8 Best Compact Vacuums for Small Apartments, Lab-Tested and Reviewed
We tested options from Eufy, Samsung, and Shark—and found these easy-to-store vacs that get the job done
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As someone who lives in an apartment, I’m concerned about two things when I’m looking to purchase a vacuum. First and foremost, it needs to clean well. But what’s equally important is that the vacuum can’t take up too much space or be difficult to maneuver in a cramped apartment.
Luckily, CR’s ratings of more than 180 vacuums include many models that offer great performance while also being easy to store in small apartments or spaces. Robotic and handheld vacuums are generally compact by nature, but there are also quite a few stick and upright models that won’t hog your closet space.
Best Handheld Vacuums
They’re small and portable, ideal for surface and spot cleaning. A hand vacuum also makes it easier to reach into the tighter spaces and crevices of your home.
Best Robotic Vacuums
While robotic vacuums might not offer the suction power of a full-sized vacuum, they’re great for touch-ups and light cleaning. The best robotic vacs for an apartment are models that can avoid obstacles and navigate areas effectively. They should also be good at edge cleaning. Most models with the standard round design will have trouble getting into the corners of tight spaces. The best robot vacuums are those that can clean edges and corners effectively and consistently. Keep an eye out for models that have additional edge cleaning features beyond just a brush, such as secondary airflow or a more square design, says CR’s senior test technician, Tyler Ivester, who evaluates robotics. For robotic vacuums, we highlighted two models that perform well in our navigation and edge-cleaning tests and come with handy features.
Best Cordless Stick Vacuums
Stick vacuums are more compact and lighter than uprights and canister vacs, and their suction power has improved in recent years. A cordless stick vacuum can be more convenient than a corded one because you don’t have to find power outlets and map out your cleaning route while vacuuming.
Best Upright Vacuums
If your apartment has a lot of carpet, you should consider an upright vacuum. Uprights are more capable than other vacuum types of digging into carpet fibers and deep cleaning. Below are two bagless models that we suggest for small spaces.
How CR Tests Vacuums
To rate vacuums, we test models on their ability to clean debris on carpets, bare floors, and edges. We also assess their noise level, how well they clean up pet hair, and handling, among other things. For example, one of our surface cleaning tests involves dispersing Cheerios and noting how long it takes the vacuum to pick them all up.
Check our vacuum buying guide to learn more about how we rate and test different types of vacuums.
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