If Your Old Vacuum Is Too Heavy, This Light Cordless Dyson Doesn't Compromise on Powerful Suction – Now with Rare $190 Off
Dust, debris, hair – the Dyson V11 has no issues cleaning household mess and weighs less than half the weight of a top corded vacuum
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Saying goodbye to your big, heavy vacuum cleaner might come with the fear of losing that sheer cleaning power that a corded brings over a cordless that relies on a battery.
But that doesn't have to be the case. If you're sick of your heavy vacuum, the Dyson V11, discounted by $190 right now, is one of the rare cordless sticks that match the suction power of weightier corded appliances, meaning you can clean your home using one hand, while taking up hardly any storage space in between cleans.
The Dyson V11 Boasts Big Cleaning Power in a Lightweight Cordless Design
The Dyson V11 is a seriously powerful vacuum, easily one of the best cordless vacuums out of the 93 vacuums we've tested at Homes & Gardens, in pretty much every way. It's light (the body, wand, and cleaner head weigh just 6.73lbs together), convenient to use, and doesn't struggle to pick up mess, with the kind of suction you usually only find in bigger, corded, upright vacuums.
In comparison, one of the best Miele vacuums (corded) can weigh up to 16lbs, depending on the model.
Typically, the trade-off when choosing cordless convenience is that you're losing out on suction power. This is fine when it comes to smaller homes and apartments, especially as many modern buildings in the US have predominantly hard floors, which are easier to clean.
But it means that many cordless sticks aren't great for homes with rugs or carpets, particularly budget-friendly options like the Dreame R20 or Levoit LVAC-300, as soft flooring needs stronger airflow to pull up all the debris and hair that becomes trapped within carpet fibers (even low-pile carpet can be hard to clean with a weak vacuum cleaner).
That's why the Dyson V11 stands out. You don't have to sacrifice cleaning performance whatsoever, and can still enjoy all the benefits of cordless convenience, like freeing up storage space, being able to clean more quickly, and saying goodbye to the power cord.
I tested the Dyson V11 in our test center and a cat and dog shelter, and it didn't matter whether I was vacuuming dust, fine powder, pet hair, large debris, crumbs, or the dirt from a busy environment – it cleaned everything in seconds, on pretty much the first pass every time:
It easily gets between floor panels, vacuums right up to the edge, and its bristled brushroll is able to dig dirt out from deep within the carpet fibers.
It also has a boosted suction mode, so when you're vacuuming a thick rug or a sofa where your pets like to spend most of their time, you can use the extra airflow to make sure that everything is properly vacuumed up.
If you're looking for the best vacuum for pet hair, you will be happy to hear that, not only does the Dyson V11 excel at pulling fur from carpets, but it also never wraps or tangles with hair.
It's one of my favorite aspects of these top-of-the-line Dyson vacuums – even non-pet owners will appreciate not having their own hair wrap around the brushroll, and that the allergenic particles are captured within the whole-machine HEPA filtration.
This strong performance across the board is why the Dyson V11 typically costs so much. $659.99 is a lot of money for a vacuum cleaner – that many people naturally aren't happy with parting with – so I always shout about it when I see it discounted by this much.
The Dyson V11 is now discounted to $469.99 for a limited time at Dyson.
More to Shop
If you're fed up with using a big, heavy vacuum that's taking up all your closet space, here are six of my favorite cordless vacuums that don't sacrifice on performance.
All prices correct at time of publication.
The V15 Detect is the coveted winner of all of our cordless vacuum tests, with higher suction than the V11 along with a suite of dust-revealing smart features that make cleaning easier and more enjoyable. It may cost a lot, but I use it at home myself, and it's absolutely worth it if you want spotless floors with minimal effort.
Read more in my full Dyson V15 Detect review.
To compare the V11 and the V12 Detect Slim: The V11 has higher suction, but the V12 has a lighter weight and smarter features. This includes a green laser that reveals hidden dust and thin hairs, and sensors that optimize suction as you clean. It only costs $10 more right now, so it depends on whether you prefer cleaning power or convenience.
Read more in my full Dyson V12 Detect Slim review.
The Shark PowerDetect Cordless isn't as powerful as the V11, but it's over $100 cheaper right now, and it's more agile thanks to a flexible wand, reaching under furniture more easily to grab those hidden messes. You also have the option of the Shark Clean & Empty System that charges, cleans, and empties the vacuum for you, reducing your exposure to dust.
Read more in our full Shark PowerDetect Cordless review.
In many ways, this is the best Dyson alternative out there, as the design, aesthetic, and features on offer all mimic what you'd find in a cordless Dyson. Its suction isn't as strong, but it has a dust-revealing laser, automatically optimized suction, HEPA filtration, and two separate floorheads for specialized cleaning.
Read more in my full Dreame R20 review.
Another Dyson-style cordless vacuum, the Levoit LVAC-300 demonstrated great performance on pet hair on test, with a roller that never wraps or tangles. Its attachments were super effective across all the various cleaning tasks around the house.
Read more in my full Levoit LVAC-300 review.
It doesn't perform as well as the other Dysons I've mentioned, but if you're on a budget, it's a fantastic choice for small homes – and it's still just as easy to grab and use.
Read more in our full Dyson V8 review.
Next, see how our top-tested picks of the best robot vacuums can help slash hours of chore time from your week.
