The 5 Best Handheld Vacuums - Winter 2021 Reviews

The HoLife HM036E is the best handheld vacuum for bare floors that we've tested. This lightweight cordless model is exceptionally good at cleaning bare floors, as it easily clears pet hair and debris like cereal and rice. It feels sturdy and has a simple design that makes it decently easy to maintain. There aren't many recurring costs because only one part, the allergen-trapping HEPA filter, needs regular replacement.

It comes with a few accessories, like a crevice tool to help you reach tight spots and a little brush that makes cleaning out the dirt compartment easier. The battery lasts a little over 20 minutes on a full charge, which is decent, and there's also an indicator light that tells you when it's running low. It also does a good job on high and low-pile carpets, in case you have the occasional rug to clean, and even comes with a liquid nozzle to clean up spills, although we don't currently test that feature.

Unfortunately, the dirt compartment is small and needs to be emptied more often. Also, if it's used to clean up liquids, it needs to be thoroughly cleaned and allowed to dry completely before being used again. However, if you're looking for something that can easily tackle messes on your countertops, the HoLife is one of the best handheld cordless vacuums that we've tested.

The best handheld vacuum for carpet that we've tested is the Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro+. This cordless handheld model is a great choice for spot-cleaning, as it does a remarkable job of clearing everything from pet hair to fine debris like baking soda on both low and high-pile carpet.

It's well-built and easy to maintain, with very few parts that require routine servicing. Since its dust cup filter is its only disposable part, recurring costs are pretty low. It's also lightweight and small enough to be used in far-off areas like the inside of your car. It comes with a crevice cleaner, a hard bristle brush, and a turbo brush to deal with everything from stuck-on dirt to messes on furniture upholstery. Its dirt compartment is relatively spacious for a handheld appliance too.

Unfortunately, it provides just over 10 minutes of battery life on a single charge, which means you'll need to work quickly when dealing with larger messes. Short battery life aside, its versatile performance and compact design make it one of the best multi-surface vacuums that we've tested.

The best handheld vacuum we've tested in the budget category is the Black+Decker dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Pet. This cordless model is lightweight and very portable. It has a decent overall performance on carpets, and also easily clears pet hair from bare floors.

If you use the lowest power setting, its battery provides nearly half an hour of continuous cleaning time, which is longer than many handheld vacuums. There's also a more powerful 'Boost Mode', which can help with tackling stubborn messes. It comes with a few tools and brushes, including a crevice tool for getting into narrow spaces and a turbo brush you can use to dislodge dirt from fabric-covered furniture.

Unfortunately, it incurs some recurring costs since its filters need to be replaced on a regular basis. In addition, while it has a decent build quality overall, some parts feel flimsy. Otherwise, if you're looking for an affordable handheld vacuum, it's a solid, versatile option.