Cordless vs. Corded Vacuums: Which is Worth Buying?

There comes an exciting milestone in every adult’s life when it’s time to buy a nice, new vacuum. What’s more thrilling than hitting “Order Now” on a device that’ll keep your home clean week after week? Nothing, that’s what.

So when you find yourself browsing the seemingly endless vacuum options, it’ll behoove you to start shopping equipped with some key vacuum knowledge. The first dilemma you’ll encounter relates to corded vacuums and cordless vacuums: What are the pros and cons of plug-in models versus the convenience of battery-operated ones?

Ahead, find a breakdown of both types of vacuums—and what experts want you to know about them.

Versatility and Convenience

The obvious point in the “pro” column for cordless vacuums is portability. Without being tethered to a plug, you can maneuver and meander all over your home. Scanning the walls for well-placed outlets is also off the table. This convenience makes cordless vacuums an attractive option, though they do run out of battery life eventually. The average stick vacuum can run between 30 minutes and 1 hour before needing another charge, whereas that’s not a concern with plug-in versions. 

“Cordless vacuums or stick vacuums are excellent for keeping on hand to vacuum up small spills quickly and without having to fuss with cords,” says Erin Lawrence, the tech reviewer behind Tech Gadgets International. “They run on rechargeable batteries, and can usually be taken apart into several smaller pieces which makes them easier to store than a corded upright or canister.”

Dust Capacity and Cleaning Efficiency

No matter if you’re buying a corded vacuum or a battery-operated stick vacuum, every vacuum has different dust capacities. This is particularly important to keep in mind if you have pets at home, explains Cory Hankins, CEO at North Carolina-based House of Vacuums, a company that sells, services, and repairs the machines. 

Pet dander from dogs and cats has an oil base, whereas dead skin cells from humans are more powder-based, he says. These types of dust clog vacuums differently based on their construction. “The odors that people complain about—especially if you have animals in the home—that’s because of the dander buildup inside of these vacuum cleaners. There are thousands of models of stick vacuums out there, and they all have different cleaning methods.”

It’s worth checking to see if the cordless stick vacuum you’re interested in has an air filter, which Hankins says is a key component of a quality stick model. 

Corded vacuums, meanwhile, have larger reserves for storing dust and dirt. This makes them better suited for deep-cleans and big messes—in other words, they have a higher cleaning efficiency. 

Price and Maintenance

Both cordless and corded vacuums are sold at a variety of price points, but generally, stick vacuums are less expensive than heavier-duty plug-in models. A quality cordless vacuum can cost anywhere between $100 and $600, with exceptions on both ends of the pricing spectrum. Worthwhile corded vacuums, meanwhile, start at around $200 and can fetch over $1,500, depending on your cleaning needs.

The maintenance of your machine is also important to keep in mind while shopping. Delah Gomasi, who writes the standard operating procedures for the cleaning teams at Sydney-based cleaning company MaidForYou, notes that owners of stick vacuums will have to empty their canisters more frequently.

“In terms of maintenance, we always make sure that we’re emptying the dust canister after every use,” Gomasi says. “We clean our vacuum filters every month. This prevents the vacuum from smelling like dust and increases its efficiency. Lastly, we inspect and clean the dust roll to remove any debris, especially in houses that we’ve just cleaned who have pets.”

Lifestyle Factors to Consider When Choosing Between Vacuums

Flooring Type and Home Size

The size of the home you’re vacuuming, along with the type of floor you’re swiveling on, play an important role in the type of vacuum you should buy. Gomasi recommends only using a stick vacuum as a secondary vacuum, but some living situations don’t necessitate a heftier corded version.

“If you’re just one person with no carpeting, you can get by with that little stick vacuum,” Hankins reasons. 

Apartments smaller than 600 feet that mainly have wood flooring (and only a few rugs) can use a cordless model as its primary vacuum. Any larger—and any homes with carpeting—should spring for a corded vacuum, the experts say.

Cleaning Needs and Frequency

Do you live with pets or a couple of kids? Are you prone to spills and messes? Your cleaning needs and the amount of times you’ll need to vacuum per month should come into play when making a vacuum purchase. 

Budget and Long-Term Investment

It’d be understandable if you wanted to drop $150 on a solid stick vacuum for your small apartment instead of over $400 on a heavy-duty corded version. But keep long-term investment value in mind as you shop. If you plan on moving soon, or if you do live in a sizable home, it might make sense to invest more upfront to have a quality machine for the long run. The lifespan of cordless vacuums hovers between three and five years, whereas corded ones can keep going for at least eight years.

The vacuum you end up choosing hinges on a long list of factors. But vacuum pros have one main piece of advice: Get both.

“A lot of people are under the impression that regardless of the home’s size, regardless of the applications in their home, [vacuums like] the Dyson sticks, the Sharks, the Bissels, and the Miele TriFlex are the end-all that will replace a plug-in vacuum cleaner, and they’re not,” Hankins says. 

Ultimately, he recommends customers own one of each—cordless stick vacuums for quick and in-between cleanings and then reserving a larger plug-in model for more extensive home cleanings.