As much as I love my full-size vacuum cleaner, sometimes it's just too big and heavy to tackle smaller cleaning jobs and the many nooks and crannies in my house (and even my car). Thankfully, that's where the best handheld vacuum cleaners can really shine.
Of course, a handheld vacuum will never measure up to the power of the best vacuum cleaners and best cordless vacuum cleaners on the market, but what they lack in suction power they make up for in terms of convenience and practicality. After all, they're perfect for small spills and unexpected messes that come up throughout the day.
So, to help you decide on the best handheld vacuum for your needs, myself and the Ideal Home team have put models from big-hitting brands like Dyson, Shark, Gtech, and Beldray through their paces. We evaluated these handheld vacuums based on their size, suction power, cleaning capabilities, and affordability to compile a list of what I believe to be the best handheld vacuum cleaners on the market today.
Quick list
Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best handheld vacuums we've tested so far. You'll find more information on each handheld vac and why our testers recommend it if you keep on scrolling.
Best overall
Although it may be one of the most expensive of the bunch, you get what you pay for with this Dyson. In fact, this model is essentially a full-size Dyson vacuum condensed into a compact handheld - making it both powerful and convenient. Plus, it comes with handy tools to make cleaning small messes even easier.
Best for suction
If you're looking for a handheld vacuum that'll get the job done without holding back, there's no denying that this handheld offers exactly that. With superb suction power, an excellent range of accessories, and long battery life, it's incredibly impressive. It is just a tad on the bulky side, though.
Best for mess-free emptying
Emptying a handheld vacuum can be messy, but the bagged design of this Gtech model means that you don't have to get your hands dirty at all. This low-maintenance option also comes with a variety of attachments and up to 30 minutes of run time to make cleaning a breeze.
Best for pet hair
The design of this handheld vacuum from Shark makes it the perfect solution for tackling stubborn pet hair, with a sizable dust tank that's incredibly easy to empty. And while it may only offer up to 10 minutes of run time, that's still just enough time to clean up after Fido.
Best mid-range
Boasting two suction levels to toggle between for dealing with different messes and a HEPA filter, this Lakeland vacuum gets the job done at a good price. It's best used for a quick spruce-up because it lacks an upholstery tool. So, as long as you don't expect to use it on your curtains, it'll be everything you need.
Best under £50
If you're looking for a budget handheld vacuum cleaner, this Beldray model is cheap as chips and easy to use. It also boasts a decent suction power, considering the price, and can be used on both wet and dry messes in the home. It is louder than the average model, though, so this is something to consider if you're sensitive to noise.
Best handheld vacuum cleaners
Best handheld vacuum overall
Although the name would suggest otherwise, the Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum cleaner is the ultimate all-rounder. Not restricted to just cars and boats, it offers the power of a full-size vacuum in one handy handheld for all areas of the home - and it has an impressive 50-minute run time to boot (in normal mode).
That does reduce to just 5 minutes in boost mode, but our reviewer found this model incredibly effective without bumping up the power. In fact, she used it to deep clean her carpets, remove dust from skirting boards, and clean behind furniture. The three attachment heads - mini motorhead, crevice tool, and combination tool - also means that no nook or cranny will go uncleaned.
With the largest dust capacity of any other handheld vacuum we've tested, too, you can clean even more messes without having to empty it every five minutes. And when you realise that the full-size Dyson V8 Absolute stick vacuum also has a 0.54L dust capacity, it makes this handheld vacuum even more appealing.
Of course, the Dyson is the heaviest option of all of the handheld vacuum cleaners on this list (something to consider if you have limited mobility or struggle to hold things for an extended length of time) but our reviewer didn't find this to be a problem during testing. To be honest, she didn't really have anything bad to say about it, which is why it's now been crowned the best handheld vacuum cleaner overall.
Read our full Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum cleaner review for more details.
Best handheld vacuum for suction
There's no denying that this Gtech handheld vacuum is an expensive, investment-level option. But at this price bracket, you get thoughtful design as well as features and accessories that you won’t see on other vacuums in this guide. So, if you rely on your handheld vacuum, this is an all-rounder that’ll become an invaluable addition to your cleaning arsenal.
It only has one suction power, but the versatility comes from the accessories, including a long crevice tool that’s neatly stored in the back of the vacuum. The long brush makes easy work of reaching high cobwebs and the power brush speedily spruced up my stairs and upholstery, effectively picking up hair and debris.
Assuming the power brush drains the battery faster than any other accessory, our reviewer timed the battery life when using this tool, and it lasted 22 ½ minutes. Of all the vacuums in this guide, the range of accessories made this the most effective at cleaning the car.
The suction is powerful, and the scented cartridges leave a fresh smell in their wake. The downside is that it can feel a tad heavy after prolonged use, but our reviewer was willing to put up with that for the great results.
Read our full Gtech AirRAM Platinum review for more details.
Best handheld vacuum for mess-free emptying
While some may say that bagged vacuum cleaners aren't as popular as they used to be, the benefits of a bagged vacuum cleaner - especially in a handheld vacuum cleaner - are hard to ignore. Especially where this Gtech model is concerned.
With a 0.5L capacity, it offers one of the biggest dust bin capacities of all of the handheld vacuums on this list, but a major plus point is that you don't have to touch the contents to empty it. All you have to do is remove the bag when it's full.
Of course, the elephant in the room is that you'll need to buy replacement bags, which is an extra cost you'll need to consider in the long run. However, after testing it in her home, our tester predicted that she'd only really need to replace the bag every month with regular use.
This was a major plus point for her, and she also loved how lightweight it was. It was a breeze to move around the home, tackling everything from her curtains to her skirting boards without any achy arms.
Read our full Gtech ProLite Handheld Bagged Vacuum review for more details.
Best handheld vacuum for pet hair
Those with pets will rejoice upon using this handheld from Shark, which is engineered to make cleaning up after your favourite four-legged companions much easier.
In order to adequately clean up pet messes, this vacuum has a fairly big dust tank (0.45 litres), though it is somewhat limited by its short run time, which is just 10 minutes. That said, the vacuum was fine for giving the carpet and upholstery a clean after an excitable dog during our tests.
As you'd expect for a handheld with this pricetag and from Shark, this vacuum does have good, powerful suction, and it's easy to grab for cleaning up small spills.
But if this one doesn't quite take your fancy, we have also tested the Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum WV200UK (£129.99 at Shark). This one won't tackle pet hair as well as the pet-specific model, but it is extremely lightweight and comes with two handy attachments to tackle those trickier areas.
Best mid-range handheld vacuum
The Lakeland cordless vacuum is similar in looks to both the cheaper Beldray and the more expensive Shark vacuums. There are very few points of difference, except that the Lakeland version offers a larger 150ml dust canister.
Meanwhile, the attachments are somewhat pared back in comparison to those included with the other two, since it lacks an upholstery tool, and the crevice tool is short and stubby. But having said that, if you’re not planning to clean upholstery or use it for much more than a quick spruce-up, you might not mind.
The battery lasted for a little over 11 minutes when used continuously on the stronger of the two suction levels. It’s not a handheld I’d recommend for car cleaning as the crevice tool won’t reach down the side of seats, although it worked fine to remove debris in the footwells.
Its suction is more powerful than the budget Beldray model below, but not quite up there with the Dyson, Shark and Gtech above, earning it the best mid-range title. Inside the house, it’ll be there when you need it to pick up spills or quickly clean small areas, and the affordable price tag makes it an inviting option. But if even this handheld vacuum is too big for you, the Lakeland 3-in-1 Mini Vacuum could be a good alternative.
I also have a soft spot for the Lakeland Mini Countertop Vacuum, which I use every day in my kitchen without fail.
Best handheld vacuum under £50
If value for money is your biggest priority in choosing a handheld model, the Beldray Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum is as affordable as they go without losing out on too much suction power or ease of use. Better yet, the fact that it employs the dual-functionality of switching between wet and dry surfaces makes it a steal for the price.
Just as any handheld vacuum excels as being a handy tool for quickly sprucing surfaces up or being the ideal companion for cleaning up after the kids have eaten, this Beldray model works especially well for tackling crumb scatterings, minor spills, and small puddles all-in-one. But mind you, small spills are about as far as this vac will take you because the water capacity isn't crazy generous.
During testing, we found it pretty loud when in use, but since we expect you'll only need it for short bursts of time, it isn't entirely unbearable. Sure, the switching between the wet and dry functions isn't mind-blowingly fast, but at its bargain £34.99 price tag, we think you could do a lot worse.
Read our Beldray Wet and Dry Cordless Hand Vacuum review for more detail.
Handheld vacuum cleaners at a glance
Model | Price | Run Time | Dust Capacity | Ideal Home Rating | Brand's Trustpilot Rating |
£249.99 | Up to 50 minutes | 0.54L | 5 stars | 3 stars | |
£269.99 | Up to 30 minutes | 0.4L | 5 stars | 4.8 stars | |
£129.99 | Up to 30 minutes | 0.5L | 4.5 stars | 4.8 stars | |
£79.99 | Up to 10 minutes | 0.45L | 4 stars | 4.6 stars | |
£79.99 | Up to 28 minutes | 0.15L | 4 stars | 4.8 stars | |
34.99 | Up to 20 minutes | 0.5L | 3.5 stars | 4.5 stars |
How we test handheld vacuum cleaners
At Ideal Home, we never want to recommend a product we haven’t had hands-on experience with. That’s why every product in this buying guide has been tested using our detailed and rigorous testing protocol.
We test handheld vacuums precisely the same way we’d test a vacuum cleaner, ensuring we test all of its features and capabilities for at least two weeks (and sometimes even longer) before deciding whether it’s impressive enough to earn a place in this buying guide.
To compile this guide, a selection of Ideal Home-approved and trained testers reviewed the handheld vacuums above. They tested all these handheld vacuums in their own homes as well as in their cars, where possible. In doing so, they were able to compare them in terms of handle comfort, ease of emptying, and ease of use. They also paid close attention to the accessories supplied, as these can often make or break the experience you have with a vacuum.
They timed the battery life of each one, and while vacuuming for the full life of the battery, they got a good idea of how heavy it started to feel after prolonged use. In addition to noting any annoying noise, they also tested the sound level with a decibel meter on their phones.
With all of this information in tow disposal, they then assigned the best handheld vacuum cleaners a dedicated Ideal Home star rating. They are as follows:
5 stars - an impressive handheld vacuum that does exactly what you expect and cannot be faulted in any way. It will also receive an Ideal Home-approved badge.
4.5 stars - a high-quality, hard-working handheld vacuum, but it leaves us wishing for a bit more, so it loses that crucial half-mark. However, it will still receive an Ideal Home-approved badge.
4 stars - an impressive handheld vacuum worth your money but may need some fine-tuning before it suits every customer.
3 stars - a good handheld vacuum that works well but doesn't blow us away with its specs or affordability. In some cases, it may also be difficult to use or too heavy.
2 stars - an affordable handheld vacuum that will suit the budget-conscious but is under-specced and lacks key features.
1 star - we would not recommend this handheld vacuum, as it is underwhelming and does not work as well as it should.
While working for Ideal Home, Jullia spent over 60 hours testing vacuums - including handheld vacuums.
She's got hands-on experience with models from leading brands such as Dyson, Shark, Henry, Gtech and Bosch. For this guide, she tested the Gtech handheld vacuum.
Helen is a freelance contributor who trained as a Home Economist. After starting her career in the food industry, she moved into home appliance reviews and has since reviewed countless vacuums and handheld vacuums for Ideal Home.
Helen lives in a beautiful home in a Berkshire village, and is our go-to for testing vacuums in a real-life setting.
Linda is a freelance interiors journalist and product reviewer and has tested many products over the past 20+ years, including many vacuums and handheld vacuum cleaners.
She has particular expertise in cleaning products for the home, and uses her wealth of experience to rate products and give you her verdict on value for money.
Katie is a regular freelance contributor for Ideal Home, and has tested a variety of home appliances, including dehumidifiers, air purifiers, coffee machines, and of course, vacuums.
Foer this guide, she tested the Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum in her home in Leeds.
How to choose a handheld vacuum
Just like choosing a vacuum cleaner, choosing the right handheld vacuum for your needs can be difficult. In fact, with quite a broad spectrum in terms of price as well as capabilities, it can be tough to narrow down the selection and choose the best handheld vacuum for you. But there are a few important features you must consider if you want to make the most of the things you didn't know you could clean with a handheld vacuum cleaner.
Firstly battery life, think about whether you need the battery to last long enough to vacuum your whole car, or if you’ll just be using it for a couple of minutes here and there when the children spill things. Similarly, the dust capacity is worth considering, some have tiny dust canisters that you’ll need to empty regularly if picking up larger debris, and that’ll get annoying.
Lastly, think about how you want to use it and look at the accessories. Those that come with lots of accessories are often more versatile, but for some people all these extra tools are an unnecessary addition.
FAQs
How much should I spend on a handheld vacuum cleaner?
It’s possible to get an efficient handheld vacuum cleaner at well under the £100 mark, although you can pay twice that. The less expensive models could well fulfil all that you require of a handheld, and you can even get long running times on a single charge at this price point.
We think it’s worth paying over £100 if the handheld has features you particularly need, like a wide range of attachments, a longer run time, or a better build quality. This is especially important if you plan to use your handheld vacuum regularly, as you'll typically find that a cheaper model will need to be replaced sooner when used regularly.
How strong should a handheld vacuum be?
You'll find that most handheld vacuums on the market will have a suction power (measured in air watts, or AW) of around 20-60 air watts. The higher the number, the stronger the suction will be. Those with stronger suction power will generally be more expensive, too.
Ultimately, you need to decide for yourself how strong a handheld vacuum should be, as the option you choose will depend on your needs. If you just want to use a handheld vacuum for the small corners of your home that your normal vacuum cleaner won't reach, you might not need anything too powerful.
If you want to use a handheld vacuum cleaner to vacuum pet hair, you'll likely need something more powerful to ensure you're picking up every strand and each speck of pet dander.
