The 6 Best Dyson Vacuums of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Dyson Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum

$666 At Amazon $950 At Target $950 At Crate & Barrel

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  5/5

The Dyson Gen5Detect is the vacuum to get if you like to think about your vacuuming and your results as they’re happening, opposed to daydreaming as you push and pull your machine along your floors. The laser light on the fluffy optic cleaning head will show you otherwise invisible dust and particles in its path, and we watched the machine suck them right up during testing. The motor’s display will give you real time numerical updates about the amount of particles you’re collecting (and automatically adjusts suction accordingly); and you have two different heads along with three attachments to choose from, so you can really target your efforts based on the type of floor or the surface you’re cleaning. Is it more advanced than most vacuums on the markets? Yes, absolutely (and the near-$1,000 price point reflects all the features you get). Is it super satisfying to use, though? Again, yes, absolutely. 

Along with the technological features, the suction power is excellent on this vacuum. For this list, we’re comparing only the best Dyson vacuums, but it should be said that we believe it’s one of the best cordless stick vacuums on the market, too. While weaker suction power (compared to corded models) and waning batteries are frequent complaints about cordless stick vacuums, the Gen5Detect doesn’t have those issues; you can rely on it for whole-home cleaning. Dyson has quoted the run time as 70 minutes and, while we haven’t seen it go up quite that high, we did clock over 50 minutes of run time on the lowest setting in the lab, which is very high for a battery-operated vacuum, even for Dyson. 

Another notable thing about the Gen5detect is its superb maneuverability. This allows you to expertly navigate this vacuum throughout your home (and around your furniture) with little extra effort beyond a turn of your wrist or elbow to get the head to go the way you need. Emptying the canister is easy, too; there’s a button to push to eject contents straight into the trash in one fell swoop–it’s super simple, and almost feels like a punch of air as it releases. It’s also worth mentioning that this Dyson has a certified HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter, which traps and secures tiny particles and dust as opposed to recirculating them. While the HEPA designation isn’t standard for all of their vacuums, Dyson vacuums do still contain a very advanced filter—more on that below!

As impressed as we are with the Gen5detect, we don’t think it’s going to be the best fit for every household. It’s over 50 inches tall, and one of our testers (who describes herself as petite) noted that the weight distribution was cumbersome for her. And along with a potentially overwhelming height, the technological features might be more than some households or users need. 

Here at The Spruce we tend to get excited about our vacuums, but even we can admit that not every household needs a vacuum with interchangeable heads or three additional attachments. If that’s not you, then a more simplified machine from Dyson, like our best value pick, the V8 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, is likely going to be a better fit (and easier on your wallet, too). 

_{Weight: 7.6 pounds | Battery Life: 52 minutes | Attachments: Fluffy optic cleaner head, digital motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, built-in dusting and crevice tool, combination tool}

Best Value

Dyson V8 Cordless Stick

$349 At Amazon $350 At dyson.com $350 At Best Buy

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5

Even though Dyson keeps coming out with new technology to enhance its appliances, the Dyson V8 continues to impress long after we originally tested the V8 Animal back in 2019. (Few vacuums remain that competitive for that long!) This is our top value pick because it blends powerful suction with a slightly more economical price tag than other Dyson models, at just under $500 when not on sale.

This model's motorized cleaning head and brush pairs stiff nylon bristles with strong suction power to deep-clean even high-pile carpets or area rugs. The V8 performs well on hard surfaces, too, making it an excellent pick for anyone with multiple types of flooring in their home. Now, the model we tested, the V8 Animal, came with additional attachments like a mini motorized tool and a mini soft dusting brush. But as of early 2024, we’re not seeing this version carried by the Dyson site or by many stores anymore–which isn’t a big deal since the V8 is still an excellent choice in our eyes.

As a cordless stick vacuum, the V8 is also convenient to use and ideal for daily maintenance or quick cleaning sessions before company arrives. It has a built-in rechargeable battery that provides up to 40 minutes of run time in standard mode, according to Dyson. In our experience, the max mode delivers more power, but it shortens the battery life to under 10 minutes, so we recommend that you save it for spot-cleaning. 

Like many Dyson cordless stick models, we don’t love that you have to hold down the trigger the whole time you're vacuuming either. This not-super-intuitive feature makes us believe that it wouldn't be a great pick for a large home. Though, another space-related perk is that it’s extremely easy to assemble, as well as break apart and store away in a closet or laundry room. In typical Dyson fashion, the vacuum's design is stunning, and it comes with a wall mount so you can hang it up when it's not in use.

_{Weight: 5.51 pounds | Battery Life: 40 minutes | Attachments: Combination tool, crevice tool, hair screw tool}

Best for Pet Hair

Dyson Outsize+

$724 At Amazon $490 At Walmart $850 At QVC

Our Ratings

• Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.9/5

During testing, the Dyson Outsize+ blew some of our other favorites out of the water with its powerful suction. The head pulls dirt and grime in like a magnet. Just getting the head of the Outsize+ near an edge or corner of your floor is enough to pull dust and dirt and—yep, even pet hair—out. But you don’t have to use this vacuum only on perfectly smooth floors. 

Now, this head is larger than certain other Dyson models (at 11.02 inches wide, compared to our best overall, the Gen5Detect at 9.8 inches), so we had reservations about how well it would fit into corners, but that powerful suction proved to be more than sufficient. We also saw firsthand that the bevy of attachments (four in total) can zap up fur and fuzz from delicately upholstered couches and chairs (so if that’s where your dog or cat likes to relax, rest assured that guests won’t be able to tell after you’ve used this vacuum!). 

It has three power settings that can be selected and adjusted on the touchscreen panel, giving you easy control over your cleaning—but if you don't want to constantly adjust your settings, you won't have to because each setting proved to be efficient. Of the included attachments (multiple cleaning tools, brushes, a crevice tool, to name a few), our favorite was the laser slim fluff cleaner head, which has a green laser that reveals dirt, fur, and grime that was invisible to the naked eye (be warned that once you see what it reveals, you can't unsee it—until it's vacuumed up, of course). This feature comes with our best overall pick, too. Although, confusingly, it looks like the laser slim fluffy head tool isn’t always available with a purchase of the Outsize+, so definitely double-check listings when you’re shopping. At the time of publish, we are seeing it on Amazon. 

This is the only Dyson designed with two batteries, so you can clean twice as long without pausing to recharge (a regular complaint that we hear with cordless vacuums). This is an extremely impressive machine, and if it's within your budget, we definitely recommend it. The one area of caution we'd offer is that its size (more than 4 feet tall) can feel unwieldy, so expect that it may take some getting used to.

_{Weight: 7.98 pounds | Battery Life: 120 minutes (via 2, 60-minute batteries) | Attachments: Crevice tool, combination tool, hair screw tool, mini soft dusting brush}

Best for Hardwood

Dyson Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum

$275 At Amazon $450 At Home Depot $195 At Walmart

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  2.5/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

In our testing, whether we pushed or pulled the vacuum cleaner, the Dyson Omni-glide+ Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner just slid right along over hard floors, capturing coffee grounds and Cheerios with its dual soft rollers. 

It's also extremely lightweight (the lightest on our list!), and in our lab, we were able to lift it with very little effort. When we checked the vacuum with a luggage scale, we found that it weighed in at just 2.52 pounds (lower than the manufacturer's listed weight of 4.19 pounds). We were also pleased with how easily this vacuum transitioned across different hard floor surfaces, including hardwood and tile–so you won’t be tripped up taking it from one room to the next. The maneuverability and overall ease of use really support Dyson’s claim that this vacuum is designed for in-between cleaning; it’s easy to grab, zip around your floor, and feel good about the results. 

The most obvious downside to this vacuum is that it isn't designed for carpet. Other drawbacks we found in our testing were that the dust cup is rather small, so it requires frequent emptying, and the 21-minute battery life could be too short to fully clean a large home. On the other hand, the push-button operation is a standout feature. Instead of holding a trigger down to activate suction, like you would with Dyson's V8, you turn it on with the press of a button. While this Dyson vacuum for cleaning hardwood floors is an expensive option for a single purpose, it’s an excellent choice for tile, wood, or laminate flooring, and those who want to extend the time in between deep cleans. 

_{Weight: 4.19 pounds | Battery Life: 21 minutes | Attachments: Combi-crevice tool}

Best Upright

Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra

$450 At Amazon $500 At Wayfair $500 At Home Depot

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4.8/5
• Portability
  4.5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

The Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra has all of the features that we've come to know (and love) about Dyson's iconic Ball series. After testing this upright model, we've found that it has a few extra capabilities that make it even better than its predecessors, sealing its spot as our favorite upright vacuum. 

First off, the anti-tangle motorbar (Dyson's trademarked term for the floor head roller) is the star of the show. While the earlier Ball model was geared toward high-level filtration and auto-adjusting suction, the Animal 3 Extra has both of those previous components, plus it is designed for households with multiple surfaces to tackle, as well as messes inspired by pets and kids. This one-two punch of efficiency means that, in the lab, this vacuum basically excelled at cleaning all the debris we challenged it with (cereal, coffee grounds, corn kernels, hair, and lint), on all the flooring types we tried (tile, medium-pile rug, and carpeted stairs). It sailed from carpeting to hard flooring when we tried switching between the two, thanks in part to the various settings, which adjust the motorbar to heights based on floor type.

We did notice that the Animal 3 Extra has a tendency to spit larger debris, like popcorn kernels, in front of its path before eventually sucking it up. We recommend adjusting the motorbar to the highest setting to avoid this issue. Setting up the Animal 3 Extra was slightly tricky as well, as the instruction manual only includes photos and no written instructions. This made it difficult to discern how separate parts connect to each other, but we figured it all out in about 12 minutes! (Not bad, right?) 

The one other note we have for this vacuum is that, like many upright vacuums, its bulky shape and size means it’s not ideal for cleaning stairs. Using the stair cleaning attachment while holding onto the upright unit can be a challenge, too. The rest of the vacuum's attachments performed well during testing–we're especially intrigued by the pet grooming tool, which can be used directly on dogs (or calm cats) to de-shed them. 

While this vacuum isn’t quite as lightweight as Dyson's impressive stick vacuums, we think that for a versatile machine that can tackle messes big and small, it's an excellent choice.

_{Weight: 17.3 pounds | Cord Length: 35 feet | Attachments: Tangle-free turbine tool, combination tool, pet groom tool, stair tool}

We Still Love

Dyson V15 Detect

$617 At Amazon $728 At Wayfair $750 At Crate & Barrel

Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  4.5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  3/5

The V15 Detect came out before the Gen5Detect (our best overall pick) and has a lot in common with our current favorite. Along with strong Dyson suction and sleek design (right down to that top-heavy shape), both machines come with two cleaning heads (including a fluffy optic cleaner head with the laser light for added visibility), additional attachments, and an LCD display screen that reports on dust particle metrics. The vacuum uses this data to automatically increase suction power as needed, which is an interesting and advanced feature that gives you increased cleaning performance and balanced battery life (and yes, if it sounds familiar, it’s similar to what you’ll find on the Gen5Detect, too). 

As far as differences, the Gen5Detect has a few upgrades that the V15 doesn’t have, though. While the V15 does have what the brand calls “whole machine filtration,” it’s not a certified HEPA filter like the Gen5Detect. The battery power of the V15 is a touch shorter too, at 60 minutes (versus 70 minutes). Also worth noting is that for the V15, the crevice tool is a separate attachment (in other words, something else to store) while it’s a built-in feature for the Gen5Detect. Though, we can also speak to the V15’s great ability to tackle pet hair, since we tested it in a home with two dogs (our Gen5Detect tester doesn’t have pets, so we don’t yet have that experience to share quite yet). 

While we would still say that the Gen5Detect is a more advanced vacuum, it can’t be understated that the V15 is a great choice, too–especially if these variations don’t feel like much of a sacrifice for an otherwise excellent vacuum. 

_{Weight: 6.8 pounds | Battery Life: 60 minutes | Attachments: Fluffy optic cleaner head, digital motorbar cleaner head, hair screw tool, crevice tool, combination tool}