Attachments or extensions can focus the vacuum’s suction for better cleaning or to help get debris off clingy surfaces. Sometimes it just isn’t necessary or worth the time to pull out a full-size vacuum to clean up a small dry spill. By the time you lug out and plug in a big vacuum, a handheld vacuum would have finished the job. They are often small so they take up very little storage space and can be used to clean tight spaces like your car or between stair rails. Many options, like our picks above, offer powerful suction and tools that help you clean across many different surfaces. We also test pick-up ability with heavy items, like screws and nuts (pictured).
It’s a perennial best seller with strong reviews from owners, and in our testing we’ve found it comfortable and effective. We’ve recommended the CHV1410L since 2017, and in our most recent round of testing, in 2023, it proved once again to be one of the best basic handheld vacuums available. But it has a shorter run time than our top picks, and it isn’t great at cleaning upholstery.
It did take several passes to leave the bed looking clean, but it was quite hair-covered, so we weren’t that surprised. Even though the DeWalt shop vac has strong suction power, completing the job takes a lot of scrubbing because it has no attachments to help get the job done. The large tank and hose attachment help keep it in the mix, but it wouldn’t be our first choice.
Eufy’s HomeVac H30 Infinity is an ultra-lightweight choice for cleaning up furniture, carpeted stairs and car seats. In combination with its mini motorized pet hair brush, a rubber seal around the filter removes pet hair from the device as you remove the dust bin, so no hair is left behind after cleaning. Like many of the other vacuum models we’ve tested from Eufy, the H30 Infinity has great suction and easily tackles small messes, but has a dust cup on the smaller end of the spectrum of the models we’ve tested.
It earned perfect scores in five of our seven performance evaluations, including in carpet, bare floor and large debris pickup tests. Because of its lightweight design, long battery runtime and array of tools, this hand vacuum is great for clean-up in your car, especially in between and under seats. The Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab has a long history of testing vacuums to find the best ones on the market, from canister vacuums to robot vacuums to upright vacuums. The Max Flex Handheld Vacuum looks like a mad scientist shrunk a full-size vacuum, thanks to the extendable hose that wraps around the unit when you don’t need its full length.
You can then charge the battery for an hour for a short cleaning session or four hours to get it back to full juice. Compare the nozzles, cleaning heads, brushes and other accessories are included with each handheld vacuum. We don’t recommend any mini handheld vacs because our picks are better performers, similarly priced (or less expensive), and more versatile. However, if you have hand or wrist issues, one of these lighter hand vacs might be a good alternative.
And while it’s powerful in its own right, it’s definitely designed for quick jobs. It only runs for 12 minutes on a full charge, but it comes with a USB charging cable, in addition to its standard charger, so you can bissell cordless vacuum plug it in practically anywhere. It’s compact enough to store in your car or office and the 2-in-1 crevice tool and dusting brush conveniently stores with the vacuum on one stand so you always know where it is.
The filter is washable, and we like that the vacuum stands upright on its own for charging or storage. Plus, like the Worx and Eufy, it got a three-star rating from Quiet Mark meaning it’s quiet compared to others we tested. The Bissell FAQ page says that the Pet Hair Eraser lasts for 17 consecutive minutes. I got just over 18 minutes, but others boast up to 30 minutes of battery life, depending on how taxing the vacuuming is. However, because this handheld vacuum is better for spot cleaning, you probably won’t be using it for the entire length of its battery life in one sitting. I cleaned the bottom of my cat tree in less than a minute, even switching between attachments.
For one, the head of the upholstery tool can be pivoted into a T formation, but we had to manhandle it a little—it’s not an easy transition, so don’t be afraid to put some muscle into it. Second, bissell handheld vacuum you can actually use the upholstery tool in tandem with the crevice tool if you need to get into a tight space. We didn’t find an application for this feature, but it’s there should you need it.