The 6 best handheld vacuum cleaners that will banish dirt and dust fast, tried and tested in real homes and cars

When full-size vacuum cleaners are too big for the smaller cleaning tasks, handheld vacuums thrive. And I think most people underestimate the power (both literally and metaphorically) of the best handheld vacuum cleaners. After all, they're perfect for small spills, unexpected messes, and smaller nooks and crannies both inside and outside of the home.

Of course, many of the best vacuum cleaners and best cordless vacuum cleaners on the market today are multi-purpose, giving you the option to convert them into a handheld mode. Still, they can't compete with handheld offerings specifically designed for this purpose - especially when cords get in the way, their heaviness just isn't practical, and they're not equipped to clean the car. That's where a handheld vacuum cleaner can step up to the plate.

So, to help you decide on the best handheld vacuum for your needs, myself and the Ideal Home team have put models from big-hitting brands like Dyson, Shark, Gtech, and Beldray through their paces. We evaluated these handheld and wand vacs based on their size, suction power, cleaning capabilities, and affordability to compile a list of what I believe to be the best handheld vacuum cleaners on the market today.

Quick list

Short on time? This quick list is an overview of the very best handheld vacuums we've tested so far. You'll find more information on each handheld vac and why our testers recommend it if you keep on scrolling.

Best handheld vacuum cleaners

Best handheld vacuum overall

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Although the name would suggest otherwise, the Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum cleaner is the ultimate all-rounder. Not restricted to just cars and boats, it offers the power of a full-size vacuum in one handy handheld for all areas of the home - and it has an impressive 50-minute run time to boot (in normal mode).

That does reduce to just 5 minutes in boost mode, but our reviewer found this model incredibly effective without bumping up the power. In fact, she used it to deep clean her carpets, remove dust from skirting boards, and clean behind furniture. The three attachment heads - mini motorhead, crevice tool, and combination tool - also means that no nook or cranny will go uncleaned.

With the largest dust capacity of any other handheld vacuum we've tested, too, you can clean even more messes without having to empty it every five minutes. And when you realise that the full-size Dyson V8 Absolute stick vacuum also has a 0.54L dust capacity, it makes this handheld vacuum even more appealing.

Of course, the Dyson is the heaviest option of all of the handheld vacuum cleaners on this list (something to consider if you have limited mobility or struggle to hold things for an extended length of time) but our reviewer didn't find this to be a problem during testing. To be honest, she didn't really have anything bad to say about it, which is why it's now been crowned the best handheld vacuum cleaner overall.

Read our full Dyson Car+Boat handheld vacuum cleaner review for more details.

Best handheld vacuum for suction

There's no denying that this Gtech handheld vacuum is an expensive, investment-level option. But at this price bracket, you get thoughtful design as well as features and accessories that you won’t see on other vacuums in this guide. So, if you rely on your handheld vacuum, this is an all-rounder that’ll become an invaluable addition to your cleaning arsenal.

It only has one suction power, but the versatility comes from the accessories, including a long crevice tool that’s neatly stored in the back of the vacuum. The long brush makes easy work of reaching high cobwebs and the power brush speedily spruced up my stairs and upholstery, effectively picking up hair and debris.

Assuming the power brush drains the battery faster than any other accessory, our reviewer timed the battery life when using this tool, and it lasted 22 ½ minutes. Of all the vacuums in this guide, the range of accessories made this the most effective at cleaning the car.

The suction is powerful, and the scented cartridges leave a fresh smell in their wake. The downside is that it can feel a tad heavy after prolonged use, but our reviewer was willing to put up with that for the great results.

Read our full Gtech AirRAM Platinum review for more details.

Best handheld vacuum for mess-free emptying

Despite being the second most expensive option on this list, this Shark vacuum has the lowest run time, the battery lasted around 8 ½ minutes during testing. This doesn’t matter for quick clean ups, but for lengthy tasks like cleaning the car, it’s frustrating.

One of our favourite features of this vacuum is that it empties at the touch of a button, flipping the dirt directly into the bin. And though this might seem like a small point, it makes emptying quick and mess-free.

Performance is pretty good and it effectively removed dirt from the car, but it didn’t manage to collect hairs from the carpet. There’s only one power level, but nevertheless, the suction was noticeably stronger than the Beldray and Lakeland models lower down this list.

Overall it’s a decent handheld from a trusted vacuum cleaner brand. And while it performs well, there are much less expensive options that are very similar in style, so budget will inevitably play a part in the decision about whether to opt for this model.

Best handheld vacuum for pet hair

Those with pets will rejoice upon using this handheld from Shark, which is engineered to make cleaning up after your favourite four-legged companions much easier.

In order to adequately clean up pet messes, this vac has a fairly big dust tank (0.45 litres), though it is somewhat limited by it's short run time, which is just 10 minutes. That said, the vacuum was fine for giving the carpet and upholstery a clean after an excitable dog during our tests.

As you'd expect for a handheld with this pricetag and from Shark, this vacuum does have good, powerful suction and it's easy to grab for cleaning up small spills.

Best mid-range handheld vacuum

The Lakeland cordless vacuum is similar in looks to both the cheaper Beldray and the more expensive Shark vacuums. There are very few points of difference, except the Lakeland version offers a larger 150ml dust canister.

Meanwhile the attachments are somewhat pared back in comparison to those included with the other two since it lacks an upholstery tool and the crevice tool is short and stubby. But having said that, if you’re not planning to clean upholstery or use it for much more than a quick spruce-up, you might not mind.

The battery lasted for a little over 11 minutes when used continuously on the stronger of the two suction levels. It’s not a handheld I’d recommend for car cleaning as the crevice tool won’t reach down the side of seats, although it worked fine to remove debris in the footwells.

Its suction is more powerful than the budget Beldray model below but not quite up there with the Dyson, Shark and Gtech above, earning it the best mid-range title. Inside the house it’ll be there when you need it to pick up spills or quickly clean small areas and the affordable price tag makes it an inviting option. But if even this handheld vac is too big for you, the Lakeland 3-in-1 Mini Vacuum could be a good alternative.

Best handheld vacuum under £50

If value for money is your biggest priority in choosing a handheld model, the Beldray Wet and Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum is as affordable as they go without losing out on too much suction power or ease of use. Better yet, the fact that it employs the dual-functionality of switching between wet and dry surfaces makes it a steal for the price.

Just as any handheld vacuum excels as being a handy tool for quickly sprucing surfaces up or being the ideal companion for cleaning up after the kids have eaten, this Beldray model works especially well for tackling crumb scatterings, minor spills, and small puddles all-in-one. But mind you, small spills are about as far as this vac will take you because the water capacity isn't crazy generous.

During testing, we found it pretty loud when in use, but since we expect you'll only need it for short bursts of time, it isn't entirely unbearable. Sure, the switching between the wet and dry functions isn't mind-blowingly fast, but at its bargain £34.99 price tag, we think you could do a lot worse.

Read our Beldray Wet and Dry Cordless Hand Vacuum review for more detail.

Handheld vacuum cleaners at a glance

How we test handheld vacuum cleaners

At Ideal Home, we never want to recommend a product we haven’t had hands-on experience with. That’s why every product in this buying guide has been tested using our detailed and rigorous testing protocol.

We test handheld vacuums precisely the same way we’d test a vacuum cleaner, ensuring we test all of its features and capabilities for at least two weeks (and sometimes even longer) before deciding whether it’s impressive enough to earn a place in this buying guide.

To compile this guide, a selection of Ideal Home-approved and trained testers reviewed the handheld vacuums above. They tested all these handheld vacuums in their own homes as well as in their cars, where possible. In doing so, they were able to compare them in terms of handle comfort, ease of emptying, and ease of use. They also paid close attention to the accessories supplied, as these can often make or break the experience you have with a vacuum.

They timed the battery life of each one, and while vacuuming for the full life of the battery, they got a good idea of how heavy it started to feel after prolonged use. In addition to noting any annoying noise, they also tested the sound level with a decibel meter on their phones.

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With all of this information in tow disposal, they then assigned the best handheld vacuum cleaners a dedicated Ideal Home star rating. They are as follows:

5 stars - an impressive handheld vacuum that does exactly what you expect and cannot be faulted in any way. It will also receive an Ideal Home-approved badge.

4.5 stars - a high-quality, hard-working handheld vacuum, but it leaves us wishing for a bit more, so it loses that crucial half-mark. However, it will still receive an Ideal Home-approved badge.

4 stars - an impressive handheld vacuum worth your money but may need some fine-tuning before it suits every customer.

3 stars - a good handheld vacuum that works well but doesn't blow us away with its specs or affordability. In some cases, it may also be difficult to use or too heavy.

2 stars - an affordable handheld vacuum that will suit the budget-conscious but is under-specced and lacks key features.

1 star - we would not recommend this handheld vacuum, as it is underwhelming and does not work as well as it should.

Jullia Joson

While working for Ideal Home, Jullia spent over 60 hours testing vacuums - including handheld vacuums.

She's got hands-on experience with models from leading brands such as Dyson, Shark, Henry, Gtech and Bosch. For this guide, she tested the Gtech handheld vacuum.

Helen McCue

Helen is a freelance contributor who trained as a Home Economist. After starting her career in the food industry, she moved into home appliance reviews and has since reviewed countless vacuums and handheld vacuums for Ideal Home.

Helen lives in a beautiful home in a Berkshire village, and is our go-to for testing vacuums in a real-life setting.

Linda Clayton

Linda is a freelance interiors journalist and product reviewer and has tested many products over the past 20+ years, including many vacuums and handheld vacuum cleaners.

She has particular expertise in cleaning products for the home, and uses her wealth of experience to rate products and give you her verdict on value for money.

Katie Sims

Katie is a regular freelance contributor for Ideal Home, and has tested a variety of home appliances, including dehumidifiers, air purifiers, coffee machines, and of course, vacuums.

Foer this guide, she tested the Dyson Car+Boat Handheld Vacuum in her home in Leeds.

How to choose a handheld vacuum

Just like choosing a vacuum cleaner, choosing the right handheld vacuum for your needs can be difficult. In fact, with quite a broad spectrum in terms of price as well as capabilities, it can be tough to narrow down the selection and choose the best handheld vacuum for you. But there are a few important features you must consider.

Firstly battery life, think about whether you need the battery to last long enough to vacuum your whole car, or if you’ll just be using it for a couple of minutes here and there when the children spill things. Similarly, the dust capacity is worth considering, some have tiny dust canisters that you’ll need to empty regularly if picking up larger debris, and that’ll get annoying.

Lastly, think about how you want to use it and look at the accessories. Those that come with lots of accessories are often more versatile, but for some people all these extra tools are an unnecessary addition.

FAQs

How much should I spend on a handheld vacuum cleaner?

It’s possible to get an efficient handheld vacuum cleaner at well under the £100 mark, although you can pay twice that. The less expensive models could well fulfil all that you require of a handheld, and you can even get long running times on a single charge at this price point.

We think it’s worth paying over £100 if the handheld has features you particularly need like the excellent range of accessories available with the Gtech Multi Platinum Handheld Vacuum.

How strong should a handheld vacuum be?

You'll find that most handheld vacuums on the market will have a suction power (measured in air watts, or AW) of around 20-60 air watts. The higher the number, the stronger the suction will be. Those with stronger suction power will generally be more expensive, too.

Ultimately, you need to decide for yourself how strong a handheld vacuum should be, as the option you choose will depend on your needs. If you just want to use a handheld vacuum for the small corners of your home that your normal vacuum cleaner won't reach, you might not need anything too powerful.

If you want to use a handheld vacuum cleaner to vacuum pet hair, you'll likely need something more powerful to ensure you're picking up every strand and each speck of pet dander.

Handheld vacuums are so helpful around the house, and with this comprehensive guide to the top-rated ones, we hope cleaning up smaller messes just got a bit easier.