For quick vacuuming between full cleans, choose a cordless stick vacuum if its runtime in the mode you’ll use and its results on your floors meet your needs. If you also need the same appliance to clean a large area or carpets regularly, consider a cylinder vacuum instead. A robot vacuum is suited to automated cleaning, while a handheld model is best as a handy extra for small areas.
If you mainly vacuum crumbs or small areas between full cleans, an appliance that’s easy to grab and put away may matter more than long run time. UFC-Que Choisir describes cordless stick vacuums as a handy extra, while advising shoppers to check their runtime.
If your vacuum needs to clean all your floors, including rugs or carpets, don’t choose based on how easy it is to store alone. UFC-Que Choisir suggests considering a cylinder vacuum for a thorough clean; check how the specific model performs on your floor coverings.
If you’d like to automate routine floor cleaning, compare how the robot performs on your floor coverings and in awkward areas. UFC-Que Choisir’s testing criteria assess carpets, room edges and corners separately.
First decide whether you only need the appliance for quick clean-ups or whether it should handle a full clean too. Cordless stick, cylinder and robot vacuums suit different needs. For furniture and very small areas, a handheld model can complement your main vacuum.
| Priority | What to check | Who this suits |
|---|---|---|
| Quick to grab and store | Storage space and runtime in the mode you’ll use. | For quick clean-ups between full cleans, I want to be able to grab the appliance without a long setup. Around 36% of consumers would prioritise this ease of access. |
| Thorough cleaning | How the model performs on your floors and carpets; whether it can clean your whole home in one session. | If I’m only using one vacuum, it also needs to suit longer cleaning sessions and my floor coverings. This versatility would be the priority for around 29% of consumers. |
| Automated cleaning | How it performs on your floor coverings, along walls and in corners; how it handles obstacles. | I’d rather leave routine floor cleaning to a machine, as long as I know where manual cleaning will still be needed. Automation would come first for around 21% of consumers. |
| Small areas and furniture | Included attachments and runtime suited to spot cleaning. | For furniture or a few crumbs, I’m looking for an extra that’s easy to pick up, without expecting it to replace my main vacuum. Around 14% of consumers would prioritise this more targeted need. |
The stated runtime may differ from what you get in the suction mode you use day to day. UFC-Que Choisir notes that the quoted runtime can be disappointing in practice.
Compare runtimes for the mode you plan to use, then check whether they’re long enough to clean your rooms in one go.
Results can vary depending on the floors, carpets, edges and corners. A mopping function alone doesn’t tell you how well it cleans either: UFC-Que Choisir recommends looking at performance for different tasks separately.
Check the results for the exact model on the surfaces in your home, and find out how to maintain its brushes and dust container.
ADEME says that corded, cordless and robot vacuum cleaners are among the appliances covered by this index. However, an overall score alone won’t tell you whether a specific model’s battery or a particular replacement part is available.
Check the index for the model you’re considering, then separately ask which parts are available and under what conditions.
These cordless models are suited to quick floor clean-ups; some product titles also mention handheld use. If you’re choosing a vacuum that will also handle full cleans, consider whether its stated runtime, accessories and suitability for your floor coverings meet the demands of more intensive use.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for quick floor clean-ups and, thanks to its stated handheld format, spot cleaning too. The product title quotes up to 55 minutes of use, along with a charging dock and LED touchscreen. Check the runtime for your chosen suction mode and see which attachments are included.
Image unavailable
Consider this model if you want to vacuum your floors without getting out a corded appliance. The product title mentions a removable battery and a self-standing design; check the exact version and its runtime in the mode you plan to use.
Image unavailable
Worth considering for regular floor clean-ups. The product title mentions a self-standing design, an LED touchscreen and up to 65 minutes of use. Compare this quoted runtime with the mode you’ll use and the area you need to clean.
Image unavailable
The cordless, self-standing design may suit you if you want an appliance that’s easy to pick up for quick clean-ups. The product title quotes 45 minutes of use and a touchscreen; compare runtimes in your chosen mode before relying on it to clean your whole home.
Image unavailable
Worth considering if you’d like to switch between quick floor clean-ups and spot cleaning in handheld mode. The product title mentions an LED display and up to 40 minutes of use; check which attachments are included and how long it runs in your chosen mode.
Yes, if the model suits your floors and its usable runtime is long enough to clean the areas you need to cover. If you also regularly give a large area or carpeted rooms a thorough clean, compare it with a cylinder vacuum. UFC-Que Choisir recommends considering the latter for this type of cleaning.
Check the runtime for the suction mode you’ll use, rather than relying on the maximum quoted figure alone. UFC-Que Choisir warns that the stated runtime can be disappointing in practice. Then check whether the figure for your chosen mode is long enough to clean your rooms in one go.
Results depend on the model, floor covering and area. UFC-Que Choisir tests different floor types, as well as room edges and corners, separately. Check the results for the robot you’re considering before relying on it to clean these areas.
Check the information available for the battery and any parts you might need. According to ADEME, the index provides information about how repairable the vacuum cleaners it covers are, but the score alone doesn’t guarantee that a particular part is available for your chosen model.