Standup vacuums just don’t clean tight spaces. You need a versatile and powerful handheld vacuum. Look for one that excels in portability, suction power, battery life, and ease of use. Handheld vacuums are ideal for quick cleanups, reaching tight spaces, and cleaning upholstery or car interiors. In our latest evaluation, 99 handheld vacuums were rigorously analyzed, with 3 models earning a place on our buying guide.
We scrutinized 152,229 customer reviews, filtering out fake and low-quality ones with our data-driven True Score. Our approach certifies products as tested and ensures reliability. These top-performing models were selected for their outstanding capabilities, durability, and customer satisfaction, ensuring you find the best vacuum cleaner for your home.
How Did We Rank the Best Handheld Vacuum?
After analyzing more than 200 sources, we’ve crafted a definitive buying guide for handheld vacuums. By evaluating diverse testing methods and interpreting expert and customer reviews, we identified the key factors that truly matter. Our criteria include 2 required test results and 1 must-have specification, all filtered through our true score system. This approach guarantees you receive a top-tier recommendation grounded in extensive research and consumer needs.
Our commitment to unbiased reviews is powered by our ‘True Score’ system, targeting low-quality and fake reviews. When you shop through our links, you’re backing our mission. Dive deeper to see how.
?️ Minimum Specifications
- Must be a handheld vacuum
? Test Criteria
- Bare Floor Performance: The vacuum sucks up 85% of debris when cleaning bare surfaces such as tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
- Pet Hair Performance: The vacuum sucks up 85% of pet hair from any surface.
Latest Updates
- 06/26/2024: Republished the list to include the best handheld vacuum cleaners based on our True Score system.
Top Handheld Vacuum For 2024
Prices accurate at the time of publishing
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Dyson V15 Detect
Best Cordless
This is an excellent handheld vacuum with outstanding performance on all surfaces. It’s pricey but worth it for its versatility and strong cleaning abilities.
True Score
929119Experts
932kCustomers
Cosmic Wonder
SAVE $200$799.99$599.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Laser illumination technology
- Incredible performance on both carpets and hard floors
- Lightweight design
- Decent battery life
- Anti-allergenic HEPA filter
Reasons to Avoid
- Complicated maneuvrability on deep carpets
- Relatively low-capacity 0.45L dust cup
- Plastic construction
Specifications
Bagless Yes 
Bin Capacity 0.2 gal 
Brush Roll Shut-Off No 
Carpet Height Adjustments Yes 
Cleaning Path Width 10″ 
Compatible Floor Type All floors 
Cord Length Cordless 
Corded/Cordless Cordless 
Filter Type Other 
Hypoallergenic Yes 
Pet Yes 
Product Weight 6.7 lbs 
Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums 
Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 92 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 100 Noise Level (dB) 73 All Retailers
$599.99$800Save $200
$631.95$750Save $118
$631.95$750Save $118
Our Verdict
The Dyson V15 Detect is an outstanding handheld vacuum cleaner with exceptional performance, making it perfect for any surface. With a floor debris cleaning efficiency of 98.59%, carpet cleaning efficiency of 91.77%, and pet hair performance of 100%, it’s capable of tackling anything in your home, from stairs to thick rugs to tile, vinyl, and hardwood.
The noise level is moderate—at 72.54 dB, it’s about as loud as a washing machine, so it’ll overpower conversations in the same room, but it’s not a particularly bothersome noise level; it’s just distracting.
The bin capacity is 0.2 gallons, which, while adequate for a handheld vacuum, could require frequent emptying for larger cleaning tasks; if you’re mostly cleaning up small messes, it’ll hardly be noticeable. At 6.7 lbs, it isn’t the lightest vacuum cleaner, but it’s still light enough to be properly handheld and easy to use.
The V15 Detect is expensive, that’s undeniable. But this premium price tag delivers premium performance. Whether you’re cleaning up hardwood floors, thick carpets, or pet dander, the Detect can handle everything without breaking a sweat. If you’ve got room in the budget, it’s an excellent pick.
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DON’T SEE WHAT YOU’RE LOOKING FOR?
For tackling various cleaning tasks, handheld steam vacuums provide the convenience of portability and the power of steam cleaning. For pet owners, a solid vacuum for pet hair is essential to effectively remove fur and dander. Our Shark Cordless Vertex Pro Powered Lift-Away review highlights its versatility and strong suction, making it a top contender.
If you’re looking for the top-rated canister vacuums, consider models that offer robust performance and easy maneuverability. For tech enthusiasts, highly-rated computer vacuums ensure your devices stay dust-free. Check out our guide on the best Dyson vacs and the best cordless stick vacuum for premium cleaning solutions.
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Dyson Omni-Glide
A lightweight, dual-purpose vacuum great for pet hair and bare floors. It’s flexible and affordable, though its small bin may require frequent emptying.
True Score
858517Experts
86845Customers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $72$349.99$278.00Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Great maneuverability
- Lightweight and portable
- Two suction modes
- Swappable batteries
Reasons to Avoid
- Not ideal for picking up debris on carpets
- Somewhat short battery life
- Small 0.09-liter dirt compartment
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.05 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments No Cleaning Path Width 8″ Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Cordless Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type Other, Washable Hypoallergenic Yes Pet Yes Product Weight 4.18 lbs Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 86 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 0 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 85 Noise Level (dB) 74 All Retailers
- $278.00$350Save $72
- $349.99
Our Verdict
If you’re looking for a vacuum that doubles as both a stick and a handheld, the Dyson Omni-Glide is lightweight and multi-purpose, weighing just 4.18 lbs. This cordless vacuum cleaner is good on bare floors like hardwood and tile, cleaning up 86.12% of debris. When it comes to pet hair, it’s fantastic: at 99.165% debris cleaned up, it’ll keep your home free of dander and clumps of fur with ease.
At roughly half the price of the V15 Detect, it’s an excellent alternative if you’re looking for basically identical pet hair clean-up performance, and it’s lighter, too. However, the Omni-Glide makes serious compromises with its tiny bin size of 0.05 gal. The V15 offers a bin that’s four times larger, and it’s better at cleaning up bare floors and carpets, too.
Noise levels of the Omni-Glide are moderate; at 74.1 dB, it’s no louder than most of the other options on our list. You’ll have a tough time holding a conversation in the same room as it unless you raise your voice, but it won’t blow out your hearing either.
The Dyson Omni-Glide offers good value for its price, especially if you’re just looking to keep your couches free of pet hair and your bare floors clean of debris. Its dual-purpose nature—being light enough and small enough to scale down for handheld use and then up to standard stick—makes it a great pick for flexibility.
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Category Snapshot
Vacuum Cleaners
- Total Brands/Products Tested
31 Brands, 99 Products
- Top 2 Brands
Dyson, Miele
- Price Range (Budget-Premium)
$50-$400+
- Average True Score
75.70
- Important Test Criteria
Bare Floor Performance (%)
Carpet Performance (%)
- Most Trusted Testers
- Typical Warranty
1 year
- Covered by Insurance
Yes – Amazon, Best Buy
Best Overall
Runner Up
Best Value
Best Budget
Best Mid-Range
Premium Pick
Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+
Best Lightweight
A lightweight, handheld vacuum ideal for pet owners. While noisy, it’s affordable, effective, and perfect for quick clean-ups on various surfaces.
True Score
81806Experts
831kCustomers
Absolutely Fresh
SAVE $20$89.99$69.99Read More
Snapshot
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent performance with pet hair
- Great dirt pick-up rate on carpets and hard floors
- Comes with a turbo brush
- Great build quality
- Portable design
Reasons to Avoid
- Poor battery life
- Lacks a HEPA filter
Specifications
Bagless Yes Bin Capacity 0.1 gal Brush Roll Shut-Off Unknown Carpet Height Adjustments Unknown Cleaning Path Width 2.5″ Compatible Floor Type All floors Cord Length Unknown Corded/Cordless Cordless Filter Type Cloth, Washable Hypoallergenic Unknown Pet Yes Product Weight 2.8 lbs Vacuum Type Handheld vacuums Wet And Dry Usage No All Specs
Test Results
Bare Floor Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 95 Carpet Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 85 Pet Hair Performance (% of Debris Cleaned) 99 Noise Level (dB) 77 All Retailers
- $69.99$90Save $20
- $69.99$90Save $20
- $79.99$90Save $10
Our Verdict
If you need the lightest possible vacuum and only need it for basic handheld cleaning, the Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+ is perfect. At just 2.8 lbs, it’s perfect for getting right to messes, spot-cleaning them, and moving on. It’s not a proper vacuum, though—it’s purely intended to pick up small piles of debris (particularly pet hair) and then move on, while other vacuums on our list can perform a more dual-purpose role.
Still, the vacuum puts up impressive numbers when it comes to cleaning. It boasts a high bare floor performance at 95.25%, making it an efficient choice for cleaning hard surfaces. It also performs well on carpets, achieving a strong 84.5% score, though this mostly means that small rugs will be easy to clean, as trying to vacuum an area rug with the Pet Pro+ will take a long time. As its name suggests, its pet hair performance of 99.165% is the biggest selling point and puts it neck and neck with the Dyson V15 and Omni-Glide, all at the cost of one-fifth of the V15 and one-third of the Omni-Glide.
The Pet Pro+ does stumble a bit, though. It has the highest noise level, at 77.2 dB. This is only a bit higher than other options on our list, but it’s edging closer to what you’d expect from a lawnmower than a washing machine at this point, and it will prove disruptive and bothersome for other people in the room while you use it. The bin capacity is small, too, at 0.1 gallons, but given the handheld nature of the vacuum, this is unavoidable.
Regardless, the Shark Ultracyclone Pet Pro+ offers outstanding value, particularly for pet owners or those who want a quick way to clean up small messes on bare or carpeted floors. It’s extremely inexpensive, very effective, and easy to pick up and use, making it a perfect “tiny mess” vacuum cleaner.
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Which Criteria Matters for Testing Handheld Vacuum?
By focusing on these criteria (2 required), anyone can quickly and easily compare these vacuum cleaners and how they’ll perform. This helps you make an informed decision and purchase a vacuum cleaner that will meet your needs.
| CRITERIA | RANGE | REQUIRED | DEFINITION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Floor Performance | > 85% | Yes | How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors. |
| Pet Hair Performance | > 85% | Yes | How much pet hair the vacuum sucks up from any surface. |
Our Trusted Data Sources
We looked at 120+ vacuum cleaner reviewers and found that 27 are trustworthy (60%+ Trust Rating). The three we have listed below are our most trusted for vacuum cleaner.
- Dagobiet Morales Alfaro – RTings, LinkedIn
- Derek Hales – Modern Castle, LinkedIn
- Sabine Heinlein – Wirecutter, LinkedIn
Interested in a comprehensive analysis of our data sources? We’ve got you covered. Below, you’ll find a detailed list of every vacuum cleaner review website we’ve identified, organized by their respective Trust Ratings from highest to lowest. But we didn’t stop there. We’ve meticulously reviewed each publication and verified the data by checking whether the authors have bio links to MuckRack or LinkedIn. We’re committed to not only checking the facts but ensuring their veracity.
Vacuum Cleaner Test Data & Results
1. Bare Floor Performance Test Results
As the name suggests, bare floor performance references how well a vacuum does when it’s cleaning up tiles, vinyl planks, or hardwood flooring. Debris comes in a variety of sizes of course, and much of the testing revolves around picking up debris that ranges in size from cereal to bits of dirt to sand to a mix of everything above and more.
We recommend that a vacuum be able to pick up at least 85% of debris from a bare floor to ensure you end up with clean floors. Hitting a perfect score is obviously ideal, but the worse a vacuum performs here, the more work you need to do sweeping up or re-vacuuming. Missing debris is frustrating, and can invite pests if you miss bits of food, or annoyance if you step on something barefoot and hurt yourself.
Bare Floor Performance
> 85%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much debris the vacuum sucks up when cleaning bare surfaces like tile, vinyl planks, and hardwood floors.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Scale
Why It’s Important:
A vacuum is supposed to clean, so if it can’t pick up most of the debris on a floor, it’s not doing its job.
Bare Floor Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
2. Pet Hair Performance Test Results
Pet Hair Performance
> 85%
Acceptable range of performance
Definition: How much pet hair the vacuum sucks up from any surface.
Units of Measurement: % (percentage)
Tools to Measure: Speed-checking software
Why It’s Important:
If you have pets and want to keep your home free of pet hair, you need good pet hair cleanup performance.
If you own pets, the ability of a vacuum to suck up pet hair, be it with attachments or the brush itself is extremely important. Pet hair can stick to furniture, dig itself into the carpet, and clump together under beds and in corners. If you have allergies and need to keep pet hair out of your home as best as you can, you’ll need a vacuum that gets rid of as much pet hair a possible when cleaning.
We recommend that a vacuum has a pet hair cleaning performance of at least 85%. Higher is always better, but if you can get rid of most of the pet hair, you’ll have an easier time breathing and less dander flying away and sticking to clothes and furniture. Poor pet hair cleaning performance can invite repeated vacuuming and more annoyance for anyone who suffers from allergies.
Pet Hair Performance in % (higher is better; 0 = No Data)
Best Handheld Vacuum: Mistakes To Avoid
- Ignoring Suction Power: Choosing a handheld vacuum with insufficient suction power can lead to ineffective cleaning. It’s crucial to select a vacuum with strong suction, suitable for various cleaning tasks. Check the motor power and read user reviews to ensure it performs well. For those with extensive carpeted areas, a great vacuum for carpets with strong suction and specialized attachments is essential for thorough cleaning. Additionally, investing in a quality carpet cleaner can help maintain your carpets’ appearance and longevity. For a more comprehensive cleaning solution, consider the best steam mop vacuum, which can handle both vacuuming and steam cleaning in one device.
- Overlooking Battery Life: Underestimating battery life can cause interruptions during cleaning. Choose a handheld vacuum with adequate battery life to complete your tasks without frequent recharges. Look for models with at least 20-30 minutes of runtime and consider quick-charging options. Our Bissell Aeroslim review showcases its compact design and effectiveness for quick cleanups, however, it has a short battery life of around 13 minutes.
- Disregarding Filtration Systems: Selecting a vacuum without a proper filtration system can impact indoor air quality, especially for allergy sufferers. Opt for a vacuum with a HEPA filter or an equivalent system to trap allergens and fine particles, ensuring cleaner air in your home.
- Ignoring Maintenance Requirements: Not considering the ease of maintenance can lead to frustration. Ensure the vacuum is easy to empty, clean, and maintain. Handheld vacuums should have user-friendly features that make maintenance straightforward to ensure consistent performance. One important aspect of maintenance is knowing how to remove hair from a vacuum roller, as accumulated hair can reduce suction power and overall efficiency.
The Best Handheld Vacuum Tests Compared
Product |
True Score
|
Bare Floor Performance
|
Carpet Performance
|
Pet Hair Performance
|
Noise Level
| |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92 |
|
|
|
|  $599.99 $800 $200 |
85 |
|
|
|
|  $278.00 $350 $72 | |
| 81 |
|
|
|
|  $69.99 $90 $20 |
