Three cordless vacuums for three different priorities
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A good cordless vacuum is not just the one with the longest headline runtime. The better buy is the model whose weight, floorhead, battery behaviour and tools match the way you actually clean.
For this researched UK comparison, we prioritised currently orderable affiliate offers and checked the important product claims against manufacturer information. The three picks below deliberately cover different needs: a balanced everyday cleaner, a pet-focused upgrade and an unusually light option for quick jobs.
- Best overall — Shark PowerPro IZ380UK: a balanced stick vacuum with Floor Detect, Anti Hair Wrap and up to 50 minutes of stated runtime.
- Best for pet hair — Shark Stratos IZ400UKT: a more premium Pet Pro model with Anti Hair Wrap Plus, Clean Sense IQ and a motorised pet tool.
- Best lightweight — Makita CL117FDX2: a 1.0 kg slim cleaner designed for quick floor, stair, car and spot-cleaning jobs.
The three cordless vacuums to shortlist
Illustrative lifestyle image showing the kind of everyday cordless cleaning this shortlist is designed around; it does not depict any of the exact reviewed models. Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Pexels.
Cordless vacuum comparison
Illustrative image of routine floor cleaning, useful here because handling and floor type can matter as much as headline suction claims; it is not one of the reviewed vacuums. Photo by Vivaan Rupani on Pexels.
How the three picks differ
| Best overall Shark PowerPro IZ380UK | Best for pet hair Shark Stratos IZ400UKT | Best lightweight Makita CL117FDX2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| | | | |
| Live price | £249.99 | £449.00 | £125.95 |
| Maximum stated runtime | 50 minutes | 60 minutes | 55 minutes |
| Weight | 3.45 kg | 4.1 kg | 1.0 kg |
| Dust capacity | 0.7 L | 0.7 L | 0.65 L |
| Standout fit | Floor Detect | Pet-hair toolkit | Ultra-light quick cleans |
| Check current price | Check current price | Check current price |
Shark PowerPro IZ380UK: best overall
Illustrative image of a vacuum being used on a hard floor, relevant to the PowerPro’s everyday mixed-surface role; this is not the Shark IZ380UK. Photo by MART PRODUCTION on Pexels.
Shark PowerPro IZ380UK
A sensible balance of automation, hair management, bin size and runtime for everyday cleaning.
The PowerPro automatically adjusts its floorhead behaviour for different floor types and uses Shark’s anti-hair-wrap system to reduce the amount of hair left around the brush-roll. Its 0.7L dust cup is comparatively roomy for a cordless stick.
The PowerPro is the easiest of these three to recommend to a household that wants one cordless vacuum to cover normal weekly cleaning without paying mainly for specialist extras. Floor Detect is useful when moving between hard flooring and carpet because the cleaner can change brush-roll behaviour automatically rather than relying on constant manual adjustment.
Its Anti Hair Wrap system is relevant even if you do not own a pet: long human hair can be just as effective at winding itself around a brush-roll. The 0.7-litre bin also gives it more breathing room than many slim premium models, which matters in larger homes or when you would rather not stop to empty halfway through a clean.
The trade-off is weight. At around 3.45 kg, this is not the pick for someone whose first priority is carrying a vacuum upstairs or holding it aloft for long periods. The advertised 50-minute maximum is also a ceiling rather than an expectation for every task; stronger settings and powered floorheads reduce battery life.
- Automatic Floor Detect reduces manual switching between floor types.
- Anti Hair Wrap helps limit hair build-up around the brush-roll.
- 0.7L bin is practical for regular whole-room cleaning.
- Current UK affiliate offer includes live price and stock data.
- Heavier than the Makita lightweight pick.
- Maximum runtime will fall when using more demanding settings and powered tools.
- The standard model is less pet-specialised than the Stratos Pet Pro.
Shark Stratos IZ400UKT: best for pet hair
Illustrative image of vacuuming in a pet-owning household, chosen to represent the kind of hair and floor-cleaning workload this section addresses; it is not the Shark Stratos. Photo by Matilda Wormwood on Pexels.
Shark Stratos IZ400UKT Pet Pro
Pet-focused tools and stronger hair-management features for floors, sofas and stairs.
The Stratos Pet Pro combines a DuoClean floorhead with Anti Hair Wrap Plus, Clean Sense IQ and a motorised pet tool. The result is a more pet-oriented system than the PowerPro, particularly when hair collects away from the floor.
Pet hair changes the job because it collects on more than the floor. The Stratos earns this category through the combination of Anti Hair Wrap Plus on the main cleaner head and a motorised pet tool for furnishings and stairs. That is more useful than simply having a high suction claim if your main frustration is hair embedded in upholstery or wrapped around a brush-roll.
Clean Sense IQ automatically reacts to detected debris, while the DuoClean arrangement is designed to work across hard floors and carpets. Shark also specifies up to 60 minutes of runtime, giving it a little more theoretical headroom than the PowerPro for larger homes.
The drawbacks are cost and heft. This is a more substantial machine, and the benefit is easiest to justify when its pet-specific tools will be used regularly. If your floors are mostly low-debris hard surfaces and upholstery hair is not a recurring problem, the PowerPro is the more economical all-rounder.
- Anti Hair Wrap Plus is specifically designed to deal with long, short and pet hair.
- Motorised pet tool extends hair pickup to sofas, stairs and other upholstery.
- Clean Sense IQ can automatically raise or lower cleaning power as debris levels change.
- 0.7L bin and up to 60 minutes stated runtime suit larger cleaning sessions.
- Costs noticeably more than the PowerPro and Makita picks.
- Heavier than a lightweight stick, so repeated stair carrying may be tiring.
- Pet-focused extras offer less value if you rarely clean hair from upholstery.
Makita CL117FDX2: best lightweight option
Illustrative image of a lighter, straightforward vacuuming task, relevant to buyers prioritising easy handling; it is not the Makita CL117FDX2. Photo by Gustavo Fring on Pexels.
Makita CL117FDX2
Extremely easy to carry, with a simple bagless capsule and three suction modes.
Makita’s CL117FDX2 is closer to a slim quick-clean tool than a feature-heavy premium stick vacuum. Its advantage is straightforward: at 1.0 kg, it is dramatically easier to lift, carry and manoeuvre.
The Makita is the outlier in this comparison, deliberately so. Its manufacturer-stated 1.0 kg weight makes it attractive for stairs, cars, small flats, kitchens and quick clean-ups where a heavier full-size cordless feels like too much effort. A 0.65-litre capsule is also generous relative to the overall size, and there are three power modes.
Makita quotes up to 55 minutes in Normal mode, falling to 18 minutes on High and 10 minutes on Powerful. Those figures make the trade-off unusually clear: the light body and long low-power runtime do not mean it has the same deep-cleaning brief as a larger cordless stick with a sophisticated motorised floorhead.
That distinction matters most on carpet and pet hair. The Makita is a strong secondary or light-duty vacuum, but buyers expecting one machine to deep-clean thick carpets throughout a large home should favour one of the Sharks. Its built-in battery is also less flexible than a user-swappable pack when the battery eventually ages.
- Manufacturer-stated 1.0 kg weight is exceptional for carrying and quick manoeuvring.
- Up to 55 minutes in Normal mode, with three clearly defined power levels.
- 0.65L bagless capsule is simple and relatively roomy for such a light cleaner.
- Well suited to stairs, vehicles, small spaces and fast spot cleaning.
- Less appropriate for deep whole-home carpet cleaning than the larger Shark models.
- Runtime drops to 18 minutes on High and 10 minutes on Powerful mode.
- Built-in battery is less convenient to replace or swap during a long clean.
Useful product videos
How to choose a cordless vacuum cleaner
Illustrative image showing cleaning under furniture, where floorhead design, reach and handling become important buying criteria; it does not depict any reviewed model. Photo by Liliana Drew on Pexels.
The six decisions that matter most
A lighter total weight helps on stairs and above-floor jobs, but where that weight sits in your hand matters too.
Maximum runtime is usually measured in the least demanding mode. Powered heads and higher suction settings shorten it.
Brush-roll design affects carpet agitation, hard-floor pickup and how often you cut away wrapped hair.
Small bins keep the machine compact but can interrupt large cleans and expose you to more dust during emptying.
Battery design affects long-term repairability and whether you can extend a clean with a spare pack.
Washable filters and available consumables can matter more over several years than a small difference in launch specification.
Our research methodology
This is a researched comparison, not a hands-on Le Verger test. We did not run laboratory pickup tests or manufacture performance scores. Instead, we selected products that were returned by Le Verger’s active UK Content Egg affiliate sources and checked the important specifications against current manufacturer material and retailer availability.
We prioritised products with live affiliate links, images and price data, then excluded attractive candidates whose active offer was flagged unavailable or whose retailer page showed them out of stock.
The shortlist was deliberately split between a balanced everyday model, a pet-focused model and an ultra-light quick-clean model rather than three closely related variants.
Runtime, weight, bin capacity and specialist feature claims were checked against Shark and Makita product information or official technical material where available.
We considered not only headline performance but also carrying weight, bin capacity, battery behaviour, filter maintenance, available accessories and the likely role of each cleaner in a home.
Prices and stock can change after publication. Le Verger supplies live commerce data where possible, so check the current offer before buying. Manufacturer ‘up to’ runtime claims depend on mode and attachment.
Questions to ask before you buy
Can a cordless vacuum replace a corded vacuum completely?
For many small and medium homes, yes—provided the cordless model has enough usable runtime and a floorhead suited to your carpets. Large homes, thick carpets or long high-power cleaning sessions can still favour a corded vacuum or a cordless model with swappable batteries.
How much cordless vacuum runtime do I actually need?
Think in terms of your normal cleaning session, not your whole house in theory. A quoted 50–60 minute maximum can be plenty for routine cleaning, but powered heads and stronger modes consume energy faster. If you regularly clean for 30 minutes at high power, battery flexibility matters more than a long Eco-mode headline.
What matters most for pet hair?
Look beyond suction. A main brush-roll designed to resist hair wrap helps on floors, while a motorised mini tool is much more useful on sofas, stairs and pet beds. The combination is why the Shark Stratos Pet Pro is the pet-specific pick here.
Is the lightest cordless vacuum always the best choice?
No. Low weight makes a vacuum easier to carry and encourages quick use, but very light cleaners may sacrifice powered floorheads, battery flexibility or deep-carpet ability. Match the cleaner to the jobs you do most often.
Should I choose a vacuum with a removable battery?
A removable battery can be easier to replace when capacity declines and may let you extend runtime with a spare. A built-in battery can still be perfectly practical for short sessions, but check how replacement and servicing work before buying.
How important is filtration on a cordless vacuum?
Filtration matters most when fine dust, allergies or pets are concerns. Look for a well-sealed system and follow the filter-cleaning schedule: a neglected washable filter can restrict airflow and reduce performance even if the vacuum was strong when new.
How should I dispose of an old cordless vacuum and its battery?
Do not put electrical appliances or lithium batteries in household rubbish. Use an appropriate retailer take-back, local recycling point or electrical recycling service, and follow local guidance for handling the battery separately where required.
Choose by cleaning job, not by the biggest specification
- Choose the Shark PowerPro IZ380UK if you want one balanced cordless vacuum for everyday mixed-floor cleaning.
- Choose the Shark Stratos IZ400UKT if pet hair on floors, sofas and stairs is the recurring problem you most want to solve.
- Choose the Makita CL117FDX2 if low carrying weight and fast, frequent clean-ups matter more than deep-carpet sophistication.
The useful question is not which cordless vacuum has the longest feature list; it is which compromises you will notice least. For a typical home, the PowerPro is the middle-ground choice. The Stratos earns its extra cost in pet-heavy homes, while the Makita makes a compelling lightweight secondary or small-home cleaner because it is so easy to pick up and use.
- Check the live price and stock shown for your preferred model.
- Compare the weight with what you are comfortable carrying upstairs.
- Confirm the included tools match your floors, furniture and pet-hair needs.
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