Buying guide for best Dyson vacuums
Dyson has earned a reputation for premium products, offering everything from hair dryers to air purifiers. But it is the brand’s vacuums, which boast powerful suction and patented Cyclone technology that eliminates the need for a bag, that really put Dyson on the map. However, with upright, canister and cordless options to consider, choosing the best Dyson vacuum for your home can be a serious challenge.
To help you find the right model for your cleaning needs, the BestReviews Testing Lab researched the top Dyson vacuums and tested some of the newest models to see how they stack up. Testing focused on the vacuums’ suction power, evaluating how well they picked up debris like kosher salt, ground coffee, cereal and pet hair on various surfaces, including laminate, tile and carpeting.
We also considered factors like how large each model’s dustbin is, how long cordless models can run on a single charge, how easy the vacuums are to maneuver, how loud they are and how easy they are to empty to help us identify the best Dyson vacuums.
Ultimately, we found the Dyson V15 Detect to be the most impressive model because of its powerful suction on all surfaces, lightweight, cordless design that’s easy to maneuver and unique laser cleaner head that reveals hidden dirt on hard flooring.
Our top picks
Best overall Dyson vacuum
Product Specifications
Filtration System: Whole-machine filtration | Suction Power: 240 AW | Bin Capacity: 0.2 gal | Weight: 6.83 lb | Cord Length: N/A
The Dyson V15 Detect may be a cordless stick vacuum, but it had similar suction to corded models during our testing. It cleaned various types of debris, including kosher salt, cereal and ground coffee from laminate, tile, low- and medium-pile carpet with ease, needing just one pass to remove all debris. It required a second pass to pick up coffee grounds on medium-pile carpeting, but we still found it highly efficient on most surfaces.
We were especially impressed with the V15 Detect’s performance with pet hair, though. Our testing area housed two medium-to-large dogs that shed year-round, and the vacuum removed all visible hair in a single pass, even on medium-pile carpeting. Additionally, when we emptied the V15 Detect’s dustbin after cleaning, we were surprised by how much pet hair was inside, which told us that it picked up quite a bit of pet hair we hadn’t seen. It also offered excellent performance along the walls and corners of our testing area, sucking up all 4 grams of ground coffee we placed in a single pass.
But while the V15 Detect had power similar to a corded vacuum, it was much lighter and easier to maneuver. It weighs just over 6 pounds, so we found navigating around furniture and other obstacles very easy. It offered solid battery life, too, running for 69 minutes in Eco (low) mode and 12 minutes in Boost (high) mode. We mainly used the Auto mode, though, which automatically adjusts the vacuum’s suction power based on the amount of dust or debris. The V15 Detect ran 43 minutes, long enough to clean our entire testing area of approximately 1,000 square feet. Our only issue with its design was having to hold the power button the entire time we vacuumed, which resulted in some hand fatigue.
Of course, the V15 Detect’s standout feature is its unique illumination head with a precisely angled light to reveal invisible dirt and dust on hard floors. We expected the feature to be pretty gimmicky, but it actually worked extremely well, highlighting dust and pet hair that wasn’t visible to the naked eye. It allowed us to thoroughly clean all our testing area’s hard flooring without any extra effort. Additionally, we loved that the V15 Detect could convert to a hand vac for spot cleaning and how easy it was to empty without getting our hands dirty.
Product Specifications
Filtration System: Whole-machine filtration | Suction Power: 115 AW | Bin Capacity: 0.14 gal | Weight: 5.58 lb | Cord Length: N/A
Given their innovative technology, Dyson vacuums are some of the priciest on the market, but the V8 combines many high-end features with a more affordable price. Like the V15 Detect, it is a cordless stick vacuum, but it weighs under 6 pounds, making it highly maneuverable. We easily cleaned beneath furniture, including a bed and a sofa, thanks to its swivel head that let us get into every nook and cranny. We also loved that we could use it right out of the box — we only had to plug it in and let it charge before we could clean. It was easy to attach and detach the included tools, too, and the V8 converted to a hand vac in seconds for quick touchup cleaning.
We were particularly impressed with how well the V8 handled pet hair in our testing area. It removed the visible pet hair in just a single pass, and its combination tool attachment allowed us to clean the hair on the couch and armchairs in our testing area. We also loved the crevice attachment for cleaning the corners of a room and under the front edge of our sofa. It worked well for cleaning under the edge of the refrigerator and stove, too. Our testing found that the V8’s performance was stronger on hard flooring than on carpeting, so it would work well for homes with mainly hard surfaces and some area rugs.
During testing, the V8’s battery ran for 40 minutes and needed approximately 4 hours to fully recharge. Its dustbin was extremely easy to empty, so we could dump the mess directly into the trash without making a mess. We also loved the washable filter, which we removed and cleaned quickly and easily. Overall, the V8 boasts a highly functional and intuitive design, so we didn’t need to consult the user manual to immediately start cleaning.
Best lightweight Dyson vacuum
Product Specifications
Filtration System: Whole-machine filtration | Suction Power: 150 AW | Bin Capacity: 0.09 gal | Weight: 5.22 lb | Cord Length: N/A
While it doesn’t have quite the same suction power, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim has much in common with the Dyson V15 Detect. It performed well on both hard floors and carpeting, needing just one pass to remove ground coffee, dry pet food and kosher salt on laminate and low-pile carpeting. It also removed the salt and ground coffee from tile and medium-pile carpeting in a single pass. However, the V12 Detect Slim needed two passes to remove dry pet food on tile and kosher salt on medium-pile carpet. We also found that it removed pet hair effectively and efficiently, thoroughly cleaning the low-pile carpeting in our testing area’s 120-square-foot living room in less than 10 minutes.
One area where we found the V12 Detect Slim outperformed the V15 Detect was its maneuverability. It weighs just over 5 pounds, nearly 1.5 pounds less than the V15 Detect, so moving it around our testing area was extremely easy. The swivel head effectively navigated around and under furniture, too. Our testing found that the V12 Detect Slim offered solid cleaning time, too. It cleaned for 54 minutes in Eco (low) mode, 39 minutes in Medium and 8 minutes in Boost (High). We used the V12 Detect Slim mainly in Medium mode and found that it ran long enough to clean the entire first floor of our testing area, which is approximately 1,000 square feet, on a single charge.
The V12 Detect Slim’s dustbin was smaller than the V15 Detect’s and some other cordless vacuums we tested. Still, we only had to empty it once while cleaning our testing area, which had plenty of pet hair that needed removing. The dustbin was also very easy to empty because it has a lever that pushes all the debris down and automatically opens the bin, so we only had to hold it over a trash can to empty. Like the V15 Detect, the V12 Detect Slim features laser illumination to reveal hidden dirt. It revealed quite a bit of dust and hair that wasn’t visible to the eye, particularly along baseboards and in the corners of rooms, allowing us to do a more thorough cleaning. Another point in the V12’s favor? It doesn’t require holding down the power button during cleaning like the V15 Detect; instead, you turn the vacuum on and off with the press of a button.
Best Dyson vacuum for spot cleaning
Product Specifications
Filtration System: Whole-machine filtration | Suction Power: 50 AW | Bin Capacity: 0.05 gal | Weight: 4.18 lb | Cord Length: N/A
The Dyson Omni-Glide isn’t the most powerful Dyson model we tested, but its lightweight, compact design makes it so convenient to use that we found ourselves reaching for it more often than other vacuums when we needed to spot clean. It weighs just over 4 pounds, making it the lightest of all the Dyson vacuums we considered. We especially liked its flexible head connection that allowed for a wide range of motion and made it easy to clean under and around furniture. It also cleaned well along walls and in corners because of its top-notch maneuverability. It effectively removed pet hair and dry pet food on the Eco, or its lowest suction power, mode and cleaned spilled soil from a potted plant on Max, or the highest suction power.
Unfortunately, the Omni-Glide’s lightweight design affects its battery life. It cleaned for 25 minutes on a single charge with no attachment connected during testing. With the motorized head attached, it ran for only 19 minutes. However, we did a light cleaning of our entire 1,500-square-foot testing area without recharging, so the Omni-Glide can work well in small to medium homes or for spot cleaning.
While it only comes with a single accessory, we were big fans of the Omni-Glide’s combo attachment. It works as both a crevice tool and a brush, so we could use it to clean tight spots between couch cushions and even removed crumbs and debris from between the seats in a car. We found the brush side of the attachment to work extremely well on removing dust from air vents and even used it to easily clean window screens.
Best Dyson upright vacuum
Product Specifications
Filtration System: Whole-machine filtration| Suction Power: 290 AW | Bin Capacity: 0.45 gal | Weight: 17.3 lb | Cord Length: 35 ft
As an upright vacuum, the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra has some of the strongest suction power of all the Dyson vacuums we considered. It offers three different cleaning modes to tackle all flooring surfaces, so you choose from a setting for deep- to medium-pile carpets, delicate floors and rugs; a setting for low-pile carpets and large debris; and a setting for hard floors and ground-in dirt. Its brush roll features stiff nylon bristles that agitate carpet fibers to easily remove pet hair and ground-in dirt from carpets and rugs. And it is definitely a vacuum designed for pet owners because it can not only handle pet hair on all surfaces, but it also comes with a pet groom tool that removes loose hair, allergens and dead skin from pets with medium to long hair to keep it from winding up on your floors and furniture.
In addition to its excellent suction power, the Ball Animal 3 Extra stands out for its unique Dyson Ball technology. The vacuum head rides on a ball rather than the usual wheels, allowing for smooth, comfortable steering, so you can easily maneuver around furniture and other obstacles. It also comes with various accessories for more versatile cleaning, including a tangle-free turbine tool for cleaning pet hair from carpeting, cars and upholstery, a stair tool for easily cleaning stairs and a combination tool for cleaning hard-to-reach spots. Combined with the instant-release wand and a 15-foot stretch hose, these tools mean the vacuum can clean all the surfaces in your home, not just your floors.
As a traditional upright vacuum with plenty of power, the Ball Animal 3 Extra is fairly heavy. It weighs over 17 pounds, so it is more difficult to move around than Dyson’s lightweight cordless models. It has a slim, compact design, though, so it isn’t difficult to store in most homes. It also has an onboard tool holder that lets you keep all the accessories right beside the Ball Animal 3 Extra to ensure you don’t lose them.
Best Dyson vacuum for hard flooring
Product Specifications
Filtration System: Whole-machine filtration | Suction Power: 185 AW | Bin Capacity: 0.2 gal | Weight: 6.61 lb | Cord Length: N/A
Another powerful cordless vacuum, the Dyson V11 can handle most flooring surfaces, but it’s especially ideal for hardwood, laminate and other hard flooring. It offers three power modes — Eco for light suction when you want to get the most out of the battery life, Auto for medium suction that automatically adjusts based on the dirt level and Boost for high suction when you have a deeper mess to clean — so you always have the power you need for the surface and mess you’re cleaning. It also comes with a crevice tool for cleaning along edges and tight, hard-to-reach spots, as well as a combination tool with a wide nozzle and a brush for multitasking and an anti-tangle hair screw tool that can pick up long hair and pet hair with ease.
The V11 offers a solid battery life, running for up to 75 minutes on the Eco setting. The Auto setting can clean for roughly 40 minutes, while the Boost setting provides just under 10 minutes of deeper cleaning time. Like the V15 Detect and V12 Detect Slim, the V11 features an LCD display that lets you know exactly how much battery life is left while cleaning, so you’re always aware when the battery needs recharging.
Weighing over 6.5 pounds, the V11 is one of the heavier Dyson cordless vacuums we tested. However, it is still easy to maneuver around furniture, thanks to its swivel head. Its head also has a low profile that makes it easy to get under couches, chairs and other furniture. Like the V15 Detect, though, the V11 requires holding down the power button while cleaning, so it can cause fatigue, which may be an issue for those with hand weakness or pain.
Best Dyson vacuum and mop
Product Specifications
Filtration System: Whole-machine filtration | Suction Power: 240 AW | Bin Capacity: 0.2 gal | Weight: 9 lb | Cord Length: N/A
If you’re a fan of multipurpose appliances, the V15s Detect Submarine is the Dyson vacuum for you. It includes a wet roller head attachment in addition to the standard vacuum heads, so it can vacuum and mop your hard floors. It also features two water tanks, one for clean water and one for dirty water, to ensure your flooring surfaces are as clean as possible. The roller head has a washable microfiber cover for easy maintenance, and the water tank is large enough to clean up to 1,200 square feet. To switch between vacuuming and mopping, you only have to change the V15 Detect Submarine’s head and fill the water tank. While it is designed with water-only mopping in mind, you can add a non-sudsing cleaner to the water tank for stubborn messes.
Because of its water tanks, the V15s Detect Submarine is slightly heavier than other Dyson cordless vacuums, weighing 9 pounds. However, it is still easy to maneuver over hard flooring and carpeting. In fact, it has all the same features that make the V15s Detect one of our favorite models, including 240 air watts of suction power and an optic roller head attachment to illuminate hidden dirt and hair on hard floors. It also offers the same solid battery life, so it can clean for approximately 40 minutes in its Auto mode, which balances suction power with prolonged battery life.
In addition to the wet roller head, optic cleaner head and digital motorbar cleaner head, the V15s Detect Submarine also includes a crevice tool, a combination tool and a hair screw tool that allows you to clean surfaces throughout your home. Its docking station includes a drip tray as well, so you don’t have to worry about the vacuum making a mess on your floors after mopping.
Types of Dyson vacuums
First, let's examine the specs of the four primary varieties of Dyson vacuums on the market: upright, canister, cordless, and handheld vacuums.
Dyson upright vacuums
Dyson upright vacuums are the type that most people think of when they hear the word “vacuum.” They feature an all-in-one design that allows them to stand upright, so you can push them along the floor when vacuuming.
Most Dyson uprights have a motorized brush roll that can agitate carpet fibers for deeper cleaning, making them suitable for hard flooring, carpeting and rugs. Pet owners, take note: the motorized brush roll is particularly helpful for removing pet hair and long hair from carpeting. You don’t have to worry about a Dyson upright vacuum damaging your hard flooring, though. Most have multiple settings for different floor and mess types, including a delicate setting that turns off the motorized brush roll to avoid scratching hardwood and other hard flooring surfaces.
Because Dyson upright vacuums are all corded models, they also have much stronger suction power than cordless vacuums — Dyson uprights typically offer between 150 and 300 air watts (AW) of suction power for deeper cleaning. Another benefit of upright models is their larger dustbin capacity. Most Dyson upright vacuums feature dustbins that can hold at least 0.5 gallons, which is up to 10 times larger than the smallest cordless vacuums.
However, upright models are noticeably heavier than Dyson cordless vacuums to support their stronger motor and more powerful suction. Most Dyson uprights weigh between 10 and 20 pounds, so moving between floors in multistory homes can be difficult.
Price: These models cost roughly $400 to $600.
Dyson canister vacuums
Canister Dysons separate the motor, dustbin and filters from the vacuum’s cleaning head, which is located at the end of a flexible hose. These models are usually lighter and easier to maneuver than Dyson vacuums, topping out at 18 pounds. As a result, they’re usually better suited for cleaning stairs and other hard-to-reach areas, including above-floor surfaces and furniture upholstery, than upright vacuums.
Dyson canister vacuums are generally quieter than uprights, too. They usually operate at 70 to 85 decibels, while upright models hit 75 to 90 decibels.
The drawback to a canister vacuum? It usually takes longer to clean larger rooms because its cleaning path is much narrower than an upright model’s. Storing a canister vacuum can be more difficult, too, because its long hose easily gets in the way.
Price: These models cost roughly $350 to $550.
Dyson cordless vacuums
Cordless Dysons are exactly what they sound like: They have no cord, instead running on a rechargeable battery, so you can just grab the machine and go. This takes some of the hassle out of vacuuming, making it easier to vacuum cars and outbuildings.
The maneuverability and lightness of a Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner are some of its biggest advantages. Most models weigh between 4 and 10 pounds. For example, one of our favorite Dyson models, the Dyson V12 Slim Detect, is a cordless stick vacuum that’s nimble, lightweight and easy to control, weighing just over 5 pounds.
On the downside, cordless vacuum cleaners have limited battery life, usually offering no more than 70 minutes of cleaning time, and their suction power may not be as strong as corded vacuums. Dyson cordless models generally have between 50 and 240 AW of suction power, so they may not be the best choice for heavily carpeted homes. Their dustbins are smaller, too, ranging from 0.05 to 0.2 gallons, which means you may have to empty the vacuum in the middle of cleaning.
Price: These models cost roughly $200 to $1,000.
Dyson handheld vacuums
Handheld Dyson vacuums are small units designed for small cleaning tasks. They are extremely portable and suitable for spot cleaning and vacuuming upholstery. On the downside, these machines have a small-capacity dustbin and are not suitable for long cleaning sessions or as a home’s only vacuum.
Price: These models cost roughly $150 to $250.
Features unique to Dyson vacuums
We know Dyson offers exceptional cleaning performance, but what features in particular make Dyson vacuums unique and worth spending those extra dollars? The following Dyson features are patented and can't be found on other vacuum cleaners.
Dyson Cyclone technology
You might notice a couple of rows of cones at the top of the dustbin of a Dyson vacuum. Air spirals — or "cyclones" — spin inside these cones, using centrifugal force to fling the dirt into the dustbin via a process known as cyclonic separation.
While Dyson didn't invent this process, it was the first company to harness its power for use in its vacuum cleaners. Some vacuums from other companies now work in a similar way, but Dyson's Cyclone technology is patented and is often considered superior.
Ball design
You may have noticed that upright Dysons look unusual, as they have one big ball on which the cleaner head pivots rather than the small wheels that other upright vacuums have. This is known as "The Ball" and is designed to make Dyson's upright vacuums easier to maneuver by replacing the four-wheeled design of most upright models with a single ball-shaped wheel that can be steered with the simple turn of your wrist.
Dyson offers a line of Ball vacs, including the familiar Dyson Ball Animal 2 and 3, the Dyson Ball MultiFloor 2, the family of Dyson Ball Animal vacs and the Dyson Ball Total Clean.
Tangle-free turbines
Tangle-free turbines are found on all Dyson vacuums in the "Animal" series. This special tool is designed to lift pet hair from deep within a carpet without getting all tangled up, which is what happens with typical rotating brush bars. Instead of a traditional brush bar, the tangle-free turbine tool combines counter-rotating heads with brushes that pull hair from carpeting, furniture and car upholstery without any tangles.
Cinetic vacuums
Not all Dysons use cinetic cleaning power, but those upright and canister models that do use it have soft rubber tips on the ends of the cyclone cones. These tips oscillate while the vacuum is working, filtering out even the tiniest dust particles and eliminating the need for an additional fine-dust filter. This means you never have to change or clean another filter.
Features to look for in the best Dyson vacuum cleaners
Capacity
The dustbins of these machines tend to be relatively small, possibly to cut down on size and weight. The average capacity ranges from about 0.05 to 0.5 gallons, with upright Dyson models usually having the largest capacity and cordless and handheld Dyson models having the smallest capacity.
Weight
If you live in a multistory home and need to carry your vacuum up and down stairs to clean additional floors, the vacuum’s weight is an important consideration. Also, when a vacuum feels too heavy, you may not be inclined to use it very often. Dyson vacuums can weigh as little as 4 pounds all the way up to around 17 pounds, so be sure to check the weight to avoid purchasing one you don’t enjoy using.
Noise
If noise is a consideration for you, be aware that Dyson vacuums can be quite loud. Essentially, it's the sign of a powerful motor (which equals good suction power), but that's not much of a consolation when you scare your cat or wake up your sleeping baby.
Cordless models are the quietest, followed by canister models, then uprights. Dyson cordless vacuums usually reach 65 to 80 decibels while canister and upright vacuums can hit 70 to 80 decibels. To get a sense of what that means, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 70 decibels is the noise level of the average washing machine while 80 to 85 decibels is the noise level of the average gas-powered lawn mower.
Cleaning heads
Many Dysons have self-adjusting cleaning heads that automatically adjust their brush height for different flooring types. For example, the heads will lower on carpeting for more direct contact to agitate the fibers and extract dirt and hair. The brushes will rise on delicate flooring surfaces like hardwood to prevent scratching and other damage. This is an excellent feature if you have different flooring in different parts of the house, as you don't have to manually adjust the head when you move from room to room.
LCD screen
If you like to receive data as you clean, look for a Dyson model with an LCD screen. Depending on the model, you can get information from the LCD screen display about statistics like the machine’s battery life, run time, maintenance schedule and blockages.
How we analyzed
To find the best Dyson vacuums, we tested the models on multiple flooring surfaces, including hardwood, laminate, tile, low- and medium-pile carpeting and rugs, to see how well they cleaned each type. We also tested the Dyson vacuums with specific types of debris, such as coarse kosher salt, ground coffee, dry pet food and cereal, to determine how well they could handle various messes. Additionally, we used the vacuums for routine cleaning to see how well they could remove pet hair and everyday crumbs.
We also noted how long the Dyson vacuums’ batteries lasted in each cleaning mode and how long they took to recharge when fully depleted, as well as how long it took for their dustbins to fill. Finally, we considered factors like how heavy each model was and how easy it was to maneuver, so we could determine what types of homes they would work best in.
FAQ
Q. Why should I buy a Dyson instead of another brand of vacuum cleaner?
A. While we're not suggesting Dysons are the only good vacuums on the market, they're popular for a reason. They have excellent suction power and a range of unique features, and they are durable, easy to use and offer a good warranty. If you have the budget for one, a Dyson vacuum cleaner is definitely worth the money.
Another top contender in the vacuum world is Miele. In fact, Dyson and Miele products are often compared and contrasted side by side. If you’d like to learn more about Miele’s products, check out our Miele vacuum buying guide. We’re also fans of economically friendly vacuum cleaners from makers like Shark. In fact, Shark offers a range of versatile machines just like Dyson does, from the Shark Upright to the Shark Handheld.
Q. What's the difference between a Dyson "Animal" and a Dyson "MultiFloor?"
A. Most Dyson models come in two versions: the Animal and the MultiFloor. The Animal series is designed to pick up pet hair and the extra dirt that comes with pets, and these vacuums have a tangle-free turbine attachment. A Dyson MultiFloor model is essentially the same as the Animal but without the extra attachments. So, if you have pets, go for the Animal, but if you don't, the MultiFloor will suffice.
Q. Can I use a Dyson to clean hard floors?
A. Some Dysons are particularly engineered to clean hard floors, especially those with soft roller heads. If you're interested in a stick vacuum with a soft roller head for this purpose, be sure to check out the Dyson Omni-Glide, which is designed for hard floors in particular.
A model like the Dyson Ball MultiFloor is adept at cleaning both hardwood flooring and carpeting. That said, not all Dysons should be used on hardwood. If in doubt, check the product specifications before you use your Dyson on your hardwood floor.
Q. Are Dyson vacuums suitable for allergy sufferers?
A. Due to their impressive suction power, these machines remove more allergens from your home than many competitors. Plus, they offer excellent filtration so that these allergens don't simply get blown back into the room with the air output. Because they capture bacteria and allergens without letting dirty air escape, Dyson cinetic vacuums are ideal for households with asthma and allergies concerns.
Our expertise
Jennifer Blair has covered vacuums and other home goods for BestReviews since 2017. She has personally tested over a dozen vacuums for the BestReviews Testing Lab, including from Dyson, iRobot, Shark, Eufy and Yeedi. Living with two dogs who shed year-round and leave plenty of crumbs in their wake, she’s also used vacuums from other top brands like Hoover, Bissell, Oreck, Black + Decker and Miele in her own home, so she understands exactly what to look for in a vacuum that needs to do regular deep cleaning.
