The 4 Best Handheld Vacuums - Spring 2023 Reviews

The best handheld vacuum we've tested is the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+. This compact vacuum does an excellent job of clearing away solid debris on bare surfaces like countertops and shelves, and it's powerful enough to draw out debris from rugs and carpets. Its lightweight construction makes it easy to bring wherever you need it in your home, and while it's on the larger side for a handheld vacuum, it's still small enough to stow away in most cupboards and closets. Its dirt compartment is also quite large for a vacuum of this type, so it won't need emptying at the end of every single spot-cleaning job. For attachments, the CH951 variant has a crevice tool, a hard-bristle brush, and a miniature turbo brush with a self-cleaning brushroll. Unfortunately, the latter is somewhat unwieldy and ineffective in removing pet hair from upholstered surfaces; you're better off using the hard bristle brush to clean furniture.

The vacuum's 10-minute battery life is poor, even by the low standards of other handheld vacuums, so you'll need to work fast when cleaning larger messes. Worse yet, the battery isn't designed for replacement, so you can't pop in a new unit if it doesn't hold a charge as well as it used to. It also does a terrible job of sealing in particles like pet dander or fine dust, so it isn't the best option if you suffer from allergies.

The best cordless handheld vacuum at a mid-range price point we've tested is the Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum. Compared to the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+, it feels noticeably less sturdy and takes up more room when not in use, but it has a few advantages aside from its lower price tag. Its dustbin is even bigger and won't need emptying as often. Replacement filters are also cheaper than for the Shark, resulting in lower ownership costs. It excels when clearing away debris on hard surfaces like countertops or hardwood floors and does a good job of dealing with debris in cracks and crevices, thanks to a built-in crevice tool, but it does have a harder time with debris embedded in carpet fibers.

The selection of attachments is very limited, with only the aforementioned slide-out crevice tool and a flip-out hard-bristle brush; there's no upholstery tool or miniature turbo brush to make cleaning fabric furniture easier. It can only run for a little over 10 minutes on a single charge, which is short, even by the standards of other handheld models, and takes over three hours to recharge. Even worse, you can't remove its battery, so you can't swap in a new pack if the current unit's performance degrades over time.

The best cordless handheld vacuum at a budget-friendly price that we've tested is the BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim. It's a different proposition than larger handheld vacuums like the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ and Black+Decker dustbuster Hand Vacuum, with a highly compact body a little smaller than a two-liter bottle of soda. It makes it remarkably portable, but the flip side is a small, weak suction motor that struggles with lifting heavier debris and a tiny dirt compartment that fills quickly. Bulky debris can also clog its suction nozzle or fall out of the dustbin if it's overfilled, so you'll need to look elsewhere if you frequently find yourself cleaning things like large pieces of cereal. That said, this vacuum is ideal for quick cleanups on hard surfaces like countertops, shelves, or tile and hardwood tile floors, where it easily clears away lightweight debris like rice or pet hair.

It can run for about 15 minutes on a single charge, which is normal for a vacuum of this size and intended use. Unfortunately, recharging via its included adapter takes over three hours, so you'll be waiting for a while if you need it for more than a few spills. Its battery also isn't removable or replaceable, so you can't just pop in a new pack when the current one runs dry. While there's no wide-aperture upholstery nozzle or miniature turbo brush tool for cleaning larger fabric surfaces, this vacuum comes with a crevice tool that you can use to extend your reach in tight spots. It also comes with a slide-on soft-bristle brush for cleaning dust off delicate surfaces.

If you suffer from allergies and want a vacuum that's effective at sealing fine particles like dust or pet dander, check out the Shark WANDVAC. It's more expensive than the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+ and has a tiny dirt compartment, even by the standards of other handheld vacuums. However, it does a much better job sealing in allergens with the standard filter, which isn't even HEPA-rated. If you want to increase its filtration performance even more, several third-party manufacturers sell compatible HEPA-rated filters. It's also very small, with dimensions similar to the highly-compact BISSELL AeroSlim/TurboSlim, making it easier to stow away in a drawer or cupboard when not in use. You'll want to go for the slightly pricier WV201 variant over the base WV200 variant, as the former comes with a sleek charging dock with room for its two included attachments, so you won't have to find another place to tuck them away.

While there's no miniature turbo brush for cleaning carpeted or fabric surfaces, the provided straight suction upholstery tool is still effective in dealing with messes on furniture. Unfortunately, the Shark's battery performance is poor, even for a handheld vacuum, as it can only run for about 10 minutes on a charge. Like many other handheld vacuums, its battery isn't designed to be removed or replaced, so you can't swap in a freshly charged pack when it runs out of power or buy a replacement pack if the current unit's performance degrades over time.