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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
A perfect choice for vacuuming every room in your house, lightweight vacuums are known for being user-friendly and highly maneuverable. We purchased and tested more than two dozen vacuums at The Lab and at home to determine the effectiveness of each one. We timed each product's unboxing and setup process, evaluated its cleaning ability on hardwood and carpeted surfaces, and rated how easy it is to steer it under and around objects. It's key to consider the different types of vacuums and attachments that'll enhance usability when shopping.
The Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum stood out in our testing thanks to its outstanding suction, multiple settings, and long battery life. It was also easy to push and store.
Here are the best lightweight vacuums on the market backed by our testing.
Best Overall: Shark IZ462H Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum
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Amazon
Powerful suction on all surfaces
Very long battery life
Folds in half for easy storage
Dust bin could be bigger
Noisy when picking up larger items
The Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum is lightweight but definitely not light-duty. This stick vacuum cleaned up in our testing, literally. In terms of effectiveness, it earned a perfect 5-star rating for its performance on every type of flooring, including hardwood and carpets of all pile heights. According to our product tester, maneuvering this 9-pound vacuum takes hardly any effort, but that’s not because of any lack of suction power. In fact, our testing revealed that the suction is powerful enough to capture debris, including cereal, hair, and popcorn kernels in a single pass, saving you the time and effort of making repeated passes to fully clean the same stretch of flooring. Once full, the dust bin “comes off easily and dumps painlessly," noted by our tester.
Even in real world situations, you can expect this lightweight vacuum to be nimble and flexible when reaching under furniture. In our lab’s living room obstacle course, the Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum was easy to slip under a coffee table and couch. A unique pivot point gives it better reach than most other stick vacuums (and also means it folds in half for compact storage). It would be great if it was also self-standing, but that is one feature that is missing from the design. Even still, it’s hard to beat the capable and convenient performance of this option. While it doesn't operate solo, our product tester says, “It basically vacuums for you, so you put in very little effort.” Plus, with an impressive battery life of 60 minutes, this stick vacuum cleaner isn’t likely to quit before you do.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Best Budget: NEQUARE S180 Corded Lightweight Vacuum with Self-Standing
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Amazon
Height is adjustable
Can be operated with one hand
Weighs less than 3 pounds
Corded operation
Reduced performance on plush carpet
The NEQUARE S180 is one of the lightest vacuums we tested in our lab, weighing just 2.42 pounds. While that spec stands out, so does this model’s affordable price point and effectiveness. It impressed us with its ability to suck up debris on hard floors and carpeting, but it should be noted that more elbow grease was required as the pile height increased. However, this vacuum earned 4 stars for maneuverability from our testers and proved to be very flexible in reaching areas underneath furniture.
When using the NEQUARE S180, we found it was easily operable with one hand on bare floors. The movement was very fluid, and the vacuum responded well to slight adjustments from the wrist. That being said, Dr. Karen Jacobs, an occupational therapist and a professor at Boston University, suggests alternating hands to avoid muscle strain. “Vacuuming is usually one-handed," says Jacobs. "One thing you can do is use your dominant hand for a while and then switch. The hand you are not using put it on your thigh, and it will sometimes take some pressure off your back.”
The NEQUARE S180 has one more surprise that makes it a great pick for a budget-friendly and light vacuum: adjustable height. The body of the vacuum telescopes from 32 to 41 inches to accommodate user height—a feature to look for, according to Dr. Jacobs. You can also detach the floor head of the vacuum and use it in a handheld configuration, although we found the cord limited the usefulness of this feature.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Best Upright : Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2 Upright Vacuum Cleaner
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Courtesy of Best Buy
Easy to maneuver
Extra-long power cord
HEPA filter
Not ideal for high-pile carpet
Fluff and hair gets stuck in canister
Upright vacuums are usually heavier than stick vacuums, but the innovative design of the Dyson Ball Multi-Floor 2 uses a pivoting ball to offset the weight of the vacuum and improve maneuverability. Not to mention, its cleaning ability is impressive, resulting in a 5-star rating from our product tester who used it on multiple floor surfaces in their home and to collect cat hair from a high-pile rug.
The incredible maneuverability is one reason to choose this vacuum if you’re looking for an ergonomic option. Our product tester found the motion of the ball was easy to adapt to since “it makes turning objectively easier (and subjectively more fun).” Versatile and powerful, this vacuum also has a self-adjusting floor head, saving you the trouble of making any adjustments as you transition from hardwood or tile floors to carpeting.
Now, the vacuum is noisier than some other options. Our tester said it's similar to a rumbly box fan when the motorized brush bar is engaged. However, it’s worth pointing out that the entire vacuum is sealed and offers HEPA-level filtration, making it a good choice for people with allergies.
Best Stick: Eureka NES510 Flash Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner
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Amazon
Fits into tight areas
Generous cord length
Floor head has a light
Cord isn’t retractable
Reduced performance on high-pile carpet
The Eureka Flash is a great example of how versatile a lightweight stick vacuum can be. In our testing, this 7-pound vacuum excelled on bare floors and carpeted surfaces, earning 4.5 stars for overall effectiveness. Fingertip brush roll controls and a motorized floor nozzle up the cleaning power as you transition from one type of flooring to another, improving the vacuum’s handling and performance. Our testing team loved how this product picked up debris like cereal and hair, especially on hardwood floors and low-pile carpet. For plusher surfaces, like medium and high-pile rugs, you may need to engage the higher suction settings. But, in general, it zips along floors with ease—“it almost pulls itself,” noted one product tester.
Designed to be agile, the Eureka Flash has the flexibility to become nearly flat, so you can reach underneath your sofa or coffee table. It handled well in our living room obstacle course, except for the fact that it needs a helping hand when transitioning from bare floors to an area rug. We docked it for this shortcoming, combined with the fact that the cord becomes a little tiresome to hold during an extended cleaning session. Still, it has a generous 30-foot cord that provides plenty of reach. However, we wish it was retractable for easier cord management and storage.
Like most stick vacuums, this lightweight version can also convert into a portable, handheld vacuum for cleaning furniture, stairs, or other above-floor areas. The trade-off for this functionality is a dust bin that requires several steps to empty since you essentially have to remove the handheld vacuum where the dust bin is housed. We wish it was more of a one-step process, but at least the 1.05-quart bin is larger than some other stick vacuums on the market.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Best Handheld: eufy by Anker HomeVac H30 Venture
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Courtesy of Amazon
Powerful suction
Comes with charging stand
Two modes of operation
Small dust bin
Very loud on Max mode
If you’re looking to size down your vacuum cleaner when handling small tasks, the eufy H30 Venture is an ideal option. This handheld vacuum weighs less than 2 pounds but packs a serious punch. It’s equipped with two power modes: a battery-saving eco option and an extra-strength max mode for clearing stubborn messes. The battery keeps the profile of this vacuum slim while providing up to 20 minutes of runtime. A full recharge takes three to four hours, but the included stand doubles as a charging station and keeps battery levels topped off and ready to go.
In our testing, the eufy H30 Venture excelled on both hard and soft surfaces, earning a flawless 5-star rating for effectiveness. Large debris (like cereal) easily passes into the dust bin, whether you’re using the nozzle or one of the two included attachments. For fine debris (like hair), this vac provides enough suction to capture it effectively, even from soft surfaces. Keep in mind that all this suction power comes at a cost. Our tester’s only complaint about this vacuum is its noise level. On max mode, it was impossible to talk over.
However, the 0.26-quart dust bin is sized right for the design of the vacuum and is easy to empty. It may not be as large as the dust bin of a stick vacuum, but it had more than enough capacity during testing. All in all, everything feels intuitive about using the eufy H30 Venture, and in real-world testing, our tester consistently reached for it over a full-size, upright vacuum whenever possible. You can also purchase an extension kit to use with the H30 Venture, making it a stick vacuum.
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The Spruce / Erica Puisis
Best Canister: Bissell Bagless Hard Floor Expert Deluxe Canister Vacuum
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Amazon
Non-marking rubber tires
Very quiet operation
Height-adjustable wand
Limited capacity dust bin
Corded operation
Canister vacuums offer another option for a lightweight vacuum, with the added bonus that you don’t have to carry or continuously push the vacuum as you work. Instead, an option like the 9-pound Bissell Hard Floor Expert Canister Vacuum rolls along on sturdy, non-marking rubber wheels while channeling suction through a highly maneuverable wand and floor head attachment. Our product tester was totally impressed by this lightweight canister vacuum’s suction power, noting that it handled hair, dirt, and dust.
Despite the name, this canister vacuum is well-equipped for use on all types of floors. It includes both a hard floor cleaning tool and carpet cleaning tool, and the wand puts suction settings within easy reach for a quick adjustment. Another feature that makes this lightweight vac more ergonomically-friendly is its telescoping wand, which can be adjusted to meet the height of various users. It’s also surprisingly quiet, a feature that our product tester was quick to point out.
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The Spruce / Deanna McCormack
Best for Carpet: Shark HV301 Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum
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Walmart
Good suction on all surfaces
Converts to a handheld model
Very flexible design
On the noisier side
Doesn't stand up on its own
Even lightweight vacuums can become hard to maneuver when vacuuming carpet, turning your cleaning session into a struggle of push-and-pull against the fibers. So, if you have a lot of carpeting or rugs in your home, choose a vacuum that offers the right suction and settings for effective and easy cleaning. In our testing, the Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum was a top contender, clearing debris from low, medium, and high-pile carpeting in five or fewer passes. Our product tester said there is slightly more effort required on plush carpeting but also added that the wheels allow the vacuum to easily glide, and it still moves “seamlessly.”
This corded stick vacuum weighs about 8 pounds. The handle height is taller than expected, which was the biggest surprise to our testing team when assembling the vacuum. However, it didn’t hold our product tester back from being able to easily navigate the vacuum under and around furniture, earning it 4 stars for this attribute. “It moves with me,” said our product tester. Surprisingly, this vacuum was harder to use effectively on hardwood surfaces, despite the fingertip controls that allow you to toggle between floor settings. Even still, it was able to pick up all debris once we kicked into a higher suction setting. With no battery life to worry about, you can use increased suction power as needed without draining your power supply. For above-floor cleaning tasks, you can use the handheld portion of the vacuum, but you’ll still have to keep within 25 feet of an outlet based on the vacuum’s cord length.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Best for Hardwood: Shark VacMop Pro Cordless Wet/Dry Stick Vacuum
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Amazon
Easy to store
Operates quietly
Cordless design
Need to purchase replacement pads
Designed for only hard floors
For a thorough clean on hardwood floors, our testing team loved the performance and versatility of the Shark VACMOP. This wet-dry cleaning machine is designed to be used on solid flooring, such as hardwood, laminate, vinyl, or tile surfaces. It combines suction power with disposable mop pads to capture debris and leave floors gleaming. For the best results, vacuum your surface first to pick up any crumbs or dirt. Then, click the "spray" button that's conveniently located on the handle to spray solution on the sealed surface before mopping it clean.
In our tests, the Shark VACMOP was praised for its slim, cordless design and easy gliding motion. Even among a field of lightweight vacuums for hardwood floors, this one stood out to our tester as being noticeably light and easy to maneuver, making it a good choice if you have restricted mobility or need an ultra-light vacuum for quick cleaning sessions. The tank with cleaning solution is integrated into the body of the vacuum and the cleaning pad has a chamber for dirt collection, while a light on the floor head illuminates areas in need of attention. Our tester’s one point of criticism for the usability of the Shark VACMOP is that you have to continuously hold the power button during operation. However, it has exceptionally quiet noise levels that increase user comfort while the vacuum is on.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Compare
Overall Rating | Ease of Setup | Effectiveness | Maneuverability | Ease of Emptying | Noise Level | ||
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Best Overall:
Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum
|
Amazon | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 | |
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Best Budget:
NEQUARE Corded Lightweight Vacuum
|
Amazon | 5 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | |
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Best Upright :
Dyson Ball Multi Floor 2
|
Amazon | ||||||
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Best Stick:
Eureka Flash Stick Vacuum Cleaner
|
Amazon | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4 | 3.5 | 4 | |
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Best Handheld:
eufy by Anker HomeVac H30 Venture
|
Amazon | 5 | 4 | 4 | 3 | ||
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Best Canister:
Bissell Hard Floor Expert Vacuum
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Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4.5 | 5 | |
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Best for Carpet:
Shark Rocket Ultra-Light Corded Stick Vacuum
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Walmart | 5 | 4.5 | 4 | 5 | 3 | |
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Best for Hardwood:
Shark VacMop Pro Wet/Dry Vacuum
|
Amazon | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
Our top pick for a lightweight vacuum is the Shark Vertex DuoClean PowerFins Cordless Stick Vacuum. In our testing, it did an outstanding job on both hard surface floors and carpets. This vacuum takes hardly any effort to move, and features a flexible design that makes it simple to store and maneuver. We also recommend the NEQUARE S180 Vacuum. This budget-friendly vac weighs less than 3 pounds and is easy to maneuver with just one hand. Plus, the height of the wand can be adjusted.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
How We Tested the Lightweight Vacuums
We tested 28 vacuums side-by-side in The Lab in Industry City, Brooklyn. Our testers unboxed each model first, timing how long the setup process took to complete and how thorough the instructions were. Next, they evaluated each vacuum's effectiveness on hardwood and three types of carpet. The vacuums were tasked with measured amounts of hair, popcorn kernels, and Cheerios. We noted how many passes were needed to clean up the materials, if any hair was tangled in the brush roll, and the vacuums' weight and portability. We also made notes on whether the vacuum seemed to pull itself or if a lot of effort was required to maneuver it through our tests. We also checked the model's noise level when in operation.
From there, we gathered insights on how well each pick transitioned from smooth floors to a carpet and could navigate our living room-inspired obstacle course, complete with a low-sitting couch and a coffee table. This made up our maneuverability test. We noted how long cordless models stayed charged or how heavy cords were to carry around. Our testers then tested the ease of emptying the dust bins and noted if it was a messy, as expected, or thrillingly simple process. They used their entire experience to judge the overall value of the product and decide if it's worth the money you'd spend on it.
Additional vacuums were rated on the same attributes by our at-home testers. They brought the models through real-world environments and situations and noted whether they would continuously reach for the vacuum or another cleaning tool in their closet. Our editors took all of the consistently applied testing data and boiled it down to the lightweight vacuums we believe are the very best.
What to Look for in a Lightweight Vacuum
Type
There are several "types" to choose from when picking out a lightweight vacuum. Stick vacuums are perhaps the most common and popular type since they have a slim and trim profile. Many of these are also multi-purpose models that can convert into handheld ones for above-floor cleaning tasks, though their dust bin capacity may be small.
Another option to consider is canister vacuums. Instead of supporting the vacuum's weight as you clean, you'll only need to hold onto the wand while the vacuum itself follows behind you on wheels. Upright vacuums are usually heavier by design, but some more slimmed-down versions exist. If you are shopping for this type of lightweight vacuum for whole-house cleaning, you should look for an ergonomic design to offset the increased weight that comes with this design.
The lightest of all types, handheld vacuums are designed for smaller messes or light cleaning tasks, but the right one can still feature serious suction power. Handheld vacuums are particularly handy for cleaning your car, as well. Lastly, there are also wet-dry vacuums on the market that are capable of vacuuming and mopping your floors. This is particularly handy if you want to condense your tasks, but these models can often only be used on hard surfaces.
Corded vs. Cordless Design
Another factor to consider is a vacuum's corded versus cordless design. Corded vacs offer unfading suction power, but they also have limitations on reach based on cord length. You'll need to manage the cord while maneuvering the vacuum around the room. A cordless vacuum, on the contrary, gives you ultimate flexibility, but only for as long as the battery lasts. You can expect anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes of runtime with a cordless vacuum before needing to pause your cleaning session for a recharge—which can take multiple hours.
Maneuverability
Choosing the right lightweight vacuum also means considering its maneuverability. You want to find a vacuum that gives you plenty of reach for accessing space-restricted areas, like under furniture or in corners. Lightweight stick vacuums are known for being nimble and flexible enough to clean tight spots. Features that can improve maneuverability on any lightweight vacuum include a flexible hose, a wand that reaches nearly to the floor, or a lift-away handheld vacuum for above-floor cleaning. In addition, some models glide across the floor since they're self-propelled. This can help reduce strain from pushing and pulling a vacuum.
Underscoring why maneuverability is so important, Dr. Karen Jacobs, an occupational therapist and a professor at Boston University, points out that forceful exertion while using a vacuum cleaner can cause you to over-extend the body, particularly the spine. Swivel steering is another great attribute, but make sure you're rotating the vacuum and not your body to avoid injury, according to Jacobs.
Included Attachments
Attachments add versatility to your lightweight vacuum without drastically increasing the weight. Some of the most common (and helpful) attachments include upholstery brushes, crevice tools, extension wands, and motorized pet brushes. These tools can make your vacuum more effective at specific cleaning tasks. Keep in mind that some vacuums offer onboard attachment storage while others don't.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
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What’s considered a lightweight vacuum?
The weight range of a lightweight vacuum varies by type and model, but usually vacuums that fall into this category weigh between 5 and 10 pounds. A few, like an upright vacuum, may weigh slightly more but might offset the extra weight with additional features to enhance maneuverability.
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Do lightweight vacuums work on carpet?
While lightweight vacuums often take the form of stick vacuums, which are usually known for their cleaning performance on bare floors, many models can effectively clean carpeted surfaces as well. No matter which type of lightweight vacuum you choose, look for a model with an adjustable floor head to ensure that it will have the right suction power for more plush carpeting or rugs.
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Why might a lightweight vacuum lose suction power?
A full dust bin, clogged filter, or obstructed floor head might impair the suction ability of any vacuum, including a lightweight model. Or, if the vacuum's hose has any blockages or leaks, suction power can be reduced or even lost completely. It's key to properly maintain your vacuum to prevent any lessened performance by regularly cleaning the dust bin, washing or swapping out the filter, and detangling the beater bar.
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The Spruce / Phoebe Cheong
Why Trust The Spruce?
Erica Puisis is a product tester and research writer specializing in home and lifestyle topics. She has extensive experience with small appliances, including vacuum cleaners. For this roundup, she utilized extensive testing data from The Lab and our home testers. By comparing the cleaning effectiveness, maneuverability, portability, ease of emptying, and noise levels of each model, she narrowed down more than two dozen models to find the best options. For advice on selecting a vacuum with ergonomics and mobility adaptations in mind, she spoke with Dr. Karen Jacobs, an occupational therapist and professor at Boston University.