floor, edge-cleaning and pet-hair tests. It left a little debris behind in our carpet test but still earns a Very Good rating. It comes with two brush rolls, one with bristles for carpet and one that’s soft for bare floors. It has a telescoping wand and converts to a hand vac. You can cut tangled hair from the brush roll with the touch of a button. The charger has to be mounted on a wall, but it’s compact. The filter isn't as easy to remove as some in other models.

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Kenmore Elite Complete 10441

Price: $249.99

Carpet

Bare floors

Pet hair

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LG CordZero A9

CR's take: The cordless lightweight but pricey LG CordZero A9 gets top marks on all CR performance tests including an Excellent rating for bare floors. And it operates very quietly. It comes with two brushes, one soft roller for hard surfaces and a brush for carpets. The LG is equipped with two batteries so you can charge one while vacuuming with the other. The charging stand is self-standing so there’s no need to hang it on a wall. The washable filters are easy to change and clean.

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LG CordZero A9 A906SM

Price: $750

Carpet

Bare floors

Pet hair

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Shark Apex DuoClean Corded ZS362

CR's take: The Shark Apex DuoClean Corded ZS362 aces all of CR's cleaning tests, including earning an Excellent rating on our difficult carpet test. The DuoClean power head includes a bristle roller and a soft roller so you can easily move from floor to carpet and back again. And this cleaning machine cleans itself by automatically clearing hair from the brush roll. The little vac is easy to maneuver under furniture, and an LED lights the way. The dustbin pops in and out with ease and the vacuum stands on its own, making it easier to store. In our member survey, Shark stick vacuums earn top marks for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.

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Shark APEX DuoClean Corded ZS362

Price: $249.99 - $360.89

Carpet

Bare floors

Pet hair

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Shark IonFlex 2X DuoClean Ultra-Light Cordless IF251

CR’s take: One of the best stick vacs in our ratings, the Shark IonFlex 2X DuoClean IF251 can get around tight corners with ease, and it's stellar at picking up pet hair from bare floors and carpets. In terms of picking up debris on carpet, this stick earns a Very Good rating, meaning it picks up most of the embedded talc in our tests. Like other Shark stick vacs, it has a dual brush roll that includes a bristle brush roll and a soft brush roll, which helps it excel in our carpet and pet-hair tests. Shark vacuums earn our top ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.

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Shark IonFlex 2X DuoClean Ultra-Light Cordless IF251

Price: $339.99 - $509.99

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Shark IonFlex DuoClean Ultra-Light IF201

CR’s take: While it’s called ultra-light, the Shark IonFlex DuoClean Ultra-Light  weighs 8.7 pounds, which is average for models in our cordless stick vacuums 6 pounds and over, but it's several pounds heavier than the truly lightweight models in our tests. This well-rated Shark cleans up pet hair like a champ, earning an Excellent rating on that test. And like the top-performing corded SharkFlex DuoClean Ultra-Light Corded HV391, it has two cleaning speeds and converts to a hand vacuum when you need to get into tight spaces. But you can’t remove the brush roll for cleaning, so you’ll need scissors to cut away strands of hair and fur. The battery runs an average of 15 minutes when fully charged, on the skimpy side. But unlike some stick vacs, you can vacuum at any speed without sacrificing run time. Shark vacuums earn our top ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction.

Quick Take

Shark IONFlex DuoClean Ultra-Light Cordless IF201

Price: $298.00 - $419.99

Carpet

Bare floors

Pet hair

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Tineco Pure One S12

CR's take: An all-around excellent performer, the high-end Tineco Pure One S12 is feature-filled and its cleaning ability is impressive, earning top marks on all our cleaning tests including an Excellent for pet hair. An LED panel on the top of the handle displays the power level and battery time remaining, and lets you know if you have a clog or tangle. You can adjust the power settings by swiping up or down on the screen, and a dust sensor detects the amount of debris and adapts the suction power accordingly. It runs very quietly, and emissions are clean.

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Tineco Pure One S12

Price: $600

Carpet

Bare floors

Pet hair

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How Consumer Reports Tests Vacuums

Different vacuums are meant for different tasks: You wouldn’t break out the upright to whisk up spilled Cheerios any more than you’d program a robotic to rid a carpet of ground-in dirt.

Consumer Reports designs its vacuum tests accordingly—to assess the inherent capabilities of each type. 

Vacuums fall into one of two broad categories: large and small. Large, or full-sized, vacuums include canisters and uprights, the most powerful type. Small vacuums include stick vacuums, handhelds, and robotic vacuums.

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Best Vacuums of 2019

“The main difference between uprights and canisters vs. sticks, robotics, and handhelds is in their ability to deep-clean carpet,” says Frank Rizzi, who conducts Consumer Reports’ vacuum tests. “Lighter vacuums don’t have the strong suction and brush roll combination that uprights and canisters do.”

You can compare a canister with an upright using CR’s Overall Score because they undergo the same tough tests for full-sized vacuums. But outside of these two types, the Overall Score is only comparable with other models within a category.

For example, the Eufy RoboVac 11, a robotic vacuum with an Overall Score of 81, is not a better cleaning machine than the Miele Dynamic U1 Cat & Dog, whose Overall Score of 72 makes it a top-rated upright.

Below, we run you through the gauntlet of our extensive vacuum testing. Click on the type to jump to that section:

Canister and upright vacuums. Stick vacuums. Handheld vacuums. Robotic vacuums.

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How We Test Canisters and Uprights

Each of these types has its advantages. If you live in a single-story home with lots of carpets, an upright is a good choice. But if you live in a multilevel home, a canister is a better choice for cleaning all those stairs, so you don’t have to drag the full weight of the vacuum up and down.

We purchase two units of every model and rate their performance on each of the following tests:

• Carpet. We adapt an industry-standard test to lift 10 grams of surface talc and 90 grams of embedded sand from a medium-pile carpet. The soiled carpet and vacuum are weighed to get a baseline measurement. Then, after a specific series of back-and-forth strokes across the test area performed in a climate-controlled chamber, the carpet and vacuum are weighed again to determine precisely how much debris was cleaned up.
• Bare floors. Test technicians measure 40 grams of sand and sprinkle it evenly over a marked-off area on a linoleum floor. The empty vacuum gets weighed, passed over the debris field once in both directions, and weighed again to determine how much of the sand the vacuum suctioned up.
• Tool airflow. The hose of each model gets rigged up to a pressure gauge, and the level of suction is measured in three stages: with the vacuum bag or bin empty, with it filled with 100 grams of wood flour, and again with a total of 200 grams of wood flour. Vacuums are rated on how much suction they maintain, and how strong it is relative to other models.
• Emissions. Technicians fill each vacuum with 50 grams of wood flour, run it with the brush off the floor in a sealed chamber, and use a laser spectrometer to measure the particle concentration—down to 0.1 micrometers—released by the bag or the bin into the room. Then our testers run the same vacuum over a medium-pile carpet scattered with an additional 20 grams of wood flour, and measure the air again for released particles due to brush agitation. 
• Pet hair. First, technicians take 5 grams of long, feathery fur from Maine coon cats and strew, stomp, and smash it into medium-pile carpet. Then they make multiple passes with the test vacuum to see how much of the hair it picks up. Vacuums that rate an Excellent collect all the fur in the bag or bin. Average vacs leave behind visible patches or fur becomes entangled in the brush.
• Handling. We assess handling in two ways: first, how easy it is to push, pull, and carry; and second, the convenience of the features. Each vacuum is weighed with its onboard tools. 
• Noise. Using a decibel meter, we measure sound at ear level with a vacuum set to deep-clean at its maximum power setting.
• Predicted reliability. To calculate predicted reliability, we survey our members about the products they own, then use that data to make projections about how new models from a given brand will hold up over time. Predicted reliability scores are based on the estimated breakage rates by the end of the 5th year of ownership for vacuums that are not covered by a service contract.
• Owner satisfaction. We base brand owner satisfaction on the proportion of members who are extremely likely to recommend their vacuum.

Stick Vacuums

Stick vacuums are more powerful than ever. But while some vacuum manufacturers claim that their stick vacs are as good as uprights, they still can’t compete when it comes to carpet.

• Carpet. This is the most challenging test for stick vacs, even though it’s easier than the one for full-sized vacuums. Technicians spread a calibrated mix of sand (50 grams), rice (50 grams), and Cheerios (25 grams) on a medium-pile carpet and measure how much the vacuum picks up and how quickly it does so, deriving a score from the combination of the two data points.
• Bare floors. Vacuums are graded on how much debris (the same recipe) they can pick up from a grouted tile floor in 15 seconds.
• Pet hair. Technicians embed 2.5 grams of Maine coon cat hair in medium-pile carpet—not as much for full-sized vacuums—and give the vacuum up to 5 seconds to pick it up. The precise amount of hair captured is determined down to the tenth of a gram by comparing the weight of the vacuum before and after the test. 
• Edges. Technicians broadcast sand in a corner along a simulated baseboard of a tile floor and measure how well a vacuum picks up the grains in one pass by comparing the weight of the vacuum before and after the test.
• Noise. Using a decibel meter, we measure sound at ear level with a vacuum set at its maximum power setting.
• Predicted reliability. To calculate predicted reliability, we survey our members about the products they own, then use that data to make projections about how new models from a given brand will hold up over time. Predicted reliability scores are based on the estimated breakage rates by the end of the 5th year of ownership for vacuums that are not covered by a service contract.
• Owner satisfaction. We base brand owner satisfaction on the proportion of members who are extremely likely to recommend their vacuum.

Handheld Vacuums

You’re most likely to use these smaller vacuums in your car or under the cushions of your couch for quick pickups. They aren’t as powerful as larger vacuums or sticks, so the tests are easier—though still tough enough to reveal meaningful differences among models.

• Carpet. On medium-pile carpet, each hand vac undergoes three single-ingredient trials in which it has to pick up Cheerios (25 grams), sand (50 grams), and rice (50 grams). For the Cheerios, we time how long it takes to get them all—the best finished in 8 seconds; the worst took 35 seconds (it clogged). For the sand and rice, models are graded on how much they can pick up in 15 seconds. (The vacuum is weighed before and after.)
• Bare floors. The procedure is the same as for carpet, except it’s performed on a tiled floor.
• Edges. Technicians measure how far a hand vacuum can reach under a piece of furniture and into a crevice.
• Pet hair. Technicians spread 1 gram of Maine Coon cat fur on medium-pile carpet, make 14 back and forth strokes, then inspect and rate the cleanliness of the rug and the vacuum’s brush roll.
• Noise. Using a noise meter, we record the hand vac’s sound level for 15 seconds, then note the average decibel level.

Robotic Vacuums

We not only evaluate how well robotic vacuums clean but also test their prowess at navigating a room, as well as how easy they are to set up and use.

• Carpet. Technicians disperse 0.6 grams of Maine Coon cat fur, 87 Cheerios, and 10 grams of rice across a test area of medium-pile carpet, and measure how much of this debris the robovac can capture during one cleaning sortie.

• Bare floors. Cheerios and numbered slips of paper are distributed across a grid marked off on the laminate floor of the obstacle course in CR’s labs, which is complete with simulated furniture. After the robot completes one cycle, technicians count how many Cheerios and paper squares are left behind. Any slips of paper that remain in their corresponding square of the grid indicate that the vac has missed that spot—a not-uncommon occurrence.

• Navigation. Technicians watch each vacuum as it attempts to maneuver around furniture and other obstacles—a task that may take several hours of observation. They note what the vacuum avoids and what it doesn’t, and whether it gets caught on power cords or carpet fringe. Each model is also judged on whether it can find its dock, or if it’s able to transition between different floor types, such as plush carpet to bare floors. We also test the cliff sensor, to assess whether a robovac is likely to tumble down the stairs.

• Ease of use. This score is a combination of many factors, such as the size of the dustbin, whether it has a handle for carrying it around your home, how easy it is to clean its brush roll, and whether you can schedule the robotic vacuum for routine cleaning.

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Inside the Vacuum Test Lab

In the market for a new vacuum cleaner? CR expert, Sue Booth, shows "Consumer 101" TV show host Jack Rico how Consumer Reports puts models through the paces.

Inside the Vacuum Test Lab

Best Vacuums of 2019

It's been a fascinating few years in Consumer Reports’ vacuum labs. Cordless stick vacuums are better than ever and have crowded out corded stick vacs at major retailers—and in our ratings. And robotic vacuums have finally moved from being a novelty item in YouTube cat videos to being a legitimate cleaning tool.

But while these new and convenient contenders deserve a place in your cleaning arsenal, they still can't replace your trusty upright or canister.

"For some people, it might make sense to have multiple vacuums, for different situations," says Frank Rizzi, a senior lab technician for CR who tests vacuums. "A robotic vacuum can help with maintaining your pristine floors and a stick can help with quick messes alongside your bigger upright or canister."

How We Test Vacuums

To find out how well a vacuum picks up dirt, how much debris it retains, how easy it is to maneuver, and how noisy it is, CR's engineers put vacuum cleaners through a set of tough tests. We embed talc, sand, and pet hair into carpet before vacuuming. We use the same type of litter on bare floors and observe whether the vacuum picks it up or scatters it about. And we maneuver the vacuum around the floor, just like you would, to judge how easy it is to operate.

The Overall Score for each model incorporates results for each of these tests as well as ratings for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, which are based on our survey data about more than 51,000 upright, canister, and stick vacuums that CR members purchased between 2008 and 2018.

Here are reviews of the best vacuums you can buy right now, from each type we test. Drumroll—er, brush roll, please. 

1

Bagged Upright 

Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly 31150

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CR’s take: The midpriced Kenmore Elite Pet Friendly 31150 earns top marks on bare floors and scores well for tool airflow. That means it’s exceptionally powerful when used with its attachments, which include a crevice tool, bristle brush, and power roller. On bare floors it captures almost every particle, keeping debris contained in its disposable bag. And it’s no slouch at removing embedded dirt from carpet or tackling pet hair, either, although it’s a little louder and tougher to handle than some bagged uprights. It’s not the cheapest model you’ll find, but this impressive performer is certainly among the best vacuums we’ve tested. Kenmore receives middling scores for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. See our upright vacuum ratings for other models.

2

Bagless Upright 

Shark Navigator Powered Lift-Away NV586 (Target)

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CR’s take: A Target exclusive, this Shark Navigator has a 26-foot cord and weighs roughly 16 pounds. It receives an Excellent rating in both our pet-hair and bare floors tests, though it doesn't fare as well on carpet (though it's still pretty good). Our testers found that this vacuum handles well and is pretty easy to push, pull, and carry, but it's noisy compared with other upright vacuums. Shark gets the highest scores for owner satisfaction among upright vacuums, meaning CR members who own them are highly likely to recommend them. Check out our upright vacuum ratings for other great options.

3

Bagged Canister 

Miele Complete C3 Marin

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CR’s take: Our top-performing canister vacuum, the Miele Complete C3 Marin, earns perfect marks in almost every test we throw its way. It’s a champ at bare floors and embedded pet hair but also excels at capturing dust particles. Powerful airflow makes its attachments especially effective. It’s also noticeably quieter than many models. It gets dinged a bit in our handling test, but that’s true of most canister vacuums, which trail behind you at the end of the suction hose. At more than $1,000, it may suck up a big chunk out of your bank account, too. Miele vacuums earn top scores for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. See our canister vacuum ratings for other high-performing options.

4

Bagless Canister 

Miele Blizzard CX1 Cat & Dog

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$899.99

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CR’s take: This bagless canister is on the pricey side for vacuums, but it's one of the best bagless canisters you can buy. It earns an Excellent rating on our bare floors test, proving that it can suck up 5 grams of Maine Coon cat fur in no time flat. It's not so great when it comes to cleaning carpet; canisters are better for bare floors. Allergy sufferers may appreciate that this vacuum also performs well in our emissions testing, releasing little debris back into the environment after sucking it up. Miele vacuums earn top scores for both predicted reliability and owner satisfaction. See our canister vacuum ratings for other high-performing options.

5

Stick Vacuum 

Shark APEX DuoClean Corded ZS362

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CR’s take: The Shark Apex DuoClean Corded ZS362 aces all of CR's cleaning tests, even the difficult one for carpets. The DuoClean power head includes a bristle roller and a soft roller so you can easily move from floor to carpet and back again. This little vac is easy to maneuver under furniture and has an LED light to help you see. The dustbin pops in and out with ease and the vacuum stands on its own, making it easy to store. The Shark even cleans itself by automatically clearing hair from the brush roll. Shark as a brand is tops, too. Its stick vacuums earn high marks for predicted reliability and owner satisfaction, based on information from CR's member survey.

6

Robotic Vacuum 

Samsung POWERbot R7065 VR2AM7065WS/AA

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CR’s take: In a category invented by Roomba—and one that has seen an onslaught of noteworthy new entrants, including models from two premium brands, Dyson and Miele—Samsung’s Powerbots steal the show. The Powerbot R7065 deftly handles dirt on carpets and bare floors, acing both tests, and even finds its way into tight corners, thanks in part to its rectangular bumpers. It operates quietly enough that it’ll go unnoticed, though it’s hard to resist watching it return home to dock and charge after each intensive 86-minute cleaning session. No robotic vacuum can replace a full-sized upright or canister. But the Powerbot comes closer than any other robotic. Check our our robotic vacuums ratings for more choices.

7

Hand Vacuum 

Shark Pet Perfect II SV780

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CR's take: The Shark Pet Perfect does everything a great hand vacuum should, in an inexpensive and easy-to-use package. It excels at sweeping small messes from bare floors and easily gets into corners. It runs for 19 minutes—longer than you’d need for most small messes—and even comes with a rotating brush roll that helps lift pet hair or spot-clean carpets. We also appreciate that the nickel-cadmium battery is replaceable. (Not so nice: It takes 16 hours to charge.) Note that its rating in our noise test is middle of the road. Still, for a tool you may need only occasionally, this hand vac is a great way to space out more thorough cleanings and tackle messes such as spilled Cheerios on the spot before they get tracked through the rest of the house. Check out our hand vacuum ratings for more choices.