36 Best Stick Vacuums of September 2020

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Stick Vacuum - Best Choice for Small Homes?

A stick vacuum is a great choice for spot cleaning, but it is also able to fully replace a big canister or upright vacuum, if you live in a small home of about 1,000 square feet or less. One of the biggest advantages of the stick vacuum is of course its maneuverability, and the fact that it comes with a battery instead of a long power cord, which has to be unwinded before every use. A few models do have a cord though, but most models are battery powered. The stick vacuum will easily fit into a closet or small storage space, and you can bring it out in just a few seconds, to clean up something you’ve spilled on the floor, or to quickly clean the apartment. Due to its size and design, there are a few things to keep in mind, when choosing the right model for your needs. Here’s a quick guide, that will help you make some of the most important decisions before choosing a stick vacuum for your needs:

• Best Attachments: If you’re getting a stick vacuum to replace a canister or upright vacuum, a good idea is to make sure you get the right attachments with your new vacuum. One of the more useful tools is the brush roll and an attachment for vacuuming carpet. Another important attachment is the narrow crevice tool. Useful for all the small corners and crevices of your house. An upholstery brush is also a great tool for vacuuming your furniture etc. Some of the newer versions of stick vacuums can be turned into a smaller handheld vacuum for an easy cleaner for the insides of your cabinets and/or the inside of your car.
• Dust Bin Capacity: Because of its size, the stick will most likely come with a smaller dust bin. So look for one with an easy-to-empty canister, this is also a much more environmentally friendly solution rather than having to buy bags for your vacuum.
• Cord Length (if any): Most stick vacuums are cordless, which makes them super easy to maneuver around the house. If it has a cord, make sure you find one with a longer cord, so you don’t have to switch outlets more than necessary.
• Battery (Li-ion vs. NiMH): So because most are cordless, most will be running on rechargeable batteries. Two different kinds that are most common are Lithium-ion and NiMH. Both are quite similar as they can hold a similar amount of power. However, the li-ion battery cells can be charged and discharged more rapidly than the other one. Another thing to keep in mind when comparing batteries is the “memory effect”. When you charge the NiMH battery before it is fully empty this can sometimes diminish a battery’s capacity, because of the so called “memory effect”. A li-ion battery doesn’t have much of that effect, which makes it preferable over the other kind.
• Charging Stations: Find one with a charging station that doesn’t take up too much space and/or one you can attach to your wall somewhere out of sight.
• Weight and Dimensions: Look for a stick vacuum with a weight range of 5-10 lbs. Once you go higher than that it starts to become harder on your body to carry it around the house.

How Does the Stick Vacuum Work?

As its name suggests, the stick vacuum is shaped like a stick with a motor and dust bin in one end, and a floor attachment in the other end. Stick vacuums varies a bit in their designs, and in general there are three different types of models available:

1. Motor and dust bin attached to the handle, with a wand in between the floor attachment.
2. Motor and dust bin attached to the floor attachment, with a wand going to the handle.
3. Motor and dust bin in a detachable unit, which is inserted in a wand with a floor attachment and handle connected. This model is a 2-in-1 vacuum, which doubles as a compact hand vacuum.

Stick vacuums are bagless, which means you don’t have to buy expensive replacement bags for them. They do have a filter though, which you have to clean from time to time, or replace with a new one. Some stick vacuums are good enough for everyday use in a small home up to approximately 1,000 square feet, but since most of them are battery powered, their run time is limited to just 5-10 minutes on highest settings. You can get corded models as well, but those are not as handy, since they have to be plugged in, and don’t have an automatically retractable cord. So you’ll have to manually unwind and rewind the cord after each use, which is quite the hassle, especially if you only need it for spot cleaning.

Best Stick Vacuum Brands A-Z

There are lots of manufacturers of stick vacuums, and here we’ll give you an overview of some of the biggest manufacturers on the market. Please note: This list is not complete, and more manufacturers will be added accordingly. This is just to give you a quick and easy overview of some of the most popular manufacturers on the market.

Bissell	Bissell is usually known for producing stick vacuums at an affordable price. They have been on the market for a long time, and have many models available in this category.
Deik	Deik has a lot of stick vacuums in their product range, and they are usually sold at a reasonable price. They have different models for different needs, and most models come with a detachable canister.
Dirt Devil	Dirt Devil is one of the older brands, well established in most parts of the world. Their product range feature a lot of affordable options, suitable for most small homes, or as a supplement to bigger vacuums.
Dyson	Dyson is among the most innovative brands when it comes to stick vacuums. Their product range feature premium vacuums at a higher price, but most buyers agree that it’s worth the money. All their stick vacuums are battery powered.
Eureka	Eureka is also one of the well known brands, and well established in the US as well. They feature a range of affordable stick vacuums, but with a few models in the premium segment as well.
Hoover	Hoover is among the most popular brands on the market, and features a vast selection of stick vacuums, with some being very cheap, and some being in the premium segment as well.
Shark	Shark has a large selection of stick vacuums, and the selection featured both corded and cordless versions. Most of their models are in the premium segment, but some are quite affordable as well.
Tineco	Tineco is a Chinese brand, but nonetheless it is quite popular within the US as well. Their stick vacuums belong in the premium segment, and are usually quite rich on features.

What to Expect of Your Stick Vacuum?

Let’s get one thing straight here: The stick vacuum is NOT as powerful as a regular canister or upright vacuum. And it isn’t supposed to either. Instead, a stick vacuum is compact, handy and easy to maneuver with. It’s a great addition to your big bulky vacuum cleaner, but it’s also a great total solution for a small home of approximately 1,000 feet. Some stick vacuums even come with a wall mount, making it even easier to recharge and use it. With the vacuum securely mounted on the wall with a recharging unit built in, it is always ready to use whenever you need it.

Do Stick Vacuums Work on Carpet?

Yes. Stick vacuums work perfectly on carpets, if there's a beater bar or similar included in the package. It needs a more powerful attachment to work properly, but most of the popular brands usually include it, or offers the opportunity to purchase it as an extra tool. You should probably consider another vacuum, if you have a lot of high pile carpets around your house, but for most low pile carpets the stick vacuum works very well. It does decrease the run time if your stick vacuum is battery powered, so you should definitely have that on mind and perhaps consider buying a corded stick vacuum if you have a lot of high pile carpets.