The Best Cordless Vacuum Cleaners
Efficient, portable, lightweight, powerful, easy to store and versatile – when it comes to choosing a handheld vacuum, our list of requirements is concise. Among current models on the market, the price range is wide and, in most instances, you get what you pay for in terms of battery life, bin capacity, accessories and motor power.
Some models are designed for dry spills only. Stick to the manufacturer’s advice and you will extend their lifespans. If you anticipate using your cleaner to suck up spilt cereal and milk, for example, choose a model that can handle it.
Those offering maximum power could weigh more due to heavy battery packs. Decide whether you’re happy with that trade-off you. Storage tank capacity is another consideration, but most are easy to empty regularly into the bin with a trigger button (all of those featured below are bagless). When it comes to accessories, the more expensive, powerful options tend to come with multiple tools. Work out what you need to ensure you aren’t paying for unnecessary extras.
Finally, read the manufacturer’s advice on where and how to use your handheld vacuum, change its filter and charge its battery to make sure you get the most out of it.
We’ve found eight cleaners that matched our requirements…
Shark Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £124 (normally £179.99)
Charge time: 2.5 hours
Run time: 16 minutes
Weight: 700g
Capacity: 0.25l
Guarantee: 2 years
This wand-style vacuum cleaner includes a crevice tool with dusting brush and a pet tool that can pick up hair from sofas, refresh upholstery and curtains, remove crumbs from car seats and tidy up dry food spills on worktops. Easy to hold, the vacuum is lightweight, so works well for reaching up in to awkward spaces. It has a relatively short battery life but, with such a short charge time, it’s up and running again quickly. A one-touch button means it’s easy to empty.
Gtech MK2 Multi Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £149.99
Charge time: 4 hours
Run time: 20 minutes
Weight: 1.6kg
Capacity: 0.4l
Guarantee: 2 years
The Gtech offers the convenience of a handheld vacuum cleaner with the performance of a full-sized version. Tackling dirt in hard to reach places including stairs, upholstery and your car interior, it has a powerful motor and all the attachments of an upright. There’s an extension tube, brush head, crevice tool and dusting brush, as well as a useful ‘dustbin full’ indicator. We especially love the LED headlights to illuminate dust and dirt, making cleaning even easier.
Black + Decker 18V Pivot Dustbuster Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £89
Charge time: 4 hours
Run time: 10 minutes
Weight: 1.38kg
Capacity: 0.44l
Guarantee: 2 years
The USP of this model is its pivoting design, so you can direct the nozzle easily to reach difficult places and store it away compactly. There’s an in-built crevice and brush tool (kind on delicate surfaces) and a handy car cleaning kit. You can slide open the side door to empty the container, which has a large enough capacity that you shouldn’t need to do it too often. Black + Decker’s sought-after cyclone technology whisks dirt up powerfully. This one is well priced for its performance.
Bosch YOUseries Vacuum Cleaner, £89
Charge time: 3 hours
Run time: 10 minutes
Weight: 1kg
Capacity: 0.25l
Guarantee: 2 years
This Bosch number delivers power to the palm of your hand for the quick cleaning of dry materials. It comes with a crevice nozzle for tight areas and has an easy-to-change filter system. The YOUseries is charged by plugging the battery via a cable into a USB port, which is great if you’re on the go.
Hoover Jovis Plus Turbo Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £59
Charge time: 16 hours
Run time: 17 minutes
Weight: 1.4kg
Capacity: 0.5l
Guarantee: 1 year
One of the largest-capacity cordless models in the edit, this handheld vacuum cleaner can tackle all the normal jobs. Plus it has a pet turbo brush –if you have some furry friends, the rotating bristles will pick up dirt and hair. It also comes with a hose, crevice tool, dusting brush and wall mount. The bin empties when you pull a trigger and it sits in a wall-mounted dock when charging, so it won’t take up storage space in your cupboards. The LED status indicator will tell you when the battery needs charging, which is useful as the charge time is long.
Vax H85 GA B10 Gator Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £39.99
Charge time: 12 hours
Run time: 15 minutes
Weight: 1.24kg
Capacity: 0.3l
Guarantee: 1 year
Ideal for everyday light cleaning, this model will suck up crumbs and mess around the home. It’s lightweight with decent capacity, so easily portable for a quick car clean or on the stairs. The crevice tool means you can quickly get into the nooks and crannies of your sofa. The quick-release button means you can empty it easily. The filter can be removed and cleaned, ensuring it maintains good suction.
Bush V8205 Wet & Dry Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £24.99
Charge time: 7 hours
Run time: 10 minutes
Weight: 1.3kg
Capacity: 0.4l
Guarantee: 1 year
With the ability to suck up wet and dry spills, this compact vacuum cleaner can be used almost anywhere on anything. Ideal for cleaning up after a toddler spill or keeping your car spick and span, this model has a battery indicator (from red to green) to let you know when it’s ready to use or needs recharging, and a crevice tool for those hard-to-reach spots.
Dyson V7 Trigger Handheld Vacuum Cleaner, £199
Charge time: 3.5 hours
Run time: 30 minutes
Weight: 1.38kg
Capacity: 0.4l
Guarantee: 2 years
This model comes with a mini motorised tool, combination tool and crevice tool to tackle myriad nooks and crannies. The mini motorised tool removes hair and dust from upholstery and awkward spaces but be warned: it reduces the run time from 30 to 20 minutes. The handle is comfy to hold with the centre of gravity located towards the front for easy handling. The motor is three times faster than conventional motors and there are 15 cyclones arranged across two tiers which work in parallel to increase airflow and capture fine dust. This is an expensive option, but it’s earnt its place as a firm favourite.
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