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A hand holding the Dyson Gen5outsize with the LCD display screen showing while cleaning the floor Credit: Reviewed / Jon Chan

The Best Dyson Vacuums of 2023

Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed's editors. Purchases made through the links below may earn us and our publishing partners a commission. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

A hand holding the Dyson Gen5outsize with the LCD display screen showing while cleaning the floor Credit: Reviewed / Jon Chan

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Editor's Choice Product image of Dyson V15 Detect
Best Overall

Dyson V15 Detect

This Dyson has powerful suction power and long battery life, plus it has a great built-in laser that illuminates even the finest bits of dust on your floors and furniture. Read More

Pros

  • Dirt detection
  • Excellent handling
  • Long battery life

Cons

  • Small brush head
2
Editor's Choice Product image of Dyson Ball Animal 2
Best Upright

Dyson Ball Animal 2

This powerful upright vacuum offers an unparalleled cleaning performance, but the trade-off is its heavy weight. Read More

Pros

  • Powerful suction
  • Cleaning performance

Cons

  • Heavy
3
Editor's Choice Product image of Dyson Gen5outsize
Best for Large Homes

Dyson Gen5outsize

The Dyson Gen5Outsize is a bulky cordless vacuum with strong suction. It comes with two brush heads and a tool for cleaning pet hair. Read More

Pros

  • Good suction
  • No-tangle brushes
  • Long battery life

Cons

  • Bulky
  • Difficult storage
4
Product image of Dyson Gen5detect

Dyson Gen5detect

The Dyson Gen5detect is a powerful cordless vacuum with a removable battery, multiple brush heads, and an LCD screen on the back. Read More

Pros

  • Powerful suction
  • Good battery
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Cumbersome storage
  • Expensive
5
Editor's Choice Product image of Dyson V8 Absolute

Dyson V8 Absolute

One heck of a vacuum. If you crave the V10's sleek design, the V8 is a cheaper option. It still costs twice as much as most vacuums on our list, though. Read More

Pros

  • Powerful suction
  • Large number of available attachments

Cons

  • Only seven minutes of battery life on high

Are Dyson vacuum cleaners worth their price—and which is the best? Here at Reviewed, we hear those questions a lot from consumers curious about the popular brand synonymous with expensive models.

To find the answers, we’ve put all the current Dyson vacuums to the test in our labs to see which ones perform and if any don’t. After testing, the latest cordless vacuum from the company, the Dyson V15 Detect (available at Amazon) , emerged as the best Dyson vacuum for its battery life, suction power, and a laser that illuminates the tiniest speck of dust.

While our tests show that Dyson vacuums always live up to the brand’s claims, whether this is a value equal to or greater than their cost is a little more complicated to break down. Here are the best Dyson vacuum cleaners we’ve tested, including both cordless and corded models:

The Dyson V15 Detect cleaning a table.
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The Dyson V15 Detect is an all-around great cordless vacuum.

Best Overall
Dyson V15 Detect

The Dyson V15 Detect has outstanding suction power for cleaning carpets thoroughly, vacuuming about an average of 92% of the detritus during testing. This cordless vacuum has two huge upgrades that enhance the cleaning experience: a laser that illuminates dust and an improved battery with a run time that lasts 15 minutes on its maximum setting.

The V15’s unique laser, which can be turned on and off, gives it an edge over the vacuum competition. It is much better at highlighting dirt and dust particles than the LED headlights you find on some vacuums. The V15 also is equipped with a sensor that detects dirt particle sizes and displays them on the vacuum’s readout.

It still has the smooth glide, sensitive trigger, and lightweight design people familiar with Dyson cordless vacuums expect. This is the best vacuum Dyson has to offer, and it deserves our top spot despite its high price.

Pros

  • Dirt detection

  • Excellent handling

  • Long battery life

Cons

  • Small brush head

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 in a room by itself on gray carpet in front of a brick wall with a window
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The Dyson Ball Animal 2 is the most powerful vacuum we've ever tested.

Best Upright
Dyson Ball Animal 2

The most powerful upright we’ve ever tested, the Dyson Ball Animal 2 vacuumed 76.3% of our testing dirt in a single pass, far exceeding the upright average of about 33%.

The Animal 2 is heavy at 17.6 pounds, and its large ball joint makes it hard to clean under furniture. Still, if you’re looking for a great Dyson upright for lots of flooring types, this is the one to get. Like the V15, though, you’ll pay a big price.

Pros

  • Powerful suction

  • Cleaning performance

Cons

  • Heavy

The Dyson Gen5outsize vacuum with a green light illuminated on the front as it vacuums up debris from a wood floor
Credit: Reviewed / Jonathan Chan

The Dyson Gen5outsize has a long lasting battery life, making it the best Dyson vacuum for cleaning large homes.

Best for Large Homes
Dyson Gen5outsize

The Dyson Gen5outsize has everything we liked about the original Outsize, but more. It has a 16% longer battery life. It has a better HEPA filter that can capture particles three times as small. And now the Gen5outsize is compatible with the Fluffy Optic head, making it better suited for hardwood floors.

During tests, the Gen5outsize lifts 80% of the testing dirt from our carpets in a single pass. This Dyson can also clean up a ton of long hair without tangles with its Hair Screw Tool.

Overall, we’d recommend the Dyson Gen5outsize for larger houses that need extra battery life and cleaning power.

Read our full review of the Dyson Gen5outsize

Pros

  • Good suction

  • No-tangle brushes

  • Long battery life

Cons

  • Bulky

  • Difficult storage

Others Dyson Vacuums We Tested

Product image of Dyson Gen5detect
Dyson Gen5detect

When it comes to Dyson vacuums, the Gen5detect showcases a ton of cutting-edge technology. It has an LCD screen on the back that displays information about what kind of dirt it's picking up and the amount of battery life remaining.

It also comes with the Fluffy Optics and Digital Motarbar brush heads. The Fluffy Optics head possesses a special laser that illuminates even the finest dirt to make it easier to clean. While the Digital Motorbar has specially engineered veins to prevent hair from tangling up.

During testing, the Gen5detect picked up around 87.5% of the testing dirt per pass. That’s about 25% more than the average cordless vacuum.

Our issue with the Gen5detect is that it has stiff competition compared to other Dyson vacuums. It is significantly smaller than the Outsize. The battery is not a huge improvement over the older V15 Detect. And for what it costs currently, we’re on the fence on recommending it as an upgrade.

If you’re looking to get a Dyson vacuum because you don’t own one, the Gen5detect is worth checking out. However, people who own a recent Dyson that’s in working order may want to wait until the price comes down.

Read our full review of the Dyson Gen5outsize

Pros

  • Powerful suction

  • Good battery

  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Cumbersome storage

  • Expensive

Product image of Dyson V8 Absolute
Dyson V8

The Dyson V8 Absolute almost overwhelms with its number of included attachments. It comes with a powered brush head designed for hardwood floors, a motorized upholstery brush, a soft brush for hardwood, a combination upholstery/bare floor tool, a crevice tool, and a soft dusting brush.

Weighing 5.6 pounds, the V8 vacuumed 88% of the dirt during our tests. The vacuum’s battery lasted 40 minutes on low, but only 7 minutes on its maximum setting.

The V8 has a slick design that is more affordable than many Dyson vacuums, but it still costs twice the average cordless vacuum.

Pros

  • Powerful suction

  • Large number of available attachments

Cons

  • Only seven minutes of battery life on high

Product image of Dyson Big Ball Multifloor
Dyson Big Ball Multifloor

The Dyson Big Ball Multifloor canister vacuum is a sight to behold. The specialized self-righting design means that if you take hard corners or happen to kick the unit, it may roll over, but it will always get back up on its wheels.

This canister vacuum also has superior reach. The skinny hose and small brush head easily clean every cranny.

While we like the design of this canister, it has weak suction compared to other Dyson models. During our testing, the Multifloor vacuumed up 47% of the dirt we left for it. It is still above average in our lab but doesn't match other Dyson vacuums.

Pros

  • Self-righting design

  • Superior reach

Cons

  • Expensive

Product image of Dyson Ball Multifloor 2
Dyson Ball Multifloor 2

Weighing about 16 pounds, the Multifloor 2 is lighter than some other Dyson models, but it is also less powerful. During testing, the Multifloor 2 picked up about 64% of the dirt we laid out for it. That still far exceeds the average for other brands.

This upright vacuum offers great value: Dyson engineering and attention to detail at a relatively affordable price.

Pros

  • Lightweight for an upright

Cons

  • Weak suction for a Dyson

How We Tested Dyson Vacuum Cleaners

The Tester

Hi, I’m Jon Chan, the senior lab technician at Reviewed. If you clean with a product, it’s likely I oversee its testing in our labs. This includes everything from laundry detergents to washing machines.

The Tests

A photo of three different flooring types: medium pile carpet, high pile carpet and hardwood used for vacuum testing
Credit: Reviewed / Timothy Renzi

We test Dyson vacuums on three different surface types.

Over the years, we’ve tested hundreds of vacuum cleaners, from cordless vacuums and handhelds to uprights and robot vacuums.

We like to think we know our stuff, and we back up our assessments with scientific data. That’s true with our tests of Dyson vacuum cleaners, too.

Read more about how we test vacuums in the Reviewed labs.

What You Should Know About Buying A Dyson Vacuum

In Dyson lingo, what do Animal, Absolute, Trigger, and Motorhead mean?

Whenever you see a Dyson V8 Absolute or a Dyson V8 Motorhead, you’ll know the difference between them is the attachments included. Typically, Trigger and Motorhead models come with the fewest attachments, while the Absolute models come with the most.

On older models, Animals have more attachments than All Floors.

How to Clean Dyson Vacuums

Dyson suggests that its filters be cleaned at least once a month to keep its vacuums running efficiently. Here’s how the company says it should be done: Remove the filter from the vacuum cleaner. Remove excess dirt by tapping the filter in a trash bin. Rinse the filter with cold tap water and rub it with your hands. Dyson says you shouldn’t use detergents. Fill the filter with warm tap water. Then cover the open ends with your hands and shake them firmly. Repeat until the water runs clear. Let your Dyson filter air dry for at least 24 hours.

How to Empty Dyson Vacuums

An overly-filled vacuum will not operate efficiently. Dyson suggests that its vacuums be emptied as soon as they reach the maximum fill line. With upright or canister models, remove the dust bin from the vacuum and, while holding it over the trash, press the release button to empty it.

With a stick model, hold the vacuum by the handle and remove the wand from the unit. While holding the machine over the trash, pull the release lever to empty the dirt bin.

What’s the difference between cordless, canister, and upright vacuums?

For the most part, cordless vacuums should be viewed as supplementary cleaning tools to be used in between heavier cleaning sessions whereas you would use an upright or canister vacuum, which typically offers a more powerful deep-cleaning performance. You’d also want a cordless vacuum in situations where a full-sized vacuum is too cumbersome.

This said, if you’re willing to pay a higher price for the privilege, it’s possible for a cordless vacuum to stand toe-to-toe with a full-sized vacuum—with a few caveats. The top-rated Dyson V15 Detect has a suction force similar to that of an upright vacuum, but you'll only be able to use it for this level of cleaning for about 9 minutes before it runs out of power and needs to be recharged.

What’s the difference between cordless vacuums and hand vacuums?

In many cases, the only difference between a cordless vacuum and hand vacuum is the cordless vacuum’s long extension, which allows the brush head to reach the floor.

Although rare, some two-in-one–models come with a handheld vacuum that can be removed and used to clean without the floor extension—a real bonus when you’re cleaning furniture or a flight of stairs. The best example of this is probably the Miele TriFlex, which can transform into three different modes to tackle just about any situation.

Meet the tester

Jonathan Chan

Jonathan Chan

Senior Manager of Lab Operations

@Jonfromthelab1

Jonathan Chan currently serves as the Lab Manager at Reviewed. If you clean with it, it's likely that Jon oversees its testing. Since joining the Reviewed in 2012, Jon has helped launch the company's efforts in reviewing laptops, vacuums, and outdoor gear. He thinks he's a pretty big deal. In the pursuit of data, he's plunged his hands into freezing cold water, consented to be literally dragged through the mud, and watched paint dry. Jon demands you have a nice day.

See all of Jonathan Chan's reviews

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