Best Stick Vacuums That Are Perfect for Cleaning Small Spaces

Powerful Stick Vacuums


Stick vacuums are the perfect tool for quickly cleaning bare floors and low pile carpets when you don’t have the time (or the energy) to lug out your heavier, full size canister or upright model. As this category grows, you may also hear them described as pole vacuums. That's because many are now designed with a motor on top near the handle, which connects to a narrow wand or pole that then connects to the cleaning brush below. This upgraded format is more effective since it makes the vacuum super maneuverable and better able to reach under low furniture and around tables and chairs. The motored top often also does double duty as a hand vacuum that can be removed and used with or without attachments. 

In the Good Housekeeping Cleaning Lab, our expert team is constantly testing and recommending all kinds of vacuums, like canisters, robots, handheld vacuums, vacuums that zap pet hair, vacuums for hardwood floors and even cheap, budget-friendly vacuums under $100. Since no one vacuum is perfect for every cleaning need, we recommend keeping several styles in your cleaning arsenal and a stick vac should certainly be part of the mix. "As a mechanical engineer and a working mom of two, I rely on a stick vac as my everyday go-to because it's much lighter than my upright vacuum, very effective at sucking up dust and dirt, and easy to take out and store away," explains Rachel Rothman, the GH Institute's chief technologist and head engineer.

She's right. Lightweight stick vacs are great for cleaning up crumbs on the kitchen floor after dinner, gathering stray hairs in the bathroom, or quickly refreshing carpets and floors before guests arrive. Most are cordless, so they can easily be used even in spaces with nary an outlet in sight. Newer models have longer run times, even as long as 51 minutes, before needing recharging. And they are pretty easy to store, often coming with their own wall-mount caddies or bases and with attachments like a crevice tool and dusting/upholstery brush.

How We Test Stick Vacuums

The GH Cleaning Lab is constantly testing vacuums, and we recently tested 15 of the newest stick vacuum cleaners. And because there are new models coming to market all the time, we continually update our reviews. Add this to the hundreds of hours we've spent testing uprights, canisters, robots, and more, and it's safe to say we know our vacuums.
When we evaluate a stick vacuum, we test it for how well it removes pet hair spread over the surface of a carpet, how well it picks up large and fine particles of debris, like rice, dry oatmeal, and gritty sand from hard flooring like vinyl, how closely it cleans along edges, and how easy it is to use. We weigh how heavy it is and measure the run time. Our tests are based on the ASTM standard test methods the industry uses. Ease-of-use testing includes evaluating maneuverability on different surfaces and around corners and typical household items, like furniture. We assess how easy or difficult the controls are to access and use and how easy the dust cup is to clean and empty. Then we recruit consumer testers to rate the vacuums’ maneuverability on bare floor and carpet, around corners and under furniture, the ease of removing the dust cup or bag, and the ease of operating the vacuums’ controls. We note and test any features, such as, whether or not is has a battery charge indicator, a brush roll control button, or other tools and attachments.

Scroll to the bottom of this article to read more about what you should consider before buying a stick vacuum. But first, here are our picks for the top stick vacuums to buy in 2019. These recommendations are a combination of models we've tested in the Lab, ones similar to those we’ve tested, and a consumer favorite from online reviews of a brand that has done well in previous tests:


Best Stick Vacuum for Deep Cleaning: Dyson Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight Vacuum 
Best Stick Vacuum for Large Areas: Bissell Air Ram Cordless Vacuum 
Best Stick Vacuum for Going Under Furniture: Shark ION F80 Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with MultiFLEX
Best Stick Vacuum Suction: Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cord-Free Vacuum
Best Lightweight Stick Vacuum: Karcher VC4i Stick Cordless Vacuum
Best 2-in-1 Stick Vacuum: Black + Decker Powerseries Pro 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum
Best-Selling Stick Vacuum on Amazon: Eureka Blaze 3-in-1 Swivel Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner

You'll notice we included Quiet Mark ratings for four of the seven top-tested picks (the rest were not part of a sound test). Quiet Mark is an organization that aims to reduce noise pollution and measured the noise output of each model for us. Three stars means it’s quiet and rates “good” for sound compared to others in its category, two stars is “average,” and one star is loud or “poor” for sound relative to others.

Best Stick Vacuum for Deep Cleaning

Cyclone V10 Absolute Lightweight
dyson
Dyson amazon.com
$699.99
$497.49 (29% off)
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Dyson's super-lightweight model is packed with features like a battery indicator, a sensor for when the filter needs changing, and a 2-in-1 design that makes it a handheld vac, too. Despite its slim look, this machine rivaled traditional uprights in our carpet embedded-dirt test, a very impressive feat for a stick vac. A few testers had trouble emptying the dust cup, but still found it easy to use overall. It was among the loudest stick vacs in our test.


Attachments: 2 cleaning heads, mini motorized tool, mini soft dusting brush, combination tool, crevice tool
Run time: up to 51 minutes
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
Quiet Mark Rating: Not quiet (1 out of 3 stars)
Best Stick Vacuum for Large Areas

Bissell Air Ram Cordless Vacuum
bissell
amazon.com
$249.99
$209.99 (16% off)
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This Good Housekeeping Seal holder could almost pass for an upright with its wide brush roll and large back wheels. In our tests, it ran for an impressive 37 minutes on a single charge and was one of the quietest vacuums we tested. The handle can lay flat on the ground, making it easier to vacuum under furniture and in tough-to-reach places. Our only qualm was the slight drag we felt when we pulled the vacuum backward.



Attachments: None
Run time: 37 minutes in our test
Converts to a handheld vacuum: No
Quiet Mark Rating: Very quiet (3 out of 3 stars)
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Shark ION F80 Lightweight Cordless Stick Vacuum with MultiFLEX
shark
amazon.com
$449.99
$369.99 (18% off)
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We love that the Shark ION F80 has two battery packs, so you have double the run-time. We tested the very similar Shark F80 and found it to be heavier than other models in our assortment, but the wand bends in the middle so you can easily go under furniture without having to bend down yourself. It aced our performance evaluations and snagged the top spot besting all the other stick vacuums we looked at for performance. 

Attachments: 2-roll power head, crevice tool, upholstery tool

Run time: Up to 60 minutes using both batteries in ION Power mode per the manufacturer
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
Best Stick Vacuum Suction

Dyson V11 Torque Drive Cord-Free Vacuum
dyson
amazon.com
$673.99
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Claiming to have 20% more suction power than its predecessor (the D10 and winner of our tests!), the Dyson V11 Torque Drive bodes well for the future of vacuum innovation. What else does it do? It automatically adjusts its suction to whatever surface you're vacuuming. On easier-to-clean bare floors the suction dials down, but ramps up for deep cleaning carpets. It's also the only vacuum we've seen with an LCD screen. The screen tells you how much battery power is left, when to clean the filter, if there are any blockages, and how to clear those blockages using a quick on-screen video clip. 

Attachments: Floor cleaner head, mini motorized tool, combination tool, crevice tool, mini soft dusting brush, stubborn dirt brush, wand storage clip

Run time: Up to 60 minutes in Eco mode per the manufacturer
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
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Best Lightweight Stick Vacuum

VC4i Stick Cordless Vacuum
Karcher
Karcher amazon.com
$249.99
$170.64 (32% off)
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Weighing in at just four pounds, this Karcher cordless model gets the job done without expending much effort or sacrificing any features. Its overall design is slimmer and less bulky than similar models we’ve tested that have the motor and dust cup up top, so it’s perfect for anyone with a small grip or limited hand mobility. The fingertip controls make it easy to turn the vacuum on and off, adjust the speed and start or stop the rotating brush right from the handle. In just two passes, the Karcher picked up an impressive 96% of the sand, oatmeal, baking soda, and dried Orzo pasta we sprinkled down onto a bare floor. 

Attachments: floor nozzle with brush roll, crevice tool, upholstery brush

Run time: 47 minutes in our test on low speed
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
Best 2-in-1 Stick Vacuum

Black + Decker Powerseries Pro 2-in-1 Cordless Vacuum
black + decker
amazon.com
$180.19
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We loved that this combination 2-in-1 vacuum has a removable canister and hose that makes it super convenient to vacuum stairs, curtains, and other hard-to-reach places that a traditional stick vac may not reach. We like that the attachments clip on board so you’ll always know where they are and that it has touch controls and a compactor for the dust cup so you can compress the dirt inside for less frequent empties. While it did pick up almost 99% of the debris we put down, we did notice that a few bits got stuck on the rubber wheels.

Attachments: 3-in-1 nozzle, crevice tool and upholstery brush

Run time: Up to 34 minutes in our tests
Converts to a handheld vacuum: No, but the canister is portable and can be used with attachments.
Quiet Mark Rating: Moderately quiet (2 out of 3 stars)
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Best-Selling Stick Vacuum on Amazon

Eureka Blaze 3-in-1 Swivel Lightweight Stick Vacuum Cleaner
eureka
amazon.com
$29.99
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With 889 5-star reviews on Amazon, this inexpensive corded stick vacuum must be doing something right! Its low price tag and 3-in-1 design make it a must-have. Use it as a stick vac, a hand vac, or with the steel handle removed and nozzle attached, it converts to a stair vacuum. At only four pounds, it's lightweight and reviewers love its swivel head. Though we haven’t tested this model, Eureka vacuums have performed well in previous tests and this would be a good choice for dorm rooms and small apartments. 

Attachments: Floor nozzle, crevice tool

Cord length: 18-feet 
Converts to a handheld vacuum: Yes
What to consider before buying a stick vacuum
image
What are you cleaning?
Stick vacuums make great secondary vacuums, because they usually aren't as powerful or as effective at deep cleaning as a full-size canister or upright vacuum is. We generally don’t recommend them as the only or primary vacuum to adequately clean a whole house with multiple rooms, deep carpets, and a mix of hard and soft surfaces. For that, you need a full-size upright or canister vacuum. Choose a stick vacuum if you want the flexibility to quickly clean small areas without dragging out a the big guy. Stick vacuums can be stashed in a utility or small closet for easy access and work best cleaning bare floors, low pile rugs and carpets, and, for those that convert to a hand vac or have hand vacuums on board, upholstery, stairs and even the car.
Do you want corded or cordless?
Corded vacuums work, of course, non-stop so there’s no downtime and no need to recharge the battery. The downside is that you are tethered to an outlet and can only roam as far as the length of a cord. But they do provide more long-lasting cleaning power. Cordless vacuums run on batteries. Today’s lithium-ion batteries have more power and last longer than the nickel cadmium batteries of older models, but run time is usually about 3 minutes unless the model comes with a second battery to swap in when the first one runs out. We think that’s a nice extra to have. Another design feature we applaud is when the battery pack itself can be removed for charging. This allows you to simply plug in only the battery for charging and store the rest of the vacuum in a closet and out of sight.
Do you need a brush roll?
More fully-featured stick vacuums often come with rotating brush rolls to clean more like full-size vacuums. A rotating brush roll is important to have if you have medium pile carpets to help remove dirt that’s settled down into the tufts. Brush rolls can also help collect debris on bare floors, but can sometimes cause scattering and should be soft enough not to scratch them. If you are vacuuming only bare floors and very flat rugs, a stick vacuum without a rotating brush roll will likely fit your needs.
Do you also want a hand vacuum?
Having one vacuum that does double duty is always a bonus. For that reason, virtually all stick vacs can either be converted to a handheld vacuum by popping off the motored top or removing the handle, or they come with a separate handheld unit that snaps directly onto the body of the stick vacuum. Both the handheld and stick vacuums operate off the same motor, so they charge (and run down) at the same time. The handheld vacuums are great for cleaning upholstery, stairs, the car and for quickly picking up dry spills, like rice or cereal, off a bare floor.
How much storage space do you have?
Because they are slim, stick vacuums take up less storage space than full-size vacuums, but most don’t stand up on their own, especially those with heavy motors on top. For this reason, most come and snap into charging brackets that you can mount to a wall. Others may have bases that you set the stick vac onto to keep it upright for storage and charging. Whichever type you choose, we recommend looking for a stand that also holds any attachments so everything’s neatly stored in one place. Some come with retractable or foldable handles to take up even less precious closet space.
best cheap vacuums under $100


If you have a big house to clean and only want to buy one vacuum cleaner to do it all, we in the Good Housekeeping Institute Cleaning Lab typically recommend spending at least $250 or more to get a durable model that does a great job deep cleaning carpets and bare floors and is durable enough to withstand years of continuous use. That said, it is possible to get a great vacuum at $100 or less!
Are there any drawbacks when it comes to cheaper vacuum cleaners? They often contain more plastic parts, may be minus some of the upscale features (like adjustable suction, cord rewind, telescoping wands or extra attachments), or may not last as long. But, if you don’t need (or want!) your vacuum to last forever, cheaper vacuums can certainly get the job done sans bells and whistles.
The GH Cleaning Lab selected the best inexpensive vacuums from testing we’ve done or because they were from brands that have tested well for us in the past. To find the best picks, we looked at the brand’s performance history, consumer feedback, and any extra features a model offers at a price of $100 or below.
The picks below stood out in our assessment as models offering good value for just a little money. Here are the best budget vacuum cleaners under $100 of 2019:

Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner: Bissell Cleanview with One Pass Technology

Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner: Eureka Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum
Best Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner: Bestek Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner 2-in-1
Best Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner: Bissell Lift-Off Floors and More Lightweight Stick Vacuum 
Best Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner: Bissell CleanView Deluxe Corded Hand Vacuum
Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner: Dirt Devil Gator Lithium 16V Hand Vacuum
Best Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner: Karcher Indoor Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner
Best Car Vacuum Cleaner: Hotor Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner
Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pets: Black + Decker 20V Max Lithium Cordless Flex Vacuum with Pet Hair Brush
1
Best Upright Vacuum Cleaner

Bissell CleanView Bagless Vacuum
amazon.com
$89.99
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This inexpensive Good Housekeeping Seal holder has five height settings to clean deep and low pile carpeting and everything in between. The bagless dust cup empties from the bottom for less mess and the turbo brush attachment works wonders removing pet hair and lint from upholstery and carpeted stairs. It comes with a washable foam filter, a 25-foot cord and a two-year limited warranty from Bissell. And weighing in at only 15 pounds, it’s easy to carry up and down stairs.   
2
Best Canister Vacuum Cleaner

Eureka Mighty Mite Bagged Canister Vacuum Cleaner
walmart.com
$130.43
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There’s a reason this mini powerhouse vacuum cleaner has been on the market so long: it works! Lightweight and easy to tote around, the Eureka is a bare floor cleaning champ. It comes with a HEPA filter to trap allergens and a seven-piece attachment set for floor-to-ceiling cleaning. The dust bags are easy to change and there’s even a blower port for ridding your garage, driveway, or deck of debris. Especially nice at this cheap price are fingertip controls and a 20-foot cord. 
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3
Best Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Bissell Lift-Off Floors & More Cordless Vacuum Cleaner
amazon.com
$77.26
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If you are looking for a low-cost multi-purpose vacuum that can clean almost any surface in your home, this Bissell is a great choice. Because it’s cordless, you can move effortlessly from room to room without being tethered to an outlet. We like that it has a rotating brush for deeper cleaning of pile carpets and a switch that turns off the brush to prevent scattering and damage on bare floors. 
It sports an on-board removable handheld vacuum with an integrated crevice tool to nab those bits of chips stuck between the sofa cushions without missing a beat. The handle folds in two directions — forward to better reach under low furniture, and back for compact storage.   
4

Cleanview Deluxe Corded Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
Bissell
BISSELL bissell.com
$46.99
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This little mini budget helper has non-stop power to clean stairs, upholstery, hard surfaces and more thanks to its 18-foot cord. The flexible rubber nozzle grabs pet hair and lint clinging to fabrics and carpeting. Pop on the two-foot hose and one of the included attachments, and the tops of bookcases and the crevices between car seats are all within reach.
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5
Best Cordless Handheld Vacuum Cleaner

Dirt Devil Gator Lithium Cordless Hand Vacuum Cleaner
walmart.com
$59.00
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Cordless vacuums with lithium batteries exhibit good performance and run time in our tests, and Dirt Devil Gator Vacs are no exception. The powered nozzle makes deep cleaning carpeted stairs and furniture easy and like all Gator vacs, simply press a button to flip open the dust cup for easy, mess-free emptying. An on-board crevice tool is part of the package.   
6
Best Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner

Karcher TV1 Indoor Wet/Dry Vacuum Cleaner
amazon.com
$84.99
$47.99 (44% off)
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The Karcher Wet/Dry Vacuum can tackle all kinds of messes all around the house, from a toppled plant to a spilled glass of wine or even a leaky dishwasher. Weighing in at about 6 pounds with a conveniently placed handle and a hose that wraps across the top, the Karcher is easy to tote and store. 
Smaller and more compact than typical garage or basement-style wet/dry vacuums, it’s perfectly suited for indoor use. It comes with an entire toolkit of attachments, like extension wands that make high spots easy to reach, a crevice tool, dusting brush, a turbo/pet hair tool and even a storage bag for all the parts.
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7
Best Car Vacuum Cleaner

HOTOR Corded Car Vacuum Cleaner
amazon.com
$29.97
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A cheap Amazon favorite with almost 600 5-star reviews, this little vacuum is a bargain to say the least. It plugs into your car’s 12-volt outlet with an almost 15-foot cord and features a headlight to nab every last speck under and between the seats. There’s also a washable stainless steel filter, a hose, brush, crevice tool and even a storage bag to pack it up neatly into the trunk so it’s handy at home or on the road.
8
Best Vacuum Cleaner for Pets

Black + Decker Max Lithium Flex Vacuum Cleaner
amazon.com
$99.00
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This little cordless vacuum comes with a battery more powerful than others in its class. It’s unique oval rubber-trimmed pet hair brush attaches to the end of a four-foot hose to pull pesky hair from furniture, pet beds and carpeted stairs. And with its crevice tool, 2-in-1 combination nozzle and brush, and extension wands with stick vac head, there’s no pet hair, paw print, or trail of kitty litter that can escape its reach. We love that the dirt cup and filter are washable, too.
9
Best Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner

Bestek Corded Stick Vacuum Cleaner
amazon.com
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Who says you need a fancy vacuum to get great results? The Bestek was one of the top and least expensive performers in our GH Cleaning Lab’s last test of stick vacuums and at a price that’s hard to beat. It’s lightweight, easy to use on bare floors and flat rugs and never runs out of power like cordless models do. Simply remove the handle and nozzle to use it as a handheld vacuum. A crevice tool is also included.

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