A look at the best Dyson vacuum cleaners from its wide range of upright, handheld, robot and cylinder vacuums
There aren’t many vacuum cleaner brands that can match Dyson when it comes to sheer brand recognition, and for good reason, too. The British company is one of the more innovative in its field, consistently coming up with powerful and high-quality vacuum cleaners, among other products such as fans and hair dryers.
Famous for its bagless vacuum cleaners that use cyclonic separation to remove dust from the air stream, Dyson vacuums are among the most popular in the country. With such a broad and varied catalogue of available models, though, it can be tough to pick out the right one for you.
To help you choose, we’ve rounded up the best vacuum cleaners Dyson produces in each category, picked out our favourite overall model, and put together a buying guide, as well as a breakdown of each vacuum cleaner’s features.
Best Dyson vacuum: At a glance
- Best-value Dyson: Dyson V7 Absolute
- Best of the best: Dyson V11 Absolute
- Best Dyson robot vacuum: Dyson 360 Heurist
- Best handheld Dyson: Dyson V7 Trigger
How to choose the best Dyson vacuum cleaner for you
What sets a Dyson apart from other vacuum cleaners?
As mentioned above, Dyson vacuum cleaners are bagless and use “cyclonic separation” technology to remove dust particulates from the air. These features are included in every model, whether it’s an upright, handheld, robot or cylinder vacuum.See related Best vacuum cleaner 2021: We’ve tested the finest corded, cordless, bagged and bagless vacuumsBest cordless vacuum cleaner 2021: Which is the best handheld vacuum for you?
The bagless technology is somewhat self-explanatory and means that you don’t have to spend extra money on replacement bags. While that’s a positive, emptying the dust container on these cleaners does produce dust clouds, no matter how careful you are. This means bagless cleaners aren’t the best for those who suffer from dust allergies.
As for the cyclonic separation technology, that refers to the cones at the top of the internal dust canister. They use the airflow to separate dust and dirt from the air, depositing more waste – including microscopic particles – into the canister without the need for complex filters.
Another Dyson innovation is ‘the Ball’. This, as the name suggests, is a large ball upon which the vacuum cleaner pivots. Thanks to this single pivot, upright and cylinder Dyson cleaners are easier to manoeuvre around the house in comparison to traditional wheel-based vacuums.
READ NEXT: The best vacuum cleaners to buy
What type of Dyson vacuum cleaner should I buy?
Dyson produces five models of vacuum cleaner: the traditional upright, the compact cylinder, the handheld, the cordless stick and finally, the robot.
Upright – This is a one-piece unit and the model that most closely resembles the traditional machine you no doubt picture when you think of a vacuum cleaner. The suction head is at the bottom, the handle is at the top and the dust container mounted in between. It’s a simple, tried and tested design.
These tend to have the largest capacity so you spend less time emptying them and you can cover larger areas in a shorter amount of time than other models. On the downside, they’re heavier than other models and the mains cord and detachable hose mean they’re not the most convenient type of vacuum to use on the stairs.
Cylinder – These are basically two-part vacuums, with the main body consisting of the dust canister and ‘the Ball’. This main body is then connected, via flexible hose, to the handle and main suction tube. They’re lighter and easier to manoeuvre than upright vacuums, but have a smaller capacity and can be more awkward to store.
Cordless – Something of a cross between the cylinder and handheld models, Dyson’s cordless vacuums have a motorised head mated to a long, rigid tube and the dust container and motor mounted on top. They’re powered by a rechargeable battery, so they’re super-convenient and very light and can be easily manoeuvered in tight spaces. The smaller cleaning head and relative lack of capacity compared to an upright vacuum mean it can take more time to clean a larger space, though.
Handheld – These are, as the name suggests, handheld models. They’re small, portable and, since they’re rechargeable, don’t need to be plugged into the mains while you’re cleaning with them. The size of these models means they’re ideal for cleaning small spaces such as cars, or around sofas and other furniture, though if you already have a cordless stick vacuum, you probably don’t need one of these. Their limited battery life and relative lack of suction power compared to larger models are negative points, however.
Robot – Rather obviously named, these are automatic vacuums: small pods that make their way around the home unaided. While they conveniently cut out the manual labour aspect of vacuuming, their cleaning power can’t match the larger models, they can’t clean the stairs, require a relatively clear floor area and can sometimes have trouble finding their way around. They also tend to be far more expensive than more powerful, standard vacuums.
READ NEXT: The best robot vacuum cleaners
The best Dyson vacuum cleaners to buy
1. Dyson V7 Absolute: The best-value Dyson vacuum cleaner
Price: £300 l Buy now from Argos
You might be wondering why the older Dyson V7 Absolute is at the top of this list, rather than the new (and frankly better) Dyson V11. The simple explanation is price: the Dyson V7 Absolute has dropped in price considerably since launch, and can currently be scooped up for a mere fraction of the cost of Dyson’s newest cordless vacuum.
It’s not like the Dyson V7 is filled with compromises, either. It has the same bin capacity as the Dyson V11 at 0.8 litres, is just as lightweight and stores just as neatly in compact spaces. Its battery life isn’t quite as good as the Dyson V11 – lasting 30mins on a single charge rather than 60mins – and the suction power is comparatively weaker, but for half the price you really can’t grumble too much.
If you’re looking at upgrading to a Dyson, and you’d rather not pay those eye-watering sums for the latest and greatest vacuum, then the Dyson V7 Absolute is absolutely the best cordless you can buy today.
Key specs – Dimensions (WDH): 1,243 x 250 x 210 mm; Weight: 2.3kg; Bin capacity: 800ml; Vacuum type: Cordless stick; Bagless: Yes; Suction power – stated (AW): 100
2. Dyson V11 Absolute: The absolute best Dyson vacuum cleaner
Price: £600 | Buy now from Currys PC World
The undisputed king of the vacuum industry returns in the form of the Dyson V11 Absolute, and it’s head and shoulders above everything else we’ve ever tested. Performance is the name of the game here: the V11 has a bigger battery and a more powerful motor than its predecessor, the V10, lasting an hour in normal mode and 12 minutes in Boost mode.
The new High Torque head has built-in pressure sensors that can adjust the suction power depending on the surface to save energy – or, if you’re a DIY kind of person, you can adjust the power yourself with a slider on the front of the head. An LCD on the top of the machine keeps track of exactly how much time you have left until the battery runs out, and also notifies the user of blockages.
Delivering a whopping 185 air watts of suction power in Boost mode, the V11 is an obvious and capable candidate for anyone looking to ditch the cord. There’s no better cordless vacuum cleaner than this.
Read our Dyson V11 Absolute review
Key specs – Dimensions (WDH): 250 x 261 x 1,286mm; Weight: 2.97kg; Bin capacity:760ml; Vacuum type: Cordless stick; Bagless: Yes; Suction power – stated (AW): 185
3. Dyson V11 Outsize: The biggest Dyson cordless
Price: £650 | Buy now from Dyson
Dyson’s biggest cordless vacuum cleaner yet takes what makes the V11 Absolute great and supersizes it, with a cleaning head that’s 25% wider and a collection bin that’s 150% bigger than other V11 models.
Battery life is excellent and cleaning power is as good as it gets, with 18 of Dyson’s cyclones built into the vacuum. The larger size means you’ll be able to cover more ground before needing to empty the dust and detritus; ideal if you have a big house with lots of places for dirt to collect. It also comes with extensions aplenty. As well as the main vacuum unit, the extension pole and a ‘High Torque XL’ cleaning head, the Dyson V11 Outsize comes with a smaller soft head for hard floors and a mini-motorised tool for cleaning stairs and other inconvenient places. You’ll also get a variety of brushes, adaptors and other extensions.
Read more in our full Dyson V11 Outsize review
Key specs – Dimensions (WDH): 1,286 x 320 x 261 mm; Weight: 3.5kg; Bin capacity: 1.7l; Vacuum type: Cordless stick; Bagless: Yes; Suction power – stated (AW): 220
4. Dyson 360 Heurist: The best Dyson robot vacuum
Price: £800 | Buy now from Dyson
Combining the automation of a robot vacuum with the suction of Dyson cordless, the Dyson 360 Heurist is the only one of its kind that can actually make the claim of replacing your standard vacuum. It uses LIDAR sensors to map your rooms and plot routes around your home, and it comes with all the bells and whistles you could ever want for a dinky, self-managing cleaner: tank tracks for climbing obstacles, a full-width brush bar for close to the edge cleaning and a 360-degree camera for all-around vision.
It’s a little on the tall side, and therefore may not squeeze under some pieces of furniture, but the Heurist’s frame contains a combination of Dyson’s cyclone technology and its Digital Motor V2 – together capable of removing an incredible amount of dirt and dust from carpet.
Key specs – Dimensions (WDH): 230 x 240 x 120 mm; Weight: 2.51kg; Bin capacity: 330ml; Vacuum type: Automated; Bagless: Yes
5. Dyson V7 Trigger: The best Dyson handheld vacuum cleaner
Price: £199 | Buy now from Argos
One for cleaning cars, sofas, countertops and the like, the V7 Trigger can’t match the larger Dyson offerings for power and capacity, but it’s the most portable vacuum the firm offers. It’s the second-weakest vacuum in terms of suction power on this list but will cope with the crumbs, dirt and pet hair that makes its way into those tight spaces.
Three tools are included in the package, including the all-important crevice and combination tools, and the V7’s 30-minute runtime is long enough to cope with most small jobs. An excellent vacuum but only buy one to complement to your primary vacuum.
Key specs – Dimensions (WDH): 131 x 316 x 206mm; Weight: 1.38kg; Vacuum type: Cordless handheld; Bagless: Yes; Vacuum power – stated (AW): 100
6. Dyson Big Ball Animal 2: The best Dyson cylinder vacuum cleaner
Price: £299 | Buy now from Currys PC World
Dyson’s Big Ball cylinder vacuum packs the same capacity and a similar amount of power to the Light Ball into a smaller, easier to move package. It’s corded, so not as convenient to use as the Cyclone V11, but it has more suction power and, thanks to its ball-shaped design, it self-rights when it topples over.
The tangle-free turbine tool is good for dealing with pet hairs, while combination and stair tools make tricky spots that much easier to clean. Also included is Dyson’s clever pneumatic head, which adjusts suction automatically depending on the floor type it detects. With the nozzle and hose, storage can be a faff, but it’s great for smaller dwellings.
Key specs – Dimensions (WDH): 347 x 397 x 308mm; Weight: 7.5kg; Bin capacity: 1.6l; Vacuum type: Corded cylinder; Bagless: Yes; Vacuum power – stated (AW): 180
7. Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute: Still a brilliant vacuum cleaner
Price: £449 | Buy now from Currys PC World
This cordless vacuum cleaner is still one of the best vacuum cleaners on the market. It isn’t the most powerful, but its lightweight and versatility make up for that in spades. The V10 Absolute’s quietness and ease of use are additional positives.
An upgrade on the V8 with a more powerful motor and a bigger dust container, this is one of Dyson’s best cordless cleaners. The battery lasts up to 60 minutes in Eco mode, and max boost mode adds upright vacuum cleaning performance for stubborn dirt.
