Become a TechRadar Insider
The best stick vacuums in Australia need to be able to not just suck up dirt and debris from hard floors, but should be able to tackle carpets of any kind as well. However, there's no one-size-fits-all option, something I've understood after testing vacuum cleaners of all kinds over the last decade, which means every home has specific needs.
It's best to keep in mind that looking at the suction specifications of vacuum cleaners isn't always the best buying information. It's not a standardised spec and, even if you see a high air-wattage number, it doesn't necessarily translate well in real-world use as different variables play a role in how efficiently a vacuum functions. Every brand will make lofty promises that you can't always verify.
April 2026: There's a brand-new product listed for the best self-emptying stick vacuum cleaner, with the previous model for that category now appearing as the best compact option in this guide.
I've been testing vacuum cleaners for nine years from different brands, including Dyson, Shark and Dreame. While I'm fascinated by the latest innovations that make cleaning floors less of a chore, I'm always on the lookout for a lightweight cordless vacuum that gets into the tight spaces of my apartment.
The best stick vacuum overall
One of my colleagues pitted the Shark PowerDetect against a few other top-tier vacuums to find it offers the best outright cleaning performance. No matter the floor type, it's equally impressive on hard floors, medium- and deep-pile carpet. It can even make short work of pet hair, even on carpets.
The compromise is that it's also the heaviest, bulkiest and least comfortable to use of the vacuums I tested.
While the model reviewed on TechRadar is the PowerDetect Cordless – meaning the standalone vacuum – I'd highly recommend opting for the Clean & Empty version as it represents better value for money thanks to its auto-empty feature. The vacuum performance is identical to the model tested. Importantly, it's often discounted, making it the better buy compared to the standalone vacuum.
Not only did it get tested initially for our Shark PowerDetect Cordless review, we did further tests to see how it performed in the long term and this Shark proved it had a big bite when it comes to tackling dirt of any kind on any floor type.
It's excellent performance is down partly down to outright power, and partly to a clever floorhead design. Shark has added a flap that lifts to enable the vacuum to suck up particles when it's pulled backwards over them, rather than causing them to pool up, as is the case with every other vacuum my colleagues and I have tested. This feature is especially useful on hard floors.
Now for the bad news. The Shark PowerDetect was the heaviest vacuum in a group test that was conducted by a colleague towards the end of 2025. She said it feels noticeably chunkier and less nimble than the rest of the bunch. The weight is more evenly distributed than it is on the Dyson Gen5detect – which is heavy and also top-heavy (see below) – making it a little easier to use in both handheld and floor-standing modes than the Dyson.
To its credit, Shark has made a big effort to improve comfort by shaping the handle ergonomically and adding a rubberised grip and padding. Nothing digs in or sits awkwardly as you clean, which is more than can be said for a number of other models I tried.
Shark has excelled at the special features, but dropped the ball when it comes to basic usability. For example, the vacuum switches on with a one-press button that's good for long sessions but annoying for quick cleanups, because the button isn't reachable from the handle. So not only will you need to use your other hand, it takes a second or so to kick into gear each time, rather than responding immediately.
When switched on, the screen cycles though various icons representing the suction modes – a leaf for Eco, a boost icon, a target representing the Auto mode, and a water droplet to represent... actually, I have no idea what this is for, there's nothing mentioned in the user manual.
Another design element that's not intuitive for first-time users is how to manually switch modes, which uses a button where the trigger would usually sit. It takes some getting used to, but it is a small niggle that's worth mentioning. Moreover, there's a coloured ring to indicate how much dirt has been detected, but it's not immediately clear which colour means what.
Usability niggles aside, this vacuum has one of the most comprehensive feature lists of any vacuum we've reviewed at TechRadar. It can auto-adjust suction based on floor type and dirt levels, but also boost suction on the relevant side of the floorhead when the vacuum approaches the edge of a room, and brighten the headlamps in particularly dark areas. There's also the auto-empty dock that comes with an odour-neutralising puck.
Shark promises a maximum of 70 minutes cleaning per charge, which is a very solid runtime. The caveat, of course, is that that figure is for relatively clean hard floors, and runtimes will decrease for anything more challenging.
In our review, it lasted 67 minutes without a motorised floorhead (like a crevice tool) and in Eco mode. In Boost mode, it gave only 14 minutes, which is quite standard. In Auto mode, however, our tester got 47 minutes and that's not bad at all as this mode is dynamic and suction power changes depending on floor type and amount of dirt detected. While Shark doesn't provide any indication of how long the battery takes to top up, our own tests shows charge time is about 4 hours.
The best vacuum for usability
If money's no object, I'd highly recommend the Dyson Gen5detect for its several useful features and its sheer power. It has the best design of all the vacuums I've tested, offering advanced features paired with outstanding usability. Of course, it's not the newest vacuum on the market any longer, but it still holds its own very well indeed and performed well in not just my own review, but in subsequent tests run by a colleague.
During the latter, it managed the joint-longest runtimes, and was a runner-up in all the cleaning tests. However, not only is its price high, it's also one of the heavier vacuums I've tested and there weight distribution because of the battery on the handle makes it top heavy.
The Gen5detect was a close second behind the Shark PowerDetect in our cleaning tests. It suffered from being slightly too powerful in Auto mode on deep-pile carpet, but the suction was strong enough in Eco mode that it cleared spillages very effectively while being much easier to push.
Usefully, Dyson has added an air intake slider to the floorhead to help release some pressure as required (this was missing in the Dyson V11). It also proved excellent at handling pet hair, both with its main floorhead and its mini motorised tool.
At 3.4 kilos, the Gen5detect is slightly lighter than the Shark listed above but it's still quite heavy, with most of the weight on the top of the handle. When I tested it for my review, I found my hand and wrist feeling fatigue within about 10 to 15 minutes of use, especially when trying to change its direction on carpets where resistance is high.
The fact that the weight is concentrated in the top section, which is really rather long, makes it unwieldy to use, with or without the wand attached. Which means if you're trying to raise it to clean ceiling corners, you really need a lot of core strength to take balance that weight in one hand.
Dyson has added some welcome padding above the handle, but I still found the battery casing could dig into my wrist when I used the vacuum as a handheld. This model switches on and off with a one-press button, which is great for long cleaning sessions, but annoying for quick cleanups as it requires both hands to be free (as with the Shark PowerDetect, the button can't be reached from the handle).
The Gen5detect is packed with special features that enhance usability. A screen near the handle conveys information in an unambiguous way – it'll spell out exactly how long you have left on the battery in your current cleaning mode, as well as flagging any issues and telling you how to fix them. This screen will also tell you, in words, which mode you're using, which after trying to decipher various icons and color-coding systems on other machines, I truly appreciated.
Like many vacuums today, the Gen5detect can auto-adjust suction depending on how much dirt it detects on the floor, but this model goes a step further and will report the size and number of particles being sucked up via a colourful, animated on-screen bar graph. You'll also get a soft floorhead for delicate hard flooring, and it's equipped with a nice, bright laser to illuminate dirt. And its Digital Motorbar is effective on carpets and doesn't tangle pet or human hair.
You'll get a maximum of 60 minutes of cleaning time in Eco mode, which is not as long as some competitors, but still very decent. (Also factor in that the Eco mode here is powerful enough to still be very useful.) I managed 15 minutes of cleaning in the ultra-powerful Boost mode, which is excellent.
For regular use for day-to-day cleaning in Auto mode, you'll get anywhere between 37 to 45 minutes – depending on floor type and dirt amount – which is quite standard.
Best wet floor cleaner
If your home has mainly hard floors, it might be better opting for what is now being called a floor washer or a 2-in-1 vacuum mop. Not to be confused with the likes of the Dyson V15s Detect Submarine, but one that does both vacuuming and mopping simultaneously using the same floorhead.
The F25 Ace was released early in 2025 and did quite well in our tests. Our reviewer was impressed at how clean his floors felt after a session, and was usually quite surprised at how dirty the water always was, even if he'd used the Ace on consecutive days.
From our tests, we found that the F25 Ace can leave any hard floor clean. Better yet, it's ability to lie flat means it can get under furniture for regular cleaning as well. In even better news, the floorhead can get very close to edges and clean up wet spills effectively, although sucking up small debris (like rice and coffee beans in our tests) is not perfect along edges. But any kind of spill in the middle of a floor and the F25 aces its cleaning (pun intended).
And with the roller getting scraped each time it rotates (at a speed of 450rpm), it's very effective at mopping up nearly any kind of mess without leaving streaks behind. That said, if you roll it over an already-cleaned section of floor that's still damp, you will likely see track marks from the wheels. By default, the waterflow rate here is relatively high (compared to a Tineco we've previously tested), but that can be adjusted via its companion app.
All wet floor washers are heavy because of the water tank on the tube, but the F25 Ace is remarkably easy to move around, thanks to what Roborock calls SlideTech wheels, which are motorised and this can be adjusted in the app. Moreover, the floorhead pivots a generous 70º (35º left and right), making tight turns easy.
When the machine is totally flat, the cleaning head loses the ability to pivot, but any angle smaller than 180º allows it to remain agile and our reviewer says he found it very easy to clean under chairs and tables without needing to move any of them and yet turning the machine easily.
The Roborock F25 Ace follows a similar design language to floor washers from other brands, but the one difference it boasts is that the water tank is at the base of the machine, which lowers its centre of gravity and makes it easy to manoeuvre and lie flat when cleaning.
An LED display provides some basic information, but our reviewer and I agree that other wet washers have more information displayed.
There's an automatic detergent dispenser next to the clean-water tank and you can set the detergent ratio in the app. However, our reviewer noted that using detergent can leave some soap suds on the floor when cleaning.
The F25 Ace has a 4,000mAh battery that's rated for a maximum of 60 minutes of runtime in Eco mode and 40 minutes in Auto. If you live in a large home, you'll likely not be able to finish a full clean in one run and the machine takes about 4 hours to top up.
However, this kind of use time per charge is enough for most people. In our review, our tester never once ran out of battery when cleaning about 120sqm of floor space. However, he did find that the F25 Ace continued to use its battery when placed on the dock for self-cleaning.
The best compact cordless vacuum
The Shark Cordless Detect Pro comes in two variants – the standalone vacuum and one that ships with an self-emptying charging dock, and it's the latter that I highly recommend. It's now getting on in years, but it's still a fantastic little cordless vacuum that's easy to use and, importantly, can be had for under the AU$500, making it cheaper than the standalone machine.
I suspect Shark might discontinue this soon as the PowerDetect (listed at the top of this page) is the spiritual successor but, as of writing this, the Auto-empty version is still available from several retailers and from Shark directly.
While I didn't do TechRadar's Shark Detect Pro cordless vacuum cleaner review, I tested this machine for sister site Tom's Guide and was very impressed by how well it can clean, despite not being the most powerful vacuum on the market. Turns out, my colleagues here at TechRadar agree that it's a fabulous machine.
With dynamic suction, the Cordless Detect Pro can automatically ramp up suction when it detects carpets or more dirt, but keep in mind it will struggle if your carpets are heavily soiled. That said, the suction here is enough for most people's needs.
It's able to pick up fine dust as well as large debris without too much issue; and one of our testers even managed to vacuum up trimmings off a Christmas tree (not just individual needles). Its floorhead is able to get pretty close to the edges and corners of floors, automatically increasing suction it senses the edge of a room – a particularly clever addition because it this can be a particular hotspot for dust.
One slight flaw with the floorhead design is that when it's being pulled backwards, it causes debris to pool up behind it, requiring careful manoeuvring so you're only tackling dirt when pushing the vacuum forwards. This is an issue that Shark specifically addressed with the PowerDetect model (listed above).
And while it won't lie completely flat, the wand does bend in the middle to help you clean under furniture.
The Shark Cordless Detect Pro is one of the lightest vacuums I've tested, as is evident by its 2.68kg weight with the floorhead. And even though its battery is on the handle, the weight distribution is wonderful, making it comfortable to use in handheld mode or raise to clean ceiling corners.
The floorhead also moves smoothly over different floor types, while headlights on the attachment help illuminate dark patches of floor while cleaning.
One of the ways the Shark Cordless Detect Pro maintains a lightweight form factor is a small dust cup. This isn't necessarily a negative as you can just pop the machine onto the dock for emptying every time it fills up, and you can continue cleaning till the battery drains. You can, of course, empty it manually too if you wish.
The handheld unit, like all other stick vacs, is the brains of the operations here, and there's an LED display that's bordered by a ring of light that changes colour depending on how dirty your floor is. The display isn't particularly comprehensive, but it's still useful.
The only complaint I have, and it's not a big one, is the limited number of additional attachments it comes with. An upholstery tool and crevice tool is all you'll get, but neither have any storage options on the charging dock.
Speaking of which, the auto-empty dock doesn't use dust bags – instead, dirt is emptied into a 2L box that's washable. The self-empty action is relatively quiet, quieter than when the stick is vacuuming in fact! This base station also has a small niche for an odour neutralising puck that diminishes smells emanating from the dust box.
The Shark Cordless Detect Pro is rated for up 60 minutes in Eco mode, but if you use the default Detect mode (which translates to Auto in other systems and will likely be the one most people use), you'll get around 20 minutes. That is on the low side for a cordless vacuum, which means it's better suited to smaller homes. If you live in a larger space, you'll likely be doing your cleaning in shifts.
The shifts will have to take place after a few hours, though, as the machine takes anywhere between 3.5 hour to 4.5 hours to top up from empty.
The best self-emptying cordless vacuum
The Dreame Z-series stick vacuums might not be well known but a colleague and I have tested two models so far for TechRadar and come away rather impressed with both. The drawcard here is that all of them come with the Station charging dock that has an auto-empty function, and I will say that their overall performance is also excellent, which is why the Dreame Z20 Station finds a spot here.
Even better is that fact that it can often be found at a discounted price of under the AU$400 mark from various Aussie retailers.
My colleague Max, who did our Dreame Z20 Station review, was so impressed by its cleaning performance that he said "it changed the way he cleaned his home". His partner added that "he was traumatised to see how much dirt" was on their wooden floors, revealed by Dreame's CelesTect Lighting technology that works similar to Dyson's Fluffy Optic tool to reveal particles normally invisible to the naked eye.
Its 250AW of suction performed well in real-world tests, with our reviewer impressed that it took just one forward motion for a rather nasty concoction of rice, coffee beans, flour and his own hair clippings to be fully cleaned up on hard floors. The same mixture took one forward and one backward motion on carpet, although a couple of instances he found it took two forward motions and one back for the entirety of the mess to be cleaned up. That's still very impressive.
Using the Dreame Z20 stick vacuum was my colleague's biggest complaint — it's relatively heavy at 3.3kg and while the floorhead is easy to move around, the wand is shorter when compared to other brands and isn't telescopic. So taller people will find lower back pain creeping in when using this machine for prolonged periods.
Like many other heavy vacuums, the Z20 is also has most of its weight on the top, which induces fatigue in the wrist and arm, and make it harder to use as a handheld.
The Dreame Z20 Station's biggest drawcard has to be its freestanding auto-empty charging dock, but this one uses replaceable 3L dust bags, so you will need to take into account the ongoing cost here. The auto-empty suction is quite powerful, although our tester found that some amount of fine dust accumulated towards the top and needed to be shaken loose for emptying to be optimal.
In Australia, the Z20 ships with three additional tools and, if you have a pooch, the pet deshedding attachment would prove rather useful if your puppy is willing to sit still for the duration. One thing to note about the additional tools is that they have their own accessory cradle, which will require a little extra floor space to store.
Otherwise the LCD display is sharp and clear, showing an animated graph of four particle sizes, plus the suction mode and remaining battery life, while Dreame has made it easy to dismantle the dust cup for thorough cleaning too. Moreover, the filter inside is washable to increase its life.
The Z20 does exactly what it promises — offering up to 90 minutes of runtime on Eco mode with a non-motorised attachment.
It's a different story when using the main floorhead in Auto mode as this is where dynamic suction kicks in and the runtime you get will depend on how much dirt it picks up and what floor type you predominantly have. Still, it's possible to get around 60 minutes in Auto mode with the motorised floorhead, and that's quite impressive given other stick vacuums typically tap out at around the 40-mark in similar circumstances.
At max suction — Dreame calls this mode Turbo — our tests delivered about 10 minutes of battery, which is quite standard.
Alternatives
If you think the above stick vacuums aren't what you're after, there are a few more options to consider. Whether you're after a good-value Dyson (yes, there is one) or something to clean up after your pets without spending top dollar, I've got you covered.
This is a strong all-rounder, but was just pipped to the post when it came to my top five. The design is basic, and there are no special features to speak of, but this vacuum's cleaning scores were strong on carpet and for and pet hair.
Read our full Dyson V8 Cyclone review
It's one of the older Shark models on this page but we recently tested it again and it still holds its own. With a bendy wand and excellent suction, it's a fantastic option for pet owners – plus it can regularly be picked up for under AU$600.
Read our in-depth Shark Stratos IZ400 review
A powerful motor, particularly in Boost mode, throws the competition out of the park. Capable of thoroughly cleaning everything from a hard floor to a shaggy carpet, this machine can even clean itself, leaving the dust cup very clean indeed.
Read our in-depth Samsung Bespoke Jet AI review
Best stick vacuums in Australia: FAQ
How we test cordless vacuum cleaners
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you're buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
To find the best cordless vacuum cleaner, we evaluate how successfully each model collects everything from fine dust and dirt to larger debris such as cookie crumbs and cereal. As well as assessing how well floors are cleaned, we’ve also compared how easy the vacuum cleaners are to manoeuvre on carpet and hard floors, as well as whether dust pick-up is evenly distributed across the cleaning head or concentrated in one area.
We rated each design on how durable it is, as well as the simplicity of emptying, how loud it is during use and how long the battery lasts. For each model, we wanted to know whether it was easy to convert into other modes, such as a handheld vac, the useful tools and accessories it came with to clean edges or remove pet hair, and whether it required reading a thick instruction manual before use.
How do I choose a cordless vacuum cleaner?
We think the cordless vacuums we've listed above are the best of the best, but it's essential to consider your personal needs.
The most important considerations when choosing a cordless vacuum cleaner are:
1. Specs
2. Design
3. Features
Starting with the specs is typically the way to go - think about how long of a runtime you need from your cordless vacuum, what floor types you have in your home, and how powerful you'll need the cleaner to be.
Next up, think about what features you might need from your new cordless vacuum. If you have pets, that means looking for a vacuum that can handle hairs and even odours. You might need a range of attachments to handle various surfaces in your home or a vacuum that can easily transform into a handheld unit.
Lastly, think about the design of the vacuum. Is it light enough to use overhead if you have shelves and high surfaces that need cleaning? How easy would it be to store in your home? You might even want to consider if it will be aesthetically pleasing, especially if you're planning to keep it out in the open.
Are stick vacuums worth it?
Cordless stick vacuums bring some great benefits, especially if you have a smaller home, or just need a more accessible device for cleaning up small spills and messes in the kitchen.
As they are more compact and lightweight, stick vacuums are great for quick cleanups, however, they might not be worth it if you need any kind of deeper clean. Of course, there are stick vacuums made for those with larger spaces that require more storage space to account for that.
Are cordless vacuums as good as upright vacuums?
Cordless vacuums have been available for more than two decades, and while the early models were not as good when it came to dust pickup, that’s no longer the case.
Many of the cordless vacuums on the market are comparable, and in some cases better, to corded, upright vacuums when it comes to collecting dust and dander from carpets and hard floors. They’re more versatile than corded vacuums too, as they can be converted into lightweight, handheld cleaners that are suitable for use on upholstery, up high, and even in vehicles.
However, there is one area where they struggle to match corded vacuums, and that’s the capacity of the dust canister. On average, cordless vacuums have dust canisters with a capacity of anywhere between 0.2 and 0.75 litres, whereas traditional corded vacuums, whether upright or a canister, have a capacity of anywhere between 1 and 2 litres. The only exception is the Dyson V11 Outsize, which has a 1.9-litre capacity. However, it’s also extremely expensive compared to other cordless vacuums and much bulkier.
So, one might be better for one use, but not as good for another. It depends what you need from your vacuum.
Are Dyson stick vacuums worth it?
Dyson is the most popular brand of cordless vacuum cleaner worldwide and, if you're after a high-end option, then it's definitely worth considering opting for a Dyson. They have very powerful suction, provide some advanced features and look good too.
However, Dyson isn't the only brand worth considering, particularly if you don't want to spend top dollar. Samsung and LG can provide more bang for your buck by offering similarly priced cordless vacuum cleaners that also come with an auto-empty station and a mopping head.
There's also Shark, Bissell, Roborock and Tineco, all of whom offer full-featured stick vacuums in Australia that can come in lower price points with equally, if not better, suction. You just need to figure out what you're willing to spend on the best cordless vacuum there is and how large your space is. Your choice of brand will also be determined by what floor type you predominantly have at home.
- You've reached the end of the page. Jump back up to the top ^
