Vacuuming is rarely fun, but it can be especially frustrating when it comes to cleaning small masses and hard-to-reach areas. We can all agree that pulling your full-size vacuum to clean a small pile of kitty litter is rather inconvenient.
Take a moment to read the article below as we help you find the best handheld vacuum among some of the best models. We’ve also included a small buyer’s guide to help you choose among best handheld vacuums.
Product Name | Capacity | Weight | Power |
---|---|---|---|
BLACK+DECKER Handheld Vacuum (BDH2000PL) | 15 oz | 3.75 lbs | 20 V |
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum (HHVI325JR22) | 13 oz | 2.42 lbs | 2.5 amp |
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum 16V (CHV1410L) | 20.6 oz | 2.6 lbs | 16 V |
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum, Corded, 33A1 | 0.78 l | 4.2 lbs | Unknown |
Holife Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Cordless | 1600 ml | 3.64 lbs | 6000 PA of suction power |
HOTOR Corded Car Vacuum for Quick Car Cleaning | Unknown | 2.44 lbs | 12 V |
AIRKII Portable Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Cordless | Unknown | 1.54 lbs | 2000 mAh battery |
BISSELL Pet Stain Eraser Deluxe ION Portable Carpet Cleaner | 8 oz | 7.05 lbs | 7.2 V |
Dyson V7 Car+Boat | .15 GAL | 3.77 lbs | 100 AW of suction power |
AEG AG71a RapidClean | 0.6 l | 2.59 kg | 700 W |
Top Rated Handheld Vacuums on The Market
BLACK+DECKER Handheld Vacuum (BDH2000PL)
This Black Decker handheld vacuum is among the best handheld vacuum options on the market. It features a high-performance motor and a pivoting nozzle, making it suitable for all kinds of tight and hard-to-reach areas.
It’s a bagless handheld vacuum with a dustbowl capacity of 15 ounces. While this might not seem as much, this cordless hand vacuum is quite small and compact, making it easy to use in tight areas, as well as nooks and crannies. This also helps if you usually struggle with storage space.
This handheld vacuum comes with Lithium Technology and a 3-stage filtration system. It’s suitable for pet owners as both the filters and dust bowl are washable.
The exclusive nozzle pivots at different angles, allowing you to clean various above-floor surfaces such as stairs, upholstery, bookshelves, and other such surfaces. Its cyclonic action spins all the debris away from the motor, keeping its suction power strong.

Specifications
- Dustbowl Capacity: 15 oz
- Power Source: 20 V battery
- Weight: 3.75 lbs
Pros
- Great ease of use
- Convenient charging base
- Crevice tool and brush included
Cons
- A bit tricky to empty
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum (HHVI325JR22)
You might want to consider this Black and Decker handheld vacuum if you’re looking for something simple to use. This hand vac is among the best lightweight options and the best handheld vacuum choices.
Its dust bowl has a capacity of about 13 ounces and is see-through. You can easily see when it’s time to empty it, which is also relatively simple to do. Keep in mind that both its bowl and filter are removable and washable.
Pros
- Convenient wall mount
- Lightweight and portable design
- Washable filtration system
Cons
- Only approx. ten minutes of battery life
BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum 16V (CHV1410L)
This is another outstanding Black and Decker handheld vacuum worth mentioning. It’s small and compact, making it easy to use for spot-cleaning and small messes on your floors and upholstery. It’s also one of the best handheld vacuum options for car interiors.
It features a Lithium-Ion battery, providing excellent performance at all times. It helps keep suction at its peak along with the cyclonic action. It allows the filters to stay clean for an extended period, requiring less maintenance.
Pros
- Great for pet hairs
- Quick recharging
- Lightweight and easy to use
Cons
- It’s loud
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser Handheld Vacuum, Corded, 33A1
Bissell Pet Hair Eraser vacuum is one of the best handheld vacuums on the market. The Pet Hair Eraser handheld a small and compact handheld vacuum that’s easy to use at all times. It’s equally as suitable on stairs, upholstery and car interiors.
With its multi-layer filtration, the Bissell Pet Hair Eraser is ideal for pet owners and allergy-prone people. The Pet Hair Eraser handheld vacuum uses the cyclonic cleaning system, keeping the dirt away from the motor while providing powerful suction.
Pros
- Two additional nozzles included
- Lightweight and compact
- Contoured nozzle
Cons
- The vents on the side blow a blast of air
Holife Handheld Vacuum Cleaner Cordless
This cordless handheld vacuum provides a stable 6000Pa strong cyclonic suction, picking up things like food debris, crumbs, pet hairs, dander, dust, cigarette ashes, and other small messes. It’s one of the best handheld vacuum choices for home and car use.
The handheld vacuum comes with two attachments that add even more to its versatility. The dusting brush is meant for picking up dirt and hairs from upholstery and delicate surfaces. On the other hand, its crevice tool is included for all the hard to reach places, nooks and crannies.
Pros
- Crevice tool included
- Up to 30 minutes of run time
- Washable stainless steel filter
Cons
- It’s loud
HOTOR Corded Vacuum for Quick Car Cleaning
This Hotor corded handheld vacuum could be the best handheld vacuum choice for your home and car, depending on how many available power sockets you have. It’s a 12V vacuum with LED lights for cleaning in low-light conditions such as car interior.
Another thing worth mentioning about this handheld vacuum is its HEPA filtration. It’s a stainless steel HEPA that’s washable and meant to last for many years. It helps improve the overall convenience and cost-efficiency of the vacuum.
Pros
- 4′ power cable
- Stainless steel filter
- Detachable, easy-to-empty dust bin
Cons
- It starts to get hot after a while
AIRKII Portable Handheld Vacuum
Airkii handheld vacuum is meant for both wet-dry cleaning. It’s suitable for home and car as it’s cordless and equipped with 4000mAh rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. Although this handheld vacuum takes approx. 6 hours to recharge, this cordless vacuum provides about 40 minutes of run time.
It’s a small handheld vacuum, featuring the best cyclone technology, which helps keep the dust away from the motor, forcing all the dirt in the front box. It doesn’t have a dust bag since it’s sealed, keeping all the particles trapped inside.

Specifications
- Run Time: 40 min
- Weight: 1.54 lbs
- Power Source: 2000mAh battery
Pros
- Stainless steel filter
- Up to 40 minutes of run time
- Low noise
Cons
- Small canister
BISSELL Pet Stain Eraser Deluxe ION Portable Carpet Cleaner
This Bissell handheld vacuum might appear too small, but it’s among the best handheld vacuum that’s meant for pet hair. It’s a stain remover, spraying and scrubbing different pet stains and messes from upholstery, stairs, car interiors, carpets, and other such surfaces.
This handheld vacuum has a tank capacity of 8 ounces, but it’s a see-through tank so that you can see when it’s time to empty it. On top of that, the vacuum is cordless, so you have an unlimited reach that doesn’t depend on power sockets. It comes with a Lithium battery and powerful suction.

Specifications
- Tank Capacity: 8 oz
- Weight: 7.05 lbs
- Run Time: 30 min
Pros
- 30 minutes of run time
- 3-inch cleaning path
- Removes all kinds of stains
Cons
- Some people experienced leakage
Dyson V7 Car+Boat
Dyson V7 handheld vacuum is one of the most popular cordless handheld vacuum models from the brand. It has a capacity of .15 gallon, and is cordless, allowing ultimate convenience and usability.
This lightweight handheld vacuum comes with plenty of tools and accessories, including a mini motorized tool, combination tool, extension hose, and a car charger. Its maximum suction power is 100 Air Watts.
Pros
- Lightweight and compact
- Motorized brush included
- Up to 30 minutes of run time
Cons
- The turbo function cuts down the battery life
AEG AG71a RapidClean
This handheld vacuum bagless and corded, featuring 6m of power cable for an extended reach and easier use. Its dust bin has a capacity of approx. 0.6 liters, which should be enough for most spot-cleaning tasks.
The handheld vacuum has a washable microfiber filter that traps even the tiniest particles. As such, it’s suitable for pet owners and allergy-prone people.
It comes with an efficient brush that picks up and removes stubborn pet hair, food crumbs, and other messes. On top of that, with this hand vacuum you also get a built-in stretch hose and a crevice tool for all the tight spaces.

Specifications
- Cord Length: 6 m
- Weight: 2.59 kg
- Capacity: 0.6 l
Pros
- Long power cord
- Reliable and efficient filtration system
- Crevice tool included
Cons
- Some people find it heavy (5.7 pounds)
Handheld Vacuum Buying Guide
As you’ve probably noticed, there are plenty of different handheld vacuums on the market. For this reason, you should consider a few buying factors before you purchase any particular vacuum cleaner.
Cord / Cordless
Many people think corded vacuums are more convenient than cordless vacuums because they offer unlimited run time. Still, their reach is somewhat limited, especially if you don’t have as many power sockets available.
Cordless vacuums offer unlimited reach. However, the run time of cordless vacuums ranges from 10 to 40 minutes.
Bagged / Bagless
As we said, the capacity of bagless vacuums is also on a smaller side, but in most cases, it’s enough to tackle small piles of dirt and pet hair.
Using a bagged vacuum would be tricky because the bag would have to be rather small. As a result, you’d have to throw it away after each use, which isn’t the most eco-friendly solution.
Accessories
A handheld vacuum doesn’t usually come with many accessories. However, some models do come with a few tools, such as an extension hose that delivers an extended reach. The most common is the crevice tool and dusting brush.
Run Time
Run time differs from vacuum to vacuum, and it usually depends on the type of battery it comes with. Most handheld vacuums come with a lithium battery that lasts some 10 to 40 minutes.
Pets
Handheld vacuums are ideal for pet owners as they make it easy to clean up after pretty much any pet. Most handhelds can pick up hair and dander, while many can also pick up kitty litter and food kibble.
Conclusion
At this point, you’ve probably picked the best handheld vacuum for your needs and preferences. We tried to keep our list of best handheld vacuums versatile, so there’s something for everyone. If you struggle, make sure to return to our buyer’s guide since the information there can help you find the best handheld vacuum for you.
Sources and Resources
- Older, cheaper vacuum cleaners release more bacteria and dust: study
– https://phys.org/news/2012-01-older-cheaper-vacuum-cleaners-bacteria.html
- Vacuum cleaners
– https://www.explainthatstuff.com/vacuumcleaner.html