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Buying guide

Best cordless vacuums under £300

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

    Shark PowerPro: FloorDetect, Flexology, HEPA

    FloorDetect senses floor type and adjusts brush-roll speed automatically.

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  • Best value

    Bosch Unlimited 7: two batteries and an 80 min charger

    Two 3.0Ah batteries are included, and the maker says each covers up to 200 m2.

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  • Most features

    Hoover HW400: wet and dry, self-cleaning at 70C

    It picks up dust, dirt and liquids in one step on hard floors, so no separate mopping.

    Check price on AmazonAffiliate link

Spending less on a cordless vacuum usually means giving something up: a smaller bin, a single battery, a simpler floor head or fewer tools. The aim is to give up the thing you will not miss. If you have carpets, a motorised head matters more than a screen. If you have a bigger house, a second battery or a long eco runtime matters more than a dock. This guide compares five machines that sit below the price ceiling on maker runtime, bin capacity, listed weight, battery setup and the floor head supplied. It includes one cordless wet and dry floor cleaner for homes that are mostly hard floor, and one tool-brand stick that shares batteries with a power tool range. All facts come from the listings; where a listing leaves something out, we say so.

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 · Shark

Shark PowerPro: FloorDetect, Flexology, HEPA

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

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 2 · Bosch

Bosch Unlimited 7: two batteries and an 80 min charger

A Bosch stick that ships with two exchangeable 3.0Ah batteries, a quick charger and a dock. It suits larger homes that would rather swap a battery than wait for a recharge.

In its favour

  • Two 3.0Ah batteries are included, and the maker says each covers up to 200 m2.
  • The quick charger is listed at 80 minutes, much faster than most rivals here.
  • A Flex Tube bends for low furniture and the brush has integrated LEDs.

Good to know

  • The 0.3 L bin is small and will need emptying more often in pet homes.
  • Listed noise is 82 dB, and there is no anti-tangle claim for the floor brush.
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Listing title: Bosch Unlimited 7 MultiUse Cordless Vacuum Cleaner, BCS712GB, White

Best on planks

No. 3 · Hoover

Hoover HW400: wet and dry, self-cleaning at 70C

A cordless wet and dry floor cleaner that vacuums and washes hard floors in one pass, then self-cleans its roller at 70C and dries it. It suits kitchens and homes that are mostly hard floor.

In its favour

  • It picks up dust, dirt and liquids in one step on hard floors, so no separate mopping.
  • Self-cleaning at 70C with a 30 minute roller dry, according to the listing.
  • Lies flat to 180 degrees to reach under furniture, with active edges on three sides.

Good to know

  • It is a hard floor machine, not a carpet vacuum, so carpeted homes still need a stick.
  • Water tank volumes are not stated beyond the 0.6 L capacity figure.
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Listing title: Hoover HW400 Vacuum Cleaner, Wireless, Water and Dust, 180° Flat, 50 m...

Best on rugs and pet hair

No. 4 · BLACK+DECKER

BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES Extreme: 18V shared battery

A self-standing stick whose removable battery fits the BLACK+DECKER 18V MAX range. It suits owners of those tools who want one battery platform across the house and garage.

In its favour

  • The battery works across the BLACK+DECKER 18V MAX PowerConnect system.
  • An anti-tangle beater bar is listed to reduce hair wrap.
  • It stands on its own for storage and charging, with no wall mount needed.

Good to know

  • The listing does not state bin capacity or the weight of the machine in use.
  • Filtration is described as cyclonic, with no HEPA grade mentioned.
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Listing title: BLACK+DECKER POWERSERIES Extreme MAX 18V MAX Cordless Stick Vacuum, BH...

Best on planks

No. 5 · Einhell

Einhell TE-SV 18/270: body only, 0.85 L bin

A brushless Einhell stick sold without battery or charger, for people who already own Power X-Change packs. It comes with both a combed floor head and a soft roller.

In its favour

  • Both a universal floor nozzle with hair comb and a soft roller are supplied, plus a motorised small nozzle.
  • The 0.85 L bin is the largest of the sticks in this guide.
  • Register for a 10-year warranty on the brushless motor, says the maker.

Good to know

  • No battery or charger is included, so it only makes sense if you own Einhell 18V packs.
  • Runtime is not stated because it depends on which Power X-Change battery you fit.
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Listing title: Einhell Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner 18V PXC Without Battery

Read before you buy

More buying guides: Choosing a cordless vacuum

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.