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The best Handheld Vacuums Consumer Reports has found that the products it has tested do a good job of cleaning up small messes, like Cheerios under and around a high chair or the mess that builds up in the back seat of an SUV. Here are some reasons why you might want to add one of the best handheld vacuums to your cleaning supplies:
Not only are these handy tools easier to use than their full-sized predecessors, but many of them are just as powerful. Bigger vacuums can’t go where smaller ones can. Most likely, you’ll want to keep your full-size for cleaning large areas, but the best handheld vacuums are the best way to quickly clean up smaller messes.
Best Handheld Vacuums Comparison Table
| Handheld Vacuum | Suction Power | Battery Capacity | Charging Cable | Filter Type | Dimensions (inches) | Weight (lbs) | Price (In $) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ryobi 18V One+ | 18V | 2.0 Ah | Wall Mount | Washable HEPA | 17.5 x 5 x 6 | 1.9 | 99.00 |
| BLACK+DECKER Furbuster | 10.8V | 1.5 Ah | USB | Washable | 16.8 x 4.9 x 6.4 | 1.4 | 45.99 |
| Black+Decker DustBuster | 14.4V | 1.5 Ah | Wall Mount | Washable | 17.2 x 5.5 x 7.8 | 2.6 | 59.99 |
| Shark Ion W1 | 115AW | 2.5 Ah | Charging Dock | Washable HEPA | 16.5 x 2.5 x 2.4 | 1.4 | 139.99 |
| Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ | 10.8V | 2.0 Ah | Charging Dock | Washable | 13.9 x 3.6 x 6.3 | 1.4 | 69.99 |
| BISSELL AeroSlim | 10.8V | 0.6 Ah | USB | Washable | 2.75 x 2.75 x 16.5 | 1.0 | 39.99 |
| BLACK+DECKER 20V Max | 20V | 1.5 Ah | Charging Base | Washable | 13 x 7.9 x 5.3 | 2.6 | 79.99 |
| Brigii 3-in-1 Mini | 3.6V | 2.2 Ah | USB | Stainless Steel HEPA Filter | 8.1 x 7.1 x 2.5 | 1.1 | 37.99 |
Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum Kit
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 18V |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Charge Time | 1 hour |
| Weight | 2.7 lbs |
| Warranty | 3-year limited |
The Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum cleaners Kit has strong suction, a long battery life, and a bigger bin than almost every other cordless handheld vacuum we’ve tested. It’s easy to clean up dust, cereal, and other everyday messes. It works well for 18 minutes and charges in less than an hour, which is faster than any other handheld vacuum we tried.
Many of its parts, like its filters and battery, are easy to replace, and its battery works with all One+ Ryobi tools. With the dust brush and crevice tool, it’s easy to get into corners and cracks. It has one of the best warranties of the vacuums we looked at, at three years. This is one of the best Handheld Vacuums that you can buy right now.
The Good
- Tools that work with the Ryobi One+ system
- Fast time to charge
- Light and easy to work with
The Bad
- The battery and charger were sold separately.
- Might not be as strong as options with cords
BLACK+DECKER Furbuster Handheld Vacuum
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Runtime | Up to 20 minutes |
| Accessories | Motorized brush, crevice tool, and pet brush |
| Warranty | 2-year limited |
The Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ HHVK515JP07 is the best handheld model we’ve tried for cleaning up pet hair. It has a strong suction that is made even better by a motorized brush that stirs up dirt and pulls stubborn fur out of upholstery. This is one of the best Handheld Vacuums that you can buy right now.
It takes less than three hours to charge and can run for up to 25 minutes, which is one of the longest run times among the models we tested. It also has a built-in crevice tool that can be extended. It also has washable and replaceable filters, and the biggest bin we’ve seen on a handheld vacuum. It comes with a two-year warranty from Black+Decker.
The Good
- Especially made to get rid of pet hair
- Because it’s cordless, it’s easy to move.
- Comes with accessories that can be used to clean different surfaces.
The Bad
- Runtime might not be enough for bigger cleaning jobs.
- Some people may not like how loud the motorized brush is.
Black+Decker DustBuster CHV1410L
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Runtime | Up to 15 minutes |
| Accessories | Crevice tool and brush |
| Warranty | 2-year limited |
In our tests on bare floors and carpets, the cordless Black+Decker DustBuster picked up almost all of the dirt and dust. This is a big deal for a handheld vacuum. Our engineers noticed that it’s easy to put this model on its charger, and there’s a satisfying “click” when it’s connected. Overall, it is one of the best Handheld Vacuums that you can buy.
The filter fits well in the trash can and is easy to take out and empty. Cleans carpets, car interiors, furniture, and high-traffic areas by getting rid of hair, dirt, and other debris. This model doesn’t come with tools that can be taken off, but it does have a brush that pops out and a crevice tool that slides out.
The Good
- Small and light makes it easy to handle
- Cordless for ease of use
- Comes with accessories that can be used to clean tight spaces.
The Bad
- Runtime might not be enough for bigger cleaning jobs.
- Might not be as strong as corded options that are bigger.
Shark Ion W1 WV201
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Runtime | Up to 10 minutes |
| Accessories | Crevice tool and brush |
| Warranty | 2-year limited |
Not all handheld vacuums are good at getting rid of pet hair, but the Shark Ion is, so it gets an Excellent rating. It’s also great at cleaning bare floors and getting into hard-to-reach places, and it’s not too bad at cleaning carpets. The charging base can hold the vacuum and all of its attachments, which is a great way to save space.
And at only 1.4 pounds, it’s the lightest hand vacuum we tested. The only bad thing about its small size is that the trash can is small, so you may have to empty it more than once if there is a big spill. This is one of the best Handheld Vacuums that you can buy right now.
The Good
- Small and light makes it easy to handle
- For a cordless option, it has strong suction.
- Comes with accessories that can be used to clean tight spaces.
The Bad
- Runtime might not be enough for bigger cleaning jobs.
- Compared to other choices, it can be pricey.
Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Runtime | Up to 60 minutes |
| Accessories | Motorized brush, crevice tool, and pet brush |
| Warranty | 2-year limited |
The Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ is the best hand-held vacuum we’ve tried. This small vacuum does a great job of picking up solid trash from bare surfaces like countertops and shelves. It is also strong enough to pick up trash from rugs and carpets.
It’s easy to move around the house because it’s so light, and even though it’s on the bigger side for a handheld vacuum, it’s still small enough to fit in most cabinets and closets. Its dirt bin is also pretty big, so you won’t have to empty it after every time you clean a spot.
The Good
- Especially made to get rid of pet hair
- Suction power and a long runtime
- Comes with accessories that can be used to clean different surfaces.
The Bad
- Some people may find it too heavy and bulky.
- Compared to other choices, it is expensive.
BISSELL AeroSlim Handheld Vacuum
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Runtime | Up to 12 minutes |
| Accessories | Crevice tool |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
The BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim is the best cordless handheld vacuum we’ve tried that doesn’t break the bank. It is very different from larger handheld vacuums like the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ and the Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum. It has a very small body, about the size of a two-liter soda bottle.
This makes it very portable, but it also has a small, weak suction motor that has trouble picking up bigger pieces of dirt and a small dirt compartment that fills up fast. If the dustbin is too full, big pieces of trash can get stuck in the suction nozzle or fall out of the bin.
The Good
- The slim, compact design makes it easy to handle and store.
- Cordless for ease of use
- It comes with a tool for cleaning places that are hard to reach.
The Bad
- Runtime might not be enough for bigger cleaning jobs.
- Might not be as strong as corded options that are bigger.
BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Handheld Vacuum
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Voltage | 20V |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Charge Time | 5 hours |
| Weight | 3.8 lbs |
| Warranty | 2-year limited |
This handheld vacuum with 20 volts is our pick for Best Overall for a reason. Even though it only runs for 10 to 12 minutes, it cleans up everyday messes like a champ and has the strongest suction of the ones we looked at. It has a 15-ounce dustbin and a washable filter that can be taken out and cleaned in the sink.
It also has a “side door” that makes it easy to get rid of dirt between vacuuming sessions. It has a built-in crevice tool, an upholstery brush, and a patented nozzle that can be turned to any angle to help you clean high, low, and even in tight spaces. But our test showed that it works better on hard surfaces than on carpeted ones.
The Good
- Strong and useful for a variety of cleaning jobs
- Compatible with 20V Max Black+Decker system tools
- 20V gives the battery a long life.
- Lightweight so cleaning jobs are easy to handle
- Offers peace of mind with a 2-year limited warranty.
The Bad
- Some users may think that 5 hours is a long time to charge.
- In some cases, the battery and the charger are sold separately.
Brigii 3-in-1 Mini Handheld Vacuum
| Specification | |
|---|---|
| Power Source | Cordless |
| Battery Type | Lithium-Ion |
| Runtime | Up to 30 minutes |
| Accessories | Crevice tool, brush tool, and extension hose |
| Warranty | 1-year limited |
The Brigii Mini Vacuum is small and powerful, making it great for quick clean-ups just about anywhere. The 2500-mAh lithium-ion battery lets you clean up messes in your home, car, or office for up to 20 minutes. It only takes four hours to fully charge via USB.
For being so small and light, it has a powerful 80-watt motor and 4Kpa suction, which means it can easily pick up dust, hair, and other small particles. But what makes this vacuum so special is that it is a mini vacuum cleaner, an air duster, and a hand pump all in one.
The Good
- The design is sleek and modern, and the interface is easy to use.
- Since it is cordless, it is easy to move around when cleaning.
- Comes with useful cleaning tools for a variety of uses
- Long cleaning time of up to 25 minutes
- 2-year limited warranty to give you more peace of mind
The Bad
- Runtime might not be enough for bigger cleaning jobs.
- For heavy-duty cleaning, it might not be as strong as corded options.
- In some cases, the battery and the charger are sold separately.
FAQs
The Shark WANDVAC works better than the BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim when it comes to a handheld vacuum. The Shark picks up more dirt on bare floors and low-pile carpet, has a bigger dirt bin and an extra tool for cleaning upholstery, and filters out allergens better.
In our guide to the Best Vacuum Cleaners of 2023, we talk about upright, canister, hand-held, stick, and robot models. The Dyson V11 Animal Vacuum and the Shark Navigator Lift-Away Deluxe NV360 Upright Vacuum are both at the top of our list.
The Miele Complete C3 has the best suction of all the vacuums we’ve tried. This high-end canister vacuum has a strong 1200W motor that can get rid of tough messes and dirt stuck in cracks.
Both Dyson and Shark have battery lives that are about the same. Both brands’ best cordless vacuums, like the Dyson V15 Absolute and the Shark, can run for up to an hour. Both Shark and Dyson have models with batteries that can be taken out, like the Dyson Outsize or the Shark Vertex Pro lightweight.