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Stick and cordless vacuum reviews

Best stick vacuums to buy in Australia

Find a stick vacuum that gets the job done fast with good battery life.

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CHOICE test expert Kim Gilmour shows you how we test and compare stick vacuums

Scientifically tested in our accredited labs

Our rigorous testing shows how thoroughly stick vacuums from brands like Dyson, LG and Hoover clean your floor, pick up pet hair and much more.

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stick vacs to avoid red cross

Stick vacuums to avoid

Members can compare all the models we test. Here’s a sample of the stick vacuums we suggest you avoid.

Stick vacuums to avoid buying

We give each stick vacuum a CHOICE score made up of:

Hard floor dirt pick-up (30%)

We test how effectively the stick vacuum picks up a variety of materials (cornflakes, potting mix and flour) from a hard floor.

Ease of use (30%)

Sand is spread into a right-angled corner and vacuumed to see how close to the corner each vacuum is able to pick up dirt using the standard cleaning head. We assess how easy each vacuum is to manoeuvre, how difficult it is to empty and clean the dirt receptacle, and how easy it is to operate the controls. We also test if the supplied accessories are simple to use and store.

Pet hair removal (15%)

To test pet hair removal, we embed cat hair in the carpet and, as with the dirt pick-up test, vacuum it to a set pattern and speed. We rate the results based on how much cat hair is left behind after the test. Where supplied, the turbo brush or power head is used for this test. Otherwise, we use the standard cleaning head. Pet hair for testing is supplied by Woof Cat & Dog Grooming in Bondi, NSW.

Thorough clean (10%)

We embed sand evenly into a section of carpet and vacuum it. The sand is weighed and recorded. This is done twice for each model and the results are averaged. With normal vacuums, we pre-load the dust collector with dust, but as stick vacs have a very small dirt receptacle capacity, we don’t pre-load for this test.

Quick carpet clean (15%)

We measure dirt pick-up from carpet after four passes of the cleaning head. Our test of full-size vacuums involves 10 passes up and down the carpet, but for stick vacs we’re looking for cleaning performance in less time.

See key features side by side

Members can compare based on ease of use, best for hard floors, carpets and pet hair removal.

CHOICE keeps the marketplace honest. Without them, manufacturers will be able to do whatever they want.
Aaron – CHOICE member

They’re here to make a difference and here to make us safe.
Allison – CHOICE member

CHOICE member Aaron

CHOICE keeps the marketplace honest. Without them, manufacturers will be able to do whatever they want.
James – CHOICE member

Which brands does CHOICE review?

Our experts test stick vacuum cleaners from brands including Beko, Bissell, Black and Decker, Bosch, Dreame, Dyson, Electrolux, i-Vac, Invictus, Kmart, LG, Miele, Roborock, Samsung, Sauber, Shark, Tineco, Vax, Wertheim and Xiaomi

How does CHOICE pick models to test?

Our priority is testing the models you’ll see in stores and major online retailers. To do this, we check current market data to see what’s most popular. We’ll also test models that a lot of members have requested.

How are stick vacuums tested in the lab?

We have our own on-site labs, equipped with precisely calibrated measurement tools and reference machines to test and compare products. Every model is tested with standardised samples of dirt and pet hair. These align with Australian and International Standards.

How does CHOICE get the stick vacuums it reviews?

Unlike other product review sites, we don’t accept free test models from manufacturers. This allows us to be independent and review without interference. Instead, we buy products anonymously from a variety of retailers, then bring them into our labs. This means we get what you’d get, and can be sure the model has not been potentially ‘tweaked’ for better performance.

How often are new models tested?

We test a new batch of models every 12 months, in line with updates and new releases into the vacuums market.

Who does the testing?

Our expert testers have many years of experience reviewing products, with Matthew Tung sitting on national and international industry standards committees, while Adrian Lini has a background in agricultural science.

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