The 3 Best Handheld Vacuums of 2023 Reviews by Wirecutter

Now, it is noisy, as you might expect a super-powerful vacuum to be, so we don’t recommend cleaning while trying to have a conversation. However, if you’re looking for a versatile vacuum to spot clean around your home, your car, and your garage, it’s a great pick. The flexible, 4-foot hose also allows you to vacuum upholstery, stairs, and vehicle floor mats with ease. The hose wraps around the motor when not in use, which we described as a “little hug,” making this pick easy to store and space-saving.

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 bissell handheld vacuum 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.

That’s not surprising; few companies have more experience making cordless handheld vacuums, since they pioneered the product back in 1979. Handheld vacuums are a diverse group, with some models designed for the awkward angles of a car’s interior and others purpose-built for pulling pet hair off carpeted stairs or upholstery. Others bissell handheld vacuum serve as “snack vacs,” allowing for the quick pickup of spilled cereals and countertop crumbs. You’ll find one of BISSELL’s handheld vacuum cleaners are a convenient alternative to a full-sized vacuums when it comes to smaller everyday tasks. Best suited to smaller vacuuming tasks on rugs and carpets, upholstery and car interiors.

The puppy is a frequent passenger, so there was plenty of dirt and hair to go around. We were impressed at how well the motorized tool was able to pull out hairs that had worked their way into the upholstery. It also did a good job sucking up dirt from the cracks, and we used the upholstery tool to get into the really tight crevices. When we were done, the seats were looking as good as new, which is a really big accomplishment for a puppy-transportation vehicle. In addition to performance, we record the weight and judge how easy the filter is to access, change and clean, how easy the dust cup is to empty and how comfortable the vacuum is to hold and use.

bissell handheld vacuum

Overall, the Bissell Cordless Hand Vacuum is an excellent cleaning tool to have at your disposal, especially if you have pets and accident-prone kids. When we brought in the Christmas tree this season, we scattered quite a few pine needles all over. Unfortunately, the needles quickly clogged the tube, and the suction disappeared.

And speaking of maneuvering, we did notice that some of the debris we picked up shifted and spilled out when the machine was tipped over, so buyers would just want to be sure to not invert it after using it. The one other hiccup with this machine is that the suction is so strong, it pulled at the high chair fabric cover, so users would want to be careful around loose or unsecured items. Not only did we find it easy to use, but extra features like a steady battery and helpful attachments (a crevice tool and scrubbing brush) add to its overall effectiveness. If you’re looking for an appliance for quick and efficient cleanup, this is an excellent choice for you, especially with its powerful suction that performed well on various surfaces.

It was quick to pick up the materials we laid in its path, only struggling a bit when picking up flour and hair on a high-pile carpet. As far as suction and power, it was competitive in those areas too, although not quite a standout. Like some of the other vacuums we tested, the sticky raisins were a challenge, but we’re willing to forgive that since it wasn’t a unique issue to this vacuum. Lastly, we wanted to note that the list price for this handheld vacuum is high at $200—though we see it discounted regularly (often in the $60-$80 range) so we definitely recommend watching for a sale. Once we got the hang of it, though, it really excelled, and picked up various debris quickly and easily.

If you’re looking for more vacuum cleaner content, check out our guides to the best vacuums from Bissell, the best stick vacuums and the best budget-friendly vacuums. Some car owners demand strong suction, to pick up mud from work boots or food crumbs from the kids in the back seat. Others prefer light weight and maneuverability, to get the job done quickly and easily.

We also tested the Shark Wandvac Cordless Handheld Vacuum and the Shark Wandvac Power Pet. Though they look snazzy and have decent suction for such light, little machines, we found their tiny bins frustrating. Adding to that frustration was the positioning of each model’s power button right below the bin-emptying button, which led to more than one instance of our testers accidentally emptying the bin. It has a run time of 24 minutes on low suction mode, which is sufficient for most furry situations, and a battery indicator shows you the charge level. Its airflow is above average on regular mode and excellent on high mode. This vacuum can’t stand upright, and its clunky body and neon green color might make it more aesthetically suited for a workshop than a stylish home.

Its extendable crevice tool allows you to reach into nooks and crannies. This cordless handheld vacuum’s powerful suction, long battery life, and large bin make short work of tidying up around the home and in the car. While the Worx Cordless Cube Compact Vacuum may not look like a typical handheld vacuum, don’t be deceived—it’s a worthy choice for anyone who wants their machine to be efficient, effective, and easy to use. We were pleased with how it sucked up all of the debris from our testing surfaces without even using an attachment. It has multiple settings, so if the base setting doesn’t handle a mess in one pass, the second setting does. It did well on hardwood floors, and we were especially pleased with its performance on carpet.