This article uses affiliate programs, including the Amazon Associates Program, to introduce products. As an Amazon Associate, CHOTTO NOTE earns from qualifying purchases.
If you're tired of unplugging and replugging as you move from room to room, or your corded vacuum has gotten too heavy and bulky to bother pulling out, you've probably searched for a cordless vacuum to replace it, and run into price ranges and spec listings that differ from product to product. Cordless vacuums mainly differ in weight, run time (how long one charge lasts), ease of upkeep, floor-head features and extra features. Here we scored four products on these five points. Suction power is not scored, because comparable figures were not available.
Our Picks — The Right One for You
Sharp EC-FR9-B
- Dust collectionCentrifugal cyclone
- Dust capacity0.13 L
- Charging timeabout 4 hours
1.2 kg standard weight, and the dust cup, filter and rotating brush are all washable. About 32 minutes with the standard head. Tied for #1 on the Spec Score with Iris Ohyama.
Iris Ohyama AZ-SCD-123P-W
- Dust collectionCyclone
- HeadSelf-propelled power head
1.1 kg, with a self-propelled power head, LED light, dust sensor and a stand that charges it when you set it down.
Makita CL108FDSHW
- Dust capacity600 mL
1.0 kg (without pipe and nozzle), the lightest of the four, and it charges in about 22 minutes. About 25 minutes in Standard mode.
Dyson Cyclone V10 Fluffy
- ModelSV58 AD-A NKLCPR
- Dust collectionCyclone (with filter)
- Dust capacity0.5 L
Up to 60 minutes (up to 40 with the Fluffy cleaner head). The dust case and filter are washable, and it has a motorized head. At 2.6 kg it is the heaviest of the four. We found no comparable suction figures, so suction is not part of the score.
Pros and Cons of Cordless Vacuums
Here's a summary of what tends to satisfy people after buying, and what's worth checking before you do.
Pros
- You can move between rooms and clean without unplugging and replugging
- Many models are lighter than a corded vacuum, so it is easy to grab and start using right away
- Swap in the handheld nozzle and it also works for cleaning your car interior or sofa
Cons
- In a home with very large floor area, a corded canister vacuum can sometimes make more sense
- A single battery charge only lasts so long, and some models aren't well suited to cleaning a large room in one pass
- If you're already happy with the vacuum you have, there's little need to replace it
How to Choose a Cordless Vacuum: 6 Points
Here are 6 points to check before you buy. The figures in the diagrams come from the official and retail-page specs of the products in this article.
Weight (Will You Lift It Often?)
If you use it on stairs or lift it often, weight decides how long you keep using it. The conditions behind each figure differ a little, so treat the numbers as a guide.
Related pickIris Ohyama AZ-SCD-123P-W / Makita CL108FDSHW（Light weight 5/5）
Run Time (How Much Will You Clean per Charge?)
With many rooms, look at how long one charge lasts. The "maximum" figure is sometimes measured without the floor head, so we compared the time with the floor head or standard nozzle.
Related pickDyson Cyclone V10 Fluffy（Run time 5/5）
Floor-Head Features
If you mostly clean flooring and carpet, the head decides how easy it is. Check for a motor-driven head, self-propelling, and tangle resistance.
Related pickSharp EC-FR9-B / Iris Ohyama AZ-SCD-123P-W（Floor-head features 4/5）
Care (Washable Parts)
The effort at every emptying decides whether you keep using it. More washable parts make odors and clogs easier to deal with.
Related pickSharp EC-FR9-B（Care 4/5）
How Dust Is Collected
Cyclone, capsule (dust cup) and paper-pack types differ in emptying and upkeep. The four products here are cyclone or capsule types.
Extra Features and Storage
LED light, charging stand, detachable battery and other handy extras, in one table.
Related pickIris Ohyama AZ-SCD-123P-W（Extra features 5/5）
Spec Score Ranking
→ Swipe sideways to see the full table. Use the buttons to re-sort. Click a product name for details. You can also sort by clicking a column heading.
| Rank | Product | Buy (prices as of date shown) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SharpEC-FR9-BCordless stick vacuum (RACTIVE Air, black) | 4.00 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | See on Amazon¥25,800See on Rakuten¥29,582Price as of 2026-09-09 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 2 | Iris OhyamaAZ-SCD-123P-WCordless stick vacuum (MagiCaleena, cyclone type) | 4.00 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 5 | See on Amazon¥21,800See on Rakuten¥26,460Price as of 2026-09-09 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 3 | MakitaCL108FDSHWCordless cleaner (10.8 V, capsule type) | 2.85 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | See on Amazon¥14,465See on Rakuten¥15,450Price as of 2026-09-09 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
| 4 | DysonCyclone V10 FluffyCordless stick vacuum (SV58 AD-A NKLCPR) | 2.50 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 1 | See on Amazon¥32,600See on Rakuten¥29,900Price as of 2026-09-09 · affiliate link · Opens the shop's site |
Prices are as of 2026-09-09. They change with sales and stock, so please check the current price on the linked page.
A "–" in the table means the manufacturer and retail pages do not list that item (it is not counted in the score).
What each criterion means, and its weight
Each criterion is scored 1 to 5 and the overall score is the weighted average. The exact thresholds are in How the Spec Score Is Calculated.
- Light weightweight 25%
- Weight (as listed by maker or retail page)
- Run timeweight 25%
- Run time with the standard floor head or nozzle in a standard mode
- Careweight 15%
- Washable parts (starts at 1 point, +1 for each that applies)
- Floor-head featuresweight 20%
- Floor-head features (starts at 1 point, +1 for each listed)
- Extra featuresweight 15%
- Extra features (starts at 1 point, +1 per listed feature, max 5)
- Overall Spec Score
- Shown only when at least 4 of the 5 criteria have a score; the weighted average is taken over the criteria that do.
Compare 2 to 3 products side by side
Tick "Add to compare" in the table above and the products appear here (up to 3).
Product Notes
Sharp・Cordless stick vacuum (RACTIVE Air, black)
Sharp EC-FR9-B
- Light weight4/5
- Run time4/5
- Care4/5
- Floor-head features4/5
- Extra features4/5
Good forBest if you want light weight and easy, washable upkeep together
Good points
- Light at 1.2 kg standard weight, and the battery detaches for charging
- Dust cup, filter and rotating brush can all be washed with water
- Auto mode that senses the floor; the lineup of heads also lists a tangle-resistant brush
Things to note
- Run time on Strong is only about 8 minutes
- The dust cup is small at 0.13 L
Iris Ohyama・Cordless stick vacuum (MagiCaleena, cyclone type)
Iris Ohyama AZ-SCD-123P-W
- Light weight5/5
- Run time3/5
- Care3/5
- Floor-head features4/5
- Extra features5/5
Good forBest if you want light weight with a well-equipped floor head
Good points
- Light at 1.1 kg, with a stand that charges it when you just set it down
- Self-propelled power head, LED light and a dust sensor
- The dust cup and rotating brush can be washed whole
Things to note
- The 40-minute maximum is with attachments; about 30 minutes with the floor head
Makita・Cordless cleaner (10.8 V, capsule type)
Makita CL108FDSHW
- Light weight5/5
- Run time2/5
- Care2/5
- Floor-head features1/5
- Extra features4/5
Good forBest as a light secondary vacuum for quick cleanups
Good points
- At 1.0 kg (without pipe and nozzle), the lightest figure among the four listings
- LED light, and the battery detaches for charging
- About 22 minutes to charge (supplied BL1015)
Things to note
- Runtime is short: about 25 min on Standard and about 10 min on Powerful
- Few accessories come as standard; floor heads are sold separately
Dyson・Cordless stick vacuum (SV58 AD-A NKLCPR)
Dyson Cyclone V10 Fluffy
- Light weight1/5
- Run time5/5
- Care3/5
- Floor-head features2/5
- Extra features1/5
Good forBest if you want strong floor suction and long run time
Good points
- Up to 60 minutes of running (up to 40 minutes with the Fluffy cleaner head)
- Dust case and filter are washable
- 2-way floor and handheld use, with a direct-drive (motorized) head
Things to note
- At 2.6 kg, the heaviest of the four
- With the Fluffy cleaner head, run time is up to 40 minutes
Who Cordless Vacuums Are a Good Fit For — and Who Should Consider Other Options
As a category, cordless vacuums tend to work well for the following people.
Good fit if you...
- Want to move between rooms while cleaning, without replugging
- Want a light vacuum that you can pick up and start using immediately
- Also want to swap to a handheld nozzle for the car or the sofa
Consider other options if you...
- Live somewhere with a very large floor area, where a corded canister vacuum makes more sense
- Would not get through a whole large room on a single battery charge
- Already have a corded or cordless vacuum you are happy with
Still deciding? Check these in order
If you lift it often, for example on stairs, put weight first; if you want to cover a large area in one go, put run time first. For a quick job at a desk or in a car, a light, compact model also suits.
With several rooms or a large area to cover, choose a model with a long runtime. For shorter jobs, a model with switchable power modes is enough.
Whether the dust cup and filter can be rinsed, and how easily hair comes off the head, differ a lot between products — worth reading the reviews on this before buying.
Commonly Cited Complaints, and How to Handle Them
It is generally said of cordless vacuums that battery life starts to feel shorter than it did when new, and hair or pet fur tangled around the head's brush causes suction to drop off. Avoiding storage in hot, humid places and not leaving the battery sitting at full charge for long stretches helps slow that degradation. Periodically cutting away tangled hair from the head's brush with scissors or similar tools helps prevent a drop in suction. For cyclonic dust cups, checking the filter each time you empty the dust and lightly tapping out any clogged dust helps maintain suction power.
Best Pick by Situation
If you want a light secondary vacuum for quick cleanups, Makita CL108FDSHW is the pick. If strong suction and run time matter most, go with Dyson Cyclone V10 Fluffy. If light weight and easy, washable upkeep matter most, Sharp EC-FR9-B is the candidate. And if you want a stand and a well-equipped floor head, Iris Ohyama MagiCaleena AZ-SCD-123P-W fits the bill.
First Steps After You Buy
Following the manual to fully charge the battery before your first use makes it easier to get a feel for how long the runtime actually lasts going forward. It's also worth testing the included head and nozzle attachments right after purchase — checking whether they actually reach into gaps between furniture or under the sofa at home — so you know what to expect. For models that come with a charging stand, deciding on a spot near an outlet where it's easy to charge lowers the barrier to using it every day.
How the Spec Score Is Calculated
Each criterion is scored from 1 to 5, and the overall score is the weighted average. We use the manufacturer's official figures; where the official site could not be read, we fill in from Amazon, Rakuten Ichiba, Kakaku.com and similar retail or comparison pages (only pages that match the exact model number). A criterion with no published figure is left out and the average is taken over the rest (for care and features, only items that are actually listed earn points).
| Light weight (25% weight) | Weight (as listed by maker or retail page) 1.1 kg or less = 5 / 1.2 kg or less = 4 / 1.5 kg or less = 3 / 2.0 kg or less = 2 / above = 1 |
|---|---|
| Run time (25% weight) | Run time with the standard floor head or nozzle in a standard mode 40 min or more = 5 / 32+ = 4 / 30+ = 3 / 25+ = 2 / below = 1 |
| Care (15% weight) | Washable parts (starts at 1 point, +1 for each that applies) Washable parts (dust cup, filter, rotating brush): (1) one or more (2) two or more (3) three or more |
| Floor-head features (20% weight) | Floor-head features (starts at 1 point, +1 for each listed) (1) motor-driven head (2) self-propelled / power assist (3) automatic adjustment to floor or dust |
| Extra features (15% weight) | Extra features (starts at 1 point, +1 per listed feature, max 5) LED light / charging stand or hang-on hook / detachable battery / electrostatic mop / crevice tool included |
Summary
This comparison uses published specs, not hands-on impressions. Decide first how often you will lift it, for example on stairs, and how much you want to clean per charge, then choose.
Related Articles
Update history
Show update history (2)
- Rewritten on the new template (Spec Score, product detail pages).
- Display improvements (summary at the top, ranking cards, sortable comparison table with side-by-side compare, in-page navigation). Scores, prices and links are unchanged.