As there are more or less awkward spots around your house that the main vacuum can’t reach, it is now time to invest in a more compact model. While it’s nerve-cracking to look for the right one, we’re here to help.
Below are the top 8 most powerful handheld vacuums separated into different categories:
- Holife Upgraded Handheld Vacuum – Best for pet hair
- Homasy Portable Handheld Vacuum – Good for hard-to-reach areas
- Tineco A11 – Best for hard floors
- MOOSOO Handheld Vacuum – Multi-use
- Dyson V7 – Best for car cleanup
- Bissell 33A1 – Compact design
- Dirt Devil SD20005RED – Best for pet hair
- Shark HV292 – Best for carpeted stairs
Most Powerful Cordless Handheld Vacuums
Holife Upgraded Handheld Vacuum – Best for pet hair
- Very powerful, can suck up a book or smartphone easily
- Take a shorter time to charge and don’t require recharge when not in use
- Equipped with needed safety features and a good warranty, you can buy it with confidence
- A bit noisy
We’re grossed out by its second-to-none ability that can suck up big things like books or smartphone like a breeze.
In our tests, it – with 3 provided nozzle attachments – can clean up a gamut range of tasks, from cleaning upholstery, corners, cabinet to tight spots. The 90W powerful motor finishes everything quickly, even with the cleaning inside a car, and is known for its ability to pick up pet hair without special stool needed.
Aside from functionality, this vacuum cleaner is also safe to use. The proof is, it’s equipped with sufficient safety features to be CE RoHS certificated, such as the ability to prevent over-discharge, over-temperature, and over-voltage.
Product Specs
| Weight | 4.34 lbs. |
| Running Time | 30 minutes |
| Charge Time | 3-4 hours |
| Filter Bag/Dustbin Capacity | 100ML |
| Suction Power | 6000PA |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | 85-90W |
| Highlight Features | 90W powerful motor; super long runtime; CE RoHS certificated |
While pets are a trustworthy pal of our life, their hairs are actually a matter. But with the Holife Cordless Handheld Vacuum, that bothersome is just no more.
Homasy Portable Handheld Vacuum – Good for hard-to-reach areas
- Can suck up grit of 0.3 microns and other invisible dust
- You can use it to suck up liquid
- The three nozzle attachments are specifically designed to get into even the tiniest areas
- No instructions included
- The filter gets clogged easy, you can’t use it for picking up pet hairs or things like that
It is known for an ultra-powerful 100W motor with 8Kpa suction power that can pick up grit of all sizes, even as small as 0.3 microns, in a shorter time.
In awkward areas, such as crevices, between car seats and couch cushion, the vacuum performed better than any other cordless handheld vacuums. We guess, its three provided nozzle attachments are key.
Aside from a crevice nozzle and a brush nozzle, there is a rubber jar tool that can suck up 100ml of water each time. Consequently, you’ve got no more worry about liquid.
Product Specs
| Weight | 3.26 pounds |
| Running Time | 20 minutes |
| Charge Time | 3-5 hours |
| Filter Bag/Dustbin Capacity | 0.6 L |
| Suction Power | ≥1500PA |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | 85-90W & 100W |
| Highlight Features | 100W ultra-high power motor; powerful 8Kpa suction force; can pick up dust as small as 0.3 microns |
The Homasy Portable Handheld Vacuum is specifically designed for hard-to-reach spots to let you have joy in each cleaning time.
Tineco A11 – Best for hard floors
- Extended runtime to handle bigger cleaning tasks
- Can be apart to clean as a handheld vacuum -> versatile and flexible
- Efficiently suck up and strap 99.99% tiny dust and allergens to soothe allergy people
- Can clean thoroughly many types of hard-floor without leaving scratches on them
- Not suitable for people who are sensitive to noise
- Not maneuverable well
It’s originally a stick vacuum cleaner but can come apart to be used as a handheld. The main unit, in addition, is still compatible with three provided nozzle attachments to work on multiple cleaning tasks.
While working quite so-so on carpet and furniture, its decent hard-floor vacuuming performance has made this unit stand out.
It makes cleanup faster and more thoroughly on tile and hardwood flooring without leaving a scratch on the surface.
The unit also highlights a 4-stage fully-sealed filtration system that can strap 99.99% tiny dust molecules, allergens, and grit, which is a favorite of many asthma people.
Product Specs
| Weight | 5.5 pounds |
| Running Time | 60 minutes |
| Charge Time | 3.5 – 4 hours |
| Filter Bag/Dustbin Capacity | 0.6L |
| Suction Power | – |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | 450W & 120W |
| Highlight Features | 60 mins Runtime; 450W digital motor & 120W suction power on MAX mode; 4-stage fully-sealed filtration system |
If you have some tile and hardwood flooring to clean, the Tineco A11 will never let you down.
MOOSOO Handheld Vacuum 12Kpa – Multi-use
- Can filter to the tiniest particles – as small as 0.1 um – to ensure the cleanest environment
- Quiet operation
- Super-lightweight to not make you tired of walking up and down the stairs for cleaning
- Two suction modes & two charging methods -> versatile and flexible
- Small dirt canister, you have to empty it more times if cleaning larger rooms
What makes it so notable is the multiuse performance and lightness.
While weighing only 1.1 pounds out of the box, it highlights a 13-level HEPA filtration system to capture 99.95% particles, as small as 0.1 um. Something that other handhelds at this price point hardly do.
There’s more, it offers two suction modes: the 7kpa and the 12kpa to easily work on any cleaning chores. And aside from a small charging dock, you’ll receive an in-car charger to charge it anywhere when in need.
In short, it meets all kinds of versatility!
Product Specs
| Weight | 1.1 Pounds |
| Running Time | 30 minutes |
| Charge Time | 4.5 – 5.5 hours |
| Filter Bag/Dustbin Capacity | – |
| Suction Power | 12Kpa 7kpa |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | – |
| Highlight Features | 13-level Hepa filtration system; two suction modes: the 7kpa and the 12kpa; lightweight |
For those who have kids and pets around the house, the constantly quick cleanup capability and multiuse performance of this MOOSOO will surely meet what you need.
Dyson V7 – Best for car cleanup
- The suction is as powerful as an upright vacuum cleaner but way lighter and more compact
- Include specialized nozzle attachments to efficiently use in any car
- Larger dust tank -> fewer times for emptying
- Too short runtime
Out of a powerful motor with two suction settings, it highlights a combination tool and a mini motorized tool that can work efficiently inside any car.
The most wonderful is, this Dyson has leveraged its dust canister to be larger and easier to use. During bigger cleaning tasks, we don’t have to re-empty it as many times as other counterparts in this list, which is so effort-saving.
Whenever you want to clean its dust tank, just click the button, open its bottom, and then empty.
Product Specs
| Weight | 3.77 pounds |
| Running Time | 30 minutes |
| Charge Time | 3 ½ hours |
| Filter Bag/Dustbin Capacity | 15 gallons |
| Suction Power | – |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | 100 AW |
| Highlight Features | Powered by Dyson digital motor V7; Capacity (volume) – .15 gallon; Longer run time than the Dyson V6 handheld vacuum |
We know that some guys just want to invest once in an actual quality handheld vacuum to use from year to year. For them, the Dyson V7 is the best go-to.
Most Powerful Corded Handheld Vacuums
Bissell 33A1 – Compact design
- Offer at a very affordable price – ideal for budget-minded people
- Can adjust to every curve of upholstery to remove optimally pet hairs and dust
- Ergonomic handle for extra comfort and grip
- Can’t handle larger debris
- Short power cord
- You have to empty it many times during the whole process
Highlighting a rubber nozzle, it can easily wrap around every contour on your stairs, chairs, or sofa to save more time and energy when cleaning.
Based on our testing results, it performed excellently on various types of sofas, from suede to fabric. Particularly, the unit can erase stubborn pet hair on carpeted baseboards, which is our most favorite.
Product Specs
| Weight | 5 lbs. |
| Tank Size | 0.78 L |
| Cleaning Path | 8-10 inches |
| Cord Length | 16 feet |
| Suction Power | – |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | 480W & 100W |
| Highlight Features | Dirt Cup Capacity: 0.78 L; Include a flexible rubber nozzle |
Dealing with dust and pet hair hidden in upholstery is a headache as ordinary handheld vacuums can’t get into such tight crevices. But with this Bissell, it’s not a thing.
Dirt Devil SD20005RED – Best for pet hair
- Have a retractable crevice that can be retracted when not in use for more compact storing silhouette
- The nozzle is small enough to work on many hard-to-reach areas
- Don’t remove pet hair efficiently on bare floors and carpet
It gets attention for the exclusive Quick Flip crevice tool that can pick up pet hair easily in car seats, bean bags, tricky corners, and hard-to-clean edges of cushions. When not in need, you just need to retract it – no fiddling with crevice tools and hoses as other handhelds.
It’s also the only vacuum featuring small nozzle enough to delve deeper into the window frames or cushioned sofas for dust deposit.
But don’t worry, the unit is still added an extendable hose and a dusting brush to adapt to other surfaces.
Product Specs
| Weight | 3.75 pounds |
| Tank Size | 0.45L |
| Cleaning Path | 10 inches |
| Cord Length | 16 feet |
| Suction Power | 7 Amp Motor |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | 400W & 110W |
| Highlight Features | easily accessible + rinsable for quick maintenance; exclusive Quick Flip crevice tool; include an extendable hose and a dusting brush |
If you’re in need of a compact, lightweight, and budget-friendly handheld vacuum for occasional cleanups, then the Dirt Devil SD20005RED is what you’re after.
Shark HV292 – Best for carpeted stairs
- Can work easily on high-pile carpets, area rugs, and bare floors while most handheld vacuums hardly do
- Easy to maintain, the filter is washable
- The power cord is a bit short, you can’t move the vacuum freely around for cleaning, especially in large rooms
- The hand tool doesn’t provide soft bristle brush -> a bit limited in performance
This unit highlights a TruePet motorized brush that can suck up anything from high-pile carpets, area rugs, or bare floors. Messes like dirt, crumbs, dust, and pet hair can be easily cleaned by this device.
While many people consider its non-HEPA filtration system is a flaw, we find it’s very easy maintenance. You can simply wash it, wipe dry, and then assemble the component for saving the cost of consuming.
Product Specs
| Weight | 3.7 lbs. |
| Tank Size | 1 gallon |
| Cleaning Path | 9 – 10 inches |
| Cord Length | 15 feet |
| Suction Power | – |
| Digital motor power and Max suction power | 400W |
| Highlight Features | Have a powerful 400-watt motor; TruePet motorized brush; washable filters |
The Shark HV292 is a really efficient handheld vacuum cleaner for sucking up any sort of dust and pet hair from anywhere messy, especially the carpeted stairs.
How to choose the best powerful handheld vacuum?
Suction Power & Battery voltage
Air wattage is the industry-standard measuring unit for suction power.
Though we’ve found it is not always an exact gauge of cleaning ability in some models, a handheld vacuum featuring 15 air watt is totally fine to clean general small messes. So anything goes higher than that is wonderful.
While considering, you might find some makers don’t include this indicator in their products’ descriptions. Don’t worry! Another way to know if a handheld vacuum is powerful or not is by looking at its battery voltage.
Though this alternative method isn’t accurate completely – higher battery voltage isn’t always equal to more suction power, 16V is an ideal baseline to go for.
Weight
It’s great if you only have to hold an extension hose during the cleaning jobs, however, in case of a whole main unit, you should consider carefully not only its weight but also the weight contribution.
As this element is quite subjective, we will leave the choice for you. But if you still want to hear some advice from us, our favorite range of vacuum weight is 1 to 5 pounds.
Runtime
While most small cleaning tasks take you only around 15 or 20 minutes to finish, a few complex ones eat up to 30 or even 40 minutes. Cleaning an entire car’s interior is a typical example.
That’s why runtime is a noteworthy feature. We choose battery life as a tiebreaker. The longer the lifetime, the better.
Who makes the best powerful handheld vacuum?
Holife
Over 20 years, Holife been paying attention to research and development their cleaning devices while striving to give the most helpful customer services. Up to now, their products have been sold in over 100 countries.
Tineco
Tineco has been into the market since 1998 with a highly agile market-oriented strategy and now, their R&D team has over 100 specialists and engineers.
Dyson
This British company was founded in 1991, specialized in manufacturing household appliances. Up to now, they’ve had over 12,000 employees worldwide and become the market leader in this industry.
Bissell
Bissell is one of the No.1 vacuum brands in North America, taking over 20% market share. It’s also the longest-standing company in this list, founded in 1876 and now has had over 2500 employees.
Dirt Devil
Established in 1905, Dirt Devil is another well-known vacuum brand in America. They’re well-known for innovative and technology-added vacuums for practical usage, cost efficiency, and quality. The most outstanding is the AccuCharge Technology.
Shark
This is one of several house-care brands developed by SharkNinja Operating LLC wherein Mark Rosenzweig is the founder and chief executive officer. Set up in 1998, in Canada, it’s now been a trustworthy company for competitive-pricing, easy-to-use, and innovative vacuums.
FAQs
Is corded better than a cordless vacuum?
Compared to the cordless vacuum, a corded is better in terms of suction power to afford for the different heavy-duty cleaning tasks. And you don’t have to care about things like “runtime” or “charge time” or “battery type”.
In turn, the corded construction makes it not as compact and neat as the cordless.
Are expensive vacuums worth it?
The short answer is, not always.
While many expensive vacuums bang for bucks, some even fail to meet basic performance standards.
If your budget is loose, let not just spend money but also time and effort to search for the product you want to buy, to know whether it’s really good or not.
Do vacuums lose suction?
Yes, they do.
Some common reasons are:
- A faulty gasket
- Broken vacuum belt
- Clogged rollers
- Improper vacuum bag
- Within the hose itself
What causes a shark vacuum to lose suction?
The most common reason is something may be blocking the airway. You should check either in its intake opening behind the brush roll or the dust cup air duct.
How long will a handheld vacuum last?
Averagely are 2 to 3 years.
Conclusion
Selecting the most powerful handheld vacuum that fits yours is really a daunting task. However, if starting with the basics, you probably won’t go wrong. It’s your turn now!
Related reviews
Best Bagless Upright Vacuums For Your Money
Best Vacuums Under $100 That Don’t Compromise On Quality
Best Shop Vac For Dust Collection Experts Want You To Use
I’m James J. Decker, a hobbyist and DIYs and also a big of home improvement and gardening tools. I immensely enjoy how these amazing products improve productivity and efficiency, and allow me to do jobs for which I would’ve otherwise needed professional help.
Loading...