The 10 Best Cordless Vacuums For Hardwood Floors 2022

A lot of hardwood flooring manufacturers will warn you against vacuuming their planks.

While we know that mopping hardwood can lead to damage and problems, vacuuming should be fine, right?

The truth is that a lot of vacuums can easily scratch the wear layer on most hardwood planks.

Over time they can even develop ruts or gouges from wheels, brush rollers and the sheer weight of some of the vacuums.

Top 5 Cordless Vacuums for Your Hardwood 2022

The best vacuum cleaners for your hardwood are lightweight, full of features and easy to use.

1. Best Premium Choice – Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Stick Vacuum. Arguably the most powerful stick vacuum on the market.
2. Best Buy – Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick Vacuum. Lightweight stick vacuum with a huge capacity collection bin.
3. Best Budget Choice – Hoover BH50010 Linx Stick Vacuum. Fade free battery with versatility and convenience all wrapped in one.
4. Dyson V11 Animal Stick Vacuum. Power, performance and portability. What else can you ask for?
5. Shark ION P50 – IC162 Upright Vacuum. Compact, portable and powerful vacuum with versatility galore.

Scroll down for our buying guide, reviews of all the cordless vacuums for hardwood, and a helpful FAQ.

Buyer’s Guide: Selecting a Great Cordless Vacuum for Hardwood

Below are several consideration factors worthy of your time before you head off and press that “Buy Now” button.

Power Cleaning Heads

Power cleaning heads are nice. The brush rollers can agitate carpet and get deep into fibers to lift our stubborn dirt and debris. However, on hardwood, they bristles can scratch or mar the clear coat wear layer.

To combat this there are three options. First, the power cleaning head can use a soft bristle or foam roller to prevent scratching. Second you can have the option to turn the brush roller off when cleaning your hardwood.

The second method is ideal for those looking for a cordless vacuum that cleans multiple floor types, not just hardwood. Finally, you have the option to have a cleaning head that doesn’t have a brush roller at all. Straight suction cleaning heads may not be the best for carpeting, but work wonders on hard floors.

Battery Life

Battery power is important, but not as important as battery life. Most of today’s batteries are strong enough to power a cordless vacuum and create incredible suction. However, how they are used will be what matters. Runtime will vary greatly between the models.

Most of the time you will have speed selection options and will be tempted to use high power. When on high power batteries in these models last between 6 and 20 minutes. Make sure you know the maximum runtimes for all speeds of your chosen model.

Collection Method

There are two collection methods for vacuums and on cordless models you will find a canister more often than bagged. Bagged models do offer a bit more filtration for some finer particles and dust, but they lose suction a bit easier.

Canister, or bagless vacuums have better airflow in general but can produce more of a mess when emptying. If you need to protect yourself from allergens more than most, you need to make sure that the emptying of the canister is simple and quick.

Portability

A good balance is generally found in the 5 to 10 pound range. There are exceptions of course, but you need to be sure you can lift and carry the vacuum from room to room, upstairs or use overhead easily.

Cleaning Versatility

Searching for a cordless vacuum to clean hardwood floors only is a bit absurd. While it is a great idea to specialize your vacuum for hard floors, they should be more versatile. The ability to clean carpet, all hard flooring, furniture, stairs, overhead and even your car can make all the difference.

Some models are multiple units in one, usually this means they have a hand held motor, with attachments for using on stairs, a handle to insert to use as an upright and other options for more versatility.

Find the type that suits more than just your hardwood floors for the best possible value.

Accessories

You will find that a lot of brands offer many accessories or features to entice you. Some of these accessories are fairly common, such as brush tools or crevice tools. Others may be more specific to the vacuum type, such as handheld miniature powered cleaning heads or pet hair specific cleaning tools.

While most of these can go without ever being used, it is nice to have them. Find out what is included with that particular model. Many brands, especially Dyson, will have identical models in a series where the only difference is the price and included accessories.

Price and Warranty

The final price you pay will be one of the biggest deciding factors. You usually get what you pay for when it comes to these vacuums. However, some less expensive models have surprising capabilities while more expensive models may not have the best batteries, for example.

Make sure you are comfortable with the purchase amount to ensure you don’t suffer from buyer’s remorse.

Another factor to think about is the warranty. Each one offers a different term and has different qualifiers. Some will make you pay for shipping to a repair service and others may ask you to retain a paper copy of your sales receipt.

Read the small print and ensure you agree with all of the terms and conditions before you buy.

10 Best Cordless Vacuums for Hardwood Floors 2022

1. Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Stick Vacuum

When you want to have it all, the Dyson V10 Absolute gives more than you could imagine. This cordless stick vac is versatile, powerful and can clean just about anything. What else would you expect from Dyson?

The V10 series offers three models to choose from. The Motorhead is a capable machine, but lacks any accessories except for the combination crevice and brush tool. The Animal comes with a torque cleaning head for deeper carpet penetration.

The Absolute, though, is the top of the line and includes every accessory made for the V10 series. This means you get the torque cleaning head, sure. But you also get the fluffy cleaning head which is ideal for your hardwood floors.

The vacuum also features handheld mode so you can clean upholstery, overhead or even the car and stairs. On hardwood, though, there is no match.

The power sucks up everything in its path and the battery is pretty decent. Depending on which attachments you are using and which cleaning mode you are in, the battery can last 6 minutes or up to 40 minutes.

If you are cleaning a larger space, using a medium speed with the fluffy power head attached will give you between 11 and 14 minutes of cleaning time, which should be plenty to cover your hardwood space.

Except for refurbished models, the V10 Absolute comes with a 5-year warranty. The warranty covers everything except the battery and filters, since they are considered replaceable parts. The motor, cyclonic suction tubes, and all other parts, though, are covered with repair or replacement options.

2. Shark Navigator Freestyle Upright Stick Vacuum

For those on a tighter budget or looking for a simple vacuum to clean their floors, the Shark Navigator Freestyle is your model. This affordable unit has a lot of power and so lightweight you can carry it anywhere.

It doesn’t have a lot of frills or accessories, in fact it doesn’t have any. However, what it does have is well worth the cost. You get a large canister for collecting dirt and debris and a vacuum that can clean any floor type.

The motorized cleaning head offers two speeds (on or off) which makes it ideal for cleaning carpet and heading directly to hardwood without worry of scratches. You don’t even have to stop vacuuming. A convenient foot pedal turns the brush roller on or off as you need.

It does offer a wide cleaning path, but you will still need to help it out along baseboards and into corners. Since there isn’t a hose or extension wands, it will only pick up what the cleaning head can cover.

It does have a 1-year limited warranty, though which covers everything but the belt, battery and filter. The warranty is quite limited, which is a shame, but with a name like Shark behind it, you won’t likely need it anyway.

3. MOOSOO X6 4 in 1 Stick Vacuum

The MOOSOO X6 is a versatile stick vacuum that offers you a familiar look with a much lower price tag. The resemblance to the Dyson V-series cordless vacuums is undeniable. However, you should also notice the price tag. This affordable vacuum has a lot to offer.

Along with the no-loss cyclonic suction, you also get a lightweight vacuum that can clean just about anything. From your floors to your curtains and everything in between, you will love using this vacuum.

The best part of this machine is the washable HEPA filter. Not only will it keep in-home allergens like pollen and pet dander from floating around your floors, it will also last a long time. Instead of having to buy a new filter every couple of months, you can pop this one out, run it under cool water and let it dry, up to 100 times.

The 4-in-1 may be slightly misleading, but it is accurate. The handheld unit counts as one mode, where there are two options. You can use the cleaning head or the combination brush tool for two separate cleaning styles.

If you add the extension tube, you can use the vacuum as a regular upright model. Again, with the cleaning head for hardwood floor cleaning or the brush tool for overhead cleaning, giving you two more cleaning modes.

The 2-year warranty is difficult to locate and everything is done through email. However, MOOSOO is quick to respond to all emails and once you have started a claim, the process is smooth and pretty quick. You can usually expect a resolution, repaired or replaced machine and all shipping completed in about 2 to 3 weeks.

4. Dyson V11 Animal Stick Vacuum

The Dyson V11 is the latest model to come out of the V-series. The cordless V11 Animal vacuum has a lot of new features to explore versus the V10, but this machine is not for the faint of heart. While not designed for every budget, those that can afford it will be happy with their purchase.

The first thing to note is that the battery has been improved. While it doesn’t have a longer runtime over all, it will still outperform any V series battery that came before it, even the V10. Without any powered motor heads and on the lowest setting, you can expect up to an hour of runtime.

It also includes whole-machine filtration. This means that the entire machine is sealed and doesn’t let any particles escape. The HEPA filtration system works well to reduce in-home allergens.

Like the V10 line, there are different models with the Oversize, sometimes still called the Absolute, being the top of the line. The Animal is the mid range model with a lot of tools and accessories.

The high torque cleaner head is among the most advanced cleaning heads around. It features an auto-adjust control that keeps the head down to the floor, regardless of floor type. It also decides the best motor speed and suction power to help prolong battery life while still performing well enough to clean the floor.

The 2-year warranty is not as long as some of the others, but Dyson still has incredible customer service and isn’t shy to replace any part or the entire machine if needed.

We listed the Dyson V11 as one of the best cordless vacuums for pet hair and hardwood floors.

5. Hoover BH50010 Linx Stick Vacuum

The Hoover Linx is a portable and surprisingly powerful upright vacuum. It offers little in the way of accessories or extras, but it will clean your hardwood floors for a budget-friendly price. The fade-free battery has decent life, too.

When fully charged you can expect between 20 and 30 minutes of cleaning time. Because there are only two speeds, you don’t have to worry about various settings affecting the battery performance.

The power and speed controls are right on the handle, too where you can access and change them as needed with just your thumb. The battery itself is removable and charges in it’s own dock. You can even buy a second one to have a charged and ready battery at all times.

One of the biggest draws to this model is the edge to edge cleaning abilities of the cleaning head. It will get right along your baseboards and in corners so you don’t have to do any pre-cleaning in those areas.

With a 2-year warranty you are covered fairly well. Hoover makes all efforts to be timely and responsive to customer concerns and warranty claims. 

6. MOOSOO Upgraded K17 4-in-1 Upright Stick Vacuum

The K17 model from MOOSOO is similar to the X6 model on this list. It is the upgraded version and the price will reflect that. However, so will the performance. The filtration is phenomenal and the power is incredible.

The biggest draw is that the base machine weighs less than three pounds. Even with the aluminum extension tube you can easily clean overhead, in corners and all of your hardwood floors without fatigue.

When you have the cleaning head attached, the weight does jump up, but it isn’t anything major. The cleaning head is motorized and now has LEDs in the front to help locate dirt and dust that can hide on darker floors or in hard to reach areas.

What you do need to watch is your softer sealants and wear layers. The cleaning head mixes soft and stiff bristles and may leave scratches. The crevice and brush tools aren’t very exciting, of course, but it is more than some other models on this list will offer.

Finally, you will get the charger and mounting bracket (and battery, too) which completes the accessories package. But with such strong suction power and 4-stage HEPA filtration, we are positive you won’t miss out on anything critical.

7. Shark ION P50 – IC162 Upright Vacuum

Another Shark makes our list and this time it is the Shark Ion P50. This model has quite a unique look and it is Shark’s first lift-away cordless vacuum. You can actually use the parts to reconfigure how it works.

The basic function is as a stick vac or upright model. The canister and motor site near the bottom with the cleaning head attaches directly to it. The extension tube and wand become the handle and you can vacuum your hard flooring with ease.

You can then remove the extension tube and cleaning head to have a hand held model with flex hose and cleaning wand. This also works well with the crevice and brush tools to clean upholstery or over head.

For more flexibility, you can attach the extension tube to the wand and put the cleaning head on the end of the tube making a long-reach hand held for getting under furniture or in hard to reach areas.

No matter how you put it together, the power and suction are great and hardwood floors are no match. It also comes with a 5-year warranty should anything go wrong. It doesn’t cover the HEPA filter or accessories, but will cover the flex hose, wand motor and canister.

8. ORFELD 4-in-1 Handheld Vacuum

Orfeld is a new company that has come up with an innovative design for an older style hand vacuum. The 4-in-1 vacuum is first and foremost a handheld vacuum, however, with the multi-positional handle it becomes quite a versatile little cleaner.

You only get three items with your purchase, including the crevice tool, brush tool and charging station. The station plugs into the wall and sits in the corner. The two tools mount to the read side and the cordless vacuum itself (inside the handle) sits on the dock to recharge and for storage.

While in handheld mode, you can use either tool to clean upholstery, your car, along baseboards and corners or even overhead. Remove the tools and put the vacuum in the handle and you have a hardwood floor cleaner that is easy to work with.

Unlike some other models where the handle is just a stick, this multi-positional tool is what makes this product unique. The swivel head will move side to side up to 60 degrees and the handle folds flat at the end to 180 degrees.

However, there is also a knuckle about half way up the handle that allows you to lay the cleaning head flat to get under furniture while you stay standing up. This helps back and arm fatigue while cleaning.

The warranty is a little awkward, but initially comes with a 30-day money back promise if, for any reason, you decide it isn’t right for you. It also has a 12 month warranty that covers most parts and the motor.

However, if you send a warranty request within the first 30 days (email information provided in the owner’s manual), you can get a 3-month extension to the warranty for a total of 15 months. You also get lifetime customer support for any problems, issues or questions you may have.

9. APOSEN H251 5-in-1 Stick Vacuum

Aposen might be another brand you have yet to hear of, but that is about to change. Their H251 multi-purpose cordless vacuum is something you should have in your home. They call it a 5-in-1 model, but that may be more of a marketing ploy than an actual fact.

The vacuum has 2 basic modes, handheld and upright. In upright mode you can extend the height-adjusted handle fully and use the motorized cleaning head to clean your hardwood floors as you would with any other vacuum.

You can also shorten the handle and attach the mini motorized upholstery brush to clean your couches, chairs and car. In handheld mode, you can attach one of the three tools (brush, crevice or flex hose) for use above head or in hard to reach areas on your wood floor.

These 5 different set ups are the same for most other handheld and stick mode vacuums, they just choose to call each one a different type of cleaner. No harm there, but they technically aren’t different modes.

The one thing to watch here is the motorized cleaning head. You can’t turn the brush roller off, and it does have a mix of soft and stiff bristles. You will want to test it in a small area first to make sure the stiff bristles won’t scratch your hardwood surface or sealant.

Customer service is actually pleasant to talk to and be in touch with and they honor every bit of their 2-year warranty without complaint or hesitation. Because they are a newer company, they want to ensure every purchase is 100% satisfactory. Let’s hope that doesn’t change as they grow in popularity.

10. Aucma by whall 4-in-1 Hand Held Vacuum

The whall company (don’t capitalize that name!) not to be confused with the personal grooming company Wahl, offers the Aucma 4-in-1 vacuum to keep your hardwood floors clean. With surprising suction power, this vacuum is as efficient as it is versatile.

You don’t get a lot of extras with this model, but you really don’t need them. You can use the extension tube and cleaning head (one piece) to clean your floors, stairs and carpets with ease.

It offers a triple-brush roll that mixes stiff, soft and fuzzy brushes. Make sure to check it on your hard flooring surface for scratch potential before use.

The cleaning head also offers three speeds, which increase the efficiency but drain the battery faster the higher you go. At a slow speed, you will collect more lighter debris such as dust and pet hair, while the higher speeds do better with larger debris and harder to pick up items like cereal and cat litter.

The handheld mode is great for cleaning your car or overhead and uses the crevice tool and brush combo accessory to make short work of baseboards, corners and hard to reach areas.

The 1-year warranty is a little lacking, but customer service is quick to respond. Right now they only offer email assistance, but have a maximum 24 hour turnaround time for responses. Any issues are usually handled within 3 to 4 business days.

Care and Maintenance For Your New Cordless Vacuum

Proper care and general maintenance are expected of you to help your investment last longer and perform to your expectations. With vacuums, the care routine is fairly straightforward and doesn’t take very long. However, it is crucial to the machine.

• Inspect the battery and charger for damage, overheating, proper power and clean the contacts.
• Empty the collection bin or bag before it reaches the full line to ensure proper airflow.
• Check the wheels for damage, or strings, hair or fibers wrapped around the axles preventing free spinning.
• Make sure the cleaning heads and brush rolls are free from wraps or tangles.
• If loss of suction occurs inspect the hoses and air inlets for clogs or blockages.
• Wipe down the machine with a clean dry rag to remove dust from the body and air vents.
• Clean or replace the filter as needed to ensure proper airflow and ventilation.

Common Problems (and Their Fix) For Cordless Vacuums

As machines and appliances are want to do, there will be issues cropping up from time to time.

Proper Vacuum Technique for Hardwood Floors

Vacuuming hardwood is a lot different than vacuuming carpet. While the motions are generally the same, the set up and execution are not.

You will want to start by making sure the battery in your vacuum is fully charged and ready to go. If you need to use accessories or tools, ensure they are close at hand and ready as well.

Some models will have edge cleaning abilities, if this is your model, you can skip this part. Otherwise you will need to sweep along the baseboards and in the corners to get all of the dust and dirt to the center of the room, away from the wall.

Alternatively, you can use the extension hose, wand and crevice tool to vacuum these areas first. Once the borders of the room are cleaned, you can then move on to vacuuming the rest.

You want to ensure that the cleaning head is as low as possible to get good suction on the hardwood surface. If you have a power cleaning head, turn the brush roller off. Vacuum as you normally would with nice, steady back and forth motions working from one side of the room to the other.

For places where there are spaces, gaps or crevices in the planks, you will want to go over them slower and a couple of extra times to make sure your vacuum has the chance to get deep inside them to clean properly.

Once you are done, you should empty the collection bin and recharge the battery to be prepared for next time.

FAQ for Cordless Vacuums and Hardwood Floors

Q. Will a vacuum scratch hardwood floors?

1. Some vacuums can scratch the wear layer of hardwood flooring planks. If the cleaning head uses stiff bristles instead of a foam roller, rubber paddles or soft bristles, then there is a small chance of some surface scratching.

While it isn’t common, if you are concerned, make sure to check the vacuum in a small, out of the way place before you use it on the entire floor.

Q. How long will these vacuums last?

1. Most of the vacuums on our list are quite robust and durable. Almost all of them will last at least 10 years with proper care and maintenance. There are a few, like our top pick, the Dyson V10 Absolute, that won’t surprise anyone to still be running strong over a decade from now.

Q. Why doesn’t the battery last long enough to vacuum my entire home?

1. Depending on the settings you choose as well as the cleaning mode, the battery life will be shortened considerably. It takes a lot of power to create high levels of suction and batteries can drain quickly.

You can choose a lower speed or lighter cleaning mode to extend the battery life, or your options become more limited, such as cleaning more often or cleaning smaller spaces at a time.

Q. What is the difference between a cheap vacuum and an expensive vacuum?

1. In terms of durability an expensive vacuum is generally made from higher quality materials. The plastic molds are stronger and the components are thicker and more reliable.

You will also find differences in the suction power and battery usage with more expensive models having better of both. When it comes to performance, more expensive models tend to have a deeper clean and less issues with airflow, filtration and suction than cheaper models do.

The Best Cordless Vacuum for Cleaning Hardwood – Final Words

Finding a great cordless vacuum for your hardwood floors can be a challenge. You want to make sure that you get one that is strong enough to clean the planks as well as gentle enough to not leave scratches.

The right vacuum will be versatile, capable of cleaning multiple surfaces and have a strong battery. The Dyson V10 Absolute, our top pick, comes with every accessory made for the V10 series and is a steal now that newer models are coming out helping drive down the price.