When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Heres how it works.
Below are our top-rated models for a range of different use cases.
It’s lightweight, affordable, offers great suction power, and comes with three useful attachments.
Just beware the relatively short battery life.
It’s a little bulky, though.
It has a short battery life and small dust cup, but is a versatile choice.
Its hose can get into all the nooks and crannies, although it’s not the most powerful.
The dust bag capacity is far larger than you’d expect for such a lightweight option.
The best handheld vacuum overall
1.
It excels for quick cleanups around the home thanks to its strong suction power and good battery life.
The 0.45 liter bin size is also decent, so you don’t have to empty it too often.
And all this, along with its compact design, makes it thebest car vacuumwe can recommend too.
The main potential downside is the battery life.
You’re prioritizing suction over runtimes here.
Recharge is fairly slow, too, at around three hours on test (Shark quotes four).
Overall, though, the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro Plus is effective, versatile and excellent value.
There’s a reason for that though; this isn’t really a handheld.
It’s a Dyson V8 stick vacuum, without its stick.
This model comes bundled with a selection of useful heads.
However, that’s the payoff for the longer battery and more powerful motor.
The V8 is far from thebest Dyson vacuumsbased on specs, although it is the lightest and most compact.
Read our fullDyson Car+Boat review
The best handheld/stick hybrid
3.
However, there were also some limitations.
It was also noticeably loud during operation.
Read our fullShark WandVac System review
The best budget handheld vacuum
4.
That should make it easier to get into tight corners.
In use, our reviver found performance to be mixed.
In practice, that meant that multiple passes were often required for a thorough clean.
It’s not perfect, though.
Read our fullRoidmi Nano P1 Pro review
The best handheld vacuum for fine dust
6.
(In fact, one of our regular reviewersswears by bagged vacuums here’s why.)
For more on this, see our article onHow to tell how much suction a vacuum cleaner has.
Most handhelds are cordless, in which case, battery life is crucial.
The whole point of buying a handheld is that it should be light and compact.
So pay attention to weight, tdimensions and the ergonomics of the vacuum’s design.
Ideally you should be looking at something weighing under 4 pounds, with a comfortable grip.
Attachments are another thing to look at.
For maximum flexibility, seek out crevice nozzles, brush attachments, and extension wands.
Filtration is another consideration, with HEPA filters being particularly beneficial for allergy sufferers.
Are handheld vacuums useful?
And overall, they’re excellent clean-up tools that’ll complement traditional vacuums.
