Pet hair, food mess, dirty feet – a reliable vacuum cleaner can really make all the difference in keeping your home dust-free and looking and smelling fresh. While the best cordless vacuums offer convenience and robot vacuums do it all for you, the best corded vacuum cleaners are best for deep cleaning, thanks to their unwavering suction power and unlimited runtime.
Not all corded models are created equal, though. There are three choices: sticks, upright models or cylinder vacuums. Stick vacuums are lightweight and slim, making them ideal for quick clean-ups, but they are usually less powerful. Upright vacuums have strong suction, making them ideal for deep-cleaning carpets and large areas, but they’re bulky and hard to carry up and down stairs. Cylinder vacuums have a separate canister and hose, offering flexibility for stairs and tight spaces but a little less suction.
Whatever you choose, it’s important to look for features such as suction power, filtration, and a large dust bucket – you don’t want to be constantly running to the bin to empty it. A long power cord and swivel steering can also make a vacuum much easier to use. These are all things I put to the test when searching for the best corded vacuum cleaner.
How I tested
I tested each vacuum cleaner in a busy family home over several weeks, assessing several different features in each model. These were:
- Suction power: Strong suction is essential for deep cleaning, especially in homes with children, pets, or heavy foot traffic. I tested how well each vacuum handled everything from fine dust to crumbs to see how efficiently it lifted dirt in a real-life setting. I conducted various tests, such as purposefully spilling rice on the floor to assess how each one cleaned up the mess.
- Filtration: A vacuum with bad filtration is a recipe for disaster. A good system prevents allergens, dust, and fine particles from being released back into the air. This is especially important in households with allergy sufferers.
- Dust bucket size and ease of emptying: In a busy home, a small bin fills up fast, so I paid attention to how much each dust bucket could hold before needing to be emptied. Regularly needing to empty a dust bucket when cleaning is not ideal, and adds more time to your chores.
- Power cord length: The length of a vacuum power cord is a decades-long struggle. Longer cords mean fewer interruptions and a much greater ease of use. This was an important factor in my testing experience.
- Swivel steering: Swivel steering on a vacuum is one of those things that makes life easier, and manoeuvrability makes a big difference in day-to-day cleaning. During testing, I checked how easily each vacuum navigated around furniture, tight corners, and under tables.
These are all important factors in seeing how well each model would be able to handle everyday mess. With two adults and four children in the household, the vacuums were put through their paces on various surfaces. These included carpets, hardwood floors, and rugs, soiled with everything from food to muddy footprints. The vacuums were assessed on how effectively they picked up visible debris and finer dust. I also looked at how well the devices cleaned upholstery, under furniture, and on stairs to gauge their versatility.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
All of the products we feature within our guides have been tried and tested in the same real-life environments in which you’ll be using them. Zoe Griffin has been reviewing vacuum cleaners for IndyBest for years, including the best Shark vacuum cleaners. She’s researched and tested different features (from anti-hair-wrap technology and suction power to models with lights and bagged versus bagless designs) to find the models that are worth your money, so you can trust her home-tech expertise. Beyond this, she is a parent to four children, so her home is prone to getting dirty quickly, making this the ideal testing zone.
The best corded vacuum cleaners for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Shark stratos corded stick pet pro: £250, Argos.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Amazon Basics two-in-one corded upright vacuum cleaner: £29.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for pet hair – Dyson ball animal multi-floor: £379.99, Dyson.co.uk
- Best bagless vacuum – Hoover upright: £139, Amazon.co.uk
Shark stratos corded stick pet pro
Best: Corded vacuum overall
Weight: 3.9kg
Cord length: 10m
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.3l
Power: 450W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Long power cord
- Lightweight
- Powerful LED lights
Take note
- Small dust bin
Vacuum cleaners that are lightweight and easy to manoeuvre often come at a higher price point than bulky uprights, so I was pleasantly surprised to find I could snap up this lightweight, compact stick vacuum for less than £250. The vacuum cleaner’s flexology technology was impressive – the hose bends and folds down on itself at a 90-degree angle so the bottom part can operate parallel to the floor, making it easy to clean under sofas and tables. Another helpful feature is that the LED lights illuminated where dirt was hiding, ensuring I didn’t miss a spot.
It was also a bonus to find that this affordable vacuum cleaner came with an anti-odour cartridge to insert into the floorhead to protect the dust bin from emitting odours and make the home smell fresher. Added freshness came from its anti-allergen complete seal with HEPA filtration, which was able to trap dust and allergens efficiently to improve air quality. A 10m power cord gave me excellent freedom of movement, too, enabling me to do two rooms at a time without changing power sockets.
Read more: Best Shark vacuum cleaners, compared
Buy now £250.00, Argos.co.uk
Amazon basics 2-in-1 corded upright vacuum cleaner
Best: Budget corded vacuum
Weight: 1.8kg
Cord length: 6m
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.7l
Power: 300W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Great value for money
- Lightweight
- Easy to store
- Great for quick clean-ups
It’s important to point out that the Amazon basics corded vacuum cleaner is tiny. When it arrived, I thought the warehouse had made an error and sent us a toy. However, if you look past the size, you’ll find a great-value vacuum cleaner that provides a decent amount of power for the price.
Offering a motor output of 300W, it might not be the vacuum cleaner you use for the whole house, but its compact size means you can store it in a kitchen cupboard and use it for those fiddly and annoying messes that happen daily when you have children or pets. It’s a great option for those in flats and small terraces, but it probably won’t work for larger homes.
The slim design also makes it easy to get stuck into small spaces, and it has a swivel brush head, so you can clean in any direction. It’s so reactive that if you move your hand slightly, it will follow. You won’t sweat, bend or lift using this, making it a sensible choice for anyone with mobility issues or feeling fragile as they age. Additionally, the top of the vacuum detaches into a small handheld for use on sofas and car upholstery, providing even more bang for your buck.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon.co.uk
Numatic Henry HVT160 turbo vacuum cleaner
Best: Bagged corded vaccuum
Weight: 7.5kg
Cord length: 8m
Filtration system: Bagged
Dust capacity: 6l
Power: 620W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Strong suction power
- Huge dustbags
- Easy to manoeuvre
Take note
- Heavy
Beyond the classic design, I was also impressed by this machine’s power. Often used by professional cleaners, Henry has a reputation for reliability and durability, but the turbo version is something else. It now has an ‘airobrush’ turbo head, featuring a rotating bristle bar that does a superb job of lifting dirt, dust, and pet hair embedded deep within carpet fibres. I found it brilliant at lifting dirt, crumbs, and dust from deep within my carpets, tackling the daily messes left behind by little feet.
Henry’s strong airflow drives the turbo bar, helping the appliance to pick up stubborn hair and debris with which standard vacuums often struggle. After snack time, crushed cereal and biscuit crumbs were removed effortlessly from a thick carpet. All dirt and dust were kept securely in a massive 6l dust bag that’s so large it rarely needs emptying and can be disposed of as a whole when done. I also appreciated how easy Henry was to manoeuvre, especially when cleaning under furniture and around toys.
But while the Henry is easy to wheel across the floor, it’s hard to carry up the stairs. Henry weighs in at 8 kilos, more than twice that of the Shark stratos corded stick pet pro. Elderly or disabled users might find Henry a little tricky to lug around the house.
Buy now £199.99, Amazon
Vax airlift2 pet plus
Best: Corded vacuum for upholstery
Weight: 6.5kg
Cord length: 9m
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 1.5l
Power: 950W
Why we love it
- Great for upholstery
- Strong suction
- Good on carpets
Take note
- Difficult to steer
The Vax airlift 2 is a powerful vacuum with two brush bars to efficiently tackle carpets and hard floors. The first brush bar, with firm bristles, agitated carpet fibres to lift dirt, pet hair and debris, while the second brush bar cleaned hard floors by preventing scattering and picking up large and small messes. From spilt cereal in the kitchen to muddy footprints in the hallway, the vacuum agitated and lifted debris, big and small, without issue.
It takes just seconds to convert this solid Vax model into a handheld vacuum cleaner. Having only used battery-operated handhelds in the car before, it was a real eye-opener to witness the power of this corded Vax on my mucky car seats. With around triple the suction power of most cordless vacuum cleaners, it sucked up leftover croissants, biscuits and general child-related snack leftovers in no time.
However, this vacuum is tricky to manoeuvre. It’s not the heaviest vacuum I’ve tested, but it’s hard to steer, so it may not work for smaller homes or people with mobility issues.
Buy now £119.00, Amaozn
Dyson ball animal multi-floor
Best: Corded vacuum for pet hair
Weight: 7.4kg
Cord length: 10m + 4m stretch
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 3.5l
Power: 270AW
HEPA filter: No
Why we love it
- Anti-hair wrap roller
- Root cyclone technology
- Extra-long cord
Take note
- Heavy
- Expensive
Dyson has been making variations on the ball animal vacuum for years, and though it’s an old design, I still think it’s one of the best vacuums you can buy. It has incredibly strong suction thanks to a 750W motor, and the powerful motorbar cleaning head disrupts the top of carpets to pick up dust and dirt. It’s especially ruthless on pet hair. On top of that, finally, hair-removal vanes automatically clear hair as you push, so you shouldn’t have to try and detangle hair from a brush head ever again.
If you can cope with the weight, you’ll find it performs brilliantly on stairs, thanks to the 10m cord, which has 4m of additional stretch, meaning there’s no pull on the top step when you plug it in at the bottom.
Although bagless vacuum cleaners are typically not as good for allergy sufferers as their bagged counterparts, this one hygienically ejects dirt at the touch of a button – so there’s no need to get your hands dirty.
Unlike other uprights I’ve tested, I found this corded cleaner exceptionally easy to manoeuvre, thanks to the responsive roller ball that enables it to change direction with the flick of the wrist. At 1m tall, it’s comfortable for people of all heights. However, be warned – the 7.4kg weight is noticeably heavy, so it may not suit petite people or those who find lifting difficult. It’s also pretty expensive for a corded vacuum.
Read more: Best Dyson vacuums, reviewed
Buy now £379.99, Dyson.co.uk
Shark lift-away NV602UKT upright vacuum cleaner with truepet
Best: Upright corded vacuum
Weight: 6kg
Cord length: 8m
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 1.1l
Power: 750W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Powerful LED lights
- Anti-allergen-seal
- Modes for carpets and hard floors
Take note
- Bulky design
This strong, durable vacuum cleaner will change the way you tidy your house. It makes doing housework faster and more efficient, which will then leave you with more leisure time to sit back and enjoy your clean surroundings.
The compact design suits quick tidy-ups, while the 8m cord length is perfect for when you want to tackle the whole house without getting tied up in knots. Even better is that it’s just as easy to use on stairs as it is on floors, as the canister detaches from the main unit at the push of a button to transform into a light handheld that reaches all the corners and edges.
Powerful LED lights were very useful when it came to cleaning under furniture, and I also loved that this vacuum not only has a HEPA filter but also Shark’s anti-allergen complete seal technology, which captures and traps 99.9 per cent of dust and allergens.
Buy now £139.00, Amazon.co.uk
Sebo 90810GB Felix pet epower
Best: Corded vacuum for speedy cleaning
Weight: 6.8kg
Cord length: 9.5m
Filtration system: Bagged
Dust capacity: 3.5l
Power: 700W
HEPA filter: No
Why we love it
- Multi-stage filtration system
- Cleans well under furniture
- Large dust bag
- Adjustable height levels
Take note
- Expensive
This is a well-designed vacuum, makes cleaning comfortable and speedy. I was impressed by how it offers four different height levels and variable power, so you can choose the optimum settings for any cleaning task.
It has an L-shaped head that lets you clean right to the skirting board and even reach under most radiators. The brush itself has a double helix design that guides dust into the airstream before trapping it securely inside.
When flat, the Felix measures just 15cm for superior cleaning power under furniture without any need to stop and switch attachments. The 3.5l dust bag means you can do a whole house without having to interrupt the cleaning to empty it into a bin.
I was really impressed by the design of the filtration system, too. The first stage of filtration is the SEBO ultrabag. Made from the same material as medical masks, it safely retains virtually all dust that is picked up. A pre-motor filter is fitted after the bag and filters the air before it enters the motor. Aside from filtration, its main task is to prevent debris that could have entered the vacuum body from entering and damaging the motor. Finally, an exhaust microfilter cleans the air before it leaves the vacuum. You can also buy SEBO air fresheners (£11.29, Amazon.co.uk) that stop the dreaded hot pet hair smell.
However, like most uprights, this is pretty unwieldy on stairs, and it's also one of the most expensive vacuums I’ve tested.
Buy now £444.99, Amazon.co.uk
Bosch series 4 proeco bagged cylinder vacuum cleaner
Best: Compact cylinder corded vacuum
Weight: 4.5kg
Cord length: 7m
Filtration system: Bagged
Dust capacity: 4l
Power: 850W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Super powerful
- Large capacity
- Reassuring 10-year guarantee
- Incorporates recycled plastic
Take note
- No cable rewind
Sturdy, durable and satisfyingly powerful, the Bosch series 4 didn’t leave a speck of dirt or dust in its wake. Its 850W power was among the strongest I’ve tested, and it made short work of picking up dust and crumbs. Some bagged vacuum cleaners lose power as the bag fills up, but this one has Bosch’s unique power protect technology, which delivers the same amount of power, no matter how much dust is inside.
Each bag can hold an impressive 4l, cutting down the cost of replacement bags. Bosch offers the longest guarantee of all the models I tested, providing 10 years of confidence in your purchase.
I loved how the four wheels swivel in all directions, making it easy to push and pull around the room. It’s also surprisingly compact, making it easy to carry upstairs and to tuck away in a cupboard for storage.
It’s hard to fault this vacuum – the only issue is that the cable lacks an automatic rewind, but this is a small drawback.
Buy now £149.00, Amazon.co.uk
Shark anti-hair-wrap corded vacuum cleaner with flexology HZ500UK
Best: Stick corded vacuum
Weight: 3.9kg
Cord length: 10m
Filter system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 0.3l
Power: 450W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Lightweight
- Flexible wand
- Easy storage
Take note
- Needs to be emptied frequently
This nifty corded stick vacuum made cleaning a pleasure (well, almost) due to its slim, lightweight design. Shark’s flexology technology - a rather grand term for saying that the pole can bend in the middle - means you can reach underneath low-lying beds, sofas and coffee tables with no need to lift them or bend down. It was also the easiest vacuum cleaner to store. The wand folds down so you can squeeze it into the smallest of cupboards.
It’s designed specifically for homes with pets, so you can expect anti-hair-wrap technology to stop hair from tangling around the brush roll, plus a special pet tool to remove embedded hair. The unique brush roll is great for homes with different floor surfaces, as it consists of two different types of brushes in one. A bristle brush-roll cleans deep into the carpet pile, while a soft front brush-roll draws in large debris and small particles and lifts fine, stuck-on dust from hard floors.
Further useful features are LED headlights in the floorhead to help illuminate hidden dust and pet hair, and a 10m cord (the longest among all the vacuum cleaners I tested). I’d give it five stars if it weren’t for the small 0.3l dust capacity, which needs emptying frequently.
Buy now £179.00, Very.co.uk
Tower VL20 3-in-1 performance vacuum cleaner
Best: Two-in-one corded vacuum
Weight: 1.3kg
Cord length: 5m
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 1l
Power: 600W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Steers easily
- Budget-friendly
- Handheld mode
- Great for allergy sufferers
- Lightweight
Take note
- 5m cord is a little short
If you live in a messy household and often need a cleaner for a quick whip-around, the Tower VL20 is a joy to use. In stick mode, it’s easy to steer and quickly covers a lot of ground. There’s also a useful handheld mode for stairs, sofas, and car upholstery, and you can extend the pole in handheld mode to reach ceilings and corners.
This may have been one of the cheapest corded vacuums I’ve tested, and its 600W power was slightly lower than other models, but cleaning ability on both carpet and hard floor was superb, thanks to its motorised floor head.
It’s also brilliant for allergy sufferers, with Tower making a point of stating it uses a HEPA 13 system, which is the newest model. Tower claims this removes 99.95 per cent of fine particles from 0.3 microns, making it ideal for allergy sufferers. But it was the 1.3kg weight that impressed us the most, as you can push it with just one finger. However, the 5m cord means you have to switch plugs fairly often.
Buy now £49.99, Amazon.co.uk
Miele 12031880 complete C3 cat and dog cylinder bagged vacuum cleaner
Best: Cylinder corded vacuum
Weight: 7.3kg
Cord length: 8.5m
Filtration system: Bagged
Dust capacity: 4.5l
Power: 890W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Extremely strong suction power
- Bag locks in dust, making it great for allergy sufferers
Take note
- Heavy
- Harder to store
There are very few scenarios the Miele complete C3 can’t handle. From tackling pet hair to helping allergy sufferers breathe better, this top-of-the-range corded cleaner is a solid all-rounder.
It may be the most expensive vacuum cleaner I’ve tested, but it has several unique features that make it a premium investment. For example, an active air-clean filter contains active charcoal that neutralises pet odours, leaving the air in rooms noticeably fresher after vacuuming. Its suction power of 890W beat all the competition, resulting in floors that became almost shiny because they were so spotless.
Allergy sufferers will appreciate that you never have to see dust and dirt, let alone touch it or breathe it in. When the vacuum cleaner is opened, the collar of the Miele HyClean dustbag closes automatically and locks in the vacuumed dust for good. Plus, the protective netting prevents the bag from tearing.
All of the features do come at the expense of weight, as it tops the scales at a hefty 7.3kg. But if you don’t mind a bit of heavy lifting in the quest to have an immaculate house, this is a beast of a machine that’s unlikely to ever let you down.
Buy now £389.00, Spatial Online
Hoover upright 300
Best: Bagless corded vacuum
Weight: 4.94kg
Cord length: 8.1m
Filtration system: Bagless
Dust capacity: 1.5l
Power: 800W
HEPA filter: Yes
Why we love it
- Adjustable power
- Easy to steer
Take note
- Aesthetically unappealing design
For just £130, Hoover’s upright 300 is a lightweight upright vacuum that brings a lot of power. At 800W, it offers superb suction power, combined with multi-cyclonic technology for sustained performance. The cyclone separates dust particles to prevent them from blocking the filter, which would lead to a loss in suction power.
The big selling point is how easy it is to push. Thanks to its 80-degree steering angle, the swivelling floor nozzle glides around your home with ease. This helped me nip around furniture without having to stop, bend and reach.
Switch on the brush bar for carpets, to pull out hidden dirt on soft surfaces, and turn off for faster cleaning on hard floors. You can also slide the vent cover to vary suction, if you want to be gentle on older carpets or rugs.
Buy now £139.00, Amazon.co.uk
Your corded vacuum cleaner questions answered
What is the best corded vacuum cleaner?
For exceptional power at an affordable price, I couldn’t fault the Shark stratos corded stick pet pro. It sucked up everything in its path, which is no mean feat in a busy family home.
However, if you’re looking for something with slightly more suction power to keep your floors clean, I’d recommend the Numatic Henry turbo vacuum cleaner. And if you’re looking for something more portable, specifically for car cleaning and sofa upholstery, the Vax air lift2 pet plus outperformed every other handheld vacuum I’ve used.
For more vacuum reviews, read our round-up of the best pet vacuum cleaners, cordless models and robot cleaners
