Cordless vs. Corded Vacuums (Which Is Better?)

We compared cordless vs. corded vacuums to help you choose.

A full comparison of cordless vacuums vs corded vacuums. Keep reading to learn about all of the pros and cons of each type.

Are cordless vacuums better than than corded?

When you are in the market for a reliable and powerful vacuum cleaner, you may wonder whether or not to choose a corded vacuum or one that is entirely cordless.

In fact, the question of which one is the best for you can depend on a number of different factors.

Both varieties offer perks and drawbacks that may or may not sway your decision about into which one to invest your money.

Until the last decade or so, cordless vacuums often paled in comparison to their corded counterparts.

They were often saved for using for light dusting or short term vacuuming because their batteries did not offer long lasting charge.

However, cordless vacuums today are often more powerful and stay charged for longer. They can vacuum on par with corded vacuums and can be used for more heavy duty cleaning.

Still, cordless vacuums often lack the capacity to hold as much dust and dirt as corded vacuums.

They also tend to be higher in price than corded vacuum cleaners.

If price and cleaning power are two of your main considerations, you may find it best to choose a corded vacuum instead of a cordless one.

Alternatively, if you want a vacuum that is lightweight, easier to handle and smaller in size, you might be compelled to choose one that is cordless.

Cordless vacuums are often compact and weigh only a few pounds.

These factors might convince you that cordless vacuums are better than corded ones.

What is the Difference between a Cordless and Corded Vacuum Cleaner?

A number of differences exist between cordless and corded vacuum cleaners.

These differences can sway your favor to one over the other and convince you that your choice is the best one for your cleaning needs.

For instance, a cordless vacuum cleaner is just that, a vacuum cleaner that does not rely on an electrical cord for its source of power.

In fact, it typically relies on lithium batteries that may or may not be rechargeable.

If the batteries are not rechargeable, you will need to replace them every time they wear out and lose their power.

Still, a cordless vacuum is lightweight, compact in size and easy to carry around.

It gives you virtually unlimited mobility both inside and outside of your home.

You can use it to vacuum around furniture and tight corners.

You can also take it outside to vacuum inside of your car or to vacuum car seats, rugs and outdoor furniture.

A corded vacuum cleaner, however, typically offers more suction power and can be used for whole house cleaning.

It relies on an electrical cord for is power source. It has immense capability to suction up dust, dirt, pet hair and other debris on your floors.

It may also come with parts like a bristled brush or hose extenders that let you vacuum off upholstery and draperies and clean around mop boards, in tight corners high up on the walls or even cobwebs on the ceiling.

A corded vacuum cleaner is heavier and may not be as transportable or easier to carry like a cordless vacuum cleaner.

Still, it does not run out of battery power before you are finished cleaning.

You can use it for the largest of inside vacuuming jobs.

Suction

When you shop for a vacuum with which to clean up your home, of course you are going to consider its suction power.

You ideally want to buy one that can offer you as much suction power as possible in return for your investment in it.

With that, when you are in the market for a powerful suction power, your favor may fall on a corded vacuum cleaner.

Corded vacuums traditionally offer a significant amount of suction power, more so than what you might get with a cordless vacuum.

The suction power in a corded vacuum cleaner comes in part from its use of your home's electricity.

This type of vacuum is capable of suctioning up even the smallest bits of dirt, hair, fur, dust and residue from your floors.

It can be your ideal choice when your floors get particularly dirty or you have children and pets that live at home with you.

A cordless vacuum, in contrast, gets its suction power from its batteries.

When the batteries run down or lose power, they cause the cordless vacuum to lose its suction power.

You must charge or replace the batteries to restore the vacuum's suction power.

Still, if you choose a higher end cordless vacuum, especially one that has rechargeable lithium batteries, you may find it offers suction power that is close to what you would get with a corded vacuum.

You can still use it for whole house cleaning and removing noticeable residue like dirt and dust from your floors.

A cordless vacuum cleaner can also give you enough suction power to clean up household items like throw rugs or seat cushions.

You can additionally take it outdoors to vacuum off a patio or porch or vacuum out your vehicle without having to find out an outside electrical outlet.

Design

When you consider whether or not you should choose a corded or cordless vacuum for your home, you also need to think about both options' designs.

They often have notable differences that can influence your decision about which one is right for you.

A corded vacuum, for instance, tends to be heavier and somewhat bulkier than its cordless counterparts.

In fact, some of the bulk comes from the fact that it uses a power cord, which often must be wrapped around handles that are attached to the vacuum's exterior body.

Likewise, because corded vacuums have more suction power, they often contain larger dust bins, which contribute to their overall size.

Their size, combined with features like larger dust bins, cords and attachments, can make corded vacuums significantly bigger than cordless vacuums.

They can also weigh several pounds more and require more space in a closet or hallway to store.

Alternatively, cordless vacuums are often compact and lightweight in design. They weigh only a few pounds, making them quite easy to pick up and move around.

They also do not have cords that you must wrap up or worry about stepping over while you are cleaning.

They also have detachable dust bins that you can take off and empty as needed while you clean.

However, the dust bins themselves tend to be small, which do not allow for extended cleaning.

Still, if you want a lightweight vacuum that is easy to store, you may find a cordless vacuum to be your best option.

Cordless vacuums also typically have extended handles for easier grip and use.

Corded vacuums likewise may have handles that you can hang onto and push.

They alternatively might offer long handles that attach to the end of the hose that you can push on the floor to clean.

Price

Price is yet another factor that you may want to consider when you choose between a corded and cordless vacuum.

You may want to buy the one that fits the best within the budget you have for this purchase but also gives you a solid return on your investment in it.

With that, corded vacuums tend to cost more than cordless vacuums.

In fact, their average price can hover above the $100 mark, depending on what size, style and brand you choose.

Some higher end brands of corded vacuums can sell for upwards of $1000.

They cost more because they tend to be larger in size and offer more cleaning power than cordless vacuums.

They are also built to last longer and give you more of a return for the money you pay for them.

You may not need to replace your corded vacuum cleaner shortly after buying it because of how durable it is.

Cordless vacuums, on the other hand, can cost as little as $20, depending on what brand and style you choose.

They are often made from materials like plastic and lightweight aluminum, making them affordable to manufacture and sell.

When you are on a tight budget but want to buy a vacuum for your home, you may be able to afford easily a lightweight vacuum.

Still, as the adage goes, you may get what you pay for, especially when you buy a cordless vacuum.

For such a low price, you may not have due cause to expect the cordless vacuum to last as long as its corded counterpart.

You may find that you need to buy a replacement cordless vacuum cleaner within a year, if not months, after buying it.

Your expenses may be compounded if you must buy replacement batteries for your cordless vacuum.

Dust Bin

You also may want to consider what kind of dust bin that you get with the cordless or corded vacuum cleaner you buy.

The size and type of dust bin that comes with your vacuum can greatly influence how easily you can clean your home.

Corded vacuum cleaners often come with larger dust bins than those found on cordless vacuum cleaners.

In fact, a corded vacuum cleaner dust bin may hold upwards of two to three liters of dust and dirt, whereas the dust bin on a cordless vacuum may only hold about 0.6 liters of dust and dirt.

You may have to empty your cordless vacuum's dust bin more often than that found on a corded vacuum.

However, emptying a dust bin on a cordless vacuum tends to be easier than emptying the dust bin on a corded vacuum.

A cordless vacuum's dust bin may be detachable, allowing you to take it off, empty it and put it back on quickly and easily.

You can get back to vacuuming your floors faster.

In contrast, a dust bin on a corded vacuum may be harder to take off and empty.

It is also larger, which can make it bulky to handle and dump into the garbage bin.

Some corded vacuums may use bags that attach to the end of a hose inside of the vacuum cleaner itself.

You must take off the full bag carefully to avoid getting dirt and dust on the floor or on you.

You then must attach a new bag onto the end of the vacuum cleaner hose inside of the vacuum's body to continue cleaning.

A cordless vacuum's dust bin is easier to deal with in most cases.

However, when you want more vacuuming capacity, you might prefer the larger dust bin found on corded vacuums.

Filtration

The filtration features on a vacuum cleaner can also influence your buying decision.

You want to know that the vacuum cleaner you choose can pick up debris like allergens and dust to make your home as clean as possible.

With that, your favor might fall on a corded vacuum, which is typically designed to pick up and filter out even the smallest bit of residue on your floors.

It not only can pick up bits of grass and fur on your floors.

It can also pick up and filter microscopic allergens like dander and mites that can cause your indoor allergies to flare.

Moreover, it is common for corded vacuums today to be manufactured with HEPA filters, which ensure they can make your house as clean as possible.

You might get the most sanitary floors when you use a corded vacuum cleaner on them because of the filtration system found on it.

However, it is also common to find HEPA filters on cordless vacuums today.

Like their corded counterparts, they can also pick up allergens and dust to leave behind clean floors.

Still, the filtration system on a cordless vacuum may lack the same power as that found on a corded vacuum.

After you use a cordless vacuum, you may still find dust and dirt on your floors, as well as larger residue like grass or fur that can bother your indoor allergies.

When you want a filtration system in a vacuum cleaner that is well worth the money you pay, you might get the best performance in one found in a corded vacuum.

The filtration features on a corded vacuum cleaner may be preferred if there are allergy or asthma sufferers in your household. It may also benefit your home if you have pets and children there.

Warranty

A warranty can offer you the peace of mind that you prefer as a vacuum cleaner owner.

You know that if there is a manufacturing defect or your vacuum fails to perform as designed in the warranty period, you can have it repaired or replaced at little to no cost to you.

However, you should note that corded vacuums typically have longer warranties on them than cordless vacuums.

In fact, it is not uncommon for the warranty period on a corded vacuum cleaner to last upwards of five years and cover a host of parts in it, including the hoses, filters, belts and parts used to hold the vacuum cleaner together.

The warranty may also extend to the motor in the corded vacuum and cover the costs of any repairs or replacements in it.

These repairs can be pricey to cover on your own. However, when they are made within the span of the warranty on the corded vacuum, they are covered at little to no charge to you.

Still, cordless vacuums also typically come with warranties on them.

They may have limited manufacturing warranties that last for one to two years.

The warranties on cordless vacuums may pay for new parts that are used in repairs or the replacement of the vacuums themselves if repairs cannot be made to them.

Corded vacuums often have longer warranties because of their design and cost.

They spare you from having to pay out large sums of money to buy a replacement vacuum cleaner and also allow you to get your money's worth that you have already spent on your vacuum.

Cordless vacuum warranties are not as long because these vacuums are often more affordably priced and might be replaced more readily if they break down or fall apart.

Features

Finally, you may be interested in the features that come with both corded and cordless vacuum cleaners.

These features can sway your decision and guide you toward the one that best suits your expectations and needs.

A corded vacuum cleaner typically comes with a host of features that make using it as easy and convenient as possible.

For instance, it is not uncommon to buy a corded vacuum cleaner that is equipped with a variety of accessories, including a brush for vacuuming upholstery and extenders for hoses that let you get farther reach on your vacuum cleaner.

Your corded vacuum cleaner may also come with wheels on its bottom that let you roll it from one room to the next with ease.

You avoid having to pick up and lug a heavy vacuum cleaner as you clean throughout your home.

You can simply push it to where you want to use it next.

A cordless vacuum likewise comes with a respectable amount of features.

It is not uncommon to find these types of vacuums with extended handles that spare you from having to hunch over to vacuum your floors.

They are built for easy and comfortable use.

Cordless vacuums are also notably quieter than their corded counterparts.

You can use them without straining your ears because of the noise that they make.

You can also use them when children or other family members are sleeping without waking them up.

Likewise, corded vacuums may have a button that allows for easy release of its dust bin.

You can simply press on this button to pop off the dust bin when you need to empty it.

The button will pop back into place when you place the dust bin back on the cordless vacuum.

You avoid having to pry off the dust bin and risk breaking it.

Final Verdict

With all of this information about corded and cordless vacuums, you may wonder what one is the clear winner.

It really depends on what your specific cleaning needs are, what kinds of features you want out of your vacuum and how much money you have to spend.

When you want whole house cleaning power without having to stop your work because of dead batteries or full dust bins, you are going to want to choose a corded vacuum cleaner.

It can offer you all of the cleaning power you need to clean room to room without interruptions.

A corded vacuum will also offer you the durability that you may prefer in a longer lasting vacuum cleaner.

You may prefer to put your money into one that can last for years or longer and avoid breaking down and needing to be replaced.

Even if it needs repairs, it may offer you a longer serving warranty specifically for that purpose.

On the other hand, if you are on a tighter budget and perhaps live in a smaller place with less carpeting, you might be just as well served with a cordless vacuum.

You can get one for an affordable price without breaking the bank.

You can also use it for briefer cleaning jobs and still get sufficient suction power out of it.

Even more, cordless vacuums are quieter, which can be ideal if you prefer to avoid loud noises while cleaning or live in an apartment complex where you must respect your neighbors' peace and quiet.

You also get more mobility with a cordless vacuum without having to deal with a lengthy power cord.

When these factors are more important to you, you may prefer a cordless vacuum than a corded vacuum cleaner.