I tested the Dyson V8 vacuum against the V11, and I think the older model will be a better choice for most people

Wondering how the Dyson V11 and V8 compare? In this article, I'll run down all the differences between these two cordless stick vacuums, and tell you how they performed when I tested them side-by-side on different floor types, to help you choose the right model for your needs.

The Dyson V8 was first released in 2016. Despite being the oldest model in the current lineup, it's still one of the bestsellers. For that reason, Dyson has revamped this vacuum for 2025, in the form of the V8 Cyclone, which looks very similar to the original but offers longer runtimes and better suction. Because the original V8 is still available, this article will cover both versions. Head to my Dyson V8 Cyclone review or Dyson V8 review for a closer look at each one individually.

The V11 hit the market in 2019, and sports a different configuration to the older model, complete with a new LCD information screen. You can read about it in my Dyson V11 review.

These are two of the best cordless vacuums on the market right now, but on balance I think the Dyson V8 (or, specifically, the V8 Cyclone) will be the better choice for most people. It's lighter and easier to wield than the V11, and costs much less. In my side-by-side tests, the V8 Cyclone proved just as effective at cleaning as the V11. However, if you have a larger home, the V11 might be a stronger choice. It has a bigger dust cup and longer runtimes, making it better suited to bigger cleaning jobs.

I also think the V8 is slightly better value for money. The V11 sits in the premium price bracket, and at that price I'd expect some kind of automation features, which neither of these vacuums have. If I was splashing that amount of cash on a vacuum, I'd be tempted to spend a bit more and pick up a V15 Detect, which justifies its price tag a little better with its feature list.

That's the short version; read on for my full Dyson V11 vs V8 comparison.

Dyson V8 vs V11: price & value for money

• V11 list price: from $629.99 / £429.99 / AU$1,199
• V8 list price: from $589.99 / £329.99 / AU$999
• V8 Cyclone list price: £349.99 / AU$649

Comparing Dyson vacuums isn't always straightforward, because Dyson offers various bundles options for each model. However, generally speaking a V8 is always going to be a good amount cheaper than a V11.

At time of writing, going direct to Dyson, V11 prices start from $629.99 in the US, £429.99 in the UK, and AU$1,199 in Australia. Prices for the older V8 start from $589.99 in the US, £329.99 in the UK and AU$999 in Australia.

Unless you're in the US, there's the option of the V8 Cyclone, which costs £349.99 in the UK and AU$649 in Australia. In areas where the V8 Cyclone has been introduced, you're more likely to snag a discount on the older V8.

Broadly, the V11 sits in the premium price bracket whereas the V8 is mid-range, and I think the V8 delivers slightly better value for money. The main difference between the two is the screen – which is useful, but I'd expect automatic suction adjustment in this price bracket. The V11 does have a more premium feel to it, though.

Dyson deals do crop up fairly regularly, and especially around major shopping events like the Black Friday sales, so which model offers the better value proposition might depend when you buy. Also pay attention to the extras that are included with the bundle you're looking at, as these can amp up your value for money.

Dyson V8 vs V11 specs

Dyson V8 vs V11: design

• V8 is lighter and has a more compact shape that's easier to wield
• V11 heavier and a little awkward in handheld mode, but has a bigger bin
• V11 has a useful screen to convey information, V8 does not

The Dyson V8 and V11 are both cordless stick vacuums, but there are some key differences between the two. The V11 and later models have the wand, motor and dust cup arranged in a straight line, whereas the V8 has its dust cup and motor at a right angle to the wand. The newer configuration is apparently more suction-efficient, but there are downsides: it makes the handheld section rather elongated and unwieldy, and means you have to remove the wand whenever you want to empty the dust cup.

The V8 is the lighter of the two vacuums, and easier to wield, thanks to the more compact shape of the handheld section. With the wand and main floorhead attached, the V8 Cyclone weighs in at 5.7lbs / 2.6kg (which is fairly lightweight for a stick vacuum), whereas the V11 is 6.6lbs / 3kg.

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However, neither is especially comfortable to use for long periods – there's no shaping on either handle, nor any padding, and in both cases I found the edge of the filter could rub a bit on my thumb joint.

Both are operated using a trigger – annoyingly, neither has any kind of lock for continual running. The V11 and V8 Cyclone have three suction modes to choose from, whereas the older V8 has just two (standard and Boost). Neither offers automatic suction adjustment based on floor type or dirt levels, as you'll find on pricier Dyson stick vacuums.

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One significant upgrade on the V11 is that it has an LCD screen to convey information. This will tell you which suction mode you're using (Eco, Med or Boost) as well as spelling out exactly how much cleaning time you have left in the current mode with the current attachment. It'll also detail any issues and how to fix them.

The V8 has no such screen. That means you never really have an idea of battery levels – there's a blinking LED to indicate you're running out of juice, and another that'll go solid when the vacuum is fully charged, but nothing more specific than that. The original V8 uses a slider to swap between power modes, but the V8 Cyclone swaps this for a button with a colored LED inside. If you're colorblind, this red, blue or green light probably won't be much help.

Opt for a V8 Cyclone or a V11 and the battery should be removable and swappable, but on the original V8 it might be fixed. The fixed battery isn't ideal because often the first thing to expire on a cordless vacuum is its battery. It also means there's no option to buy a spare and hot-swap to extend runtimes.

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Both the Dyson V8 and V11 come with a Motorbar floorhead, which can be used on either hard floor or carpet. It's worth checking if your version has an air intake slider – in my tests, the V8 Cyclone floorhead did have one of these, but the V11 floorhead did not. This slider is useful if you have deep-pile carpet; opening the valve can help make the vacuum easier to push.

Which detailing tools come with your vacuum will vary depending on which bundle you opt for. I will say that generally speaking, Dyson's vacuum tools are useful and well designed. In both cases, I found they clicked in and out of their slots with ease and felt secure when attached.

Dyson V8 vs V11: performance

• Both equally excellent on carpet; look for a version with an air intake slider if you have deep pile
• Both good on hard floor, but neither particularly specialized for this
• Both equally excellent at tackling pet hair

In general use, I was impressed with both vacuums' cleaning powers, although in both cases I missed having an Auto mode that meant I didn't need to manually switch settings to eke out the battery life.

To gain a more objective view of the V8's performance in comparison to the V11's, I ran a series of standardized cleaning tests, using the two models side by side so I could directly compare the results. The tests included sprinkling a mix of dry rice and lentils to represent chunky debris, and dry tea to represent fine particles, on different floor types.

I tested each spillage type on medium-pile carpet, deep-pile carpet, and a lino floor. I also used dog hair (supplied by a friendly local dog groomer), and tested how efficiently the vacuum cleared it from a medium-pile carpet and from a velvet cushion.

Note: for these tests I used the V8 Cyclone (which has more suction power than a standard V8) and a V11 Absolute.

Carpet

When it came to cleaning medium-pile carpet, there was nothing to separate the V11 and V8 Cyclone. Both got a perfect score in my tea test, clearing all but a few specks in a single forward pass in Med mode. In the rice/lentils test, both cleared almost everything, but were docked a point for leaving a few stragglers.

When I repeated the same tests for deep-pile carpet, the V11 scored a little lower, but not because of a lack of suction. Quite the opposite: I found it was too sucky in Med mode, and difficult to push, so I had to drop into Eco mode. The V8 Cyclone was also quite tricky to push in Med mode, but had the benefit of the floorhead air intake valve that I could open to make things easier.

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Hard floor

Both vacuums performed quite well in my hard floor tests. Neither had any trouble sucking up fine or chunky particles, but both caused particles to pool in behind the floorhead if I pulled it back over the spillage.

If hard floors are your priority, other vacuums are more specialized for this. You don't need especially powerful suction to clean hard floors, but the best vacuums for hardwood floors tend to have a separate, soft floorhead with a light to illuminate dirt and hair that might otherwise be missed.

Pet hair

Both the V8 Cyclone and V11 proved equally excellent at clearing pet hair from medium-pile carpet. I awarded both a perfect score in this test – both managed to clear all visible hairs with a single forward pass in Med mode.

I also tested how well both vacuums pulled hair from a cushion. With the V8 Cyclone, I used the supplied Mini motorized tool for this, and it did a good-but-not-great job – it took a few passes to remove all the hair. The V11 didn't come with an upholstery tool so I used the Combi tool. It did an incredible job, removing all the hair in a single swipe.

I suspect the V8, used with its own Combi tool (which is the same) would do just as good a job. Because it's not really a fair comparison, I haven't included the cushion test score as part of the average in the table below.

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Dyson V11 vs V8: battery life

• V11 offers longer runtimes in all modes
• V8 Cyclone has significantly longer runtimes than the older V8
• Both V11 and V8 Cyclone have removable, swappable batteries

The V11 offers very strong runtimes for a cordless stick vacuum. The V8 Cyclone isn't quite as impressive, but is still acceptable. The original V8, however, offers relatively short runtimes in the context of the current market – one the major upgrades for the newer Cyclone version was in the battery.

Here's a quick summary of the runtimes I recorded for each vacuum in each suction mode. Note, I found that these runtimes could vary depending on how I was using each vacuum.

The V11 provides you with a summary of your remaining runtime on its screen as you clean. In contrast, you're mostly flying blind with the V8, which doesn't have any kind of battery life indicator, save for an LED that will blink when it's running low.

Opt for a V11 or V8 Cyclone and you'll get a removable, swappable battery. This is important – typically, on a cordless vacuum, the first thing that will start to fail is the battery, so being able to replace it can extend your vacuum's overall lifespan. It also means you can pick up a spare and hot-swap them for longer cleaning times, if you want.

Should you buy the Dyson V8 or V11?

Buy the V8 or V8 Cyclone if...

Buy the V11 if...