Clean every corner and edge with these highly effective cordless vacuums.
In the search for the best car vacuum cleaners, we considered only the best 13 vacuums that are present across the global market. We found from the small easy to carry handheld portables to the robust and highly efficient vacuums. It matters whether you are in a cleaning spirit during the morning or you just came from a road trip, it appears that the car requires a trip through a vacuum.
Whether you had some cleaning spree in the morning or have just come back from a long road trip, there is always that feeling that the car can do with a quick vacuum. Perhaps there is crumpled up dirt or a box of abandoned Cheez-Its under one of the seats—whatever it is, you just have to clean it. However, a clumsy oversized vacuum may not be able to reach it, and your home vacuum cleaner certainly won’t fit under the car seat.
While searching for the best vacuums, our analysts assess the power of the suction on different types of floors, hardwood floors and low pile carpets for instance. Cohesive materials such as pet hair and soda particles are also applied to the surface of the floor or carpet to test the ability of the vacuum in picking up debris of different sizes. Taking into consideration even the most subtle requirements, such as car cleaning, we refined this selection of best car vacuum cleaners for your automobile.
Car vacuum cleaners are designed in a manner that they can easily reach the many slots and crevices of a car interior. To come up with the best one we choose 13 of the best car vacuum cleaners currently available in the market. The tests conducted were suction power, battery life, noise measurements, ease of disposal and the ability to pick various types of debris from the floor.
Ideally, these picks are prepared based on how well they perform on various surfaces, their features, and their battery life. To learn more about how we test car vacuum cleaners, what to look for when purchasing a car vacuum cleaner, and why The Beauty Homes picks are reliable, please read on. For additional suggestions, please refer to our compilations of the best vacuums, the finest cordless vacuums, and the most effective the best vacuums for pet hair.
Jump to The Best Car Vacuum Cleaners
1
Best Overall Car Vacuum Cleaner
Black+Decker dustbuster Handheld Vacuum
PROS
- Affordable and simple to use
- Unmatched performance on large particles.
CONS
- Battery life is on the low side
There’s no question about it—this is the best car vacuum cleaner we tried. Although it was not as glamorous as the gold-star performer in the suction and battery-life test, the Black+Decker dustbuster was unbeatable in our real use floor mat test.
Black+Decker’s portable vacuum cleaner secured its reputation as an effective and powerful cleaner to have a large mouth that had no problem sucking the five types of debris, which is precisely the kind of debris you are likely to find on a car floorboard. It was wide enough to prevent clogs and the collection chamber was able to handle all of it without any problem. Disposing of it is as easy—without anything sticking around the filter either. The stand-up charging base design also received positive comments from us.
However, it does not make it perfect all the time. The battery life is not very impressive in comparison to other models, which means if you intend to vacuum all your interiors, you will have to move around quickly. The Dustbuster is also relatively loud, with a piercing whistle sound that can make your dog get uncomfortable.
Nonetheless, we had to choose the Dustbuster vacuum cleaner as our overall Best Car Vacuum cleaner due to its affordable price and decent suction power on the car interior and other surfaces.
Weight: 2.42 lbs | Capacity: 1.3 Pounds | HEPA filter: No | Claimed run time: 12 minutes | Battery Life: 25 minutes | Model number: HHVI320JR02
2
Best Handheld Car Vacuum Cleaner
Dewalt 20V MAX Cordless Wet/Dry Portable Vacuum
PROS
- Comes with a variety of accessories
- Ultra-strong suction, Impressive debris pickup.
CONS
- Battery not included
- Heavier than other models.
In our latest test on handheld car vacuum cleaners, this multi-functional vacuum from Dewalt scooped the best cleaning score for all types of dirt. Cleaning analysts identified that this freshly developed vacuum sucked up to 99.9% of small particle dirt and 94.7% of large particle dirt in a single back-and-forth swipe from low pile carpet, the type used in most automobiles.
Specialists were also pleasantly surprised by the attachments that came with this vacuum including a hose, a crevice tool plus various brushes and bristles, though they are sold separately. As powerful as the suction strength of this vacuum is, unfortunately this car vacuum cleaner is quite bulky, and maneuvering this is a little bit harder than others.
However, an extra 1.5 pounds of weight is a fair trade, more especially given its excellent dirt pick up ability. It was also observed by testers that the vacuum doesn’t arrive with its own battery pack that would be another added cost. However, if you already own any other Dewalt lithium-ion-powered hand tools, you will most probably have the battery with you.
Weight: 4.5 lbs | Capacity: 4.17 Pounds | HEPA filter: Yes | Claimed run time: Depends on capacity of battery, sold separately | Model number: DCV517B
3
Runner-Up Car Vacuum Cleaner
Black+Decker Pivot 20-Volt Cordless Vacuum
PROS
- Battery life better than most
- Pivoting function offers unique angles to clean.
CONS
- Intake channel gets clogged with large chunks easily
Black+Decker was one of the most effective in our tests, it was able to finish high up on the list, in the first two positions. Again, the wide mouth crevice opening proved to work well with our five contaminants; the most eye-catching feature, however, is the pivot function, and that is where the name comes from.
The long crevice offering up to 200º of pivot angle makes it easy for the Black+Decker Pivot to clean areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. Battery life is fairly mediocre at 10 minutes at best, and the noise level is also quite moderate.
We mentioned one weakness in the case of the Pivot when it comes to dumping the dust. That is because the small intake channel is easily blocked by large particles as they attempt to circumvent the filter. If you are dealing with large pieces, do not be surprised if you have to dump it a couple of times. Apart from that, the Pivot works great when cleaning cars fast and the pivot feature provides a different perspective.
Weight: 3 lbs | Capacity: 15 ounces | HEPA filter: No | Claimed run time: 10 minutes | Battery Life: 20 minutes | Model number: BDH2000PL
4
Best Value Car Vacuum Cleaner
Worx 20V Power Share Cordless Cube Vacuum
PROS
- Easy to maneuver in even the tightest spots
- Performs very well on both high and low settings.
CONS
- Dust cup can’t be removed.
Worx had a stroke of genius with this vacuum cleaner: Seldom can a handheld vacuum be one that uses a hose instead of being a self-contained unit, and we are glad to see that. The hose measures 4 feet long and there are several attachments that enable cleaning of the most concealed areas of a car.
This vacuum also fared really well in our suction tests where it was able to pick up an average of 94% of dirt in one pass without having to use its highest setting. The only issue that we have with this vacuum is the dust compartment. Unlike some other models, this vacuum’s dust cup isn’t detachable, meaning that when emptying it, the whole vacuum has to be taken along and cleaning it’s not very easy. However, the dust cup is relatively large compared to the overall size of the vacuum cleaner so you may not have to dispose of it as frequently.
Weight: 3 lbs | Capacity: 7 ounces | HEPA filter: No | Claimed run time: 15 minutes | Battery Life: 15 minutes | Model number: WX030L
5
Best Lightweight Car Vacuum Cleaner
Temola Handheld Vacuum Cleaner
PROS
- Incredibly light
- Great bang for your buck
CONS
- Filled up quickly
- Build quality isn’t great
If you want a car vacuum cleaner without some or other additional features for a small amount of money, then the best option will be the Temola vacuum cleaner. With the lightweight of the vacuum being just under a pound, this compact vacuum can maneuver easily through the tight spaces of your car.
Battery life is also great, and the Temola itself lasts longer than many of the other brands in this list. even the dumping of the dirt is as easy as a push of a button with a single switch. You’ll be thankful for this though because the vacuum does tend to get filled up quite quickly.
The cons surface at some point, and it turns out the construction is made of low-quality plastic. Not even the accessories, a crevice tool and brush head, can be said to be remarkable. But really to be honest, for such money this thing is great. There is no luxury, but the Temola serves its purpose.
Weight: 1 lbs | Capacity: 350 Grams | HEPA filter: Yes | Claimed run time: 15 minutes, 4 seconds | Model number: TS10BSAA-MSUS
6
Longest Battery Life Car Vacuum Cleaner
Milwaukee M18 Cordless Vacuum
PROS
- Easy to empty
- Outstanding battery life.
CONS
- Crevice tool is very narrow, clogs easily.
Milwaukee really makes everything today, so we had to test the Milwaukee M18 Cordless Vacuum. First of all, you are already facing the winner of the battery-life test—the M18 RedLithium XC5.0, beating all of the contenders by a graceful margin of 23 minutes.
The collection chamber is well designed and spacious, and its process of getting emptied is very easy. The vacuum doesn’t make much noise but all the extra air has to come out of the top, so get ready for a blast of warm air as you vacuum. The crevice attachment is unfortunately thin and it failed to do well against Cheerios and Cheez-Its.
The Milwaukee is not a lightweight coming in at almost 5 pounds and does cause the forearms to feel the burn when using it for an extended period of time. The other negative is that you will be limited to Milwaukee’s M18 battery and charger, both of which are sold separately. However, if you already own a variety of other Milwaukee M18 tools, the battery is compatible with this vacuum effectively. It is perfect for a long cleaning session.
Weight: 5 lbs | HEPA filter: No | Claimed run time: 23 minutes | Battery Life: 25 minutes | Model number: 0882-20
7
Best Honorable Car Vacuum Cleaner
Shark WandVac Cordless Hand Vac
PROS
- Cool design
- Emptying dirt is a simple button press.
CONS
- Poor battery life
- Small bits of dirt fell out of the bottom when powered off
The Shark WandVac is another light-weight wand vacuum with a sleek, sexy design that did very well with small spills and also was powerless against anything more serious. The battery isn’t very long-lasting, but the noise is not very loud. The vacuum’s mouth opening is just not large enough to accommodate Cheerios or any other small objects that may find themselves on the floorboard.
It could be useful for home or office, but it is not as helpful for car use. A small warning note we had is that when we switched off the vacuum, small particles of dirt and particles were released out the bottom.
This appeared to be because of some sort of a problem with the seal around the dirt-chamber-release door at the bottom. It’s useful if you need to quickly clean a little stain on your car’s dashboard or seat but it’s not very effective in a car.
Weight: 2.1 lbs | HEPA filter: No | Capacity: 0.08 Quarts | Battery Life: 9 minutes, 25 seconds | Model number: WV201BLBRN
8
Best Portable Car Vacuum Cleaner
Bissell AeroSlim Cordless Handheld Vacuum
PROS
- Good suction at a great price
- USB charging means you may never have to take it out of the car.
CONS
- Tiny dust cup
Priced under $50, this vacuum demonstrates that you don’t have to overpay for your car’s less serious spills and stains. This vacuum is reasonably priced and it offers quite powerful suction and it was able to clean small debris satisfactorily while testing this product. The USB feature is also incorporated to increase convenience in charging the device while in the car, thus it can be left there.
You won’t mind looking at it, either — it’s modern and sleek to complement its functionality. Take note: the fact that even though it boasts suction power, a very small dust cup despite the powerful suction makes it slightly inconvenient for large cleaning jobs as the dust cup needs to be emptied frequently. In exchange for the price, just thinking that you are throwing away more trash is not a bad thing at all.
Weight: 1.3 lbs | Capacity: 3.38 ounces | HEPA filter: No | Claimed run time: 12 minutes | Battery Life: 12 minutes | Model number: 29869
9
Best Car Vacuum Cleaner for Pet Hair
Black & Decker AdvancedClean+ Pet Hand Vacuum
PROS
- Three-star Quiet Mark rating
- Motor-powered pet brush makes cleaning pet hair much easier.
CONS
- Side vents might move messes around as you clean
Pet hair is impossible to avoid, and if you’ve ever driven a car with a pet in it you must know how many hairs your pet leaves on your seats and on the floor. Specifically, this model is capable of collecting pet hair thanks to motorized pet brush with rubber bristles..The AdvancedClean+ Pet Hand Vacuum made it to our list of the best vacuums for pet hair and competed with the upright and stick vacuum cleaners despite its small size.
Our testers also appreciated how this vacuum is very quiet. Indeed, after being tested by the independent certification program Quiet Mark, it got three stars, which is the quietest rating a vacuum can get. It’s also important to note that the side components of this model blows the air pretty hard, so make sure to be very careful when cleaning as the dirt may end up moving from one point to another.
Weight: 2.6 lbs | Capacity: 0.18 Gallons | HEPA filter: No | Claimed run time: 20 minutes | Battery Life: 20 minutes | Model number: HHVK515JP07
10
Honorable Mention Car Vacuum Cleaner
Black+Decker 20V MAX Cordless Flex
PROS
- Excellent battery life
- Nice-sized crevice-tool opening
CONS
- Dirt and junk collects inside; can be tricky to empty fully
- Tricky to nest the hose back onto the main body
One of the members of our testing team complained from the moment the vacuum arrived, well, maybe he received a bad vacuum back then, or this device has been improved a lot since, because in the floor-mat test the Black+Decker 20V Max Cordless Flex did quite a good job. It gobbled up all but big chunks of Cheez-Its and wasn’t much more (or less) boisterous (or silent) than a lot of the other robovacs here.
Emptying all the junk is relatively easy; however, there are many spots hidden within a slot machine that collect dust, which is quite a nuisance to clean thoroughly. A battery was sufficient for the third best result in our test; the gadget snaps into the charging dock smoothly.
But sometimes we have to knock the hose – while the wraparound design looks great for the first time, it is relatively difficult to put the hose back into its proper position in order to make it nest on its charging dock if you don’t leave it randomly. If it was for one fight, the Flex would rank higher on our list because in fact it performed remarkably well.
Weight: 3.2 lbs | Capacity: 1.1 Pounds | HEPA filter: No | Claimed run time: 14 minutes, 17 seconds | Model number: BDH2020FL
11
Most Popular Car Vacuum Cleaner
ThisWorx Car Vacuum Cleaner
PROS
- Affordable
- Quiet, small, and lightweight
CONS
- 12V power cord limits usability
- Laughable cleaning power
- Flimsy materials, wonky construction
The car vacuum is ranked high, with almost 299K ratings and 4 stars on Amazon, and it is the most popular on this platform. It is also incredibly cheap and has maintained a very low retail price, which is often further discounted. Well, we got one and put it through its paces.
It’s the ultimate irony: Here you have a car vacuum that sucks: a) because it is connected to a 12v cig-lighter plug, it can only be used in cars, and b) because it doesn’t actually suck. undefined By observing the image provided below, I noticed that it is okay with sand. undefined A complete and total failure. It’ll pick up light surface dirt and dust on hard floors but against anything else or on carpet? undefined
It also lacked strength in its motor as well as having a slim mouth. However, contrary to what the statement suggests, for some instances, there were signs of positivity. They are small, easy to handle, and lightweight which enhances its functionality. The louder one was of the two, and the most convenient one, as it was easy to discard the contents. The 16 feet of power cord shows that it was specifically designed to be used in the automobile, RV or boat because it does not include a converter.
Although it looks good, and was designed with elegant touches throughout its body, it performs dreadfully, is poorly built and made of shoddy components, and has an incredibly annoying power cord that can only be used once to connect it to the Dustbuster.
Weight: 2.4 lbs | Capacity: 2.5 Pounds | HEPA filter: Yes | Model number: TWC-02.B
Car Vacuum Cleaners FAQs
Are car vacuums a good investment?
Using a car vacuum eliminates the time and effort of dragging around a large shop vac or cramming your home vacuum into a very tight spot that it is not built to clean. Car vacs are small and very effective to use and they include additional features such as other nozzles that allow reaching under car seats or along the dashboard. Yes if you clean your car on a regular basis then they are worth it.
Is it possible to clean my car with a normal vacuum cleaner?
undefined However, your conventional home vacuum probably comes with a power cord which will restrict its as well as your movement. It also might not have the reach or attachments to fit all those corners of your vehicle perfectly for cleaning. Also, most home vacs have very bulky heads in terms of size and design. Oh good luck cleaning your floorboards with that sucker attached I dare you.
What is the price of a car vacuum?
We tested so many vacuums with different prices starting from the cheapest to the most expensive. As per our results, there was no substantial correlation observed between price and performance. On the other hand, the least expensive vacuum cleaner was terrible in performance, while the highest priced vacuum offered only slightly better results.
The prices vary between $40 and $450, but the most common ones are those that were $100. Everything depends on what you expect from the car vacuum: power, performance, and versatility for us, and, respectively, the price.
So, if you are already working with Milwaukee or DeWalt power tools that utilize a rechargeable battery, we suggest using vacuums within the same brand. These units perform nearly as well as any car-specific vacuum but the cost of a battery and charger (if you do not own them) greatly increase the price tag.
Is the stick vacuum suitable for cars?
Most stick vacuums, such as the Dyson and Shark, are detachable from the main body of the cleaner, so they will be fine for use in cars. However, the head unit usually increases suction and efficiency of the stick vacuums, and hence using this part might reduce its efficiency.
If you own an RV or motorhome, a stick vacuum might be the way to go, but ensure that it is easy to store and transport. They are perfect for these because of its versatility, and it is light enough to bring with for a trip. You will probably never need the stick and/or floor attachments to clean your car but a vacuum that cleans both house and car is convenient.
How frequently should you vacuum your car?
Ideally, it should be done once monthly; although this could change depending on how often you use your vehicle. it would be wise to do a very quick sweep, using the touch-up vacuum cleaner every week or two so as not to collect ‘the filth heap trenches’ due to negligence. It may make sense to justify purchasing a small compact, low cost vacuum specifically to have in the car, as well as a larger garage unit or a shop vacuum.
Other Vacuum Cleaner Shopping Guides
- The Best Vacuum on Amazon, Tested & Reviewed
- The Best Robot Vacuums, Tested & Reviewed
- The Best Vacuums for Hardwood Floors, Reviews
- The Best Canister Vacuums, Tested and Reviewed
- The Best Carpet Cleaners, Tested and Reviewed
- The Best Vacuum for Pet Hair, Reviews
- Best Cheap Vacuum Cleaners, Tested and Reviewed
- The Best Cordless Stick Vacuums: Reviews
- Best Vacuum Cleaners: Tested and Reviewed
