This guide builds on hundreds of hours of research and testing conducted by Wirecutter staff since 2013, including by Wirecutter’s Sarah Bogdan. Over the years, we’ve interviewed dozens of vacuum experts, including bissell cordless vacuum service technicians, air-quality specialists, product engineers, and brand representatives. From brands like Bissell, Dyson, and Shark, these are some of the best—and worst—cordless handheld vacs you can buy today.
The included crevice tool and upholstery tool can be used separately or stacked together to combine their usefulness. In addition, this pet hair vacuum has a two-stage filtration system designed to help extend the life of the filter and provide easier cleaning. The experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab have tested hundreds of vacuum cleaners in our Lab and use the same process on all of them to ensure that every product is evaluated correctly. Using a custom-built vacuum testing machine, dirt is embedded into a test carpet, then each vacuum is passed over the carpet an equal number of times.
Our experts say that at the end of the day, if you need help cleaning up small messes in tight spaces, but don’t need a top-of-the-line tool, the Pivot is a safe choice. Fans of this hand vacuum love how much power is held in its small footprint. People seem to actually enjoy the chore of vacuuming, and even self-proclaimed “lazy housekeepers” attribute bissell cordless vacuum this Bissell to the newfound cleanliness of their homes. Dual level filtration ensures a deep clean, and what we love about the AeroSlim is that it includes a washable filter, which means you’ll get more uses out of each filter. The Bissell AeroSlim handheld vacuum is super lightweight at under 1.5 pounds and measures 2.75 by 12.6 by 3.62 inches.
The Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean Slim HLVC320J01 seemed promising at first because of its decent suction, but it had an especially slow charge time of 10 hours and an extremely narrow crevice tool. We also had difficulties opening the dustbin during our testing and ended up showered with glitter. The Worx WX030L is beautifully designed and compact, with onboard tool storage. (The battery is replaceable and can work in other Worx tools, as well.) Though it excelled in picking up dust in eco mode, it struggled with larger debris and was ineffective on pet fur. Handheld vacuums are battery powered and convenient for quick cleanups around the house because they’re compact enough to sit on a shelf or countertop between uses.
We scored each vacuum on how well it cleaned up flour, oats, and Mini-Wheats cereal from different fabrics and carpets. We also measured the wind speed and airflow generated by the motor. If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our handheld vacuum reviews.