The 3 best lightweight vacuums for 2024, tested and reviewed
Take a load off with high-power, low-lift uprights and sticks from Dyson, Shark, Eureka and beyond.
In our guide to the best stick vacuum cleaners, we proclaimed clunky, clumsy vacuums a thing of the past (or at least they should be). And it's true, more and more brands are getting on our level with innovative, nimble designs that mean you don't have to compromise suction strength in the name of agility. No one does it better than the best lightweight vacuums for 2024: a mix of powerful, flexible, versatile vacuums that are perfect for everyday cleaning — and then some! — without all the heavy lifting and residual backaches.
We chose our top picks based on hours of scouring product descriptions, reading customer comments and testing top-rated vacuums for a thorough review. We put them through their paces against pet fur, rice, Cheerios, sand and even kitty litter. And the results? Well, they may just surprise you!
The three winning lightweight vacuums make cleaning look breezy and include a compact featherweight, a clever upright and a sleek stick vac that will have you seeing green. Keep scrolling for info on our testing protocols, plus tips for choosing a vacuum based on your needs. Curious about other styles? Check out the best cordless stick vacuums and the best robot vacuums for more vacs that are light on their feet.
A quick note before we dive in: Every lightweight vacuum on this list is recommended for use on carpeted and hardwood floors. All of the cordless vacuum cleaners come with a charger or charging dock that needs to be plugged into an electrical outlet, most requiring four(ish) hours of charging to reach full battery potential. When we mention height, we're referring to how tall the vacuums are assembled; length and width reflect how long and, respectively, how wide the cleaner brush heads are. Happy shopping!
Table of contents:
Size: Taller stick vacuums generally equate to longer tubes (or wands) and greater reach, particularly helpful for those who are tall or navigating vast, shallow surface areas, like beneath platform beds. That said, more height means you’ll be farther from your target, in which case extendable or flexible tubes can help with maneuverability (and lights can help with visibility). Longer brush rolls mean fewer swipes. Wider and dual brush rolls mean shorter passes.
Weight: The lighter the vacuum, the easier the lift (and steer). Lightweight designs glide across hardwood floors seamlessly but can have less grip on thick carpets. Lighter models are often associated with smaller dust cups and fewer tech components (like LCD screens and the respective engineering that makes a vacuum top-heavy), though not always.
Bin capacity: Larger cups house more dirt so you don’t have to take as many trips to the trash can. Most of the vacuums we tested in this lightweight pool hold between 0.4 and and 0.9 liters, with the exception of the Kenmore Elite, Bissell CleanView and Eureka Airspeed, which hold more than 1 liters. We prefer cups with lids that open with the help of a lever (usually on the side or along the backside of the bin) versus having to manually unclip the lids and, in some cases, having to reach into the cup with our fingers.
Vacuum type:
Run time: According to our research, the average cordless stick vacuum run time hovers around 30 to 40 minutes for budget models, 40 to 50 minutes for mid-priced models and 50 minutes or above for luxury models, with the Dyson V12 Detect Slim topping this list at 60 minutes. If you're buying a cordless vacuum cleaner, we suggest looking for one with at least 40 minutes of run time for multi-floor jobs and thorough cleanings. Here's our guide to the best cordless vacuums of any weight.
Filter style: Vacuum filters zap pollutants and improve air quality, with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters considered the gold standard. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), HEPA filters "theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, mold, bacteria and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns," with larger or smaller particles “trapped with even higher efficiency.” Follow instruction manuals for how and when to replace or clean filters for optimal results.
Wattage: More watts — also referred to as " air watts" — typically correlate to greater suction power. High-voltage batteries generally have a longer shelf life, or run time, so you can tackle more space or several vacuum jobs in one go without recharging.
Brushes and attachments: Most of the lightweight vacuums we tested come with a detangling brush roller that can be used for multiple floor types; some also have a soft brush roller specifically for hard surfaces. Lights by the cleaner head offer more visibility in low lighting and beneath furniture, while mini roller attachments help tackle tighter spaces (such as inside your car; they’re also great for getting stubborn pet fur from sofas). Brush tools aid in detailing and spot-treating (cushions, curtains), and crevice tools are a must for navigating ceilings and wall corners.
Docking and storing: With freestanding vacuums and charging docks, you don't have to worry about your vacuum falling; you can also use a charging mount (typically screwed into the wall) to keep your vacuum upright. All of the vacuums on this list come with a cable for charging.
We set up several obstacle courses to test these lightweight vacuums against materials with varying shapes, textures and densities on different surfaces like carpet and hardwood. We also tested their respective attachments on sofas and other upholstered furniture. Then we put the vacuums through their paces in real-life scenarios, prioritizing homes that needed a good cleaning and/or had pet inhabitants. The nitty gritty:
Bissell Featherweight ($33): At 2.6 pounds, this Bissell is the lightest of the featherweights we tested, with the greatest amount of suction power and the biggest dust cup. In its upright position, it zapped up Cheerios, rice and sand with no issue in our "kitchen sink test," but struggled with the pile of sand in the "carpet course" evaluation and required an extra pass, which is why it didn't top our list. The cord is also shorter than Eureka's featherweight and the dust bin is opaque — ideal for discretion, but not assessing when it needs emptying.
Dirt Devil Power Express Lite ($55): The "Express Lite" is designed and functions similar to the Eureka Featherweight — but with 750 watts, it's technically more powerful (we also like how the cleaner head is transparent, and it comes with a bonus pet tool). That said, the dust cup is slightly small and the vac stumbled a bit on sand scattered across hardwood floors — not a big concern for most but perhaps for beach houses.
Kenmore Elite ($150): The "Elite," which weighs less than 6 pounds, is at the top of its game (there's a reason we awarded it our best value cordless vacuum), with 40 minutes of run time, two suction modes, a generous 1-liter dust cup, LED lights and a flexible tube for reaching shallow areas without bending. It navigated our "carpet course" and "kitchen sink" tests with ease and got close to edges. It doesn't pack quite the same pickup as the Dyson V12 Slim Detect or the upright vacuums we evaluated, though.
Wyze Cordless Vacuum ($120): This popular pick from Wyze is akin to the Kenmore Elite in that it's a sleek cordless stick vac that offers 40 minutes of run time and has LED lights for visibility (it performed similarly, too). With Wyze, you get a fancier LCD display, a washable filter and an extra floor brush tool — for slightly less money and much less weight (it's 2.8 pounds). The tradeoff is that the Wyze Cordless Vacuum has a slightly smaller cup (0.68 liters) and doesn't have a flexible tube.
Shark Wandvac ($200): Shark's Wandvac has a minimalistic frame that weighs less than 6 pounds and a self-charging station for added convenience. The vacuum was easy to maneuver and, when detached, the upper/handheld was narrow enough for tackling shallow areas, such as under car seats. It did great in our "carpet course" test, but not as well as the Dyson V12 Slim Detect in our "kitchen sink" and "passenger pet" tests. Plus, the smaller dust cup meant more trips to the trash.
Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Light Vacuum ($70): The Airspeed is the lightest upright vacuum (7.7 pounds) — with the largest dust cup — we evaluated, arriving nearly assembled along with crevice and brush tools, plus a replacement filter. It proved its suction prowess, requiring only one pass in our "passenger pet" test, but dragged some Cheerios and sand in the "carpet course" and "kitchen sink" tests.
Bissell CleanView Compact Upright Vacuum ($60): This compact version of Bissell's popular CleanView vac is comparable to the Eureka Airspeed in terms of form, function and suction power, and comes with similar attachments, sans the extra filter. Aside from missing a few pieces of fur in the "passenger pet" test, performance was almost identical. But: The dust cup is slightly smaller than the Airspeed's (1 vs. 1.7 liters) and the cord is slightly shorter (18 vs. 25 feet).
Stick vacuums typically consist of a handled vacuum head, complete with a battery, dust cup, control buttons, filter and sometimes a digital display screen (think of the head, or “upper,” as its central processing and operating unit). The vacuum head attaches to a thin tube, which then connects to a cleaner head with roller brush(es). The "upper" can be attached to various tools for handheld use.
Like many upright vacuums designed today, stick vacuums are often bagless (thanks to their dust cups). They also are often cordless, whereas most upright vacuums have a cord. Given their svelte silhouettes and detachable parts, cordless stick vacuums tend to be more nimble and storage-friendly. But they may not pack as much power as an upright vacuum.
Because lightweight vacuums are made of lighter materials and often have less suction power than heavier, corded vacuums, they don't “hunker down” quite the same, meaning they may not be the best bet for getting embedded fur or debris out of plusher carpets. Even so, we were able to achieve pretty good traction with the models we tested, especially when it came to the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, Shark Navigator Light, Eureka Airspeed Ultra-Light, and Bissell CleanView Compact, all of which made matted pet fur vanish.
Lightweight, compact vacuums are typically easiest to push, making them a good option for anyone with weight-bearing restrictions or aversions. Featherweight vacuums are among the lightest and most compact, with upright vacuums weighing a tad heavier but providing slightly more stability for those who may be prone to leaning forward.
The high dust cups/uppers on stick vacuums mean less bending to empty and, in the case of cordless models, less tripping hazards. Flexible tubes and wands, like on the Kenmore Elite, plus LED lights, help with reach and visibility in shallow, dark areas, and swivel-style cleaner heads mean easier maneuvering.
We received complimentary samples of some products and purchased others ourselves, but we reviewed all products using the same objective criteria.