The best handheld vacuum cleaners for tackling spills, crumbs and awkward cleans – the 6 top models we’ve tested
The best handheld vacuums from Shark, Dyson, Gtech and more
This guide to the best handheld vacuum cleaners was written by Ideal Home's Certified Expert for Vacuums, Lauren Bradbury, with contributions from our appliances editors and product testers.
As Ideal Home's Certified Expert in Vacuums, I've personally spent over 500 hours testing vacuum cleaners of all shapes and sizes - but I think too many people are sleeping on the crumb-busting, nook-cleaning power of the best handheld vacuums. Especially when you don't want (or need) to lug a heavy full-size vacuum around the house or driveway.
Of course, a handheld vacuum will never match the floor-cleaning power of the best vacuum cleaners and best cordless vacuum cleaners, but it makes up for what it lacks in suction power with convenience and practicality. After all, they're perfect for small spills and unexpected messes that come up throughout the day.
So, to help you choose the best handheld vacuum for your needs, the Ideal Home team and I put models from big-hitting brands like Dyson, Shark, and Beldray through their paces. We assessed everything from size and suction power to cleaning performance and affordability to compile a list of 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 I recommend it if you keep on scrolling.
Best overall
A new addition to the top spot, this powerful, practical model ticks all the boxes you need when buying a handheld vacuum. The suction power stays consistent across surfaces, and the tools stow safely on the docking station when not in use. It also includes a boost mode if you need extra oomph for targeted messes.
Best budget
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 for suction
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 bagged model
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 - or breathe any dust in. This low-maintenance option also includes a variety of attachments and up to 30 minutes of run time, making 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 for awkward spots
With a pivoting design and integrated tools, this BLACK+DECKER handheld vacuum is ideal for those hard-to-reach, awkward spots both inside and outside the house. It's also powerful and folds for compact storage, but you will have to sacrifice run time.
Best handheld vacuum cleaners 2026
Best handheld vacuum overall
At £199.99, the Shark WandVac Deluxe Pet Pro Cordless Handheld Vacuum is a mid-range-to-premium handheld vacuum that is well worth the investment - so much so that it knocked our previous number-one handheld, the Dyson Car+Boat, down the rankings.
Not only is the Shark significantly cheaper than the Dyson, but it's also a lot more practical. It offers a lightweight, 2kg grab-and-go design and even comes with a charging station that stores the extra cleaning tools - the crevice tool, motorised pet tool, and upholstery tool.
This is enhanced by the three power modes - normal, eco and boost - which allow you to tailor the suction power to the cleaning task at hand. Our tester, Katie, found that eco mode was typically more than enough for everyday clean-ups, even picking up 100% of flour debris in a single pass. However, she liked knowing more powerful modes were available if she needed them.
It's also extra versatile thanks to the available tools; however, it lacks the car detailing kit that its sibling, the Shark PowerBoost Pet Cordless 2-in-1 Car & Home Handheld Power Vacuum, offers. So, those who will primarily use their handheld vacuum to clean the car may find this alternative a better option.
All in all, though, Katie found the Shark WandVac Deluxe hard to critique. Her only real niggle was that the 0.13 L dust bin capacity was a little smaller than she'd have liked. But she found it a small trade-off for a handy, capable handheld vacuum.
Read our full Shark WandVac Deluxe Pet Pro Cordless Handheld Vacuum review for more details.
Reviewed by Freelance Reviewer Katie Sims in her two-bedroom Leeds flat for two weeks.
Best budget handheld vacuum
If value for money is your top priority when choosing a handheld model, the Beldray Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum is as affordable as it gets without compromising too much suction power or ease of use. Better yet, its ability to switch between wet and dry surfaces makes it a steal at the price.
Just as any handheld vacuum excels as a handy tool for quickly sprucing up surfaces or cleaning up after the kids have eaten, this Beldray model works especially well for tackling crumb scatterings, minor spills, and small puddles - while also being ridiculously easy to use up high thanks to its almost weightless 1.2kg weight.
The 0.5L dust capacity is surprisingly large when compared to other alternatives on this list - including the top-rated Shark model above - and the 20 minutes of uninterrupted cordless handheld power is also generous for such a budget-friendly model.
However, during testing, we found it pretty loud in use, but since we expect you'll only need it for short bursts, 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, you could do a lot worse.
Just be warned that it doesn't have a HEPA filter, so it may not suit anyone looking to rid their home of pet dander or other airborne allergens.
Read our Beldray Wet and Dry Cordless Hand Vacuum review for more details.
Reviewed by Freelance Reviewer Linda Clayton in her four-bedroom home for eight weeks.
Best handheld vacuum for suction
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 needing to bump up the power. In fact, she used it to deep clean her carpets, remove dust from skirting boards, and clean behind furniture in one fell swoop in normal mode. The three attachment heads - mini motorhead, crevice tool, and combination tool - also mean that no nook or cranny will go uncleaned.
With the largest dust capacity of any other handheld vacuum we've tested, you can clean even bigger messes without emptying 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.
The filter situation is a little complex, as Dyson doesn't use the same HEPA filter it uses in its full-size vacuums. However, it does have a 'fully-sealed, whole-machine filtration captures dust, dirt and allergens to 0.3 microns' which is still extremely effective and offers similar protection as a true HEPA filter.
Of course, the Dyson is the heaviest option of all the handheld vacuum cleaners on this list (something to consider if you have limited mobility or struggle to hold things up for an extended period), but our reviewer didn't find this a problem during testing. To be honest, she didn't really have anything bad to say about it, which is why she rated it so highly.
Read our full Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum cleaner review for more details.
Reviewed by Freelance Reviewer Katie Sims in her two-bedroom Leeds flat for two weeks.
Best bagged handheld vacuum
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, an extra cost 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. A pack of 15 also only sets you back £12.99 at Gtech, which means it'll cost around 86p a month on that basis.
This was a major plus point for her, and she also loved how lightweight it was at less than 1kg. 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.
Reviewed by Freelance Reviewer Katie Sims in her two-bedroom Leeds flat for two weeks.
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 handheld vacuum for awkward spots
The BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Pivot doesn't look like your usual handheld vacuum cleaner, and that's because it's hiding an innovative pivot-design that makes it perfect for cleaning awkward spots around the house and in the car.
It boasts a patented nozzle design that can pivot up to 200 degrees while cleaning, and our tester particularly loved how the tools were integrated into the main unit. So, it was easy for her to flit from one task to the next, even when cleaning those hard-to-reach areas.
During testing, the battery lasted for the 10 minutes that were promised, which is significantly less than other models in this guide - including the Dyson Car+Boat, which has up to five times that charge. This is definitely something to consider if you plan on using it for longer cleaning tasks, like a deep-clean of the car.
The Dustbuster was also very true to its name, offering an impressive 35 Air Watts of power, which allowed it to pick up lots of fine particles - as proven by the dirty filter in the pictures above. However, this could also be seen as a negative, as our tester found that she had to clean the filter more often than the other vacuums she's used and reviewed in the past.
Read our full BLACK+DECKER Dustbuster Pivot review for more details.
Reviewed by Freelance Reviewer Katie Sims in her two-bedroom Leeds flat for two weeks.
Handheld vacuum cleaners at a glance
Model |
Price |
Weight |
Run Time |
Charge Time |
Dust Capacity |
Ideal Home Rating |
£199.99 |
2kg |
Up to 40 minutes |
3.5 hours |
0.13L |
5 stars |
|
£34.99 |
1.2kg |
Up to 20 minutes |
4 hours |
0.5L |
3.5 stars |
|
£249.99 |
1.9kg |
Up to 50 minutes |
5 hours |
0.54L |
5 stars |
|
£129.99 |
0.97kg |
Up to 30 minutes |
2 hours |
0.5L |
4.5 stars |
|
£79.99 |
1.39kg |
Up to 10 minutes |
4 hours |
0.45L |
4 stars |
|
£99.99 |
1.8 kg |
Up to 10 minutes |
4 hours |
0.44L |
3.5 stars |
We've also tested
Above, you'll find my top 6 handheld vacuum cleaners, but they're not the only models we've tested. These are some alternatives that didn't quite make the cut.
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, they then assigned the best handheld vacuum cleaners a dedicated Ideal Home star rating, and anything above a 4-star product will be awarded an Ideal Home-Approved badge.
Meet our testing team
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.
For this guide, she tested the Shark WandVac, Dyson Car+Boat, the Gtech ProLite and the BLACK+DECKER handheld vacuums in her home in Leeds.
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. Linda tested the Beldray handheld vacuum for this guide.
How to choose a handheld vacuum
Just like choosing a vacuum cleaner, choosing the right handheld vacuum for your needs can be difficult. With such a broad range of prices and 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.
First, battery life: consider whether you need the battery to last long enough to vacuum your whole car, and how long that normally takes you (this could be anywhere from 15 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on your detailing requirements). Alternatively, you could just need it for a few minutes here and there when you want to deal with rogue spills, but don't want to use your full-size vacuum cleaner.
If it's the latter, a handheld cordless vacuum with just 10 minutes of run time will definitely suit you - especially if it also has a quick charge time, which means that you'll be able to use it again quicker. If it's the former, aim for one with up to 50 minutes of run time. Just remember that a handheld vacuum cleaner battery typically lasts 500 charge cycles before it needs to be replaced. For most people, that's about 2-3 years.
Similarly, dust capacity is worth considering; some have tiny dust canisters you’ll need to empty regularly if you're picking up larger debris, and that can get annoying. Larger models can offer up to 0.5L of debris, similar to a full-size vacuum, so you can use it longer before emptying.
Like full-size vacuum cleaners, handheld vacuums will also need cleaning and maintenance. You should aim to clean the filters at least every 3 months (or more if you use it regularly, have allergies or see performance dip) and replace them every 6-12 months - which is another cost to consider.
You should also think about how you want to use it and look at the accessories. Models that come with lots of accessories are often more versatile, but for some people, those extra tools are unnecessary. Personally, I always think it's better to have too many than not enough.
Another key feature many people overlook is the weight of a handheld vacuum, especially since this cleaning appliance is typically used in awkward areas like ceiling corners and curtains. And while handheld vacuums typically don't weigh more than 2kg, they can feel much heavier when you're holding them above your head for 20 minutes.
If you struggle with mobility and know you'll be using a handheld vacuum for these areas, aim for a model under 1.5kg. If you are fit and healthy, you should be able to manage 2kg.
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?
Most handheld vacuums on the market have suction power (measured in air watts, or AW) of around 20-60 air watts. The higher the number, the stronger the suction. Stronger suction power is generally more expensive, too.
However, some handheld vacuum manufacturers don't provide the AW specification and instead list only the voltage. A higher voltage indicates the handheld vacuum motor uses more power, and while this can often mean more suction power, it's not always the case.
Because of this, the most accurate indicator of suction power for a handheld vacuum is Air Watts, if provided.
Ultimately, you need to decide how strong a handheld vacuum should be, since the best option depends on your needs. If you just want to use a handheld vacuum for everyday crumbs and the small corners of your home that your normal vacuum cleaner won't reach, you might not need anything too powerful and around 30AW should be plenty.
If you want to use a handheld vacuum cleaner to vacuum pet hair, you'll likely need something more powerful (up to 60AW) to ensure you pick up every strand and speck of pet dander. In this case, it may also be worth choosing a model that can also be used in the car and offers a bagged design - or a specific HEPA filter to capture allergens.
Can a handheld vacuum replace a full-size vacuum cleaner?
No, cordless handheld vacuum cleaners can't replace full-size vacuum cleaners. They're designed for two different tasks. Full-size vacuum cleaners are designed to clean large flat surfaces like carpets and hard floors, while handheld vacuums are designed for smaller, more targeted cleaning - like unexpected spills, awkward nooks and crannies, and car interiors.
That's why having both at home can help your cleaning routine. As Katie Lillywhite, Floorcare Expert at AO.com explains, 'Having a lightweight handheld to use upstairs makes it far easier to deal with day-to-day mess. This will stop you from having to haul your main vacuum upstairs and allow you to do cleaning little and often, to effectively stop dirt from building up in the first place.'
However, you can still use a handheld vacuum cleaner downstairs or even outside of the house, as long as you keep an eye on the remaining battery life and the capacity of the dust bin - which is typically smaller than a full-size vacuum cleaner.