If you're investing in one of the best vacuum cleaners, what should you expect? Mostly that it will make cleaning your floors less of a chore, saving you both time and effort... and possibly a little money too if you pick one up at a discounted price.
That said, every home has different needs, whether it's picking up after a pet or two, cleaning several rooms in one go or just quick jobs that can be automated. So it's probably fair to say that finding the best vacuum that suits your needs could be the bigger chore than the actual vacuuming process.
While Dyson may be the most popular brand of vacuum cleaners everyone aspires for, there are others that do just as good a job, if not better – there are plenty of models to choose from these days.
Vacuums have come a long way too – not only will they suck up dander, dirt and debris, but some models can even mop floors when needed, removing the need for a secondary gadget or the traditional mop and bucket. You can even delegate floor cleaning in its entirety to robots now, and integrate them into your smart home ecosystem for a more autonomous cleaning routine.
Of course, the more advanced you get, the more expensive it will be. But you don’t have to pay an arm and a leg for a good vacuum cleaner – there’s vacuums to suit just about every budget in this list, though the cheaper options might only perform the basic feats of a standard vacuum cleaner.
Whether you’re looking for a smart little robot vacuum to handle all the hard work, or need the versatility of a vacuum-mop for different floors throughout your home, we’ve tried and tested some of the very best vacuum cleaners in New Zealand to deliver you the top options across a range of needs and budgets.
Ready to bust the dust? Then take a look at our picks for the best vacuum cleaners in New Zealand – we've listed the pros and cons of each so you know exactly what you're putting your money towards.
Recent updates
November 2024: You can shop Black Friday sales in New Zealand to save cash on one of the best vacuums listed below.
Sharmishta has spent the last seven years testing vacuum cleaners of all shapes and sizes – Dyson, Shark, Ecovacs and other brands in between. She's fascinated by how far robot vacuums have come in the last few years, but is always on the lookout for a lightweight cordless vacuum that gets into the tight spaces of her flat.
Best vacuums: the quick list
Best for most people
It might be small, but it's mighty. This Shark vacuum is our favourite overall because it's versatile, effective and packs some impressive power for a cordless model. It's also self-emptying and doesn't require replaceable dust bags.
Best for suction
Dyson is arguably the most popular vacuum cleaner brand in Australia, and rightly so. While it can be heavy for some users, the Gen5detect is a powerhouse that will give your floors a thorough clean, even on carpets.
Best self-emptying
This Samsung can vacuum, mop and empty its bin into a replaceable dust bag housed in the self-cleaning charging dock. Not only is the suction for the vacuum excellent, the suction to empty the dust canister is the best there is – nothing compares.
Best robot vacuum
There's probably nothing else like it on the market – not only will it vacuum and mop your floors, then empty and clean the water tank, there's also a small handheld cordless unit for those little spot cleans on stairs or the ceiling.
Best Dyson alternative
More accessories might take up more space, but they do allow for a wider range of cleaning options. The Tineco Pure One S12 Platinum comes with a wide selection so you can get into every tight corner and pick up every dust bunny in your home.
Best wet-and-dry mop
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is that is mops remarkably well and that's despite the velvet roller suffering from a design flaw. That comes at no compromise to the vacuuming prowess – if you can spare the cash, this is a good all-rounder.
Load the next 5 products ↓
Best for large homes
If you don’t want a barrel vacuum, the Dyson Outsize is your best option if you live in a larger family home. With a bigger bin and a larger cleaning head, it helps speed up the chore, but it is a heavy beast.
Best for smart homes
Compatible with both Google Assistant and Alexa, you can use your smart home hubs to help control this Roomba. Plus, the i7 has one of the best navigation abilities we’ve seen.
Best for pet hair
An excellent hair-detangling floor head, strong suction and an anti-odour puck make this cordless vacuum an excellent choice for pet owners.
Best upright
If you're willing to sacrifice the versatility of a cordless stick vac, this corded upright delivers powerful suction and allows for uninterrupted cleaning.
Best for hard floors
This cordless option is able to vacuum and mop at the same time. And, it does a wonderful job at it. Plus, it can self-propel, so getting those floors clean is effortless.
Best vacuum cleaner overall
It might have a small bin canister of just 0.4L on the handstick itself, but the Shark Cordless Detect Pro with Auto-empty System has another 2L bin that can store up to 30 days of dust, dirt and dander. Better yet, there's no ongoing costs here to buy replaceable dust bags as Shark has designed its charging dock to house a rectangular washable bin instead. And this dock barely takes up any space.
To make sure this larger bin doesn't cause a stink, you have the option to use a deodoriser – what Shark calls odour-neutralising technology. Purchasing this is optional, of course, but you will need make sure you clean out the dock regularly.
Speaking of the technology here: it doesn't have the most powerful suction, but there's dynamic suction here that effectively vacuums different floor types. Importantly, it has sensors on the motorised cleaning head that knows when a wall is near and automatically boosts suction to clean edges.
Like the Fluffy Optics from Dyson, this vacuum also has a light on its main attachment, but it only lights up dark spaces like under furniture, as opposed to showing up invisible dust on the floor as the Dyson does.
The machine is remarkably light and easy to manoeuvre, there's plenty of suction to clean out the small bin on the handstick and there's up to 60 minutes of runtime on a single charge that's more than enough for an average two-bedroom home, or maybe even a little larger.
Read our in-depth Shark Detect Pro Cordless review
Best for suction
There's no arguing that Dyson makes some of the best cordless vacuum cleaners, but it's done an excellent job boosting power in the Gen5detect. 14 radial cyclones within the machine generate a huge amount of suction power – 262 air watts to be precise – to pull up even find dust, but it's also quite good on deeply embedded hair and debris within carpet fibres.
In our testing, we loved the Fluffy Optic's light that illuminated dust and hair that the naked eye would normally miss – just leave it in Auto mode and it will do the best job needed depending on the mess you've got on the floor.
Also improved is the battery life – the Gen5detect can run up to 70 minutes when using a non-motorised cleaning tool, which is better than any model than came before. This, however, means Dyson has had to use a bigger battery capacity, which makes the whole machine heavier than any of its V-series predecessors. At 3.5kg, it's a heavyweight, with most of it on the handle and that makes it cumbersome to use handheld for long periods of time.
As with the Dyson V15 Detect that came before it, you get a visual representation of the dirt and debris being sucked up, displayed graphically on the screen at the top of the handle.
If you think you're strong enough to take on its weight and have the budget to spend on a vacuum, this one's good for carpets and pet hair alike.
Read our full Dyson Gen5detect review
Best self-emptying vacuum
The best vacuum cleaners in the business aren't just competing in terms of suction power, but also in design and feature set. While Dyson has been a market leader for a very long time, Samsung has stepped up to the challenge with its Bespoke Jet. Everything about the South Korean brand's latest vacuum cleaner is well thought out, doing a lot more than what any Dyson cordless vacuum cleaner can do.
Firstly, it self-cleans thanks to its Clean Station (also a free-standing charging dock) that sucks out the gunk from the dust canister at the push of a button. Secondly, it comes with four power modes, with the highest – called Jet – able to suck up a whole load of matted hair and fur off a piled carpet in a single pass. And then there's its ability to mop and... well, sweep (sort of) too.
Importantly, it comes with two batteries, each with up to 60 minutes of runtime, and a plethora of accessories to get at any kind of dirt you need to. And when not in use, it looks pretty darn neat just standing up in a corner somewhere. All the tools and accessories have their own little cradle, which admittedly requires extra floor space but also provides a charging dock for the second battery (so it also needs it own power socket).
All this for a price that competes with the Dyson V15 Detect that can't do as much means there's value for money here if you're willing to make the initial high investment and take into consideration the ongoing cost of purchasing the disposable dust bags for the Clean Station.
Read our full Samsung Bespoke Jet review
Best robot vacuum
The main reason to get yourself a robot vacuum cleaner is so you can either put your feet up and get something else to do all the hard work for you, or so you get more time to do more important things – or perhaps both. And that's exactly what the Deebot T30S Combo will do, and do way better than most other robot vacuum cleaners... if you're willing to splurge a little.
We called it "an almost perfect robot vacuum", featuring retractable mops that do a good job of cleaning along room edges but, importantly, it can do a hot mop that's better at cleaning floors. It won't sanitise like steam, but it's the next best thing. During our testing we found that the hot-water mopping doesn't necessarily tackle all kinds of stains, but it does a better job than a lot of other mopping robovacs we've tested.
Ecovacs has also improved its voice assistant if you want to use to control the T30S Combo.
Where it really stands out is the additional handheld vacuum unit that's attached to the side of the self-cleaning charging dock. It's great for the quick spot cleans when you don't want the robot vacuum to be running around your home. And, if you live in a home with stairs, you can use the handheld unit to give those a quick clean as the droid will steer clear of those. Once your done, the dock will suck out the dirt collected within the dust canister of the handheld unit too.
Cleaning probably doesn't get more full-featured than this.
You are going to need some decent amount of floor space to stow it, though, as the docking station is large. That's understandable as it's got two tanks in there, plus the nest for the handheld unit.
While its mapping and obstacle avoidance tech is quite impressive, it will plow over or thin cables and socks (or other smaller items), so you'd still need to make sure you pick up bits and bobs before the T30S Combo does its thing.
If you really want to outsource your floor cleaning, this is the way to go.
Read our full Ecovacs Deebot T30S Combo review
Best Dyson alternative
You'd be forgiven if you haven't heard of Tineco before, but select models of vacuum cleaners from the brand have made appearances on Amazon AU. You can also purchase them from Godfreys. And our pick of the bunch – albeit an expensive proposition – is the Pure One S12 Platinum.
Our colleagues in the UK tested the Tineco Pure One S12 Pro EX – which is absolutely the same thing just with a different name – and they had high praise for it. Like other, more expensive cordless handsticks out there, the S12 Platinum can dynamically increase suction if it senses more dirt on the floor. And it's pretty powerful too.
The staggering number of accessories that you get in the box with this model... well, it honestly adds to the value proposition here. You'll get an attachment that will likely clean every single surface in your home – there are 10 in total in the box.
It also comes with two batteries, giving you a total maximum runtime of up to 100 minutes, so it's great for larger family homes.
There's a display to keep an eye on things, plus a touch-sensitive slider to change suction power – a design element you won't find elsewhere. It's also quite light, making it easy to manoeuvre and use as a handheld unit.
The main downside to this is the extra storage space you're going to need to stow away the accessories. We could wish the bin capacity was a little more than just 0.6L, but this is average for most cordless vacuums in the market today.
Read our in-depth Tineco Pure One S12 Platinum review (albeit the UK model)
Best vacuum mop
It's admittedly hard to recommend a vacuum cleaner that costs you well over a grand, but that's quite standard with a lot of Dyson's latest vacuum cleaners. And, honestly, if you're getting an attachment that can also mop, it could well be worth every penny you spend.
The Dyson V15s Detect Submarine is an excellent vacuum, as you'd expect from the British brand, but the new Submarine wet roller attachment is the headline act here. It's made from velvet and it's more than capable of cleaning up wet and dry spills – if it's wet, it mops your floor dry; if it's a dry spill, it can be wet enough to clean up dried-up stains.
What it isn't great at is keeping the dirty water inside the compartment when it starts filling up. It's not sealed so, when full, and you're moving the appliance, it can create its own spills. It's not a deal breaker but can be annoying, despite coming with a spill tray.
If you can spare the extra cash for the Dyson-exclusive Complete model, then you also get an upgraded Fluffy Optic that has an LED light that shines brighter and with a broader beam than the original laser-lit one that came with the older V15.
As both a vacuum and mop, the V15s Detect Submarine does well along room edges too, but be wary of the mop leaving dirty water stains on the walls if you're running it perpendicular to the edge. All in all, it's a good all-rounder for all kinds of floors, with up to 60 minutes battery life.
The only downside to this Dyson is its uneven weight distribution that makes it slightly harder to use as a handheld.
Read our full Dyson V15s Detect Submarine review
Best for large homes
If you’ve got a bigger home, a larger dust canister is a necessity if you want to ensure your floor cleaning session isn’t interrupted, and thankfully the Dyson V11 outsize offers just this. At 1.9 litres, it can hold 150% more debris than the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute (above), and the wider-than-usual cleaning head, means you’ll be able to vacuum your floors quicker than ever too.
On test, it offered powerful suction that whipped away discarded biscuit crumbs, ground-in dirt, and even cereal and cat biscuits, almost instantly. However, we found the larger size made the vacuum cumbersome to use in handheld mode.
Performance is top-notch but it’s also the most expensive vacuum we’ve tested, putting it out of reach of some.
Read our full Dyson V11 Outsize review
Best for smart homes
iRobot is arguably the most popular robot vacuum brand in the world. Most people would have heard about a Roomba at some time, and they're getting smarter by the iteration. The i7 range has two models – both are identical in every way, with the sole exception of a self-emptying base available with the i7+ model.
The Roomba i7, even when bought on its own, is frightfully expensive, yet we can't leave it out of this round-up. It's got one of the smartest navigation systems on a robot vacuum and it cleans a lot quicker than most advanced models. It's perhaps the only robovac that uploads maps of individual rooms in a house to iRobot's servers. This smart map can take a few tries to complete but once done, you can tell the Roomba to clean any specific room via the app.
If you've got smart speakers with with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, then you'll be able to control the i7 with a simple voice command. And, if you can spare the coin for purchasing the Clean Base (which is essentially the i7+ model), then you won't even need to worry about emptying the i7's bin. Only when the Clean Base is full – perhaps once a month – you'll need to empty it. However, the Clean Base uses bags which become an additional ongoing cost.
Read our full iRobot Roomba i7+ review
Best vacuum for pet hair
The Shark Stratos Cordless is the best vacuum if you need to tackle pet hair. It packs an impressive amount of power for a cordless model and boasts a few features that make it especially well suited to households with hairy pets (or indeed, hairy humans). The main floorhead – which is suitable for hard floors as well as carpet – is designed in such a way that it'll siphon hair off the brushroll as you clean, and direct it straight into the dust cup. This stops things getting clogged, while the built-in odor neutralizer keeps it all smelling fresh.
There's up to a full hour's cleaning on one charge, and a generously sized dust cup, which means you can clean for longer without having to empty it. A wand that can bend forwards to 90-degrees means getting right under furniture is a cinch, and on test we were also impressed with this vacuum’s ability to remove hair from furniture when used in handheld and Boost mode. All those factors mean it sits at the top of our best vacuum for pet hair guide.
If you don't have such demanding cleaning needs, you'd be better off with the Shark Cordless Detect Pro (#1 on this list), which is lighter and more streamlined. On the flip side, if you need maximum power and are happy to sacrifice manoeuvrability to get it, you can't beat a corded upright like Shark Stratos Upright (see below).
We haven't tested the Australian version of the Shark Stratos Cordless, but we have tried the UK model, which is identical but with a different name.
Read our full Shark Stratos Cordless with Clean Sense IQ IZ862H review
The best upright vacuum cleaner
If you want outright power, a corded upright is typically the best option, and our top pick in this category is the Shark Stratos Upright. If you need something for deep cleans, it's an excellent choice, and on test we found it was great for tackling pet hair, too. The cord means there's no time limit on your cleaning session, and the large dust cup means you won't be traipsing back and forth from the trash can, either. Like many of Shark's newer vacuums, there's an anti-odor puck that keeps things smelling fresh.
While it's clearly bulkier and heavier than the cordless vacuums in this list (including the stick option from the same range, at #5), it has been designed for maximum flexibility within that upright form factor. So the dust cup / motor part can be lifted off and held in your hand, and the cleaner head added to the end of a stretch hose – super useful for tackling things like stairs. If you're not sure it's right for you, our guide to the best upright vacuums has plenty of alternative options.
As with the Shark Stratos Cordless listed above, we haven't tested the Australian SKU of the Upright either. However, our colleagues in the UK have, where it goes by a different name but is otherwise very similar.
Read our full Shark Stratos Upright Vacuum review
Best hard-floor specialist
If you want a more complete cleaning solution for hard floors, we rate the Tineco Floor One S7 Pro the best wet-dry vacuum on the market. This model offers top-notch vacuuming and mopping, and deodorizes and disinfects as it goes, leaving floors spotless. It's heavy at nearly 10kg, but its self-propelling capabilities make it super-easy to push about.
All that cleaning power takes a toll on the battery life, which is relatively short at 40 minutes on one charge. Our tester also found the water tank a little small, and the fact it needed to be emptied frequently a little annoying. And as you might expect, it's not for carpeted floors.
There are lots of useful features, including voice prompts and a bright LED display that lets you know what mode you’re using as well as water and battery levels. Being able to vacuum and mop in one go is in itself a revelation for how much time and effort it saves.
It's a bit of an investment, but we think the performance justifies the higher price. If you want something more affordable, the Roborock Dyad Pro is our favourite budget option.
Read our full Tineco Floor One S7 Pro review
Best vacuum cleaner FAQs
What to consider when buying a vacuum cleaner
Why you can trust TechRadar We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
As we’ve mentioned already, knowing which type of vacuum to choose can end up leaving you confused. However, considering the type of property you have will help you decide.
These days, cordless vacuums are some of the most powerful vacuums when it comes to suction and they ensure you’re not restricted by the length of the wire. However they can also be some of the most expensive too. Check how long the battery will last between charges, and whether the battery is swappable, so you can simply replace it and carry on vacuuming, rather than the floor cleaner being out of action completely while it recharges.
Corded vacuums are often more affordable than cordless models, and many have wider floor headers, which can ensure vacuuming is a much quicker task. Although if you have nooks and crannies the vacuum may not be able to reach them. For those with stairs, consider models with extra-long hoses so you can clean the stairs without moving the vacuum.
Robot vacuums are good for regular cleans, however with suction that can’t match the best cordless vacuums they’re not suitable for a deep clean, and struggle to suck up dust embedded in carpets.
If you have hard floors, look for a vacuum cleaner that comes with a dedicated cleaner head, which has a softer brush roll to ensure the flooring isn’t damaged when vacuuming.
Whichever style you select, consider whether the dust canister is large enough to clean all of the floors in your home, without needing to stop and be emptied half way through.
Dyson vs Shark: which brand has better vacuums?
Shark and Dyson are two of the biggest names dominating the floor care market right now, so if you’re considering kitting your home out with a powerful new vacuum, it makes sense to opt for one of these brands. But which is best?
In a nutshell, Dyson vacuums are more expensive but this ensures you get a vacuum cleaner that’s extremely powerful but still lightweight and easy to maneuver around your home. Dyson vacuums are stuffed with cutting edge technology too, from lasers that highlight hidden dust to innovative floor heads that can be moved in any direction. If you prefer a cordless model, they also come with long-lasting batteries too.
Shark’s vacuum cleaners are more affordable than Dyson’s offerings, but they can still match the stalwart when it comes to suction power. Shark models are not usually as sleek and stylish as Dyson’s, and they’re often heavier too, but they do come with useful technology such as the ability to stop hair getting tangled around the brush and flexible wands to ensure you can clean in hard to reach places.
Shark vacuums tend to have larger dust canisters than most of Dyson’s models, but the battery doesn’t last as long. So are they better? It very much depends on the layout of your home and your budget. Read our Shark vs Dyson article for a more in-depth look at the two floor-cleaning brands.
How often should you vacuum?
“When the floor looks dirty” I hear you cry, but to keep your home allergen-free and your floors as clean as possible, you’ll need to vacuum more regularly than this.
We recommend vacuuming most floors once a week while increasing this to twice a week in high-traffic areas such as hallways and doorways. Especially, if you have carpet, as the longer dust is left, the more it becomes embedded in the fibres making it hard to thoroughly clean.
While this may seem like a lot, vacuuming this regularly will ensure there is less dust to suck up each time, making cleaning your floors a quicker process.
For more on this, head to our full feature on how often should you vacuum?
How we test
How we test vacuum cleaners
To find the best vacuum cleaner, we’ve assessed how well each model collects everything from fine dust and dirt to larger debris such as cookie crumbs and cereal. As well as evaluating how well floors are cleaned, we’ve also compared how easy the vacuum cleaners are to manoeuvre on carpet and hard floors, as well as whether dust pickup is evenly distributed across the cleaning head or concentrated in one area.
We rated each design on how durable it is, as well as simplicity of emptying, how loud it is during use and how long the battery lasts (if it has one). For each model we wanted to know whether it was easy to convert into other modes – such as a handheld vac – the useful tools and accessories it came with to clean edges or remove pet hair, and that it didn’t require reading a thick instruction manual before use.
