Battery life: “It’s important to consider the life of the battery, which can usually last from 20 minutes to over an hour on a single charge—if you have a larger space to vacuum, a longer runtime would be preferable,” advises Marla Mock, president of Molly Maid.
Katie Dills, brand president of The Cleaning Authority, agrees, explaining that cordless vacuums are more convenient because you can freely clean around your home without worrying about an outlet. “However, since cordless vacuum batteries do need to be recharged, you may not be able to clean as large of an area as you would with a corded vacuum.” If you live in a large home and vacuum often, she says you’ll definitely want to consider options with a longer battery life, so you won’t have to keep taking the vac back to the charging dock.
In fact, Alessandro Gazzo of Emily Maids considers batteries to be the biggest weakness with cordless stick vacuum cleaners. “Because cordless vacuums are so thin and compact, they don’t really have enough space for a good-sized battery.” Gazzo recommends looking for vacuums with two batteries that you can swap—and she says each battery should last at least 30 minutes.
And here’s something else to keep in mind as you consider battery life: manufacturers tend to provide estimates based on the lowest or the eco power setting. So, if you’re vacuuming on a higher power setting, expect the battery to drain faster, resulting in a shorter cleaning session, before you need to recharge it. Also, most batteries need to be on the charging dock for hours
Weight: The vacuum’s weight may also be an important factor, since it can contribute to ease of use or be a hassle to move. “A lightweight and ergonomically-designed model can significantly ease the cleaning process, making it less of a chore,” says Tim David, CEO at Airlucent. “It’s especially important for cleaning stairs, upholstery, or high areas where maneuvering a bulky vacuum (like one with a canister) can be tedious.” Especially if you’re a pet owner, or if you plan or vacuuming some areas, like the living room, every day.
However, keep in mind that you may need to find a balance. According to Alessandro, a lightweight doesn’t necessarily mean more premium. “Many vacuum cleaners are lighter because they’re using cheap plastic,” she explains. “There’s a balance between quality and weight, and I would stay in the 6–9 pound area, again, considering the quality is worth it.”
Surfaces: “Cordless stick vacuum cleaners are designed to clean a variety of floor types, including hardwood floors, carpeted floors, rugs, tile, and laminate floors, and also stairs, and furniture (like couches and chairs),” says Marla .
But, if you have carpet floors and rugs, Alessandro recommends spending a bit more to get a vacuum with high suction power. “For hard floors, look for soft roller cleaner heads, because ‘standard’ cleaner heads sometimes scratch the surface, especially to delicate floors,” she says.
