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Buying guide

Best cordless vacuums for stairs

Chosen from what the Amazon listings state, not tested by us. How we pick

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Top picks at a glance

Compare them all

  • Best overall

    Dyson V15 Detect Animal: Hair screw tool for treads

    A piezo sensor sizes and counts dust and raises suction automatically, with the result shown on the LCD screen.

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  • Best value

    Dyson V10 Animal: mini motorised tool and 60 min

    The torque drive head drives bristles deep into carpet to remove ground-in dirt, says Dyson.

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  • Most features

    Samsung Bespoke Jet Plus Pro Extra: Pet Tool+ for treads

    The Clean Station uses Air Pulse to empty the bin and also charges the battery.

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Stairs are where a cordless stick earns its keep. There is no cord to drag up behind you, no cylinder balanced on a tread, and most sticks convert to a handheld in one click. What makes the difference on a full flight is the tool and the weight in your hand. A small motorised brush lifts grit and hair from carpeted treads far better than a plain upholstery nozzle, and a lighter machine is easier to hold at arm's length for fifteen steps and the risers in between. Runtime matters too, because stairs are often cleaned last, on whatever charge is left. This guide compares seven machines on the stair or mini tool supplied, listed weight, maker runtime, bin capacity and how the handheld mode is described, using only what each listing states.

All products compared

Details as stated in the Amazon listing or by the manufacturer. See the current price on Amazon.

The products in detail

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 1 · Dyson

Dyson V15 Detect Animal: Hair screw tool for treads

Dyson's sensor-led flagship stick, with a piezo dust sensor, an LCD particle readout and a High Torque head that adapts power to the floor. It suits larger homes with mixed floors and hair.

In its favour

  • A piezo sensor sizes and counts dust and raises suction automatically, with the result shown on the LCD screen.
  • The High Torque head checks brush bar resistance 360 times a second in Auto mode to adapt to carpet or hard floor.
  • A Hair screw tool with a conical brush bar is included for sofas, stairs and pet beds.

Good to know

  • At a listed 3 kg it is one of the heavier sticks here, which you notice when cleaning overhead.
  • The listing gives one maximum runtime and does not break it down by power mode or head.
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Listing title: Dyson V15 Detect Animal Cordless Stick Cleaner

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 2 · Dyson

Dyson V10 Animal: mini motorised tool and 60 min

A V10 with Dyson's torque drive cleaner head, which drives bristles deep into carpet to lift ground-in dirt, plus a large bin and up to 60 minutes. Strong carpet value at 2.66 kg.

In its favour

  • The torque drive head drives bristles deep into carpet to remove ground-in dirt, says Dyson.
  • A 0.76 L bin and up to 60 minutes suit larger carpeted homes.
  • A mini motorised tool is included for stairs and rugs.

Good to know

  • Power modes are chosen by hand, with no automatic carpet sensing.
  • Runtime with the torque drive head on carpet will be well below 60 minutes.
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Listing title: Dyson Spotless Cleaning Cyclone V10 Animal, Long, 226319-01

Best on carpet pile

No. 3 · Dyson

Dyson V8 Absolute: mini motorised tool and soft roller

A V8 bundle that includes Dyson's soft roller cleaner head for hard floors alongside the Direct Drive carpet head. It suits flats and smaller homes with mostly wood or laminate.

In its favour

  • A soft roller cleaner head is supplied specifically for hard floors.
  • The Direct Drive head is also included for any rugs or carpeted rooms.
  • A HEPA filter type is listed, and 115 AW of suction.

Good to know

  • 40 minutes of runtime is short for larger homes.
  • The listed weight is not credible, so the in-use weight is not stated here.
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Listing title: Dyson V8 Absolute Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner (Silver/Yellow)

Best on carpet pile

No. 4 · Dyson

Dyson V8 Animal: mini motorised tool, 2 kg listed

A light V8 Animal bundle with a mini motorised tool for carpeted treads, a combination tool and a rigid crevice tool. Its honest 25 minute figure with a motorised head helps you plan a flight.

In its favour

  • A mini motorised tool is included for carpeted treads and risers.
  • Dyson states up to 25 minutes with the motorised floor tool, a realistic planning figure.
  • A hygienic dirt ejector empties the bin in a single action.

Good to know

  • 40 minutes of maximum runtime is short for a large house plus stairs.
  • Listed noise of 78 dB and an older V8 motor design.
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Listing title: Dyson V8Animal Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 5 · Samsung

Samsung Bespoke Jet Plus Pro Extra: Pet Tool+ for treads

A Samsung stick with 210 W suction and an All-in-One Clean Station that empties the bin and charges the battery. It suits busy homes that want bin emptying handled at the dock.

In its favour

  • The Clean Station uses Air Pulse to empty the bin and also charges the battery.
  • Two floor heads are supplied: the Jet Dual Brush and a Slim Action LED brush for hard floors.
  • A Pet Tool+ with rubber nozzle and bristles is included, plus a 5 year warranty.

Good to know

  • The 0.5 L bin is the smallest among the full-size sticks here, though the dock offsets that.
  • Listed noise of 86 dB is the highest figure quoted in this guide.
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Listing title: Samsung Bespoke Jet PLUS Pro Extra Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Max ...

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 6 · dreame

Dreame Z30 Ultra: motorised mini brush, 2.2 kg

Dreame's high-suction stick, rated at up to 330 AW with a lit universal brush that detects floor type. It suits people who want long runtime and strong filtration specs at 2.2 kg.

In its favour

  • The maker quotes up to 330 AW of suction from a 150,000 rpm motor.
  • Up to 90 minutes of runtime is listed, the longest single-battery figure in this guide.
  • A motorised mini brush is supplied for upholstery and stairs, plus a soft dust brush.

Good to know

  • Spare parts and service support in the UK are less established than for Dyson or Shark.
  • The listing does not give a noise figure or the charge time.
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Listing title: Dreame Z30 Ultra cordless shaft vacuum cleaner with 330 AW suction pow...

Best on carpet pile

No. 7 · Shark

Shark PowerPro: handheld with upholstery tool

A mid-price Shark with FloorDetect brush-roll control, a bendable Flexology wand and a removable battery. It suits homes with lots of low furniture to clean under.

In its favour

  • FloorDetect senses floor type and adjusts brush-roll speed automatically.
  • The Flexology wand bends to reach under beds and sofas and folds for freestanding storage.
  • Anti-Allergen Complete Seal and a HEPA filter type are listed, with a 5-year guarantee on registration.

Good to know

  • A listed 3.45 kg is heavier than the Stratos, which matters on stairs and overhead.
  • The 50 minute runtime is in ECO mode with a non-motorised tool.
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Listing title: Shark PowerPro Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner, Navy Metallic, IZ380UK

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Carpets and stairs

Wand and Floor chooses every product independently, based on what its Amazon listing states. We may earn a commission on purchases made through the affiliate links above. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.