The 5 Best Handheld Vacuums - Summer 2022 Reviews

The best handheld vacuum we've tested is the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+. This compact vacuum does an excellent job dealing with fine and large debris on carpets and rugs and performs very well on bare surfaces. Its lightweight construction and compact design make it easy to pick up and carry wherever you may need or store it in a cupboard or closet. It has a fairly large dirt compartment for a handheld vacuum, so it doesn't need emptying as often as some alternatives. It feels well-built and has an easy-to-maintain design that incurs few recurring costs. In terms of attachments, it comes with a miniature turbo brush, though it isn't very effective in removing pet hair from upholstery.

Unfortunately, this vacuum has a very short battery life, as you can only expect roughly 10 minutes of runtime on a single charge. There's no way of adjusting its suction power, which would help conserve battery life when sucking up very lightweight debris. It also lacks an allergen-trapping HEPA filter and does a terrible job of sealing in fine particles, so it isn't the best option if you suffer from allergies.

The best cordless handheld vacuum at a budget-friendly price that we've tested is the Wyze Handheld Vacuum. Despite its highly affordable price point, this vacuum does a fantastic job of cleaning pet hair on flat, even surfaces like shelves or countertops, as well as low and high-pile rugs. It can also deal with most solid debris, though it isn't the best for dealing with bulky material, which can get stuck at the entry to its dustbin. Its allergen-trapping HEPA filter is another rare feature for a vacuum at this price point and is reasonably effective in helping seal in any fine particles like pollen or pet dander. Its compact, lightweight design makes it easy to store in a cupboard or closet and carry to wherever you may need.

Unlike many other larger handheld vacuums, there's no miniature turbo brush attachment included in the box, which would make it a little easier to spot-clean carpets or rugs. Thankfully, a few other helpful attachments are included, like an extension hose to provide a bit of additional reach. Unsurprisingly given its small size, its dirt compartment is tiny, so you'll need to empty it very frequently.

If you suffer from allergies and require a handheld model with class-leading filtration, the Dyson Humdinger is a great choice. It's advertised to seal in 99.9% of particles 0.3 microns in size, including common allergens like pollen and dust. You can empty debris in its dustbin with the press of a single switch, though like most bagless vacuums, this can still kick up a plume of fine debris. Performance on flat surfaces is fantastic, and it does a good job overall on low and high-pile carpets and rugs, but you might need to make an extra pass to suck up material deeply embedded in carpet fibers.

This vacuum comes with a reasonably wide assortment of tools. There's a miniature turbo brush for cleaning upholstered surfaces, a 'Worktop' tool for hard surfaces, and a crevice tool with a slide-on dusting brush. Battery performance is also pretty good for a vacuum of this type, as you can expect almost 30 minutes of runtime when you use it in its 'Eco' mode, but you still need to work fast when cleaning stubborn debris with its 'Boost' mode, which can drain its battery in as little as 10 minutes.

The best cordless handheld vacuum we've tested is the RYOBI 18V One+ 3 Gal. Project Wet/Dry. It's considerably smaller than most full-size shop vacuums, enabling you to store it under a workbench or on a shelf. Its handheld-only form factor can make it a little unwieldy to carry around as its dustbin fills up with debris. Despite its compact size, it offers strong performance, as it easily sucks up debris on concrete floors or lifts away material embedded deeply within rug fibers. It's remarkably effective when dealing with liquid spills, but make sure to remove its filter first. It also has a dedicated blower mode to clear away lightweight material, though its airflow isn't especially strong.

While the 4.0 Ah battery that you can bundle with the vacuum only provides about 15 minutes of runtime, you can easily swap in a new battery pack from any other RYOBI ONE+ tools or appliances in your home, including cordless drills, work lights, or reciprocating saws.

If you're looking for a lightweight vacuum that you can use as a stick or handheld appliance, consider the Wyze Cordless Vacuum. This cordless stick vacuum is considerably lighter than most other cordless stick vacuums, making it very easy to pick up and carry. You can also remove its wand and floorhead to clean furniture or hard-to-reach areas. It performs very well on flat, even surfaces, easily clearing away pet hair and small debris, though bulky material can clog the entry to its dirt compartment. It also does a great job dealing with messes on low and high-pile carpet. In its most energy-efficient mode, you can expect just under an hour of runtime on a single charge, though its battery life drops to a little over 10 minutes in its most powerful mode.

If you don't mind spending more on a stick/handheld vacuum that's more effective in dealing with bulky debris, the Samsung Jet 70 is a great alternative. However, it does weigh more and has a very short battery life when used in its most powerful suction mode.