These Are the Best Dyson Vacuums to Buy (and Ones to Avoid)
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Shopping for a Dyson vacuum can feel like you’ve been sucked into one. There’s a dizzying array of models on sale at any given time, and every new model tries to outdo the last one by packing in more features. The newest machines have features such as lasers and LCD screens, making it hard to figure out exactly which model is worth your hard-earned cash.
A Quick Guide to Dyson Terminology
Dyson doesn't stick to chronological order when naming its stick vacuum models. Sometimes it skips numbers, and sometimes it'll introduce a lower number as a later model than a higher number. For example, Dyson introduced the V15 immediately after the V11, and then the V12 after the V15. In the broadest sense, the numbers seem to loosely grow larger with each passing release—the V11 is newer than the V10, and the V10 is newer than the V8. But Dyson's naming system is cryptic enough that even we can't predict what the subsequent model will be.
Dyson also has a lot of sub-models, because its naming scheme isn't confusing enough. Each one has a different number of included tool attachments and accessories. Every model (V7, V8, V10, V11, V15, etc.) seems to introduce new sub-models, so the list just keeps growing, and then there are discontinued sub-models that show up as old stock on websites, typically on sale.
Detect isn't exactly a sub-model, but rather part of the name of the V15 Detect and V12 Detect Slim. It refers to the laser detection system that measures particle size and count to customize suction power.
Absolute is usually the king-of-the-hill version with the most attachments. We can't list them all, because they vary based on parent model, but expect a variety of brush nozzles, crevice attachments, and motorized roller heads to scrub tough grit off hard floors and out of deep-pile carpets.
Allergy used to mean that it came with an upgraded filter that traps 99.99 percent of bacteria and dust, so it expels cleaner air than regular models, but after the V7, all Dyson stick vacs started including the upgraded filters. It's largely a legacy designation now, and it hasn't been used on newer models.
Motorhead sounds fancy, but it's the low-end sub-model that comes with a motorized head, a couple of basic brush and crevice tools, and that's about it. It's mostly a holdover from the V7 days. Dyson has found other names for basic sub-models.
Origin, Fluffy, and Animal come with relatively few attachments. The Fluffy and Animal don't come with any unique attachments particular to usefulness in cleaning up after pets; it's just become shorthand for "base model with fewer attachments." The same is true for the Origin, although its name makes more sense.
Dyson isn't above combining sub-model names. The more names Dyson slaps onto a model, the more attachments it comes with. For example, the V8 Animal Pro comes with more stuff than the Animal, but the Animal Pro+ comes with even more than that.
All the Dyson Accessory Bundles
You will also notice that we mention the different accessories in each model, which vary depending on the model you buy. These make your vacuum more versatile, making it easier to tackle specific parts of the house. If your vacuum doesn't come with an accessory you want, you can always purchase it separately. But it can be tough to discern which one does what, especially if this is your first Dyson vacuum. Below, we break down some of the most common accessories Dyson offers and what each one is specifically designed for.
For cordless vacuums:
- Motorbar cleaner head: This one comes equipped with 43 de-tangling vanes that automatically wrap hair from the brush bar as you clean your floors. That way, you don't have to worry about it getting stuck on the cleaner head itself. It's compatible with the Dyson V8 (including the Absolute, Animal Extra, Origin Extra, and Origin) and the Dyson Cyclone V10 (Absolute, Allergy, Animal, and Animal + vacuum).
- Fluffy Optic cleaner head: This one comes with an angled blade of light that Dyson says shows you “twice the amount” of invisible dust on hard floors as its predecessor (which is compatible with the V15 Detect and V11 vacuums). It's ideal for darker flooring where dust can be hard to spot. It's compatible with the Gen5Outsize and Gen5Detect.
- Combination tool: This is a mix between a wide nozzle and brush, so you can easily switch between cleaning and dusting with one tool. It's compatible with Dyson Gen5detect, Gen5outsize, V15, V12, V11, V10, V8, and V7 vacuums. A version of this tool is also available for upright vacuums including the DC41, DC47, Dyson Ball, Cinetic Big Ball, and Light/Slim Ball.
- Hair screw tool: Similar to the motorbar cleaner head, this is an anti-tangle conical brush that picks up both long hair and pet hair. But it's designed for small spaces—I use it on the couch and my sheets to pick up loose strands. It's compatible with the Dyson Cyclone V10, V11 (including the models with click-in battery), V15 Detect, V15 Detect Submarine, and V8 (with star pre-filter).
- Crevice tool: This is great for areas that are narrow and hard to reach, like corners or in between car seats. It's compatible with the Dyson Outsize, V15, V12, V11, V10, V8, and V7.
- Mattress tool: This tool is for removing dirt, dust, and allergens from mattresses and upholstery—including couches and chairs. It's compatible with the Gen5detect, Gen5outsize, V15, V12, V11, V10, V8, and V7 vacuums. It's currently out of stock but you can sign up to be notified via email when it's back. A version of this tool is also available for an extensive list of upright vacuums, which you can see here.
For upright vacuums:
- Tangle-free turbine tool: This one has a counter-rotating brush that removes hair from upholstery and carpets. It's also free of a brush bar, so you don't have to worry about hair getting wrapped around it. The full list of compatible vacuums can be found here.
- Groom tool: The pet groom tool is great for medium- and long-haired dogs. The flexible bristles capture loose hair and dead skin cells. You can see the full list of compatible vacuums here.
- Flexi-crevice Tool: Similar to the Crevice tool for cordless vacuums, this one is designed for hard-to-reach places. But it also extends and bends. It's compatible with a lot of different upright vacuums including the Animal 2, Big Ball, Multi Floor, and more (as well as the cordless V6 and V11). You can see the full list here. It's currently out of stock but you can sign up to be notified via email when it's back.
- Carbon fiber soft dusting brush: This brush is built to pick up fine dust on more delicate surfaces like blinds, lampshades, mirrors, and more. It also has a self-adjusting brush plate that automatically adjusts suction to maximize the amount of dust it picks up. It's compatible with the Dyson DC47, Ball Animal, Ball, Ball Animal 2, and Multi Floor 2.
- Multi-angle brush: This brush is ideal for high-up areas in your home (like the tops of cabinets or light fixtures). It twists and locks at different angles. It's compatible with a long list of upright vacuums (as well as the cordless V6 and V11), which you can see here.
- Reach-under tool: The reach-under tool bends, extends, and twists to remove dust and debris from awkward spaces (like between car seats, behind radiators, and in tough corners). It's compatible with the DC47, Ball Animal, Ball Animal 3, Ball, Ball Animal 2, Multi Floor 2, Big Ball, Light/Slim Ball, and Small Ball. It also works with the Dyson V11 cordless vacuums.
For more options, you can check out Dyson's official site, which lists accessories for both cordless and upright vacuums.
For anyone who'd rather snag a deal than pay out for all the bells and whistles, Dyson moves older models down the product lineup, so the top model from three years ago might be today's value option. You can even usually find discontinued Dyson vacs at a steep discount as old stock sells out. Dyson's official eBay outlet occasionally has exclusive deals on outgoing models too. Dive in with us as we make sense of Dyson's catalog, and be sure to check out the rest of our home cleanliness buying guides, including the Best Eco-Friendly Cleaning Products, Best Air Purifiers, and Best Robot Vacuums.
Updated September 2024: We've added our review of the Dyson WashG1 Floor Cleaner. We also updated pricing and links.
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