I obtained the vacuums in this test through retail purchases and manufacturer samples.
Choosing handheld vacuum cleaners to test for this comparison was relatively easy, since I reused eight of the products from the list of the best car vacuums I put together earlier. But I also used the opportunity to bring in five other vacuums I didn’t test for lack of time or because they weren’t yet available. As with the previous vacuums, these new test candidates come from best-seller lists and positive customer reviews.
On the whole, my handheld vacuum testing methodology is the same as it was for car vacuums — the runtime, airflow and noise tests are identical. The main testing change is how I measured cleaning performance in a home compared with a car — I added a few kinds of debris and new test surfaces.
Cleaning performance
Hoses can improve handling on larger hand vacuums.
The newest element of the cleaning performance tests is a simple evaluation of how easy each vacuum is to use. A vacuum earns a good handling score if it’s small and light or includes a hose to offset bulk. Worx and Fanttik earn perfect marks for meeting both these requirements. Lifting these vacuums never felt tiring, and the attachments don’t negatively affect the maneuverability.
The DeWalt, Dustbuster Blast and Shark Cyclone Pet each perfectly embody one attribute. In the DeWalt’s case, the hose attachment eliminates any issues I have with how heavy and large it is. The Dustbuster Blast and the Shark Cyclone lack any bulk.
The Shark WandVac, Shark UltraCyclone, Ryobi Cordless Performance, Bissell and Dustbuster PowerConnect come close to good handling with minor nitpicks. The WandVac, Bissell and PowerConnect feel surprisingly heavy, while the others are too long.
Dyson barely passes the weight test, but the combination of the crevice attachment and the overall bulk holds it back. (I tested Dyson with the optional hose accessory, which can put it on the same level as the DeWalt. But I can’t award points since that’s technically an extra purchase.) The Ryobi Powered Brush was the only product that was too long and heavy. It was still very usable but more solidly in the two-handed category than any other cordless vacuum cleaner I’ve used.
Upholstery test: Pet hair and lint
Large nozzles are less susceptible to clogs caused by large debris.
This medium-duty test uses the same shredded paper and sticky cereal from a previous evaluation — plus added dried beans and white rice to more closely represent the messes found on a typical tile kitchen floor. I chose these specific elements to maximize clog potential.
The Dyson Car+Boat, Dyson V8 and Shark UltraCyclone Pet Pro finished with perfect scores in a single session. They were fast, didn’t clog, and picked up every crumb. The Ryobi Cordless Performance, Bissell Pet Hair Eraser and Dustbuster PowerConnect were almost as good, though they left a few crumbs behind.
The Worx, Shark Cyclone, Shark WandVac, DeWalt, Ryobi Powered Brush and Dustbuster Blast took two cleaning passes to complete this test, with clogs reducing suction drastically after the first pass. Clogs on the DeWalt and Worx proved difficult to remove. HEPA filter placement led to clogs on the DeWalt and Ryobi Powered Brush. There’s not much room for debris between the filter and the air intake, which keeps it from reaching the empty portion of the bin.
Fanttik took three passes because its small dust cup filled quickly, but it ultimately grabbed every crumb.
Small debris test: Sand and baking soda
The combination test brings the other tests together. It’s the final exam.
For material, I spread 55 grams of moist dirt, rice, lint, beans, paper and cereal on high-pile carpet samples I got from a local flooring store. (The musty smell was a dead giveaway that moisture was present.)
Don’t let the low weight fool you. None of the vacuums collected more than 95% of their samples by weight here. For some perspective, the collection rate for the other three tests is usually over 98%. (I say “by weight” because the score also evaluates the visual cleanliness and number of passes.) This is the effect a small amount of water can have on a vacuum’s performance. None of the models on this list are for vacuuming wet objects — the moisture is minuscule, just enough to make it stickier.
The Dyson Car+Boat, Ryobi Cordless Performance and Dustbuster Blast earned perfect scores in this category. They collected all the debris in a single pass and left the carpet spotless. The Dyson V8, Worx, Ryobi Powered Brush, Dustbuster Connect, Bissell, DeWalt and Shark UltraCyclone also finished in a single pass but pulled up less debris by weight.
The Shark Cyclone, Fanttik and Shark WandVac required a second pass due to full dust bins or loss of suction, with the WandVac pulling up the least debris overall.
