Best: Overall

Rating: 10/10

• Bin capacity: 250ml

Full disclosure – we’re huge fans of Eufy, but we approached this review with total impartiality. Our conclusion? The HomeVac H30 mate is a household essential which raises the bar for handheld vacuums everywhere.

From the get-go, it was incredibly easy to use – we could charge it by plugging it into the mains or connecting it to the charging base, to which the additional tools attach, thereby reducing space even further. That said, this is a handheld vacuum you’ll want to show off – a fellow tester’s excited exclamation that the base means “we can display it!”, sums up its aesthetic appeal.

Switching between the eco and max settings was easy (and eco mode proved more than sufficient), while the ultra-bright light on the nozzle did a great job of highlighting dust and dirt in hard-to-reach places.

Best: For households with pets

Rating: 9/10

Bin capacity: 0.4L

This is a more powerful version of Gtech’s multi MK2, with features designed specifically to grab debris such as pet hair. Other tweaks include aluminium reinforcements in key areas to make it more resistant to wear and tear, and a 36cm extension tube to make it easier to reach trickier spots.

What we love about this vacuum is that all of the tweaks enhance its overall performance, whether you’re a pet owner or not (we found it especially suitable for cars). We loved how its lightweight, compact design made it easy to spot-clean tight, cramped areas, and changing the filter (a spare is provided) and the battery, which simply slides onto the base and locks into place, was easy. Its compact design is enhanced by the way in which the crevice tool is stored inside the vacuum’s handle, which not only saves space but means it’s always right there, ready to go.

Best: For quick clean ups

Rating: 8/10

Bin capacity: 0.15L

A simple, handheld vacuum, the Hoover H-Handy isn’t weighed down with added extras we’ll never use – just a handful of features which slash cleaning times. The two-in-one crevice tool meant we could reach awkward spots without wasting time selecting the right tool for the job, and the ultra-bright light at the end of the nozzle did a fantastic job of lighting up the darkest corners of our lounge. It feels incredibly light, and although there’s simply an on/off switch, and no option to tweak the suction by tiny increments, it made light work of a wide range of surfaces, including a long-weave carpet which other vacuums struggled with.

Best: Value

Rating: 9/10

Bin capacity: 0.09l

This vacuum’s resemblance to a hairdryer or a mic makes it a particularly suitable option for anyone partial to singing while they’re cleaning. In all seriousness, this vacuum is a joy to use – a lightweight dust-busting mean machine, which doesn’t have an overload of unnecessary parts or functions unlikely to see the light of day. It can be used with or without the accompanying brush, which doubles as a crevice tool, and we loved the way the exterior casing slid down over the brush to transform into a basic nozzle. It also charges via a USB cable, rather than a three-pin plug (a thirty-minute charge provided more than enough power for a decent cleaning session).

Best: For ruggedness

Rating: 8/10

Bin capacity: 0.7l

This might not be the slickest of vacuum cleaners, but it’s more than up to the task in hand, thanks to a handful of simple features that slash cleaning times. We love the ease with which the dust bin can be emptied, and the extendable nozzle makes light work of tricky areas such as cupboards and footwells in cars. The washable filter is incredibly easy to change, too.

Best: For versatility

Rating: 9/10

Bin capacity: 0.7l

It’s a myth that Flymo just makes garden tools – and if this vacuum cleaner is anything to go by, they produce pretty good super suckers, too. This vacuum is actually intended for outside use, although we found it ideal for quick clean-ups indoors, too.

One advantage of the fact it’s been designed for use outside is the additional power, because there’s next to nothing this vacuum can’t cope with. Although we found it particularly suitable for use in cars and on doormats – it will effortlessly suck up the dried dirt which quickly accumulates in areas like footwells, car boots and hallways.

Best: Bug buster

Rating: 9/10

Bin capacity: 0.3l

First things first: although this vacuum is handheld, it’s not cordless, but that’s okay. Designed specifically for beds it has an ultra-long cord which means you’ll never struggle to reach a power point (unless there are none in your bedroom, which would be slightly odd).

There’s never been a bigger focus on hygiene than there is currently, and we’ve all heard the horror stories about how much of our pillows and mattresses are made up of dead skin cells and dust mites. This vacuum has been designed not only to suck up these microscopic nasties before they embed themselves in our duvets, pillowcases and sheets, but to kill the ones which have made it. Weirdly, once it gets going it emits a wonderfully fresh scent (a fellow tester described it as “smelling like the Alps”).

Best: For power

Rating: 8/10

Bin capacity: 0.2l

For such a compact vacuum, this really packs a punch – throwing out 20 minutes of seriously powerful suction after a relatively short charge time. The filter is incredibly easy to use – you simply press a button on the front and the filter section comes away.

We are being a bit cheeky by including this one as it’s marketed as a cordless, due to the fact that it comes with an extra-long shaft. However, we actually prefer to use it as a handheld, which is what it becomes once the shaft is removed (this particular part is now gathering dust at the bottom of our cupboard). The extra power means it’s on the heavy side for a handheld vacuum, but if you’re looking for something which will quickly clean high traffic areas in minimal time, this is one of the best options.

Best: Small hoover

Rating: 9/10

Bin capacity: 0.1l

This is a sleek, compact vacuum which is incredibly easy to use, has brilliant suction power and looks like the vacuum cleaner of our dreams – something that tucks neatly into cupboards, but which we’re not afraid to display loud and proud. It weighs just 0.5kg, which makes it one of the lightest vacuum cleaners in this selection, and it charges incredibly quickly using the included USB-C cord. After a full charge you’ll get an impressive 24 minutes of power. Its bin capacity means it’s best suited to smaller jobs, but that’s no bad thing – its size means it can be pulled out for quick clean-ups with minimum faff.