It charges in under three hours and runs for up to 25 minutes (one of the longest run times among the models in our test group), and it has a built-in extendable crevice tool. Its filters are washable and replaceable, too, and its bin volume is the largest of the handheld vacs we’ve tested. It might have been designed for a workshop, but Rigid’s hand vacuum is right at home inside the house or car.
Cordless handheld vacuums offer the convenience of power on demand, with no need to plug into an outlet. However, battery life is a major consideration, as you don’t want your unit to quit on you in the middle of a cleaning task. Average battery life for cordless vacuums bissell cordless vacuum is around 10 minutes, with some models lasting a little longer, and others dying more quickly. Where relevant, we tried to mention if the battery appeared especially reliable in testing, like it did with the Shark UltraCyclone Pro Cordless Handheld Vacuum.
Using an anemometer (a tool that measures wind speed), we calculate the raw airflow of each vacuum. Suction is what allows a vacuum cleaner to lift debris off the ground, while airflow helps ferry the debris to the dustbin. The Black+Decker 20V Max Flex Handheld Vacuum amazed us with its suction power, clever design, and versatility.
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. They are particularly helpful for people who share a home with kids, pets, or anyone else who produces frequent, small messes. A handheld can clean up a pile of spilled coffee grounds in the time it would take you to dig your main vacuum out of the closet and unwrap its cord. Since 2013, we’ve looked at 180 hand vacuums and conducted hundreds of hours of research and testing. We’ve concluded that the Ryobi 18V One+ Performance Hand Vacuum Kit is the best for most jobs.
If you would like to do the work of choosing yourself, here is the list of all our handheld vacuum reviews. While no vacuum is perfect for every use, most are good enough to please almost everyone, and the differences are often not noticeable unless you really look for them. The best handheld vacuum for you is one that’s not only high-quality, but also fits your specific needs. I strive to write unbiased, intelligent vacuum cleaner reviews and I provide a score for each and every vacuum I investigate. We updated this guide in February 2023 to confirm all products tested by the Good Housekeeping Institute Home Care and Cleaning Lab were in stock, available and correctly priced.
Given its good performance, especially when removing pet hair, we’d be willing to spend that on this supplementary cleaning tool. For cordless models, we monitor the run time and for models being considered for our Cleaning Awards, we ask real consumers to use and rate each vacuum before we determine our award winners. After completing 246 tests and amassing almost 1,000 data points, we chose the top-scoring hand vacuums. Other notable features on the Worx include a removable battery that fits into other Worx tools, a washable HEPA filter and a top handle that also holds the hose for easy toting. Its crevice and brush tools store right on board and Quiet Mark gave it a top score of three stars, meaning it’s among the quietest vacuums in our test. I found that the vacuum worked best without any attachments for cleaning messes on the hardwood floor (unless you’re cleaning a corner, in which case you’ll want the crevice tool).
Wirecutter software engineer Jasmine Khoury, who owns this vacuum, complained that the extension crevice tool doesn’t stay put, retracting with pressure, but we haven’t encountered this problem during testing. A Black+Decker spokesperson told us via email that this model fully charges in four hours, but in our testing it took less than three hours. It comes with a two-year warranty, which exceeds the coverage of many other handheld vacuum cleaners.