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The best vacuum cleaner deals in the Amazon Prime Day sales – as chosen by a vacuum reviewer and sales expert
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If you were hoping to pick up a bargain vacuum cleaner in this year's Amazon Prime Day sale, you're in luck. The mega sales event is well underway, and there are plenty of excellent vacuum deals to choose from. That includes further price-drops on already wallet-friendly models, and discounts on premium vacs that might have originally been out of your budget.
You can also take your pick between cordless stick vacuum to upright vacuum to robovac, depending on your cleaning needs – there are impressive discounts in every category.
• See all of today's deals at Amazon
Amongst the best deals I've spotted so far in the US are the Dyson V8 Plus, which is down from $469 to $299 and the Shark Clean & Empty Cordless vacuum, discounted from $449.99 to $279.99 for Prime subscribers.
In the UK, the Dyson V8 Advanced has dropped from £329.99 to £218.49, and our five-star rated Halo Capsule X Pet cordless is now £229.49 (was £269.99).
Below, you'll find my pick of the best Prime Day vacuum deals to shop now. I'll be keeping this article updated as the event unfolds (it runs for four days, finishing on Friday 11 July). If you're not quite sure what you're looking for, our guides to the best vacuums, or the best cordless vacuums specifically, will help point you in the right direction.

Ruth is TechRadar's Homes Editor, specializing in floorcare. She's reviewed dozens of vacuum cleaners of all shapes and sizes, and keeps a close eye on prices all year round. She has also been covering sales events for the past eight years, and knows how to spot a good deal.
Prime Day vacuum cleaner deals – quick links
Browse all US vacuum cleaner deals
Dyson V8 Plus: was $469.99 now $299.99
Shark Clean & Empty Cordless: was $449.99 now $279.99
Dyson V15 Detect Plus: was $749.99 now $569.99
Shark Pet Cordless Vacuum Cleaner IX141: was $299.99 now $149
Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum: was $199.99 now $149.95
Dyson V11 Origin: was $569.99 now $399.99
Browse all the UK vacuum cleaner deals
Dyson V8 Advanced: was £329.99 now £218.49
Halo Capsule X Pet: was £269.99 now £229.49
Dyson V11 Extra: was £499.99 now £379
Shark PowerPro: was £249.99 now £169.99
Shark corded upright NZ860UKT: was £299.99 now £199
Roborock Q5 Pro robovac: was £299 now £149.99
Prime Day vacuum cleaner deals – my top US picks
This is an excellent price-drop on the Plus version of the V8 – it's $10 shy of the lowest price we have on record. Although the V8 is the oldest model in the current Dyson lineup, it's still extremely popular. On test, I was impressed by the strong suction and great maneuverability. It's also one of the most affordable Dyson vacs, and even cheaper with 36% off for Prime members. This Plus version comes with a Hair screw tool borrowed from newer models – it's outstanding at getting hair (and dust) off furniture. You can read all about this vacuum in our Dyson V8 review. This deal is also available at Best Buy.
If you could do with some more detail tools, it could be worth the extra $20 to pick up the V8 Extra for $319.99 (was $469.99) at Walmart instead. Or, for those with a lot of hard floors, the V8 Absolute comes with a separate Fluffy floorhead, and is $349.99 (was $519.99) at Dyson.com or Walmart.
This is a newer, budget-friendly Shark vacuum that's had an impressive 38% off for Prime Day. It's not quite the cheapest its been, but it's a very strong discount in the context of recent prices. The USP here is the auto-empty base – so when you dock the vacuum, everything in the dust cup will whoosh out and into a much larger dust cup in the base. It's a big effort- and mess-saver, especially for homes with lots of dust or pet hair.
The V15 Detect is one of Dyson's newest vacuum cleaners, and this Amazon Prime Day sale knocks a massive $180 off – taking it to just $20 more than the lowest price we have on record. This model packs advanced features like dust particle sensing and automatic suction adjustment. If you have any kind of hard floors, you'll also benefit from the soft floorhead, which works extremely well to clean and buff up hard flooring, and is equipped with a laser to illuminate hidden dust. Head to our V15 Detect review to find out more.
If you want more accessories, check out the V15 Detect Extra for $599.99 (was $799.99) at Best Buy instead.
With $50 off for Prime Day, this Levoit vacuum is back down to very nearly the lowest price we've seen this year. We awarded this vacuum an impressive 4* in our Levoit LVAC-200 review, praising how light and easy to maneuver it is, and how effectively cleaned both hard floors and rugs in our tester's home. At under $150, it's a solid, budget-friendly buy.
The V11 sits in the middle of Dyson's range, and offers perhaps the best balance of price to features. Amazon is knocking a massive $150 off for Prime subscribers – not the cheapest price we've ever seen on a V11, but a very strong discount nonetheless. It was the first model in which the dust cup, motor and wand have been positioned in a straight line to boost suction efficiency, and it offers superb cleaning, a very maneuverable floorhead, and an LCD screen to provide information.
If you want more detail tools, the V11 Extra is $449.99 (was $599.99) at Walmart or direct from Dyson.com.
This Shark vacuum is 50% off for Prime day – it's very rare to see it go for cheaper, and it's usually significantly more expensive. I haven't tested this specific model out myself, but I have used other Shark vacs and they consistently score highly in our reviews. It's not the fanciest vacuum around, but looks like a very solid buy for such a low price – you'll get 40 minutes of cleaning per charge, there are LED headlamps to illuminate dark corners and it can be folded in half for freestanding storage.
While it's been a long time since this vacuum was sold at list price, $99 is an especially good deal. It's corded, which might put some people off, but there are benefits: corded vacuums tend to offer better suction than cordless ones, you'll never run out of juice, and they typically have a longer lifespan in general too. At 7.6lbs, I wouldn't call it 'ultra-light' but equally it's not overly heavy for a stick vacuum. It looks like a strong budget vacuum, and incredible value for under $100.
$80 off is a decent price-drop on this upright vacuum, although we have seen it cheaper in recent months, so it might be worth holding out for a better offer. Corded upright vacuums tend of offer significantly more powerful suction than cordless stick vacs, and the large dust cups and continuous power make them a strong choice for those with large homes and/or lots of pet hair to clear. I haven't tested this model but I have used other similar Shark uprights – the brand's signature modular design is used here, which means you can hold the dust cup separately and use the vacuum in various configurations for different cleaning tasks.
For Prime Day, this Shark cordless is back down to the lowest price we've seen all year. It looks like a capable cleaner, with up to 40 minutes of cleaning on one charge, HEPA filtration and a floorhead with LED headlights. However, there doesn't seem to much of a difference in specs compared to the IX141 above, and that's $50 cheaper, so probably a better buy.
If you're in the market for a hands-off vacuuming solution, this Roborock deal is the best robovac offer I've spotted in the early Prime Day sales – it's back down to the lowest price we have on record. I've tested plenty of bots from this brand, and am consistently impressed by their accurate navigation, thorough cleaning and ease of use. This model offers a strong 10,000Pa of suction, anti-tangle rollers and auto-emptying of dust into the dock (which contains a generous 2.7L dust bag, so you'll only have to deal with it once in a blue moon).
If you're looking for a truly hands-off option, this robot vacuum's dock will take care of all manner of maintenance tasks for you. Not only will it empty dust, but it'll also refill the bot's water tanks and even wash its mop pads. There's a massive 38% off for Prime subscribers right now, taking this handy home helper down to the lowest price we have on record. Elsewhere, expect capable cleaning, reliable navigation and an easy-to-use app.
If you have a lot of hard floors that require mopping, a wet-and-dry vacuum could be a game-changer. This one is already one of the most budget-friendly options on the market, and back down to its lowest-ever price for Amazon Prime Day. This model vacuums, mops and cleans itself, and can be used on various hard floors as well as low-pile carpet – we awarded it an impressive four stars in our Shark HydroVac Cordless review.
Prime Day vacuum cleaner deals – my top UK picks
The V8 Advanced has dropped to a new lowest price on record for Prime Day. This is the oldest model in Dyson's lineup, but remains the most popular. With good reason too: it delivers excellent suction and superb maneuverability, in an easy-to-use package. It's also the most affordable Dyson stick vac, and even more so with this 34% off deal. This version comes with a Crevice tool and Combo tool. If you want more accessories, including a Mattress tool and Hair screw tool, the V8 Absolute is also on sale for £279 (was £399.99) at Amazon.
You might not immediately know the brand, but we were blown away by this cordless vacuum when we tested it for our Halo Capsule X review. It scored a perfect five stars, with our tester praising its top-notch cleaning powers, and how comfortable it is to use. It uses bags, but they have an impressive capacity so won't need replacing too often – and they're made from brown cardboard and paper, so are recyclable. With £40 off for Prime Day, this vacuum offers excellent value for money.
The V11 sits in the middle of Dyson's range, and includes the key updates from the newest models (a suction-efficient, all-in-a-line design, a useful LCD information screen) but not the fancier, arguably less useful features (real-time dust reports). It delivers efficient, powerful cleaning and long runtimes, and this 'Extra' version comes with an array of useful detail tools, including a Hair screw tool for pulling hair (and dust) from furniture. With 24% off, it's back down to the lowest price we have on record – and incredible value for money.
This Shark corded upright is down to £10 off its lowest-ever price. We absolutely loved this vacuum, awarding it a full five stars in our Shark NZ860UKT review. It operates like a regular upright, but the modular design means you can also reconfigure it in various ways for specific cleaning tasks.
This is another strong deal on a corded upright. This model comes with a 2.5L dust cup, different settings for hard floor and rugs, and a modular design that can be reconfigured for different cleaning tasks. However, for another £10, I'd probably recommend the similar-but-newer NZ860UKT above instead.
I don't recognize this exact Shark vacuum, but it looks like a more basic, more affordable variation on the Detect Pro, and it's down to its lowest-ever price for Prime members right now. This cordless stick vacuum is lightweight, has an anti-hair wrap floorhead, and will automatically adjust suction based on whether its on hard floor or carpet.
If you're looking for a hands-free option, this Roborock robot vacuum and mop is down to a new lowest-ever price for Prime Day. Roborock is perhaps my favorite robovac brand – its bots are always well-built, easy to use, and offer reliable navigation and solid cleaning. There's no auto-empty base here, which is great if you have a small home and no room for an bulky dock. However, if you're dealing with lots of dirt or (especially) pet hair, then consider upgrading to the Pro Plus – this is down to £249.99 (was £399.99) for Prime Day.
We called this robovac "almost perfect" in our review, and it's down to a new lowest-ever price for Amazon Prime Day. It offers excellent suction power, strong navigation and mapping, and the mopping is a cut above the average, too. The base station will take are of washing and drying the mop pads, as well as emptying dust and refilling the water tanks.
LIVE: Latest Updates
Hello and welcome to my Prime Day 2025 vacuum cleaner deals roundup. I'm TechRadar's Homes Editor, and I spend hundreds of hours a year testing and writing about vacuums from Dyson, Shark, Levoit, Roborock and more. Upright, cordless, robot, whatever – you can be sure that I've used it.
That makes me ideally placed to tell you which Prime Day vacuum cleaner deals are actually worth buying, because – spoiler alert – not all deals are what they seem. But don't worry, I'll be on hand to tell you which deals are worth buying and which best avoided, from Amazon's own sale and also rival events at places like Walmart and Best Buy.
And with that, on with the deals…
If you want a Dyson vacuum that won't break the bank, check out this deal on the V8 Plus. The V8 is the oldest model in the current lineup but remains ultra-popular, delivering strong suction, dragonfly-like maneuverability and high build quality. I think Dyson makes some of the best-designed detail tools of any brand, and the trump card here is that the Plus version comes with a Hair screw tool. This is a mini motorized head that was introduced with the newest models, and features a tapering roller that funnels hair towards the air intake rather than letting it tangle up. In practice, it works a treat.
- Dyson V8 Plus: now $299.99 (was
$469.99) at Amazon
Outside of Amazon, there are a couple of other iterations that are also worth checking out. If you have a lot of hard floors, the V8 Absolute comes with a separate Fluffy floorhead – again an addition borrowed from a newer model. It's $349.99 (was $519.99) at Dyson.com.
Alternatively, if you don't need the fluffy head but could use some more detail tools, take a look at the V8 Extra for $418.99 (was $469.99) at Walmart.
If you want something straightforward, low-effort and affordable, check out the Shark Clean & Empty BU3523. The vacuum itself looks like a cheaper, more basic version of the Shark Detect Pro (minus the fancy detection features) but the big selling point here is the auto-empty base. Dock your vacuum and all the dust and dirt you've sucked up on your last cleaning session will whoosh out, via a sealed system, into a big dust cup in the base. That means you won't have to deal with messy emptying, and the big dust cup only needs tackling once in a blue moon. This dock also provides somewhere to store and charge the vacuum, so it's always ready to go whenever you need it.
- Shark Clean & Empty Cordless: now $279.99 (was
$449.99) at Amazon
The V15 Detect is one of Dyson's newest cordless vacs, with some seriously advanced features. Specifically, the floorhead contains sensors that enable it to monitor the size and volume of particles being sucked up. It uses that information to increase or decrease suction in line to ensure an effective cleaning without wasting battery... and it'll also show you exactly what's being sucked up, via a colorful, ever-moving bar chart on the vacuum screen, as you clean.
If you have any kind of hard floors in your home, you'll also benefit from the secondary Fluffy floorhead, which works very well to clean and buff up hard flooring, and is equipped with a laser to highlight hidden dust.
- Dyson V15 Detect Plus: now $569.99 (was
$749.99) at Amazon
The Amazon Prime Day deal above is on the Plus version. If you want more detail tools, check out the V15 Detect Extra for $599.99 (was $799.99) at Best Buy instead.
The V11 sits in the middle of Dyson's range in terms of both price and features, and delivers especially good value for money with the current Amazon Prime Day deal. This vacuum was the one the succeeded the V8, and it introduced a number of significant upgrades over that model. It was the first Dyson cordless to have the dust cup, motor and wand positioned in a straight line, to maximize suction efficiency. Dyson also added an LCD screen, which provides useful information such as how long (in time) you have left on your battery before you run out of juice.
- Dyson V11 Origin: was $569.99 now $399.99 at Amazon
That version comes with a Hair screw tool, Crevice tool and Duster brush. If you want more detail tools, check out the V11 Extra, currently $449.99 (was $599.99) at Walmart or direct from Dyson.com.
Dyson is still considered the brand to beat in the vacuum world. I've tried out most of the current range, and I think Dyson vacuums are worth the investment, generally speaking. Today's best Dyson vacuums are meticulously engineered, look and feel premium and offer features you still won't find elsewhere (the laser-equipped Fluffy floorhead for illuminating dust on hard floors, or the real-time dust reports delivered on the LCD screen as your clean). The cleaning power is reliably excellent, the runtimes long, and the maneuverability the best you'll find anywhere.
However, there are caveats. Dyson's vacuums might technically offer the most efficient clean, but on test we found similar real-world results from much cheaper vacuums. And the newest models are really quite heavy, and can uncomfortable to use for long periods. Generally, though, I've tested vacuums from a load of different brands and I still feel like I'm in the safest hands with a Dyson vac.
Looking for the best vacuum for hardwood floor? For hard floors, you can get away with less suction, because most of the dust and dirt will just be sat on the surface, rather than stuck in carpet fibers. If your floors are in any way delicate, consider looking for a vacuum that has a second cleaner head designed specifically for hard floors.
These tend to be soft all over, and can get right up close to the floor to buff and clear dust without risking scratching up the surface. Examples of vacuums with special hard floor cleaner heads include the Dreame R20, Dyson Gen5detect and Dyson V15 Detect. On those last two, the fluffy floorhead is fitted with a laser light that creates shadows on dust and dirt, so you'll never miss a speck.
Shark is increasingly popular in the vacuum cleaner market, and has a reputation for affordable, effective vacuums with clever added features that improve usability. For example, many Shark vacuums have wands that can bend forwards to 90 degrees, enabling you to clean under furniture without getting down on the floor yourself. Others have an odor-neutralizing puck to keep things smelling fresh. The newest models have auto-empty docks to save you the effort of having to manually empty so regularly.
It can be tricky to make sense of the Shark range, because the brand has so many different options. I wouldn't expect the best Shark vacuums to appear in the Prime Day sales – on Amazon you're more likely to find older and/or more niche models, sometimes at incredibly low prices.
Looking for the best vacuum cleaner for carpet? The main thing to prioritize is a good amount of power. Dust and debris will end up caught within the carpet fibers, so you'll need a certain amount of suction to dislodge it. A vacuum with a beater bar / brushroll can help too – this will agitate the fibers and help free the dirt caught in there.
If there's too much suction, you might end up not being able to push the floorhead across the surface of the carpet. Some vacuum cleaners – Dyson vacs included – have an air intake slider on the floorhead so you can allow a bit more air in if you find the suction is sticking you to one spot of floor.
Some of today's best cordless vacuums have the ability to sense when they're moving from hard floor to carpet (or vice versa) and adjust suction automatically in response. This is helpful if you have a mix of floor types in your home.
Here's another highly rated vacuum for you: Samsung's Jet 85. We've commended this one for its excellent handling of hard floors as part of our guide to the best vacuums. With a removable battery offering 44 minutes of battery life depending on the power setting, it's also enough to whizz round the whole home. It's wonderfully lightweight too, and comes with an anti-tangle pet tool for cleaning up after our furry friends.
- Samsung Jet 85: now $399.99 (was
$499.99) at Amazon
If you're investing in a new vacuum cleaner, it's fair that you might want to know how long you can expect it to last. The answer will vary by brand and price, but there are some rules of thumb for each type of vacuum:
- Cordless stick vacuums: 3-5 years
- Corded vacuums: 8-10 years
- Robot vacuums: 4-7 seven years
To get the maximum value for money, then, it might be worth considering a cordless vacuum – although for some, the annoyance of being tethered to a wall will be a deal-breaker. My article on how long vacuum cleaners last goes into more detail.
Generally, a lot of the biggest discounts we see on robot vacuums during sales events are on slightly older models, but we've been treated to a major discount on a product we've already dubbed one of our top models of 2025, the Dreame X50 Ultra Complete. This small-threshold-climbing, mopping-and-vacuuming powerhouse is an excellent find during Prime Day if you want to compliment your new stick vacuum with an automated companion.
- Dreame X50 Ultra Complete: now $1299 (was $1799) at Amazon
Most modern vacuum cleaners tend to be cordless, but don't write off corded models just yet. As well as the obvious benefits – you'll never run out of juice – corded vacuums tend to offer more powerful suction, and often have longer lifespans than cordless models, too. Opting for a corded vacuum can also be a great way to save money. Shark sells a handful of extremely budget-friendly corded stick vacuums that I'd expect to clean much better than a cordless model at the same price point.
To save your sanity, I'd look for a model with a decent-length cord. The shortest you'll find is around 8 meters / 26 feet (this seems to be the standard on Shark vacuums) but 10 meters / 33 feet (found on Dyson vacuums) gives you more maneuvering room. TechRadar's guide to corded vs cordless vacuums digs into the pros and cons in more detail.
One of the new trends in vacuum cleaners is auto-empty bases. I was initially skeptical but I've changed my mind – now I'm an auto-empty convert.) It's just what it sounds like: a base where your vacuum docks, and all the dust and dirt from your cleaning session whooshes out from the onboard dust cup into a much larger one in the base. This means you can get away with having a smaller dust cup on the vacuum (which means it can be lighter and more compact) and also means you won't have to deal with manually emptying your vacuum nearly as often.
Shark is the main brand embracing the auto-empty trend – we've tested it out on the Shark Detect Pro and PowerDetect cordless vacuums. However, Samsung also has a premium auto-empty line, which includes the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra vacuum.
Most modern vacuum cleaners tend to be bagless, but that's not to say you should discount bagged models entirely – in a battle of bagged vs bagless vacuum cleaners, both have their pros and cons. The big benefit with bagged vacuums is that there are fewer chances for the dust and debris to escape one it has been sucked up – which is especially good news for allergy sufferers. Anecdotally, bagged vacuums seem to last longer and be more robust, perhaps because there's less chance of particles getting into the motor. I have one regular vacuum reviewer who swears by bagged vacuums for this reason.
With a bagless vacuum, you don't have the ongoing cost or waste associated with buying and disposing of bags. The dust capacity tends to be smaller, so you'll have to deal with emptying your vacuum more often, and the process will be messier but more straightforward than it would be with a bagged vacuum.
The Dyson Ball Animal is our number one pick if you're looking for a seriously powerful vacuum to tackle pet hair, and now it's down to a record-low price of just $329.99 (was $599.99) for Amazon Prime Day.
It has a mighty 730w motor that delivers 290AW of suction, plus a 1.7L bin that fills up surprisingly fast when the Ball Animal sucks up all the dust and dirt that your previous vacuum left behind.
Its huge floorhead is ideal for tackling fur, and our reviewer found the extra tangle-free turbine tool excellent for the soft furnishings that your pet loves to lounge (and shed) on.
- Dyson Ball Animal Total Clean: now $329.99 (was
$599.99) at Amazon
Wondering if your cleaning habits are up to scratch? I asked an expert with 18 years of experience in the cleaning industry how often you should be getting your vacuum cleaner out, and the answer wasn't quite as scary as I expected. Here are his suggestions:
- Carpet: at least twice a week
- Hard floor: once a week
- Sofas and upholstery: once a month
He notes that if your home has a lot of foot traffic, or if you have pets that live with you, you might need to vacuum more regularly. Either way, you'll be using your vacuum a decent amount, so it worth investing in one that will last, and which suits your needs. (Head to my full article on How often you should vacuum for more tips and advice.)
If you've got hard floors, this is the Amazon Prime Day deal for you. Right now, the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro is down to a record-low price of just $429 (was $699), which is an epic deal for the model we rated as the best wet-dry vacuum all round.
It doesn't just vacuum and mop, it also deodorizes and disinfects, making it a great choice for households with pets. It has a self-propulsion system that takes the effort out of cleaning up too (as our cat-owning reviewer discovered), and its Max mode is effective for tackling stubborn stains.
With a maximum battery life of 40 minutes it's best suited to smaller or medium-sized homes, but it's a truly impressive cleaner that does it all.
- Tineco Floor One S7 Pro: now $429 (was
$699) at Amazon
The Narwal Freo X Plus was already our top pick for the best budget robovac, and with this special Prime Day deal bringing it under $290 for the first time, it's even easier to recommend.
The Freo X Plus has the kind of suction power you'd expect from a much pricier vacuum, and got our tester's floor impressively clean despite the presence of four adults and two French bulldogs.
It's best suited to regular everyday cleaning, as it tends to struggle a bit with complex instructions, and it's not the best robot vacuum for mopping, but it punches well above its weight. If you want a great value robovac this Amazon Prime Day, you won't find better than this.
- Narwal Freo X Plus: now $274.54 (was
$339.99) at Amazon
Coming down towards the more affordable level, we have devices like Tineco Floor One S5, a wet-and-dry floor cleaner with dirt-detecting smarts and self-cleaning functionality. In our review, we scored it a respectable 4-stars, and while it's been a few years of vacuum technological development, it still stands as a really solid device. At a discount, that makes it even better!
- Tineco Floor One S5: now $259.90 (was $399) at Amazon
Amazon may have just gifted me with the deal of my dreams: there's an incredible $187 off the list price of the Dreame R20. This cordless vac sits right at the top of our list of the best vacuum cleaners, with its lightweight build, powerful suction, automatic dust detection, impressive battery life and versatile design. It was a delight to use when we reviewed it, sucking up everything we put in front of it.
- Dreame R20: now $212.49 (was
$399.99) at Amazon
The next great deal we've circled is this whopping $180 discount on the Shark Stratos DuoClean PowerFins HairPro. This upright vacuum is a very similar model to the UK-only Shark Stratos Pet Pro, which is standing firm in the best upright spot in our guide to the best vacuums on the market. This vac is satisfyingly straightforward to use, and would make a particularly great buy if you or other members of your household have long hair.
- Shark Stratos DuoClean PowerFins HairPro: now $319.99 (was $499.99) at Amazon
Looking for the best vacuum for pet hair? This is one of the trickiest things to tackle – hair clings to soft furnishings, gets everywhere, and no sooner are you done cleaning and more has started to collect. I asked five vacuum cleaner-makers what features they'd recommend for someone looking to tackle pet hair specifically, and this is what they said:
- A floorhead with a beater bar/roller to lift hair from carpet fibers
- A large dustbin so you're not constantly having to empty
- A selection of good detail tools for cleaning furniture, nooks and crannies
- Powerful suction to pull hair from surfaces
- Consider scent pods to prevent bad odors from building up
- A bag or auto-empty dock to stop hair and dander escaping back into the air
For more info, you can head to my original article exploring what to look for in a vacuum cleaner for pet hair.
The Shark HydroVac Cordless is a great value wet-dry vacuum, and it's received a huge 44% price cut for Prime Day, making it a great option for pet-owners on a budget.
It's best for hard floors (it vacuums as you push forward and mops when you pull back by default), but handles low-profile carpets and rugs well too.
There is a little maintenance necessary (it self-cleans, but the brush roll has to be taken out to dry for 24 hours afterwards and you must empty the water tank), but it's a surprisingly capable machine for the price and comes highly recommended.
- Shark HydroVac Cordless: now $199.99 (was
$359.99)at Amazon
As well as things like good suction and runtimes that won't require you to stop and recharge halfway though each clean, it's worth paying attention to the detail tools included with your vacuum. At a minimum, most brands will include a crevice tool (for wedging into small gaps) and some kind of stumpy detail tool (for concentrated cleaning in small areas like along baseboards). This will often have a brush end and a hard end, and be referred to as a 'combination tool' – you can see Dyson's version on the left in the image above.
One additional tool that will be useful to most people is a small, motorized head for cleaning things like sofa cushions. It's worth looking out for a vacuum that includes one of these – or at least has a compatible tool that can be purchased separately. Bigger brands like Dyson offer a much wider selection of detail tools, including things like dedicated mattress tools (head to my guide to the Dyson vacuum tools for a full run-down).
In the current market, cordless stick vacuums are the most popular vacuum type. The big benefit of this style of vac – compared to a traditional upright or canister vacuum – is that it's lightweight and easy to maneuver, and you can roam freely without being tethered to a power outlet.
Cordless tech has come on a long way in recent years, too – today's best cordless vacuums offer powerful suction and impressively long runtimes. The average battery life (in the lowest-powered mode) used to be around 40 minutes, but pricier models these days offer a full hour of cleaning on a single charge. Some will even go for longer than that. (Unless you have an especially large house, 40 minutes will probably be enough to do a full clean without having to plug back in.)
Another trick to extend battery life is to looking for a model that has a swappable battery, and the option to purchase a backup. That way, you can have two batteries charged, and hot-swap them for twice as much cleaning time.
Prime Day is shaping up to be a great time to pick up a bargain robot vacuum – I've spotted some especially good discounts on Roborock bots. This is one my very favorite brands, they consistently impress on test, delivering thorough cleaning and accurate and reliable navigation, plus the app is intuitive and easy to use.
If you want to keep things budget-friendly, my top pick is the Roborock Q7 M5+ robot vacuum and mop, was $429.99 now $279.99 at Amazon. This bot offers a powerful 10,000Pa of suction, and has a compact dock that deals with auto-emptying dust.
For a more hands-off option, you could upgrade to the Roborock Qrevo S robot vacuum and mop, which was $649.99 but is now $399.99 for Prime subscribers. The suction is a little less (8,000Pa, still very decent), but the dock will take care of not just emptying dust, but also a variety of other maintenance tasks like refilling the onboard water tank and cleaning the mop pads.
If you're hunting for a new vacuum cleaner, two brands that you'll almost certainly come across are Dyson and Shark. For a long time, Dyson was considered the supreme vacuum brand, but in recent years Shark has been nipping at its heels. I've used a number of vacuums from both brands, and in a battle of Shark vs Dyson, each brand has its pros and cons.
Dyson has a much narrower, more considered range, and releases new models fairly infrequently. In contrast, Sharks range is sprawling and ever-changing. That means it can be very difficult to compare different Shark models, and figure out where you are in the range. However, if you want something more unusual – a wet cleaner, or a compact handheld, for instance – you're much better off heading to Shark. Dyson's lineup is almost all cordless stick vacuums.
In terms of innovation, Dyson leans towards hi-tech features and intricate engineering. Its newest models have screens that show exactly the size and volume of particles being sucked up, as you clean. In contrast, Shark's innovations tend to feel simpler – some are particularly ingenious, such as the wands that can be released to bend forwards for cleaning under furniture.
Shark vacuums are almost always cheaper than Dyson's, but do feel slightly less high-quality. The Prime Day sales offer opportunities for both: you could use them to pick up a cheaper Shark vacuum for an even more wallet-friendly price, or take the chance to get your hands on a premium Dyson vacuum while it's much more affordable than usual.
If you're looking for something that offers a more thorough clean, a wet-dry vacuum could do the trick. We rate the Shark HydroVac the best wet and dry vacuum in the budget price bracket, and right now it's down to a new lowest-ever price.
- Shark WD201 HydroVac Cordless: $199.99 (was $359.99) at Amazon
This wet-and-dry vacuum is designed to take all the effort out of deep cleaning hard floors. It's suitable for hardwood, tiled or marble floors, and can even be used on area rugs. On test, we found it had no trouble tackling a range of spillages, and that it was quick and comfortable to use. There's a self-cleaning mode that helps with maintenance, but you will need to be prepared to put some manual effort in to keep things fresh and clean too. Head to our Shark HydroVac Cordless review to find out more.
One of the best Prime Day vacuum deals is on the Dyson V11. So how does this vacuum differ from other, similar-looking Dyson vacs? Well, it was the first to introduce the in-line format, where the wand, motor, filters and dust cup are all stacked one after the other, which apparently improves suction efficiency. Earlier models like the V8 don't have this. It was also the first to add the LCD screen for information – another useful design feature.
Later models like the V15 Detect and Gen5detect have automatic suction adjustment based on dirt levels, plus real-time cleaning reports shown on-screen. It's up to you whether that's a priority or not.
There are a couple of different bundle options with the V11 – choose the one that suits your cleaning needs:
Amazon has come through with some unexpectedly strong Dyson vacuum deals in this Prime Day event. Your cheapest option is to go for a V8 – the oldest, and simplest vacuum in the current lineup.
The V8 is less powerful and offers shorter runtimes than Dyson's newer models, but it's still a very effective cleaner and more than good enough for most people's needs. You're still getting that high build quality and very well-designed detail tools, plus its much lighter than many of the newest vacs in the lineup.
The cheapest deal is at Amazon, but there are a few alternative bundles, also discounted, at rival retailers – pick the one that provides the extras you need:
- V8 Plus now $299.99 (was
$469.99) at Amazon or Best Buy (simplest option) - V8 Absolute now $349.99 (was
$519.99) at Dyson.com or Walmart (extra floorhead especially for hard floors) - V8 Extra now $319.99 (was
$469.99) at Walmart (more detail tools)
They're not as common as stick vacuums these days, but if you're looking for deep cleaning, you still can't beat an upright. Today's best upright vacuums benefit from powerful suction, large dust cups that don't need to be emptied every 20 minutes, and – generally speaking – a robust build that'll last through the years. They're also typically significantly cheaper than stick vacuums.
Most modern uprights have a modular build that can be used in a variety of ways, making them suitable for cleaning stairs or up high, as well as floors. If you have pets, a large home and/or a lot of carpet, it's worth at least considering if an upright might be the best choice for your cleaning arsenal.