14 of the best handheld vacuums for an easy life

Telegraph

2 days ago

If you've already got a great vacuum cleaner, but want a second device for quick clean ups, mess or tight spaces, a handheld vacuum cleaner could be just the ticket. You'll find a wide range of cordless devices for the home, car and garage in our round-up of the best handheld vacuum cleaners, including designs from well-known brands such as Dyson, Miele, Shark, Hoover, Vax and Henry.
Each handheld vacuum has its focus, with tools and design geared towards specific areas. Covering everything from stairs and soft home furnishings, to car interiors, tabletops and even mattresses. The handhelds also differ in battery life, suction power and dustbin capacity. Here we've tested dedicated cordless handheld vacuums, plus a few larger cordless stick vacuums that can be converted to handheld, the latest robotic vacuum from Eufy, and a corded handheld for mattress cleaning.
You can find my full reviews below, followed by answers to frequently asked questions. If you're looking to upgrade your main vacuum cleaner, you can also consult our guides on the best cordless vacuum cleaners, the best cylinder vacuums, upright vacuums and hard floor cleaners.
The best handheld vacuums: At a glance
How to choose the best handheld vacuum
There are a number of factors to consider when choosing a handheld vacuum from the suction settings to how versatile the attachments are and whether the device has an adequate battery life.
'Once you've got a good handheld vacuum you'll wonder how you ever managed without it,' says Lynsey Crombie, resident home expert on ITV's This Morning and author of The 15 Minute Clean. 'It won't replace your main vacuum, but it's brilliant for quick messes around the home, such as crumbs on sofas and work surfaces, pet hair and pet beds, keeping your mattress fresh or when someone walks in with mud on their shoes and you don't want to get the big one out.
'Some of the newer models now come with HEPA filters and scented pods to keep things fresh, 2-in-1 crevice tools and upholstery brushes,' she adds. 'Those with small motor brushes are so handy for tackling dirt in your home, garage or car. I've also seen a few with pet-specific attachments, which is ideal if you've got pets leaving fluff everywhere.' She also prefers a vacuum with a charging dock that can be placed on a worktop to make it easier to power up, as it means you don't have to drill a hole in the wall.
How we test handheld vacuum cleaners
I tested 14 of the latest handheld vacuum cleaners at home, across hard floors, carpet and rugs, tabletops and upholstery. I trialled each handheld vacuum for a week around my home and in my car (where suitable) to see how well each one tackled general household mess. To test suction power for each vacuum, I used flour to mimic dust, oats to mimic larger debris, dryer lint to mimic pet hair and crushed crisps to mimic the mess my children usually leave on the sofa.
I rated each model on design, comfort and usability and took notes on whether they were easy to control, charge and handle. I took note the battery life, looked for useful attachments and monitored noise levels using the Decibel Meter app.
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The best handheld vacuums of 2025
1. Best Buy Handheld Vacuum: Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum
Designed for cordless, bagless vacuuming of cars, boats and awkward spaces around the home, this powerful handheld has the high-spec tech you'd expect from Dyson. The 'Hyperdymium' digital motor spins at up to 110,000rpm to generate up to 115 air watts which it claims captures 99.99 per cent of microscopic particles, which will be reassuring if you suffer from allergies. It comes with two settings for low- and high-speed pick-up that I found refreshingly powerful and effective.
While I've yet to win the lottery and don't own a boat, my Honda car has lots of very awkward and grubby corners, and the vacuum worked got into the nooks and crannies of its interior. I flitted between using the three useful attachments depending on the task and found the tools smoothly clicked on and off the head.
The mini motorhead attachment was good for vacuuming the mud, sand and dirt in my car boot and covered a satisfying amount space in just a few strokes. This brush head quickly picked up crushed crisps, oats and flour from the hard floor in my home and was ideal for a quick tidy on the stairs and catching crumbs behind the sofa cushions.
While this is meant to be a lightweight handheld vacuum, at 1.9kg, it can feel clunky after a while. It's operated with a trigger switch rather than an on/off button, so it's a little tiresome on the fingers. That said, the design feels sturdy, comfortable and built to last. Emptying it by clicking open the 0.54l bin is easy too, but what I admire most is its battery life. If used in low-power mode, it can keep running for up to an impressive 50 minutes, although it's always tempting to run it on the higher speed.
Key specifications
2. Best Value Handheld Vacuum: Beldray Airlite Cordless Handheld Vacuum
This lightweight handheld vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter can run for up to 25 minutes on a five-hour charge. It comes with its own charging dock that neatly plugs in at the wall and looks good in its gold and grey finish, sitting compactly on the counter top. The dock has room to house the vacuum and its two attachments (a crevice tool and a brush tool).
While its 100ml bin won't be able to handle large messes, I found the slim build of this device comfortable for cleaning up dirt, dust and small, dry spills. While it's not ideal for the car, it's useful around the house. It picked up oats and flour quickly, but took a little longer to suck up crushed crisps.
It has two speed settings that are accessible via the on/off switch on its handle and I was surprised at how powerful its suction is for such a slim device. The crevice tool was useful for stair corners and sucking up mess against the skirting boards, but I'd have liked a flat tool, too. Its bin fills up quickly, but it's easy to refresh by releasing the top of the vacuum and rinsing out the HEPA filter (though you will have to wait for that to air dry before placing it back). At 88.2dBA, it gets rather loud, but given its quick cleaning action you won't have to endure the noise for long.
Key specifications
Runtime: 25 mins
Bin capacity: 100ml
Weight: 1.48kg
Dimensions: H7 x W7 x L40cm
Filtration: HEPA filter
Tools included: Two
3. Best Handheld Vacuum for Pets: Vax HomePro Pet-Design Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
This multi-functional cordless stick vacuum can bend and glide under furniture and detects dirt using its smart sensors to activate powerful pick-up. It converts to a comfortable, powerful handheld and is a particularly good option for pet owners thanks to two pet-specific tools. It's also said to gather 99.9 per cent dust and allergens down to 0.3 microns. The second pet hair removal tool has a specialist silicone comb designed to agitate stubborn pet hair and make it easier to remove. I found its motorised pet tool effective at picking up fine lint in my test, and I found that this tool worked just as well on other mess around the home.
On a three hour charge you get up to 45 minutes' runtime, which is just as well as there are a fair few tools to make use of. The stair tool has a flat head that got right into the corners of my wide, carpeted stair treads. The 2-in-1 crevice tool worked well for awkward spaces between my car seats that seem to accumulate the most dirt. It converts to a brush tool too, which was useful for vacuuming the car's door pockets.
Key specifications
Runtime: 45 mins
Bin capacity: 0.7l
Weight: 0.61kg
Dimensions: H18 x W12 x L52cm (with motorised pet tool fitted)
Filtration: Two-stage, 'captures 99.9 per cent of allergens'
Tools included: Three
4. Best Handheld Vacuum for Upholstery: Shark Premium Handheld Vacuum WV270UK
Like the Beldray handheld vacuum, this Shark model sits neatly in its own charging dock. It's finished in a 'blue jean' shade that looks attractive on display, so it's ideal for the kitchen worktop or a utility room. I liked its 2-in-1 crevice tool that changes from 'brush mode' to 'smooth edge' by simply clicking the brush up and down. There's also a multi-surface upholstery tool with a flat edge that I found worked well on my velvet sofa, sucking up the crumbs and leaving fresh vacuum lines in its path.
I found its slim, 0.65kg design very light in hand, which made it easy to use for up to 15 minutes without getting an arm ache. But as with most of these handhelds, the power all depends on whether you use it on its standard setting or press the more powerful boost button. At 0.1l, its bin is small but it is easy to empty. While it can be used in the car, I think this vacuum is best for use in the house. Its 2-in-1 crevice tool is great for dusting shelves and mantels, while the multi-surface tool is ideal for spot cleaning dust and dirt. I would have liked to have seen a longer run time, but given the great price and design, I think it makes for a satisfying buy.
Key specifications
Runtime: 15 mins
Bin capacity: 100ml
Weight: 0.65kg
Dimensions: H7 x W7 x L45cm
Filtration: Washable filter
Tools included: Two
5. Best Handheld Vacuum for Cars: Miele Duoflex HX1 Total Care Obsidian Black
A powerful cordless stick vacuum for use on hard floors and carpet, this Miele design can also be converted to handheld mode. It comes with a hygiene filter that's said to capture up to 99.99 per cent of dust and an easy-emptying bin that opens with the press of a switch. There are two suction power settings with runtimes of up to 55 minutes (depending on which is used), and you get four attachments including a dusting brush, crevice nozzle, upholstery tool and an ' Electro Compact Handheld Brush ' that was great for the car.
I found this model's pick-up excellent, and it purred away at a comfortable 79.9 dBA, which is slightly subtler than the Dyson Car+Boat's 83.2 dBA. Unlike the Dyson, you don't have to keep your finger on the trigger button to operate this Miele handheld, but its body is slightly longer and not as compact. What I like most is its dusting brush, which worked particularly well on my fireplace.
Key specifications
6. Best Handheld Vacuum for Garages: Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Hand Vac
Noticeably one of the most powerful handheld vacuums I've tested, this Ryobi model is simple but effective. You can either buy it as a ' bare tool' without the battery for a lower price, or as a set with the required 5Ah battery and charger as priced here. If you already have a compatible Ryobi battery from the ONE+ system, you can use this with the vacuum.
At 1.4kg with the battery pack, the handheld vacuum feels evenly balanced and solid in hand. Its rubberised handle provides good grip and I was able to whizz around with it in my garage scooping up sawdust using the large suction head and crevice tool.
It only has one tool, which is a bit limiting. The head was effective at cleaning car seats, but there's only 12 minutes' run time on a full 75-minute charge so you'll need to work efficiently. However, if you go for a larger 5.0Ah battery you can increase the runtime to 30 minutes, although the device will feel heavier.
Key specifications
Runtime: 12 to 30 mins (depending on chosen battery)
Bin capacity: 0.54l
Weight: 1.4kg (when used with a 2.0Ah battery)
Dimensions: H13 x W10 x L44cm
Filtration: No filter
Tools included: One
7. Best Handheld Vacuum for Battery Life: Bosch Unlimited 10 ProPower Black
This versatile cordless stick cleaner converts into a handheld complete with a generous 5.0Ah battery. While it's not as light as your standard handheld, its functionality is excellent. Its digital control panel is one of the more high-tech I've discovered and it comes with six suction modes including one for the car and one for delicate carpets.
The control panel shows how much battery life you have left, and it changes colour depending on which setting you're using. The gentle green eco mode highlighted 55 minutes of run time, which went down to 24 minutes when I switched to the more powerful 'auto mode' displayed in blue. I got the options of nine minutes in 'red turbo mode' and 12 minutes in the 'pale blue car mode'. The 'MicroClean Ring' on the edge of the control panel display also turns blue when an area is completely clean, and this is useful when you're vacuuming in hard to see areas such as corners and under furniture.
Key specifications
8. Best Handheld Vacuum for Spillages: Black+Decker Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
This is one of the few handheld vacuums or 'dustbusters' that can tackle both wet and dry spills. Its blue, plastic body looks basic in design, but the motor is impressively effective. It mopped up milk easily and busted through dust and dirt. The large inlet enables it to tackle larger bits of debris, but this also means that things can spill out quite easily after vacuuming.
This vacuum is good to have close by for small spills, such as when you knock over a drink during a party or when there's cereal all over the seats after the kids have had their breakfast. With 10 minutes' runtime you won't get much further than that, but its a good grab-and-go option that can easily be stored on the wall thanks to its compact design.
Key specifications
9. Best Handheld Vacuum for Long Runtime: Henry Quick Pro
I'm a big fan of Henry vacuums for their no-nonsense power and suction capabilities, and my current go-to for use all around my home is the Henry XL Plus. But it is quite a beast of a vacuum and not always what you need for a quick clean up, which is what makes having a secondary option such as this Henry Quick Pro so enticing.
The Quick Pro comes with convenient attachments to make cleaning up easy, including the 'flexi hose', which I think makes all the difference when using a handheld, as it gives you a lot more freedom to vacuum in awkward areas, such as behind furniture. The vacuum also comes with scented pods, which is a nice touch to keep things smelling fresh while you hoover. It gives you up to a whole hour of cleaning, which is somewhat of a treat in the world of cordless cleaners.
Key specifications
10. Best Handheld Vacuum for a Fresh Scent: Gtech Multi K9 Cordless Handheld Pet Vacuum
With its aluminium frame, the Gtech handheld vacuum feels sturdy and well built. It comes with scented cartridges that leave a fresh smell in its trace, which is ideal if you have pets. There's just one on/off button that ramps up the power and while it's quite noisy at 90.9 dBA, it does have satisfyingly good suction. It comes with a 22V lithium-ion battery that goes for up to 20 minutes on a four-hour charge, which is probably just about enough to get your car looking ship-shape using the various tools supplied.
I found the long multi-extension tool useful for getting right between the car seats, while its crevice tool and multi-dusting brush worked well along the dashboard. It's the powered brush bar that really makes the difference when picking up dirt, dust and pet hair however, even on trickier surfaces like stairs and sofas. This head worked really well to get rid of all the sand the kids left in the back seats after a trip to the beach. I was impressed, as sand is so hard to get rid of and while I love memories of hot summer days well spent, I don't like to be reminded of them on my car floor.
Key specifications
11. Best Tabletop Handheld Vacuum: Zwilling Xtend Cordless Vacuum Cleaner Starter Set
If you like to host dinner parties, this tabletop handheld vacuum may just impress the guests. Adding a touch of five-star style to your dining table, the device has two nozzles to pick up food left on the table. Use it on crumbs, coffee powder, spilt salt and anything else messing up the tabletop. Its design is so neat, it wouldn't look out of place on the table next to your salt and pepper mills.
It may be small but its 3Ah battery is powerful and gives you up to 45 minutes' runtime. It also has a HEPA filter to tackle fine dust and allergens. It's also useful for cleaning hard to reach debris left behind in drawers and cupboards. It would make a great gift idea.
Key specifications
12. Best Robot Handheld Vacuum: Eufy Robot Vacuum 3-in-1 E20
Unlike your standard robotic vacuum, this Eufy model comes with a cordless handheld and stick vacuum as part of the design. Once I'd set up the robot and linked it to the Eufy Clean app, the robot got to work mapping out my floors with a LiDAR system that uses light to measure distances to objects and navigate its way.
The robot's cordless vacuum is neatly stored within its body and can be accessed with a simple click of a large red button. While it's small and compact, it feels solid in hand and has four suction modes to choose from that ramp up the power incrementally. I like the idea of having the handheld stored in the robot, but the bin is small and the attachments are limited. You get a small crevice tool housed on board the robot, but you'll have to find space to store the 2-in-1 combination tool, floor brush and stick separately. For an extra £15.99, the Eufy wall mounted bracket will enable neater storage.
Key specifications
13. Best Handheld Vacuum for Mattresses: Hoover HMC5 4-in-1 Corded Mattress Vacuum Cleaner
While it's not cordless like the other handhelds in this round-up, this Hoover vacuum offers something unique. With its UV light and built-in sensors, it is specifically designed to reduce bacteria, allergens and dust mites on mattresses.
As my son suffers from allergies, I was keen to use it on his mattress and while it was hard to see any visible results on the surface of the mattress, the device did manage to gather up noticeable dust in its 0.6 litre bin. It can also be used across sofas and soft furnishings, and it has a long 5m cord which makes it a relatively flexible corded model to use.
Key specifications
Runtime: N/A
Bin capacity: 0.6l
Weight: 2.2kg
Dimensions: H19.4 x W31.1 x L24 cm
Filtration: HEPA
Tools: No extra tools included
14. Best Lightweight Handheld Vacuum: Tower Optimum Handheld Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
Similar in configuration to the Shark handheld above, this Tower model is light in use and convenient for cleans-ups across small areas. It sits neatly in its own charging dock and comes with both a brush tool for dusting, and a crevice tool for getting close up to hard-to-reach areas.
While there's no motorised brush or flat head brush here, its pick-up is powerful enough for small spills and it scooped up the crushed crisps, oats and flour I laid out with ease. If you shake it too hard after vacuuming some of the dirt will fall out the front, even though it has an internal lip which is designed to prevent this. For a basic handheld costing less than £50, I think this is a good option.
Key specifications
Runtime: 25 mins
Bin capacity: 0.5l
Weight: 0.62kg
Dimensions: H7 x W7 x L40cm
Filtration: HEPA filter
Tools included: Two
Handheld vacuum FAQs
Are cordless handheld vacuums as powerful as corded ones?
Cordless handhelds will never be as powerful as corded ones as their design must balance suction power more carefully against their power consumption. However, vacuum manufacturers have committed much of their research and development to improving cordless vacuums in recent decades, so your next handheld vacuum will likely be more powerful (or better in other ways) than the last.
How long do handheld vacuum batteries last?
'Handheld vacuum cleaners should run between ten to thirty minutes per charge, but this will fluctuate depending on the design,' says Katie Lilywhite, Floor Care expert at AO.com.
'If you use the boost or turbo mode it will generate much higher suction and drain the battery faster. If you stick to the low power or eco modes, you're likely to have a longer battery life. In terms of the actual battery, this lifespan should keep working for between two and five years depending on how much you use it.'
Can handheld vacuums pick up liquids?
'While some handheld vacuum cleaners can pick up liquids, it's not worth risking your appliance if you're not sure,' says Lilywhite.
'Look specifically for a wet and dry vacuum cleaner as these are designed to tackle wet mess or debris.'
Are handheld vacuums are good for cleaning cars?
'Some handheld vacuums can be excellent at cleaning cars and I would say this is what they are really made for,' says Lynsey Crombie.
'Crumbs, dog hair and bits can gather up in the cup holders and door pockets and a handheld vac will help clear the mess. Look for good suction and some decent attachments so you can get into all the nooks and crannies. I keep mine charged and ready to go for exactly this purpose.'
How do you clean a handheld vacuum?
It's important to empty the dustbin of your handheld vacuum every time you use it to keep it fresh and in good working order.
'A clean vacuum means better performance, longer lifespan, and a fresher-smelling home,' says Olivia Young, Product Development Scientist at Astonish.
'Empty the dust compartment after every use as letting dirt sit for too long can lead to unpleasant smells and even affect suction. Wash or replace filters as recommended by the manufacturer, usually every few weeks, and ensure they're fully dry before reinserting. Give the attachment a quick rinse or wipe-down with an antibacterial spray to prevent dirt building up.'