Cordless Hoover Running Costs: The Real Numbers
Charging a cordless hoover costs about 1–3p per full charge, so electricity is roughly £3–£10 a year even with daily use. The real running costs are the battery, which may need replacing every 3–5 years, and filters or bags. All in, most households spend around £15–£40 a year on top of the purchase price.
Quick answer: At an assumed 26p per kWh, a typical stick battery costs about 2p to charge from empty. Over a year of daily use that's around £7. Add £5–£15 a year for filters, £10–£30 a year spread across a battery replacement, and £20–£40 a year for bags if your model is bagged.
Assumption: We use 26p per kWh, close to the Ofgem price cap unit rate for electricity for October to December 2026 (roughly 26.3p per kWh for direct debit customers in Great Britain). Your rate depends on your tariff, region and payment method, and changes each quarter. Swap in your own rate from your bill to get exact figures.
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Electricity per charge: the arithmetic
A battery's stored energy is its voltage multiplied by its capacity. Chargers aren't perfectly efficient, so you buy a bit more from the wall than the battery stores. We assume about 85% charging efficiency.
Cost per charge = (V × Ah ÷ 1,000) ÷ efficiency × unit rate
Worked example for a typical mid-range stick with a 25.2V, 2.6Ah battery:
- Energy stored: 25.2V × 2.6Ah = 65.5Wh = 0.0655kWh
- Energy from the wall: 0.0655 ÷ 0.85 = 0.077kWh
- Cost: 0.077kWh × 26p = 2.0p per full charge
| Battery (illustrative) | Energy stored | From the wall (85%) | Cost per full charge at 26p/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small handheld, 14.4V × 2.0Ah | 29Wh | 0.034kWh | 0.9p |
| Budget stick, 21.6V × 2.2Ah | 48Wh | 0.056kWh | 1.5p |
| Mid-range stick, 25.2V × 2.6Ah | 66Wh | 0.077kWh | 2.0p |
| Large stick or cylinder, 25.2V × 4.0Ah | 101Wh | 0.119kWh | 3.1p |
If you only use half the battery each time, the cost per clean halves too. For how battery capacity relates to runtime, see cordless hoover battery life.
Per year
| Usage | Charges per year | Mid-range stick (2.0p each) | Large pack (3.1p each) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Twice a week | 104 | £2.08 | £3.22 |
| Every other day | 183 | £3.66 | £5.67 |
| Daily | 365 | £7.30 | £11.32 |
Standby on the dock
Once full, a charger left plugged in draws a small standby current, typically well under 1W. At 0.5W: 0.5W × 8,760 hours = 4.4kWh a year, × 26p = about £1.14 a year. Self-emptying docks may draw a little more on standby, plus a brief burst of power each time they empty the bin. Leaving it docked is safe; see can you leave a cordless hoover on charge.
Compared with a corded hoover
A 750W corded hoover used for 30 minutes uses 0.375kWh, which costs about 9.8p at 26p per kWh. A cordless doing the same clean typically uses one charge, about 2p. Cordless is cheaper to power; it's the battery replacement that evens things out. More in cordless vs corded hoover.
Filters
Most cordless hoovers have washable filters that last a year or more with monthly rinsing. Replacement filters usually cost £10–£35 depending on brand.
| Scenario | Replacement frequency | Typical cost per year |
|---|---|---|
| Washable filter, light use | Every 2–3 years | £5–£10 |
| Washable filter, pets or heavy use | Every 12–18 months | £10–£25 |
| Non-washable HEPA cartridge | Every 6–12 months | £15–£40 |
Keeping filters clean also protects the motor and battery; see HEPA filters explained.
Batteries
This is the largest hidden cost. A genuine replacement battery usually costs £50–£130, and many households need one after 3–5 years.
Battery cost per year = battery price ÷ years it lasts
Example: a £90 battery lasting 4.5 years = £20 a year. A £50 battery lasting 4 years = £12.50 a year. Third-party packs are cheaper upfront but may not last as long; see battery replacement.
Bags (bagged cordless models only)
Bagged cordless hoovers such as the Numatic Henry Quick and Gtech Pro 2 need replacement bags. Costs depend on brand, bag size and how often you fill one; a rough range is £20–£40 a year for an average household, more with pets. The trade-off is much cleaner bin emptying, discussed in bagged vs bagless.
Other occasional costs
- Brush bar or floor head: £15–£120, typically once in the hoover's life if at all.
- Self-emptying dock bags: some docks use disposable bags; budget £15–£30 a year.
- Wet-and-dry floor cleaners: cleaning solution and replacement rollers add £20–£60 a year.
Total cost of ownership: three examples
| Item (per year) | Budget stick, small flat | Mid-range stick, family home | Bagged cordless, pet home |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | £2 | £7 | £7 |
| Filters | £5 | £10 | £10 |
| Battery (spread) | £10 | £20 | £25 |
| Bags | £0 | £0 | £35 |
| Running total | about £17 | about £37 | about £77 |
These are illustrative estimates, not quotes. Add the purchase price divided by expected lifespan to get a full annual cost; we walk through that in are cordless hoovers worth it.
How to cut running costs
- Use eco or auto mode: less energy per clean and slower battery wear.
- Rinse washable filters monthly so they last longer.
- Store the hoover indoors at room temperature to protect the battery.
- Buy filters and batteries in sales, but from genuine sources.
- Choose a model with a click-out battery so replacement is cheap and DIY.
FAQs
How much does it cost to charge a Dyson?
Roughly 2–3p per full charge at around 26p per kWh, depending on the model's battery size. Most Dyson stick batteries store well under 100Wh.
Is a cordless hoover cheaper to run than a corded one?
On electricity, yes: about 2p per clean versus around 10p for a 750W corded hoover running 30 minutes. Once battery replacement is included, annual costs are similar or slightly higher for cordless.
Does a self-emptying dock use a lot of electricity?
No. The emptying cycle runs for a few seconds, and standby draw is small. Expect a few pounds a year at most, plus any dock bags.
How do I work out the cost on my own tariff?
Multiply the battery's volts by its amp-hours, divide by 1,000 to get kWh, divide by 0.85 for charging losses, then multiply by your unit rate in pence.