Whether you have little ones, pets or you just like to experiment in the kitchen, you've likely come across messes that are too small for a traditional vacuum but too large to just wipe up with a paper towel. In these cases, a handheld vacuum is exactly what you're looking for.
But with the virtual shelves inundated with options, how do you know which ones are actually worth your hard-earned money? That's where Shop TODAY comes in.
I tested five highly rated and popular handheld vacuum cleaners against everyday messes. I also asked experts for their guidance about how to buy the right one that suits your needs and what to do to keep it in the best condition.
Best budget-friendly$26.99$39.99
Overall best handheld vacuum cleaner, as tested by the author
Overall best:
Weight rating: 3.5/5 | Average performance rating: 3.75/5 | Ease of use rating: 5/5 | Volume rating: 5/5 | Overall average rating: 4.31/5
This cordless vacuum cleaner is just one part of the entire KitchenAid Go series of portable appliances. I've been using this since it came out and have not been disappointed, so I was excited to put it to the test with some messes that I don't usually encounter to see how it holds up.
The first thing to note is that it's pretty sleek, as far as handheld vacuums go. The power button is located intuitively so your thumb rests on it when you grab the handle — one click for on, one click for off. It's powered by a removable, rechargeable battery that has four lights to indicate power level. The dust bin and filter are both easy to remove, and the dustbin itself is dishwasher-safe, according to the brand.
It performed well across testing, but I think where it really stood out was cleaning crushed chips out of couch crevices with its concentrator attachment. It left the couch looking like new. It performed consistently well with messes across hardwood, tile and the couch, but struggled when it came to carpet.
Of the vacuums we tested, this one sits at about middle of the range price wise and, I would argue, is worth every penny. It's powerful yet quiet, handles various messes with relative ease and is easy to both clean and store when not in use. All of these factors together have earned it the title of best overall handheld vacuum cleaner.
More handheld vacuum cleaners, tested by the author
Best budget-friendly:
Weight rating: 4/5 | Average performance rating: 4.3/5 | Ease of use rating: 4/5 | Volume rating: 2/5 | Overall average rating: 3.58/5
Black+Decker is a classic brand that’s known for its affordable home gadgets. The handheld vacuum cleaner has a wide mouth and a large dustbin that means you can clean up multiple messes without worrying about emptying it. It made it through the first five rounds of testing without needing to be dumped out and even then, there was still plenty of room left. It was easy to clean when the time came, too. It has a built-in extendable crevice tool and even comes with a charging wall mount.
It performed really well and consistently across messes, only falling short against bread crumbs on carpet.
However, it was pretty loud and, unlike every other handheld vacuum we tested, the power button needs to be held down consistently throughout use, which can be fatiguing. It also takes a long time to charge completely, with the instruction manual saying it needs 9 hours.
Best for small messes:
Weight rating: 5/5 | Average performance rating: 3.68/5 | Ease of use rating: 4/5 | Volume rating: 4/5 | Overall averaging rating: 4.17/5
Overall, this budget-friendly Amazon pick would be best used for smaller messes both in size and stature. It didn't do great with larger bits of chips or larger mountains of bread crumbs, but held its own on with cat litter and hair. It also struggled a bit on carpet.
It's easy to use and comes with enough attachments to tackle most any mess. It's rechargeable via USB and, according to the brand, is fully charged within 2.5 hours.
It weighs in at less than a pound so it's very lightweight and it's not very loud but the high-pitched motor can be perceived as loud. Since it's such a small machine, the dustbin is also small and needs to be emptied regularly (but it's easy to clean!).
Best sleek handheld vacuum: Shark WandVac Cordless Hand Vacuum
Weight rating: 4/5 | Average performance rating: 3.19/5 | Ease of use rating: 4.5/5 | Volume rating: 3/5 | Overall average rating: 3.67/5
Even sleeker than the KitchenAid, you might be tempted to buy this one just because it's so pretty! It's both lightweight and quiet and handled most messes across tile and hardwood well, but struggled on carpet where it would suck everything up just to spit it back out.
It's intuitive and easy to use, but I struggled to figure out how to put on and remove some of the attachments. It does have a smaller dustbin that needs to be emptied pretty often but it's easy to do.
Where the Shark WandVac really fell was battery. It was on the charger for more than 4 hours to reach a full charge and, even though the continuous run time is listed by the brand as 9 minutes, we found that it died after being used for no more than 4 minutes.
Best for carpet:
Weight rating: 3/5 | Average performance rating: 4.06/5 | Ease of use rating: 2/5 | Volume rating: 4/5 | Overall average rating: 3.27/5
Dyson's powerful suction was immediately noticeable on this handheld vacuum. Where the other vacuums struggled with carpet, this one did pretty well for most of the messes. It really shined cleaning up cat litter, bread crumbs and hair, but fell a little short when cleaning up chips, especially out of couch crevices with the concentrator attachment.
However, outside of performance, the machine itself is bulky and the design isn't intuitive. The power and max power buttons are on the top of the vacuum, so it's best to use two hands. It stands upright when there's no attachment but the minute you add an attachment to it, it tips over. I was also confused trying to figure out how to take apart and put back together the main attachment in order to clean it.
Editor's note: The model we originally tested is no longer available to purchase, but we found this similar option from the brand. It’s a similar size and has comparable attachments.
Frequently asked questions
Suction power and easy use are two of the features called out by Orion Wang, the North America wet and dry vacuum product manager for Dreame, a smart home cleaning brand.
"A vacuum’s suction performance is a direct indicator of its cleaning ability. It won’t pick up much if it’s too weak — especially things like pet hair or fine dust," says Wang.
He adds that it should be "lightweight, easy to maneuver and have enough runtime to get through a full cleaning session."
Cory Hankins, CEO of clean for House of Vacuums, adds that buying a quality machine is better in the long run. "A unit that provides good airflow, good air filtration and one that can be repaired," he says. "Also, if this is a battery[-powered] unit, making sure that replacement batteries are available in the future."
With that in mind, he says the things to avoid are "models that lack enough suction power, have limited battery life or require constant filter replacements that can be frustrating in the long run."
Hankins describes handheld vacuums as "betweener vacuums." Both he and Wang say they're best for quick cleanups.
“Handheld vacuums are great for everyday messes, but they do have limits," says Wang. "Highly clumping materials like cat litter or flour — a small amount is fine, but too much can clog the system or cause buildup in the tank. If you do vacuum these, make sure to empty the sewage tank frequently. Things like broken glass or metal shavings could also damage the internal components or the brush roller.”
Hankins echoes similar sentiments, adding wet liquids and large objects to the list.
While Wang says that lighter is typically better for handheld vacuums, he notes that you'll notice a "trade-off between weight and power."
If you're looking for a specific number to guide your search, Hankins advises looking for handheld vacuums that are 2 to 5 pounds.
Hankins emphasizes that, even though they're convenient, handheld vacuums are not replacements for full-sized vacuum. "Using a [handheld vacuum] as a full-sized vacuum replacement will cause premature failure of the unit."
He says it can also affect your handheld machine's performance.
How we tested handheld vacuums
I, Kamari Stewart, evaluated each handheld vacuum on a scale of 1 to 5 in the following categories:
- Volume: 1 being the loudest, 5 being the quietest
- Weight: 1 being the heaviest, 5 being the lightest
- Ease of use: 1 being the hardest, 5 being the most easiest; Where is the power button located? How easy or hard is it to add and remove attachments? How easy or hard is it to remove and clean the dustbin?
- Performance: 1 being the worst, 5 being the best; Efficiency was judged by how much each vacuum cleared on one pass, then how many additional passes it took to completely clear the mess.
For performance, each handheld vacuum was tested across a combination of four types of messes and four surfaces in ways that reflected everyday experiences:
- Cat litter was spilled across hardwood, tile and carpet.
- Chips were crushed on hardwood, tile, carpet and a couch.
- Breadcrumbs were spilled across hardwood, tile and carpet.
- Hair was pushed into carpet.
Why trust Shop TODAY
Kamari Stewart is an associate editor who started out writing and reporting for Shop TODAY back in 2021. One of her earliest beats (aside from beauty) was home — and she covered topics such as cleaning supplies, laundry do’s and don’ts, the best reusable paper towels and the like. She independently conducted the testing for handheld vacuums.
Meet the experts
- Orion Wang is the North America wet and dry vacuum product manager for Dreame, a company that produces smart home cleaning tools.
- Cory Hankins is the CEO of clean for The House of Vacuums, a service repair center and sales dealer for major floor care brands in North Carolina and Florida.
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