Best lightweight vacuum cleaners 2026: cordless, upright and handheld models

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our in-depth Dyson V15 Detect review

It may not come cheap, but weighing in at less than 3kg, the lightweight Dyson V15 Detect makes a great all-rounder for most households.

Suitable for both carpets and hard flooring, Mumsnet users praised this lightweight vacuum for its impressive 60-minute battery life and powerful suction control, which automatically adjusts to your floor surfaces and when higher volumes of dust are detected. 

While our tester found it didn’t perform quite as well on her car upholstery, the clever detangling motorbar coped surprisingly well with pet hair from her two cats and two dogs. The illuminating FluffyOptic cleaner head conveniently lights up to improve visibility in dark corners or under furniture, while the included crevice tool ensures you won’t miss any dirt or dust even in narrow, hard-to-reach spaces.

We also loved the LCD display on the Dyson V15, which not only shows how long is left on the battery but also provides real-time data on the particles being removed from your home.

It’s worth noting that you do need to continuously hold your finger on the trigger to operate, which can become a bit cumbersome over longer periods. Still, its cordless, portable design is ideal for shorter tidy-up sessions. After some initial practice, we found it quick and easy to empty the bin, before clipping the vacuum onto the included wall mount for compact and convenient storage.

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our in-depth Tower VL100 Optimum review

If you’re keen to switch to a cordless vacuum but the high cost of the Dyson is more than you’re willing to spend, the Tower VL100 Optimum Cordless 3-in-1 Pole Vacuum could make a great alternative. 

While its suction levels aren’t as powerful as the Dyson V15 Detect above, our tester found it performed well across both carpets and hard floors, making it our best budget vacuum cleaner for everyday use. 

Weighing just 2.5kg, we were impressed by the Tower VL100’s portable, lightweight design, which has a simple on-off button to operate. You can expect to achieve up to 60 minutes of run time from a single charge, with a clear indication of the remaining battery life shown on the LED screen. While you can choose to switch between suction levels manually, we loved the convenient auto mode, which uses intelligent sensors to adjust automatically based on the level of dust in your home. 

Our tester found the super soft anti-tangle brush bar performed really well, with no clogged hair despite three weeks of daily use in her home. It’s worth noting, however, that even on the highest suction levels it struggled a little with embedded pet hair and threads. If you have a cat or dog at home, you may prefer to choose a dedicated pet vacuum like the Samsung Jet Pet further down our list. 

This upright vacuum may be a little heavier than your average cordless stick vacuum. However, it comes with one very unique difference - adaptable Lift-Away technology. While the upright unit is comfortable for longer dust-busting sessions, it quickly transforms into a lightweight portable vacuum, allowing you to clean your stairs, sofas or even high-up areas with ease.

Suitable for both carpet and hard floor areas, you can easily switch between the two floor modes as required. When used in upright mode, the long power lead and swivel steering head make this vacuum easy to manoeuvre around your home, while the LED headlights provide clear visibility when cleaning under furniture or around poorly lit areas. 

The Shark comes with three specialist tools, including a crevice tool, upholstery brush and pet tool, so you can easily lift embedded pet hair from your rugs, carpets and sofas. It also features an impressive Anti Allergen Complete Seal, locking in dirt and allergens to leave your home fresh and clean. 

The best part? Mumsnet users and reviewers love the anti-hair wrap vacuum head, a very welcome addition if you’re in a house full of four-legged friends or long-haired kids.

Easy to assemble and weighing in at just 3.2kg, the Gtech AirRAM MK2 is a popular choice for those seeking a lightweight and portable vacuum. 

With dust-highlighting LED headlights and a low-profile handle that allows you to effortlessly clean under furniture without needing to kneel or bend down, the Gtech is well-suited to those with restricted mobility. It also adjusts automatically between your carpets and hard flooring, with no complicated settings or manual switching required. 

The 40-minute run time is not as long as the Dyson V15 or Henry Quick, however, it's ample for a whizz around the whole house before your guests arrive. While recharging does take around four hours, we love that the battery can be charged completely independently, even when the vacuum is stashed away in storage.

It’s worth noting that there are no additional tools included with the Gtech, so if you have pets, you may want to consider opting for the slightly more costly Gtech AirRAM MK2 K9 (£250), which is more effective for tackling pet hair fluff and lint.

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our in-depth Henry Quick review

Unlike the traditional Henry cylinder vacuum we all know and love, the Henry has a completely cordless design with simple push-button controls. Weighing just 3.2kg, it provides unrestricted freedom, allowing you to navigate around your entire home with ease. 

While it’s slightly heavier than our best overall Dyson, the larger 1-litre drum capacity allows it to become a convenient alternative to a corded vacuum, even for a larger family home. The Henry Quick has a similar run time to the Dyson V15 (up to 60 minutes in normal mode) and can be completely recharged in around two and a half hours. 

Our tester found the Henry Quick’s powerful motorised brush head performed well on dirt, debris and pet hair, while the two-in-one combination and crevice tools worked well across her stairs and skirting boards. Unlike the Gtech AirRAM, however, it doesn’t switch automatically between hard floors and carpets, so you will need to manually switch the brush head when moving between rooms. 

The Henry Quick uses a pod system for mess and dust-free emptying of the bin, and you’ll find six included with your initial purchase. Each pod lasts around five to seven weeks and is made from recycled materials, but they can be quite costly to replace, setting you back around £2 each from Amazon, so it’s worth factoring this into your purchase price. 

If you’ve got pets in your home, you’ll know only too well how difficult malted hair can be to remove from your rugs, carpets and upholstery. With powerful suction and a swivelling turbo action brush, the lightweight Samsung Jet 75E is an ideal choice for pet owners, offering impressive performance and a pet tool specifically for lifting even embedded pet hair. Even better, the included HEPA filter can trap particles and pet dander to remove unwelcome allergens in your home. 

While it doesn’t adjust automatically, switching between floor modes can be achieved by a simple touch of a button, allowing you to navigate across hard flooring and laminates as well as deep pile carpets and rugs. There are four tools included, with the crevice nozzle and upholstery brush helping ensure no pet hair is left behind - even in those tricky corners of your home. 

While the 0.8-litre capacity isn’t as generous as the 1-litre dustbin on the Henry Quick, there are no bags or liners required. The Samsung Jet’s dustbin is easy to empty and completely washable too, making it quick and easy to maintain your appliance, even with substantial use. 

Tried and tested by Mumsnet: Read our in-depth Shark Classic Handheld review

The lightest vacuum on our list at just 1.39kg, Mumsnet users love this compact and portable handheld Shark vacuum. With a run time of around ten minutes and a relatively small capacity of 0.45 litres, this handheld vacuum cleaner is best suited to small jobs like cleaning the car or gathering up crumbs rather than a full blitz of your home. While it's quick and easy to empty, you will obviously need to do this more regularly than when using a larger cordless design.

Our tester loved the portability of the handheld design, finding the controls simple and straightforward to use. She also found it quick and easy to switch between the three handy accessories, including the Motorised Pet Tool which performed well when removing embedded pet hair from upholstery. 

When you consider the cost of full-size Sharks and the two-year warranty after registration, this handheld offers excellent value for money. However, we would have loved to have seen a battery life indicator - instead we chose to charge it immediately after each use. 

The Dyson PencilVac is best thought of as a high-tech replacement for a broom rather than a traditional cordless vacuum. I tested it for two months in a busy home with hard floors throughout, plus pets, rugs and long hair everywhere, and it quickly became my go-to for daily maintenance cleaning.

It’s exceptionally light and manoeuvrable, gliding easily along hard floors and right up to edges. Low suction works in its favour on rugs, where it doesn’t stick or flap, and it’s brilliant at picking up pet hair and long hair without tangling. Small bits of dry pet food are no problem, although larger debris like cereal can block the slim tube.

Battery life is fine for quick cleans, but it won’t replace a main vacuum. At this price, it’s a premium second cleaner, ideal if you want something fast, easy and always to hand.

If space is at a premium, it's worth bearing in mind the vacuum needs to charge on the included freestanding charging dock, which takes up about a square foot of floor space.