Best Handheld Vacuums 2023

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Here's why you might want to consider adding one of the best handheld vacuums to your arsenal of cleaning tools: Not only are these handy gadgets easier to pull out than their full-sized counterparts, but many of today's dust busters are also just as powerful. Of course, you’ll probably want to hold on to your full-size vacuum for cleaning larger spaces, but when it comes to quickly tackling smaller messes, the best handheld vacuums can't be beat.

Shop the 10 best handheld vacuums that clean up messes in a pinch.

Just like regular-sized machines, today's handheld versions come in a range of styles and offer a variety of features. And unlike earlier models, these babies pack a serious punch when it comes to sucking up debris—plus they have better battery power than their clunky older cousins. You can also count on standard features like ergonomic grips, a variety of speeds speeds and dust cups that are easy to dump out and reattach.

To determine the best cordless options out there, we analyzed top-rated devices and narrowed down the field by considering factors like suction power, ease of use and value. (And if you’re unsure of how to pick the one that makes the most sense for you, we’ve attached a handy buying guide below.) To clean up futures messes in a pinch, these are the best handheld vacuums on the market right now.

Amazon

Best for: Multiple surfaces | Tools included: Crevice Tool | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Compact and easy to use

Looking for a handheld vacuum that does a little bit of everything? You found it. The Hoover OnePwr works on hard and upholstered surfaces to powerfully suck up debris with ease. It's cordless, allowing you to instantly get to work without searching for the nearest outlet, and it has an on-board crevice tool so you can get into nooks and crannies. The device weighs just 3 pounds so you won't get a sore wrist while you work.

Once you’re done, just remove the front and empty it into the trash. Plus, you can wash the filter if it gets gunky over time. It's also compact, making it simple to use and stash away... until the next mess arrives.

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Amazon

Best for: Multiple surfaces | Tools included: Crevice too, upholstery brush and motorized brush | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Motorized brush for capturing embedded dirt and pet hair

This handy vacuum comes with a trio of attachments designed to clean pet hair off furniture and upholstery, including a crevice tool, upholstery brush and—this is rare among handheld vacuums—a small motorized brush tool. The motorized brush appears to work very well at cleaning furniture so you won't need to haul the full-size vacuum out of the closet. Cleaning the dirt bin is straightforward: the vacuum splits in the middle, separating the bin from the motor base, and the filter pulls out as well. Runtime is modest, though, clocking in at about 15 minutes. That's more than enough for most small cleaning jobs, though.

While not a main selling point, it's nice to know that Bissell donates $5 from each Pet Hair Eraser to the Bissell Pet Foundation. The company claims it has saved over 180,000 pets, which is right on brand for a handheld vacuum that leans hard into cleaning up after furry creatures.

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Amazon

Best for: Multiple surfaces | Tools included: Pet brush tool | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Four-foot flexible hose for tackling ceilings

The Max Flex Handheld Vacuum looks like a mad scientist shrunk a full-size vacuum, thanks to the extendable hose that wraps around the unit when you don't need its full length. In other words, you can use this one-handed—like a regular handheld vacuum—or two-handed, extending the business end up to four feet away. The dirt bin is suitably oversized at 17 ounces and empties easily by unclasping one clip. It's also washable for easy cleaning with a three-stage filter that's designed to keep dust from escaping. The Max Flex includes a flip-up brush for dusting, a long crevice tool and a pet hair brush for cleaning fur and other stubborn debris from upholstery.

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Amazon

Best for: Multiple surfaces | Tools included: Built-in crevice tool and brush | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Holds a charge for up to 18 months

You don't have to spend a lot to get a good handheld vacuum, as evidenced by this Black+Decker Dustbuster. That's not surprising; few companies have more experience making cordless handheld vacuums, since they pioneered the product back in 1979.

Despite the low price, this model brings a lot to the table, including a pull out crevice tool and flip-up brush for all-purpose dusting and upholstery cleaning. The nozzle rotates to any angle, making it easier to clean around obstacles and in tight spaces and the dirt receptacle is easy to empty and can be washed out at the sink. Black+Decker claims the vacuum can hold a charge for up to 18 months, so it will always be ready to go, even if you don't leave it plugged in when it's not in use. It comes with a charging base so you’ll need to sit it on a shelf or counter to charge and it tops off in under four hours.

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Amazon

Best for: Upholstery | Tools included: Built-in crevice tool and brush | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Narrow, pivoting nozzle

Black+Decker shows up several times in this list for good reason: The company makes an excellent cordless handheld vacuum. The BDH2000PL, known simply as the Max, is one of the best out there. It's a solidly built vacuum that's easy to operate one-handed, and at 3 pounds, it's not too heavy to cart around for extended cleaning. The nozzle pivots around the base of the unit to make cleaning easy at any angle and in tight spaces, and it has both a pull-out crevice tool and a flip-up brush for specialized cleaning. And thanks to the cyclonic motion of the air in the bowl, the vacuum remains powerful even as the bin fills with dirt.

The Max comes with a charging stand that you can set on a counter top or mount on a wall and charges in under four hours. The large 15-ounce bowl empties easily and both the bowl and filter can be washed in the sink.

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Amazon

Best for: Upholstery | Tools included: Built-in crevice tool | Cordless: No | Key features: Powerful motor

Not everyone wants a cordless handheld vacuum—if you’re not diligent about keeping it charged, you’ll inevitably find its battery dead just when you need to clean up an unexpected mess. And batteries fade over time, delivering less power after a year than when they’re brand new. That's why you might want a corded vacuum like the Dirt Devil Scorpion. This traditional handheld has an especially powerful motor since there's no risk of the battery running down too quickly. The vacuum holds about 15 ounces in its dirt bin and has a triple-level filter.

One nice feature: It has a particularly long flip-down crevice tool built in. Weighing 3.75 pounds, it's on the heavier end of the scale, but not especially uncomfortable to hold. And you can get up to 16 feet away from your outlet thanks to an especially long power cord.

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Target

Best for: Multiple surfaces | Tools included: Built-in crevice tool and squeegee tool | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Works on both wet and dry messes

Chances are, you probably don't need a wet/dry vacuum every day. But if you want the option of cleaning up wet spills as well as dry (we’re looking at you, parents), the Dirt Devil QuickFlip Wet/Dry Hand Vacuum is an excellent choice. The bagless hand vacuum is lightweight—just 2 pounds!—and is cordless, so you can use it around your place with ease. It also features an extra-large dirt cup to hold up to 17 ounces of liquid and dry debris. This one doesn't come with a charging dock and simply plugs in to a charging cable.

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Amazon

Best for: Upholstery | Tools included: Multi-surface pet tool and duster crevice tool | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Lightweight, modern-looking

At just 1.4 pounds, this Shark vacuum is one of the lightest cordless handheld models money can buy, and it looks pretty distinctive, as well. Despite its narrow silhouette, it does a surprisingly good job cleaning difficult debris like pet hair and is easy to empty with the press of a button. Plus, it won't pose an eyesore if you’re limited on space and have to store it on your counter; the base holds the Wandvac's accessories, as well.

That said, there are some trade-offs with this design. The dust bin's 2.6-ounce capacity is quite small so it’ll fill up quickly and often. It also runs for less than 10 minutes at a time, taking 2.5 hours to fully recharge between jobs. Ultimately, this machine is ideal for small, quick clean-ups that require a decent amount of power and/or anyone who's short on storage space.

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Amazon

Best for: Floors and upholstery | Tools included: Crevice tool and scrubbing brush | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Lightweight, powerful suction

The Shark CH951 is a general-purpose hand vacuum, but its design seems ideal for cleaning staircases. That's because it's lightweight at under 3 pounds and it has an easy-grip shape that's comfortable to hold as you make your ascent. Since it's cordless, you won't have to drag a cord up and down your steps, making it easy to maneuver. The CH951 also features cyclonic suction for powerful cleaning and its filter is washable.

You can use one of three different attachments, including a powerful motorized brush roll to really get into carpet and upholstery, making it a solid choice for pet owners in homes with at least two floors.

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Amazon

Best for: Hardwood floors | Tools included: 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush | Cordless: Yes | Key features: Extremely compact

When you need to clean a small mess quickly, the Bissell AeroSlim Cordless Handheld Vacuum comes in, well, handy. The cordless vacuum, which weighs under 2 pounds, is one of the most lightweight and portable options on this list. And while it's powerful in its own right, it's definitely designed for quick jobs. It only runs for 12 minutes on a full charge, but it comes with a USB charging cable, in addition to its standard charger, so you can plug it in practically anywhere. It's compact enough to store in your car or office and the 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush conveniently stores with the vacuum on one stand so you always know where it is.

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Here at Forbes Vetted, we’ve tested a wide range of vacuum types and models: robot vacuums, dedicated vacuums for pet hair, Dyson vacuums and Roombas. We’ve also reviewed robot mops with vacuuming capabilities. In other words, we know a thing or two about how these essential cleaning tools work. For this piece, we identified all the top-rated handheld vacuums currently on the market, inspecting each model's functionality, features and overall quality. Then, we eliminated those that didn't meet our standards, resulting in a tightly curated list of the best of the best.

The best handheld vacuum for you is one that's not only high-quality, but also fits your specific needs. Before making your selection, here are some key points to consider.

Some hand vacuums are designed to work on a wide range of surfaces and messes, whereas others are more specialized; for example, some are best on soft surfaces. Knowing in advance what you plan to use your vacuum for will help you make the selection you’ll get the most use from. One point worth noting: If you plan to use your machine on upholstery or carpet, a brush-roll feature is a must.

A lot of this comes down to personal preference. If you don't mind dancing around a cord, a plug-in option—which typically has more suction power—may be a good fit. On the other hand, if you don't want to be bothered with the extra step of plugging in your device, cordless is the way to go. You can find powerful cordless models with a runtime of as much as half hour. Just be sure to look at the specs, though, as some cordless models only last a few minutes on a single charge.

Some handheld vacuums contain additional tools like brush rolls and extensions to help you get into hard-to-reach places. If you plan to use your handheld vacuum to get between couch cushions and tackle upholstery or carpet, these are must-haves.

Just need something to suck up a few after-dinner crumbs? A small dust bin (one that can only hold a handful of ounces) should be just fine. But if you know you’ll use your vacuum on bigger messes, you’ll probably want a larger dust bin—one that can hold around 15 ounces—so you won't have to empty it as often.

Everyone's needs are different, so before you buy one of these machines, take a moment to think about what you’ll mainly use it for. Do you mostly need it to suck up small messes in the kitchen or are you looking for something with a spinning brush to tackle pet hair on upholstery? Will this be used for wet spills, too?

This depends on a few factors, including the brand you invest in, how often you’ll use your vacuum and what kind of messes you’ll mainly need to tackle. Several handheld vacuums also come with warranties, which helps extend the lifespan of your purchase. And rather than replacing an entire machine, you also have the option to replace things like blocked filters, jammed brush rolls, frayed hoses and broken accessories yourself. On an average, a well maintained handheld vacuum from a quality brand should last you a minimum of 6 years.