5 Best Handheld Vacuums, Tested by Cleaning Pros (2024)

You've likely never seen a square vacuum before, but this little cube from Worx is worth a second look. In our test, it easily picked up all the debris and most of the pet hair we put down, even without a rotating brush attachment or selecting the max power setting.

Its 4-foot hose reaches into tight spaces, and it ran for 23 minutes at regular power. Our tester called this hand vac "very quiet and comfortable to use." It earned a three-star Quiet Mark rating for quiet performance, which is the best rating a product can receive for noise.

The Worx is a little heavier than other handhelds but it stands on its own during use. The large dust cup empties from the bottom, though isn't removable, so we found cleaning it out to be a bit cumbersome. It does have other notable features including a removable battery that fits into other Worx tools, a washable HEPA filter (great for pets and allergy-sufferers), attachments that store on board and a top handle that also cradles the hose for easy toting.

Weight: 3 lbs | Run time: 23 minutes | Dust Cup Capacity: 0.18 L | Filter: Washable HEPA filter | Attachments: Crevice nozzle, brush attachment

You can count on Dirt Devil to make simple, no-nonsense vacuums at a great price and this easy-to-use, powerful little handheld vacuum is no exception. That's why we named it a Good Housekeeping Best Cleaning & Organizing Award winner and our best value pick here.

Weighing in at just over one pound, it's extremely lightweight and portable. And because it stands upright in its charging caddy (that also has a spot to stash its brush/crevice tool) storage is simple too. It only runs at one speed and doesn't come with a pet hair attachment, but it did run for almost 10 minutes on a single charge. We also found it comfortable to hold. One consumer tester said, "I loved this for easy clean-up in the kitchen while cooking!"

Weight: 1 lbs | Run time: 10 minutes | Dust Cup Capacity: 0.1 L | Filter: Mesh and pleated filter assembly | Attachments: Two-in-one combination crevice tool and brush

In the GH Cleaning Lab, we're seeing many new lightweight, sleek hand vacs so this slim Bissell is definitely on trend. The AeroSlim is quickly proving to be the ideal small vacuum for quick pick-ups on hard surfaces. It comes with a two-in-one brush and crevice tool to nab crumbs stuck in your car's cup holders or between seat cushions. Its trim design also makes it easier to tuck into a car's trunk to handle messes on the go, and it recharges via USB, so there's no need to find an outlet.

We appreciate that the filter is washable, so there's no need to buy pricey replacements. We were also impressed with this unit's suction, despite its conveniently compact size. And with 15 minutes of run time, you should be able to do the whole car. All it's missing is a pet hair attachment.

Weight: 1.4 lbs | Run time: 15 minutes | Dust Cup Capacity: 0.1 L | Filter: Dual-level filtration system | Attachments: Two-in-one crevice tool and dusting brush

Black+Decker literally invented the handheld vacuum, and this Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ model does the brand proud. It tied for first place in our tests with our best overall pick, was one of the quietest we evaluated and aced our pet-hair pickup test, earning it a spot here and on our list of the best vacuums for pet hair. It did well with other messes too — even without using the Power Boost setting.

Two standout features are an extra-long pullout crevice tool — attached to the vacuum so you'll never lose it — and an extra-large bottom-emptying dust bin that makes cleaning up after pets easy. The filter is washable, and the vacuum stands upright for charging or storage. The battery also had one of the longest run times at up to 32 minutes, though air coming out of the side vents caused some debris to be blown outside of the cleaning path which was a bit annoying.

Weight: 4.2 lbs | Run time: 32 minutes | Dust Cup Capacity: 0.75 L | Filter: Washable filter and pre-filter | Attachments: Motorized pet brush and built-in crevice tool

This Hoover is a little powerhouse, with a 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush that makes it easy to clean hard-to-reach places full-size vacuums struggle with, like in the corners of your stairs. Our experts rated it highly on pickup of small and large debris on both carpets and bare floors. The unit even did well with trickier tasks like sucking up pet hair. We love how simple it is to empty the dust cup and remove the filter to clean, too.

We were not so impressed with battery run and charge time (with a ONEPWR 20V battery), but on the plus side, the removable, rechargeable battery is compatible across other ONEPWR System indoor and outdoor cleaning devices. If the battery runs out on your hand vacuum, you can borrow the battery from, say, your ONEPWR leaf blower, upright vacuum or carpet cleaner. Our Cleaning Lab Reviews Analyst says vacuums with replaceable batteries are more sustainable, too, since, "when your vacuum's battery dies, you don't have to throw it away — you can just replace the battery." Just keep in mind that the replacement battery is a bit expensive to buy alone ($40), but it will be more money-efficient than buying an entirely new vacuum when it dies.

Weight: 2.2 lbs | Run time: 19 minutes (with 3Ah battery) | Dust Cup Capacity: 0.4 L | Filter: Washable filter | Attachments: On-board crevice tool

In addition to assessing performance, we record the weight of each vacuum and judge how easy the filter is to access, change and clean; how easy the dust cup is to empty and how comfortable the vacuum is to hold and use. Any special features or attachments are also assessed, and models are evaluated by Quiet Mark — an organization we partner with — to measure and score them for sound. One Quiet Mark star is poor, two is average and three is good.

For cordless models, we monitor the run time, and for models being considered for our Cleaning Awards, we ask real consumers to use and rate each vacuum before we determine our award winners. After completing more than 246 tests we chose the top-scoring hand vacuums.

✔️ Corded vs. cordless: Corded and cordless vacuums each have their pros and cons. With corded handheld vacuums, you’ll never have to worry about the battery running out no matter how long you are using it. However, you'll be limited in your range of motion. Cordless handheld vacuums give you the freedom to take the vacuum wherever it's needed, but you run the risk of the battery running out. Most handheld vacuums come cordless, and run times of 20 minutes or more are best for the biggest jobs.

✔️ Size and weight: Consider the size and weight of the handheld vacuum and, if possible, try it out to make sure it feels comfortable to hold. You want to make sure the vacuum is well-balanced and does not strain your hand or wrists. If you can't try it out before buying it, make sure it is returnable if you aren't satisfied.

✔️ Attachments: If you’ll be using the handheld vacuum for more than just a quick pass over hard surfaces, you may want to consider attachments such as a crevice tool to get into corners, brushes to help clean delicate surfaces or powered attachments to vacuum upholstery or pick up pet hair. Those with attachments make it easy to remove dust from draperies, window sills, door frames, mattresses and other out-of-the-way spots that may be awkward for a larger vacuum to reach.

✔️ Storage: Of course, you'll need to consider how much space you have. Slim vacuums with attachments onboard or housed in the charging base are the easiest to store neatly, especially if your space is limited. Models with removable batteries mean you can keep only the battery plugged in and store the body and attachments out of sight.

✔️ Features: Other innovations across both cordless and corded models include comfortable grips, easy-to-empty dust cups, washable filters, multiple speeds and more. Also consider the size of the dust cup. If you typically pick up large messes, a larger dust cup means less frequent emptying. Some pick up wet messes and remove stains too.

Carolyn Forté has tested and reviewed hundreds of vacuum cleaners, carpet cleaners, mops and other major (and minor) home appliances as executive director of the Home Care Lab. She oversees all testing done in the Cleaning Lab and recently tested all of the handheld, stick, upright and canister vacuums that were submitted for consideration in the most recent Cleaning and Organizing Awards. She is an active member of the ASTM Committee on vacuum cleaners and chairman of the consumer information sub-committee.

Lynn Redmile, Contributing Product Analyst, conducted the testing for our latest handheld vacuum test and has tested dozens of other vacuums across many different categories including robot vacuums and beyond.