Your Shopping Guide to the Best Dyson Vacuum for Your Needs

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Fun fact, anyone who Googles “what are the best Dyson vacuums?” automatically gets one (1) free ticket into Adultland, where everyone nerds out over silk comforters and falls asleep to visions of dancing cleaning appliances. Welcome, it’s a great time!

Oh, and to answer your question—Dyson has a couple of really popular vacuums like the V8 and the V12 but the household appliances company actually makes a wide (and somewhat dizzying) array of vacuum cleaners. Options range from compact vacs with hair-busting attachments for studio renters and pet parents to long-lasting, battery-powered vacuums for all you lucky homeowners with lots of square footage. There are even Dyson vacs that have fancy dust trackers on LED screens or are wet-to-dry for a suuuuper deep clean. Here’s a sneak peek at some of our favorites…

As delightful as these options are, wading through all the technical details (HEPA! Lasers! Cords! Batteries!) might not be a walk in the park if you aren’t, like, a vacuum technician with a degree in appliances. So when you decide a clean house is worth the splurge, how do you choose between all the similar-sounding vacs with all their fancy filters and gadget-y attachments?

Answer: You don’t… at least, not without our guide to the best Dyson vacuums for every scenario, ofc. That’s where we (your home cleaning experts, tyvm) come in. Just keep scrolling for all the info you’ll ever need!

Gen5detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

When I first tested this vacuum, the first words out of my mouth were, “This vacuum actually feels like a spaceship.” It’s that smooth and high-tech. It also sounded kinda like a spaceship (so maybe don’t use it if you have a sleeping baby) because it is so insanely powerful! I regularly vacuum my space, but with just one pass around my apartment with the Dyson I filled up the entire dust compartment with all sorts of debris I didn’t even realize was all over the floor. It’s sleek, it’s strong, it’s incredibly easy to assemble, and even easier to empty with one click. So yeah, it’s kind of unmatched. Donating my old vacuum ASAP!

Glowing customer review: “OMG!!!!! I do not know why I have not invested in a Dyson sooner. I am so thrilled to own such a cool gadget that not only sucks up all my life problems but has created a cleaning addiction in me. I will say, it is a little heavier than I expected but I just flip the vacuum to my other hand when I start getting tired. This vacuum quality is exceptional and I love the LED light. I am always vacuuming now, but it’s almost just for fun. My cleaning time has been diminished and it is so much quieter than my old hoover. I wish that the stronger suction option did not use so much battery but I love the display and keeping track of how much time I have left. I would definitely invest in this over and over again and if you’re thinking about it, let this be your sign!!!! BEST SPRING CLEANING ADDITION!!!”

V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

The Dyson V8 is one of the brand’s more affordable vacuums at under $400. It also happens to be a favorite around the Cosmo office—Senior Entertainment Editor Emma Baty and Beauty Editor Beth Gillette both have the V8 and gave me the scoop on what they love about it. “It is the perfect vacuum mostly because it’s such a fun gadget that my boyfriend loves so he does literally all the vacuuming,” says Baty. “The hands-free emptying feature is so nice and very satisfying because you can see how much dirt was in the clear canister.” And because it’s a stick vacuum, it’s super slim and easy to store in tight spaces. “I have zero extra space in my apartment, so unforch, I’ve gotta display my vacuum. Luckily this Dyson is both very cute and compact, so it takes up barely any space,” says Gilette.

Glowing customer review: “One of the best investments I’ve purchased recently. It’s super lightweight, the suction is out of this world, the air feels so much cleaner after one use, and it’s extremely easy to dump. Also super satisfying to see how much it gathers in a short amount of time. At first I wished the battery life lasted longer, but that was because I had it on turbo the whole time. But I’ve learned when I need to use turbo vs not and I’ll switch back and forth (which is super easy) and it will last for the entire upstairs and steps and some of downstairs before it needs to be charged again. I also have a golden retriever that sheds a ton so I love all the different attachments to clean everything.”

V11 Cordless Stick Vacuum

If you’re looking for a Dyson vacuum that’s under $500 but you’re hoping for something with a liiiittle more battery juice than the V8, the newer V11 might be right up your alley. It’s a solid vacuum all around—cordless, convertible, not too big, and not too expensive. It even boasts an LCD screen to show you what power mode you’re using and exactly how much run time you have left.

Glowing customer review: “Enter the V11. It is light, easy to grab, capable, and convenient with the separately purchased free-standing rack/mount. Not having to fool around with the cord is the biggest advantage, but it is reasonably light, maneuverable, and capable. The adjustable suction is nice and the battery charge has never run out, despite running it on both staircases (up and down) and our entire 1,200 sq ft living level. I particularly like the emptying process for the canister; it holds a fair amount of fur, dust, and dirt and empties neatly into our tall kitchen garbage receptacle. In summary, this is a very convenient tool for keeping a home clean during the week. If I had a small home/apartment, it would be quite sufficient on its own.”

V15 Detect Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Hello, fellow clean freaks, I have some unfortunate news for you—there is probably a ton of invisible dust all over your living spaces that you just can’t see with the naked eye. Enter the Dyson V15’s Fluffy Optic cleaner head that features a green laser light to illuminate all of the particles you usually can’t see! The V15 (a very smart vacuum, as you’re about to see) also has an automatic suction that detects and adapts to different types of debris on your floors. You can also use the Eco or Boost cleaning modes if you’d prefer to turn off the auto function. And last but not least, the V15 will display exactly how many particles you picked up with each round of cleaning—not necessary, per say, but interesting and impressive nonetheless!

Glowing customer review: “At first I thought I was spending too much money on a vacuum, but let me tell you something about this vacuum…It is totally ridiculously amazing! We live in a 5th wheel RV in preparation for retirement. You cannot imagine what you bring in from outside until you live in a small space. Add to that a couple of adorable pugs that shed like a Colorado blizzard and you can understand why I need a super-sucker vacuum. This vacuum has a floor head with a green light on it that shows you every bit of dirt and pet hair that is on your floor ahead of the vacuum as you use it. It also came with a power head that has an equal amount of suction. The only downside that I could see is the power head doesn’t have a headlight. Would I buy this vacuum again, you betcha! I am definitely a Dyson gal!”

V12 Detect Slim Origin Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

Storage space is a hot commodity in small apartments! And you probably want to save that space for fun things like shoes and decor, not a massive vacuum cleaner. Thankfully Dyson has a smaller, lighter vacuum that’s designed to run just as powerfully without the bulk. You won’t have to sacrifice fancy attachments, either—the V12 comes with the same two vacuum heads that the V15 does (the Fluffy Optic laser cleaning head and the motorbar cleaning head).

Glowing customer review: “This is powerful! Battery lasts a long time and does not clog if you empty it when you’re supposed to. The canister is a bit small for the waste, but I wouldn’t trade it! Lightweight, easy to maneuver and pick up and carry, it stays on, and it does an amazing job on hardwood floors (the light is so helpful!) and carpets. Big win! We have a lot of dirt on the property at the moment with two dogs who shed a lot and this handles it beautifully.”

Outsize Cordless Vacuum Cleaner

If you have a lot of space to cover, you know the pain of vacuuming for what feels like HOURS. That’s where Dyson’s XL Outsize model comes in—the digital motorbar head is 25% wider and the dust bin is 150% larger than a lot of Dyson’s other models. It boasts a strong suction (and is decently quiet for how strong it is) and good battery life, making it ideal for a full house clean or a deep clean of a smaller space.

Glowing customer review: “I have been putting off getting a vacuum for a long time because I have fear of better options. We had a cheap Walmart vac but that finally broke and I have two fluffy dogs, so I finally decided to get a Dyson. I decided on the Outsize. It is a little heavy but I am used to heavy vacs – this is my first real stick vac, so I don’t even know what to compare it to in regards to size. This thing has drastically changed my life as dramatic as that sounds. I’ve had it a week and I’ve been on cleaning sprees (which is much needed in my house tbh). If you’re on the fence – this is the one. You can stop looking! Get it!”

Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright Vacuum Cleaner

The Ball Animal 3 (the only corded vacuum on our list) is the ideal choice for anyone who prefers the old-school power of a vacuum that you plug into the wall and never have to recharge. This upright vacuum, as you probably deduced thanks to the name, is specifically engineered for larger homes with pets—and of course, the gobs of shedding they come with. It has a ball mechanism that swivels easily to help you navigate around your floors while also stabilizing the vac!

Glowing customer review: “The suction power is unparalleled, effortlessly tackling dirt, pet hair, and debris with ease. The rotating brush does an impeccable job of clearing hair, sparing me the hassle of manually detangling it—a game-changer for pet owners like myself. And let’s not forget the stair tool, a seemingly small accessory that has revolutionized my staircase cleaning routine. No more awkward lifting or strained backs—this little tool does wonders.”

Omni-Glide Cordless Vacuum

Don’t sleep on this Dyson with a suuuper maneuverable roller head specifically designed for hard floors! It’s incredibly light and easy to push around—like, it’ll lay flat on the floor to slide under a couch and effortlessly swivel in a circle to get around table and chair legs. It also boasts an omnidirectional vacuum head, which basically means that it’ll suck up dirt while being pushed or pulled in any direction (rather than just when pushed forward).

Glowing customer review: “It’s hard to find something to dislike with the Dyson Omni-Glide. Works great on hard surfaces and even on low-pile rugs and carpets. You’re not going to get the massive suction you get with bigger canister vacuums, but for collecting pet debris and normal dust and dirt, this is impressive. The dual rollers allow movement in all directions and cleaning levels. RECOMMEND!”

Humdinger

Yes, Dyson makes handheld vacuums! The Humdinger is their small-but-mighty option that weighs in at only 2.1 pounds. It’s ideal for cleaning tabletops, upholstery (like mattresses and couches), stairs, and other small or narrow spaces that you’d want to navigate with ease. You can also easily swap in a dusting attachment to get high-up spaces and window blinds, so basically, it’s ideal for cleaning all those pesky things that most people don’t realize should be cleaned. Plus, it’s just too darn cute.

Glowing customer review: “I started using this machine about 10 days ago. Both myself and my husband have been using it. We have an Australian Cattle Dog so our house is covered in hair. This vacuum is powerful, super lightweight, comfortable and easy to use and gets the hair up! I first used it on my carpeted stairs with the hair screw tool and they turned out looking brand new. All three attachments work well. My favorite attachment is the hair screw tool. Flawlessly removed the dog hair from the stairs and the furniture. A fully-charged battery lasts as prescribed (about 20-30 minutes). In my opinion the only downside is the emptying of the bin. Sometimes I have to manually pull some of the hair out to clear the bin. But not a big deal. Overall I love this machine and I use it daily.”

How should I pick the best Dyson vacuum for me?

There are a handful of factors to keep in mind when selecting your perfect Dyson model. All of the Dysons on our list are Cosmo-approved, of course, but they each have unique traits that make them ideal for different types of spaces. Here are some things to consider as you’re shopping for a new vacuum.

How big your home is: If you have a large space you need to cover, opt for one of their larger models like the Outsize vacuum or the Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright vacuum. They boast larger dust bins and, in the case of the Outsize, a larger vacuum head that’ll cover more ground. For smaller spaces, the V12 Detect Slim or even the Humdinger hand vacuum will do the trick. You’ll also want to keep an eye on battery life—certain Dyson models have longer-lasting batteries than others. That won’t be a problem if you’re vacuuming a studio, but might be an issue if you’re trying to clean multiple floors in one go.

If you have pets: No matter how much you love your fur babies, you probably don’t love the layers of hair they leave on every surface of your home. Thankfully, several Dyson models are designed to tackle shedding with a strong suction and a brush head that detangles hair as it gets sucked in, like the V15 Detect or the Ball Animal 3 Extra Upright vacuums.

How much storage space you have: If you’re running low on closet space, opt for one of Dyson’s cordless vacuums that comes with a wall mount for easy storage. Also, most of their cordless vacs can easily be broken down into a couple of pieces if you prefer to store it disassembled.

Are Dyson vacuums worth it?

If you’re ready to level up your cleaning game, a Dyson vacuum is a worthy investment. They’re definitely on the higher end as far as pricing goes, but I was shocked to see how much the Dyson outperformed the cheaper vacuums I’ve owned in the past. Plus, all cordless vacuums come with a two-year warranty and all corded vacuums come with a five-year warranty so you’ll have repair or replacement support throughout that period of time.

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