Stick vacuums are, in many ways, the height of modern convenience and innovation in vacuums.
They are thin, lightweight, easy to store, and easy to use. Most importantly, most stick vacuums have suction like their more-traditional upright counterparts. While they can’t match the capacity of an upright or canister vacuum, other ease of use features makes them more than worth the tradeoff.
However, since stick vacuums are popular, affordable, and readily available, it can be hard to know which are worth the price.
Corded stick vacuums narrow things down a little. Corded vacuums have the advantage of limitless run time. But, since they are the older version of this vacuum, there are still many to choose from.
We’ve taken the time to find the best stick vacuums available right now. We’ll discuss the pros and cons of each, and by the end of the article not only will you have a shortlist of good vacuum options, but you’ll also have a guide to the most important features and benefits.
Let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Our List of the Best Stick Vacuums
1. Shark Rocket DuoClean Corded Stick Vacuum
Shark has made a name for themselves in powerful, easy to use, vacuums that last. The Rocket is no exception to this.
The Rocket is a deep cleaning tool designed specifically to give you great results across multiple types of flooring. While not powerful enough for the thickest carpet types (you’d be better served by an upright or canister vacuum for truly plush carpeting), the Rocket can handle almost anything else.
At 10 lbs. this vacuum is a good bit lighter than most upright vacuums, but a bit heavier than many stick vacuums. The extra weight gives you motor power, a slightly larger dust cup, headlights, and a pet multi-tool.
LED headlights, a built-in feature, are especially useful if you have a lot of hard flooring. Headlights let you see small particles you might otherwise miss. You’ll tend to find missed particles with your feet later. You don’t need to worry about that with this vacuum.
The Rocket also transitions easily between flooring types, including hard flooring to area rugs.
The duo brush, which makes the Rocket part of the DuoClean line, is specifically designed to address different types of dirt and debris.
The main three types of dirt you have to worry about are large-particle, small-particle, and stuck-on. Large particle dirt requires suction. Small-particle dirt needs filtration. Stuck-on dirt needs a combination of suction and bristle power.
The Rocket can address all three.
This vacuum also comes with a separate pet multi-tool designed to lift pet hair off stairs and furniture. Overall, this is a good option for users with pets (or long hair), who are looking for a reasonably affordable, whole-home, lightweight vacuum.
What We Like:
- Designed for multiple flooring types
- Built-in Headlights
- Effective tool for pet hair
- Dual bristle types for different types of dirt
- Reasonable weight
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not Suitable for high-pile carpeting
2. Hoover Linx Bagless Corded Cyclonic Stick Vacuum
The Linx is another lightweight option designed to give you a deep clean without the weight of an upright or canister vacuum.
Hoover is a good name when it comes to affordable but durable vacuums that give you a good clean.
The cyclonic technology built into this vacuum helps lift both large and small particle dirt. What it does is help provide even suction throughout the vacuum head. That even suction lifts the dirt, which is then directed toward the center. There, the suction increases slightly, helping lift all the dirt in its path more effectively.
The 20-foot cord is long enough for most spaces and will even transition between rooms in smaller homes and apartments.
The Linx also offers a fairly slim profile and footprint. It’s easy to store, easy to move, and lightweight enough to take between floors.
The low-profile vacuum head also lets you reach further under counters and large furniture, letting you get a deeper clean. You won’t need to move furniture nearly as often.
This vacuum also has the advantage of a wide cleaning footprint. That means fewer passes to clean an entire room. It’s also easier if you overlap your cleaning path to get a deeper clean.
The internet filter system is also fully washable. That means you won’t have to replace the filters as often. However, we will note that the filter doesn’t hold up well to being washed more than a couple times.
What We Like:
- Good medium-length cord
- Easy storage balanced with the size of the cleaning area
- Good suction
- Washable filter system
- Cyclonic technology improves dirt pickup
What We Didn’t Like:
- Washable filter tears after a couple of washes
- Not great on high-pile carpeting
3. Sharp Apex Upright Stick Vacuum
The Sharp Apex is from a slightly different vacuum line. It has most of the same features and benefits as the Rocket but is targeted toward slightly different home needs.
One of the biggest advantages of this model is the self-cleaning function for the beater brush.
This is a good feature for households with long hair, a person’s or a pet’s, that could tangle and clog in a traditional beater brush.
Called a Zero-M self-cleaning bar, the system removes hair the whole time the vacuum is in operation. Instead of letting hair wrap around the beater bar, eventually clogging or jamming the system, the hair is lifted away and caught in the vacuum’s regular suction.
That means that the hair gets caught in its dust cup instead, letting you empty it away with the rest of your household dirt and debris.
The LED headlight system will also help you spot trouble spots. You’ll be able to see finer particles on the floor, as well as the shadows cast by the ground on dirt and dust that needs more attention.
The Apex also gives you a longer cord, 30ft, which is on the long side of average. That longer cord makes this vacuum a good choice for large spaces. Particularly if you have lots of open rooms with hard flooring, the Apex will work well.
Additionally, the Apex has a low-profile design that easily fits under furniture.
What We Like:
- Longer power cord
- No Hair bar eliminated hair clogs
- Overheat resistant thanks to no hair bar
- LED headlights
- Low profile design
What We Didn’t Like:
- No vacuum hoses
- Slightly smaller dust cup than the Rocket
4. Miele Swing H1 Tactical Stick Vacuum
The Miele Swing is another stick vacuum with powerful suction and a good balance of features and function.
Like the Rocket, and frankly all of the stick vacuums on our list, the Swing isn’t suitable for high-pile carpeting types. But, low- and mid-pile carpeting is well within the ability of this vacuum. It’s also one of the better vacuums on the market for hardwood floors.
On hardwood, it has the directional suction that prevents dirt and debris from being scattered across the room. Traditional vacuums tend to fling as much as they pick up. The Swing, instead of tossing debris across the floor, captures it in suction.
This vacuum also easily converts into a handheld version. The handheld is a great tool for cleaning stairs, furniture, curtains, and cars.
Alternatively, you can use the telescoping wand to get behind furniture. It’s also great for reaching up to ceiling corners and removing cobwebs and gathering dust.
That double feature of both telescoping and handheld options make this vacuum a 3 in 1, although Miele doesn’t advertise it that way.
Depending on where you are ordering from, you may need to get an outlet converter to use this vacuum, Miele is a German company and uses German standard plugs.
What We Like:
- High suction, works on some carpeting
- Directional suction for more effective hard flooring cleaning
- Handheld works well
- Telescoping wand for better reach and vacuuming tall spaces
- Moves easily over most flooring types
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relatively small dust cup
- HEPA filter not included (but it is compatible with some HEPA filters)
5. Bissell 3 in 1 Lightweight Stick Handheld Vacuum
This vacuum is in the middle-high range when it comes to price for its class. But it’s also one of the slimmest and most lightweight corded stick vacuums available.
At only 3.9 lbs. this vacuum is light enough even a toddler could use it (if they could reach the handle) and is very friendly to users with injuries or stability challenges. Despite that lightweight design, this vacuum is designed for multiple flooring types.
As we’ve mentioned before, corded stick vacuums aren’t very suitable for high-pile carpeting. That said, this vacuum is a good middle-ground for maintenance cleaning. You can use this vacuum to reduce dust and noticeable allergens and dirt, and then have a friend or professional cleaner occasionally visit with a more high-powered vacuum to deep clean high-pile carpeting.
We recommend this vacuum for consumers concerned about a vacuum’s weight and how hard it will be to push across the floor.
However, being as lightweight as it does have some costs. This vacuum doesn’t have a hose and has a small dust cup.
It is a 3 in 1, meaning it has a telescoping wand and functions as a handheld vacuum as well, but that doesn’t completely replace the other accessories and tools common to larger vacuum styles.
However, as a hard flooring vacuum, or a supplemental vacuum for thick carpeting, Bissell’s Lightweight 3 in 1 performs well.
What We Like:
- Extremely lightweight design
- Great for teaching children vacuum and do chores
- Injury friendly
- Handheld is reasonably effective
- Quick-release wand
What We Didn’t Like:
- 15 ft cord is on the short side
- Not great for high-pile carpeting
6. Dibea 2 in 1 Corded Upright Stick Vacuum
The Dibea 2 in 1 is one of the more powerful vacuums on this list. It’s designed specifically to reach into the cracks and crevices in tile and grout floors. That doesn’t mean that it isn’t delicate enough to clean hardwood.
This Dibea vacuum is one of the better options for hard flooring varieties. It combines a gentle action that is safe for hardwoods, real stone tile, and laminate and softer flooring types that need powerful suction but gentle cleaning.
But it also has 5 different height settings, letting you easily switch between flooring types. Carpeting and area rugs aren’t a significant challenge.
The Dibea is also an ultra-light vacuum at just under 5 lbs. That makes it one of the lightest vacuums available. If you or a loved one as a back, arm, neck, or shoulder injury, this vacuum is a good bet. The lighter design makes it easy to move and maneuver, even in carpeting.
Easier movement reduces the strain on your joints and injuries, letting you vacuum longer without stressing your body.
They also provide a standard 12-month warranty, similar to most stick vacuums available now.
The HEPA filter feeds into a 1L dust cup. 1L is slightly larger than average on a stick vacuum and means more time between emptying and less exposure to dust and potential allergens. Having a multi-stage HEPA filter makes this vacuum an effective option for reducing overall allergen and contaminant counts.
What We Like:
- 19 ft cord is roughly average
- Very lightweight 4.6 lbs.
- LED headlights
- Included HEPA filter
- 5 height settings for different flooring types
What We Didn’t Like:
- Need to be careful about height settings on hard flooring
- Doesn’t work well for area rugs
7. Von Haus 2 in 1 Stick and Handheld Vacuum
The Von Haus 2 in 1 is another high-capacity stick vacuum designed to let you clean more before it needs emptying or maintenance.
Since this 2 in 1 is bagless, you’ll also avoid the ongoing maintenance costs of buying new bags. That said, it will still need filter replacement every few months. Usually, plan on replacing most vacuum filters every six months.
The Von Haus is no exception.
The HEPA filter removes up to 99.7% of the allergens and fine-particle contaminants from the air pulled through the filter.
Like many of the stick vacuums on our list, the Von Haus is a versatile machine able to transition to a hand-held vacuum as easily as a full-sized machine.
The hand-held version has all the filtration and debris holding capacity of the full-size vacuum. At 1.3L, this vacuum has one of the larger dust cups on our list.
The Von Haus is also easy to push and maneuver. While it doesn’t have a specific swivel steer design, the combination of good ergonomic factors and lightweight design makes it easy to use and move.
It’s also one of the only stick vacuums that comes with a traditional hose and crevice tool. Crevice tools are great for reaching under and behind furniture and cleaning by baseboards. They are also good tools for cleaning next to and behind large immovable furniture like bookshelves.
What We Like:
- Large Dust Capacity
- Handheld operation is easy and effective
- Includes a hose and crevice tool
- Built-in HEPA filter
- Slightly lighter than average
What We Didn’t Like:
- No Headlight
- Plastic housing isn’t very durable
8. Eureka Blaze 3 in 1 Lightweight Stick Vacuum
Another great option for users looking for an ultra-light but effective vacuum, the Eureka Blaze is designed to meet your vacuuming needs through your whole home.
Approximately 4 lbs., the Blaze matches the Dibea 2 in 1 for a lightweight design. However, as a 3 in 1, it has slightly more flexibility, including a telescoping want in addition to the handheld.
This may also be a good option if you are concerned about environmentally friendly manufacturing and shipping.
The Blaze arrives in Frustration-Free Certified packaging (FFP). That means fewer boxes, fewer bags, and more recyclable materials instead of single-use Styrofoam and plastics.
However, it’s 18 ft cord is a little on the short side, making this a better vacuum for more compact spaces, or users who don’t mind switching outlets as they clean.
The Blaze is also a more complete package than most stick vacuums. It’s a 3 in 1 and comes with a crevice tool for additional cleaning. While I will say that this package still doesn’t quite match the tools that come with an upright or canister vacuum, it comes close.
This is one of the more versatile vacuums on our list. It’s well suited if you’re looking for a slightly less powerful machine that will effectively clean hard flooring, but which isn’t needed for high-pile carpeting or rugs.
What We Like:
- Extremely Lightweight
- Frustration-Free Packaging
- Comes as a 3 in 1 and has crevice tools
- Swivel Steering
- Large debris capture vacuum head
What We Didn’t Like:
- Relatively narrow cleaning path
- Small dust cup
9. Bissell Hard Floor Expert Corded Stick Vacuum
This is another variation on the corded stick vacuum from Bissell. They’ve brought in the V-shaped head, that funnels debris toward the point of highest suction. It also has swivel steering and cyclonic filtration for a superior clean.
This isn’t a good vacuum if you’re looking for a machine even just to touch-up your carpet clean. It doesn’t have a beater brush, and while you will pull some dust and allergens up with suction alone, it’s not enough to effectively clean carpeting at all.
That said, specialist hard flooring vacuums perform noticeably better than non-specialist machines on average. If you have a lot of tile, hardwood, or laminate in your home, you’re probably better served by this vacuum than one also designed for carpet.
The dust cup on this vacuum is also one of the better designs available. It looks and feels more like a food-processer cup. That familiar shape makes it easy to hold and empty.
Easy maneuverability in the dust cup helps prevent spills and messy accidents when you empty your vacuum.
At 7.5 lbs. this vacuum is roughly average weight for a stick vacuum. However, the easy treat wheels and swivel steering make it easier to maneuver than other vacuums of the same weight.
What We Like:
- V shape vacuum head is effective
- Reasonable weight
- Average cord length
- Great dust cup design
- Hard flooring specialist vacuum
What We Didn’t Like:
- No carpeting or rug cleaning ability at all
- V-shape vacuum head takes some getting used to if you haven’t used similar designs
10. Bissell Featherweight Stick Bagless Vacuum
The Bissell Featherweight is very similar to the other Bissell stick vacuums on our list. Their corded stick vacuum line are all variations on the same theme, but with different specialties and most important features.
The Featherweight should give away it’s the primary focus in the name. We’ve has two other vacuums we noted as being extremely lightweight and user-friendly. This vacuum beats both of those considering weight as the most important single feature.
Both other vacuums were at or under 4 lbs. The Featherweight weighs only 3 lbs. Now, while this is a 3 in 1 vacuum, to get that extremely lightweight design, some other design features had to be sacrificed.
It takes advantage of the best of Bissell suction technology, but it doesn’t meet the suction of other Bissell Vacuums thanks to the lightweight motor. The plastic housing also scratches fairly easily, though it doesn’t tend to dent or crack.
This vacuum is a good choice for touching up your floors between major cleaning, or for users who really cannot use a heavier machine. It can function as a primary hard flooring vacuum and is higher quality than many electric broom designs and other cheaper stick vacuums. But it is less effective than many of the other machines on our list.
What We Like:
- Lightest vacuum design
- Reasonably effective for weight and price
- Good suction
What We Didn’t Like:
- Not powerful enough to be a primary deep cleaning tool
Conclusion:
We’ve gone over some of the best stick vacuums on the market. Some things to consider before you land on which vacuum is right for you:
How much storage space do you have? A stick vacuum is a space saver, but only if you aren’t also buying a different vacuum for the thicker carpeting in your home.
Do you have lots of pets, live in an area with high pollen counts, or have other respiratory or allergy concerns? A HEPA filter is important if you want to improve the air quality in your home when you vacuum. A stick vacuum may help less than larger vacuums that pull more air, but they will still make a difference.
How long does the cord need to be? Are headlights a useful feature for your home?
Even if meeting your priority list means buying a slightly more expensive vacuum, you’ll end up saving money in the long run since you’ll be happier and go longer without replacing the machine.