The 8 Best Dustbusters of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Shark UltraCyclone Pro Cordless Handheld Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  3/5
• Setup
  5/5

This handheld Shark vacuum will take a bite of any messes in its path. It performed well across all of our key testing categories—including maneuverability, portability, and effectiveness—and it wowed us with its strong suction and effective attachments. (It comes with a crevice tool and scrubbing brush.) We were pleased to see that we could complete all of the testing with one battery charge. Plus, the dust bin was more than suitable for the amount of debris we cleaned up. We only emptied it three times when completing our testing, which was on the lower side of all the vacuums we tested, and even then, the dust bin wasn't always full. Other small details proved to be convenient, too, such as the comfort of the handle. At just over 2 pounds, the vacuum feels lightweight and compact in size. It was a bit larger than some other models we tested, which we attributed to the larger dust bin, but we didn't see this as any kind of deal-breaker.

This handheld vacuum did well with cleaning all the surfaces we tasked it with (rug, high chair, car seat, and upholstered chair). It proved almost too strong for parts of the high chair in our lab testing, since it got stuck on the fabric. However, we didn't encounter any issues with suction on an upholstered chair. We also appreciated how helpful the attachments are, and the crevice tool in particular conveniently reached into the nooks and crannies to clean a car seat in our testing. Another minor quirk of this machine is that it might spit out some debris if you shake it or turn it upside down, so watch its positioning when you're using it. But for a reliable, efficient, and powerful handheld vacuum, we think it's a great all-around choice.

Price at time of publish: $80

_{Weight: 2.06 pounds | Battery Life: 12 minutes | Bin Volume: 0.45 quarts/14.4 ounces | Included Accessories: Crevice tool, scrubbing brush}

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Iris USA Cordless Handheld Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  4/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4.8/5
• Setup
  5/5

Another versatile dustbuster that you'll be able to use throughout your home is the IRIS handheld vacuum. It's an excellent choice, and it rivaled our top pick in its effectiveness, portability, and maneuverability—only with a more compact design, smaller dust bin volume, and slightly higher price point. It sailed through our cleaning tests, proving especially efficient with the car seat's nooks, and crannies. However, it showed so much power on the "high" setting that it tugged at the car seat fabric (the lower setting worked great, though). It also proved efficient with the sticky raisins, which could not be said for all the models we tested.

We appreciated the thoughtful design that allows for storage of the attachments right on the charging station, so you won't have to make space for them elsewhere. The 1.1-pound weight of this machine was also lighter than the average of our tested vacuums (which came in at 1.7 pounds for our most recent round of testing). Due to the tiny dust bin size, we had to empty it ten times in our testing, which was more than the average. So we wouldn't recommend this model for extensive cleaning. But if you value portability and strong suction, we think this model is another great choice.

Price at time of publish: $90

_{Weight: 1.1 pounds | Battery Life: 13 minutes | Bin Volume: 3.4 ounces | Included Accessories: Brush and crevice tool, multi-surface head}

Best Budget

BLACK+DECKER Dusbuster Handheld Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4/5

Though it's no longer our top choice, our previous "best overall" pick, the BLACK+DECKER Cordless Lithium Hand Vacuum, is still a reliable, handheld vacuum that comes at a fair price point. In fact, it's one of our top-rated cheap vacuum cleaners. When we tested this vacuum in a home environment, we used it to suck up household debris such as cereal, pet food, and dirt. We found it to be particularly effective on hard surfaces, such as under kitchen cabinets and on hardwood stairs. We also tested out this vacuum in a car after a beach trip—while its performance wasn't perfect, it did clean up a lot of the sand and did a better job than other handheld vacuums in similar testing situations. Plus, when you're not bringing it in the car, we love that the included wall mount makes it easy to store between uses.

However, it's not the most intuitive machine, and it takes significant effort to maneuver the crevice tool between cushions and around table legs. It's also quite noisy. Of course, no handheld vacuum is perfect, and we can accept these small flaws alongside its proven cleaning abilities. Overall, it's an affordable option that gets the job done.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Weight: 2.11 pounds | Battery Life: 12 to 15 minutes | Bin Volume: 31.8 ounces | Included Accessories: Brush tool, crevice tool}

Best Splurge

Black+Decker Dustbuster AdvancedClean+ Cordless Hand Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  4.8/5
• Noise Level
  2/5
• Setup
  5/5

There's lots to like about the BLACK+DECKER dustbuster, which we quickly discovered during testing. For starters, the extension nozzle was especially convenient, and we love how it gives you the ability to get into small corners and crevices like cupholders, all without the extra hassle of separate attachments. This model also handled other surfaces too, and it made easy work of messes on carpet, a high chair, a carseat, and an upholstered chair. We did notice that some hair blew around a bit during one of our tests, but we could work to correct that with how we positioned the vacuum between passes. It wasn't a big deal, but it did require some adjusting on our part.

Another perk is that the dust bin is super easy to open; there's just one button. We only had to empty it twice during the test, and most of the dirt and debris fell right out when we did, with the exception of a small bit of hair that we could remove with our fingers. The filter is also easy to remove and clean, too. Overall, we had no major issues with this model, and if you have the budget, it's an especially good choice for a household that doesn't want to fuss with or store extra attachments.

Price at time of publish: $108

_{Weight: 2.5 pounds | Battery Life: 15 minutes | Bin Volume: Not listed | Included Accessories: None (crevice tool is built-in)}

Best With Hose

Black+Decker Flex Cordless Handheld Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Setup
  5/5
• Effectiveness
  5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5

While you might not think of a hose when you first imagine a dustbuster, we think the BLACK+DECKER 20V Max Flex Handheld Vacuum is worth considering. We confirmed in our testing that unlike other options on this list, you'll need to use two hands to operate it (one to hold the motor and one to vacuum with the hose). Still, we rated it highly as a compact, multi-surface handheld vacuum with a lightweight and flexible design. We were impressed by its power, too—it even earned the top spot in our guide to the best car vacuums. The 4-foot hose can get into all of those hard-to-reach spots in your car and in your home, like behind your couch or in between cushions. With such intense suction, you don't have to worry about it missing any crumbs.

We appreciated how well this dustbuster sucked up all of the debris without losing any power in our tests, and that we didn't have to empty the large dust bin. In short, it performs similarly to a standard-sized vacuum but with greater portability and efficiency. One potential drawback is that the battery only lasted eight minutes

The intuitive pet hair attachment tool is a game-changer. It sucked up hair from all four surfaces we tested it on, and the hair didn't get tangled in its hose or dust bin. When you're done using it, the hose wraps around the machine for easy, compact storage, which is a clever feature that any household can benefit from.

Since it's on the pricey side and it requires the use of two hands, it won't be an ideal fit for everyone—but if you have the budget for it and think you could benefit from a handheld vacuum with a hose, it's an excellent choice.

Price at time of publish: $119

_{Weight: 3.2 pounds | Battery Life: Not listed | Bin Volume: 17 ounces | Included Accessories: 2-in-1 nozzle brush, pet hair attachment}

Best for Home Office

Tzumi 7.4-Volt Ion Vac Wireless Handheld Rechargeable Vacuum Cleaner

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Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  3.6/5
• Effectiveness
  4.5/5
• Maneuverability
  5/5
• Ease of Emptying
  5/5
• Portability
  5/5

This tiny, lightweight vacuum checked almost all of the boxes for an ideal handheld unit, and its small size and clever attachments make it an excellent choice for cleaning home office surfaces. It weighs only 1 pound, and the handle is easy to grip when zapping up multiple messes. Even though it's small, the dust bin is surprisingly large in proportion. It completed all of our tests before needing to be emptied. When it came time to empty the dust bin, the process was incredibly simple and mess-free. The filter came out with no issues, which is a big perk when it comes to frequent use. Upon additional testing, we noted that this vacuum wouldn't be good for sucking up larger debris like Cheerios.

This dustbuster comes with a long crevice tool that makes it easy to get into tight spaces, like behind computer cords or between sofa cushions. It also comes with a brush attachment that's great for suctioning dust from computer keyboards. It's also very quiet, so you can squeeze in a quick clean without disrupting your partner or sleeping children. While it's great that it comes with a USB charging cord, there is no wall plug-in, so you'll have to use one that you already own or charge it from your computer or car USB port. Overall, we can't guarantee this vacuum will overwhelm you with its performance, but if you're looking for a vacuum for small messes around your desk space, it can get the job done.

Price at time of publish: $24

_{Weight: 1 pound | Battery Life: 15 minutes | Bin Volume: 3.38 ounces | Included Accessories: Brush tool, crevice tool}

Best Features

Nicebay Handheld Cordless Vacuum

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Our Ratings

• Effectiveness
  4.8/5
• Ease of Emptying
  3.8/5
• Portability
  5/5
• Noise Level
  4.5/5
• Setup
  5/5

This Nicebay dustbuster was a worthy competitor in The Lab, scoring high marks on most of our tests and showing strong, effective suction power. What makes it unique in our eyes is the detailed display, which gives you a read of its battery status, power level, dust bin capacity, and more. If you want to take the guesswork out of your vacuum's performance, the display is a huge asset. Other features we appreciate in this model's design include an angled opening, which we found useful for crevices, and the included attachments. This dustbuster struggled to suck up sticky raisins in our testing—but it wasn't the only model we experienced this with, so we're taking the issue with a grain of salt. The manufacturer also touts a HEPA filter, too, which may come in handy for removing allergens from the air.

Now, while the full price of this vacuum is higher than the others on this list (including our recommendation for best splurge), we frequently see it discounted in the $60 to $80 range, so keep an eye out for a good deal. The other potential downside we encountered in testing was the small dustbin, which we had to empty seven times in our testing. Overall though, there are more pros than cons to this machine, and if you fancy the extra information in the display, we think you'll enjoy using it.

Price at time of publish: $200

_{Weight: 1.24 pounds | Battery Life: 13 minutes | Bin Volume: Not listed | Included Accessories: Brush tool, crevice tool}