Stick vacuums are a convenient alternative to corded designs, but which model wins for overall cleaning prowess? Our expert reveals all

• The best robot vacuums to keep your home clean and dust free

Choosing a cordless vacuum isn’t a decision that should be taken lightly. You’re likely to keep a vacuum cleaner for years, relying heavily on its ability to suck up dust, crumbs, mud, pet hair and any other dry spillages or sheddings that end up on your floor. Choosing the right model can be the difference between an effective cleaner that’s a delight to pull out of the cupboard and a dud that you dread having to unblock, detangle and clean after every use.

In this review, I took 10 of the leading cordless vacuum cleaners from a range of manufacturers and at various prices and inflicted the same cleaning tests on each one. That takes all the guesswork out of picking your next cleaner: I can tell you exactly which ones picked up the most mess.

Best cordless vacuum cleaner overall:
Shark PowerDetect Clean & Empty IP3251
_{£369.91 at John Lewis}

Best budget cordless vacuum cleaner:
Vax HomePro Pet-Design
_{£317 at Amazon}

Best cordless vacuum for deep cleaning:
Dyson Gen5detect
_{£649 at John Lewis}

Best cordless vacuum for clean emptying:
Henry Quick Pro
_{£399 at Amazon}

Best handheld cordless vacuum cleaner
Dyson Car+Boat
_{£199 at AO}