Today’s focus is on the best cordless stick vacuum cleaner for small spaces like RVs, dorm rooms, and studio apartments. Those are just a few examples of places where storage is at a premium, and a full-size vacuum or a robot vacuum would be too much. Yet, you still need a quality vacuum that won’t break the budget. After evaluating several models over the years, we have finally found one to recommend specifically for this case: the Bissell Featherweight Cordless. In this review, we’ll cover the pros, cons, and features to help you make an informed decision.
The Bissell Featherweight cordless stick vacuum 3061 emerges as an exceptional choice for anyone looking for the best stick vacuum for small spaces. This cordless cleaner is not just lightweight and easy to store, but it also performs impressively on both hard floors and carpets, ensuring a thorough clean regardless of surface type. Its unique handle design folds down for easy storage, which is invaluable in space-constrained settings. Moreover, the Bissell Featherweight is versatile enough to switch from floor vacuum to a handheld device, enhancing its utility for above-floor cleaning. Its capability to pick up large debris on hard floors and carpets, thanks to the spinning brush roll, truly sets it apart from other models in its category. For those prioritizing a mix of affordability, convenience, and effective cleaning in a vacuum cleaner, the Bissell FeatherWeight Cordless offers an unbeatable solution in the budget-friendly segment. See additional info
Price as of April 25, 2025
Design & Build: Pivoting Wand | Lightweight | Compact Storage | Handheld
| Scores | Bissell Featherweight | Average Cordless Vacuum Tested |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum Wars Overall | 1.97 | 2.51 |
| Performance | 2.63 | 3.00 |
| Hard Floor | 2.35 | 2.22 |
| Carpet | 1.96 | 2.20 |
| Features | 0.86 | 1.89 |
| Battery | 0.70 | 2.11 |
| Attachments | 1.36 | 1.66 |
| Official Battery Life: 20 Minutes |
| Handle Weight: 1040gr |
| Noise Level: 80db |
| Dust Bin Capacity: 450ml |
About the Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum
The Bissell FeatherWeight Cordless Stick Vacuum 3061 is the upgraded version of Bissell’s previous Featherweight stick vacuum, but there’s a big difference. Those older versions were corded, whereas this one is cordless. This new model also features several enhancements that we believe make it a significantly better vacuum than other Featherweights we’ve evaluated.
The Pros
Lightweight and easy to store
One of the biggest advantages is its lightweight design. At only 5.8 pounds, the Bissell Featherweight Cordless is lighter than the average cordless vacuum and significantly lighter than the average upright vacuum.
…the Bissell FeatherWeight cordless is a small vacuum that’s versatile enough to be used on both hard floors and carpets. Other vacuums in this style are definitely not, and that is a big reason why we are recommending it.
It has a unique handle design that folds down for easy storage, which is great if you have limited space, like with an RV or dorm. The same folding handle also allows for cleaning under furniture without bending over.
Ease of Use
It also features a well-designed swivel, which may not seem important, but it’s something other vacuums in this style skimp on sometimes. This one is responsive to wrist movements and has a good range, making it easy to maneuver in tight spaces, such as those found in RVs, dorms, and studio apartments.
RELATED: See our top picks for vacuums for tile flooring.
Another great feature of the Bissell FeatherWeight is that it can be used as both a handheld vacuum for above-floor cleaning and a floor vacuum. The attachments that come with it aren’t all that great, but we still prefer having them rather than not.
Cleaning evaluation performance
Another significant advantage is that it excels at its primary task of removing debris from hard floors and carpets. In our evaluations, we found that the Bissell FeatherWeight Cordless performed exceptionally well on both surface types.
It has a fairly large gate on the floorhead, so it could pick up much larger debris than many of its competitors. It also has a squeegee on the bottom, making it less likely to scatter debris on hard floors. And it was good with carpets and rugs.
The Bissell Featherweight Cordless also has a spinning brushroll you can turn on or off. This is a big difference from previous FeatherWeight models, which only had a suction port. It also means the stick vacuum can agitate carpets and rugs for deep cleaning. This was evident in our evaluations, as it scored way higher on the carpet deep clean assessment than we expected.
To sum up its capability on different types of flooring, the Bissell FeatherWeight Cordless is a small vacuum that’s versatile enough to be used on both hard floors and carpets. Other vacuums in this style are definitely not, and that is a big reason why we are recommending it.
Price
It’s affordable, at about half the cost of an average vacuum. And it’s cordless, which is significantly more convenient for quick pickup jobs or when power or outlet limitations exist.
The Cons
Battery
The first potential drawback of the Bissell Featherweight Cordless is the battery life. The FeatherWeight can handle approximately 20 minutes of cleaning time before needing to be charged. That’s lower than average when compared against other cordless vacuums we’ve evaluated. While that might be a dealbreaker for people with large homes, we think 20 minutes is more than enough time for most small spaces.
However, the charge time to get that 20 minutes of cleaning is somewhat long. It takes four and a half hours to go from empty to 100%, and the battery isn’t removable. So, if there were an area for improvement, the battery would be a good place to start. But this really isn’t an issue for our use case (cordless vacuum for small spaces).
Dustbin
Another thing is that the dustbin isn’t as easy to use and empty as a regular vacuum. It’s more like a handheld vacuum’s dustbin, which means you have to manually remove the filter to dump the bin. The filters get dirty quicker, too, and should be replaced often. On the bright side, the filters are fairly inexpensive to buy online, so that’s good.
Filtration
We can’t think of a single vacuum in this price range that features a sealed HEPA system, and the Featherweight is no exception. Still, the absence of a sealed HEPA system may be a dealbreaker for some users, but for its price range, it is a big ask.
Bissell Featherweight Cordless Review: Conclusion and Recommendation
There you have it—the pros and cons of the Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum 3061. Despite its few drawbacks, we still think it’s the best option for small spaces. It’s lightweight, versatile, easy to use, and affordable. If you’re in the market for a stick vacuum for your tiny space, it’s a solid buy with great reviews.
