Looking for a cordless vacuum that excels at cleaning hardwood, laminate or tile? Here’s our guide to the best cordless vacuums for hard floors, including models from Dyson, Shark, and Miele.
Top Pick: Dyson V10 Absolute
Dyson V10 Absolute
Our top cordless vacuum for hard floors is the excellent Dyson V10 Absolute. It generates strong suction power and has Dyson’s “Soft Roller” cleaner head that’s great for all types of hard floors.
Aside from its cleaning performance, the V10 is also easy to use and has a turbo tool for pet hair. If you’re looking for the top cordless for laminate or floorboards, then this is our #1 pick.
The best cordless vacs have powerful suction and excellent cleaning performance – but many are optimised for carpets rather than hard floors.
Fortunately, there are some excellent hard floor cordless vacuums on the market. Some even include hard floor floorheads designed to be more effective at removing dirt from tiles, hardwood, and laminate floors.
Let’s take a look at seven of the best cordless vacuums for hard floors, along with tips for choosing the right vac for your home. If you’d prefer a corded cylinder or upright vacuum, then take a look at our guide to the best hardwood vacuums instead.
Contents
7 Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners for Hard Floors
Dyson V10 Absolute |  Tineco Pure One S12 Plus |  Dyson V15 Detect Absolute |  Miele Triflex HX2 Cat and Dog |  Shark HZ3000UKT |  Shark IZ251UKT |  Roidmi H10 | |
| Price Range | ££££ | £££££ | £££££ | £££££ | £££ | ££££ | £££ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Cordless | Cordless | Cordless | Cordless | Stick | Cordless | Cordless |
| Bag Type | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless | Bagless |
| Dust Capacity (L) | 0.77 | 0.6 | 0.76 | 0.5 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.65 |
| Weight (kg) | 2.6 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 4.1 | 2.7 |
| Hose? | |||||||
| HEPA Filter? | |||||||
| Pet Tool? | |||||||
| Overall Rating View Rating Breakdown | |||||||
1. Dyson V10 Absolute
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: ££££ | Dust Capacity: 0.77 litres | Weight: 2.6kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- Brilliant all-round performance and Soft Roller floorhead
- Three power modes for different types of floor
- Hygienic bin emptying
- Expensive compared with corded vacuums
- Short battery life when on the highest power setting
While this model has technically been superseded by the Dyson V11 and Dyson V15 Detect, we still think the Dyson V10 Absolute is an excellent cordless vacuum cleaner and our top pick for hard floors.
During our testing, we found it to be one of the most powerful cordless vacs on the market. It also has three power modes and Dyson’s Soft Roller floorhead, making it an excellent choice for all types of hard floors.
Along with being great for wood, tile, and laminate, the V10 has Dyson’s new Motorbar floorhead that’s brilliant for deep cleaning carpets. Despite being less powerful than the Dyson V11, we found that most of the time you won’t need the highest power setting – although it’s useful for the most stubborn dirt.
As with all Dyson cordless vacuums, the V10 is easy to use and has great manoeuvrability. It also comes with a mini turbo tool for pet hair, excellent filtration, and a handheld mode. The only real downside is that the battery life is very short when using the high-powered mode.
So, if you want a slightly cheaper Dyson cordless vacuum for hard floors, then the V10 Cyclone Absolute is a great option. You may want to read our in-depth Dyson V10 review or our V10 vs V11 comparison.
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££££ | Dust Capacity: 0.6 litres | Weight: 2.9kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- Soft tool for hard floors
- 100 minute run-time with 2 batteries
- Smart technology for adjusting suction power
- Very expensive
If you’re looking for a cordless with more advanced features than the Dyson V10 Absolute, then we think the Tineco Pure One S12 Plus is an option to consider. It’s the “Plus” version of the popular Tineco S12, and includes two batteries and a soft floorhead (similar to the Soft Roller) for hard floors.
We found that the standard S12 is a decent performer when cleaning hard floors, but the soft power brush takes it to another level. This tool is great on all hard surfaces, including tile, laminate, and hardwood floorboards. And, unlike the Dyson Soft Roller included with the V10 and V11, the soft floorhead comes with LED headlights to help you spot more dirt and hair.
Aside from its soft floorhead, other features include an LED display, two batteries for up to 100 minutes run-time, a miniature power brush for upholstery, sofas, and stairs, and strong suction power. We were also impressed by Tineco’s “Smart Suction” technology, which adapts suction power based on how much debris the vacuum detects.
Overall, the Tineco is an advanced vacuum that’s a strong competitor to the Dyson range of cordless vacuums. It’s certainly worth considering if you’re looking for a full-featured premium cordless with headlights.
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££££ | Dust Capacity: 0.76 litres | Weight: 3.1kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: Yes
- Advanced cordless vacuum with a range of exciting features
- Great performance on hard floors due to the Fluffy Optic cleaner head (which also includes an LED headlight)
- Automatically adjust brush bar power depending on the floor type
- Very expensive
The Dyson V15 Detect Absolute was almost our top pick for a cordless vacuum for hard floors, but ultimately we felt that the V10 Absolute provides similar performance for a much lower price. However, the V15 Detect is the superior vacuum if your budget can afford it, due to its stronger suction power, advanced technology, and laser light to illuminate dust on hard floors.
At its core, the Dyson V15 is a cordless stick vacuum with a similar design to the V11. It includes Dyson’s DLS technology, which allows it to adjust the Digital Motorbar cleaner head depending on the type of floor. It also has an LCD screen showing real-time cleaning statistics, along with a detangling technology on the primary floorhead.
Most importantly for this article, we found that the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute is brilliant at cleaning all types of hard floors.
While the Digital Motorbar floorhead does a decent job on all surfaces, the Fluffy Optic floorhead is most effective on tiles and floorboards. Like Dyson’s Soft Roller, this has a thicker, softer brush bar that we found is great for picking up both large debris and smaller particles without scattering (a common issue with a regular brush bar.) Unlike the Soft Roller, the Fluffy Optic has a light beam which is handy for illuminating dirt and dust on hard floors.
We also found that the Dyson V15 Detect has very strong suction power for a cordless vacuum. The “Boost” mode greatly reduces battery life, but provides exceptional power for stubborn dirt and hair.
In summary, we think the Dyson V15 Detect Absolute is the best cordless stick vacuum for hard floors – at least for those who can afford it. It’s equally as effective when cleaning carpets, making it a serious competitor with many corded vacuums.
Note: There are other versions of this Dyson vacuum available with different tools. If you want clean floors, however, then we highly recommend getting the Absolute version for the Fluffy Optic floorhead.
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££££ | Dust Capacity: 0.5 litres | Weight: 3.6kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: Yes
- HEPA AirClean filter makes it a better choice for people with allergies
- Great performance on hard floors
- Upright mode is handy for cleaning large areas
- No dedicated hard floors tool
- Still expensive (although cheaper than the V15 Detect)
Miele are best known for their cylinder vacuums, but don’t let that put you off. The Miele Triflex HX2 Cat & Dog (replacing the previous Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog) is an excellent cordless vacuum with solid performance on hard floors.
It’s also cheaper than the Dyson V15, although you don’t get all the advanced features, such as an LCD screen or dedicated hard floor tool.
When it comes to cleaning performance, we don’t think the Miele is quite as strong on carpet as the Dyson. But we found that it excels on hard floors, making it a great choice for wood floors or tile. The floorhead is also excellent at picking up larger debris, although the lack of a “soft” floorhead makes it less suitable for delicate surfaces.
Along with its strong suction and powerful performance, the Miele has a HEPA AirClean filter, LED lights, a miniature turbo tool for pet hair, and a handheld vacuum mode. It also has a maximum run-time of 60 minutes and can be used in “upright” mode, which we found useful for cleaning large areas of hard floors.
If you don’t mind missing out on the digital screens and hard floor tools of the Dyson and Tineco, then the Miele is an option to consider. It’s an excellent vacuum that’s great on hard floors, reliable, and provides highly effective filtration.
Type: Stick | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££ | Dust Capacity: 0.3 litres | Weight: 4.4kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: No
- DuoClean floorhead is effective on hard floors and carpets
- Strong hard floor cleaning performance
- A range of advanced features
- Tiny dust capacity even for a cordless
- Messy bin emptying system
When it comes to the best cordless vacuum for hard floors and pet hair, the Shark HZ3000UKT is one of our top picks. It’s a powerful vacuum with solid all-round performance on both carpets and hard floors.
Unlike the Tineco and Dyson V11, the Shark doesn’t include a dedicated hard floor head. Instead, it comes with Shark’s excellent DuoClean floorhead, which has two rollers for different surfaces. We’ve found that this floorhead is great for cleaning hard floors and can handle both small and large debris. It’s also convenient to not need to switch floorheads when moving from hard floors to carpets.
This model also comes with a range of other impressive features. For example, the HZ3000UKT is built with anti-odour technology, which is useful for homes with pets. The floorhead also features anti-hair-wrap technology, while the stick has a flexible joint called Flexology. This last feature is something we’ve found really useful for cleaning under furniture.
There are a few things we don’t like about this vacuum cleaner though. The small 0.3 dust capacity is our biggest complaint, as the vacuum needs to be emptied regularly. The bin emptying system is also quite messy.
But for cleaning pet hair and hard floors, it’s difficult to beat the performance of the Shark HZ3000UKT – especially in this price range. If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the Dyson, then it’s a vacuum cleaner to consider.
6. Shark IZ251UKT
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: ££££ | Dust Capacity: 0.7 litres | Weight: 4.1kg | Pet Tool: Yes | HEPA Filter: Yes
- Great hard floor performance
- Dual batteries for a longer run-time
- Anti-hair wrap technology
- Not the best for cleaning carpets
The Shark IZ251UKT is an interesting cordless vacuum, as it comes with many of Shark’s unique features. These include dual batteries for an extended run-time, Shark’s DuoClean floorhead (that’s suitable for both carpets and hard floors,) and a “Flexology” joint in the main stick.
We found that this vacuum can’t match the raw suction power of more expensive cordless vacuums, but it’s still a solid choice that provides excellent value for money. We think it’s particularly effective for cleaning hard floors and pet hair, although it struggles a bit more on carpets.
The dual rechargeable batteries allow the IZ251UKT to provide up to 80 minutes of runtime. This drops a lot when using a powered tool or a higher power setting, but it’s still a long-lasting cordless compared with other models we’ve tested. It also comes with anti-hair wrap technology, HEPA filter, and a pet turbo tool.
To summarise, we think the Shark IZ251UKT is a versatile cordless vacuum that’s a great choice for all types of hard floors. It’s also effective at picking up pet hair, especially as the anti-hair wrap technology reduces the chance of tangles.
7. Roidmi H10
Type: Cordless | Bag Type: Bagless | Price Range: £££ | Dust Capacity: 0.65 litres | Weight: 2.7kg | Pet Tool: No | HEPA Filter: No
- Designed specifically for hard floors
- Strong suction power
- Cheaper than alternatives
- Terrible for cleaning carpets
- Dirt often gets stuck in the bin
Unlike the other cordless vacuums on this list, the Roidmi H10 is specifically designed for hard floors. It’s also much cheaper than high-end cordless vacuums, which is why we think it’s an option to consider if you only need a vacuum for hard floors.
The H10’s primary floorhead is similar to the Dyson Soft Roller. As you might expect, we found that this makes it a poor performer on carpets, as the soft design doesn’t grip or agitate carpet fibres.
However, we found that this floorhead is brilliant for hard floors. The H10 also has excellent suction power, meaning it can pick up most smaller debris and particles in a single pass. If you need a budget cordless vacuum that’s only for cleaning hard floors, then we recommend the Roidmi H10.
Other features include a 60-minute maximum run-time (although this is in the lowest power mode,) relatively quiet operation, and a manoeuvrable floorhead design.
There are some major downsides to this vacuum though. As we’ve already mentioned, it’s terrible for cleaning carpets. It also only has one accessory and the battery can’t be removed. We also found that the dirt emptying system is unreliable and sometimes even opens by itself.
Even so, if you’re looking for the best budget cordless vacuum for hard floors, then the Roidmi could be the perfect choice. It’s relatively cheap, powerful, and excels at cleaning laminate, tiles, and hardwood flooring. Just don’t expect it to work well on carpets!
What Makes a Great Cordless Vacuum Cleaner For Hard Floors?
Choosing a vacuum cleaner can be confusing, but most features aren’t relevant to cleaning hard floors. Here’s an overview of the most important factors to look for when buying.
Floorhead and Brush Roll Design
Powered brush bars with bristles are great for agitating carpet fibres and pulling up hair, but they can be counter-productive for hard floor cleanups. Motorised brush bars may scatter debris, rather than pick it up, and stiff brushes could even damage delicate surfaces.
For this reason, the best vacuums for hard floors often (but not always) have a separate floorhead for this task.
A good example is the Dyson Soft Roller, which replaces stiff bristles with a large roller. This allows the floorhead to pickup both larger debris and fine dust without scattering. It’s also gentler on delicate surfaces, such as hardwood floors.
Dyson aren’t the only vacuum brand with a soft roller though. Tineco, Roidmi, and others have floorheads with similar designs. Shark has gone a different route, by combining a softer roller into the DuoClean floorhead.
Note: You should also check which tools and accessories are included. Crevice tool, up-top adaptor, dusting brush, and mattress tool are common options.
Powerful Suction
Vacuum cleaners can’t rely on powerful brush heads to pull up dirt, dust, and hair when cleaning hard floors. This makes raw suction power even more important.
Traditionally, cordless vacuum cleaners have struggled to generate a lot of suction. This has gradually changed, however, with the top models now able to rival many corded vacuums for suction strength.
It’s also worth checking the dust canister size. All cordless vacuums have small dust capacities, but bigger dustbins reduce the need for emptying multiple times during a cleaning session.
Long Battery Run-Time
Cordless vacuums tend to have a maximum run-time of 40-60 minutes. Some brands increase this limit by providing more than one battery, which can effectively double the run-time.
This is the maximum run-time though. It’s often measured on the lowest power setting and without a motorised tool. In reality, you’ll get a lot shorter battery life when using the vacuum in your home.
For this reason, it’s important to check how long the battery really lasts before buying. It’s a good idea to assume that you’ll always be using a motorised tool and will need at least the medium power mode, as this provides a more realistic estimate of run-time. When using high power modes, expect the battery life to be greatly reduced.
Bonus Feature: Headlights
Hair and dust often blends into hard flooring, making it difficult to see. This is why headlights can be a useful addition to a vacuum cleaner – particularly when cleaning in dark corners or under furniture.
Not all brands include headlights though. Most Dyson cordless vacuums don’t include headlights, with the V15 being a notable exception (and even then only on the hard floor tool.) On the other hand, Shark and Tineco often include headlights on their vacuums. Make sure you check before you buy.
Summary and Our Best Cordless Hard Floor Vacuum Cleaner
Many cordless vacuums struggle to pickup dirt, hair, and debris from hard floors. If your home doesn’t have much carpet, then it’s important to pick a vacuum that excels on laminate, tile, and hardwood flooring.
Here’s an overview of our top picks for these floor types:
- We think the Dyson V10 Absolute is the best cordless vacuum for hard floors. It’s powerful, comes with Dyson’s brilliant Soft Roller floorhead for hard floors, and provides great all-round cleaning performance. There are more advanced options, but we think the V10 is the right balance between price and performance.
- If you need a mid-range option, then the Shark IZ251UKT is one of the best alternatives to the Dyson. It’s not brilliant on carpets, but offers strong performance on laminate, wood, and tile floors. The Shark also has a range of interesting features, like the Flexology design, DuoClean floorhead, and anti hair wrap technology.
- When it comes to budget hard floor cordless vacuums, the Roidmi H10 is one to consider. It’s lacking features and doesn’t come with many tools, but it provides strong suction and the primary floorhead is specifically designed for hard floors. It’s not suitable for cleaning carpets though.
We hope this article has helped you choose the best cordless vacuum for hard floors. If you have any questions, please let us know in the comments section below.
Page Update History
19th September 2023
Updated to the new Spotless Vacuum design. Added several new vacuum cleaners.
- Dyson V10 Absolute is now our top pick in this category.
- Dyson V15 Detect Absolute (replacing the Dyson V11 Absolute)
- Miele HX2 Cat & Dog (replacing the Miele HX1 Cat & Dog)
- Shark HZ3000UKT (replacing the Samsung Jet 90 Pet)