Pushing round a heavy vacuum can get tiring, particularly if in case you have a big house or have to hold it up or down stairs. Your vacuum doesn’t should be a burden, although — the very best light-weight vacuums are much less strenuous to function but ship simply as a lot cleansing energy as their outsized counterparts.
Specialists Say
“Once you push and pull a vacuum, it locations stress in your higher physique and in your decrease again as a result of the burden of the machine is much away out of your middle of gravity and core.” —Dr. Milica McDowell, physician of bodily remedy and vp of operations at Gait Happens
We’ve examined greater than 350 of the best vacuum cleaners, and there are a number of standout choices that weigh lower than 10 kilos, making them simpler to handle. We additionally spoke with a bodily therapist about tips on how to choose cleansing instruments if in case you have mobility limitations or circumstances like arthritis. Maintain scrolling to buy the very best light-weight vacuums we advocate in your house.
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Straightforward to hold round and function
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Laser grime detection works nicely on onerous flooring
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Spectacular runtime for a cordless mannequin
At simply over 5 kilos, the Dyson V12 Detect Slim is the model’s lightest cordless vacuum, but it nonetheless delivers the cleansing energy you’d count on from a Dyson vacuum. We love how straightforward it’s to hold round and maneuver throughout the ground, and it does an incredible job selecting up most particles — the one space the place it struggled a bit was giant items of dog kibble. This vacuum is especially nice if in case you have numerous onerous flooring, as its grime detection laser lights up mud and pet hair, guaranteeing you don’t miss any spots.
One other key characteristic of this Dyson mannequin is its on/off energy button, which is simpler to function than the model’s basic trigger-style controls. It could actually run for as much as an hour on its low suction setting, and its LCD display has a count-down timer that allows you to know precisely how a lot runtime is left.
Sort: Cordless stick | Weight: 5.2 kilos | Dimensions: 9.9 x 9.8 x 49.1 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.1 gallons
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Light-weight for an upright vacuum
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Swivel steering makes it straightforward to maneuver
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Efficient for selecting up pet hair
Upright vacuums could be fairly hefty, however the Shark Navigator Freestyle weighs in at simply 7.5 kilos. Regardless of its smaller-than-average dimension, we discovered that this cordless upright vacuum nonetheless does an incredible job selecting up particles from each onerous flooring and carpeting, and it was notably efficient at cleansing up pet hair.
Along with being light-weight, this Shark vacuum has swivel steering that makes it straightforward to maneuver round obstacles, and since it’s battery-powered, you’ll be able to transfer from room to room with out stopping to search out an outlet. We have been capable of clear for round quarter-hour per cost, and the dustbin is fast and simple to empty while you’re completed.
Sort: Cordless upright | Weight: 7.5 kilos | Dimensions: 9.6 x 10.5 x 46 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.64 quarts
Specialists Say
“Light-weight vacuums are additionally good for folks with smaller areas, as you can also make extra passes in a smaller room with a extra compact machine.” —Dr. McDowell
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Cleans up moist and dry messes
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Low upkeep due to self-cleaning operate
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Self-propelled steering is straightforward to make use of
Wet-dry vacuums are all the trend proper now, and our favourite light-weight possibility is the Bissell TurboClean, which weighs simply over 8 kilos. This unit vacuums and mops flooring concurrently utilizing recent water and cleansing resolution, and we cherished that its self-propelled design makes it practically easy to push. The TurboClean did an incredible job selecting up each moist messes and dry particles, nevertheless it did battle a bit with bigger chunks of particles.
Chances are you’ll have to empty this vacuum’s soiled water tank mid-clean, because it’s not the largest, however we discovered that the unit was straightforward to take care of due to its self-cleaning characteristic. Plus, not solely is it efficient and simple to make use of, however this wet-dry vacuum can be well-priced, costing a whole lot lower than many different choices.
Sort: Moist-dry vacuum | Weight: 8.37 kilos | Dimensions: 11 x 9.84 x4 5.27 inches | Bin Quantity: 17 ounces
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Good suction, even on lowest setting
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Cleans for greater than 25 minutes per cost
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Contains HEPA filter
The Shark Pet Cordless Stick Vacuum is one other the most effective vacuums we’ve examined, and it weighs slightly below 7 kilos. Not like many cordless vacuums, this mannequin carried out nicely even on its lowest setting — we by no means wanted to extend the suction whereas selecting up all kinds of particles. It additionally lasted for greater than 25 minutes per cost, providing you with loads of time to scrub throughout your own home.
This cordless vacuum is straightforward to maneuver, and it boasts a HEPA filter to assist entice allergens and dirt. It has a novel design that may stand upright whereas charging, nevertheless it doesn’t have a wall-mounted charging dock — as a substitute, it’s a must to plug it in by hand while you end cleansing.
Sort: Cordless stick | Weight: 6.89 kilos | Dimensions: 10.24 x 7.09 x 46.09 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.34 quarts
True to its title, the Bissell Featherweight Cordless Stick Vacuum is sort of compact, weighing slightly below 6 kilos, and in contrast to different cordless vacuums, it could actually stand upright by itself, which is handy when you want to pause cleansing. Throughout testing, we have been impressed with its capability to choose up particles, and it did an particularly good job eradicating pet hair from carpeting with out getting its brushroll all twisted up.
Due to its light-weight design and swiveling head, the Featherweight is straightforward to drive round obstacles and even below furnishings. You even have the choice to show off its brushroll, if desired. Nevertheless, its runtime is shorter than most, maxing out at 20 minutes on its low suction setting, so it’s not a great decide for bigger properties.
Sort: Cordless stick | Weight: 5.8 kilos | Dimensions: 10 x 6 x 44 inches | Bin Quantity: 0.45 liters
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Highly effective suction for low value
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Shiny headlights for extra thorough cleansing
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Stands upright by itself
If you would like a robust vacuum at a low value, the Black and Decker Powerseries+ is among the greatest cordless vacuums we’ve examined. At 8 kilos, it’s barely heavier than different cordless fashions, nevertheless it delivers actually spectacular suction that’s capable of clear up all varieties of particles, together with grime, mud, grass, hair, and extra. Its floorhead swivels simply to scrub round furnishings and different obstacles, and it has shiny LED headlights that assist illuminate particles that you just might need missed.
This mannequin has a freestanding design, so that you don’t should lean it up towards one thing while you cease cleansing, and its dustbin is straightforward to empty. Nevertheless, it’s louder than different cordless vacuums and solely lasts for round 18 minutes on low suction. Nonetheless, it’s onerous to beat the cleansing efficiency for such a low value.
Sort: Cordless stick | Weight: 8.3 kilos | Dimensions: 9.84 x 6.77 x 43.5 inches | Bin Quantity: Not listed
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Efficient throughout various kinds of flooring
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Canister rolls easily whereas cleansing
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On-board accent storage
This canister vacuum from Kenmore is a compact, light-weight possibility that’s efficient throughout onerous flooring and carpeting alike, simply selecting up particles like sand, mud, and uncooked pasta. It weighs lower than 10 kilos, and in testing, we discovered that its canister rolls easily alongside behind you, even when it is on carpeting. Plus, since you solely should push the vacuum’s wand, it’s not practically as tiring to make use of as an upright vacuum.
Not like many canister vacuums, this mannequin has a bagless design, which means you received’t should buy alternative luggage. You possibly can wash out the canister as wanted, and the vacuum’s equipment, which embody a dusting brush, crevice software, and pet brush, can all be saved on board in order that they’re straightforward to entry when wanted.
Sort: Bagless canister | Weight: 9.5 kilos | Dimensions: 11.4 x 12.2 x 28.8 inches | Bin Quantity: Not listed
Professional Tip!
“Individuals who may benefit from a light-weight vacuum embody the older inhabitants who’ve mobility, endurance, and power deficiencies, in addition to folks with bodily impairments comparable to an damage or continual ache.” —Dr. Devin Trachman, bodily therapist and clinic director at Physical Therapy Central
What to Know About Light-weight Vacuums
Vacuum Varieties
A number of varieties of vacuums fall into the light-weight class, weighing lower than 10 kilos:
- Upright: Whereas upright vacuums are sometimes heavy, some extra compact choices are price contemplating in your house. These vacuums are likely to carry out the very best on carpeting, they usually are available each corded and cordless designs, relying on what you like.
- Canister: Should you battle to push an upright vacuum, a canister vacuum could also be extra manageable. You merely should push the vacuum’s wand and floorhead, and the physique of the vacuum rolls alongside behind you, so that you don’t should help its weight.
- Cordless stick: These in style vacuums are among the lightest accessible immediately, they usually’re usually extremely versatile. They often include quite a lot of attachments for above-floor cleansing, and plenty of can be utilized as handheld vacuums, too. Simply needless to say their cordless nature means they’ve restricted runtime, in order that they’re not excellent for lengthy cleansing classes.
- Moist-dry: The newest craze within the vacuum world, wet-dry vacuums decide up dry particles whereas concurrently mopping your flooring. They’re nice if in case you have principally onerous flooring in your house, however they will’t be used on carpeting.
Ergonomics
Weight isn’t the one issue that impacts how straightforward — or difficult — a vacuum is to make use of. An ergonomic design might help to cut back pressure, even when the vacuum is barely heavier. “Different issues I inform my sufferers to contemplate when vacuum purchasing embody ergonomic design comparable to a deal with that permits for impartial wrist placement, adjustable top choices, and attachment items that may additional promote good positioning to keep away from extreme bending or reaching,” says Dr. Trachman.
Different options chances are you’ll need to search for embody a swiveling head, which makes vacuums simpler to maneuver, or a self-propelled design that strikes ahead by itself.
Suction Energy
A vacuum’s suction energy additionally performs a task in its ease of operation, so search for a mannequin with a number of suction settings, when doable. “Greater suction means you may take much less passes to scrub an space, however you may expertise extra drive wanted to maneuver the vacuum,” explains Dr. McDowell.
Should you’re struggling to push your vacuum, chances are you’ll need to strive reducing its suction energy and making a number of passes to choose up particles.
Value Vary
Light-weight vacuums can vary in value from $100 to $600 or extra. Essentially the most reasonably priced possibility we advocate is the Black and Decker Powerseries+ Stick Vacuum, which retails for lower than $100, whereas our most premium decide is the Dyson V12 Detect Slim, which is $650 at full value. Nevertheless, there are many choices in between these two that can match any finances.
Behind the Scenes
We’ve carried out firsthand testing on greater than 350 vacuums — sure, actually — together with fashions of all styles and sizes. The PEOPLE Examined group has reviewed every part from basic upright vacuums to high-tech robot vacuums, and we parsed via all our testing outcomes to search out the top-performing vacuums below 10 kilos for this listing. Listed below are among the components we have a look at whereas testing:
- Setup: Whereas placing collectively every vacuum, we think about how straightforward it’s to assemble, if the instructions are clear, and if any particular instruments are wanted.
- Efficiency: We put vacuums via a sequence of exams to evaluate their cleansing efficiency on quite a lot of flooring varieties. We arrange impediment programs utilizing supplies like grime, grass, mud, cereal, pet meals, and hair, and we measured how lengthy it took every vacuum to choose up all of the particles.
- Maneuverability: Throughout testing, we be aware how straightforward it’s to drive every vacuum across the flooring, maneuvering round obstacles and below furnishings. We search for options like swiveling floorheads and self-propelled designs, which frequently make vacuums simpler to function.
- Emptying: After our cleansing exams, we empty the vacuum’s dustbin, noting its dimension and the way straightforward it’s to scrub out.
- Noise Stage: We additionally measured every vacuum’s noise degree with a decibel reader and famous whether or not it was doable to carry a dialog over it.
After testing, we rating every vacuum on a scale of 1 to 5 in every class, and winners are chosen based mostly on a mean of scores. All of the vacuums featured on this article have been high performers of their respective classes.
Why Belief PEOPLE?
Camryn Rabideau is a contract author and product reviewer specializing in house, kitchen, and pet merchandise. In her over six years of expertise as a product tester, she’s reviewed dozens of vacuums firsthand, in addition to many different cleansing merchandise. Her work seems in publications comparable to PEOPLE, The Spruce, and Properties & Gardens. Whereas placing collectively this text, she reviewed testing insights from the PEOPLE Examined group, in search of vacuums below 10 kilos which are straightforward to hold and function. She additionally spoke with two bodily therapists for added tips about deciding on a light-weight vacuum to cut back pressure whereas cleansing.
What Is PEOPLE Examined?
We created the PEOPLE Tested seal of approval that can assist you discover the easiest merchandise in your life. We use our distinctive methodology to check merchandise in three labs throughout the nation and with our community of house testers to find out their effectiveness, sturdiness, ease of use, and a lot extra. Primarily based on the outcomes, we price and advocate merchandise so yow will discover the suitable one in your wants.
However we don’t cease there: We additionally often re-review the classes during which we’ve awarded the PEOPLE Examined seal of approval — as a result of the very best product of immediately won’t be the very best of tomorrow. And by the way in which, corporations can by no means purchase our advice: Their merchandise should earn it, honest and sq..
Briefly, PEOPLE Examined supplies suggestions you’ll be able to belief — day-after-day, each buy.