The Best Handheld Vacuums of 2021
Updated February 15, 2021
"The right tool for the right job" is an adage that's especially applicable when you’re cleaning your house. Trying to use a full-sized vacuum in a confined space can feel like you're reenacting the clumsy "before" scene in a commercial that promises there's gotta be a better way. In this case, that better way is a handheld vacuum.
Battery-powered, lightweight, and maneuverable, these vacuum cleaners are the perfect solution to blast that hard-to-reach dirt with extraordinary suction power. But, there are tradeoffs. For example, switching from corded models means that using a more powerful suction setting will decrease the battery life, but a lithium-ion battery always seems to do the trick. In terms of individual performance by model, though, we can't rely on online reviews alone to give us the full picture of performance.
That’s why we rounded up nine of the best-selling handheld and car vacuums and put them to task in our testing labs. We measured the battery life, how well they sucked up dirt without a power cord, and if they were easy to use.
After weeks of the testing, the Dyson V7 Car+Boat (available at Amazon) rose to the top of the rankings as the best handheld vacuum. While the V7 had the best suction, decent battery life, and a wide assortment of attachments, we understand it’s pricey. Our list includes handheld vacuum cleaner value picks as well.
These are the best handheld vacuums we tested ranked, in order:
- Dyson V7 Car+Boat
- Black & Decker BDH2000PL
- Black & Decker HNV215BW52
- Black & Decker CHV1410L
- Bissell MultiReach
- Shark Ionflex Duoclean IF251
- Bissell Pet Hair Eraser