The Best Handheld Vacuums We’ve Ever Tested

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Clean up small spaces at home or on the go.

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Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Tired of wiping crumbs out of your seat, carrying your vacuum upstairs for a small spill, or meticulously cleaning up pet hair? Handheld vacuums are great for their portability and ability to clean smaller spaces.

We tested 53 popular options to see which had the best battery life, suction power, dustbin capacity, attachments, and more. Whether you’re looking for something to clean out your car, get the hair off your couch, or pick debris up off the kitchen floor, we have a pick for you. Plus, expert advice from Shirley Hood, appliance expert at Abt Electronics.

It works well on all surfaces, comes with two attachments, and has a washable filter.

Small debris may need to be manually removed from the dustbin.

It's no secret that Shark vacuums are some of the best on the market, and that includes its handheld models. The Shark UltraCyclone Pro earned perfect scores for its effectiveness, maneuverability, and value, making it our overall best pick. It comes with two basic (but necessary) attachments, including a scrubbing brush to eliminate dust and a crevice tool to tackle hard-to-reach spaces. We found the device lightweight yet powerful, making it incredibly easy to carry and maneuver.

This vacuum worked well on all surfaces during testing, and the crevice tool was especially handy for cleaning chairs and car seats. The suction was impressively strong—so much so that it occasionally stuck to our upholstery—and the attachments made it easy to navigate small spaces. It was efficient at cleaning hair, and despite having comparable power to an upright vacuum, we appreciated that the machine operated fairly quietly. We could easily hold a conversation while using it.

Thanks to the large dustbin, we only needed to empty it three times during our lab tests—after two tests, the canister was only a quarter full. Once the bin was full, we found it easy to empty with a hands-free dirt ejector. That said, some debris did get stuck during testing, so we had to reach our hand inside to remove it.

The battery lasted a good 18 minutes, making this model ideal for cleaning out a whole car or picking up a few small messes in one go. After two months of use, we have no complaints—we still use the vacuum nearly every day to clean up small crumbs and dirt. Just keep in mind that it does take six hours to fully charge it from empty.

Weight: 2 pounds | Runtime: 18 minutes | Attachments: 2 | Filter: Washable

It has the longest runtime on our list and comes with a two-in-one brush and crevice tool attachment.

The suction could be more powerful.

Don’t let its reasonable price fool you—the Bissell Aeroslim is a force to be reckoned with. It’s lightweight and compact, featuring a two-in-one brush and crevice tool. It also comes with a stand that holds both the vacuum and attachments, along with two charging cable options: a standard charger and a USB cable. The design is easily portable and maneuverable, making it ideal for quick, on-the-go tasks.

During testing, we found that this vacuum worked best in the car. While it wasn’t quite powerful enough to suck up longer hairs, it was effective at picking up smaller debris like Cheerios, rocks, and sand. Thanks to its small size, this machine excelled at getting into all the nooks and crannies. It was easy to push around the surface of our car seats, and the nozzle fit seamlessly in between every crack.

We were especially impressed by its ease of emptying—since the dustbin is so small, it was easy to remove and re-attach. The trade-off of this convenient design, however, is the frequent need for emptying. After six months of use, the device has maintained its impressive battery life. We wouldn’t recommend it for deep cleanings, but for routine touch-ups, it’s a great choice. As a bonus, every purchase supports homeless pets.

Weight: 1.37 pounds | Runtime: 30 minutes | Attachments: 2 | Filter: Washable

It has an LED light for cleaning in dimly lit areas and more attachments than any other vacuum on this list.

The vacuum is a bit heavy, especially when adding a larger battery.

If you’re looking for a vacuum with several attachments, the Dewalt 20-Volt has you covered. It comes with six different attachments, including an extension tube, a flexible hose, a crevice nozzle, a round brush, a gulper brush, a floor nozzle, and an accessory bag to hold them all. We really liked the extension tube and floor accessory, both of which allowed us to more effectively reach floor messes. It also has a bright LED light for cleaning dimly lit areas and a belt hook for portability.

During testing, we found this vacuum very effective for picking up both large and small debris around the house and in the car. The crevice tool excelled at getting between and underneath the seats, while the large vacuum attachment was great for tackling bigger areas like the trunk. We only needed one pass to clean up Cheerios and clumps of hair, but it struggled a bit with long hair on softer surfaces.

After six months of use, the vacuum is still working as well as it did on day one. It’s compact and easy to maneuver, although it did feel a bit heavy during longer cleaning sessions. We especially appreciated its battery life, which lasted the full 10 minutes it took to clean our entire car. Just keep in mind that, like other battery-operated tools, you’ll need to charge the battery with an outlet between uses. To avoid interruptions, you could buy a larger or backup battery of the same size so you always have one fully charged.

Weight: 2.3 pounds | Runtime: 15 minutes | Attachments: 6 | Filter: HEPA

It’s effective on hardwood, low-pile, and high-pile carpet.

The emptying process isn’t very intuitive.

If your home is primarily carpeted, you can’t go wrong with the Black+Decker Pivot. We found this vacuum incredibly powerful, effortlessly picking up small debris, large debris, hair, and even flour (although vacuuming fine powders is generally frowned upon). It sucked up Cheerios and popcorn instantly, even on our highest pile carpet. However, some hair did get caught in the brush attachment that is permanently attached to the vacuum.

This vacuum has a washable cloth filter, powerful cyclonic suction, and a pivoting wide-mouth nozzle. The dustbin is translucent, so you can see when it’s full, and it’s easy to empty using a side door. The included attachments are built in, too, so you never have to worry about misplacing anything—the brush flips down, and the crevice tool slides out for easy access at all times.

While emptying the dustbin was easy, the process wasn’t very intuitive. It was hands-free when we did it correctly, but the filter side often opened accidentally, making quite a mess. Luckily, the vacuum was powerful enough to clean the mess right up. After six months of use, it is still exceeding our expectations.

One of our favorite features of this vacuum is its upright charger, which features a space-saving fold-up design. Unfortunately, placing the device on the charger wasn’t very intuitive. We also weren’t big fans of the device’s bulky design or loud noise level. However, we think its strong suction, especially on high pile carpet, makes it a worthy investment.

Weight: 3 pounds | Runtime: 10–20 minutes | Attachments: 2 | Filter: Washable

It has a large dustbin capacity and a long battery life.

It spit some larger debris back out when cleaning carpet, though it sucked it back up again.

During testing, we could not believe how effective the Hoover ONEPWR was, especially on our hardwood floors. It cleaned pet hair and flour rapidly, leaving no residue behind. Even after cleaning our fourth surface, the vacuum was still effortlessly sucking all sorts of debris. It had a habit of spitting some larger debris back out or grinding them into the carpet—like popcorn kernels and Cheerios—but it would always suck them up again. It also struggled a bit on longer hair but eventually picked it up.

This model has a portable, versatile design and a long battery life. The battery is compatible with any vacuum in the ONEPWR line, so you can mix and match as needed. As far as extra features go, it has a two-in-one crevice and brush tool for additional reach, along with a wall mount for easy storage.

We loved the large dustbin that doesn't need to be emptied often, and we appreciated the long, 25-minute battery life. When it did come time to empty it, the process couldn’t have been easier—all we had to do was click a button to release the debris and a removable filter. We found the noise level a bit difficult to talk over, and we do wish the battery was a little lighter and less awkward to hold. However, we think these are minor cons considering the vacuum’s impressive performance.

Weight: 3.5 pounds | Runtime: Up to 25 minutes | Attachments: 2 | Filter: Foam

It’s portable, has a long battery life, and comes with a washable filter.

It can get stuck on longer carpets because it’s made to suck up pet hair

The Black+Decker Furbuster is designed with pet owners in mind, featuring a motorized brush made of rubber to avoid tangling and help lift pet hair from surfaces. We were impressed by how easy the vacuum was to put together—once we snapped the pieces together, we were all set. It includes a crevice tool for hard-to-reach spaces, as well as a pre-filter and a filter. You can wash and replace both the pre-filter and the filter as needed.

True to its name, the Black+Decker Furbuster excelled at picking up hair and fur on every surface. It cleaned our chair with ease and had no problem navigating our hardwood floors. It did struggle to pick up kibble from our carpet, though. There’s a release button for emptying the dustbin, though hair occasionally stuck to the inner components, so we had to pull it from the bin by hand.

We were amazed by this model’s battery life, which outlasted many other vacuums on our list. While many handhelds can only clean one piece of furniture before needing a recharge, this one allowed us to tackle all of our cat’s favorite spots in one go.

After six months of use, it’s still a staple in our cleaning routine. It easily picks up dust and other small spills, and the battery life is as strong as it was on day one. Although it only comes with one attachment—the crevice tool—it’s been incredibly useful for getting fur out of the cracks of furniture and between cushions. We especially loved its convenient design—since the crevice tool attaches directly to the vacuum, it doesn't require separate storage.

Weight: 2.6 pounds | Runtime: 20 minutes | Attachments: 1 | Filter: Washable

It charges quickly and can run for 30 minutes on a single charge.

The suction power could be better.

The Baseus A2 is easy to empty and store, making it the perfect vacuum to keep in the car. It stood out for its quick charge and runtime—it can fully charge in less than three hours, and once charged, the battery lasts for 30 minutes. It’s also exceptionally quiet, running at less than 60 decibels. You can charge it anywhere with the included cable and adapter, and the two-in-one brush and crevice attachment provide additional reach and capability.

We were impressed to find that this vacuum worked well on all surfaces and types of debris. It was effective at spot-cleaning and really excelled at picking up fur and small leaves, which are both often tracked into the car. It comes with three attachments: a brush nozzle, a crevice nozzle, and a blowing attachment.

We tested it in a minivan and were amazed that it cleaned the whole interior on a single charge. Emptying the dustbin was quite easy as well—all you have to do is twist and pull. We recommend emptying the dustbin before it’s full, as it seems to work best that way. After six months, the vacuum is still in pristine condition.

It’s worth adding that the suction is not very powerful, and the vacuum sometimes leaves behind debris. It’s fairly lightweight and sufficient for a quick car cleanup, but it wouldn’t be a good choice for cleaning soft surfaces, cloth, or hair.

Weight: 1.1 pounds | Runtime: 25 minutes | Attachments: 3 | Filter: Washable, HEPA

Out of all the handheld vacuums we tested, the Shark UltraCyclone Pro took the cake for its power, ability to clean all surfaces, and filter that can be washed and reused. For half the price, the Bissell AeroSlim did a great job at cleaning up Cheerios, rocks, and sand.

We began testing handheld vacuums in our Des Moines lab, where we weighed them and used a decibel meter to gauge how loud they were on their highest settings before spreading a mixture of crushed crackers and raisins onto carpet. We started a stopwatch to time how long it took to vacuum the debris and noted whether we were able to fully clean it. We then repeated this process on an upholstered chair, a high chair, and a car seat to measure maneuverability and performance on different surfaces.

If there was still battery power left after tests were completed, we turned on each vacuum until they ran out to measure how long you could clean on one charge. We recorded how often each dustbin was emptied—and how easy or difficult it was to do so—and cleaned reusable filters if applicable.

We started with 53 handheld vacuums, but only high-performing models continued the testing process at home with our editors, who used them to pick up kibble, pet hair, and everyday messes. There were check-ins after both two and six months of use. Was the battery holding as long of a charge as it used to? Was the suction still strong? Was it too heavy to hold during long cleaning sessions? Were attachments useful? Was it difficult to store? With all this in mind, we solidified our list of the best handheld vacuums.

Real Simple / Rachel Marek

The size and weight of a vacuum affect its maneuverability, portability, and ease of storage. A vacuum that is too heavy may be uncomfortable to use, especially during longer cleaning sessions. Size specifications can also include the storage capacity of the vacuum and the size of any attachments, which will impact how often you empty it and which crevices it can easily clean. The online listing or the box often provides these specifications.

Depending on the size of your cleaning area and your routine, the charge time and runtime of a vacuum will be incredibly important. The runtime refers to the battery life, how long the device can run on a single charge. If you have a large cleaning area, you will want a vacuum with a longer runtime, so you won’t need to recharge it in the middle of your cleaning session. On the other hand, if you’re using the vacuum for quicker tasks or to clean smaller areas, a shorter runtime will suffice. The charge time refers to how long it takes to charge from an empty battery to a full battery. If you’re someone who forgets to charge your device in advance, a shorter charge time is ideal.

Some vacuums come with accessories, like filters or attachments that help with certain cleaning tasks. If you intend to clean smaller spaces, for example, look for a vacuum with a crevice attachment so you can reach tight or high-up spaces, like the area between your fridge and the wall or ceiling corners. If you want to vacuum dust from baseboards, windowsills, or curtains, a brush attachment will help dislodge tiny particles (and pet hair).

Real Simple / Dera Burreson

Shark Wandvac Power Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum: This powerful vacuum was able to clean most messes with ease, and emptying the dustbin was similarly intuitive. However, the suction power was too powerful for upholstery and soft surfaces and mostly got stuck on them.

If you’re looking for a quick cleaning solution but don’t have the time or energy to pull out the upright vacuum, a handheld option is a great choice. “The convenience alone makes these vacuums worth purchasing, as they are lighter than traditional vacuums and great for stairs, car interiors, furniture, and small messes,” Hood says.

Since these smaller vacuum cleaners are more portable and often used for spot cleaning, they’re typically less powerful than full-size vacuums. If you need to suck up large debris or a lot of pet hair, make sure you check the spec to see if it’s strong enough. The air watts (AW) or pascals (Pa) indicate the suction power. Handheld vacuums usually have 20 to 50 AW or 160 to 400 Pa. The higher the number, the more powerful the suction is.

“Battery-operated stick/handheld vacuums have an average life expectancy of three to five years with regular use, but there are some exceptions,” Hood says. She bought one six years ago and has only needed to replace the battery once.

You can check the decibel level of a handheld vacuum in its description. Usually, the more powerful the suction, the louder the vacuum. The quietest one on our list is the Baseus A2 Pro Car Vacuum Cleaner, which has a decibel level of 65.

This article was written by Jamie Fischer, shopping writer for Real Simple, and Nicole M. LaMarco, who has over 20 years of experience writing commerce-related articles with bylines in Yahoo, Forbes, Shape, Health, and more. She enjoys writing shopping roundups like this one, as well as solo product reviews, comparisons, and gift guides.