15 best handheld vacuum cleaners, tested and reviewed by experts

Vacuuming the house, car and beyond can feel like a right chore. It can be hot, heavy work – even getting the vacuum out can be an epic task. But no longer, thanks to handheld vacuums, which are designed to fit perfectly into your hand and life.

More often than not, they are cordless. This makes them perfect for tackling the stairs, annoying hard-to-reach areas and the car. Being wire-free is a freeing experience when cleaning and, as brands constantly strive to improve their handheld vacuums, the gadgets are getting lighter and more versatile.

But don’t be fooled by their smaller size, these handheld models can still pack a punch too, holding their own against more comprehensive vacuums. Suction power and functionality – it’s all there. They’re perfect for whipping out for spills, messes and the ever-present post-dinner crumb situation. They’re lightweight too, so easy to flick about for a quick spruce.

Some of the best cordless vacuum cleaners today come with a detachable handheld unit, meaning you can clean crumbs and mud off the car floor without having to heft the entire thing outside or buy a separate machine. While we’ve focused on standalone handheld models, which are usually cheaper than two-in-one cordless vacs, we’ve also paid attention to the best dual-purpose machines.

In this round-up, there are vacuums that are better for smaller areas too. The battery power and bin capacity on most mean they’re not capable of taking on a whole house (although some are – read on for more deets). Some are designed for workshops and sheds especially, and there are even ones for the garden. We were on a mission to find the best…

How we tested the best handheld vacuum cleaners

We spent three weeks testing handheld vacuums. Testing took place in a busy family house where crumbs are a real mainstay, as well as in the car (crumbs there too – thanks, kids), and we tested in the garden where appropriate, too.

Factors we looked at were how much debris the vacuums were sucking up, how long they worked for before running out of juice, the weight and ease of use. Other things we liked to see were handy attachments and a decent docking station. As ever, value for money was a big factor in weighing up the vacuums too. Here are the best handheld vacuum cleaners that blitzed the competition.

The best handheld vacuum cleaners for 2024 are:

• Best handheld vacuum cleaner overall – Eufy clean homevac H20 cordless handheld vacuum: £99.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best handheld vacuum cleaner for pet hair – Gtech multi MK2 K9: £199.99, Amazon.co.uk
• Best compact handheld vacuum – Shark wandvac 1.0 WV200UK: £116.23, Amazon.co.uk
• Best lightweight handheld vacuum cleaner – Gtech prolite: £123.69, Amazon.co.uk

Eufy clean homevac H20 cordless handheld vacuum

Gtech multi MK2 K9 cordless handheld pet vacuum

Shark wandvac 1.0 WV200UK

Shark classic hand held pet vacuum CH950UK

Dyson V12 detect slim extra vacuum

Eufy HomeVac H11 handheld vacuum cleaner

Beko powerclean cordless vacuum cleaner VRT94929VI

Flymo powervac 3000

Gtech prolite

Miele triflex HX2 pro cordless vacuum

Beldray wet and dry handheld vacuum cleaner

Karcher VC7 cordless yourmax vacuum cleaner

Samsung bespoke jet

Henry quick

Ryobi 18V hand vac kit

The verdict: Handheld vacuum cleaners