Vacuuming may not necessarily be fun, but it’s an essential task to keep your home clean and tidy. The vacuum you use can make all the difference between a back-breaking chore and a quick and easy one.
Whilst a regular, thorough clean might need an upright vacuum, it can be annoying to have to bring out the upright every time you want to tackle a small cleaning job, such as hoovering up some crumbs or dried dirt trampled in from the garden.
This is where a handheld vacuum can be a great addition to your cleaning kit. The best hand vacuum cleaner packs the features of an upright into a smaller, lighter and more portable dustbuster.
A cordless handheld vacuum cleaner also saves you the hassle of unplugging every time you move from room to room.
Handheld vacuums are easier to use in small spaces, on worktops, stairs or surfaces, and can even make quick work of cleaning the interior of your car.
To help you choose the best portable hoover for you, we’ve rounded up some of the best handheld hoover options on the market to find a model worthy of the title of best handheld cordless vacuum cleaner.
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Best For Low Budgets
2Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
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Best For Higher Budgets
3Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner WV200UK
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Best Overall
4Gtech Multi MK2 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
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Buy On AO1. Black & Decker Dustbuster Hand Vacuum
- Battery sensor displays remaining charge
- Slim nozzle makes it easier to access small areas
- Removable and washable dirt bowl and filters
- Intelligent Boost mode to increase suction power
This handheld portable vacuum is a handy size for picking up dust, dirt or debris around the home.
It has a slim nozzle making it easy to access small areas, so is ideal for getting into crevices at the side of a sofa, removing dust from the top of door frames or even for picking up crumbs from your kitchen worktop.
There’s a translucent and bagless dirt bowl so you can easily see when it needs emptying, and both the dirt bowls and filters are washable.
An Intelligent Boost mode increases suction power if needed.
The run time is quite short at 16 minutes, but a battery sensor will display the remaining charge whilst it’s in use.
Specifications
Pros
- Translucent, bagless dirt bowl
- Compatible with scented pre filter
- Battery charges within 6 hours
- Lightweight
Cons
- Battery life is quite short
- Noisy
2. Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- Easy to empty – press the dirt release button and dispense dirt into the bin
- Built in crevice tool
- Up to 15 minutes run time
- Filter can be removed and cleaned
This is a very compact model, making it easy to use and store. There’s a built in crevice tool that slides out from the main body when you need to access tight spaces.
What we liked best about this Vax handheld vacuum was the ease of emptying it.
There’s a dirt release button which you simply press to open the mouth of the vacuum, allowing you to shake dirt into the bin with no mess or fuss.
The filter can also be removed to clean it when you need to.
We found the suction to be fine for vacuuming up loose dirt or debris, but not quite enough to deal with pet hair on carpet.
Specifications
Pros
- 1 year guarantee
- Lightweight
- Not too noisy
- 0.3L capacity
Cons
- Effective on loose dirt but struggled with pet hair
- Filter can clog easily
3. Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner WV200UK
- Sleek and slimline design
- Charges on a charging storage base
- Easy empty dust cup
- Lightweight at just 600g
The design of this Shark cordless vacuum is so sleek and slimline that you might not mind it sitting on a worktop to charge.
The vacuum sits on a supplied charging base, which is also used for storage.
It can only run for 8 minutes on a single charge, however the charging time of 2.5 hours is faster than many of the others we tested.
Because of the slimness of the design, the capacity is only 0.1L, but it’s very simple to empty the dust cup whenever it’s full.
The upside of the small size is that this model is really lightweight, at just 0.6kg. We found this a useful extra tool for a quick clean up.
Specifications
Pros
- Crevice Tool and Pet Tool included
- 2 year guarantee
- Quick charge time (2.5 hours)
Cons
- Only 8 minutes run-time per charge
- Limited capacity (0.1L)
4. Gtech Multi MK2 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- Supplied with a power head, dusting brush, crevice tool and nozzle
- Easy empty bin
- Up to 20 minutes run time on a 4-hour charge
- Works well on pet hair
The Gtech MK2 is a slightly bulkier and heavier machine than some others we reviewed, but it offers more versatility thanks to the range of attachments it’s supplied with.
The power head is great on stairs and helps to lift the pile on carpet making it look refreshed. The dusting brush is useful for upholstery and also car interiors.
The bin is easy to remove from the main body of the device and simple to empty.
It’s also handy that this model runs on a removable and rechargeable battery, so you can choose whether to charge the battery on its own or leave it attached to the body of the vacuum.
Specifications
Pros
- Bagless and cordless
- Removable Lithium-ion battery
- LED display shows remaining charge
- Power brush lifts the pile on carpets and rugs
Cons
- Larger than some portable models
- Higher end of the price range
5. WORX WX030 CUBEVAC Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
- Compact cubic design
- All attachments are stored within the main body
- Two suction settings
- Easy to empty
The design of this WORX cordless vacuum stands out against other models as instead of one complete unit, this has a cube with an extendable hose.
The advantage of this approach is that the additional attachments fit neatly into the main cube for easy access and storage.
However, it does make it a little less convenient to use, as you’ll need to hold the cube in one hand and the hose in the other.
The vacuum works well, and it’s useful to have two suction settings.
Emptying the dust bowl is very easy and the filter is washable too.
Specifications
Pros
- Supplied with brush and crevice nozzle attachments
- Extendable vacuum hose
- Washable filter
- Three year warranty
Cons
- You need to hold the cube in one hand and the hose in the other so it’s not as convenient as a single unit
6. Hoover Jovis+ Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
- Powerful 550W model
- Designed for intensive cleaning
- Supplied with a pet turbo brush to help lift pet hairs
- Turbo boost mode to increase suction power
Unlike other models we reviewed, this Hoover is corded, so you will need to plug it in.
There is a long 6m cord, so you’ll be able to move around quite freely but it might not be the best choice if you’re looking for a model you can easily use to clean out your car, for example.
A benefit of a corded vacuum is that there’s no need to worry about the charge or run time, as you have constant power as long as you’re plugged in.
It’s also powerful, and capable of intensive cleaning.
There’s a turbo boost mode to increase suction power when needed.
It’s supplied with a pet turbo brush which is great at lifting pet hairs, plus a crevice tool and dusting brush attachments.
Specifications
Pros
- Crevice tool and dusting brush attachments are provided
- Washable filters
- Long 6m cord
- Easy to empty bin
Cons
- Corded so you will need to keep plugging it in
- Several users report that the dust box can accidentally open during use
Cordless Handheld Vacuum Buying Guide
Dust Capacity
Because they’re designed to be compact and portable, the bin or dust bowl capacity of a handheld vacuum is much smaller than an upright vacuum, for example.
The exact capacity varies from model to model, but typically can range from 0.1 to 0.5 litres.
Although this capacity may not sound like a lot, remember that a handheld vacuum is designed to be used for small tasks such as cleaning up crumbs or dusting a small area rather than for a clean of the whole house, similar to a window vacuum cleaner.
You also don’t need to worry about the hassle of changing the dust bowl when full, as all of the models we’ve looked at are very easy to empty.
Power
As most handheld vacuums are cordless and powered by a rechargeable battery, they’re not quite as powerful as a mains-powered model.
You can look for a vacuum with a boost setting if you might need to tackle tough cleaning or lift pet hair.
If you need a powerful handheld vacuum without the restriction on run time that is common to cordless models, you could consider a corded machine.
These are not as portable as those with a battery, but they can be used continuously.
Size
The size of the best handheld vacuum for you depends on how you wish to use it.
The smallest machines will typically have a smaller dust bowl which you’ll need to empty more frequently, and a smaller battery which will limit the run time.
A mini hoover can be helpful for occasional use and in small areas.
Another advantage of a small hand held hoover is the maneuverability, meaning they can be used in hard to reach areas.
They are ideal for cleaning the interior of your car, or for getting into crevices.
Uses
A handheld vacuum won’t replace the need for a regular vacuum that can tackle every room of your home, but they’re a useful extra tool in your cleaning kit.
Some of the most common uses for handheld vacuums are to remove pet hair and to clean your car.
Pet Hair
If you have a pet that sheds hair, you’ll know that this can collect on surfaces such as your carpet or upholstery.
Pet hair can be tricky to tackle as it becomes embedded in fibres.
If you’re looking for the best handheld vacuum for pet hair, look out for a model with powerful suction.
Some options even have a specialised pet brush to help lift the hair.
Car
Kids, dogs and day to day life can all create a mess in your car.
A handheld vacuum for your car offers an easy way to maintain your vehicle interior yourself, without resorting to regular valet services.
A small handheld and portable vacuum will help you make quick work of cleaning your seats, floors and even dusting the dashboard.
Battery Life
Many handheld vacuums are cordless, which makes them easy to use wherever needed. Cordless models have a battery, which may be built-in or removable.
You’ll simply need to plug in the rechargeable hand vacuum or the charger each time the battery runs flat.
To avoid handheld vacuums becoming too heavy and bulky, and because they take a fair amount of energy to run, the run time tends to be fairly short.
The exact run time can range from under 10 minutes to over 20 minutes.
You might also want to consider the charge time, that is how long it takes to recharge the battery so it’s ready to go again.
Features
Despite their compact size, a handheld vacuum can still pack in a number of features.
Because the vacuum needs to remain light and portable, the design of the main body tends to focus on features which are practical and improve the function, such as an LED display which can indicate the remaining run time before the battery will run out of charge.
Other useful features to look out for are a boost function when you need additional suction.
Most handheld machines will have a standard nozzle which can have a number of different tools added to it in order to tackle specific cleaning tasks.
Here are some of the most common.
Crevice Tool
A crevice tool may be an attachment or sometimes built into the main body.
A crevice tool is narrow so it can access small areas that are otherwise hard to reach, such as behind furniture or down the sides of your sofa.
Turbo Pet Tool
Pet hair can be difficult to vacuum up as it becomes tangled in other fibres.
A specialised pet tool will help lift the hair more effectively than a standard hose.
Extendable Flexi Hose
Many handheld devices have a nozzle as part of the rigid body, but some have an extendable flexi hose which can be used alone or with an added attachment.
An extendable hose will give you more reach, and can help you maneuver into tight spaces.
Pricing Range
As with many domestic appliances, there are a range of variables that can dictate the price of a handheld vacuum, from the brand to the supplied attachments.
The best cheap handheld vacuum can be around £50, and for this you can expect good performance and perhaps an included attachment or two.
If you’re looking for a more versatile vacuum, perhaps with more attachments, more powerful suction and a recognised brand name, you could spend around £150.
Our Verdict
A handheld vacuum is a great tool for tackling quick clean-ups around the home and can even help you keep your car neat and tidy.
Whether you want a cheap option or have more to spend, we’ve found models to suit all needs. Our Best Entry Level choice is the Vax Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner.
It’s easy to use and empty, has a good run time and we liked the built-in crevice tool.
Our Best Top of the Range choice is the sleek and compact Shark Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner WV200UK, which is extremely light and has a quick charge time plus a handy charging and storage base.
The Best Overall from our selection is the Gtech Multi MK2 Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, which has a removable battery for easy charging, tackles pet hair and the power brush lifts the pile of carpets and rugs leaving them looking refreshed.
