The 10 best handheld vacuum cleaners

Sure, it looks cool, but does it do the job? You better believe it. The Shark WV200UK Handheld is a vacuum cleaner that – and we can’t believe we’re about to say this – looks sexy in its shiny, space grey finish and it’ll suck up wayward messes with ease. So sleek, in fact, is this slim dustbuster, that you won’t have any problem displaying it right out on the kitchen counter or on a side table. It lives in its neat charging dock, so although it only provides eight minutes of use at a time, it’ll be ready when you reach for it.

If you live in a relatively small flat and don’t want a chunky hoover taking up much-needed space, the Vytronix NIBC22 3-in-1 is the one for you. Although it’s a handheld, it comes with a stick extension and floor-head with a rotating brush bar, just like a big hoover. Well, not exactly, as it’s capacity is only 0.5l, but as far as multi-use appliances go, it’s pretty darn good. Once full it can be emptied at the touch of a button and if you stick it on eco mode you’ll get 45 minutes out of it, although at a lower suction rate. Also very handy: it comes with a wall mount. 

Let’s not beat around the bush: £150 for what is a tiny hoover seems extreme, but hear us out. The Gtech Multi MK2 is mini but mighty and is one of the only dustbusters in our round-up that can handle carpets as well as hard floors. It looks tougher than the others too, with quirky lime green highlights. Like a power tool, the battery detaches for charging and four hours plugged in will get you 20 minutes of use. Accessories include an extension tube, crevice and brush tools. There’s a light, the dust compartment removes for easy disposal, and if you buy directly from Gtech it also comes with a two-year warranty.

Like getting your money’s worth? You will with this Dofly 8500PA, which comes with a bunch of accessories. For starters, you get a spare stainless-steel filter, there’s a long bendy hose for the tricky areas, a solid nozzle and a brush head, plus a storage bag. Conveniently, you can use it to clean up dry and wet messes, and both the filter and dust bin are detachable, so you can wash them. Looks-wise it’s not pushing any boundaries, but it’s a classic shape and worth the £40-odd price

One of our favourite aspects of the WORX Cubevac, which somewhat resembles a toolbox, is that it shares its battery with every other WORX tool. So if you already own some of their products, this is a wise buy. Plus, it’s highly durable, has two speeds, two separate nozzles, the filter can be removed and washed, and it empties at the touch of a button. And if you needed any more persuading, a three-hour charge will get you 45 minutes of vacuuming, which is high in the handheld arena.

Like many Shark products, this HandVac Cordless has a slick design, but where it really shines is in its pet hair plucking abilities. Few dustbusters have the oomph to suck up hair, especially as they’re running on battery power, but Shark has managed it. This is thanks in part to one of the three interchangeable heads – the motorised ‘pet tool’, which is designed to gather up the hairs that settle into carpets and furnishings. It only runs for 10 minutes after a four-hour charge, but that’s due to the strong suction. It can be emptied one-handed at the touch of a button, the filter is washable and it comes with a two-year guarantee.

As with most BLACK+DECKER tools this Cordless Dustbuster of theirs is tough and it’s clever. For instance, it can tell you when the filter is blocked and ready for a wash. It’ll also show you how much battery charge remains and it has a boost button for those moments when you need a little extra power. It even has in-built attachments – the nozzle extends and the brush flips down – and the docking station is the charger so it’s always ready to go. Talk about smart.

If you’re only looking to do the odd job with your dustbuster and you don’t want to splash too much cash, try the £20 Maguja Handheld. It looks like a travel hairdryer and folds up like one too. You can charge it via USB and get an impressive 30 minutes of use, though there isn’t enough power to do any serious sucking, like on pet hair for instance. But chuck it in the car or keep it by the sofa and you can clean up crumbs and dust as soon as you spot them. There’s even a brush and flat head attachments to help you get every last bit.

Some may see the Housmile Bed Vacuum as a novelty, while for others it’ll be the answer to their prayers. If you’re in the latter category, keep reading… Thanks to something Housmile calls ‘frequency vibration’, their home furnishings-specific handheld vacuum can dislodge any mites that might be clinging to the fabric fibres, while the UV light zaps any the suction misses. So if you suffer particularly with allergies, this will be a clever purchase. Looks-wise, it resembles a bionic hammerhead shark and practicality wise, it has detachable washable parts, a rotating soft brush and it’s corded so you won’t run out of power mid clean.

Given the price (under £50), don’t expect the earth from this Vax Gator, but it has one of the best emptying mechanisms we’ve seen. You can do it one-handed and as it opens like a crocodile’s jaw (hence the name) it directs the dirt straight into the bin. Another great aspect is that it has a crevice tool built-in, so as you’re moving around the house and suddenly realise you need some extra precision, you don’t need to go hunting, because it simply slides out. Apart from that, it’s a standard dustbuster, with a 15-minute run time and one-year guarantee.