Best Dyson vacuums: cordless, lightweight, pet-friendly and more

Known for their cutting-edge technology and innovative designs, Dyson is the number one vacuum brand in the UK. Whether you need an adaptable cordless model or a larger capacity upright vacuum for a busy family home, read on to discover which Dyson vacuum is best for your household needs.

Tried-and-tested: Best Dyson Vacuums at a glance

• Best overall vacuum: Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute cordless vacuum | Buy now £461.96, Amazon
• Best cordless vacuum: Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute cordless vacuum cleaner | Buy now £415.99, Amazon
• Best for hard floors: Dyson Omni-glide™ cordless vacuum cleaner | Buy now £349.99, Dyson
• Best for pet hair: Dyson Ball Animal Multifloor vacuum | Buy now £379.99, Dyson

Looking for more vacuum content? Check out the results of our test of the Henry HVR 160-11 vacuum cleaner review, aswell as our round up of the best handheld vacuums, best vacuum cleaners and five of the best robotic vacuum cleaners on sale in the UK

The Best Dyson Vacuums for 2023

Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute cordless vacuum

Best overall vacuum

Score: 18/20

Pros

• Great suction
• Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre
• Informative onboard display
• Long run time

Cons

• Small capacity dust bin
• Doesn’t stand upright independently
• Expensive

This vacuum gave great results on both hard floors and carpets. It had a generous 60-minute run time, but this decreased quite a bit when using the Boost mode.

The lowdown:

I found this vacuum was lightweight and very easy to manoeuvre around obstacles and corners.

It has a single button power control, which means you don’t have to hold onto a trigger to make it work, so it’s less tiring on your hands and you can swap hands while navigating obstacles, making cleaning easier. In fact, it’s ergonomically designed to require 15% less effort to clean carpets.

The low reach adapter bends to comfortably reach down low and is designed to clean further under low furniture by adjusting the wand angle up to 90º, but even without fitting it was easy to vacuum under low furniture, and it performed well.

The Motorbar™ cleaner head offers motorised edge-to-edge deep cleaning with de-tangling technology, so long hair wound round the brush head is a thing of the past.

The point and shoot bin emptying mechanism made emptying the bin really easy and mess free, although its small capacity meant it filled up quite quickly.

Features:

This vacuum has a clever illuminated soft roller cleaner head for hard floors with a precisely angled beam which detects particles you can’t normally see, while a piezo sensor continuously sizes and counts dust particles – automatically increasing suction power when needed.

The LCD screen on the top of the handle shows what’s been sucked up, displaying real-time scientific proof of a deep clean, which is very satisfying. There are three power modes - Auto mode intelligently adapts, with the optimum balance of power and run time, Eco mode provides longer run time for bigger cleans, while Boost mode is engineered for short, intensive cleaning. The smart display shows how much run time you have left in each mode and it also shows you where any blockages occur and when it’s time to empty the dirt collection bin.

The vac comes with a number of accessories: the hair screw tool is an anti-tangle conical brush bar that picks up long hair and pet hair, the combination tool has both a brush and a wide nozzle, while crevice tool is good for getting into tight spots, and the nifty wand clip allows you to store the combination and crevice tools.

This vac also converts into a handheld for above floor cleaning jobs.

The docking station not only stores the vacuum and tools but charges it too. Dyson’s fully-sealed filtration traps 99.99% of microscopic particles and allergens as small as 0.3 microns – and expels cleaner air. The filter and Fluffy™ brush bar can be washed help optimise the vacuum’s performance.⁷

Results:

This vacuum gave great results on both hard floors and carpets and the clever Auto cleaning mode meant it gave automatic boosts of extra suction when it detected extra dirt on the floor. It had a generous 60-minute run time, but this decreased quite a bit when using the Boost mode. I marked it 18 out of 20.

Value for Money:

Although this vacuum comes in at a hefty £529.99, it does have a two-year guarantee, a long run time and cleans floors very efficiently.

What's in the box:

Motorbar™ cleaner head | Illuminated cleaner head | Hair screw tool | Low reach adaptor | Combination tool | Crevice tool | Wand clip | Docking station | Charger

Specifications:

• 4-hour charge time
• 60 minute run time
• 0.35L bin capacity
• 150AW suction power
• Weight 2.2kg | H123 x W25 x L 25

Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute cordless vacuum cleaner

Best cordless vacuum

Score: 16/20

Pros

• Lightweight
• Long run time
• Good for pets

Cons

• Charging time
• Doesn’t stand upright independently
• Expensive
• Holding the trigger makes your finger ache

This vacuum did a good job over both carpet and hard floors and had really strong suction. Its long run time and roomy bin capacity makes it ideal for big clean-ups and larger houses.

The lowdown:

Light and very easy to manoeuvre, you do have to hold down the trigger while vacuuming, which makes your finger ache after a while.

The low reach adapter bends to comfortably reach down low and is engineered to clean further under low furniture by adjusting the wand angle up to 90º, but even without fitting this the vacuum performed well under low furniture, such as sofas and coffee tables.

The specially designed head prevents hair from getting tangled up, which saves you from having to manually untangle the brush bar.

The point and shoot system for ejecting the dirt from the vacuum hygienically empties dust and debris directly into your bin, so there’s no need to touch the dirt, plus the bin on this model is 40% larger compared to Dyson V8™ vacuums.

Features:

This vacuum has a Motorbar™ cleaning head, which gives motorised edge-to-edge cleaning with de-tangling technology which clears the brush bar as you clean, making it ideal if you have long hair or pets at home.

The mini motorised tool is designed for cleaning smaller surfaces, upholstery and stairs, while the soft roller cleaner head is made with soft woven nylon and anti-static fibre for gentle but powerfully cleaning hard floors.

The combination tool has a brush and a wide nozzle for simple switching between tasks, while the crevice tool is perfect for reaching narrow gaps and around the edges of a room.

This vac also transforms into a handheld with just one click, making it ideal for cleaning the car or above floor areas such as curtains or light fittings.

This model has three power modes which offer powerful, suction across both carpets and hard floors.

In terms of run time, you can get up to 60 minutes, while the docking station stores the vacuum and tools and recharges it at the same time, however the charger can be used with or without the wall dock.

Results:

This vacuum did a good job over both carpet and hard floors and had really strong suction. Its long run time and roomy bin capacity makes it ideal for big clean-ups and larger houses. I marked it 16 out of 20.

Value for Money:

Coming in at £529.99 with a two-year guarantee this vacuum is expensive, but we felt it offered reasonable value for money.

What's in the box:

Motorbar™ cleaner head | Mini motorised tool | Low reach adaptor | Docking station | Soft roller cleaner head | Crevice tool | Combination tool |Charger

Specifications:

• 3.5-hour charge time
• 60-min run time
• 0.77L bin capacity
• Weight: 2.6kg | H123 x W25 x L24

Dyson Omni-glide™ cordless vacuum cleaner

Best for hard floors

Score: 15/20

Pros

• Slimline and lightweight
• Easy manoeuvrability
• Good for tight spaces

Cons

• Small bin capacity
• Not suitable for carpets
• Short run time

This vacuum is designed for hard flooring, so it’s not suitable for cleaning carpets. It does work well, but the head is quite small, so its not ideal for larger areas of floor.

The lowdown:

This slimline, lightweight vacuum has an articulated neck and four stabilising castors which make it easy to manoeuvre around obstacles, although the super-smooth action takes a bit of getting used to.

It lies totally flat which makes it easy to clean under furniture and in tight spaces.

The straight, slim bin has a hygienic ejection mechanism with a rotary catch, making it hassle-free to empty into the dustbin.

To remove dust build-up, the bin, filter, Fluffy™ cleaner head and any tools without electronic components can be washed under a tap.

This is Dyson’s first button-operated vacuum, which means you can swap hands easily while cleaning around obstacles, although the handle feels quite chunky to grip.

Features:

This vacuum boasts the first omni-directional Fluffy™ cleaner head which glides in all directions for easy pick-ups on hard flooring with no loss of suction.

It converts easily into a handheld vac and the mini motorised tool is ideal for cleaning smaller surfaces, upholstery and stairs, while the combination tool features a brush and a wide nozzle.

The wall bracket makes charging and storing the vacuum easy.

Results:

This vacuum is designed for hard flooring, so it’s not suitable for cleaning carpets. It does work well, but the head is quite small, so its not ideal for larger areas of floor. It offers good, strong, continuous suction but only has a 20-minute run time. I marked it 15 out of 20.

Value for Money:

At £349.99 with a two-year guarantee, this offers fair value for money, but not if you want to clean your carpet, as it’s designed for hard floors.

Whats in the box:

Omnidirectional Fluffy™ cleaner head | Combination tool | Mini motorised tool | Docking station | Charger

Specifications:

• 3.5-hour charge time
• 20-minute run time
• 0.20L bin capacity
• 50W suction power
• Weight 1.9kg | H107 x W20 x L9

Dyson Ball Animal Multifloor

Best for pet hair

Score: 14/20

Pros

• Good for pet hair
• Large bin capacity
• Long cable and hose

Cons

• Heavy to use
• Bulky to store
• Difficult to access low areas

This vacuum has powerful suction and did well across both hard flooring and carpets. There’s variable suction for every floor type and the three cleaner head modes handle different tasks around your home.

The lowdown:

This vacuum was quite heavy and bulky to manoeuvre compared to stick-like cordless models, although the ball does help it steer round corners more easily.

The bin offered a large capacity, making it ideal for larger homes and it was quick and easy to empty the dirt into the dustbin.

With a long cable and stretch hose you can vacuum from room to room without having to unplug each time and you can vacuum a staircase from top to bottom without having to lift the vacuum cleaner.

The vacuum has a telescopic handle which rotates in three directions for easy cleaning up high and down low without putting any strain on your wrists and hands.

Due to the size of the ball and bin, it was difficult to vacuum under low furniture.

Features:

According to Dyson, this upright vacuum, cleans carpets better than any other upright de-tangling vacuum.

Its cleverly engineered brush bar automatically de-tangles hair, which combined with its powerful suction properties and the stiff nylon bristle on the brush head, make it ideal for homes with cats and dogs.

The combination tool, stair tool and soft dusting brush make cleaning for hard-to-reach above floor areas easy.

Results:

This vacuum has powerful suction and did well across both hard flooring and carpets.

There’s variable suction for every floor type and the three cleaner head modes handle different tasks around your home.

The stiff, dense nylon bristles in the brush head effectively agitate and remove stubborn dirt and pet hair from carpets and rugs. 14/20

Value for Money

This vacuum costs £379.99 and comes with a generous five-year guarantee. It offers good value for money if you want a solid workhorse than can cope with a multi-pet household.

What's in the box:

• Soft dusting brush
• Combination tool
• Stair tool
• Flat out head
• Quick-release tangle-free turbine tool

Specifications:

• Weight 7.4kg | H106 xW28 x L39
• 4m hose
• 10m cable
• 1.8L in capacity

More bestselling Dyson vacuums:

While we haven't had chance to test these models yet, we have done plenty of research and read their reviews, and believe they are well worth recommending.

Dyson V15 Detect Vacuum

The Dyson V15 Detect range is currently the brand's most powerful and intelligent cordless vacuum.

Ideal for a deep and thorough clean, there's a laser beam to highlight otherwise unseen dust particles on hard flooring, so while it's on the expensive side, it's certainly packed with desirable tech. You can even check what you've missed by viewing the LCD screen which shows a break down of dust mites and allergens. Great for picking up long hair and pet hair too thanks to the anti-tangling tools.

This Dyson vacuum's decent battery life as another appealing feature - it'll run for 60 minutes, so you can whizz around the whole house without having to recharge.

Discover the best carpet cleaners for washing pet stains, food spills, and more.

Dyson V7 Animal Vacuum Cleaner

A top choice for pet owners, the Dyson V7 Animal vacuum features stiff nylon bristles to help remove stubborn pet hair. This feature is also handy for cleaning ground-in dirt, so you can keep your well-trodden hallway in sparkly clean condition after a heavy week of foot traffic.

Make use of the handheld function when cleaning your car and the stairway, and thanks to the hygienic bin emptying system, you can avoid getting your hands mucky. The slender, cordless model should be neat enough to store and charge in a utility room or cupboard if you prefer to keep your vacuums out of the way.

This Dyson vacuum has half the battery life of the newer V15 model above, but it's more affordable if you're looking for a more budget-friendly pick.

Fancy spoiling your feline pals? Check out these 7 stylish cat beds for a happy cat and an on-trend home.

Dyson Micro 1.5kg Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

• Buy now from Argos (£300.00)

For a smaller Dyson vacuum you don't have to lug up the stairs, give this lightweight micro vacuum a go. Weighing just 1.5kg, this vacuum can be used on hard floors, laminate flooring, upholstery and stairs so it's a handy vacuum for the whole house. It even has a Micro Fluffy cleaner head so you can avoid scratching your vinyl flooring.

Despite its smaller size this vacuum doesn't lack in power, claiming to capture dust and seal in 99.99% of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. We like the slim design which should work well for small apartments, and as it charges on the wall, you won't have to worry about storage space.

FAQ:

How do Dyson Vacuum cleaners work?

Dyson vacuum cleaners offer superior suction power thanks to their signature cyclonic technology that enables air to spin at high speeds within the cleaner. To remove dust, allergens, and other particles, Dyson gathers all dirt through a filtration system. Large particles are caught and separated, providing lasting suction while reducing the chances of clogging. Dyson vacuums are made of the same material as crash helmets, making them a durable and resilient vacuum built to handle heavy usage. Furthermore, the quality of a Dyson means that you won’t need to repair or replace your vacuum cleaner as often as you would with some other brands. While Dyson vacuums come with a hefty price tag, they tend to have a longer lifespan, which can save you money in the long run.