If you don't want to deal with the hassle of replacing a dirtbag in your vacuum, there's no shortage of bagless options on the market. Unlike bagged models, these vacuums have plastic dirt compartments and use filters to prevent dust from drifting back into the air as you clean. Allergy sufferers should be aware that bagless vacuums produce a cloud of dust when you empty them. See our article on bagged vs bagless vacuums for more details. Bagless vacuums usually have low or virtually no recurring costs, depending on whether or not they use disposable filters. That said, they can vary significantly in shape and size, all to be better suited for different kinds of cleaning tasks.
We've tested over 105 vacuum cleaners, and below are our recommendations for the best bagless vacuums. We selected these picks based on their performance, design, build quality, and price. For more, see our lists of the best vacuums and the best cordless vacuums, or compare these recommendations to the best bagged vacuums.
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Best Bagless Vacuum Cleaner
HouseSmall ApartmentStairsAir QualityHard Floor PickupHigh-Pile Carpet PickupLow-Pile Carpet PickupSee all our test resultsBuild QualityThe best bagless vacuum we've tested is the Dyson V15 Detect. This cordless stick vacuum easily cleans everything from pet hair to small and large debris on nearly any surface. Its surface-detection system also automatically adjusts suction power based on what you're cleaning; just know that its strong suction can make it drag around some lighter rugs. Allergy sufferers and pet owners will appreciate this vacuum's excellent filtration system, which helps maintain good air quality in your home or apartment by keeping dust and pet dander out of the air as you vacuum. In terms of performance, the fluffy roller head wipes bare floors clean, while the separate bristled brushroll works well on carpets and is especially effective on pet hair.
A nice perk of this vacuum is the included wall bracket, which has slots for many of the accessories, making storage a breeze, especially if you live in an apartment and are tight on space. Run time may be an issue depending on your needs. It tops out at a respectable 70 minutes, but it won't be sufficient if you have to clean a larger house and use the high-power 'Boost' mode, as this drops the run time well below 10 minutes. There are a few other issues, too. Unfortunately, its build quality is just alright, which is disappointing for a vacuum at this premium price point. Additionally, the dirt compartment is fairly small, so you'll need to empty it frequently.
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Best Upper Mid-Range Bagless Vacuum
StairsHard Floor PickupHigh-Pile Carpet PickupLow-Pile Carpet PickupSee all our test resultsBuild QualityIf you want solid performance without paying premium prices, consider the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H. The Shark's Clean Sense IQ system adjusts its suction power depending on the amount of debris it sucks up. However, it's not quite as sophisticated as the Dyson V15 Detect's system, as it doesn't always respond to changes in surface type. Nevertheless, its performance is great; it really shines on bare floors, and it also does a decent job cleaning carpets. It can get bogged down on thick carpeting, though. The main brushroll also isn't removable, making it a challenge to clean. On the bright side, there's a replaceable cartridge in its floorhead, releasing a detergent-like scent as you clean. It can be a tad overwhelming if you use it frequently, but it's nice to have.
Build-wise, this cordless stick vacuum is noticeably heavier than the Dyson V15 Detect, but its chassis feels sturdier thanks to the use of thicker plastic. Its dustbin is bigger than the Dyson's, so you won't have to empty it as often. While its twin-brushroll head makes it a little trickier to maneuver in cramped quarters compared to the Dyson vacuum's smaller and lighter single-roller head, some of that added bulk is offset by the inclusion of a hinged wand, allowing you to clean under most tables and chairs without having to bend too deeply.
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Best Mid-Range Bagless Vacuum
StairsHard Floor PickupHigh-Pile Carpet PickupLow-Pile Carpet PickupSee all our test resultsBuild QualityIf you're open to something different in the mid-range price bracket, take a look at the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra. It's a very different proposition from the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H since it's a corded upright, but it has its advantages. It has a much larger dustbin than the Shark, so you can go longer between emptying, and you never have to worry about a battery running out in the middle of cleanup, since this vacuum is corded. This powerful vacuum easily clears debris from various surfaces and comes with a generous number of attachments, including a dedicated pet-grooming tool. It also offers outstanding pet hair pickup. Its onboard HEPA filtration system delivers remarkable particle filtration, making it a great choice for allergy sufferers.
Unfortunately, compared to cordless stick vacuums like the Shark, it's heavy and bulky. This limits its functionality on stairs or hard-to-reach places, and makes it more of a chore to take out for spot cleaning. It's also louder than the less powerful cordless vacuums on this list and can be overly bothersome. While its power cord is long, you have to wind it back up manually. You'll also find it much more difficult to use on stairs than the Shark due to its size and weight, and it's not practical to use it in the car.
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Best Budget Bagless Vacuum
StairsHard Floor PickupHigh-Pile Carpet PickupLow-Pile Carpet PickupSee all our test resultsBuild QualityThe Tineco PURE ONE S11 is the best budget bagless vacuum we've tested. This lightweight cordless stick vacuum is much easier to haul around your house, up the stairs, or out to your car than the big Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra. It's not as powerful as the Ball Animal 3, but it still delivers good debris pickup on bare floors and performs adequately on carpets as well. Surprisingly for a budget vacuum, it has a dirt sensor that automatically adjusts suction power, like the Shark Stratos Cordless IZ862H. It comes with a range of accessories, including a mini turbo brush that does a great job removing pet hair from upholstery.
As is to be expected for a budget device, there are some compromises that come with the territory. Its battery life falls short of more premium offerings like the Shark, so you'll have to work quickly using max power and may run out of battery when cleaning a whole home, even on the lowest suction setting. This budget vacuum doesn't feel especially well-made, with some fragile parts and a thin plastic body. Also, pet owners will find that this isn't the best choice for cleaning pet hair from carpet. It's not as effective as the Ball Animal 3 or the Shark since it leaves a lot of hair behind.
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Best Cheap Bagless Vacuum
HouseSmall ApartmentStairsAir QualityHard Floor PickupHigh-Pile Carpet PickupLow-Pile Carpet PickupSee all our test resultsBuild QualityIt's hard to go wrong with the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S if you're looking for a cheap bagless vacuum. While this vacuum's retail price stretches the definition of cheap, you can routinely find it on sale for less than $90 USD at Walmart. At that price, this vacuum offers exceptional value. Like the pricier Tineco PURE ONE S11, it has an allergen-trapping HEPA filter, an unprecedented feature among cheap vacuums. The vacuum is quite lightweight, making it a cinch to maneuver in tight spots and carry up and down long flights of stairs. Performance-wise, it's not bad for a cheap vacuum, offering decent performance with pet hair and other debris on low-pile carpets, but struggling on other floor surfaces.
Runtime is also better than most cheap vacuums, coming in close to the Tineco. While this makes it appropriate for cleaning a whole apartment, you'll run out of battery if you want to clean a larger house or have larger messes. Unfortunately, it doesn't feel especially well-built, with the plastic used throughout its construction being rather thin and cheap-feeling. To save cost, Wyze has stripped the included accessories down to just a crevice tool; it doesn't even include an upholstery tool.
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Best Bagless Canister Vacuum
HouseSmall ApartmentStairsAir QualityHard Floor PickupHigh-Pile Carpet PickupLow-Pile Carpet PickupSee all our test resultsBuild QualityIf you're looking for a vacuum with a larger dirt compartment than a cordless stick vacuum but don't want the bulk of a big upright, check out the Miele Boost CX1. Its dirt compartment can hold 0.26 gal (1 L) of debris, so you can go much longer between emptying than with a cordless stick vacuum like the Dyson V15 Detect. Despite its enormous dirt capacity, it's lighter than the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra, making it easier to use on stairs. Pet owners will appreciate its upholstery tool, which does a fantastic job cleaning pet hair from furniture, and its turbo brush floorhead, which offers good performance cleaning pet hair from carpets. Typical of Miele, this vacuum has great build quality; it's better than any Dyson we've tested.
On the downside, it can't quite match the Ball Animal 3's performance on bare floors and carpets. Unfortunately, on bare floors, it struggles to pick up medium and large debris, and on carpets, its turbo brush floorhead leaves more debris behind than the Ball Animal 3's powered brushroll. It also has an expensive filter you have to replace regularly, unlike any of the Dyson models, which have zero recurring cost.
Notable Mentions
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Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra:
The Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra is a flagship cordless stick vacuum that has something the Dyson V15 Detect (or any other bagless vacuum) can't offer for allergy sufferers: a self-emptying docking station that contains allergens nearly perfectly during emptying. Unfortunately, it performs worse than the Dyson V15 Detect on floor surfaces, despite being considerably more expensive.
See our review -
Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine:
The Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine is Dyson's 2025 flagship cordless stick vacuum. Its twin conical roll anti-tangle floorhead is a radical departure from previous Dyson models. However, it performs much worse than the Dyson V15 Detect on carpets.
See our review -
Dyson Gen5detect:
The Dyson Gen5detect is a newer Dyson flagship than the Dyson V15 Detect. It performs slightly better, but the incremental increase in performance doesn't justify the enormous price premium.
See our review -
Dyson V8:
The Dyson V8 is a great mid-range alternative to the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra if you'd prefer a cordless stick vacuum over a bulky upright. However, it has a much smaller dirt compartment, so it'll need more frequent emptying, and it performs worse than the Ball Animal 3 on most floor surfaces.
See our review
Recent Updates
Feb 12, 2026:
We edited the article for readability and reorganized it, changing the Dyson Ball Animal 3 Extra to the 'Best Mid-Range Vacuum,' adding the Tineco PURE ONE S11 as the 'Best Budget,' and moving the Wyze Cordless S to the 'Best Cheap Vacuum.' We removed the unavailable Samsung Jet 60 and added the Miele Boost CX1 as the 'Best Bagless Canister Vacuum.' We removed the Notable Mentions Miele Duoflex HX1 and Eureka FloorRover, adding the Samsung Bespoke AI Jet Ultra and Dyson V16 Piston Animal Submarine.
Nov 11, 2025:
We checked to ensure our picks are in stock and made small edits to the test for clarity.
Jul 10, 2025:
Replaced the discontinued Wyze Cordless Vacuum with the Wyze Cordless Vacuum S. Replaced the unavailable Notable Mention, the Samsung Jet 90 Complete, with the Dyson Gen5detect as an alternative to the Dyson V15 Detect.
Apr 16, 2025:
We've made minor updates to the text and checked that the products are in stock, but our recommendations haven't changed.
Jan 09, 2025:
We've replaced the Miele Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog with the Miele Duoflex HX1 in the Notable Mentions since it's better built and offers better performance, and also made small edits throughout for clarity and concision.
All Reviews
Our recommendations are based on what we think are currently the best bagless vacuums we've tested. We don't just base our results on overall performance but also on factors like availability, price, and reader feedback.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our bagless vacuum reviews. Be careful not to get too caught up in the details. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them.