Buying guide for Which handheld vacuum is best?
Let's face it, none of us want to lug our full-size vacuum out every time someone gets crumbs all over the rug or the cat tracks litter across the living room. Instead, you should look for the best handheld vacuum to tackle these kinds of light cleaning tasks. Whether you want to get pet hair off the couch or clean the seats of your car, this kind of small vacuum cleaner is perfect for spot cleaning.
Of course, you want a hand vac that's up to the job. A cordless hand vacuum is much easier to wield — luckily most of them are cordless now, but you'll need to think about factors such as battery life and charging time. You'll also want a dirt container that's large enough that you don't have to constantly empty it, but not so large that it adds too much weight and bulk to the vacuum.
The BestReviews Testing Lab conducted extensive research to separate the best models from the rest. We also put a few models to the test — involving mountains of crumbs, dust and pet hair — to get the lowdown on handheld vacuums' performance. The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus emerged as the top performer, impressing us with its powerful suction and dedicated pet-hair-removal tool.
Our top picks
Product specifications
Battery Life: 10 min | Charging Time: 4 hr | Capacity: 0.45 qt | Weight: 2.8 lb
We love this versatile handheld vacuum. With a crevice brush and motorized pet attachments, it can take on basically anything you throw at it. It's great for spot-cleaning rugs and hard floors, vacuuming upholstery, dusting baseboards and cleaning cars as well as a wide range of other small tasks.
Weighing a manageable 2.8 pounds, this compact vacuum boasts a generous 0.45-quart dustbin. While the manufacturer lists a 10-minute battery life, our analysis found it stretches closer to 15 minutes — perfect for quick cleanups or tackling furniture. Keep in mind the four-hour recharge time if you plan on extended cleaning sessions.
Overall, if you're looking for a portable, reliable handheld vacuum that can tackle messes from living rooms to car interiors to workshops, you've found your match. Its convenient USB-C charging ensures easy power-ups wherever you need them, too!
Best bang for the buck
Product specifications: Battery Life: 11 min | Charging Time: 4 hr | Capacity: 0.65 qt | Weight: 2.6 lb
The Black and Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean impressed our test team with its strong suction at a reasonable price point. It effectively tackled various messes, comparable in cleaning power to a pricier Shark model. While not as sleek or lightweight, it offers solid performance for everyday cleaning needs.
Boasting a generous 0.65-quart dustbin, this vacuum offers impressive capacity but feels slightly bulkier than slimmer models, impacting maneuverability. While Black and Decker claims an 11-minute runtime, our tests saw it power through for a commendable 20 minutes — nearly double the stated time. However, keep in mind its lengthy four-hour recharge cycle.
This model is a firm favorite of ours. It's light, versatile, and the extendable crevice tool and flip-our brush attachment make it easy to switch between cleaning tasks. Best of all, it won’t break the bank!
Best cheap handheld vacuum
Product specifications: Battery Life: 9 min | Charging Time: 10 hr | Capacity: 0.36 qt | Weight: 1.4 lb
If you're looking for a low-cost handheld vacuum, the QuickClean is worth considering. It might not be the most high-tech or high-powered model, but it has decent suction and is extremely small and lightweight. Those who only get their hand vac out for occasional spills and messes will appreciate the solid performance at a low price.
It only runs for nine minutes, but that's enough to tackle messes and other small tasks. It can take as long as 10 hours to recharge fully, but it's unlikely you'll completely run the battery down if you stick it back on charge after each use.
We find the built-in extendable crevice tool a convenient addition, but we miss having a brush attachment. The dust cup isn't huge, but it does the job for small messes and is see-through, so you can tell when it needs emptying. Overall, despite its short runtime and lack of fancy features, the QuickClean's compact size and budget-friendly price make it a good option for cleaning up crumbs and messes at home and on the go.
Best handheld vacuum for pet hair
Product specifications: Battery Life: 17 min | Charging Time: 7 hr | Capacity: 0.72 qt | Weight: 3 lb
Cleaning up after pets can be a chore, but the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is one of the best handheld vacuums for pet hair. We love how the motorized pet hair tool effortlessly removes pet hair from soft furnishings and rugs. It's great for your pet's favorite spot on the rug or the couch or for removing pet hair from your car. You can also use it to tackle other pet mess, like tracked-in leaves from the yard or spilled kitty litter.
The battery lasts 17 minutes, which isn't bad for a handheld vac. It takes seven hours to fully recharge. The dustbin holds an impressive 0.72 quarts, but that does make it one of the heavier models on our list, weighing in at 3 pounds.
In addition to the pet tool, it comes with a crevice tool and brush attachment. It has a three-stage filter, which is good at trapping allergy-causing pet dander.
Best compact handheld vacuum
Product specifications: Battery Life: 10 min | Charging Time: 4 hr | Capacity: 0.46 qt | Weight: 3 lb
The design of this portable vac is a little different from most. It has a nozzle that pivots 200 degrees, meaning you can more easily clean at a range of different angles while keeping your arm in a comfortable position.
We appreciate that it has an extendable crevice tool built in. There's also a brush that flips up that's good for dusting or upholstery. It runs for around 10 minutes — not particularly long by any means but on par with a lot of cordless handheld vacuums. It’s worth mentioning that it takes four hours to fully charge.
This model is simple to use with its adjustable nozzle and onboard tools. At 0.46 quarts, the dirt capacity is generous without making the vacuum overly bulky.
Best handheld vacuum for small messes
Product specifications: Battery Life: 13 min | Charging Time: 5 hr | Capacity: 0.7 qt | Weight: 1.2 lb
Anyone who's looking for the lightest, most compact handheld vacuum should consider the HomeVac H11. It's a great choice for small messes, making light work of spilled cereal, tracked kitty litter and other spot-cleaning tasks.
It's around the size of a wine bottle and holds an impressive 0.7 quarts in its dust container. This is a surprise, considering it only weighs 1.2 pounds and is so compact and streamlined. It can run for up to 13 minutes on maximum power and takes five hours to recharge.
We appreciate how convenient it is to recharge with its micro USB cable. It's also much sleeker than most hand vacuums, which is a bonus for anyone who loves design.
Best wet/dry handheld vacuum
Product specifications: Battery Life: 29 min | Charging Time: 4 hr | Capacity: 0.65 qt | Weight: 2.5 lb
Capable of vacuuming both wet and dry messes, this is a great choice for tradespeople, workshops or just homes where it isn't unusual for a drink to get spilled. It has a standard attachment, a crevice tool, a brush tool and a squeegee that's designed for cleaning wet messes.
It has a capacity of roughly 0.65 quarts and an easy-to-empty debris container. It runs for 29 minutes, which is almost three times as long as many of the options on this list, so it's great for longer cleaning tasks or for anyone who doesn't want to charge their vac after every use.
Heavy-duty and reliable, this is a versatile hand vac, thanks to its wet/dry capabilities. It's gentle enough for delicate surfaces but tough enough for workshop use.
Best handheld vacuum for hard-to-reach spots
Product specifications: Battery Life: 44 min | Charging Time: 4 hr | Capacity: 0.53 qt | Weight: 4.95 lb
The Black and Decker Dustbuster Flex MAX is the perfect cross between a handheld vac and a canister vacuum. While larger and bulkier than a typical handheld vacuum, it makes up for it with a hose and extendable cleaning head. These attachments reach dust bunnies under furniture and cobwebs on ceilings with ease, making it ideal for tackling tough messes in hard-to-reach places.
While we wouldn't recommend it as your only vacuum, it's easier for quick pick-ups on rugs and hard floors than other handheld models, as you don't have to bend down. It's also great for floor-to-ceiling cleaning, so if you want to vacuum furniture, drapes or upholstery, it'll have your back.
This versatile vacuum packs a punch, tackling various cleaning tasks with ease. While its bulkier design and near 5-pound weight might not be for everyone, its 15-minute runtime offers ample power for most cleaning needs.
How we analyzed
To better understand what separates a great handheld vacuum from the rest, we tested some in real-world conditions, looking at how well they picked up debris, how difficult or easy they were to empty and how long they ran for. We considered dozens of models for this guide and conducted in-depth research, comparing them on factors such as battery life, charging time, capacity and overall performance. Because no one wants a sore arm after they clean, we also took the size and weight of each model into account as well as the number of attachments included.
Expert Tip
Remember to charge these for the correct amount of time listed in the product manual. This helps your cordless vacuum batteries last the longest.
BestReviews Cleaning Expert
Who are handheld vacuums for?
Many people find hand vacs useful. However, there are some scenarios in which they're especially handy. They're great for parents of young children, as they make light work of picking up crumbs or spilled cereal. People with pets also find them helpful for cleaning up pet hair or other small pet messes, such as kitty litter. We've found they make cleaning upholstery and car interiors easier.
On the other hand, you probably don't need one if you find your current vacuum meets all your needs. Or if you already have a cordless stick vacuum that you can use in handheld mode.
Using handheld vacuums on furniture
You can use portable vacuums on all types of upholstered furniture, such as couches and armchairs. You can also use them on hard furniture when it's warranted. For instance, if you want to vacuum crumbs off a table. We've found they work best on furniture when they come with an upholstery brush. We've also used motorized pet tools to remove pet hair from our pets' favorite spots on the couch.
Using handheld vacuums in cars
You no longer have to look for the best rechargeable handheld vacuum — almost all of them are cordless these days, making them super easy to use in cars. They work on all kinds of car upholstery. The standard attachment works best with leather upholstery, while the brush attachment works best with fabric upholstery.
You might also want to use the crevice tool for gaps around seat cushions and areas of stitching, where crumbs and other debris can hide. We've also found motorized pet attachments work wonders if you let your pets sit on the seats of your car. While you can buy a specific handheld vacuum for car use, any decent standard hand vac will be up to the task.
A note on filtration
Hand vacuums generally have simpler filters than full-size vacuums. They're usually washable sponge or fabric filters, such as on the Black and Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Cordless Handheld Vacuum. They don't have the more advanced filters that you'll find on some upright, stick or canister vacuums, such as HEPA filters. However, since a dustbuster shouldn't be your only vacuum cleaner, the type of filtration matters less.
Handheld vacuum attachments
Most handheld vacs come with a crevice tool and a brush tool. Some also come with a motorized pet tool. Usually, these attachments are separate, but occasionally, they're integrated. For instance, the Black and Decker Pivot Max Handheld Vacuum has an extendable crevice tool and a flip-out brush tool.
- Brush: The brush is sometimes called a dusting brush and sometimes called an upholstery brush. We've used these brush attachments for both dusting baseboards and cleaning soft furnishings, and they do a good job across the board.
- Crevice tool: The crevice tool has a long slim end that can get in nooks and crannies. We've found it handy for getting down the backs and sides of couch cushions and car upholstery.
- Pet tool: Eliminating pet hair requires extra power. A pet tool that is motorized to better pick up pet hair can make a big difference on upholstery and carpet.
Our expertise
Lauren Corona has been writing for BestReviews for seven years. In this time, she's covered a huge range of home appliances, including hand vacs and other vacuum cleaners. Having reviewed hundreds of products and written dozens of vacuum-related articles, she's developed an expertise in the area and has strong opinions on vacuum cleaners. She's also used several handheld vacuums in her time, so has firsthand experience and knows which features are worth having.
Handheld vacuum FAQ
Q. Does wattage impact a handheld vacuum's suction power?
A. Wattage is a measurement of a handheld vacuum's power consumption. It gives you some indication of how powerful a vacuum is, but it doesn't directly correlate with suction power. Suction power is influenced by various factors, including the vacuum's design, motor efficiency, airflow and overall engineering. The airflow — measured in cubic feet per minute — is perhaps the best way of measuring suction power. Some manufacturers also publish an air-watts rating to compare suction power, which is a combination of water lift and airflow measurements.
Q. Are there any handheld vacuums with USB chargers?
A. Yes, some hand vacs can be charged with USB cables, particularly new and high-end models. For instance, our top pick, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus, charges with a USB-C cable.
