If you live in an apartment, especially a small one like mine, a vacuum cleaner shouldn’t take up an entire cabinet. Thankfully, with the advent of ever-improving technology, there are vacuum cleaners that are both small and handy, yet still packs plenty of suction power to efficiently keep your floors clean.
Small-sized vacuums are extremely practical for apartments, because they free up space and therefore allow you to utilize your storage areas in a more efficient manner.
In order to find the best small vacuum cleaners efficient enough to keep your apartment clean, we’ve done extensive research on the topic. We’ve studied a wide range of expert recommendations, and analyzed thousands of user ratings as well.
Below are the best small vacuums for apartments, summarized:
The top picks
Editor’s choice (super-automatic): Dyson V7 Motorhead
Dyson has become synonymous with space-saving cordless vacuums, and the V7 Motorhead was probably the one setting the standards for future models. V7 is a great entry-level cordless vacuum for carpets and hard floors, and work well in a small apartment.
Editor’s choice (semi-automatic): Bissell Cleanview 2486
If you want plenty of power without the hassle of recharging batteries between each use, the Bissell Cleanview 2486 is a great choice. It can be stored in an upright position, and saves a good amount of floor space while doing so.
Premium pick: LG A9 CordZero
Look out for LG, if you’re contemplating on getting the best cordless vacuum on the market. LG is now a serious Dyson competitor, and with the A9 CordZero series you get powerful suction and an unparalleled amount of features spanding from a floor stand to replaceable batteries.
Questions? Ask our experts:
In-Depth Reviews of the Best Small Vacuum Cleaners
There is no end to the number of options for vacuum cleaners in the market. To make life easier for you, our team has gathered the best small vacuum cleaners that are great for apartment spaces. No need to worry about storage with our picks, because all of them are compact yet powerful.
Dyson V7 Motorhead
- Cleans hard floors and carpets
- No cords and up to 30 minutes runtime
- User friendly dust bin ejects dust easily
The super-popular V7 Motorhead model of Dyson is a cordless stick vacuum cleaner, which means that no cords are in the way, and nothing restricts your movements while maneuvering around your apartment.
It uses lithium-ion batteries, allowing you to clean your apartment for up to 30 minutes of fade-free suction and up to 6 minutes of high suction power for difficult tasks.
With the suction power of the V7 and its direct-drive motorhead, deep cleaning in carpets, and removing ground dirt to dust is an easy task. It is ergonomically designed to fit well in one hand, while cleaning across the floor or reaching higher places.
Need a handheld vacuum for the stairs and your car as well? No problem — easily convert this model to a handheld vacuum with the accessories included, and bring it to your car. No extension cords needed.
Cleaning out the dust and debris contained in the dirt bin of the vacuum is no big deal with the hygienic dirt ejector. Simply pull the lever and dump the contents directly in your garbage can with ease. Afterwards you simply push it back shut, and you’re ready to move on.
Specifications:
- Technology: 2 Tier Radial Cyclone
- Filtration: Washable Lifetime Filter
- Bin volume: 0.54 gal
- Weight: 5.3 lbs.
Bissell Cleanview 2486
- Powerful upright vacuum cleaner
- Doesn’t take up much floor space
- All accessories stored on board
If a corded vacuum is preferable for you, then the Bissell Cleanview vacuum is a great pick. The cord reaches up to 25 feet in length with an additional 6-foot hose and a 13.5-inch cleaning path to get you through the vacuuming as quickly as possible. Because it’s corded there’s no additional costs for expensive batteries, and therefore the price is at a more reasonable level without the vacuum being impractical.
Cleaning is made more efficient with its OnePass Technology, which cleans out surface debris on the first pass based on visual tests. This is due to its powerful suction and engineered brush design, that picks up more dirt than other models in a single pass.
It also has something called a Scatter-Free Technology, which makes it easy to clean hard floors. Its Multi-Cyclone Suction system keeps the contained dust and debris from clogging the air flow, so you get maximized suction power until the bin is completely full.
What’s more to like, you ask? Well, it has a lightweight, yet powerful upright design that makes it perfect for storage in a narrow space. It is also made with a large bin capacity, but at the same time it is easy to empty with a single press of a button.
Specifications:
- Cyclone system: Multi-Cyclonic Suction
- Filtration: Washable filters
- Bin volume: 1 liter
- Weight: 17.4 lbs
If an hour isn’t enough for you to clean up your apartment, then one of your best options would be the LG A9 CordZero vacuum cleaner. It comes with two detachable batteries that let you clean and charge at the same time. Each battery can run up to 40 minutes in normal power mode, granting you enough time to get through all corners and crevices of your apartment.
Related: Best Cordless Vacuums With Replaceable Batteries
Storage isn’t a problem either. It comes with a stand that also acts as a charging station for your vacuum. What’s even better is that there is no need to drill holes in your wall when setting up the stand. It comes in a wall-mount mode, self-standing mode, and compact mode. There won’t be any problem at all, even if your landlord is a bit strict with sticking things onto your walls.
Convenience is more than just a word for LG A9 CordZero. Turn the power on and off and easily change the power levels with just a touch of your thumb with its one-touch control. You won’t find yourself scrambling for the buttons with this one. As an added bonus, the telescopic wand enables you to adjust it to your height, and it’s no problem to suck up those cob webs along your ceilings either.
If you are particular with the filtration system, this model has a five-step filtration system that separates dirt in the bin and filters out fine dust. It also allows you to wash the filters, including the cyclone system to clean out the dirt and dust and keeps the vacuum well-maintained.
Specifications:
- Cyclone System: Axial Turbo Cyclone
- Filtration: Washable Pre-Filter and Exhaust Filter
- Bin volume: 13.5 oz.
- Weight: 5.63 lbs.
Bissell Featherweight 2033
- Super cheap yet efficient for small places
- Transforms into a handheld vacuum
- Excellent for spot cleaning
A simple vacuum that comes with three versatile designs fused in one, that is what Bissell Featherweight 2033 is. Despite its multiple ways to clean out the dirt and debris in the house, its slim and small size makes the vacuum perfect for an apartment with a small storage area. It is super easy to store, and because of the telescopic handle it won’t take more space than a small hand vacuum.
It can be used as a lightweight vacuum for spot- or full cleaning in a small apartment, on carpets and hard floors. The hand vacuum option, with its additional crevice tool, allows you to clean dirt from your furniture and car. If you have stairs around your apartment, it can be cleaned out as well! Easily attach the floor nozzle to the hand vacuum for efficient cleaning of the stairs.
Converting from one vacuum type to another is very easy with this model. Simply detach and attach the accessories in a few seconds to transform it for any purpose. It also has an easy-to-empty dust bin, that detaches easily and empties directly into a garbage can.
One thing to keep in mind when purchasing this vacuum is that it’s a corded vacuum that may restrict movement and reach. There is a 15-foot cord attached to the vacuum though, and for most people this is more than enough. And in return you don’t have to recharge batteries after each use.
Specifications:
- Filtration: Standard
- Bin volume: 0.67 liter
- Power cord: 15 ft.
- Weight: 2.6 lbs.
- Powerful and versatile
- Has a detachable canister
- Corded – no batteries to recharge
If you need a more powerful vacuum for your carpets and rugs, you can never go wrong with the Shark Navigator Lift-Away NV352. This model, being one of the best upright vacuums on the market, allows you to adjust the amount of suction power needed, so you can use it on any surface from hard floors to carpets.
The vacuum is made with Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology and a HEPA filter, that help trap as much as 99.9% of dust and allergens inside the vacuum. This is especially neat if you want to minimize the amount of dust whirled into the air as you clean the room.
Its Lift-Away feature includes a large dust cup capacity and an easy and convenient way of getting rid of the accumulated dirt and dust in all areas. Simply press a button to lift the canister from its base, and clean any hard to reach area around your apartment.
The vacuum also comes with several tools including a dusting brush as well as short and long 24-inch crevice tools. It is perfect for a versatile and deep cleaning from top to bottom of any home.
Specifications:
- Filtration: Anti-Allergen Complete Seal Technology + HEPA
- Bin volume: 1.1 quarts
- Power cord: 25 ft.
- Weight: 12.5 lbs
Quick Buying Guide
Understandably, our list is only a part of what seems like an enormous option of vacuum cleaners on the market with a variety of uses and prices. If none on our list seem to fit your needs, we encourage you to look around starting from online stores to your local hardware shops.
Don’t know what to look for in a vacuum cleaner? Find advice below on what to look for.
We have provided you a shortlist of things that you should consider when you are getting a new vacuum cleaner for your apartment. Here are five things that you should look into, aside from your budget:
1. Size and Storage Options
If you live in an apartment, one of the things you should consider is the size of the machine and how you will store it. Having a small place would mean that your storage may be small and thus you may opt for vacuums that are small in size or have a somewhat collapsible storage option. However, if you have a relatively huge place, then getting a larger vacuum is recommended because of the added capacity it has.
2. Weight
It is important if you need to move around your vacuum that you choose a lightweight design. It is especially true if you have more than one floor and have to carry it up and down stairs. Not only is it convenient when moving it around, but it is also helpful when you start cleaning. Pushing a lightweight vacuum is also much easier than pushing around a heavy vacuum.
Online shops usually let you know how heavy or light the vacuum is. But if you are shopping at your hardware shop, you can ask to try it out and feel out the vacuum yourself.
3. Versatility
Having more options on how you’d clean up your home is a plus. Several vacuums come with versatile use. It usually comes with different tools such as a motorized brush, a crevice nozzle, or a convertible option. It is best to check out these features as it would help a lot in making sure that your home is spotless.
4. Battery or Cord
Opting for a battery or corded vacuum is entirely up to your preference. With a battery-operated vacuum, you can easily move around and reach areas farther than the corded option. But, batteries usually last for only a short amount of time and would greatly depend on the suction power of your vacuum.
It is not the case for corded vacuums. Vacuums with cords run for as long as you need it to, but have to stay plugged in and in reach of an outlet. You can use as much power as you need when you clean around your home. However, it isn’t as portable and flexible as a cordless model.
5. Bagged or Bagless
Another thing that you should consider before making your purchase is whether you would go for a bagged or a bagless vacuum cleaner. A bagless vacuum would be much more cost-efficient in the long run since you only need to clean out the dust bin.
However, if you are allergic to dust, a bagged vacuum cleaner would be a better option for you. A vacuum with bag adds an additional layer of filtration within the bag. That way, when you dispose of the accumulated dust and dirt, you don’t have to come in contact with it at all.
You’ll only need to take out the bag for disposal. Bag can be somewhat expensive though, so make sure you have that in mind before choosing the right vacuum for your needs.