The Best Handheld Vacuum - 2022
We looked at the top 14 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.
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Our Picks For The Top Handheld Vacuums
- The Best Handheld Vacuum
- 1. Dirt Devil Scorpion Corded Hand Vacuum
- 2. Shark ION W1 Handheld Vacuum
- 3. BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Handheld Vacuum
- 4. BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum
- 5. Vaclife Cordless High Power Handheld Vacuum
- 6. Homasy 8Kpa Rechargeable 14.8V Portable Handheld Cordless Vacuum
- 7. ThisWorx Corded Handheld Vacuum
- 8. Bissell Corded Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum
- 9. BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum
- 10. BLACK+DECKER Flex Vac Pet Hair Cordless Vacuum
- 11. Dyson V7 Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- 12. BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Cordless Hand Vacuum
- 13. BLACK+DECKER Pivot Vacuum
- 14. Eureka EasyClean Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Economical OptionYou'll find this handheld vacuum works for just about every budget.
Easy to EmptyThis handheld vacuum comes in a choice of four finishes, including gold, rose gold, graphite and cove.
Designed for Pet OwnersWhen you purchase this handheld vacuum, a donation will be made to help save homeless pets.
Super LightweightThis handheld vacuum weighs just 1.4 pounds, so you won't have any trouble vacuuming up small messes from room to room.
Why we recommend these handheld vacuums?
Products Considered
Products Analyzed
Expert Reviews Included
User Opinions Analyzed
Our experts reviewed the top 14 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.
The Best Overall
Dirt Devil Scorpion Corded Hand Vacuum
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
What other experts didn't like
The Best Bang For Your Buck
BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum
Our Take
You'll be able to quickly clean up crumbs and spills with this cordless handheld vacuum. The unit comes with an on-board crevice tool for getting in between cushions and an upholstery brush for cleaning chairs and sofas. Included with the vacuum is a charging base that can easily be mounted to any wall for convenience.
Overall Product Rankings
6. Homasy 8Kpa Rechargeable 14.8V Portable Handheld Cordless Vacuum
Our Handheld Vacuum Findings
Dirt Devil Scorpion Corded Hand Vacuum
What We Liked: 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.
Shark ION W1 Handheld Vacuum
What We Liked: Strong suction is what you’ll get with this handheld vacuum. It’s cordless design and light weight make it super portable, while the removable dust cup lets you empty trapped dirt in seconds. It’s even able to quickly remove pet hair from your upholstery.
BISSELL Pet Hair Eraser Cordless Handheld Vacuum
What We Liked: 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.
BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum
What We Liked: You’ll be able to quickly clean up crumbs and spills with this cordless handheld vacuum. The unit comes with an on-board crevice tool for getting in between cushions and an upholstery brush for cleaning chairs and sofas. Included with the vacuum is a charging base that can easily be mounted to any wall for convenience.
Vaclife Cordless High Power Handheld Vacuum
What We Liked: This handheld vacuum includes a stainless-steel HEPA filter to help capture allergens while it cleans. You’ll also get three attachments to help you reach into hard-to-access areas. An attached LED light gives you increased visibility in the areas you’re cleaning to ensure you don’t miss anything.
Our Handheld Vacuum Buying Guide
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.
DWYM Fun Fact
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.
The Handheld Vacuum Tips and Advice
- 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. Some models have the highest suction at 100 air watts, followed by the BLACK+DECKER Flex With Stick Vacuum, with 24 AW.
- One thing that might help your handheld along when it comes to picking up fine debris is a motorized brush. The BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum that comes with a brush, and the Flex’s is specifically designed to pick up pet hair.
- 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. The BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum is only 1.4 pounds and has a curved handle that makes it 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. The BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum has 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. The BLACK+DECKER 2Ah Bagless Handheld Vacuum is so lightweight, one-handed operation is a piece of cake. Other models have a wraparound flexible hose to help with one-handed use.
- 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.
About The Author
Stephanie Faris is a novelist and professional writer. She lives in a beautiful one-acre home in the suburbs on the outskirts of Nashville. Her home and garden work has appeared on popular home sites. She's a true homebody and loves looking at new houses for sale for inspiration on her own home remodeling projects.
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