Colorful lineup: Keep scrolling to see how these Dyson vacs and more stacked up in our guide to the Best Dyson cordless stick vacuums for 2025.
Dyson stick vacuums are a sight to behold, among the most coveted of cleaning luxuries. They're not just colorful, shiny and sleek, but innovative: Since inventing the cordless stick vac in 2009, the brand has become famous for its appliances' powerful suction and advanced technologies. The best Dyson cordless stick vacuums for 2025 can easily compete with standard upright and canister vacuums — plus they're long-running, with large dust bins and their own suite of hardworking accessories.
As a Yahoo home writer, I've evaluated more than 60 of the best vacuums — including my fair share of Dysons — so you can trust that my picks are legit. I tested these sticks on different surfaces and substances (including faux fur, Cheerios and kitty litter!). I created obstacle courses to see how well they could bob and weave. I even used the Detect models (which feature lights on the cleaner head) in the dark. The results? Nothing short of illuminating …
Update, Aug. 29, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. Our No. 1 pick for best Dyson cordless stick vacuum remains unchanged.
Size: 10.5"L x 9.8"W x 49.6"H | Weight: 7.6 pounds | Bin capacity: 0.8 liters | Run time: 70 minutes | Filter: Yes | Power: 280 watts | Tube color: Purple
Who it's for: The cleaning pro who wants unmatched suction and visibility for tackling bigger spaces and longer cleaning jobs, like car detailing.
How it works: Like most Dysons, the Gen5detect comes with three main parts — a cleaner brush head, a long tube and a vacuum head upper — that click into place in just as many seconds. The upper portion doubles as a handheld when combined with varying accessories (including combination, crevice and mini hair screw attachments). It can be charged by itself or with the corresponding wall mount as a cohesive unit. The vacuum has a lever that pops open its dust cup (which holds a generous 0.8 liters) and forcibly removes contents for hands-free disposal.
Akin to some Dysons, the Gen5detect’s digital Motorbar (aka "de-tangling" or "vane") cleaner brush head can be adjusted to optimize toward different surfaces and materials, with the “+” setting proving particularly helpful for bearing down on piles of Cheerios or uprooting sand in my "carpet course" test (more on testing below). And there's a digital screen on the vacuum that displays advanced cleaning reads, along with precise battery reads, so you know exactly how much cleaning time you have left.
What we liked: The Gen5detect also comes with a softer, narrower, illuminating cleaner brush head that lights anything in its path fluorescent green, allowing for optimal visibility (I felt like a real-life Ghostbuster powering this thing!). Because the brush is narrow and shallow, it gets right up against baseboards and didn't miss the finer materials (such as rice and sand) in my "kitchen sink" test. And because it’s soft, I didn’t have to worry about scuffing up molding when using it to get into small crevices. Bonus: This brush is so nimble that I rarely needed to break out the Dyson accessory tools when navigating tighter areas, such as around dining room chairs and toilets.
Unique to this Dyson, the Gen5detect boasts 70 minutes of runtime and 280 air watts of power, Dyson's highest battery life and a welcome suction boost for my "passenger pet" test (the Gen5detect made embedded cat and dog hair disappear in as little as one pass). Additionally, the Gen5detect has one button for operating the vacuum and toggling between different modes (as opposed to the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, which has two separate buttons; other Dyson stick vacuums require you to hold down an operating switch to keep the power on). Also of note: The upper (handheld) portion has a built-in crevice tool so you don't need to lug around any accessories for quick detailing.
What we'd change: I'd love some light on the Motorbar cleaner head for visibility when cleaning carpets under furniture or in low lighting. Though I've found the illuminating Detect brush can be used on (especially flat) rugs in a pinch.
Size: 9.9"L x 9.8"W x 49.1"H | Weight: 5.22 pounds | Bin capacity: 0.34 liters | Run time: 60 minutes | Filter: Yes | Power: 150 watts | Tube color: Chrome
Who it's for: anyone looking for a solid lightweight vacuum or a more affordable alternative to the Gen5detect.
How it works: The Dyson V12 Detect Slim comes with the same illuminating soft brush for hardwood floors and accessories as the Gen5detect, sans the built-in crevice tool. You power it via an On/Off button, and like many more advanced Dysons, there's a digital display with cleaning and precise battery life reads.
What we liked: Aside from being the least expensive "Detect," the Slim is the lightest of any Dyson stick vacuum, at just over 5 pounds, making it the most agile and — especially with the soft roller in place — gentle machine.
The brush had no problem "seeing" and sucking up everything in my "kitchen sink" test, along with finer, hard-to-spot specks of dust and hair on hard floors. And despite having less suction power than V15 and Gen5detect models, I was able to zap up substances —plus fur — from carpets using the Motorbar cleaner head with ease (and an extra pass, occasionally).
As touched on above, the Slim is also the only Dyson stick other than the Gen5detect with an On/Off button (in this case, located on the front of the vacuum head) for added convenience and control. It trails just behind the Gen5detect in terms of runtime, at 60 minutes.
What we'd change: Aside from having slightly less suction power, the Slim dust cup is smaller than other Dysons I've tested. I'd love it to be larger, but that would likely mean a heavier vacuum, and as is, I could vacuum my whole apartment without emptying it.
Size: 11"L x 12.6"W x 50.4"H | Weight: 7.9 pounds | Bin capacity: 1.9 liters | Run time: 60 minutes | Filter: Yes | Power: 220 watts | Tube color: Red
Who it's for: Someone with a big house, a lot of carpeting and/or anyone who wants the ability to zap up pet hair and debris in high quantities.
How it works: The Dyson Outsize is similar in form and function to most other Dyson cordless stick vacuums, complete with the usual suite of accessories. The main difference is that it features an oversize dust cup, tube and brush cleaner head for bigger jobs.
It has 220 air watts of power (just behind the Gen5detect) and an oversize Motorbar cleaner head that can be optimized via a sliding toggle for hunkering down on thicker rugs.
What we liked: In my "carpet course" test, the Outsize chomped down on Cheerios, kitty litter and other materials from plush carpets (it almost felt like a game of Pac-Man). The Outsize also excelled at dense, low-pile carpet: In my "passenger pet" test, it devoured stubborn dog fur from dense car mats.
While I'd consider carpets this vacuum's specialty, it also performed well in my "kitchen sink" test: It picked up everything on the floor in one pass, leaving nothing behind, the long, wide cleaner head covering a large surface for trapping materials (no fly-aways or stragglers).
Not only does the Dyson Outsize’s larger brush cleaner head mean you can tackle more ground in one go, but the long runtime (60 minutes) and oversize dust cup (at 1.9 liters, the largest I’ve tested) creates some leeway for you to roam: I didn't have to stop to empty it when covering multiple rooms or during long cleaning sessions — and that's with zapping up huge clumps of fur left behind by my long-haired retriever!
What we'd change: I wish there were an On/Off button, versus having to keep one finger on the power switch while you’re operating the machine. There's no cleaner headlight, and at close to 8 pounds fully configured, this vacuum is on the heavier end for a Dyson stick.
Size: Taller stick vacuums generally equate to longer tubes and greater reach, helpful for those who are tall or navigating vast, shallow surface areas, like beneath platform beds. Bigger brush cleaner heads typically mean bigger brush rolls, so more dirt gets picked up at once.
Weight: The lighter the vacuum, the easier it is to lift and steer. Lightweight designs glide across hardwood floors seamlessly but can have difficulty bearing down on thick carpets. They also often have smaller dust cups and less techy components (like LCD screens, which can make a machine top heavy).
Bin capacity: Larger cups house more dirt for fewer trips to the trash can. Of the models I tested, the ones with the smallest cups were the V12 Slim Detect (0.35 liters) and V8 (0.4 liters); the Outsize had the largest (1.9 liters). Every other Dyson we tested provided 0.8 liters, which sustained us during multi-floor cleanings.
Run time: According to my research, the average cordless stick vacuum run time hovers around 30-40 minutes for a budget-friendly model, 40-50 minutes for a mid-priced model and 50 minutes or above for a luxury model. The Dyson Gen5detect caps my list at 70 minutes. I suggest looking for at least a 40- to 50-minute run time for multi-floor jobs, as well as thorough cleanings incorporating "turbo" modes.
Filter type: According to Dyson, all its cordless vacuums use "at least five layers of advanced, whole-machine filtration to trap 99.99% of dust and bacteria as small as 0.3 microns." Note that they're not all labeled HEPA filters, though, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), says "theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns." Check your model's manual for information on the filter and how to maintain it for optimal results. Generally, Dyson recommends cleaning the filter once a month, but you might have to do it more frequently if you're using your vacuum for pet hair.
Wattage: A higher wattage often correlates to greater suction power. High-voltage batteries generally have a longer run time, so you can tackle more space or several vacuum jobs in one go without having to keep recharging.
Brushes and tools: All of the Dyson cordless stick vacuums I tested come with an anti-tangle Motorbar brush that can be used on hardwood or carpeted surfaces, along with combination, crevice and hair screw tools for tackling hard-to-reach areas and upholstery. The Dyson "Detect" models also come with a Fluffy Optic "Detect" brush that emits neon green light for illuminating finer dust, dirt and hair particles on hardwood floors.
Docking and storing: Dyson's cordless stick vacuums can be charged as a unit using the included wall-mounted dock. Alternatively, you can plug the vacuum head right into an outlet using the accompanying adapter. None of the models are freestanding so you'll need to prop them against a wall or leave them in their dock for storing.
I set up several obstacle courses to test these Dysons, along with other cordless stick vacuums, on materials with varying shapes, textures and depths, and on different surfaces. I also used each machine's attachments on sofas and other upholstered furniture, and for detail-cleaning tighter crevices. The nitty gritty:
"Carpet course" test: I sprinkled faux fur, rice, Cheerios, kitty litter and sand across a plush carpet to see how the vacuums cut through the clutter.
"Kitchen sink" test: I poured rice and Cheerios on a hardwood kitchen floor to gauge how well the vacuums could get a grip — especially against trims and in cabinet crevices.
"Passenger pet" test: I asked family and friends to avoid vacuuming for a week, then used car mats to collect the pet hair their animal companions had shed, to see which vacuums had the best suction.
"Vacs gone wild" test: I didn’t stop there! I clocked over 20 hours testing these vacuums in different houses and settings in my initial assessments, and my team has clocked countless hours testing them in real-life, everyday cleaning scenarios in the months since.
Dyson V8 ($470): The V8 is among Dyson's more compact and budget-conscious Dyson models, a touch taller and longer than the V7 with a slightly wider brush head and a bit more pickup. The carpet suction isn't on the level of other machines, however. Because of that, and the fact that it has a smaller dust cup (0.4 liters) and shorter run time (40 minutes; we clocked 25 minutes when using the higher power mode), we suggest it for smaller spaces with hardwood floors or low-pile carpets and quicker jobs. Of note, the V8 doesn't have a digital display with battery life readings, so you don't know when it’s going to run out of juice.
Dyson V11 ($600): With the V11, you get the same roller brush, tools and operation style as the V8 but with a tad taller and heavier yet still nimble frame. For a $100 price increase, you get extended run time (60 minutes total) and a bigger dust cup size, ideal for when you want to tackle multiple rooms. We also found the cup-release lever, located on the underbelly of the bin, more effective at ridding waste than the V8. Plus, you get an LCD interface displaying three power modes along with battery life readings.
Dyson V15 Detect ($750): The V15 Detect is slightly heavier and pricier than the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, with the same tools, light-emitting fluffy brush, LCD screen and run time. It has a larger dust cup (0.8 liters), a bit more pickup (240 watts) and an adjustable anti-tangle roller brush that can be optimized for hardwood or thick rug surfaces, which appeared to make a difference in my "kitchen sink" and "passenger pet" tests. The catch? As with most Dyson stick vacuums, you need to continuously press the V15 Detect's power switch to keep it going the whole time.
Design engineer James Dyson invented the first bagless vacuum using cyclonic technology in 1983. Dyson’s cordless stick vacuums are known for packing significant suction power into one lightweight, agile frame and brush. Many Dyson models offer longer battery life than other brands (a concern among those making the switch from corded to cordless). Additionally, they're designed with a release that pops open the dust cup and forces out dirt — and they come with a suite of accessories, including combination tools and crevice tools. The Dysons that performed at the top of my cordless stick vacuum testing also have innovative displays to help keep track of run times, modes and debris.
Many Dyson vacuums come with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, which according to the EPA, can zap 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles. Check your Dyson's manual for info on associated filters and how often they need to be washed (if washable) or replaced to function properly.
According to the brand, the Dyson Gen5 Detect was the most powerful Dyson vacuum at the time of publication, with 280 air watts of suction power (115% times more power than the Dyson V8). The Dyson V15 Detect came in second with 240 air watts and the Dyson Outsize third with 220 air watts. The Dyson V11 came in fourth with 185 air watts and the Dyson V12 Slim Detect fifth with 150 air watts. All of these vacuums performed well in my suction tests, with the top three outranking all others.
While Dyson doesn’t quote a lifespan for its cordless stick vacuums, the brand does offer a two-year warranty on all parts. The brand recommends preserving high power modes, avoiding extreme heat and giving the battery a break by running it down to empty at least once a month. Here are some other best practices to enjoy your cordless stick vacuum for a longer time.
Size | Weight | Bin capacity | Run time | Filter | Power | Tube color | |
10.5"L x 9.8"W x 49.6"H | 7.6 pounds | 0.8 liters | 70 minutes | Yes | 280 watts | Purple | |
9.9"L x 9.8"W x 49.1"H | 5.22 pounds | 0.34 liters | 60 minutes | Yes | 150 watts | Chrome | |
11"L x 12.6"W x 50.4"H | 7.9 pounds | 1.9 liters | 60 minutes | Yes | 220 watts | Red |
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.