In the olden days cleaning the house was a painful chore. Nobody looked forward to it. Just the thought of bending over with a mop and bucket almost brings tears to the soul. But then came the dawn of the vacuum cleaner. And, hopeless bachelors and bachelorettes everywhere rejoiced and would forever sing praises of this precious gift from the gods.
Now you can find these machines in almost every household. However, most vacuum cleaners today are heavy and bulky. This makes them inconvenient for daily tasks around the house. Well, the solution to this? Corded stick vacuums.
Unlike your typical vacuum cleaner, corded stick vacuums are much lighter and more conveniently designed for everyday use. The very best of their kind are not just the pretty ones with fancy colors and a thousand accessories. They should be able to offer value for your money. This means they perform their job well, are easy to use and maintain and offer versatility such that you can clean both hardwood floors and pile carpets. Corded stick vacuums are also really portable and perfect for small spaces.
To help you in your quest, we have done the research and assembled a list of the the best corded stick vacuums on the market.
Related: Best Vacuum Cleaner for Tile Floors
2021 Top 5 Handheld Corded Stick Vacuums
Before we get to our featured corded stick vacuum cleaners, let’s first take a quick peek at how they compare in terms of cost. Since Amazon is a good indicator of average price across the web (plus they often have great sales), we used their current price tag for our comparison.
When we put together this list, the products were in order from high to low. However, because prices often change, especially if there is a discount or promotion running, this may vary from day to day.
Best Corded stick vacuums Reviews 2021
Grading corded stick vacuums really came down to one thing: overall cleaning ability and suction power. Unlike some other types of vacuums, you don’t need to worry about the lithium-ion battery life, all stick vacuums are easy to store, and most all stick vacuums are easy to maneuver.
When choosing our top 5 corded electric stick vacuum cleanser, our goal — besides ensuring the quality, of course — was to provide a mixture of options for every budget. So whether you are looking for a high-end vacuum cleaner with lots of advanced features or need cheap corded stick vacuums, we have something for everyone!
Now it’s time to take a closer look at our top corded stick vac picks.
Shark Rocket Corded Bagless Stick Vacuum HV302 Review
In the world of corded stick vacuums, efficiency is the number one priority. And nothing fulfills this trait better than the Shark® Rocket® Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum. While we are featuring the mid-range Shark HV302 model, you would happy with any of the corded stick vacuums in this series including the DeluxePro.
For starters, being a stick vacuum, the machine is naturally tall, so you don’t have to bend over and strain your back while using it. This, coupled with its impressive 8.5-inch cleaning path width, lets it access all the corners and crevices in floors and walls. But that’s not even the best part. When you need a closer clean up, the Shark rocket can easily be broken down into a smaller handheld vacuum.
The beautiful multicolored vacuum also comes with some other accessories to boost its efficiency. This includes extra tools that can be attached when you want to reach tight spaces or handle other materials like pet hair. The device has fingertip controls that let you adjust the suction as you switch from hard floors to smoother carpets. On top of that, you get the popular swivel steering for a more flawless control. Not to mention the unit only weighs 8.2 pounds.
NOTE: If your budget is higher, we recommend checking out the newest Shark corded stick vacuum, the Shark HZ2002 Vertex Corded Ultralight DuoClean PowerFins Stick Vacuum with self-cleaning brushroll. Released in fall 2020, it features Shark’s latest cleaning technologies.
Shark Rocket HV302 Stick Vacuum Pros and Cons
What We Like…
- Tall, so it reaches up tall walls
- Easily transforms into a smaller device
- Has suction control
What Could Be Better…
- The machine’s plastic parts feel vulnerable to melting
- A little top-heavy
Eureka Flash Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner NES510 Review
If you are looking for a reliable lightweight cleaner that will handle all your floors and surfaces, then look no further than the Eureka Flash Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner. Using a system of motorized floor nozzles and fingertip brush roll controls, the machine is able to switch between a hard floor and a carpet seamlessly. Like most other high-end vacuums, the Eureka NES510 also features an advanced swivel steering mechanism that allows it to move around with ease through tight spaces.
With 500 Watts worth of power, the device is quite powerful yet has the uncanny cleaning ability to be perfectly quiet in its operation. It is also surprisingly lightweight, only weighing 6.3 pounds. It also converts into a portable hand vacuum, so you can move around with it and access it almost anywhere. This is further enhanced by a 30 ft power cord, which is the longest we’ve seen so far, and LED headlights, so you don’t miss any debris.
Eureka Flash Stick Vacuum Pros and Cons
What We Like…
- Multi floor cleaning
- Can convert into a portable vacuum
- Has a long cord
What Could Be Better…
- A little noisier than its counterparts
- You might feel some hot air flowing to you during use
Bissell Featherweight Stick Bagless Vacuum 2033 Review
The Bissell FeatherWeight™ Lightweight Stick Vacuum is called featherweight for a reason. At just over 3 lbs, it is one of the lightest machines you will find out there. This, backed by its 15-foot long power cord, makes the vacuum extremely easy to use around the house. But the featherweight is also not to be underestimated. Despite its compact size, the machine still packs a pretty decent suction.
The Bissell Featherweight stick vac is also surprisingly versatile. In fact, it can be split into 3 different performing machines. That is a stick vacuum, a stair vacuum, and a handle vacuum. It even comes with its own crevice tools for cleaning furniture and stairs. The unit can be used for hard floors and surfaces, as well as rugs. It has a dirt cup capacity of 0.67 liters. And to top it off, you can choose your favorite color from black, blue, lime green, or purple.
One of the things we love about this stick vac from Bissel is its low price point under $40. It’s a great stick vacuum for small homes and apartments. However, if you want more power and have pets, we recommend the higher-end Bissel ICONpet cordless stick vacuum series.
Bissell Featherweight Stick Vacuum Pros and Cons
What We Like…
- Really lightweight, easy to handle
- Really versatile
- Comes with a couple of crevice tools
What Could Be Better…
- Small dirt cup capacity
MOOSOO 4 in 1 Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner D600 Review
From its sleek, modern look to the perfect blend of red and black colors, the MOOSOO stick vacuum cleaner just oozes of quality. It’s hard to imagine how it comes at such an affordable price. At just under $100 retail (the last time we checked), the machine offers one of the best values for money out there. It is equipped with a 500w high-powered motor and 17kpa suction. This makes it ideal for hard surfaces like marble, tiles, and hardwood floors, having no struggle picking up any debris, cat poop, or dog crumbs.
The vacuum cleaner also features the popular true HEPA filtration system that is known for its efficiency. Additionally, the Moosoo has a complete sealing design, so the dust particles don’t go back into circulation. Other handy features include a rotatable floor brush head that provides easy control of carpets of direction. Like you’d expect from a stick vacuum, the machine also has an adjustable tube that can be extended to up to 10 feet. The power cord itself stretches to 23 feet; you can’t possibly ask for more.
MOOSO 4 in 1 Vacuum Cleaner Pros and Cons
What We Like…
- Really affordable
- Has a high powered motor
- HEPA filtration system
- Has an adjustable extension tube
- Long power cord
What Could Be Better…
- Maneuverability not as good as it could be
Shark APEX DuoClean Corded Stick Vac with Zero-M ZS362 Review
Next up in this group of champions is the Shark ZS362 APEX DuoClean with Self-Cleaning Brusholl. Now, this one is a little more expensive than its predecessors. Okay, a lot more expensive. But the value offered by this beast is well worth it. The machine comes inclusive of Shark’s innovative Zero M and Duo Clean technologies. This is a special system of brushes designed to deep clean carpets while at the same time directly engaging floors. But that is not even the best part. The vacuum cleans itself. It has a zero m self-cleaning brush roll, which constantly works to eliminate any hairs stuck inside.
All in all, the Shark Apex corded electric stick vacuum is quite literally the apex of cleaners. It is like a role model that your ordinary vacuum looks up to and aspires to be when it grows up. The suction is all near perfect and would easily handle anything you throw at it. You can break down the vacuum cleaner into a lighter, portable handheld vacuum so you can get a closer clean. You also get powerful led lights so you can see the debris hiding in the dark areas. Of course, the device also has advanced swivel steering, so maneuvering is a breeze.
Want to know more about Shark Duo Clean technology? Read this post.
Shark ZS362 APEX DuoClean Pros and Cons
What We Like…
- Versatile for floors and carpets
- Has self-cleaning brush roll
- Smooth swivel steering system
What Could Be Better…
- Costly but this is because of the added features and technologies
Best Corded Stick Vacuum Buying Guide
As you may already know, there are many different types of vacuum cleaners out there. We have upright, cylinder, cordless, and even robot vacuums – so why a corded stick?
Well, corded stick vacuums have been gaining popularity because of their convenient, stick body design. Originally, these vacuums were designed to handle quick spills, but with technological advances, they now seamlessly handle entire households. Other than being easy to handle, corded stick vacuums also have smaller canisters and will often come with additional attachments like upholstery tools, crevice tools, and even motorized pet brushes.
Since they are corded, they offer overall better suction capabilities, especially when you want a deep clean for a larger home. With this, you also get an uninterrupted power supply. However, the downside is that you have to drag along the power cord with you at all times. Therefore, check that your corded stick vacuum of choice has a long enough power cord.
Key Features To Look For in a Corded Stick Vac
Stick vacuums are quite easy to store, with some even having mountable slots. They are compact and really comfortable to use. But when it comes to deciding which model to go with, you need to consider features before making your final choice. Let’s take a look, shall we?
Type: Bagged Or Bagless?
Vacuum cleaners have two main ways of collecting dirt. We have bagged models and bagless models. The question of which of the two is better is based entirely on your preference. You see, bagged vacuums have bags attached to them. Here is where all the dirt is gathered up until the bag is full. An indicator light then tells you when it needs replacement. In this case, you take out the full bag and replace it with an empty one. The good thing about this is that you never have to touch the dirt as you remove it from its canister.
On the other hand, we have bagless models. As the name suggests, these don’t need a bag to collect dirt. Instead, the dust collects in a partition within the canister. Usually, the dust cup on a bagless vacuum is transparent, so you know exactly how full it is. When full, you empty the machine by pouring the contents out. Unless you can open the dust cup from the bottom, you are more likely to be hit with a cloud of dust every time you want to empty it, and it doesn’t take long for the dust cup filter to get filthy.
The good thing is that you get to save on the extra cost of buying dust bags. The downside to this is that these models are messy since some dust can spill as you empty. Because of this, bagless vacuums are not recommended for people with respiratory conditions like asthma.
Capacity: How Much Can It Hold?
Capacity, in this case, refers to the size of the vacuum cleaner’s canister. Basically, a larger capacity lets the vacuum hold more dust. This means you won’t have to empty it every two minutes. Usually, vacuum capacities would be represented in liters, in both bagged and bagless canisters.
Since corded stick vacuums are built for portability, their capacities will be slightly less than average. You see, the larger the capacity, the more weight of dirt you’ll have to drag around.
In this case, most large models will be around 1.5-2.0 liters. Some models you’ll find can be broken down into smaller, handheld units. In turn, these smaller devices will feature lower capacities of around 0.3- 1.0 liters. These are usually perfect for doing light cleaning.
Weight: Less Weight, Less Burden!
Weight is yet another essential factor to consider in your vacuum. You see, since you’ll likely be holding your cleaner for extended periods, you must get one that won’t be a burden after a short while. For comfort, look for something 6 pounds or less. Also, check that most of the weight is centered on the floor head. This intuitive design makes the machine less heavy on the top, resulting in a smoother experience.
Noise: Let The Sleeping Kids Lie!
Because of a system of motors, almost all machines will have some level of noise during operation. Sound, in this case, is usually measured in decibels or (DB). Anything with more than 70 decibels of sound is considered really loud; the lower the decibel rating, the quieter the machine. For a better experience, check that your vacuum cleaner has no greater than 60 decibels.
The good thing about corded stick vacuums is that they don’t make much noise in general. We’ve tried to base our selection only on the quietest machines out there, so you’ll be good settling for any.
Suction Power: More Options, More Versatility!
If you happen to have different floor surfaces or carpets that have different levels of thickness, you want a vacuum that has different levels of suction power so it can work efficiently without sticking down. Most models you’ll see have adjustable dials that can let you switch up or down depending on the floor you are working on. On the other hand, some models that use vents that let you open or close the floor head or the vacuum’s suction tube.
Filter Power: Save Your Lungs!
In almost all vacuum, you’ll get some filters that prevent the vacuumed dust or allergens from circling back to the atmosphere during cleaning. In some, you’ll find more than one filter for more efficiency. To keep them functional, you must keep up with the maintenance of these filters. Wash them regularly and make replacements if need be. Some even have self-cleaning action, where they clean themselves as you clean.
You can check for HEPA filters, which are known for being exceptionally efficient in air filtration. In this case, you want to ensure that they are TRUE HEPA filters and not “HEPA-like.”
Price: How Much Do You Want To Spend?
A good corded stick vacuum can go anywhere between $40 and $700. In our review, we have recommended some which go for as little as $50. However, if you want to get the best value, you might have to spend at least $100. Luckily, corded models are more affordable than their cordless counterparts since they cut off the cost of a heavy-duty battery. Therefore, you can get a pretty decent machine for a standard price.
And remember, you always get what you pay for. If you spare a few extra bucks, you stand to get a higher quality, more durable piece of equipment.
Advanced Features: Sensory Technology
The best-corded stick cleaners will have in place some kind of sensor mechanism which allows it to sense the type of floor you are cleaning and adjust its power accordingly. This, in turn, saves on energy consumption and keeps your floors safe.
For those lacking in these automated sensory technologies, you want to check that they have in place power settings. This will let you can manually adjust to one that suits your needs. This lets you transition between floors and carpet material. Luckily, you don’t have to worry much because this feature is present in most modern stick vacuum cleaners.
Stick Vacuum Accessories: What Do They Actually Do?
Most stick vacuum cleaners will come with their own array of attachments meant to make the common chores around the house easier. You might find them a little strange at first. In that case, we shall look at some of them as well as what you can use them for.
Crevice tool
Crevice toool is is one of the most common accessories in vacuum cleaners. As suggested by the name, crevice tool is designed to get to the tight corners and gaps that the vacuum can’t get to. It usually has a slender shape that can get to the floor edges, behind cushions, and even around radiators.
Extension wand
The extension wand is designed to add a few extra inches of height to the machine. This, in turn, will let you get to areas that your other attachments won’t. With this, you can get to cobwebs in high ceilings, the dirt on the edges of stairs, and other inaccessible corners.
Dusting brush
The dusting brush will usually have long, soft bristles. Like you’d expect from your ordinary brush, you can use it to whisk away any dirt from lampshades, window sills and skirting boards, or any other dusty surface. You can also use it for the more delicate furniture or cleaning on top of objects and books.
Headlights
Some of the higher end stick vacuum models will have in place headlights positioned on their floor head. This offers some extra lighting, especially when working on the area under your furniture and dark places. You want to check that the lights in question are strong LED lights that can stay on without the need for replacement.
FAQs: Corded Electric Stick Vacuum Cleaners
A corded stick vacuum cleaner can be a perfect addition to any home. With this, you get an everyday use tool that effortlessly clears up all the dirt without dust particles flying everywhere. We’ve tried to narrow down your selection to only the very best out there, and with a little help from our buying guide, we are confident that you can now make a more informed decision.
But just in case we missed something, here are some of the most frequently asked questions about corded stick vacuum cleaners.
Corded stick vacuums are slim, yet powerful kind of vacuums. They are often more lightweight than most other vacuums, therefore perfect for low pile carpets and cleaning bare floors. These stick vacs are not as powerful as other heavyweight models, but as still perfect for regular housekeeping.
The best corded stick vacuum is one that is lightweight in nature, yet still efficient in its job. Often, these really good models will have premium-level features, with good filter power and suction that allows them to complete their jobs flawlessly. For more information, check out our reviews.
Corded vacuums, in general, have more suction power than cordless ones. But from the variety out there, some popular brands like Dyson and Shark stand out when it comes to suction power. For more information, check out our top reviews above.