Corded vs Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaners

Vacuum cleaners are a man's best friend. It is a necessity that almost every house has, provided you have a maid who literally cleans the house with traditional methods.

Gone are the days when noisy vacuum cleaners would keep your house dust-free. Technology has advanced, and people are now using handheld vacuum cleaners to remove spots and keep dust at bay.

But since everything has advanced, and we have been introduced to so many types of vacuum cleaners, the battle between cordless and corded vacuum cleaner is quite never-ending.

In this article, we shall give you a clear view as to which one is the best option for you and your house so that you can make a wise decision, before purchasing it. Be it corded or cordless, they have their own pros and cons. Believe us, once you know the facts, it will be easier than ever for you to make the final purchase.

Suction Power

Suction Power

One of the most important factors that you should consider before buying a cleaner is to check its suction power. If the machine has strong power, it will help remove the particles easily, from different areas of your house.

Corded Vacuum Cleaners

As compared to cordless cleaners, corded ones have better and higher suction power. Since they are directly plugged in the main unit, they offer better results. When you are cleaning carpets, this one works way better on it. Corded cleaners are your best bet when you have a big house with kids and pets.

Since cordless cleaners work on batteries, they end up losing suction power. However, if you use lithium batteries in it, it will be a better choice and grant consistent suction power. Cordless cleaners work only when the battery is sufficient. Once it is out, it won't work any further.


It is also one factor that you should consider before buying a cleaner.

Corded Vacuum Cleaner

Portability is one issue that you might face if you buy a corded vacuum cleaner. It comes with a 20 feet long wire that needs to be plugged in. Once done, only then you can start cleaning. Later, wrapping it can cause issues too. But these days, many brands are making good use of an auto-retractor cord, so just in case you want to buy it, you can simply go for this one.

Cordless vacuum cleaners are portable and convenient to use as you can move it as and where you like. Another great feature is that some of them can be transformed into a handheld one as well. This helps in cleaning the spots stat. It is ideal for pet hair as well.

Dust Capacity

An appliance is not of any use if it does not have a good dusting capacity. Hence it is important to make sure that your cleaner has a good capacity of the same, be it corded or cordless.

Corded Cleaner

Corded Cleaner Dust Capacity

These vacuum cleaners collect dust in a better manner than a cordless one. The canister in it, need not be emptied time and again, and you can use it frequently.

This is the reason why these cleaners are an ideal choice in case you are suffering from allergies.

Cordless Cleaner

Cordless Cleaner

Cordless vacuum cleaners are known to have a smaller capacity and it needs to be emptied so that it can work properly. If you do not clean its filters, it will cause issues in its effectiveness and performance.


Whatever product you choose, it needs to be lightweight to make the task easier for you.

Corded Cleaner

Since they are wireless and hardly need any effort, they can be moved here and there and that's major because they are not very heavyweight.

They do not come with a long wire which saves some weight but yes, when you use it to clean the top areas, the whole weight will fall on your shoulders.

Cordless Cleaner

Cordless cleaners are lighter than the usual upright cleaners, and the weight ranges from 3kgs to 7 kgs. This is not too bad as well.

Battery Life

Only if a machine's battery life is good enough, it will work and won't cause issues while it's doing its job.


A corded cleaner will not make you worry about its battery life and you can vacuum it for as long as you want to. All you have to do is plug it in a unit and it will start working. Hence, there isn't any risk of running out of batteries, while using this appliance.


Cordless vacuum cleaners have a limited life and they need to be charged for at least 16 hours to be working for a longer duration. In this case, a high voltage lithium battery will give you a longer run time.

You don't have to wait around to let it charge. Turbo boost mode will work the best on carpets and it won't use up a lot of battery as well. Try it out.


Price also depends on the usage and how much you can afford on an appliance like this one.


Corded cleaners are comparatively cheaper than cordless ones and have better performance as well.


Cordless cleaners are known to be expensive due to their convenience and portability factor.

Life Span

This one is hard to say as it completely depends on your usage. It also depends on the motor warranty and material used to make the machine. It helps determine the life span of the appliance.

In a usual scenario, a brand like Miele Claim has an average life of 20 years. But usually what is seen is that corded vacuum cleaners last longer than the cordless ones.

Which one should you buy?

So now that you have weighed both the options and their pros and cons have been laid out for you, it will be easier for you to finally choose and bring home a wise option for cleaning purposes.

If you want unlimited cleaning time without any hindrance, go for corded ones. They do not need constant cleaning but you have to be okay with its weight.

Cordless vacuums are weightless and have a compact handling power. Newer cordless vacuums also have better suction power. However, they do not have unlimited usage time and need to be charged.

Therefore, both are a great choice and will clean your house effectively. Keep these things in mind and make sure you pick the right one.

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