We recommend currently available stick vacs that score at least 80% overall, so long as they also score at least 70% for hard floors.

This overall score is made up of hard floor dirt pick-up (30%), ease of use (30%), pet hair removal (15%), thorough carpet clean (10%) and quick carpet clean (15%).

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

We measure how easy it is to manoeuvre the cleaner; empty and clean the dirt receptacle; operate the controls; and use and store the supplied accessories.

Sand is spread into a right-angled corner and vacuumed to see how far into the corner each cleaner is able to pick up dirt, using the standard cleaning head.

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 supplied by Woof Cat & Dog Grooming, Bondi, NSW.

We embed sand evenly into a section of carpet, then vacuum. The sand is weighed and recorded, which is done twice for each model with the results averaged. A thorough test is 10 passes.

We embed sand evenly into a section of carpet, then vacuum. The sand is weighed and recorded, which is done twice for each model with the results averaged. A quick test is 4 passes.

For those models that separate from the stick into a handheld vacuum, we disperse pebbles and sand throughout the front and rear floor of a car and evaluate how well they pick up these materials. This is not counted towards the final score, as not all vacs are 2-in-1 products.

Noise is measured at the user's position at maximum power setting. Some models emit a high-pitched whistle that can be irritating, even though they may not be louder than others.

Measured with brush head on and full power.

'Tested model' refers to vacuums that are currently available in shops and online. 'Discontinued model' refers to vacuums that are no longer available in shops. 'Similar model' has core functionality to the one we tested but may have different accessories or colours unrelated to our score.

Price paid at time of testing.

How long the battery will typically take to charge.

The capacity of the dust collector, measured in litres.

A lightweight stick vacuum is easy to move around.

The model has a claimed origin somewhere on the model itself. This should be taken with a grain of salt, as it's rare that all the materials for a product come from the one country.

Cordless stick vacs have rechargeable batteries – some are easily removable so you can swap them over with a fully-charged one to extend cleaning time without using a tool. Not all come with an additional battery.

This lets you adjust the wand to suit your height, so you can vacuum without bending your back too much.

HEPA stands for high-efficiency particulate air. Vacuums equipped with HEPA filtration trap the dirt you can't see, rather than sending allergens back into the air.