Dyson’s emphasis on capturing dust and allergens is definitely not something to overlook. Dyson’s design manager, Josh Mutlow, points out that all Dyson models “are engineered with a six-layered advanced filtration system that captures the dust you can see and 99.97 percent of the microscopic elements of dust you can’t see.” The filters are designed to capture dust as small as 0.3 microns and are an important feature to consider, since you don’t want to breathe in what you’re vacuuming up, especially if you have allergies or beloved furry friends. In our testing, we watched the system work in real life while evaluating each model’s setup process, effectiveness, noise level, maneuverability, and emptying process. Our favorite model that’s currently available is the Dyson v8 Animal Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner. It’s very easy to store and assemble and has two powerful suction modes and a motorized cleaning head for deep cleaning all your carpets and rugs. Here are the best Dyson vacuums on the market as determined by our thorough testing. Even though Dyson keeps coming out with new technology to better its appliances, the Dyson v8 Animal is still a popular choice. It’s our top pick because it blends powerful suction with a slightly more affordable price tag (when compared to other Dyson models). It’s also extremely easy to assemble as well as break apart and store away in a closet or laundry room. Mutlow says that “a good vacuum should do four things properly: pick up the dust from the floor, lock the dust inside, expel clean air. All the while ensuring that it does not lose its suction.” This vacuum checks off all of those boxes. This model’s motorized cleaning head and brush bar suck up dirt, dander, hair, and other debris from the fibers of carpet and area rugs to give you a deep clean. Its included direct-drive cleaner head is designed with carpeted floors in mind. It pairs the stiff nylon bristles with up to 115AW suction power to deep-clean even high-pile carpets or area rugs. While the Dyson Omni-glide is our pick for hardwood floors, the v8 Animal performs well on hard surfaces, too, making it an excellent pick for anyone with multiple floor types in their home. As a cordless stick vacuum, this pick is also convenient to use and ideal for daily maintenance or quick cleaning sessions before company arrives. It has a built-in rechargeable battery that provides 40 minutes of run time in standard mode. Just be forewarned that the max mode delivers more power, but it shortens the battery life to under 10 minutes. (Save it for spot-cleaning especially dirty areas.) Like many Dyson cordless stick models, we didn’t love that you have to hold down the trigger the whole time you’re vacuuming either. This not-super-intuitive feature makes us believe that it wouldn’t be a great pick for a large home. In typical Dyson fashion, the vacuum’s design is stunning, and it comes with a wall mount so you can hang it up when it’s not in use. We are confident that you’ll enjoy using this Dyson vacuum daily. Price at time of publish: $399 Dimensions: 49 x 9.8 x 8.8 inches | Weight: 5.63 pounds | Cord Length: Not applicable | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 8.8 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Carpet and hardwood Notably, the upright-style vacuum is quite heavy, but our tester noted that the design keeps the weight from being too problematic. “At 15.6 pounds, the Multi Floor 2 isn’t light, but it’s manageable,” said our tester, who used this vacuum in their home. “It helps that it’s bottom-heavy; the majority of the weight is condensed into the ball, so it’s easy to turn with less force, and there’s little risk of it tipping over.” While the vacuum is quite loud, you’ll enjoy the whole-machine filtration, as well as the motorized brush bar and self-adjusting cleaner head for effective cleaning on both bare floors and rugs. The washable filter and quick-release dust bin make for easy maintenance, too. Overall, it’s a great pick at a great price. Price at time of publish: $400 Dimensions: 41.93 x 15.59 x 13.39 inches | Weight: 15.6 pounds | Cord Length: 31 feet | Battery Life: Not applicable | Cleaning Path Width: 13.39 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, carpet, laminate, and tile We didn’t test this pick in The Lab, but the Dyson Ball Animal 2 has impressive specs, and our home tester found that its effectiveness could not be beaten. The vac offers 227AW of suction power in its boost power mode and can be used on any surface. The active base plate will adjust to maintain suction with solid surface floors or a plush carpet. One downside is the handle can be tricky to lock into place. When putting this vac together, our tester noted that it’s best to watch an online video and not rely on an unclear set of instructions. However, you’ll ultimately find that it gets the cleaning job done, especially when picking up hair. Our tester gave it 5 stars for effectiveness, maneuverability, and emptying. “The ‘ball’ base (made of glass-reinforced polypropylene) that contains the motor makes it easy to maneuver with minimal effort, letting you steer around furniture easily,” our tester said after using it in their home. “We also liked that there’s a designated spot on the vacuum body to store the various attachments.” Price at time of publish: $439 Dimensions: 42.13 x 15.35 x 13.39 inches | Weight: 17.5 pounds | Cord Length: 30 feet | Battery Life: Not applicable | Cleaning Path Width: 13.39 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, carpet, laminate, and tile Digging into the technical specs, you’ll find that the maximum suction power (220AW) of this cordless model nearly matches Dyson’s powerful upright vacuum, the Ball Animal 2, which is no small feat, considering that it weighs less than half. If you’re comparing cordless vacuum cleaners, you’ll also note that, true to its name, the Outsize upsizes its cleaner head. It measures 12.5 inches wide for faster coverage of floors. It also features interchangeable battery packs, so you can clean more at once. An LED display helps you keep tabs on the life of the battery you’re currently using. Notably, it took our product tester under three minutes to assemble, despite the instructions being entirely in text, and the vac performed really well on high-pile carpet, as well. While it’s fairly top-heavy and doesn’t stand up on its own, we gave it 4.5 stars for its maneuverability. Price at time of publish: $1,050 Dimensions: 15.7 x 13.7 x 12.1 inches | Weight: 7.85 pounds | Cord Length: Not applicable | Battery Life: 120 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 12.5 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, carpet, laminate, and tile Our tester was impressed with how easily this vacuum maneuvered under couches, along baseboards, and around kitchen table legs. The flexible neck and in-line design of the vacuum mean that this model can lie flat for cleaning areas with low clearance. You don’t want to underestimate this feature, since dust and hair tend to accumulate under furniture, and most upright vacuums have a bulky design that makes it hard to reach any tight spaces underneath. The only downside to this vac is that it doesn’t perform well on carpet. Our tester reported that on max mode it managed to suck up debris from small area rugs, but you wouldn’t want to use it on wall-to-wall carpet. While this Dyson vacuum for cleaning hardwood floors is an expensive option for a single purpose, it’s an excellent choice for homes with many square feet of tile, wood, or laminate flooring. The dust bin on this stick vacuum is rather small, and it’ll require regular emptying, but the push-button operation is a standout feature. Instead of holding a trigger down to activate suction, like you would with Dyson’s v8 Animal, simply select the button you’d like to control the operation and mode of this cordless vacuum.  All in all, using it is a true pleasure: “I love reaching for this vacuum daily. It actually glides across the floor as you clean, making the chore feel a little bit more manageable,” said our product tester, who used it at home in real-world situations. “It’s so fun to dance with it across my kitchen’s tile floor, as it sucks up crumbs or along the baseboards in my living room as it clears out pet hair that constantly accumulates.” Price at time of publish: $350 Dimensions: 42.4 x 3.6 x 8.1 inches | Weight: 4.18 pounds | Cord Length: Not applicable | Battery Life: 20 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 8 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, laminate, and tile Aside from its suction power, our tester noted this vacuum’s lightweight and compact design, which is 24 percent lighter than the Dyson v15 Detect. It also is powered by a button, so there’s no need to consistently pull a trigger to operate it, unlike other Dyson models. The Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head shines a laser onto tiny particles that you might not normally see while cleaning and is composed of soft nylon and anti-static carbon fibers that help remove dust from small gaps and hard flooring. Our tester also appreciated the point-and-shoot dust bin emptying mechanism, but noted that some hair did need to be manually pulled out. As may be expected, this vacuum’s suction power does make it one of the loudest vacuums we tested. Even on auto suction, our tester noted it was incredibly loud and said they would not want to use this vacuum on boost mode for any extended period of time. The LCD screen offers insights into the run time, power countdown, and maintenance needs, but our tester said the instruction manual provided little insight into properly understanding all the features included on the display. Despite these few design concerns, we’re overall impressed by this vacuum’s suction power for cleaning carpets, especially given the fact that our tester found zero hair wrap on any of the attachments after testing. Price at time of publish: $500 Dimensions: 49.1 x 9.9 x 9.8 inches | Weight: 5.2 pounds | Cord Length: Not applicable | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 9.8 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, carpet, hard floor, multi-surface Although this vacuum has a relatively average noise level, compared to other vacuums, our tester said it was loud while picking up dog kibble from the floor. However, the LCD display screen reports on dust particle metrics, and the vacuum uses this data to automatically increase suction power as needed, which is an interesting and advanced feature that gives you increased cleaning performance and balanced battery life. Dyson advertises that this vacuum’s deep clean brush has three settings to adjust the height of the roller, but our tester said that she could not tell a significant difference in the brush head’s cleaning on each setting. However, it still performed well. An angled laser also makes cleaning hardwood, vinyl, and tile floors much easier, because it detects and shows particles that are otherwise not seen while cleaning. This model is top-heavy, like most cordless stick vacuums, so we recommend storing it on the wall mount. All in all, our tester said this vacuum was a great option for pet hair, but she recommended waiting until it was on sale, since it is quite an investment. Price at time of publish: $600 Dimensions: 49.6 x 9.84 x 10.47 inches | Weight: 6.79 pounds | Cord Length: Not applicable | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Cleaning Path Width: 10.1 inches | Compatible Floor Type: Hardwood, carpet, hard floor, multi-surface Dyson Humdinger Cordless Handheld Vacuum: Dyson’s smallest vacuum uses the same radial root technology and whole-machine filtration as the brand’s larger vacuums. It did make a positive first impression on our testing team, who found it easy to hold and a nice size. However, when put through its paces, the buzz of this cordless handheld vacuum faded fast. It earned a disappointing 3-star rating for effectiveness, since it would only suck up debris when pulled backward. This was a major pain point for our product tester. It spewed larger debris, like popcorn kernels and cereal, on both bare floors and carpeted surfaces. Emptying the dust bin was far from easy, and hands-on help was required to clear debris from the vacuum and brush roll, too. Like the Dyson Ball Animal 3, we expected better performance considering the expensive price tag of this handheld vacuum.

How We Tested the Dyson Vacuums

During our multiple vacuum tests, we have tested over 50 vacuums side-by-side in The Lab and at home, many of which have been Dyson picks. To start our lab tests, our testers unbox and complete the setup for each vacuum, timing how long it takes to complete this process and rating how helpful the instructions are. Next, they evaluate each vacuum’s effectiveness by using it on low-, medium-, and high-pile carpet and hardwood floors. Each vacuum is tasked with cleaning up measured amounts of hair, popcorn kernels, and Cheerios. During this test, we note how many passes it takes each vacuum to clean up the materials and whether materials get caught in the brush roll. We also consider the vacuum’s weight and portability and test durability by dropping the vacuums and taking note of any damage. Testers note how long cordless models stay charged and how much charge they come with straight out of the box. We gather insights on how each vacuum navigates our living room-inspired obstacle course—which leads to our maneuverability rating—and whether their bins are difficult or easy to empty. Some picks are tested at home, either before or after these vacuum tests, and are brought through real-world environments and situations. They are rated on the same attributes as the vacuums in The Lab. When all is said and done, our editors and writers take the consistently applied testing data, as well as additional research, and boil it down to the Dyson vacuums we believe are the best.

What to Look for in a Dyson Vacuum

Type

The type of Dyson vacuum you pick depends on your cleaning preferences and lifestyle. The brand keeps things simple with a wide selection of upright and cordless stick vacuums, and a few options for canister and handheld models. When deciding on the type for your household, keep in mind that upright vacuums typically offer the most suction and dust bin capacity. Some cordless models offer as much suction as a full-size upright vacuum and can be better for getting into the tight spots in your home. Usually, lightweight stick vacuums are most ideal for everyday cleanups, while a handheld vac is ideal for spot cleaning. “Cordless models not only reach tight spaces you’d never be able to access with a corded, upright machine, but you are also achieving the deep clean you need to maintain a clean and healthy home,” notes Mutlow. This is particularly true of Dyson models that are equipped with whole-unit filtration systems and powerful suction, like the Dyson v8 Animal or Dyson v15 Detect+.

Corded vs. Cordless

Perhaps the biggest factor to consider when researching a Dyson vacuum is whether you prefer a corded or cordless vacuum cleaner. Corded vacuums are great for deep cleaning sessions—where you want a seemingly endless supply of suction power. Dyson’s corded, upright vacuums also have larger dust bins, resulting in fewer trips to the trash can. Most models have cords that are 30 feet in length, so you won’t have to switch outlets over and over. The brand’s cordless vacuums have skyrocketed in popularity and are worth considering. Improvements in battery life—along with the transition to a click-in battery pack on specific Dyson models, like the Dyson Outsize, our Best for Large Spaces option—have made them significantly more appealing and realistic.

Compatible Floor Types

Dyson’s upright vacuum cleaners are generally recommended for all floor types, while the cordless vacuum cleaners have various cleaning heads that are optimized for specific types of flooring. The soft-bristled roller is usually the best choice for hard-surface floors, like wood, tile, or laminate. Any rugs and carpets will benefit most from a motorized cleaning head with bristles that will extract hair, dirt, and debris. If your space has a combination of flooring, and you’re set on a cordless vac for its convenience, look for a model that includes interchangeable cleaning heads. 

Included Accessories

The accessory package of each Dyson model varies, but most include standard attachments, such as a crevice tool or combination duster. However, you should pay attention to specialized accessories included with each vacuum, like a mini motorized tool. Pet owners will appreciate the new hair screw tool, an accessory that’s specifically designed to capture pet fur and long hair. It ensures that the hair does not wrap around the brush roll. You can get a quick idea of which accessories are included with a Dyson vacuum based on its name. Vacuums with the “Motorhead” designation are usually basic and include minimal accessories. The “Animal” version includes additional accessories, though they may vary by model. For newer product releases, Dyson has switched up its product designation to include a “+” symbol for models that include additional accessories or features. For instance, the v15 Detect+ includes nine tools and accessories, as compared to just eight for the v15 Detect.

Why Trust The Spruce?

Erica Puisis has been a writer for The Spruce since 2017, specializing as a product researcher for large and small appliances. For this piece, she researched the complete lineup of Dyson vacuums, comparing the features and benefits of a dozen cordless, upright, canister, and handheld models. Each was evaluated based on its features, cleaning modes, battery life, and accessories. Research included reports from The Lab—along with observations from at-home product testers and trends among customer reviews. She also spoke with Josh Mutlow, Dyson’s design manager, to learn more about the technology and thought behind the company’s products. If you have an upright or canister model, lift the cup away from the body of the vacuum by its handle. Hold it over the trash, and press the button on top of the cup to empty it. If your model is a stick vacuum, hold it over the trash by the handle, and pull the release lever to empty the built-in cup. Emma Phelps, an updates writer for The Spruce, also assisted in updating this roundup to include a few of the latest Dyson models that we’ve tested in The Lab.

What Is Spruce Approved?

Here at The Spruce we want to ensure we fully stand behind every product we recommend, and that when we say something is the best, we mean it. You might have noticed The Spruce Approved badge next to the products on this list. Every product with this badge has been rigorously tested in person and carefully selected by our expert team of lab testers and editors. In most cases, we buy all these products ourselves, though occasionally we get samples provided to us directly by companies. No matter how we procure products, they all go through the same tests and must meet the same strict criteria to make the best-of cut. We also pride ourselves on transparency and will always let you know if we received a product for free.