Looking for the best handheld cordless vacuum? You’ve come to the right place. Over the past few weeks, we bought and rigorously evaluated more than 20 of the best handheld cordless vacuums on the market. And today, we’ll present the results, highlighting the top picks in three distinct categories.
Choosing the best handheld vacuums
Handheld vacuums are designed for convenience and quick cleanups. They provide a portable solution for everyday messes without to need of a full-sized vacuum cleaner.
These vacuums are perfect for cleaning kitchen counters, pet hair on furniture, stairs, or dirt in your car’s interior. Operation is straightforward, typically featuring an on/off power button with a single power level, although a few models offer more. Most come with at least one accessory, like a crevice tool, but they can operate without attachments.
All products evaluated for our round-up of the best handheld vacuums are cordless and roughly similar in size and price range. This year, we also capped the price at $100 on the top end.
Our Top Picks at a Glace
We appreciate the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser for its comprehensive features that cater specifically to pet owners. This handheld vacuum stands out with its powerful motorized brush tool, effectively removing embedded dirt and pet hair from various surfaces. Its triple-level filtration system ensures cleaner air, a notable advantage over many competitors. Additionally, the large, easy-to-empty dirt bin simplifies maintenance, and the set of specialized pet tools enhances its versatility, making it an excellent choice for tackling pet hair on stairs, upholstery, and car interiors.
- Motorized brush tool
- Triple-level filtration
- Large dirt bin
- Specialized pet tools
- Effective on multiple surfaces
- No power level options
- Limited battery life
- Noisy on max power
We appreciate the Black & Decker Furbuster for its impressive power and practical design, making it a standout choice for pet owners. Its 20V MAX lithium-ion battery provides strong suction, and the POWERBOOST mode adds extra power at the touch of a button, making cleanup quick and efficient. The Furbuster's anti-tangle motorized pet brush effectively lifts pet hair and stubborn debris, while the built-in XL extendable crevice tool reaches tight spots effortlessly. Additionally, the one-touch easy empty dust bowl and compact design enhance convenience, making it a reliable and user-friendly handheld vacuum.
- Strong suction power
- POWERBOOST mode
- Anti-tangle pet brush
- XL extendable crevice tool
- One-touch easy empty
- Limited battery life
- Slightly heavy
- Noisy at max power
- Longer recharge time
- Basic filtration system
We like the Black & Decker HHVI315JO42 for its excellent value and straightforward design, making it an ideal budget-friendly handheld vacuum. This model excels with its efficient 16V MAX lithium-ion battery, delivering reliable suction power for everyday cleanups. Its lightweight build and portability make it easy to maneuver and store. The HHVI315JO42 also features a wide-mouth design for picking up larger debris and a washable bowl and filter for easy maintenance. Though it lacks some advanced features, its performance and affordability make it a solid choice for quick and convenient cleaning tasks. Despite its average performance in our tests, it maintained enough quality to stand out at its price point.
- Affordable price
- Lightweight design
- Reliable suction power
- Wide-mouth design
- Easy maintenance
- Limited battery life
- Basic filtration
- Fewer attachments
- Average Performance
The Best Handheld Cordless Vacuums: How We Chose the Best
Power
We first evaluated airflow and suction power, which are crucial metrics for handheld cordless vacuums. These figures were combined to create an overall power score. Below are the top five scores in each category.
Battery life
Another critical factor for handheld vacuums is battery life. We conducted evaluations at maximum power where applicable, revealing an average run time of about 11 minutes. Notably, all of the top five handheld cordless vacuums exceeded this average.
Dustbin
Dustbin capacity was assessed by measuring the maximum amount of debris each vacuum could hold in milliliters.
While not scored, the Black+Decker Furbuster and Black+Decker AdvancedClean models stood out. Their dustbins open at the bottom with a button, similar to standard cordless vacuums. This offers a significant advantage over the clunky emptying mechanisms of most other models.
Weight and ease of use
These are crucial factors when evaluating handheld cordless vacuums. Lighter vacuums earned higher points, but there’s often a trade-off, as the lightest models tend to have shorter battery life and lower power scores. A bigger motor and battery generally mean a bit more weight. When choosing a handheld vacuum, it’s important to balance these aspects based on your needs.
Noise level
Each handheld vacuum’s noise level was evaluated at maximum power. However, we didn’t give them many points for this factor one way or the other, and the variation among models was minimal.
Recharge time
Vacuums were also scored for shorter recharge times, with the average being about five hours.
Debris pickup
Various pickup evaluations were conducted to evaluate how well each vacuum handled debris of all types and sizes. We deducted points if a vacuum got clogged by larger debris, ensuring only the best-performing models reached the top.
Attachment set
The attachment set was a key factor in the scoring. Points were awarded for each tool included in the set, with extra points given for a motorized turbo brush attachment.
This feature is powered by the battery, which spins the brush tool. It’s especially useful for upholstery vacuuming and generally enhances the machine’s overall utility.
Pet hair
Some finalists were evaluated head-to-head using their power brushes on embedded pet hair, and all performed exceptionally well with no significant differences.
However, the Powtools model, sold under various brand names, broke when resistance was applied to its power brush. Due to this issue, points were deducted from its score, preventing it from ranking in the top three despite its otherwise strong performance.
Filtration
We evaluated filtration across all models, but only the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser and Shark W1 did very well, displaying superior performance. While most handheld vacuums we evaluated include filters, they are not good at capturing small particles, which isn’t expected in this price range.
Our top picks of the best handheld cordless vacuums
It’s time to reveal the best handheld cordless vacuums based on all the data we found. These top picks excel in various aspects, such as power, battery life, debris pickup, and overall usability. Here are the standout models that offer the best performance and value.
Best Overall: Bissell Pet Hair Eraser
Our number one pick is the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser, which is also one of the best-selling handheld cordless vacuums evaluated. It offers solid all-around performance, scoring better than average in most categories without excelling in any one metric.
Runner up: Black+Decker Furbuster
The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser almost tied for the top spot with our runner-up pick, the Black+Decker Furbuster. It has more power and a superior bin design at the same price point. It could have been the top pick if not for the Bissell’s better filtration.
Budget pick: Black+Decker HHV1315 JO42
Our third pick, and also the budget pick, is the Black+Decker HHV1315 JO42. Typically half the cost of the other two, this model is a mega best-seller due to its affordability. While it lacks a powered brush and has a shorter battery life, it is significantly lighter and more budget-friendly.
The best handheld vacuums: value and final thoughts
When choosing the best handheld cordless vacuum, consider your needs and preferences. The Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is the best overall, while the Black+Decker Furbuster offers excellent power and bin design. If you’re on a budget, the Black+Decker HHV1315 JO42 provides great value without compromising on essential features.
Vacuum Wars
