17 Best Handheld Vacuums in 2023

Our top picks:

• Best handheld vacuums for pet hair Worx WX030L 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vac 

• Best handheld vacuums for affordable price BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum

• Best handheld vacuums for lightweight options Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

• Best handheld vacuums for small area IRIS USA, Inc. 596942 IC-FAC2 Mattress

• Best handheld vacuums for sound-reducing Eufy By Anker, HomeVac H11, Cordless Handheld Vacuum 

WORX WX030L 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vac 

Outstanding feature: HEPA filter that helps to rinse

Specification:

• Dimensions: ‎5.91 x 7.17 x 8.58 inches

• Item weight: ‎3 pounds

• Color: ‎Black

Today's Best Deals: View on Amazon 

Reasons to buy:

• HEPA filter that may be rinsed

• Warranty of three years

• Silent              

Reasons to avoid:

• During testing, some animal hair adhered to the toothbrush attachment. 

The WORX version is unlike any other portable vacuum, with a tiny, boxy form, a detachable battery that integrates into other WORX equipment, and a front handle. It has a built-in crevice, brush tools that store directly on it, and a four-foot flexible line.

Even without utilizing the maximum power level, this device effortlessly cleaned up all the dirt and dog hair we placed down in the cleaning testing. The hose provides the flexibility to access small areas, and one recharge lasted 23 minutes at average power. Users don't have to lift it to operate it, even though it's a bit heavier than the other portable vacuums.

(Image credit: Amazon)

BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum 

Outstanding feature: Micro brush attachment

Specification:

• Power source: Cordless

• Form: Handheld

• Color: Gray

Today's Best Deals: View on Amazon 

Reasons to buy:

• A large dustpan

• Very quiet      

• Portable        

Reasons to avoid:

• Small debris is blown out of the washing path by quiet side fans.

There's no hiding place for cat litter with Black+Decker's powered micro brush attachment. Tidying up after dogs is made even easier with an extra-long detachable crevice tool as well as an additional bottom-emptying dirt bin.

Despite some sand strewn over hard floors, the Black+Decker mastered our pet-hair-pickup testing and worked well for other problems – even without utilizing the turbo power level. The filtration is reusable, and we appreciate that the vac can be charged or stored standing on its end. It lasted 32 mins on a recharge when set to the regular setting.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Hoover ONEPWR Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Outstanding feature: Removable batteries

Specification:

• Dimensions: 16.5 x 5 x 6.5 inches

• Item weight: 3 pounds

• Warranty: 3 years

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Reasons to buy:

• Batteries can be removed

• Onboard crevice equipment

• Very silent               

Reasons to avoid:

• Heavier than the other items

The Hoover would be a compact powerhouse with an integrated crevice tool for cleaning hard-to-reach areas. It readily picks up dirt and dust, and even dog hair would not be an issue during our trials. We like how simple it is to dump the dust container and wash the screen.

The detachable rechargeable battery seems to be useful unless you already own another ONEPWR Series cleaning tool. It's cross-device friendly, and if the charge in your hand vac runs out, users can take one from a ONEPWR cleaning solution. Alternatively, you may buy an extra battery to be charged and prepared for a prolonged cleaning session.

(Image credit: Amazon)

IRIS USA, Inc. 596942 IC-FAC2 Mattress

Outstanding feature: A high suction and a mechanism for better dust remove

Specification:

• Dimensions:5.7 x 9.8 x 15.9 inches

• Special feature: lightweight

• Item weight: 3.5 pounds

Today's Best Deals: View on Amzon 

Reasons to buy:

• Vacuuming sofas and beds have never been easier.    

• Work effectively

• Extremely lightweight           

Reasons to avoid:

• Warranty is limited to a lifetime.

• Not recommended for use on hard surfaces.

The corded small IRIS cleaner was designed for cleaning upholstery and beds. This has high suction and even a mechanism that shakes free and removes dust, bed bugs, and other pollutants. 

Its unique sensor and color-changing lighting system indicate if the area is entirely clean, and also its grip design and hinged base make it simple to operate. It struggled to pick up garbage from a flat surface during our trials but easily cleaned up cat litter from a rug and crumbs off a fabric-covered sofa.

(Image credit: Amazon)

eufy By Anker, HomeVac H11, Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Outstanding feature: Electric cable for easier uses

Specification:

• Dimensions: 14.96 x 5.98 x 3.7 inches

• Power Source: Electric cable

• Color: Black

Today's Best Deals: View on Amazon 

Reasons to buy:

• Washable

• Easy to store

• Light filter

• Large brush              

Reasons to avoid:

• A bit dustpan

Don't be fooled by Eufy's tiny profile. This elegant portable vacuum seems to be full-featured and about the length of a beer glass (but weighs a little over one ounce). It comes with a crevice/brush tip, a washable filtration, and a cover that allows it to walk straight for storing or recharging — you'd never guess this was a cleaner standing on a bookcase.

The Eufy was little but formidable, and it was able to clean just as well as larger versions. It has a gentle grip that makes it easy to grasp. It can operate for up to 20 mins quietly, and LEDs indicate when the batteries need to be charged.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Bissell AeroSlim Lithium-Ion Cordless Handheld Vacuum

Outstanding feature: Compact filter for small area

Specification:

• Dimensions: 2.75 x 12.6 x 3.62 inches

• Item weight: 2 pounds

• Country of Origin: China

Today's Best Deals: View on Amazon 

Reasons to buy:

• The filter is compact and washable.

• Perfect for a small area

• Work well

• Affordable            

Reasons to avoid:

• Charger with a shorter processing wire and a little dust cup

The small and lightweight Aeroslim, with its combination sharp blade and gentle cleanser attachment, is perfect for quick pick-ups on flat floors, such as breadcrumbs on your computer, in your vehicle, and between the seat cushions. The container stand, which has a built-in cover, keeps the vacuum pole and the auxiliary tool, ensuring that it is always accessible. 

It features washable filtration as well as a USB connection for charging. A power usage indicator alerts you whenever the battery is low, as well as a wide crevice tool allows you to clean all the hard-to-reach places in your household, like behind the sofa or even on top of a box.

(Image credit: Amazon)

Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum

Outstanding feature: Charged by micro USB port

Specification:

• Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 8 inches

• Item weight: 4.2 pounds

• Warranty: 1 year

Today's Best Deals: View on Amazon 

Reasons to buy:

• Excellent for dog hair

• Any micro-USB connection may be used to charge it.

• Low price               

Reasons to avoid:

• Not for use in tight, difficult-to-reach areas.

• Run time is limited.

The sparkly rubber nozzle on this relatively affordable (less than four pounds) vacuum was designed to catch those pesky pet fur. To obtain every last bit, it bends and curves over chair armrests and stair steps. 

Remove the latex tip and expand the broad, built-in crevice probe for fast pick-up of dry accidents on bare flooring (like cat litter). Its power supply is 16 feet long, so it has many reaches even if it isn't cordless.

(Image credit: Amazon)

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What features should I look for when buying the best handheld vacuums?

The battery capacity is by far the essential feature to look for in a portable vacuum. This determines how much washing time you'll have; some may only offer you 5 min. 

If you'd like to wash your car, staircases, or tight places, keep an eye out for such items, which must make handling tight spaces a lot easier:

• Crevice: For reaching between bedding topped, picture rails, or edges, use a crevice tool. 

• Turbo pet: great for removing dust & fluff off stairwells and upholstery. 

• Extendable Flexible hose: great for getting into tight locations such behind seat belts or tidying up high places.

Cheaper wireless vacuums feature a typical "dust-buster" style, making them all-around with fewer specialty equipment and accessories. That might not imply that they soak up less dust but are harder to use, but they'll be less flexible. It's also possible that they'll have lower battery life. 

However, you don't get everything you paid for. We put expensive portable vacuums to the trial that couldn't clean up a minor spill, as well as less costly alternatives that are a real lifesaver around the house.

Do you choose a tethered or cordless portable vacuum cleaner?

Users won't be able to pick between tethered and cordless versions with most standard upright vacuums; but, with a portable alternative, you may concentrate on your objectives whenever it comes to simple cleaning.

Most houses will benefit from cordless portable vacuum cleaners for supplemental maintenance (or vehicles). Battery packs provide energy and suction. A complete charge lasts between 15 to 40 mins; however, a battery pack may last longer. 

It takes to charge a smartphone between three and four hours, but it can take 8 hours for lesser devices. As the charge drains, you will notice a decrease in suction strength, but that may not be an issue for dry spillage and dirt. The finest cordless handheld vacuums will be more lightweight than their tethered counterparts, giving you additional options for cleaning difficult places fast.

A corded garment bag is bulkier than other types and requires an electrical device to operate, but you will never run out of battery power with one. Corded versions generally have a higher dander, pollen, and dust volume than cordless versions, reducing the number of visits to the dustbin. Furthermore, they are generally less expensive.

Which kind of vac should you purchase: bagged or bagless? 

Our studies discovered that both bagging and tumi versions could lack suction or release pollutants into the environment when they load up. Stick vacuum manufacturers frequently claim that packed vacuums lose power as the sack fills up, but vacuum cleaners do not. 

Some companies also claim that their corded systems offer sanitary emptying characteristics. Nevertheless, we've discovered that when the sack or container gets full, both bagged and tumi vacuum cleaners lose power. 

When we evaluated bagless vacuum cleaners with sanitary emptying capabilities, we discovered that they still discharged far more dirt into the environment than bagged versions when emptied.

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