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The Best Handheld Vacuum

Last updated on January 17, 2023

We looked at the top 16 Handheld Vacuums and dug through the reviews from 80 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Handheld Vacuums.

Our Review Process

Don't Waste Your Money is focused on helping you make the best purchasing decision. Our team of experts spends hundreds of hours analyzing, testing, and researching products so you don't have to. Learn more.

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If you’re tired of running to the car wash every time you need the inside of your vehicle cleaned out, a handheld vacuum can be a handy tool to have around. However, it can also help you clean up those occasional household messes. Instead of pulling out the vacuum cleaner or grabbing a broom and dustpan, you could use a handheld vacuum to quickly clean up that pool of food under your baby’s high chair or suck up some spilled pet food from the floor.

Handheld vacuums have come a long way in recent years. At one time, you’d get started only to find your battery died in a matter of minutes. The only other option was a corded handheld vacuum cleaner, which limited your reach. Today’s handheld vacuums can last up to 30 minutes without the gradual decline in use seen with previous models. Just keep it on the charging base until you need it, and you’ll be all set.

One thing to consider with any handheld you choose is that they each have a filter. Occasionally, you’ll need to clean this filter, and some handhelds don’t come with alerts to let you know when it’s time. This means you may find that you lose power gradually as the filter becomes dirty, and you may not immediately notice that loss of suction.

Weight is also an important factor when you’re choosing a handheld. You’ll often find that you need to operate it with only one hand, particularly if you’re getting into tight crevices or cleaning your car. Check the weight of any handheld you choose. Also, make sure the handle is designed in a way that will make it easy to hold with only one hand.

Finally, you’ll need to consider the price factor. You’ll likely easily find a handheld vacuum for less than $200, but some are much less expensive than others. Decide if the more expensive handheld has enough features to make it worth the higher price before committing.

Our Picks For The Top Handheld Vacuums

View All Recommendations
Product Overview
Our Take
Pros
Cons
 Top Pick

VacLife Portable Lightweight Handheld Vacuum

Don't Waste Your Money Seal of Approval

VacLife

Portable Lightweight Handheld Vacuum

If you suffer from allergies, you'll want to go with this handheld vacuum. It has an improved HEPA filter to capture and trap allergens that may otherwise leave you sneezy and miserable. The vacuum is nice and lightweight and designed without cords, so you can quickly clean the car's seats, headrests and flooring.

Overall Take

Multiple Color OptionsYou'll find this handheld vacuum comes in a choice of red, orange or silver.

 Runner Up

eufy Compact Dust Devouring Handheld Vacuum

eufy

Compact Dust Devouring Handheld Vacuum

The slim design of this portable handheld vacuum means you won't have any trouble cleaning those hard-to-reach spaces. The vacuum is powered via a USB charger and equipped with a 2-in-1 crevice tool. You can even get the vacuum in a black, frosted mint or white finish.

Overall Take

Best for Tight SpacesThis handheld vacuum weighs just 1.2 pounds, making it one of the lightest options on the market.

 We Also Like

BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Triple Filtration Handheld Vacuum

BISSELL

Pet Hair Eraser Triple Filtration Handheld Vacuum

Dog and cat hair are no match for this powerful handheld vacuum. The 14V lithium ion battery works with the motorized brush tool to grab and lift away clingy pet hair. Additional features that make this unit an attractive buy include triple level filtration, a large dust cup, an upholstery tool and a crevice tool.

Overall Take

Designed for Pet OwnersWhen you purchase this handheld vacuum, a donation will be made to help save homeless pets.

 Also Great

Dirt Devil Scorpion Portable Corded Handheld Vacuum

Dirt Devil

Scorpion Portable Corded Handheld Vacuum

You'll love this handheld vacuum's bright red color. Although the unit is small, it is mighty in cleaning power. It also features a long cord, so you can easily clean out the inside of your car or get under the dining room table after the kids have finished their meal.

Overall Take

Economical OptionYou'll find this handheld vacuum works for just about every budget.

Pros
" It has a powerful motor with good suction and comes with a hose and dust brush attachments."
Cons
"The only drawback with this model is that it is tethered to a cord, which limits its mobility. You won’t be able to vacuum out your car with it, unless you have a serious extension cord."
Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
23

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the handheld vacuums available to purchase.
16

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

View All Product Rankings

80

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Superior Top List, Medium, Merch Dope, The Good Estate, Top Most Reviews.

280,332

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 16 Handheld Vacuums and also dug through the reviews from 80 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Handheld Vacuums.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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Look for the DWYM seal for products that are the best in their category.

The Best Bang For Your Buck

Dirt Devil Scorpion Portable Corded Handheld Vacuum

Our Expert Score

7.0
5 expert reviews

User Summarized Score

8.5
3,834 user reviews

Our Take

You'll love this handheld vacuum's bright red color. Although the unit is small, it is mighty in cleaning power. It also features a long cord, so you can easily clean out the inside of your car or get under the dining room table after the kids have finished their meal.

What other experts liked

It has a powerful motor with good suction and comes with a hose and dust brush attachments.
- BestReviews
We also like that it weighs less than four pounds (not having a battery cuts down on overall weight) making it light enough for anyone to use.
- The Spruce
December 25, 2018 | Full review
This device is powered by a 7 amp motor via a 16 foot cord, which provides it with a great amount of suction power.
- Best Handheld Vacuums
The integrated quick flip nozzle helps you get hard-to-reach places, while the bagless design makes it easy to empty.
- Bustle
September 22, 2017 | Full review

What other experts didn't like

The motor is very loud and there is not a spot provided in the vacuum to wrap the cord
- BestReviews
The only drawback with this model is that it is tethered to a cord, which limits its mobility. You won’t be able to vacuum out your car with it, unless you have a serious extension cord.
- The Spruce
December 25, 2018 | Full review
There has been an issue with many users stating that the device gets hot after 10-15 minutes of continuous use. And with the high power also comes loud noise and a slight burning odor.
- Best Handheld Vacuums

What to Look For

  • Before you start shopping for a handheld vacuum, make a list of all of the things you’ll encounter on a weekly basis. If you have pets, you’ll likely occasionally want to grab your handheld to clean up hair on surfaces like your sofa. If you plan to regularly use it on your car’s interior, you may find it important that your handheld be able to easily grab debris, such as pebbles and leaves.
  • Strong suction is necessary if you deal with fine particles, like pet hair and crumbs.
  • One thing that might help your handheld along when it comes to picking up fine debris is a motorized brush.
  • As with any device powered by a battery, run time is a concern. Top models run for up to 30 minutes on a full charge when used in standard mode. However, if you’re picking up larger debris, you’ll need turbo mode, which can only run for 10 minutes before going back on the charging dock.
  • Size and weight are both important with handheld vacuums, which need to be able to get into the deepest crevices. There are models that are only 1.4 pounds that have a curved handle that makes them easy to get into those tight places without needing a separate accessory.
  • In some cases, the attachments and accessories are the biggest draws. You may wish to look for a mini motorized tool that can tackle even tough stains.
  • Before you make a purchase, consider where you’ll set the charging stand. When not in use, you’ll need to be able to store your handheld in a place that’s out of the way yet still close to an A/C adapter. Some vacuums have a charging stand that can’t be mounted on the wall, for instance, so you’ll need to come up with a shelf or rack for resting it.
  • Any vacuum has a filter to catch all of those dirt particles. Some models also has no filter sensor, which means you’ll have to monitor when things slow down. You may find that you have to clean the filter after every two or three uses.
  • Whether you’re cleaning the interior of your car or getting into those tight places, one-handed operation is a valuable asset in a handheld.
  • Whether you’re operating your handheld inside or in your driveway, noise can be an important factor. Vacuums that are a bit noisy mean you’ll want to plan your vacuuming around times when others will be sleeping.
  • Overall, handheld vacuums are relatively inexpensive, so you’re sure to find one that fits your budget.

Handheld Vacuum Rankings

1. VacLife Portable Lightweight Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 9.5
Reviews Included: 1

2. eufy Compact Dust Devouring Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 9.4
Reviews Included: 1

4. Shark ION W1 Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 9.0
Reviews Included: 7

5. Dirt Devil Scorpion Portable Corded Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.9
Reviews Included: 8

6. BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.8
Reviews Included: 1

7. Vaclife HEPA Filter High Power Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.7
Reviews Included: 12

8. ThisWorx Corded Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.6
Reviews Included: 1

9. Bissell Corded Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.5
Reviews Included: 12

10. BLACK+DECKER Flex Indoor Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.4
Reviews Included: 7

11. BLACK+DECKER Washable Filter Pet Hair Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.3
Reviews Included: 10

12. Dyson V7 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Overall Score: 8.2
Reviews Included: 10

14. Eureka RapidClean Lightweight Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.0
Reviews Included: 12

15. BLACK+DECKER Pivot Handheld Vacuum

Overall Score: 8.0
Reviews Included: 8

More to Explore

Vacuum cleaners have come a long way from the 1800s. In the 1860s, an inventor named Daniel Hess came up with a manually-operated machine that could draw in dirt by using air. It was a rudimentary design and not really functional, which is why it was easily replaced by a patented upright model called the Whirlwind in 1869.

But vacuum cleaners didn’t really begin to take off until the early 1900s when a janitor came up with a device that used a broom, pillowcase and electric motor. Eventually, he sold the patent for his device to William Hoover, who initially had misgivings about taking on the project. However, marketing and door-to-door salesmen soon put Hoover vacuum cleaners in the homes of people across the country and, eventually, the world.

More to explore