From small to large homes with pets, kids, carpet, hard floors and everything in between, Dyson's V15 Detect model is a solid overall cordless vacuum that will satisfy the needs of most households. Plus, the suction power, battery life and bin size are sufficient for this model to serve as your primary vacuum for both quick pickups and whole-house cleans. With suction power up to 230 AW, the V15 Detect is the second most powerful cordless vacuum Dyson offers (just barely behind the V15 Detect Absolute model, our Best Splurge pick). Our tester concluded this is the best vacuum she's ever used. She said, "In the past, I’ve needed an upright vacuum with my stick vacuum at times to get a truly deep clean, and that isn’t the case with this one."

The V15 Detect comes with seven attachments, a charger, docking station and wand clip for attaching to the stick canister that can hold more tools for storage. The Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head is one that sets this model apart from older Dyson models — this cleaner features a green laser that allows you to see microscopic dust on hard floors you might have otherwise missed. All of the cleaner heads work extremely well on human and pet hair on both carpeted and hard floors, meaning hairs don't get wrapped around the roller brushes. This vacuum features eco, auto and boost modes that allow for efficient battery use, especially in auto mode when the vacuum can increase power automatically when it detects heavier dust and debris. While the vacuum performed well on all surfaces, our tester did notice that the auto and boost modes were too powerful on her Ruggable rugs, but switching to eco mode worked well on those thinner rugs. In testing, we found that the battery life lasted for 79 minutes on eco, 40 minutes on auto and 15 on continuous boost mode. At .2 gallons, the dust bin does need emptying frequently, but since the point-and-shoot emptying process is so easy and mess-free, it only takes a couple of seconds and doesn't require touching any of the dust.

Our tester did note a few downsides when using this vacuum. This vacuum does not have a trigger lock or on/off button for continuous vacuuming, so you have to hold down the trigger manually for the entire cleaning session. For a higher-end vacuum, this seems like a feature that should be included, but you can find off-brand accessories on Amazon like this clamp to hack a trigger lock function. At 6.8 lbs, this vacuum is heavier than most of our other recommendations, too, which our tester found a bit more cumbersome to maneuver than the Dyson V8 she previously used. If you have arthritis or mobility issues, one of the lighter models on this list might be a better choice for you. While this vacuum comes with seven attachment tools that all work really well, the docking station and wand clip can only accommodate four storage spots other than the one on the vacuum, so you'll need a box or somewhere to store extra attachments.

With a lot of similar features to Dyson's V15 Detect, but usually about $100 cheaper, the V12 Detect Slim is a great value and would still make a great overall vacuum, especially for smaller homes and apartments and those with less carpet or fewer pets. As the name suggests, it's lighter at 5.2 lbs, and its dust bin is only .1 gallon. Its max power suction is 150 AW, which is still on the stronger side but much less powerful than the V15 Detect's 230 AW.

Dyson's V12 Detect Slim comes with five of the same attachment tools as the V15: a motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, crevice tool and combination tool. All of the cleaners work well, especially on long human hair. The three main cleaner heads don't get hair stuck around the roller brush, which is a major upgrade from other vacuums we've tried. Our tester has tried robot vacuums and other stick vacuums that require frequent hair removal from the cleaner head. The Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head is also great for hard floors because it's soft and doesn't leave scuffs behind. This vacuum also comes with a docking station, charger and wand clip for storing two tools. If you store the hair screw tool on the vacuum itself, you can technically fit all of the attachments on the docking station and wand clip, but it's a bit of a challenge to get them all in place. While the V15 Detect lacks this feature, the V12 Detect Slim does have an on/off button for continuous vacuuming. It also features an up to 60-minute battery life and eco, auto and boost modes. In testing, we found that the V12 Detect lasted about 76 minutes in eco, 34 minutes in auto and eight minutes in continuous boost mode.

Our tester, whose home is mostly hardwood floors, especially appreciated the laser lights for making sure she didn't miss any areas of dust that otherwise wouldn't be as visible in normal lighting. She also loved how lightweight and easy it is to maneuver for things like cobwebs in ceiling corners, too. While the dust bin is smaller and needs frequent emptying, our tester also didn't mind that fact since the point-and-shoot mechanism makes it so easy to empty.

If you're on a tighter budget but still want a vacuum that can handle whole-house cleaning, we were pleasantly surprised by the Tineco Pure ONE S11 smart cordless vacuum. While Tineco doesn't have the same brand recognition as Dyson, the features of this smart vacuum are on par with Dyson's older V8 Animal model plus a few above-and-beyond features. The battery takes about three to four hours to charge and, like the Dyson V8 Animal, lasts up to 40 minutes on auto mode but only about 10 minutes on continuous max mode.

A really unique feature of this vacuum is the iLoop smart dust sensor. The vacuum can sense how much dust is on the surface to clean and, when on auto mode, will increase the power suction or decrease it accordingly, which means the battery is used more efficiently. The circle on the LED screen, typically blue for low to normal dust, turns red when it senses a lot of dust. For even more detailed info, you can connect it to the Tineco app which will tell you exactly how much dirt it picks up in a session. Another bonus feature we didn't realize how much we loved until we used this vacuum is the LED lights on the power brush. It helps you see exactly what you're cleaning, including dust you normally wouldn't notice (grossly satisfying!), so you can easily tell which areas you've already vacuumed and where to cover next. The trigger lock is also handy so the vacuum will clean continuously without causing your finger to cramp. The vacuum features four-stage HEPA filtration, which makes it great for allergy sufferers and pet owners.

Another favorite feature of this vacuum is the charging dock station. It mounts on the wall and has space to not only store and charge the vacuum with the battery attached, but it can also charge an additional backup battery (sold separately) simultaneously and can store all of the attachments — no need for a random cardboard box to hold the extra attachments.

While we like the overall value of this model, one aspect of performance this vacuum is lacking is that long hair does get tangled around the cleaner head pretty easily, requiring you to clean it out regularly. The dust bin also has a single-button release for opening, but it doesn't always work quite as well as the point-and-shoot mechanism on Dyson's models, especially when it's extra full.

While the Tineco Pure One S11 is closer in performance and features to our best overall Dyson pick, this eufy by Anker stick vacuum is $100-$150 less than the Tineco pick, depending if it's on sale, and a great option for a budget-friendly Dyson dupe.

Our tester compared it to her Dyson stick that's a V7 model for a side-by-side comparison. The eufy's battery life lasts about 40 minutes, the dust bin is on the larger side at .17 gallons and the vacuum is lightweight and relatively easy to maneuver. The larger bin means you don't have to empty it as often, but it also means it doesn't reach as far under furniture as some of our other picks. The brush head also felt a little too nimble and difficult to steer at times. With a max suction power of 120 AW and a battery that can last up to 40 mins on the low suction mode, this vacuum is impressive for the price but isn't the best option to be a primary vacuum for whole-house cleaning in homes over 1,000 square feet. It could be your primary vacuum in a small apartment, though, and it'd also make a great supplemental vacuum if you already have an upright corded vacuum or just want something easier to grab for daily spot cleaning. Though the suction power, especially on medium or max mode, is sufficient to get most daily vacuuming jobs done, our tester could tell the eufy didn't have quite as much pull, even on medium mode, as her Dyson's lowest level.

By far our tester's favorite feature is the LED lights, which her Dyson vacuum doesn't have at all. For the price, this is a no-brainer buy for someone who wants Dyson-like features on a budget.

Engineered for homes with pets the Dyson Cyclone V10 Animal is a great option for pet owners at a reasonable price. While it doesn’t have some of the bells and whistles of the newer models like laser lights and LCD screens, it handles pet (and human) hair extremely well and meets the basic requirements like decent battery life, powerful suction and cleaner heads that detangle hair to make it a great value for pet owners.

With a max output of 150 AW, this vacuum works well on both carpeted and hard floors. Our tester found that this vacuum even worked better than her old upright-style Dyson vacuum. This vacuum comes with five attachments: a Motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, crevice tool, combination tool and a mini soft dusting brush. Our tester especially liked the hair screw tool because it worked incredibly well removing stuck-in hair and debris on upholstered furniture.

It features three suction modes: suction mode 1, suction mode 2 and boost mode. Unlike the Detect models, this vacuum can’t automatically adjust suction when changing surfaces or in areas with more dust, so it’s up to the user to manually switch to boost mode when needed. While this model is rated for an up to 60-minute runtime, the battery usage isn’t quite as efficient and didn’t last quite as long in testing without the auto mode option. With the battery lasting about 30 minutes on the middle suction power mode, this vacuum would be great for spot cleaning and daily maintenance as a supplemental vacuum in a home that already has an upright one. For larger homes with a lot of carpet and pet hair, both of which might require boost mode (and more battery juice) frequently, opting for a V15 Detect or V15 Detect Absolute would be a better choice for a primary vacuum for whole-house cleaning sessions.

One con but not a dealbreaker is that this vacuum doesn’t feature a continuous vacuum mode, but this accessory clamp would also work on this model if you want to hack a trigger lock feature.

If you have pets, a larger home and/or more carpet and are willing to spend a little more, Dyson's V15 Detect Absolute is a great upgrade choice, especially if you're looking for a primary vacuum to handle quick daily maintenance sessions as well as deeper cleans covering an entire small to mid-size house or at least one level of your home at a time.

The V15 Detect Absolute is very similar to the V15 Detect, our Best Overall pick, and has the same basic features like a 60-minute runtime, a .2-gallon dust bin, point-and-shoot dust disposal, three suction modes, cleaner heads with hair detangling capabilities and a laser cleaning head ideal for hard floors. Our tester, who has a long-haired dog, found that the hair screw tool worked especially well on upholstered surfaces. While they're both rated for an up-to-60-minute battery, in testing, this V15 Detect Absolute model lasted longer on auto mode — about 50 minutes (which can vary depending on floor type or how dirty the home is since auto mode adjusts output based on those factors). In addition to these primary features also found in the V15 Detect, the V15 Detect Absolute has a few bonus features that make it worth splurging on. It has a slightly more powerful max power output of 240 AW, making it Dyson's most powerful cordless vacuum model. It also comes with a built-in dusting and crevice tool, meaning fewer loose attachments to store, and a HEPA filter, which is ideal for pet owners and allergy sufferers.

The primary con but not a dealbreaker is the same one we have for the V15 Detect: no trigger lock or on/off button for continuous vacuuming, especially at this price point. If you vacuum in longer sessions and are worried about finger cramps, Amazon reviewers say this $10 clamp can hack a trigger lock functionality and is also compatible with this model. At 6.8 lbs, it's also a bit heavier than some of our other models, which might be a con if you're looking for a more lightweight option.

If a long-lasting battery is a primary feature you're looking for, consider splurging for the Dyson Outsize+ model. Ideal for larger homes and whole-house cleaning sessions, this vacuum can run for up to 120 minutes, since it comes with two batteries, each lasting up to 60 minutes, that can be charged on or off the machine and used consecutively. In testing, each battery typically lasted for about 45 minutes in auto mode or about 90 minutes in total.

Beyond its impressive battery life, it also features a .5-gallon dust bin, meaning fewer trips to the trash to empty it. It also features a max suction power of 220 AW, more than enough to handle homes with pets and high-pile carpets and rugs. It comes with seven attachments: a Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, a Digital Motorbar XL cleaner head, a hair screw tool, a crevice tool, a combination tool, a stubborn dirt brush and a mini soft dusting brush. It also comes with a charger, docking station, an additional battery and a wand clip for storing two tools on the wand of the vacuum. Like with the other Dyson models that offer these tools, we especially liked the Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner head, the hair screw tool and the Digital Motobar XL cleaner head for how well they work to detangle and suck up human and pet hair, and in the case of the Laser Slim Fluffy cleaner, how well it shows microscopic dust.

On the downside, this model also lacks a trigger lock or on/off button for continuous vacuuming, which is especially disappointing since its other features make this model ideal for longer vacuuming sessions, during which you'd likely want this feature most. Something else to be aware of is its weight and size. At 7.98 lbs, this is the heaviest cordless vacuum we recommend that gets a little tiresome to maneuver after a while, especially for reaching ceiling corners or other crannies. It wouldn't be ideal for people with limited mobility or anyone looking for a lightweight vacuum primarily for spot cleaning.

With a max suction of 120 AW and weighing just 5.9 pounds, this cordless vacuum from Shark is one of the lightest and most affordable vacuums we recommend. Its weight and slim design make it incredibly easy to maneuver in every configuration. Our tester found that it's compact enough to get those hard-to-reach places like under a nightstand, bed or TV stand where an upright vacuum is too bulky to fit. For such a compact, lightweight vacuum, it works surprisingly well on pet hair, too. Our tester was skeptical about the “self-cleaning brush roll" feature that the manufacturer claims prevents hair from wrapping around the brush, but she was pleasantly surprised with how well it worked. She has long hair as well as a dog that sheds and constantly has to clean hair out of her upright vacuum’s brush roll, but she doesn't with this vacuum! Some hair does still get stuck in the small wheels on the bottom, but it’s manageable.

The two drawbacks to this vacuum are its small bin size and short battery life. The bin is only .03 gallons and needs to be emptied regularly — though the vacuum features a one-touch empty button that easily empties the contents into the trash without making a mess. The battery life also leaves a bit to be desired as it only lasts about 15 minutes, so it's not ideal for whole-house cleans or bigger jobs. This lightweight vacuum is an excellent pick for small apartments or small houses where you want a versatile and easy-to-maneuver tool for quicker vacuuming sessions and daily spot cleaning.

If you're looking for a cordless stick vacuum under $100 that still works well and has some really nice features, the Wyze cordless vacuum may be the right choice for you. At 2.8 pounds, it's lightweight and easy to handle, but the battery life is lacking. The manufacturer claims it lasts 50 minutes, but the runtime depends on the mode you use. The Wyze vacuum has three power modes that can be manually toggled between to select the suction needed for the job at hand. Our tester found the vacuum usually lasted about 20 minutes when using a mixture of the three modes for a typical cleaning session.

For how affordable it is though, this vacuum's features make it a good value. It comes with a crevice tool and brush tool and works well on hard and carpeted surfaces. The charging dock not only conveniently stores the vacuum but holds all of the accessories, too. It even has LED lights to illuminate hard-to-see dust. And a unique feature that our other recommendations don't have: The vacuum has an internal brush that cleans the dust from the HEPA filter. You can take the filter out and wash it, but this feature scrapes the dust off the filter in between washings, meaning you likely won't have to clean it as often.

Another under-$200 option, this Black + Decker vacuum designed for pet hair is a great buy, especially if your home already has other Black + Deck products like electric tools that use 20V batteries. The 20V battery on this vacuum is removable and compatible with other Black + Decker products, so if you have multiple batteries, you can easily swap them in as backup batteries to extend the time of a vacuuming session. The manufacturer claims a fully charged battery can get you up to 55 minutes, but our tester found that she typically could get 40-50 minutes out of it. There are three power modes you can manually toggle between, so the mode you use most will determine how long the battery lasts.

You can also toggle the roller head on and off, depending on what surface you're cleaning. This vacuum is very easy to maneuver on both hard and carpeted surfaces, especially when compared to our tester's corded upright vacuum and other budget stick vacuums she's tried. The head pivots smoothly and stays flush with the floor, and because of the slim silhouette, it’s ideal for getting under cabinets, sofas, chairs, tables and other low spaces. With a .19-gallon bin, this vacuum is also great for pet hair. It has a brush bar with rubber bristles to grab hair and fur as well as a specific attachment tool for cleaning pet hair off upholstery.

Another unique feature that our tester really appreciated was that, unlike most cordless stick vacuums, this one can stand upright on its own when not mounted on its charging dock. So if you need to stop to move something out of the way or pause your vacuuming session, you don't have to lay the vacuum on the floor.