Known for their cutting-edge technology and innovative designs, Dyson is the number one vacuum brand in the UK. Whether you need an adaptable cordless model or a larger capacity upright vacuum for a busy family home, read on to discover which Dyson vacuum is best for your household needs.
Tried-and-tested: Best Dyson Vacuums at a glance
- Best overall vacuum: Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute cordless vacuum | Buy now £461.96, Amazon
- Best cordless vacuum: Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute cordless vacuum cleaner | Buy now £415.99, Amazon
- Best for hard floors: Dyson Omni-glide™ cordless vacuum cleaner | Buy now £349.99, Dyson
- Best for pet hair: Dyson Ball Animal Multifloor vacuum | Buy now £379.99, Dyson
How we tested the Dyson vacuums
We put four Dyson models through their paces on both carpets and hard floors, looking at how effectively they picked up fine dirt as well as larger debris. We awarded each model up to 20 points for the following criteria:
- Ease of use: (6 points) Is it comfortable to use | Is it light or heavy | Is it nimble and easy to manoeuvre | If there’s a cable, is it easy to pull out and retract | Is it easy to remove hair from the brush | Is it noisy
- Features: (6 points) What attachments are included | What features does it offer | What’s the dust capacity | How long is the cord (if it has one)
- Cleaning results: (6 points) Does it vacuum well | Is the suction good on both carpets and hard floors | If cordless, does it have a good run time
- Value for money: (2 points) Is the quality good | Is it worth the money |Does it come with a warranty
Looking for more vacuum content? Check out the results of our test of the Henry HVR 160-11 vacuum cleaner review, aswell as our round up of the best handheld vacuums, best vacuum cleaners and five of the best robotic vacuum cleaners on sale in the UK
The Best Dyson Vacuums for 2024
Dyson V12 Detect Slim Absolute cordless vacuum
Best overall vacuum
Score: 18/20
Pros
- Great suction
- Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre
- Informative onboard display
- Long run time
Cons
- Small capacity dust bin
- Doesn’t stand upright independently
- Expensive
This vacuum gave great results on both hard floors and carpets. It had a generous 60-minute run time, but this decreased quite a bit when using the Boost mode.
You can read Anna-Lisa's full Dyson V12 review here - or read on for her verdict in a nutshell.
The lowdown:
Lightweight and easy to manoeuvre around obstacles and corners, with single button power control to reduce strain even further, we were impressed by the ergonomic design - the low reach adapter for cleaning under furniture was a great extra, too
The Motorbar™ cleaner head offers motorised edge-to-edge deep cleaning with de-tangling technology to prevent hair blockages, and the illuminated soft roller cleaner head identifies particles you can’t normally see for an extra-deep clean.
The point and shoot bin is easy to empty, but it did fill up quite quickly.
The LCD screen on the top of the handle shows what’s been sucked up in real time, as well as letting you cycle through the three power modes - Auto, Eco, and Boost mode for short but powerful pick-up. Plus, the smart docking station not only stores the vacuum and tools but charges it too.
The V12 comes with an anti-tangle conical brush bar that picks up long hair and pet hair, a combination tool with both a brush and a wide nozzle, and a crevice tool for getting into tight spots - plus the vac also converts into a handheld.
Although this vacuum comes in at a hefty £529.99, it does have a two-year guarantee, a long run time and cleans floors very efficiently.
What's in the box:
Motorbar™ cleaner head | Illuminated cleaner head | Hair screw tool | Low reach adaptor | Combination tool | Crevice tool | Wand clip | Docking station | Charger
Specifications:
- 4-hour charge time
- 60 minute run time
- 0.35L bin capacity
- 150AW suction power
- Weight 2.2kg | H123 x W25 x L 25
Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute cordless vacuum cleaner
Best cordless vacuum
Score: 16/20
Pros
- Lightweight
- Long run time
- Good for pets
Cons
- Charging time
- Doesn’t stand upright independently
- Expensive
- Holding the trigger makes your finger ache
You can read Anna-Lisa's full Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute review here - or read on for her verdict in a nutshell.
The lowdown:
The Cyclone is light and easy to manoeuvre, especially with the low reach adapter to comfortably get under low furniture by adjusting the wand angle up to 90º.
We did dock points for the trigger needing to be held down while vacuuming - it makes your finger ache after a while!
Like the V12, the vacuum has a Motorbar™ cleaning head for edge-to-edge cleaning with de-tangling technology to clear the brush bar as you clean - great for keeping on top of pet hair.
We found the suction was impressive on both carpets and hard surfaces. Plus, the battery power is impressive, lasting up to 60 minutes between charges at the docking station.
This vac also transforms into a handheld with just one click, and can be paired with a variety of included accessories such as the crevice tool, dual brush-nozzle, and mini-motorised tool for cleaning small areas such as stairs.
What's in the box:
Motorbar™ cleaner head | Mini motorised tool | Low reach adaptor | Docking station | Soft roller cleaner head | Crevice tool | Combination tool |Charger
Specifications:
- 3.5-hour charge time
- 60-min run time
- 0.77L bin capacity
- Weight: 2.6kg | H123 x W25 x L24
Dyson Omni-glide™ cordless vacuum cleaner
Best for hard floors
Score: 15/20
Pros
- Slimline and lightweight
- Easy manoeuvrability
- Good for tight spaces
Cons
- Small bin capacity
- Not suitable for carpets
- Short run time
You can read Anna-Lisa's full Dyson Omni-glide review here - or read on for her verdict in a nutshell.
The lowdown:
With an has an articulated neck and four stabilising castors, this slimline cordless vac is easy to get into even the tightest corners, and can even go totally flat for getting under low furniture. It's Dyson’s first button-operated vacuum, meaning you can swap hands easily for even more manoeuvrability.
The key thing to note is that the Omni-glide is designed for hard flooring, so it’s not suitable for cleaning carpets. It does work well, offering good, strong, continuous suction - although the head is quite small, so its not ideal for larger areas of floor. However, when converted into a handheld vac it's perfect for cleaning smaller surfaces, upholstery and stairs, while the combination tool features a brush and a wide nozzle.
Whats in the box:
Omnidirectional Fluffy™ cleaner head | Combination tool | Mini motorised tool | Docking station | Charger
Specifications:
- 3.5-hour charge time
- 20-minute run time
- 0.20L bin capacity
- 50W suction power
- Weight 1.9kg | H107 x W20 x L9
Dyson Ball Animal Multifloor
Best for pet hair
Score: 14/20
Pros
- Good for pet hair
- Large bin capacity
- Long cable and hose
Cons
- Heavy to use
- Bulky to store
- Difficult to access low areas
You can read Anna-Lisa's full Dyson Ball Animal review here - or read on for her verdict in a nutshell.
The lowdown:
Designed for use with all flooring types, the Dyson Ball Animal vacuum offers powerful suction, a large bin capacity and a long cable and hose for easy access to all parts of the home. The included combination tool, stair tool and soft dusting brush can be attached to the hose for specialised cleaning tasks, too, making this a hardworking all-rounder machine that's perfect busy households in need of heavy-duty cleaning performance.
It's especially appealing for pet-owning households thanks to the stiff nylon bristles on the brush head, which whip even stubborn ingrained hairs out of carpet.
The downside is that, although the ball mechanism does help navigate around corners, overall the Dyson Ball Animal vacuum is still heavy and awkward to manoeuvre compared to stick cordless models.
What's in the box:
- Soft dusting brush
- Combination tool
- Stair tool
- Flat out head
- Quick-release tangle-free turbine tool
Specifications:
- Weight 7.4kg | H106 xW28 x L39
- 4m hose
- 10m cable
- 1.8L in capacity
More bestselling Dyson vacuums:
While we haven't had chance to test these models yet, we have done plenty of research and read their reviews, and believe they are well worth recommending.
Dyson V15 Detect Vacuum
The Dyson V15 Detect range is currently the brand's most powerful and intelligent cordless vacuum.
Ideal for a deep and thorough clean, there's a laser beam to highlight otherwise unseen dust particles on hard flooring, so while it's on the expensive side, it's certainly packed with desirable tech. You can even check what you've missed by viewing the LCD screen which shows a break down of dust mites and allergens. Great for picking up long hair and pet hair too thanks to the anti-tangling tools.
This Dyson vacuum's decent battery life as another appealing feature - it'll run for 60 minutes, so you can whizz around the whole house without having to recharge.
Discover the best carpet cleaners for washing pet stains, food spills, and more.
Dyson V7 Animal Vacuum Cleaner
A top choice for pet owners, the Dyson V7 Animal vacuum features stiff nylon bristles to help remove stubborn pet hair. This feature is also handy for cleaning ground-in dirt, so you can keep your well-trodden hallway in sparkly clean condition after a heavy week of foot traffic.
Make use of the handheld function when cleaning your car and the stairway, and thanks to the hygienic bin emptying system, you can avoid getting your hands mucky. The slender, cordless model should be neat enough to store and charge in a utility room or cupboard if you prefer to keep your vacuums out of the way.
This Dyson vacuum has half the battery life of the newer V15 model above, but it's more affordable if you're looking for a more budget-friendly pick.
Fancy spoiling your feline pals? Check out these 7 stylish cat beds for a happy cat and an on-trend home.
Dyson Micro 1.5kg Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- Buy now from Argos (£300.00)
For a smaller Dyson vacuum you don't have to lug up the stairs, give this lightweight micro vacuum a go. Weighing just 1.5kg, this vacuum can be used on hard floors, laminate flooring, upholstery and stairs so it's a handy vacuum for the whole house. It even has a Micro Fluffy cleaner head so you can avoid scratching your vinyl flooring.
Despite its smaller size this vacuum doesn't lack in power, claiming to capture dust and seal in 99.99% of microscopic particles as small as 0.3 microns. We like the slim design which should work well for small apartments, and as it charges on the wall, you won't have to worry about storage space.
FAQ:
How do Dyson Vacuum cleaners work?
Dyson vacuum cleaners offer superior suction power thanks to their signature cyclonic technology that enables air to spin at high speeds within the cleaner. To remove dust, allergens, and other particles, Dyson gathers all dirt through a filtration system. Large particles are caught and separated, providing lasting suction while reducing the chances of clogging. Dyson vacuums are made of the same material as crash helmets, making them a durable and resilient vacuum built to handle heavy usage. Furthermore, the quality of a Dyson means that you won’t need to repair or replace your vacuum cleaner as often as you would with some other brands. While Dyson vacuums come with a hefty price tag, they tend to have a longer lifespan, which can save you money in the long run.
Still undecided? Browse our ultimate guide to the best vacuum cleaners to see our picks of everything from cordless to robot vacuums!
