In my role as Ideal Home’s Certified Expert in Vacuums, I’ve tried and tested a lot of vacuum cleaners from manufacturers across the world. But when you’re looking at brands from this side of the pond, there’s no denying that Dyson and Henry are British icons - and for good reason.
With both brands making their way into my best overall vacuum cleaner guide, they’ve impressed me so much that I’ve branched out to build entire guides on the best Dyson vacuums and the best Henry vacuums. But with both ranking highly in terms of suction power, reliability, and efficiency, choosing between them can be difficult.
So, to save you the hassle, I’ve laid out the basics and important information to help you solve the big Dyson vs Henry debate – outlining the pros and cons of both, and how to choose the one that will best suit your specific needs and requirements.
The best Dyson vacuum we've tested, this model has a high-tech floorhead that tackles hair with ease, a CleanCompaktor bin to enhance the dust capacity, and a 70-minute run time. You can read the full review here.
Our number one-rated Henry is the ideal all-rounder. It has a 6L dust capacity, can be used on all floors, comes with oodles of tools, and has a 26m cleaning range. Plus, its corded nature means that it'll never run out of juice. Read our review here.
Dyson vs Henry: The differences
Often at the top of many wish lists, owning a Dyson vacuum is a status symbol thanks to the brand's reputation for introducing models with cutting-edge technology and impressive performance.
The company was founded by James Dyson in the 1970s, following his growing frustration with the lacklustre performance and suction power of bagged vacuum cleaners back then. Over 5,000 prototypes later, Dyson launched the first-ever bagless vacuum cleaner, and the rest is history. Today, Dyson has a huge number of vacuum cleaners in its portfolio, including the best robot vacuum cleaners and even the best vacuum mops.
For the most part, Dyson focuses on cordless vacuum cleaners that are efficient and effective, but there’s no denying that they’re a premium product with an equally premium price tag. Henry vacuum cleaners are a little different, though.
A British icon known for its smiley faces and cylinder vacuums, Numatic Henry was founded in 1981 by Chris Duncan. He originally came up with the idea of a robust cylinder vacuum in 1969 as a way to clean the inside of boilers, and the idea quickly turned into something that’s since taken the cleaning world by storm.
A huge portion of the Henry portfolio is dominated by corded cylinder vacuum cleaners offering large, bagged dust bins and extension hoses. But in recent years, the brand has extended into cordless models to suit the growing demand for the convenience of corded.
Dyson vs Henry: Corded vs cordless?
Nowadays, you can’t discuss vacuum cleaners without mentioning whether they're corded or cordless. And while cordless vacuums are still typically the most favoured option for households across the UK, thanks to the flexibility they offer, there’s no denying that corded vacuums are making a comeback.
So, if you favour the unlimited run time and impressive suction power of a corded vacuum, a Henry model would suit you best, as that’s what the brand is known for. And with their long power cords, it’s easy to enough to transition to a Henry corded without constantly needing to unplug and replug elsewhere.
That’s not to say that Henry doesn’t offer cordless models, though. The brand has welcomed a couple of cordless Henrys to the market in recent years, including the Henry HVB160 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner and the Numatic Henry Quick.
But if you really don’t like the idea of a corded vacuum cleaner, Dyson certainly has more options when it comes to the cordless side of the market. There’s also a wide range of cordless models, including premium vacuums with modern technology to modern retellings of their older, more basic models - including the new budget-friendly Dyson V8 Cyclone.
At the end of the day, everyone has their own tastes and preferences, so the choice between going for either brand lies with you.
Dyson vs Henry: Which has better features?
Both Henry and Dyson vacuum cleaners will offer similar results after cleaning, but these two brands use very different methods and technology to get there. So, these are the features to look out for:
Common Dyson features
- Cyclone technology: Where centrifugal force separates the dust and dirt while in use, allowing it to remain bagless.
- Dust detect sensor: Dyson’s famous Piezo sensor detects the dirt level on the floor before adjusting the suction power to clean it.
- Laser Fluffy cleaning head: A soft floorhead for hard flooring, which uses a rotating brush roller and laser technology to clean without causing any scratches.
- De-tangling Motorbar cleaning head: A multi-purpose floorhead that can be used on all flooring types, with anti-tangle technology for pet hair from getting stuck.
- CleanCompaktor bin: So far, this is only available with the Dyson V16 Piston Animal, which compacts dust using a lever to create more space in the dust canister.
Common Henry features
- HEPA-Flo Bags: Dust bags with advanced filtration to trap dust, pet hair, dander and other allergens. They also have a self-seal tab to make emptying mess-free.
- Combi Floor Tool: A multi-surface floorhead that can be switched between hard floors and carpets with the push of a foot-powered tab.
- Henry FloMax Hose: 2m long hose for flexible cleaning and designed to maximise airflow.
- Quick Pods: Scented pods that can be inserted into the Henry and Hetty Quick models, to help banish odours.
Dyson vs Henry: What do the customer reviews say?
Dyson UK has just over 38,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with an average rating of 2.1 out of 5 stars. 62% of customers have given Dyson a 5-star rating, raving about ease of use, excellent service, and more. However, it's important to note that this covers more than just floorcare but also Dyson's air treatment and hair styling products.
On the other hand, MyHenry has just over 25,000 reviews on Trustpilot, with an average rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars. An overwhelming 91% of customers have given Henry vacuum cleaners a 5-star rating, which is a testament to the sheer reliability and power that Henry products have continually delivered throughout the decades.
However, as we mentioned, Dyson's customer reviews aren't a completely accurate reflection of vacuum cleaners alone. But, we have to say it's still an extremely impressive feat from Henry to receive such overwhelming positive feedback.
Dyson vs Henry: Which is more affordable?
I’ve touched on it briefly, but between Dyson and Henry, the latter is more affordable by a landslide. Dyson has always been considered a premium brand, while Henry vacuums are generally some of the cheapest models out there.
The cheapest Dyson model we’ve tested is the Dyson V8 Cyclone, which retails at £349.99, but it’s nothing compared to the cheapest Henry vacuum we’ve tested, which is the
As we mentioned earlier, the cheapest Dyson model is the Dyson Ball Animal, coming in at £279.99 but it's nothing compared to the best affordable Henry vacuum we've tested, the Henry HVR160, which is available for around the £169.99 price point. In fact, there’s not a single Henry vacuum cleaner we’ve tested that’s over £300.
On the other hand, the average price for a Dyson vacuum is around £500, with some models venturing into the £700-£800 range.
Dyson vs Henry: The verdict
Even after all of this deliberation, the Dyson vs Henry debate doesn't have a conclusive answer as they are both such different kinds of vacuums with different perks to offer.
If you're only looking for something reliable without any bells and whistles, I guarantee you won't be disappointed in investing in a Henry model of your choice. Not only do you get sheer suction power and the novelty of housing this British icon in your home, but you're also going to get the best bang for your buck.
However, if you're willing to go above and beyond for a vacuum cleaner and want to be looped in on all the new, cutting-edge technology that the floorcare industry has to offer, there's no denying that investing in a Dyson will meet all your criteria and more. Better yet, if you want a cordless vac, you're better off browsing options in Dyson's catalogue to suit whatever your needs may be.
I know you hear us say it countless times, but the choice is ultimately yours at the end of the day. Rest assured, whichever you decide to go for will be a valuable addition to your home cleaning kit. However, if you need a bit more time to decide or are simply keen on picking either up on the basis of a price incentive, our vacuum deals page is a page worth tabbing to be the first to know about the most tempting of discounts.
