9 of the best stick vacuums to make light work of your housework

The Dyson V15 Detect is one of the brand’s most powerful and popular cordless vacuums. It features a high torque cleaner head with anti-tangle technology, a laser and piezo sensor that detects and counts dust particles to adjust suction power accordingly, as well as an easy-to-read LCD screen that will make vacuuming the home easier than ever.

Over 17,000 customers have reviewed this stick vacuum, including in Australia, with one local customer summing it up in a five star review by writing: “The suck on this is brilliant. I love it when its that strong. I love the change of strength options. Love the light so you can chase the dust bunnies. Holding it up wasn’t as hard as I was expecting but probably too hard for someone with a shoulder/arm weakness. Love it.”

Key features:

• Up to 60 minutes of fade-free power
• Laser detects particles you normally can’t see
• Piezo sensor measures microscopic dust particles and adjusts suction power automatically
• LCD display screen
• Features Dyson’s Hyperdymium Motor for powerful suction
• Fully sealed filtration system

Also available at:

• $899.99 (usually $1449) at Amazon
• $979 (usually $1449) at David Jones
• $977 at The Good Guys
• $1447 at Bing Lee

This stick vacuum from Dreame works on both wet and dry surfaces, so you can get all your cleaning done in one go. You can choose between an auto mode that optimises power use and cleaning efficiency, a turbo mode for more intensive cleaning and a dry mode when you just want to use it as a vacuum cleaner. It’s also equipped with a smart sensor that detects and adapts to the various types of messes, and a self-cleaning mode for the brush roller.

“I researched for ages before deciding on this unit and I couldn’t be happier. I have limited mobility and this thing almost does it all by itself. I love that it does get close to edges and can get rid of the tougher grime spots. The self cleaning function is outstanding,” one Australian customer shared in a five star review on Amazon, where it has an average rating of 4.3 stars from over 3000 ratings. It’s also in Amazon’s Top 10 Best Sellers list for Upright Vacuums (ranked 6 when we checked) – the top vac-mop combo to make it on there. But its 25 minute run-time means it’s probably best suited to smaller spaces or spot-cleaning hard floors.

Key features:

• 2-in-1 vacuum and mop
• 25 minute run time
• Dual-tank design sufficient to clean up to 200 square metres without changing water tanks
• Hands-free self-cleaning cycle
• 2 year warranty

As well as being relatively affordable compared to some other stick vacuums, this Kogan model is designed to efficiently suck up every last speck of dust. It features a powerful 30kPa of suction power, a washable HEPA filter that traps 99.97 per cent of fine dust and allergens, and a LCD screen that shows battery status, cleaning mode and more.

It also has over 200 reviews on Kogan, and over 90% of them are 4-5 stars. “It is very light, has good suction and the battery lasts longer than we expected,” said one customer in a five star review. “The dust collector is transparent and it’s easy to see when it needs emptying, which is also quite easy.”

Key features:

• 30kPa of suction power
• Washable HEPA filter
• 60 minutes of cleaning time
• 450W brushless DC electric motor

Powerful, lightweight, efficient and one of the more affordable Dyson stick vacuums on the market, the V8 Extra cordless is on many of our wishlists. It is engineered to pick up dirt, dust, and hair from carpets and hard floors, making it easy to maintain a clean home.

“High-performing portable vacuum, easy to use with plenty of power,” one Australian customer shared in a five star review on Amazon, where it has an average rating of 4.5 stars from over 80 reviews. It also has an average 4.4 star rating on Dyson Australia – from over 21,900 customers.

Key features:

• Transforms to handheld vacuum for cars and stairs
• Pet hair screw tool designed for pet owners
• No-touch bin emptying
• Whole-machine filtration

Also available at:

• $495 (usually $799) at Dyson

Looking for an all-in-one solution for the home? Consider your search over. With hands-free emptying for less mess, housework becomes light work. The All-In-One tower automatically empties the dustbin when the vacuum is placed on the docking station to charge so no loose particles ever re-enter the air. 

“The vacuum is incredible for picking up fine dust that you didn’t even know was there! It’s amazing what it picks up. And the hot mop function is much easier than carting around a mop and bucket. Love it so much I bought one for each of my daughters,” one customer shared in a review on The Good Guys website, where it only has a handful of reviews but all of them are five stars. It also has an average rating of 4.7 stars from over 50 customers on both LG and Bing Lee.

Key features:

• Hands-free emptying
• 3-step filtration system
• Charging dock acts as a bin as well as storage for vacuum accessories
• Two interchangeable batteries included 
• Up to 120 minutes of run time
• Brushless Smart Inverter Motor 
• Kompressor technology compresses dust and hair collected in the bin to fit in more 
• ThinQ app compatibility 

Also available at:

• $1288 (usually $1599) at Bing Lee
• $1599 at LG

The Gen5detect Absolute is another of Dyson’s highly-regarded cordless stick vacuum range and is Dyson’s most powerful HEPA cordless vacuum. It features advanced suction power, dust detection and data displayed on an LCD screen so you know when your floor is really clean. It also has a run time of up t0 70 minutes and a relatively light weight of 3.5kg.

Customers also love it, with an average of 4.7 stars from over 590 reviews on The Good Guys website.

“Love this vacuum, it’s awesome. I’m still shocked at how much dust and dirt this thing picks up. It does an amazing job, my floors have never been cleaner,” one customer shared in their five star review.

Key features:

• Transforms into a handheld in a simple click
• New single power button – say goodbye to trigger-holds
• Up to 70 minutes of run time
• Suitable for all floor types
• Intelligently adapts suction power to different floors
• Hair removal vanes automatically detangle hair from the brush bar
• Powerful suction energy with 14 scrolled cyclones
• No-touch dustbin emptying

Also available at:

• $1549 at Myer
• $1499 at Bing Lee

For under $200, this cordless stick vacuum from Kogan is incredibly affordable without compromising on quality. It’s lightweight with its 2500Pa suction power and 400W brushless DC electric motor; sucking up pet hair is a breeze – making it the perfect model for those with furry friends.

It also has over 1000 customer ratings on Kogan and the majority (over 80%) are 4 or 5 stars. “Does every thing I expected it to do and more really well,” one customer shared in a five star review from December 2024, adding, “my partner was so impressed in the Z11 performance I ordered a second one for her to use and she is most impressed in how good it is for vacuuming her car.”

Why we love it:

• Lightweight design
• Powerful brushless DC motor
• Washable HEPA filter traps up to 99.97 per cent of fine dust and allergens
• Up to 52 minutes of run time
• Wall-mounted docking system

Miele’s most powerful vacuum cleaner to date, with an extra long runtime (120 minutes, to be exact), is a versatile machine that is well worth considering. It has a 3-in-1 patented design where the power unit can be attached to the top or the bottom, meaning you can vacuum under low furniture and large areas effortlessly as well as go solo to vacuum car seats or the sofa.

“So easy to use and I love the way it just knows what floor type you’re vacuuming – (tiles, carpet or timber). You hear the tone change,” one Australian customer shared in a five star review on Amazon, where it has an average rating of 4.2 stars from over 49 customers. “Can’t quite believe how much it picks up too. Fairly easy to clean, although it did take sometime to work out how to remove the filter for cleaning. Probably more to do with our advancing years, and not being as strong as we used to be. Other than that, we’re more than happy with this purchase.”

Why we love it:

• Patented 3-in-1 design 
• Lightweight 
• 120 minutes of run time
• Wide brush head

Samsung’s BESPOKE Jet Plus Complete stick vacuum features a compact swivel head that lays flat, making vacuuming under the sofa a breeze. A highlight of this model has to be the elegant docking system – its sleek design relieves the need to hide it away in a cupboard or behind furniture.

While it only has a handful of customer reviews on The Good Guys website, 100% of them recommend it. As one happy customer shared in their five star review: “Just wow! It was actually very easy to put together and it just powers along in the house! Tiles, Lino, carpet and rugs – such power. So easy to clean you don’t really have to do a thing, and so many extra attachments it’s great!”

Why we love it:

• Integrated Clean Station empties dustbin without the mess
• Up to 120 minutes of run time
• Dual floor brush for carpets and hard floors
• 5 layered filtration system traps 99.999% of dust and allergens
• One touch button
• Elegant docking system

Also available at:

• $1299 at Bing Lee

Four factors that can help you find the best stick vacuum cleaner for your home

1. Battery life and charge times

As cordless stick vacuums are, well, cordless, you’ll need to consider the downtime needed to recharge. Depending on the area you want to use the vacuum for, consider how long you’ll need a charge to last – because there’s nothing worse than a vacuum that stops working midway through your cleaning routine. 

2. Capacity

Whether you’re using your cordless stick vacuum for the whole house, a designated area (i.e. your home office), or spot cleaning during the week, it’s important to have a vacuum cleaner with a big enough dustbin to clean the whole space. The same goes for water tanks if you choose a cordless vacuum-mop combo. Generally, the bigger the dustbin, the more convenient. However, it’s also important to consider how much ‘extra’ weight you want to carry around due to a larger dustbin. 

3. Floor-type suitability

If you have mixed flooring within your home, you’ll want to ensure your cordless stick vacuum has the capability to work efficiently on all surfaces or have different attachments to make this possible.

4. Vacuum accessories

Different rooms have their unique quirks. Maybe the master bedroom has a hard-to-reach corner, or maybe you’ve been dying to get rid of the dust lining the skirting board – having different attachments for every *unique* task will make cleaning easy breezy.